Mayra Calvani's Blog, page 20
April 15, 2013
Interview with Rudy A. Mazzocchi, author of EQUITY of FEAR
Rudy is best known as a medical device and biotechnology entrepreneur, inventor, and angel investor, with a history of starting new technology ventures throughout the U.S. and Europe. He's been privileged to have the opportunity to see the newest innovations in healthcare and work with some of the most brilliant researchers, scientists and physicians in the industry.Authoring more than 50 patents, he has helped pioneer new companies involved in cardiology, oncology, orthopedics, neurosurgery, ophthalmology and even embryonic stem-cell development. Through these efforts, he has become the recipient of many technology and business awards, including the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in Healthcare and the Businessman of the Year Award.
Combining these experiences and opportunities, with thousands of hours of travel and long evenings in hotel rooms, he found the initiative to start writing a collection of medical thrillers based on true events, known as The EQUITY Series. The first book of which is entitled "EQUITY of EVIL" (released March 5, 2012), and the second entitled “EQUITY of FEAR� (released March 25, 2013).
Find the author on the web:
Website:
Blog:
Twitter:
Facebook:
Q: Tell us why readers should buy EQUITY of FEAR.
: EQUITY of FEAR is the second novel in The EQUITY Series, following the award-winning thriller, EQUITY of EVIL. These bold, controversial thrillers combine both businessand medical science based on true events and/or current technologies under development. They not only inform the reader about life-changing innovations that could positively effect each one of us, but also reveal the dark and often frightening aspects of these technologiesthat can be manipulated to control our minds and souls. Society needs to prepare for how tobest deal with such new innovations.
Q: What makes a good medical thriller?
: I believe that the readers of medical thrillers are sophisticated readers who are looking for more than the conventional storyline found in mystery or suspense novels. Medical thrillers are designed to incorporate medical science and technologies that could impact everyone, unlike the mystery novel where the reader is an observer, along for the ride. A good medicalthriller triggers the reader to think “this could happen to me�!
Q: What is a regular writing day like for you?
A: I usually write when I find the opportunity, which is most likely on a long trans-Atlantic ortrans-Pacific flight, or during long evenings in my hotel room. I tend to start writing “scenes”according to the story that’s running non-stop in my head, and then stop when I need todedicate the appropriate time to researching a topic, place, or clinical application.
Q: What do you find most rewarding about being an author?
A: It’s a rewarding platform for me to talk about the new innovations that I see around the worldwithout divulging specific confidential information. It also allows me to openly explore the“why-nots� and “what-ifs� that often creep into my mind. It is then most rewarding whenothers find the results of such efforts informative and entertaining!
Q: What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received that you’d like to pass to other authors?
: I seem to get more advice regarding publishing and promoting, than I do writing, but the best advice I’ve ever received was to “write what you know�. This seems intuitive for non-fiction, but I found it to hold true for fiction writing as well. When you call on life experiences and knowledge, it’s much easier to craft those challenging scenes and to instilmore realism.
About the book
Researchers and scientists in the U.S., Russia and Japan compete in a new technological race to control memories, fear, and pain in the minds of the world’s populace. At first the race is rooted in purely scientific ambitions, such as that of space travel or in the era of industrial revolution, but it evolves into something much more sinister.
Here is yet another dark world where scientists experiment on orphaned children rather than rhesus monkeys, where torture and pain become just another set of data points and lives are discarded for the sake of owning the ability to control how man perceives and processes fear.
//
April 5, 2013
Mystery Author Anne K. Edwards Talks about SHADOWS OVER PARADISE
I'm thrilled to have Anne K. Edwards as my guest today. Not only has Anne been my online friend for many years, but she's also a wonderful writer. Find out more about Anne and her books from her website, .
Thanks for this interview, Anne! Why don't you start by telling my readers about our latest book and what inspired you to write it?
Shadows Over Paradise was written to show a heroine can stand on her own two feet and does not always need a man to make her a whole person or to rescue her in all situations. Julia Graye is such a woman, however she does accept help if offered and needed. The inspiration comes from my youth when almost every female character ever written was incomplete without a man to make her decisions and tell her what to think and do. It was the day of when a real man could spank a woman or even slap her in the face and this was considered appropriate behavior. This was and is abuse and I could never understand how a woman would or could love such a man whether in real life or fiction. Yet these same men weren't above leaving a woman to raise a batch of children alone while they went on to a new life. I had to ask could a weak, incompetent woman do this and survive? Yes! Because they did. So I modeled my heroine after that type of woman, yet she is able to love and look forward tomarriage and a family. Julia Graye, the heroine of Shadows Over Paradise must make some fast decisions when she finds herself kidnapped, accused of murder, and nearly killed. The act of merely walking down a street puts her in danger.
Do you use index cards to plot your book? No, because my plots are so full of twists and turns and I don't outline at all when I begin to write. However I use these cards for notes, clues, a list of loose ends to tie off before the last page is written so I do recommend keeping a bunch handy.
Have you suffered from writer's block? Yes. There are just some days or weeks when I lose interest in writing and even reading and am content to sit and stare at anything on the TV. I call this a creative burnout and it never lasts long. It's as if the mind just wants a change of scenery for a while, then goes back to work. There is no time in particular for it to happen or length of time to last.
How was your experience looking for a publisher. What words of advice would you offer those novice authors who are in search of one? My experience was varied with several lessons. I learned to ask other authors about publishers, to check submission times, to query about submitting and to read contracts before signing. Would you believe I had a book tied up for seven years by one publisher because I thought their contract was standard? I know others who did this too. Some contract points can be negotiated also, so if you have questions or doubts, get them out in the open. Don't believe verbal promises. Get it in writing. I had to buy the rights back from one publisher that posted the book on the site and let it sit. That same publisher made a book into a multi partnership. They didn't pay artists or editors, but gave them a part of the proceeds when the book sold. Does the publisher edit a book? This is very important in smoothing lapses and bumps in an author's writing. My advice to any writer is to proceed with care. I'm sure its such experiences that leads some authors into self publishing and all the work it entails, but I lucked out when I discovered Twilight Times Books. I've been with them for over ten years and never had any doubts that I was satisfied. There are many good presses out there and I heartily recommend authors give them a try.
What author or type of books do you read for fun? I read Anne Macaffrey for fantasy and real adventure with real people but not necessarily those written by others under her name. I love a good mystery like Agatha Christie. I have read some great historicals, but the romances I read must not be full of love scenes, but have a good story. There are several different subgenres here and almost any reader can find one or two to please them.
Do you think a critique group is essential for a writer? This depends entirely on the author and their needs or what they expect from such a group. If the author wants honest feedback, they should search out like minded writers for such a group. In other words, a children's author is not the best judge of a slaughterhouse thriller, but they can give helpful comments on related genre writers' work, just as another thriller author can helpfully critique the slaughterhouse thriller. The author must realize that any critique group members may give widely varied comments to the work. One may merely be jealous and seek to make the author feel less able than they are, one may overpraise because they are afraid of hurting an author's feelings, and yet another may offer advice that actually is parroted from the group leader or founder if it has a founder who thinks he or she knows all there is to know about writing and is yet unpublished. The group is meant to be an ego trip for that person.
Do you have another novel in the works? Yes. It a second in the series of Hannah Clare's investigations.
Is there anything else you'd like to tell my readers? Yes, if you are a reader, insist on a well told story and if you are an author, insist on crafting a well told, edited, well written story. This way everyone who loves books will be satisfied. A writer writes for the reader and the reader will look for that writer's work to enjoy.
Thanks for this interview, Anne! Why don't you start by telling my readers about our latest book and what inspired you to write it?
Shadows Over Paradise was written to show a heroine can stand on her own two feet and does not always need a man to make her a whole person or to rescue her in all situations. Julia Graye is such a woman, however she does accept help if offered and needed. The inspiration comes from my youth when almost every female character ever written was incomplete without a man to make her decisions and tell her what to think and do. It was the day of when a real man could spank a woman or even slap her in the face and this was considered appropriate behavior. This was and is abuse and I could never understand how a woman would or could love such a man whether in real life or fiction. Yet these same men weren't above leaving a woman to raise a batch of children alone while they went on to a new life. I had to ask could a weak, incompetent woman do this and survive? Yes! Because they did. So I modeled my heroine after that type of woman, yet she is able to love and look forward tomarriage and a family. Julia Graye, the heroine of Shadows Over Paradise must make some fast decisions when she finds herself kidnapped, accused of murder, and nearly killed. The act of merely walking down a street puts her in danger.
Do you use index cards to plot your book? No, because my plots are so full of twists and turns and I don't outline at all when I begin to write. However I use these cards for notes, clues, a list of loose ends to tie off before the last page is written so I do recommend keeping a bunch handy.
Have you suffered from writer's block? Yes. There are just some days or weeks when I lose interest in writing and even reading and am content to sit and stare at anything on the TV. I call this a creative burnout and it never lasts long. It's as if the mind just wants a change of scenery for a while, then goes back to work. There is no time in particular for it to happen or length of time to last.
