August 27 - I'm back from a wild weekend in St. Louis. Friday Frank and I blew (literally) into town with a busload of other Redbird fans to watch a Cardinal baseball game. As we checked into the hotel, the storm hit--high winds, lightning, thunder. We were thankful to be inside. Later we managed to dodge the rain until we got to Bush Stadium where an enormous clap of thunder petrified everybody and put out the lights. After more than an hour rain delay while we sat in our dry seats, the game started and the Cardinals lost. The storm had chased away some of the hot, humid air and we had a lovely Saturday at Grants Farm communing with nature and marveling at the size of the hoofs on those Clydesdales, even the babies.
Don't think this blog is just about the weather. My book club had a great discussion on The Plot Against America by Phillip Roth. Very thought provoking! It's based on the premise that Charles Lindbergh was elected President in 1940 instead of Franklin Roosevelt. The story is narrated by a seven year old Jewish boy with his adult commentaries added. A very interesting book.
I hope you are all ready for our next interview with an author. Here it is.
Interview with Toni LoTempio
GRACE: Welcome, Toni, and thank you for taking the time to be with us today. Tell us about yourself.
TONI: I began writing at an early age, and reading even earlier. As a child I would rework the endings of stories when they did not suit me. In 1995 I joined the staff of a pulp magazine, SUSABELLA PASSENGERS AND FRIENDS, as a feature reporter, winning their Margaret Sutton Award for Distinguished Reporting in 1998. I've written over 200 articles for this magazine in the space of 10 years. I live in Clifton, New Jersey, with my three "babies," Misty, Trixie, and Phyllis, and, while still employed full-time, am at work on a paranormal suspense, a chick-lit thriller, and a screenplay. You may visit my website at www.freewebs.com/toni1953.
GRACE: We'd like to know a little more about you. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
TONI: A tigress—I want to be "Queen of the Jungle."
GRACE: When did you begin writing and what prompted you to write?
TONI: I was eight years old, and I didn't like the way my comic book stories ended, so I made up my own.
GRACE: Which writer or writers do you most admire, and why?
TONI: Stephen King—for his gustiness and sheer creativity. The man single-handedly rescued the horror genre and kept it alive for King wannabees like me. It was a real thrill for my novel to pass his up on Fictionwise in e-sales. My favorite authors are Stephen King, John Saul, Mary Higgins Clark, Rita Mae Brown, Lawrence Block, and Sidney Sheldon. My favorite novel of all time? Gone with the Wind. I can relate to the independent character of Scarlett O'Hara.
GRACE: What is the hardest thing about being a writer?
TONI: Getting rejected and then seeing total crap getting published. You just wonder sometimes what it takes to get a break in this business.
GRACE: Tell us a little about your writing now—published and in progress.
TONI: Bound by Blood and Ebony are out right now from Whiskey Creek Press. In 2009 I have Witch's Pawn coming out from Echelon Press, and I have two other novels I'm shopping to agents. In a few weeks I start work on a romantic suspense.
GRACE: Thank you, Toni, for being with us today. We wish you all the best, and we'll check out your website www.freewebs.com/toni1953 to learn more about you.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Monday, August 20, 2007
August 20, 2007 - After ten days of 100 degrees or more here in Memphis, we are now having a cool spell. Yesterday it was only 95 and today so far at 2 P.M. it is 93 degrees. People are succumbing to this dreadful heat with 12 deaths in the city and dead trees or ones with drying branches everywhere you look. Never have I appreciated AC more.
As a result of my staying out of the heat, I am finally making headway on the second novel in my Unlikely Alliance series. And yesterday my book club discussed The Plot Against America by Phillip Roth, an extremely thought-provoking novel exploring the premise that Charles Lindbergh was elected President instead of Franklin Roosevelt in 1940. The story narrater is a seven year old Jewish boy with alternating passages from his adult memories. A chilling "what if" novel.
Now for another author interview.
As a result of my staying out of the heat, I am finally making headway on the second novel in my Unlikely Alliance series. And yesterday my book club discussed The Plot Against America by Phillip Roth, an extremely thought-provoking novel exploring the premise that Charles Lindbergh was elected President instead of Franklin Roosevelt in 1940. The story narrater is a seven year old Jewish boy with alternating passages from his adult memories. A chilling "what if" novel.
Now for another author interview.
Interview with Kerul Kassel
GRACE: We’re glad to have you here with us, Kerul. Tell us about yourself.
GRACE: We’re glad to have you here with us, Kerul. Tell us about yourself.
KERUL: I’m an author, speaker, consultant, and coach, as well as community activist, a birder, owner of a home in Florida and an estate in New York’s Catskill Mountains, a wife and am a “mom” to two dogs and two horses. My books are about self-management–specifically procrastination, and how to use it to help you get what you want in life.
GRACE: With all of that going, I’d like you to slow down a bit for a second and give us some insight into the real you. Tell us, if you were an animal, what would you be?
KERUL: I’d be a hybrid I’d have the eyes and wings of an eagle; the unconditional love, sense of fun, adventure, and wagging tail of a dog; the wisdom, muscular strength, and graceful beauty of a horse; the ears and silent stealth of an owl–guess Id be a really funny-looking animal!
GRACE: That would be some animal. When did you begin writing, and what prompted you to write?
KERUL: I started writing for publication just a few years ago. I found so many people (my clients, workshop and teleclass participants) beating themselves up about what they hadn't accomplished in life, and it was weighing them down, draining them of energy, and that was so unnecessary! I wanted to help them let go of that punishing perspective and replace it with a new lively, fun, experimental, forward-thinking one, and I could reach more people by writing a book. You guessed it, I write non-fiction, specifically about procrastination.