How was your experience looking for a publisher. What words of advice would you offer those novice authors who are in search of one? My experience was varied with several lessons. I learned to ask other authors about publishers, to check submission times, to query about submitting and to read contracts before signing. Would you believe I had a book tied up for seven years by one publisher because I thought their contract was standard? I know others who did this too. Some contract points can be negotiated also, so if you have questions or doubts, get them out in the open. Don't believe verbal promises. Get it in writing. I had to buy the rights back from one publisher that posted the book on the site and let it sit. That same publisher made a book into a multi partnership. They didn't pay artists or editors, but gave them a part of the proceeds when the book sold. Does the publisher edit a book? This is very important in smoothing lapses and bumps in an author's writing. My advice to any writer is to proceed with care. I'm sure its such experiences that leads some authors into self publishing and all the work it entails, but I lucked out when I discovered Twilight Times Books. I've been with them for over ten years and never had any doubts that I was satisfied. There are many good presses out there and I heartily recommend authors give them a try.
What author or type of books do you read for fun? I read Anne Macaffrey for fantasy and real adventure with real people but not necessarily those written by others under her name. I love a good mystery like Agatha Christie. I have read some great historicals, but the romances I read must not be full of love scenes, but have a good story. There are several different subgenres here and almost any reader can find one or two to please them.
Do you think a critique group is essential for a writer? This depends entirely on the author and their needs or what they expect from such a group. If the author wants honest feedback, they should search out like minded writers for such a group. In other words, a children's author is not the best judge of a slaughterhouse thriller, but they can give helpful comments on related genre writers' work, just as another thriller author can helpfully critique the slaughterhouse thriller. The author must realize that any critique group members may give widely varied comments to the work. One may merely be jealous and seek to make the author feel less able than they are, one may overpraise because they are afraid of hurting an author's feelings, and yet another may offer advice that actually is parroted from the group leader or founder if it has a founder who thinks he or she knows all there is to know about writing and is yet unpublished. The group is meant to be an ego trip for that person.
Do you have another novel in the works? Yes. It a second in the series of Hannah Clare's investigations.
Is there anything else you'd like to tell my readers? Yes, if you are a reader, insist on a well told story and if you are an author, insist on crafting a well told, edited, well written story. This way everyone who loves books will be satisfied. A writer writes for the reader and the reader will look for that writer's work to enjoy.
March 23, 2013
International Bestselling Author Talks About her Latest Thriller, SUBMERGED
Cheryl Kaye Tardifis an international bestselling Canadian author, who is best known for, a psychological thriller that had over 49,000 downloads on Amazon in March 2013,, a supernatural suspense thriller that has sold over 50,000 copies (Sept 2012) and made Amazon's Top 100 bestsellers list (overall list) multiple times out of nearly 2 million ebooks; and, a much-loved, inspiring family tale with a hint of mystery, which is now available in its third edition--plus a school edition with a discussion guide.
Cheryl has not only held hundreds of book signings, she has organized multi-author signings, held a virtual book tour and taught others how to do their own, and she has presented at conferences in Canada and the US. Cheryl is known amongst her peers for her creativity and knowledge regarding book marketing, and has worked as a. She is a member of various social networks, including Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, ŷ, Shelfari, LibraryThing, AmazonConnect and Chapters Online Community.
Cheryl has been interviewed by numerous TV and radio stations in Canada and the US, and she has been featured in a variety of newspapers and magazines in both countries. According to photojournalist, Heather Andrews Miller, who interviewed the author for aReal Estate Weeklyarticle, Cheryl is a “gem in the literary world�. And according to Graham Hicks of theEdmonton Sun, "Cheryl Kaye Tardif specializes in mile-a-minute pot-boiler mysteries, usually set in Western Canadian locales."
Cheryl is also the publisher at, a venture that is dear to her heart. Imajin Books publishes quality international fiction at affordable prices, with a focus on ebooks.
Born in Vancouver, BC, Cheryl Kaye Tardif was a "military brat" and a "military wife" who has lived all across Canada and in Bermuda. She now resides in Edmonton, AB, with her husband Marc and the family dog.
Q: It's great to have you as my guest on The Dark Phantom, Cheryl! Tell us why readers should buy SUBMERGED.
A: SUBMERGED is not a story of perfect people. In fact, it's the opposite. It's about people with flaws, like you or me. If you're looking for a fast-paced psychological thriller with real-to-life characters, then SUBMERGED is for you. Not only will it keep you turning the pages until late into the night, you won't want to put it down until you know who exactly is responsible for pushing Rebecca's car into the river, trapping her and her two young kids.
Q: What makes a good thriller?
A: Fast pacing, unexpected twists and memorable characters are what makes for a good thriller. A great thriller will also connect with you on an emotional level.
Q: What is a regular writing day like for you?
A: I usually start with a writing goal, perhaps 3000 words. Then I go over my notes, read the chapter I left off at and carry on writing. Sometimes I have music on; sometimes not. Most often I exceed my word goal for the day. If I'm on a real roll, I won't stop until I feel I'm at a good place to stop. I'll take breaks when I need them, but they're usually short. And quite often I'll edit along the way.
Q: What do you find most rewarding about being an author?
A: The rewards are two-fold. First, seeing my characters come to life in a story is very rewarding. But even more rewarding is receiving emails from readers who have enjoyed my books, especially if they "get" the often deeper meanings in my works—or when they tell me my work affected their lives in a positive way.
Q: What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received that you’d like to pass to other authors?
A: Determine if you want to put out a book as a hobby or write as a career author. Then learn everything there is to know about writing and publishing, and treat this like a business. Because that's what it is.
------------------------------------------
From Cheryl Kaye Tardif, the international bestselling author that brought you CHILDREN OF THE FOG, comes a terrifying psychological thriller that will leave you breathless�
"Submerged reads like an approaching storm, full of darkness, dread and electricity. Prepare for your skin to crawl."
—Andrew Gross, New York Times bestselling author of 15 Seconds
Two strangers submerged in guilt, brought together by fate�
After a tragic car accident claims the lives of his wife, Jane, and son, Ryan, Marcus Taylor is immersed in grief. But his family isn't the only thing he has lost. An addiction to painkillers has taken away his career as a paramedic. Working as a 911 operator is now the closest he gets to redemption—until he gets a call from a woman trapped in a car.
Rebecca Kingston yearns for a quiet weekend getaway, so she can think about her impending divorce from her abusive husband. When a mysterious truck runs her off the road, she is pinned behind the steering wheel, unable to help her two children in the back seat. Her only lifeline is a cell phone with a quickly depleting battery and a stranger's calm voice on the other end telling her everything will be all right.
*SUBMERGED has a unique tie-in to Tardif`s international bestseller, CHILDREN OF THE FOG.
Learn more about Cheryl Kaye Tardif at and follow her on .
Enter Cheryl’s March Giveaway � 60 Prizes!
March 4, 2013
Children’s Author Profile: Starr Burgess
Starr Burgess� journey to become an author began as a school counselor in 2008, when she had the opportunity to work with students in Pflugerville, Texas. She learned that a lot of students had difficulty in the areas of conflict/resolution, problem solving, and boundaries. As a result, she began writing stories that were fun but instilled and reinforced positive character traits. Since children love super heroes, Burgess decided to create the first superhero of schools, Counselor Dynamite.
“Counselor Dynamite represents counselors everywhere, whether their workplace is in schools, private practices, agencies, or non-for-profits,� states Burgess. “Counselor Dynamite is more than just a character, the name is a reminder of how important our responsibilities and services are to our students, children, adults, families, and colleagues. Counselors wear many hats in the operation of schools, many hats that people don’t see but experience as the fruit of their labor.�
Burgess describes herself as a somewhat disciplined writer who prefers the spontaneity of being in the moment. Her favorite place to write is in her living room by the window. For her, the greatest challenge wasn’t to write the book but how to market it, something that many writers can relate to. Since the release of her book, she’s been actively promoting it via conferences, readings and signings in book stores, schools, social media, and an online book promotion company. “It’s going very well,� says Burgess, who really enjoys meeting people and hearing about their ministries and journeys.
“I can’t express the joy and gratitude that I feel each and every day that I wake up and begin a new day, my quest to serve others,� states Burgess, who now has her own ministry. “We as counselors advocate hope, encouragement, and change each and every day.� Burgess never envisioned that writing children’s books, lessons plans and activities, and a counseling product line would be her next endeavor, but it is certainly one this author is committed to. Her mission in every book is to re-energize the importance of the counselor’s role in schools everywhere.
Currently, the author is working on a book focusing on bullying that will be available in the fall, along with a supplemental guide which contains lessons plans and activities for children. She also has plans for more Counselor Dynamite books in the near future.
You can find out more about this author and the Counselor Dynamite series at .
“Counselor Dynamite represents counselors everywhere, whether their workplace is in schools, private practices, agencies, or non-for-profits,� states Burgess. “Counselor Dynamite is more than just a character, the name is a reminder of how important our responsibilities and services are to our students, children, adults, families, and colleagues. Counselors wear many hats in the operation of schools, many hats that people don’t see but experience as the fruit of their labor.�
Burgess describes herself as a somewhat disciplined writer who prefers the spontaneity of being in the moment. Her favorite place to write is in her living room by the window. For her, the greatest challenge wasn’t to write the book but how to market it, something that many writers can relate to. Since the release of her book, she’s been actively promoting it via conferences, readings and signings in book stores, schools, social media, and an online book promotion company. “It’s going very well,� says Burgess, who really enjoys meeting people and hearing about their ministries and journeys.
“I can’t express the joy and gratitude that I feel each and every day that I wake up and begin a new day, my quest to serve others,� states Burgess, who now has her own ministry. “We as counselors advocate hope, encouragement, and change each and every day.� Burgess never envisioned that writing children’s books, lessons plans and activities, and a counseling product line would be her next endeavor, but it is certainly one this author is committed to. Her mission in every book is to re-energize the importance of the counselor’s role in schools everywhere.
Currently, the author is working on a book focusing on bullying that will be available in the fall, along with a supplemental guide which contains lessons plans and activities for children. She also has plans for more Counselor Dynamite books in the near future.
You can find out more about this author and the Counselor Dynamite series at .
February 20, 2013
Vincent Hobbes Talks about his Military Horror, KHOST
Today my guest is horror author Vincent Hobbes, whose latest novel, KHOST, is a military horror set in the Soviet Union and Afghanistan. In 2004 he founded Hobbes End Publishing, but later sold the company and now writes full time. He’s the author of The Contrived Senator, Exiles, Plight of the Warrior, and, together with 17 other authors, of the anthology The Endlands. He recently finished producing the second volume of The Endlands. His latest novel, KHOST, released last year, is currently being considering for production in Hollywood. He resides in North Texas with his wife and German short-haired pointer.
Find Vincent Hobbes on the Web:
Website:
Facebook:
Twitter: @HobbesEnd
ŷ: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1054429.Vincent_Hobbes
Watch the trailer!
Thank you for this interview, Vincent. Why don’t you begin by telling us what’s inside the mind of a horror author?
Do you really want to know?
I suppose like any other horror writer, I delve into the human mind. Our inner fears, what excites us. What scares us. I’m an observer.
Your novel, KHOST, can be categorized as military horror. Can you tell us about this horror subcategory and what got you into it?
Military horror is exactly what it sounds like—a horror story with military aspects. I was first introduced to the genre by author Stephen Knight who has some great novels in the genre.
As writing for writing in the genre…I began working with some guys who served their country. Proud Americans with military background or experiences. It’s been refreshing, actually.
Khost is inspired by a variety of actual events, and I spoke with some men who were involved in this. Of course it’s fictionalized, but I’d say their enthusiasm got me into this.
Tell us something compelling about your protagonist.
There are several main characters in Khost. My personal favorite is Sgt. York. He’s a Delta Force member stationed in Afghanistan, served several tours, likes to fight. The man lives for war, and for his team. He experiences something beyond the imagination while out on patrol. The man has demons, but loves his Delta brothers and will do anything for the men he fights beside. He’s a warrior.
KHOST is set partly in the Soviet Union and Afghanistan. Did you have to do a lot of research about these places and the military? Do you have a military background?
My best-friend is a Marine, and I’ve spoken with dozens of Special Forces Operators to cover the military side. Even still, I had to do tons of research. I found it quite liberating, actually. I learned much about a war I didn’t have a clue about, and even more about our current conflict in Afghanistan. Luckily, I enjoy military-type things, so that helped.
What was the most challenging aspect of writing this novel?
Two things. First, I didn’t have much to work with. I knew certain facts that needed to be included, but past that, had to wing it. I suppose that’s natural with any idea turned into a book. The second was the time frame. I wrote like a madman, because I had a deadline of sorts. I’d usually take my time on such an endeavor, but I didn’t have that luxury. It was good, though. It forced me to write.
How would you describe your creative process while writing this book? Was it stream-of-consciousness writing, or did you first write an outline?
I never write outlines. I think it hinders a writer’s creativity. Most people have no clue what it’s like to put together such a word count, and Khost was like any other—a battle. I do believe a writer must simply write. I had a character list, a few highlights, and that’s about it. The rest just came as it did, and I put it to paper.
Who is the target audience for KHOST?
For Khost, my target audience isn’t necessarily the literature buffs. Wasn’t intended to be. It’s for your average reader who enjoys a fun read. Nothing more, nothing less. Anyone who enjoys a militaristic novel would enjoy Khost, as will horror fans as well.
What is your writing schedule like? Are you disciplined?
I’m a chaotic, unorganized disciplined. With Khost, I had to be. Catch was, I had weeks, months worth of research. I needed to be as accurate as possible, and do so without boring the reader with details. I usually try to keep a minimum word count daily. A writer needs to practice, and with Khost, I kept an absurd word count.
I hear you have a new book coming up in March. Would you like to tell us about it?
I do. Two, actually. The first is a short novella. It’s called Charms Indigo. It’s a fun read, geared again to a casual reader looking to pass the time with a fun story. It deals with plane crashes. I figured I’d touch on an innate fear most of us have. It’s due to be released in early March.
Secondly, I’ve been working on a short novel titled Seal Team 2025. It’s another military book, though not horror. More action and adventure, and it’s a fun one. I like to call it Militainment!
Is there anything else you’d like to tell my readers?
Never venture into Khost.
Find Vincent Hobbes on the Web:
Website:
Facebook:
Twitter: @HobbesEnd
ŷ: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1054429.Vincent_Hobbes
Watch the trailer!
Thank you for this interview, Vincent. Why don’t you begin by telling us what’s inside the mind of a horror author?
Do you really want to know?
I suppose like any other horror writer, I delve into the human mind. Our inner fears, what excites us. What scares us. I’m an observer.
Your novel, KHOST, can be categorized as military horror. Can you tell us about this horror subcategory and what got you into it?
Military horror is exactly what it sounds like—a horror story with military aspects. I was first introduced to the genre by author Stephen Knight who has some great novels in the genre.
As writing for writing in the genre…I began working with some guys who served their country. Proud Americans with military background or experiences. It’s been refreshing, actually.
Khost is inspired by a variety of actual events, and I spoke with some men who were involved in this. Of course it’s fictionalized, but I’d say their enthusiasm got me into this.
Tell us something compelling about your protagonist.
There are several main characters in Khost. My personal favorite is Sgt. York. He’s a Delta Force member stationed in Afghanistan, served several tours, likes to fight. The man lives for war, and for his team. He experiences something beyond the imagination while out on patrol. The man has demons, but loves his Delta brothers and will do anything for the men he fights beside. He’s a warrior.
KHOST is set partly in the Soviet Union and Afghanistan. Did you have to do a lot of research about these places and the military? Do you have a military background?
My best-friend is a Marine, and I’ve spoken with dozens of Special Forces Operators to cover the military side. Even still, I had to do tons of research. I found it quite liberating, actually. I learned much about a war I didn’t have a clue about, and even more about our current conflict in Afghanistan. Luckily, I enjoy military-type things, so that helped.
What was the most challenging aspect of writing this novel?
Two things. First, I didn’t have much to work with. I knew certain facts that needed to be included, but past that, had to wing it. I suppose that’s natural with any idea turned into a book. The second was the time frame. I wrote like a madman, because I had a deadline of sorts. I’d usually take my time on such an endeavor, but I didn’t have that luxury. It was good, though. It forced me to write.
How would you describe your creative process while writing this book? Was it stream-of-consciousness writing, or did you first write an outline?
I never write outlines. I think it hinders a writer’s creativity. Most people have no clue what it’s like to put together such a word count, and Khost was like any other—a battle. I do believe a writer must simply write. I had a character list, a few highlights, and that’s about it. The rest just came as it did, and I put it to paper.
Who is the target audience for KHOST?
For Khost, my target audience isn’t necessarily the literature buffs. Wasn’t intended to be. It’s for your average reader who enjoys a fun read. Nothing more, nothing less. Anyone who enjoys a militaristic novel would enjoy Khost, as will horror fans as well.
What is your writing schedule like? Are you disciplined?
I’m a chaotic, unorganized disciplined. With Khost, I had to be. Catch was, I had weeks, months worth of research. I needed to be as accurate as possible, and do so without boring the reader with details. I usually try to keep a minimum word count daily. A writer needs to practice, and with Khost, I kept an absurd word count.
I hear you have a new book coming up in March. Would you like to tell us about it?
I do. Two, actually. The first is a short novella. It’s called Charms Indigo. It’s a fun read, geared again to a casual reader looking to pass the time with a fun story. It deals with plane crashes. I figured I’d touch on an innate fear most of us have. It’s due to be released in early March.
Secondly, I’ve been working on a short novel titled Seal Team 2025. It’s another military book, though not horror. More action and adventure, and it’s a fun one. I like to call it Militainment!
Is there anything else you’d like to tell my readers?
Never venture into Khost.
February 2, 2013
Chris Karslen Talks about her Romantic Thriller, BYZANTINE GOLD
A native of Chicago, former police detective and now romantic suspense author Chris Karslen grew up with a love of history and books. Her parents loved traveling, a passion they passed on to her. She's had the good fortune to travel extensively throughout Europe, the Near East, and North Africa.
Though her desire to write began in her teens, Chris spent twenty-five years in law enforcement with two different agencies before she decided to pursue her dreams. Chris is the author of the romantic thrillersGolden Chariot,Byzantine Goldand numerous other romance novels.
Now afulltimewriter, she lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, four rescue dogs and a rescue horse.
Learn more about Chris and her work on herand.
Read my review of Byzantine Gold .
Her mission as an author...
I want to entertain the reader with my stories. I want to share my love of certain things, like places, history, and time travel. It’s my way of saying, this is why I love England or Turkey or history etc. I like using the characters to present a “what if� question and have the reader join me in asking it to.
Her inspiration for Byzantine Gold...
Charlotte and Atakan from Golden Chariot—I like them and wanted to show how their relationship progressed. I also liked many of the support characters. I wanted to bring them back. The best way is another shipwreck. I liked using Turkey, as I did in Golden Chariot but also liked the idea of keeping the setting in that region but not necessarily Turkish waters, but someplace a bit different. I needed it to be a place that Atakan still had authority. I set it in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The setting is beautiful and it still, for Americans, has an unusual flavour.
The next thing was what to do with Atakan and Charlotte. I had to resolve the issue of Tischenko and I welcomed the idea of fleshing him out more. I knew I’d set him on a path of revenge but I needed something more for the plot. Terrorism is a global problem. Artifact smuggling is one source of funding for terrorist organizations. I did not want to do the usual Al-Qaeda situation. I chose a terrorist organization that originated in Turkey and is in Iraq and Iran now too, the PKK. The extreme militant wing of the PKK presents an on-going problem in Turkey.
I picked a Byzantine ship because I love some of the art and jewellery from the period.
Her hero and heroine...
Atakan Vadim is an agent for the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. He has his PHD in archaeology. Fact: The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism has a representative present at all legitimate archaeological sites in the country. Their job is to oversee the safe handling of recovered artifacts along with site safety and preservation.
He is from a middle class family and grew up near the town of Milas in the Mugla Province. His father was a career military man and his mother oversaw the family orchards in his father’s absence. Atakan has a married sister. He’s close to his family but can’t see them often due to distance. Istanbul is over 400 kilometres from Milas.
Atakan is a consummate professional. He is a reserved man unless he knows you well, then he shows his dry sense of humour and with Charlotte his very sensual side. He has a strong sense of honour and ethical code. He’s not a man driven to “obtain or possess� things. His apartment is functional although he has an interesting display of collectibles which are family heirlooms. His apartment has a beautiful view of the Bosphorus Strait and that is more important to him than high end furniture. Nice suits are his one very expensive taste. He likes to dress well on the job.
Charlotte Dashiell is an American nautical archaeologist who just received her PHD. She’s outspoken and extremely determined in her pursuits, which sometimes disturbs, sometimes worries and sometimes amuses Atakan.
She’s the daughter of a Chicago policeman and a homemaker. Her parents divorced when she was a teen and her father remarried to a Chicago policewoman and her mother is remarried to a wealthy businessman. Charlotte also has an older brother who’s a member of the Chicago Police Department SWAT team She too is close to her family and tries to visit once a year.
Like Atakan, she is the consummate professional when working a shipwreck recovery team. She’s not overtly vain as her job requires her to keep her hair simple, she’s diving most days and not concerned with makeup. Conservation work on the relics is hard on a manicure. That said, she has a jealous streak when it comes to Atakan. She’s not above passing an acerbic comment or two when she’s introduced to a former girlfriend of his. When she has the opportunity, she does take pride in her appearance and dresses nicely.
Her guilty pleasure is belly dancing for Atakan. She takes lessons in Istanbul, where they live. Atakan is a big fan.
The overall concept was mine. Although most of the story takes place in Cyprus, Istanbul has such distinctive architecture and buildings I wanted something of it on the cover so a reader knows the story has a different setting. I wanted the shipwreck and divers because of the nature of the story. This is what draws the characters to this place. I worked closely with the designer. I asked her to look at my previous cover, and the trailer for Byzantine Gold, which I was very happy with, and to look at my book boards for both this and Golden Chariot on my Pinterest page. She had the idea for the bullets and crosshairs in the lettering. She put all my wishes together and came up with a cover I love.
Her advice to aspiring authors...
Do join a critique group. You need other eyes to read your work. Your family and friends will avoid hurting your feelings and as a result are often not as honest as you need them to be.
Take classes or if you can afford it, go to conferences and seminars to learn the craft. If you can’t afford workshops, then buy books from the experts. Three I like and keep in my desk and reference are: Writing the Breakout Novel and The Fire in Fiction by Don Maass, and Goal, Motivation, and Conflict by Deb Dixon.
Develop a tough skin and accept the fact that your early drafts (and that’s what they are, drafts) are not ready to send to an editor or agent or to self-publish. Every new writer believes what they’ve written is perfect. Perhaps there’s someone out there this is true for but I can’t think of any. Hemingway said, “There’s no such thing as writing, only rewriting.� Stephen King in his book, “On Writing,� said, he never lets anyone see his first draft.
Read books in the genre you want to write in. This is important. You need to have an idea of how stories in that genre flow, how tension and action and characterization is handled. Literary fiction is generally not the same style as a thriller. The readership of different genres have different expectations.
When you read a scene that is especially moving or well done, or one that stands out to you, then dissect it. See what it is that “makes� the scene work so well for you and try to do the same but with your own spin.
Though her desire to write began in her teens, Chris spent twenty-five years in law enforcement with two different agencies before she decided to pursue her dreams. Chris is the author of the romantic thrillersGolden Chariot,Byzantine Goldand numerous other romance novels.Now afulltimewriter, she lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, four rescue dogs and a rescue horse.
Learn more about Chris and her work on herand.
Read my review of Byzantine Gold .
Her mission as an author...
I want to entertain the reader with my stories. I want to share my love of certain things, like places, history, and time travel. It’s my way of saying, this is why I love England or Turkey or history etc. I like using the characters to present a “what if� question and have the reader join me in asking it to.
Her inspiration for Byzantine Gold...
Charlotte and Atakan from Golden Chariot—I like them and wanted to show how their relationship progressed. I also liked many of the support characters. I wanted to bring them back. The best way is another shipwreck. I liked using Turkey, as I did in Golden Chariot but also liked the idea of keeping the setting in that region but not necessarily Turkish waters, but someplace a bit different. I needed it to be a place that Atakan still had authority. I set it in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The setting is beautiful and it still, for Americans, has an unusual flavour.
The next thing was what to do with Atakan and Charlotte. I had to resolve the issue of Tischenko and I welcomed the idea of fleshing him out more. I knew I’d set him on a path of revenge but I needed something more for the plot. Terrorism is a global problem. Artifact smuggling is one source of funding for terrorist organizations. I did not want to do the usual Al-Qaeda situation. I chose a terrorist organization that originated in Turkey and is in Iraq and Iran now too, the PKK. The extreme militant wing of the PKK presents an on-going problem in Turkey.
I picked a Byzantine ship because I love some of the art and jewellery from the period.
Her hero and heroine...
Atakan Vadim is an agent for the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. He has his PHD in archaeology. Fact: The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism has a representative present at all legitimate archaeological sites in the country. Their job is to oversee the safe handling of recovered artifacts along with site safety and preservation.
He is from a middle class family and grew up near the town of Milas in the Mugla Province. His father was a career military man and his mother oversaw the family orchards in his father’s absence. Atakan has a married sister. He’s close to his family but can’t see them often due to distance. Istanbul is over 400 kilometres from Milas.
Atakan is a consummate professional. He is a reserved man unless he knows you well, then he shows his dry sense of humour and with Charlotte his very sensual side. He has a strong sense of honour and ethical code. He’s not a man driven to “obtain or possess� things. His apartment is functional although he has an interesting display of collectibles which are family heirlooms. His apartment has a beautiful view of the Bosphorus Strait and that is more important to him than high end furniture. Nice suits are his one very expensive taste. He likes to dress well on the job.
Charlotte Dashiell is an American nautical archaeologist who just received her PHD. She’s outspoken and extremely determined in her pursuits, which sometimes disturbs, sometimes worries and sometimes amuses Atakan.
She’s the daughter of a Chicago policeman and a homemaker. Her parents divorced when she was a teen and her father remarried to a Chicago policewoman and her mother is remarried to a wealthy businessman. Charlotte also has an older brother who’s a member of the Chicago Police Department SWAT team She too is close to her family and tries to visit once a year.
Like Atakan, she is the consummate professional when working a shipwreck recovery team. She’s not overtly vain as her job requires her to keep her hair simple, she’s diving most days and not concerned with makeup. Conservation work on the relics is hard on a manicure. That said, she has a jealous streak when it comes to Atakan. She’s not above passing an acerbic comment or two when she’s introduced to a former girlfriend of his. When she has the opportunity, she does take pride in her appearance and dresses nicely.
Her guilty pleasure is belly dancing for Atakan. She takes lessons in Istanbul, where they live. Atakan is a big fan.
About the cover art...
The overall concept was mine. Although most of the story takes place in Cyprus, Istanbul has such distinctive architecture and buildings I wanted something of it on the cover so a reader knows the story has a different setting. I wanted the shipwreck and divers because of the nature of the story. This is what draws the characters to this place. I worked closely with the designer. I asked her to look at my previous cover, and the trailer for Byzantine Gold, which I was very happy with, and to look at my book boards for both this and Golden Chariot on my Pinterest page. She had the idea for the bullets and crosshairs in the lettering. She put all my wishes together and came up with a cover I love.
Her advice to aspiring authors...
Do join a critique group. You need other eyes to read your work. Your family and friends will avoid hurting your feelings and as a result are often not as honest as you need them to be.
Take classes or if you can afford it, go to conferences and seminars to learn the craft. If you can’t afford workshops, then buy books from the experts. Three I like and keep in my desk and reference are: Writing the Breakout Novel and The Fire in Fiction by Don Maass, and Goal, Motivation, and Conflict by Deb Dixon.
Develop a tough skin and accept the fact that your early drafts (and that’s what they are, drafts) are not ready to send to an editor or agent or to self-publish. Every new writer believes what they’ve written is perfect. Perhaps there’s someone out there this is true for but I can’t think of any. Hemingway said, “There’s no such thing as writing, only rewriting.� Stephen King in his book, “On Writing,� said, he never lets anyone see his first draft.
Read books in the genre you want to write in. This is important. You need to have an idea of how stories in that genre flow, how tension and action and characterization is handled. Literary fiction is generally not the same style as a thriller. The readership of different genres have different expectations.
When you read a scene that is especially moving or well done, or one that stands out to you, then dissect it. See what it is that “makes� the scene work so well for you and try to do the same but with your own spin.
___________________________________________
Book Description
A sunken warship from the Byzantine Era carrying an unusual cargo of gold has been found off the coast of Northern Cyprus. News of the valuable cache has attracted the attention of a terrorist cell. They plan to attack the recovery team’s campsite and steal the artifacts. On the Black Market, the sale of the relics will buy them additional weapons.
Charlotte Dashiell, an American archaeologist, and her lover, Atakan Vadim, a Turkish government agent, are scheduled to be part of the recovery team that brings up the artifacts. While en route to Cyprus, they find themselves caught in the crosshairs of Maksym Tischenko, a Ukrainian contract killer bent on revenge. Charlotte, Atakan and Tischenko share a grim history. As a result, Tischenko is a man who will stop at nothing to achieve his goal—seeing them both dead.
/
January 2, 2013
Interview with Nick West, Author of The Long Road Home
A native of Gainesville, Florida, author Nick West attended the University of Florida where he became interested in writing. He is a veteran of the United States Navy, and together with his family, have owned and operated a landscape business in the area for over twenty years. He and his wife Kay and 
their children, Tammy, John and Christy, along with their families all live on the farm where he grew up near Archer. He is the author of The Great Southern Circus and The Long Road Home.
,his first book, is a collection of circus stories told to him by his grandmother as they were told to her by her grandmother, Miranda Madderra, who performed with this horse drawn caravan just prior to the Civil War.His second book, , follows the main characters from The Great Southern Circus as they traverse the difficult and painful years of the American Civil War.
Visit the author and learn more about his work at.
Thanks for this interview. Tell us a little about what got you into writing?
I believe that all writers are avid readers. As such I have tremendous respect for those who are talented enough to draw their readers into a caring relationship with the characters in their books. I have found that after reading a good book, I often recall the experiences of the characters as I would good friends or family members. That is my goal as a writer. I have attempted to relate these stories in a way that future generations of my own family could relate to them as the real people that they were. My effort is to bring these wonderful people to life in my books so that even readers outside of my own family would feel as connected to them as I do.
What was your inspiration for The Long Road Home?
When The Great Southern Circus became available nationally on Amazon, I was contacted by a large number of readers who had become invested in the characters of that book. As that book ended, half the characters rushed to join the Union Army and the other half joined the Southern cause. Readers wanted to know what had become of these folks during the Civil War. This book answers those questions.
So the novel is part biographical, part fictional?
Biographical in the sense that these were real people who actually lived the events about which I have written, and fictional in the sense that I can only imagine most of their actual conversations based upon recollections as handed down through oral history for several generations.
For those readers who haven’t read your first book yet, is there something about the plot or characters they need to know in advance before reading The Long Road Home or is it a stand alone novel?
I have had readers who read The Long Road Home first, but invariably went back to read the Great Southern Circus to better understand the relationships. I would encourage folks to read the books in the order they were written to become more involved with all of these wonderful people.
How long did it take you to write the book and did you plot in advance?
The Great Southern Circus was a work in progress for years. I remembered the stories as they were told by my Grandmother and was determined to put them down in written form for future generations of my own family. The advent of the internet made it possible to not only verify that the events chronicled in the book actually took place, but also to connect me with other descendants of the same tour to compare notes and flesh out the other characters. This book took about a year to actually write and told the story of a two year circus tour that ended when the Civil War broke out. The Long Road Home picked up the adventures of the same characters as they struggled to survive the terrible years of the war. This book also took about one year to research and write.
I understand you did a lot of research for this novel. What was the process like and what surprised you most about this dark time of American history?
The American Civil War is probably the most researched period of American History. No matter how small a skirmish or political event, someone has researched and written about it. I read countless articles, books and research papers as they related to the experiences of my ancestors during this dark period. I found many surprises (at least to me) along the way. For instance, at the beginning of the War, Lincoln was more concerned with the preservation of the Union than he was about slavery which I was always taught was the major reason for the conflict. I also learned that racial prejudice in the North did not allow black men to even join the Union Army until late in the war. I had forgotten that our Nation was less than one hundred years old at the time and that many of the States believed that the Union was voluntary and that they could simply "opt out" if they believed that the Federal government was causing them more problems than it was helping their individual cause. I also learned to respect even more the character displayed by, and heartaches endured by President Lincoln during this time.
What themes do you explore in your novel?
Romance, friendship, adventure, hardships in a historical context. This is an attempt to put into perspective the individual stories of each of these men and women as they were swept along by events beyond their control. These characters first met each other and became close friends during the hardships of a circus tour that lasted two years before the outbreak of the War. One man was the northern son of the circus owner and performer, one young black man who joined to circus to search for his sister who was still held as a slave somewhere in the South, one young Alabama girl (my 3x Great Grandmother) who was a bare back rider and a young man from Alabama who joined the circus just to be near her. This is primarily their story.
What has been the reaction from your friends and family so far?
Friends and family loved both books and I have been blessed by the fact that total strangers have discovered my books. From the reviews on Amazon and other sites they seemed to have enjoyed them as well.
Are you planning any local book signings or other promotional events you’d like to announce?
I have periodic signing events that I advertise locally and through social networking. I am also happy to personalize and sign books that my office will mail to anyone who phones in a request to 1 (352)495-9858.
What’s on the horizon for you? Is there a third novel in the works?
I am now working on my third novel.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with my readers?
I am always happy to hear from readers who have enjoyed my books. They can find me on Facebook or E-Mail me at [email protected]
Thanks again for the interview and best of luck with your books!
My interview originally appeared in
their children, Tammy, John and Christy, along with their families all live on the farm where he grew up near Archer. He is the author of The Great Southern Circus and The Long Road Home.,his first book, is a collection of circus stories told to him by his grandmother as they were told to her by her grandmother, Miranda Madderra, who performed with this horse drawn caravan just prior to the Civil War.His second book, , follows the main characters from The Great Southern Circus as they traverse the difficult and painful years of the American Civil War.
Visit the author and learn more about his work at.
Thanks for this interview. Tell us a little about what got you into writing?
I believe that all writers are avid readers. As such I have tremendous respect for those who are talented enough to draw their readers into a caring relationship with the characters in their books. I have found that after reading a good book, I often recall the experiences of the characters as I would good friends or family members. That is my goal as a writer. I have attempted to relate these stories in a way that future generations of my own family could relate to them as the real people that they were. My effort is to bring these wonderful people to life in my books so that even readers outside of my own family would feel as connected to them as I do.
What was your inspiration for The Long Road Home?When The Great Southern Circus became available nationally on Amazon, I was contacted by a large number of readers who had become invested in the characters of that book. As that book ended, half the characters rushed to join the Union Army and the other half joined the Southern cause. Readers wanted to know what had become of these folks during the Civil War. This book answers those questions.
So the novel is part biographical, part fictional?
Biographical in the sense that these were real people who actually lived the events about which I have written, and fictional in the sense that I can only imagine most of their actual conversations based upon recollections as handed down through oral history for several generations.
For those readers who haven’t read your first book yet, is there something about the plot or characters they need to know in advance before reading The Long Road Home or is it a stand alone novel?
I have had readers who read The Long Road Home first, but invariably went back to read the Great Southern Circus to better understand the relationships. I would encourage folks to read the books in the order they were written to become more involved with all of these wonderful people.
How long did it take you to write the book and did you plot in advance?
The Great Southern Circus was a work in progress for years. I remembered the stories as they were told by my Grandmother and was determined to put them down in written form for future generations of my own family. The advent of the internet made it possible to not only verify that the events chronicled in the book actually took place, but also to connect me with other descendants of the same tour to compare notes and flesh out the other characters. This book took about a year to actually write and told the story of a two year circus tour that ended when the Civil War broke out. The Long Road Home picked up the adventures of the same characters as they struggled to survive the terrible years of the war. This book also took about one year to research and write.
I understand you did a lot of research for this novel. What was the process like and what surprised you most about this dark time of American history?
The American Civil War is probably the most researched period of American History. No matter how small a skirmish or political event, someone has researched and written about it. I read countless articles, books and research papers as they related to the experiences of my ancestors during this dark period. I found many surprises (at least to me) along the way. For instance, at the beginning of the War, Lincoln was more concerned with the preservation of the Union than he was about slavery which I was always taught was the major reason for the conflict. I also learned that racial prejudice in the North did not allow black men to even join the Union Army until late in the war. I had forgotten that our Nation was less than one hundred years old at the time and that many of the States believed that the Union was voluntary and that they could simply "opt out" if they believed that the Federal government was causing them more problems than it was helping their individual cause. I also learned to respect even more the character displayed by, and heartaches endured by President Lincoln during this time.
What themes do you explore in your novel?
Romance, friendship, adventure, hardships in a historical context. This is an attempt to put into perspective the individual stories of each of these men and women as they were swept along by events beyond their control. These characters first met each other and became close friends during the hardships of a circus tour that lasted two years before the outbreak of the War. One man was the northern son of the circus owner and performer, one young black man who joined to circus to search for his sister who was still held as a slave somewhere in the South, one young Alabama girl (my 3x Great Grandmother) who was a bare back rider and a young man from Alabama who joined the circus just to be near her. This is primarily their story.
What has been the reaction from your friends and family so far?
Friends and family loved both books and I have been blessed by the fact that total strangers have discovered my books. From the reviews on Amazon and other sites they seemed to have enjoyed them as well.
Are you planning any local book signings or other promotional events you’d like to announce?
I have periodic signing events that I advertise locally and through social networking. I am also happy to personalize and sign books that my office will mail to anyone who phones in a request to 1 (352)495-9858.
What’s on the horizon for you? Is there a third novel in the works?
I am now working on my third novel.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with my readers?
I am always happy to hear from readers who have enjoyed my books. They can find me on Facebook or E-Mail me at [email protected]
Thanks again for the interview and best of luck with your books!
My interview originally appeared in
December 25, 2012
Two Christmas Picture Books for Your Little Violinist
THE DOLL VIOLINIST
Author: Mayra Calvani
Illustrations: Amy Cullings Moreno
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-61633-185-6; 1616331852
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-61633-186-3; 1616331860
eBook ISBN: 978-1-61633-187-0; 1616331879
For ages 3-7
Five days before Christmas, Emma is captivated by a doll in a shop window. Each day, she sneaks out of the orphanage to check if it’s been sold, but the shop owner, Madame Dubois, sends her away. Will the magic of Christmas bring Emma, Madame Dubois, and the doll violinist together?
ABC's Children's Picture Book Finalist!
Honorable Mention Award in the 75th Annual Writers Digest Writing Competition!
Purchase from or .
Now in enhanced version with read-aloud sound for your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch:
The Magic Violin
Author: Mayra Calvani
Illustrations: K.C. Snider
Print ISBN 13: 978-1-933090-49-8
eBook ISBN 13: 978-1-933090-62-7
Ages 4-8
Purchase from!
Eight-year old Melina wants to become a good violinist. When she loses confidence, her Rumanian teacher Andrea decides it’s time for a magic dose of self esteem. A mysterious old woman in rags gives Melina some curious advice; a violinist Russian hamster, who happens to live under the old woman’s hat, offers her a virtuoso performance; a shooting star fills her with hope on Christmas Eve. Is Melina actually playing better, or has her violin become magic? Who is the old woman in the town square, and why does she wear the same emerald ring as her teacher Andrea?
Zeppi’s Christmas gift for kids: FREE download on December 25th and 26th of books 1 & 2
The Adventures of Zeppi series
A penguin named Zeppi makes a boy’s wish for a special friend come true. When young Alesdor finds Zeppi amongst the flowers in the garden, they adopt each other and grow in The Adventures of Zeppi series.
Zeppi and his friend have fun and discover a lot about friendship, tolerance and generosity. As Zeppi adapts to his new life with ecological-minded Alesdor, he will learn about taking care of the planet too.
Book 1 � New Friends
When Zeppi’s cage falls off a truck, he’s found by a kind boy named Alesdor, who teaches him that
compost piles are plant food and not penguin food.
Zeppi’s Christmas gift: FREE download on December 25 and 26:
Check out the other books in The Adventure of Zeppi series:
Book 2 � Circus
Now living in Alesdor’s teepee in the garden, Zeppi is overjoyed when a circus parade comes down the street. It’s so much fun, until he realizes some animals are caged. Have his parents wound up in cages at the circus? Zeppi decides to find out.
Zeppi’s Christmas gift: FREE download on December 25 and 26:
Book 3 � Learning
Penguins cannot speak human words. Will Zeppi the penguin learn to talk?
Book 4 � Greenback Town
During a visit to his favorite toy store, Zeppi decides to snuggle between two plush penguins that remind him of his parents. But everything turns topsy-turvy when a wildlife protection officer wants to take him to the zoo.
Book 5 � Cackle Island
Zeppi takes his first swim in the sea, when a storm comes up and takes him to an island inhabited by strange creatures.
Available begin January 2013.
The Adventures of Zeppi - #1 New Friends
December 14, 2012
A Conversation with Gabriel Valjan, author of Wasp's Nest
My guest today is Gabriel Valjan, author of theRomaseries, published byWinter Goose Publishing. The first book,
, came out earlier this year. The sequel,Wasp’s Nest, was just released this week.The thirdinstallmentis scheduled for August 2013.
Valjan attended theUniversity of Southern California for his undergraduate education and completed graduate school in England at the University of Leeds. Ronan Bennett short-listed him for the2010 Fish Short Story Prize. Valjan’s short stories continue to appear in print and online literary journals. He recently wonZOUCHMagazine’s inaugural Lit Bits Contest. He lives in New England.
Find the author on the web://
Wasp’s Nestis available on///
Read my review of Wasp’s Nest on.
Thanks for this interview. Tell us a little about what got you into writing?
Like most things in my life the road was not always obvious or straight. I didn’t always know that I wanted to be a writer. As a child I read voraciously, so I was quite awed, quite intimidated, by the great talents on the bookshelves at my local library. I began with a lot of self-doubt about my ability to sustain an idea, create multidimensional characters, and capture the tics of dialogue. I knew what I enjoyed in literature, understood to some degree how it all worked. I was convinced (still am) that nobody could teach the idea that starts a short story, a novel, or a poem. When I had set aside the initial excuses and insecurities, I discovered that I was having fun and I had stories within me.
What was your inspiration forWasp’s Nest?
After I wrote the first in the series,Roma, Underground, I knew that I had created my cast of characters. Two things happened then: one, I wanted to see how each of my characters would grow and evolve, interact with each other, the world around them, and bond emotionally; and two, I wanted to take my own sense of ‘what if� thinking and create situations and see how my characters would negotiate them. I believe what makes my characters interesting is that
they each of them has their own ‘issues,� as we all do in life, but mixed in it all is a cultural collision of American and European. InWasp’s Nest, the ‘what if� has to do with cancer research and technology. What if someone had a way of detecting cancer at the level of DNA and prevent cancer from occurring without chemotherapy, radiation, and disfiguring surgeries? Since the majority of us will die either from heart disease or some form of cancer, there is that ‘what if.� And then there is the ‘what if� inWasp’s Nestof the threat a potential cure poses to those industries that profit from chronic illness. I don’t suggest that ‘what if� is a pure either/or. Dance with the angel of a cure, but don’t forget that the Devil was also once an angel.
For those readers who haven’t read this or the first book yet, what is the blurb of the series as a whole and how many instalments are you planning?
I haven’t committed to an exact number, but I had planned six novels. The overall arc of the series is watching friends learn how to love and trust each other, learn how to move within a morally compromised world. The main character Alabaster (or Bianca if you prefer her alias) is difficult to know, extremely intelligent, and dichotomous at times in her thinking. She sees things others do not, yet she struggles with intimacy and trusting another person. Dante, her boyfriend, is a nice guy, a little too patient with her at times. Farrugia is a stoical investigator with an edge to him. His peer Gennaro is a widower who has never forgiven himself for causing his wife’s death. Alessandro has brains but picks the wrong women. Then there is Silvio, the ambitious and humorous interpreter. InWasp’s Nest, readers will be introduced to Diego Clemente, a garrulous, very Boston character. Throughout the Roma Series I try to infuse authentic Italian culture and food.
In this novel, you dive into the controversial world of biotechnology, genetics, and pharmaceutical companies. Is the theory about wasps, the methyl toolkit, and their connection to cancer in your story a real thing?
TheNasoniawasp is real. There are three species indigenous to the U.S. and a fourth was indeed discovered in Brewertown, New York. In the novel I mentioned Mendelian genetics, which should return readers to basic biology. I try to keep it simple. I address the reason why this wasp was selected and why the fruit fly is an imperfect model. The reader will discover that the Nasonia wasp is no pleasant creature, but what I said about its genetics is true; it is easy to study, easy to manipulate, but the ‘what if� is that current research inNasoniais devoted to the development of pesticides. The concept of the methyl toolkit is real. The ‘what if� I propose is pointed at oncology. I don’t think that it is misleading to say that we all have the potential for cancer. Women with a familial predisposition to cancer, for example, can be tested for the BRCA1 and HER2 genes for ovarian and breast cancers, respectively. A while back, the actress Christina Applegate tested positive for the BRCA1 gene, which was unexpressed, but she opted for a double mastectomy as a pre-emptive strike. This is an example where technology exists and the ethical debates begin. While some sophisticated ideas do exist in Wasp’s Nest, I tried to not make them inaccessible. I believe readers are intelligent and seek intellectual engagement while they enjoy a story.
How much research did the book required?
I always do a great amount of research, but I hope that what I decide to include is articulate and not beyond the grasp of the reader, or so implausible that it is science fiction. I research technology online and in technical libraries. While I don’t have a Ph.D, I’ve retained a working vocabulary from my scientific education. With the methyl toolkit I did speak with an immunologist and instructor who researches cancer and teaches at the graduate level. While I was remiss in thanking him in the Acknowledgements I had him in mind when I introduce readers to Portuguese food inWasp’s Nest. I should also mention that another form of research necessary to the Roma Series is cultural in nature. Two of my friends act as my editors. Dean proofreads all my work; and Claudio does the ‘cultural editing.� Both men are far more knowledgeable in Italian than I. Claudio is a native speaker, a linguist, a journalist and a professional translator, with northern and southern Italian culture in his veins. While I can read Italian with respectable facility, only the native speaker can give you the authentic phrases and turns of phrase. This ‘cultural editing� was crucial to the third novel, out in August 2013, since it deals with a volatile part of recent Italian history, with an unfortunate American connection.
I love the title, which of course suits the story well because it works on two levels. Did you come up with it right away or did you have to brainstorm?
I knew the title from the start. I had wanted to create a story in Boston. The title does work on many levels. It alludes to the insect, the Bostonian stereotype of the White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, and the colloquial expression of getting into a mess, although I think the proper phrase has to do with a ‘hornet’s nest.� One of the particular joys withWasp’s Nestwas working with Winter Goose in designing the cover art. I should point out that the wasp on the cover is not aNasoniacritter, but a yellow jacket wasp.
How long did it take you to write the novel and did you plot in advance?
I wroteWasp’s Nestin four to six weeks, BUT I spent longer editing and shaping it before I submitted it to Winter Goose, where it underwent more editing with James Logan. Fellow Winter Goose authors Jessica Kristie and Sherry Foley provided me with invaluable feedback and suggestions before James touched the manuscript. Jessica is a poet so her contribution around imagery was helpful. Sherry is the author of two Winter Goose thrillers:A Captive HeartandSwitched in Death. She taught me other “suspense tricks.� I can’t emphasize how helpful they were for bothWasp’s Nestand for me as a writer. In terms of plotting, I knew where I was going with this novel. It did feel at times like “seat of your pants� writing, but I advocate getting the story down on paper and then editing afterwards.
What made you decide to make your main character a woman? Has this been challenging? If yes, in what way?
The genesis for the Alabaster character came from a dare. I was talking to a work colleague whom I’ve known for over ten years. Margaret knew that I was writing short stories at the time so she suggested that I try my hand at writing a female character. The result was a short story entitled “Alabaster.� Yes, it is challenging to write out of gender and I would add that it is also difficult to write from a child’s perspective. I have a deep respect for children’s authors since they have to modulate story and vocabulary to their audience. I don’t think writing from a female point of view is insurmountable. Research can get you the answers. The skill is in transforming the knowledge into believable action and dialogue.
In Book I, it was Rome. Now, it is Boston. In both novels your locations are fleshed out in vivid detail. How important is a sense of location in a story?
In the Roma series I try to make the location a character. We can take our environments for granted.Wasp’s Nesttakes place in Boston, the third, fourth, and fifth novels take place in Milan, Naples, and Boston. Cities change all the time: think of Whitman’s Manhattan and New Jersey, T.S. Eliot’s London, and Baudelaire’s Paris. The modern metropolis provides a remarkable backdrop to our individual and social conflicts and pleasures.
How do you keep up with what’s out there in terms of spy gadget technology?
I hope readers don’t think that they are getting Jane Bond. John le CarréTinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spyproved that spy-craft is a slow game of chess. As I mentioned earlier, I read a lot so I read the geek articles whenever I find them, rummage in the libraries when an idea takes root, but in terms of gadgetry I think I use a remarkable device called the ‘intelligent brain,� and it happens to belong to a woman.
As it’s the case with book I, there’s a lot of marvellous food description inWasp’s Nest.
Starving is not an option in Italy. How could you not love the food and the attitude of La Dolce Vita?
If you could narrow down the three main elements of a good spy story, what would they be?
Ambiguity. Misdirection. Movement. A story has to move; the pages have to turn. Ambiguity in character and motivation is true to life. Human beings are not selfless creatures; that is why I think altruism is a virtue. One of the joys of a good mystery is watching intelligent people being intelligent. This is damned difficult to write, since your protagonist has to be smart enough to spot something that neither the other characters nor your readers can see, even though it’s right in front of them.
You also write poetry and short stories, having published many in literary journals. What do you find more enjoyable: working in a poem, a short story or a novel?
Each has its appeal. Poetry is a house with all the necessary language; and by its nature, not often natural language. The short story is an airplane with a short runway and flight is imminent or the plane crashes. The novel is an endurance race, where there are miles to go, numerous paths to take, but you have only so much water and food: use them wisely. For me poetry is intimate and personal. While I enjoy the short-fiction format, I have noticed that what was once acceptable � twenty to fifty pages is now impractical, with most stories clocking in at 5,000 words. Flash or micro fiction is challenging. Is it a story or a vignette? I’ve only had one flash-fiction piece published; it was a 111-word story that I did for a contest for ZOUCH Magazine.
Congratulations on winning first prize inZOUCHMagazine’s Lit Bit contest. Can you tell us about it?
I was searching for the “calls for submission� web pages and I saw page after page of requests for flash fiction. I felt dismayed but then I thought: What can I tell in a short, SHORT piece? I wrote one sentence that told a hero’s journey. The brevity of the form drew upon my experience in writing poetry.
What’s on the horizon for you?
I’m almost done writing the fifth book in the Roma Series. I’m trying to find a publisher for a three-volume noir series that I have written. It has two main characters, an American and a British woman, who are part of the American intelligence community. The novel starts in Vienna and continues in McCarthy-era Los Angeles and New York, highlighting the time, the mores, and the dark rivalry between the CIA and FBI.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with my readers?
Write because you love to write. No matter how great you think the writing is, please have someone edit it for you. Respect your reader and try to understand that not everyone will like you, that criticism, while an opinion, is an opportunity for improvement. If you find a writer that you like then write a balanced review on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and ŷ. Last but not least � thank you for reading.
This interview originally appeared in.
Valjan attended theUniversity of Southern California for his undergraduate education and completed graduate school in England at the University of Leeds. Ronan Bennett short-listed him for the2010 Fish Short Story Prize. Valjan’s short stories continue to appear in print and online literary journals. He recently wonZOUCHMagazine’s inaugural Lit Bits Contest. He lives in New England.Find the author on the web://
Wasp’s Nestis available on///
Read my review of Wasp’s Nest on.
Thanks for this interview. Tell us a little about what got you into writing?
Like most things in my life the road was not always obvious or straight. I didn’t always know that I wanted to be a writer. As a child I read voraciously, so I was quite awed, quite intimidated, by the great talents on the bookshelves at my local library. I began with a lot of self-doubt about my ability to sustain an idea, create multidimensional characters, and capture the tics of dialogue. I knew what I enjoyed in literature, understood to some degree how it all worked. I was convinced (still am) that nobody could teach the idea that starts a short story, a novel, or a poem. When I had set aside the initial excuses and insecurities, I discovered that I was having fun and I had stories within me.
What was your inspiration forWasp’s Nest?
After I wrote the first in the series,Roma, Underground, I knew that I had created my cast of characters. Two things happened then: one, I wanted to see how each of my characters would grow and evolve, interact with each other, the world around them, and bond emotionally; and two, I wanted to take my own sense of ‘what if� thinking and create situations and see how my characters would negotiate them. I believe what makes my characters interesting is that
they each of them has their own ‘issues,� as we all do in life, but mixed in it all is a cultural collision of American and European. InWasp’s Nest, the ‘what if� has to do with cancer research and technology. What if someone had a way of detecting cancer at the level of DNA and prevent cancer from occurring without chemotherapy, radiation, and disfiguring surgeries? Since the majority of us will die either from heart disease or some form of cancer, there is that ‘what if.� And then there is the ‘what if� inWasp’s Nestof the threat a potential cure poses to those industries that profit from chronic illness. I don’t suggest that ‘what if� is a pure either/or. Dance with the angel of a cure, but don’t forget that the Devil was also once an angel.For those readers who haven’t read this or the first book yet, what is the blurb of the series as a whole and how many instalments are you planning?
I haven’t committed to an exact number, but I had planned six novels. The overall arc of the series is watching friends learn how to love and trust each other, learn how to move within a morally compromised world. The main character Alabaster (or Bianca if you prefer her alias) is difficult to know, extremely intelligent, and dichotomous at times in her thinking. She sees things others do not, yet she struggles with intimacy and trusting another person. Dante, her boyfriend, is a nice guy, a little too patient with her at times. Farrugia is a stoical investigator with an edge to him. His peer Gennaro is a widower who has never forgiven himself for causing his wife’s death. Alessandro has brains but picks the wrong women. Then there is Silvio, the ambitious and humorous interpreter. InWasp’s Nest, readers will be introduced to Diego Clemente, a garrulous, very Boston character. Throughout the Roma Series I try to infuse authentic Italian culture and food.
In this novel, you dive into the controversial world of biotechnology, genetics, and pharmaceutical companies. Is the theory about wasps, the methyl toolkit, and their connection to cancer in your story a real thing?
TheNasoniawasp is real. There are three species indigenous to the U.S. and a fourth was indeed discovered in Brewertown, New York. In the novel I mentioned Mendelian genetics, which should return readers to basic biology. I try to keep it simple. I address the reason why this wasp was selected and why the fruit fly is an imperfect model. The reader will discover that the Nasonia wasp is no pleasant creature, but what I said about its genetics is true; it is easy to study, easy to manipulate, but the ‘what if� is that current research inNasoniais devoted to the development of pesticides. The concept of the methyl toolkit is real. The ‘what if� I propose is pointed at oncology. I don’t think that it is misleading to say that we all have the potential for cancer. Women with a familial predisposition to cancer, for example, can be tested for the BRCA1 and HER2 genes for ovarian and breast cancers, respectively. A while back, the actress Christina Applegate tested positive for the BRCA1 gene, which was unexpressed, but she opted for a double mastectomy as a pre-emptive strike. This is an example where technology exists and the ethical debates begin. While some sophisticated ideas do exist in Wasp’s Nest, I tried to not make them inaccessible. I believe readers are intelligent and seek intellectual engagement while they enjoy a story.
How much research did the book required?
I always do a great amount of research, but I hope that what I decide to include is articulate and not beyond the grasp of the reader, or so implausible that it is science fiction. I research technology online and in technical libraries. While I don’t have a Ph.D, I’ve retained a working vocabulary from my scientific education. With the methyl toolkit I did speak with an immunologist and instructor who researches cancer and teaches at the graduate level. While I was remiss in thanking him in the Acknowledgements I had him in mind when I introduce readers to Portuguese food inWasp’s Nest. I should also mention that another form of research necessary to the Roma Series is cultural in nature. Two of my friends act as my editors. Dean proofreads all my work; and Claudio does the ‘cultural editing.� Both men are far more knowledgeable in Italian than I. Claudio is a native speaker, a linguist, a journalist and a professional translator, with northern and southern Italian culture in his veins. While I can read Italian with respectable facility, only the native speaker can give you the authentic phrases and turns of phrase. This ‘cultural editing� was crucial to the third novel, out in August 2013, since it deals with a volatile part of recent Italian history, with an unfortunate American connection.
I love the title, which of course suits the story well because it works on two levels. Did you come up with it right away or did you have to brainstorm?
I knew the title from the start. I had wanted to create a story in Boston. The title does work on many levels. It alludes to the insect, the Bostonian stereotype of the White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, and the colloquial expression of getting into a mess, although I think the proper phrase has to do with a ‘hornet’s nest.� One of the particular joys withWasp’s Nestwas working with Winter Goose in designing the cover art. I should point out that the wasp on the cover is not aNasoniacritter, but a yellow jacket wasp.
How long did it take you to write the novel and did you plot in advance?
I wroteWasp’s Nestin four to six weeks, BUT I spent longer editing and shaping it before I submitted it to Winter Goose, where it underwent more editing with James Logan. Fellow Winter Goose authors Jessica Kristie and Sherry Foley provided me with invaluable feedback and suggestions before James touched the manuscript. Jessica is a poet so her contribution around imagery was helpful. Sherry is the author of two Winter Goose thrillers:A Captive HeartandSwitched in Death. She taught me other “suspense tricks.� I can’t emphasize how helpful they were for bothWasp’s Nestand for me as a writer. In terms of plotting, I knew where I was going with this novel. It did feel at times like “seat of your pants� writing, but I advocate getting the story down on paper and then editing afterwards.
What made you decide to make your main character a woman? Has this been challenging? If yes, in what way?
The genesis for the Alabaster character came from a dare. I was talking to a work colleague whom I’ve known for over ten years. Margaret knew that I was writing short stories at the time so she suggested that I try my hand at writing a female character. The result was a short story entitled “Alabaster.� Yes, it is challenging to write out of gender and I would add that it is also difficult to write from a child’s perspective. I have a deep respect for children’s authors since they have to modulate story and vocabulary to their audience. I don’t think writing from a female point of view is insurmountable. Research can get you the answers. The skill is in transforming the knowledge into believable action and dialogue.
In Book I, it was Rome. Now, it is Boston. In both novels your locations are fleshed out in vivid detail. How important is a sense of location in a story?
In the Roma series I try to make the location a character. We can take our environments for granted.Wasp’s Nesttakes place in Boston, the third, fourth, and fifth novels take place in Milan, Naples, and Boston. Cities change all the time: think of Whitman’s Manhattan and New Jersey, T.S. Eliot’s London, and Baudelaire’s Paris. The modern metropolis provides a remarkable backdrop to our individual and social conflicts and pleasures.
How do you keep up with what’s out there in terms of spy gadget technology?
I hope readers don’t think that they are getting Jane Bond. John le CarréTinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spyproved that spy-craft is a slow game of chess. As I mentioned earlier, I read a lot so I read the geek articles whenever I find them, rummage in the libraries when an idea takes root, but in terms of gadgetry I think I use a remarkable device called the ‘intelligent brain,� and it happens to belong to a woman.
As it’s the case with book I, there’s a lot of marvellous food description inWasp’s Nest.
Starving is not an option in Italy. How could you not love the food and the attitude of La Dolce Vita?
If you could narrow down the three main elements of a good spy story, what would they be?
Ambiguity. Misdirection. Movement. A story has to move; the pages have to turn. Ambiguity in character and motivation is true to life. Human beings are not selfless creatures; that is why I think altruism is a virtue. One of the joys of a good mystery is watching intelligent people being intelligent. This is damned difficult to write, since your protagonist has to be smart enough to spot something that neither the other characters nor your readers can see, even though it’s right in front of them.
You also write poetry and short stories, having published many in literary journals. What do you find more enjoyable: working in a poem, a short story or a novel?
Each has its appeal. Poetry is a house with all the necessary language; and by its nature, not often natural language. The short story is an airplane with a short runway and flight is imminent or the plane crashes. The novel is an endurance race, where there are miles to go, numerous paths to take, but you have only so much water and food: use them wisely. For me poetry is intimate and personal. While I enjoy the short-fiction format, I have noticed that what was once acceptable � twenty to fifty pages is now impractical, with most stories clocking in at 5,000 words. Flash or micro fiction is challenging. Is it a story or a vignette? I’ve only had one flash-fiction piece published; it was a 111-word story that I did for a contest for ZOUCH Magazine.
Congratulations on winning first prize inZOUCHMagazine’s Lit Bit contest. Can you tell us about it?
I was searching for the “calls for submission� web pages and I saw page after page of requests for flash fiction. I felt dismayed but then I thought: What can I tell in a short, SHORT piece? I wrote one sentence that told a hero’s journey. The brevity of the form drew upon my experience in writing poetry.
What’s on the horizon for you?
I’m almost done writing the fifth book in the Roma Series. I’m trying to find a publisher for a three-volume noir series that I have written. It has two main characters, an American and a British woman, who are part of the American intelligence community. The novel starts in Vienna and continues in McCarthy-era Los Angeles and New York, highlighting the time, the mores, and the dark rivalry between the CIA and FBI.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with my readers?
Write because you love to write. No matter how great you think the writing is, please have someone edit it for you. Respect your reader and try to understand that not everyone will like you, that criticism, while an opinion, is an opportunity for improvement. If you find a writer that you like then write a balanced review on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and ŷ. Last but not least � thank you for reading.
This interview originally appeared in.