GRACE: Which writer or writers do you most admire, and why?
KERUL: Too many to name! Authors that inspire me (in various ways) are Lenedra Carroll for her intuitive heft and lyricism, Deepak Chopra for his transcendent yet humorous wisdom, Seth Godin for his consistent and prolific nonconformist perspective, Eckhart Tolle and Don Miguel Ruiz for their simple, compassionate writing.
GRACE: What is the hardest thing about being a writer?
KERUL: Marketing and selling books! Writing is fun and easy compared to that!
GRACE: Tell us about your writing–published and in progress.
KERUL: My first book, Stop Procrastinating Now–Five Radical Procrastination Strategies to Set You Free, was released earlier this year, in March during National Procrastination Week through New Leaf Publishing. It’s available at http://www.amazon.com/. My next book, Productive Procrastination – Make It Work for You, Not Against You will be released this fall through Echelon Press. Whew – 2 books in 1 year! The next book may be stories about Productive Procrastination – sort of like a Chicken Soup for the Productive Procrastinator’s Soul.
I may also release some coaching recordings. I already have a CD audio series called Power Decluttering for Busy People. It’s a 6 CD set of one hour recorded-live teleclasses and comes with an online workbook that takes you through 25 steps to becoming organized – 5 steps each week. The workbook is also available alone, as an e-course. They’re available at http://www.newleafsystems.com/products.php. If you want more personal and business info about me, go to http://www.newleafsystems.com/who.php
GRACE: Whew! Kerul, you are one busy person! I don’t see how you have time to procrastinate at all. Thanks for being with us. We wish you the best of luck with all your endeavors.
I may also release some coaching recordings. I already have a CD audio series called Power Decluttering for Busy People. It’s a 6 CD set of one hour recorded-live teleclasses and comes with an online workbook that takes you through 25 steps to becoming organized – 5 steps each week. The workbook is also available alone, as an e-course. They’re available at http://www.newleafsystems.com/products.php. If you want more personal and business info about me, go to http://www.newleafsystems.com/who.php
GRACE: Whew! Kerul, you are one busy person! I don’t see how you have time to procrastinate at all. Thanks for being with us. We wish you the best of luck with all your endeavors.
August 15, 2007 It's so hot here in Memphis I can hardly think. Monday night Frank and I went to the Redbird game, and it was 101 degrees in the shade. We were drinking constantly. Mine was my favorite a cup full of ice with water. The cup dripping with sweat, as I was, felt cool on my legs and face, and I was fine till the seventh inning stretch when I stood up and almost passed out. Like most of the other fans there, I toughed it out till the Birds won and we got back to our AC in the car. What a relief! The next day, a migraine kept me inside, away from the 105 degrees outside and away from everything else as well. But today, just as hot, I'm back at the computer after aerobics and a trip to the library, and I have another author interview for you.
Interview with KC Oliver
GRACE: K. C. Oliver, It's great to have you here with us. Tell us about yourself.
KC: My name is KC Oliver and I am the author of the young adult thriller, Pretty Pretty about two best friends who land summer jobs in a haunted hotel in Hawaii. I live in Manitoba, Canada with my husband, my children, a goofy cat named Xena, and an amazing betta named Timbit(yup, I love Tim Hortons!) Manitoba is smack dab in the middle of Canada and has a little of everything; prairies, mountains (small ones), a small desert, even tundra complete with polar bears! It's fantastic.
GRACE: If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
KC: I'd be a gargoyle-like muse like the one on my website (See About Me)…is that an animal? I want to be the little voice that inspires authors to write.
GRACE: When did you begin writing, and what prompted you to write?
KC: I have been writing all my life in one form or another. I have always loved to read, and the way a well-written book can pull you into a world of adventure and make you feel that you are actually a part of it, always amazed and thrilled me. I found that I was filled with ideas and adventures of my own that demanded to be heard. And once I started to write, it was like the flood-gates opened, and I have never looked back.
GRACE: Which writers do you most admire, and why?
KC: I absolutely love Carolyn Keene, R. L. Stine, and J. K. Rowling. Every one of these writers has inspired me to pursue my love of reading and writing.
GRACE: What is the hardest thing about being a writer?
KC: Not having enough time to write; there just never seems to be enough hours in the day.
GRACE: Tell us about your writing—published and in progress.
KC: Early in my writing career, I had some smaller milestones; I had a short story published in a magazine and some poetry published in other publications. When Pretty Pretty was picked up by Echelon Press, I was thrilled beyond words, and the publication of the book set me on the path to something new; marketing and promotion. This was a real eye-opener because the work doesn't end with the writing and publishing of a book; that is but one part of it.
Pretty Pretty is the first book in a series of "Pretty" books. Sleep, My Pretty, is the second in the series, and in this novel, the characters find themselves in the sights of a serial killer. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time has never boon so deadly. I hope to see the second book out in 2008.
GRACE: It has been a great pleasure having another writer for young people here with us. The two of us seem to have a great deal in common. Both of our first books were published by Echelon Press in 2005, we both began writing at an early age, and we were both motivated by our reading and experiencing new worlds through the printed word. Thank you very much for sharing your time with us. We wish you the very best as you continue writing and introducing young readers to new worlds of excitement through reading.
You may find KC online at www.kc-oliver.tripod.com, www.jacketflap.com/profile.asp?member+KC+Oliver, and http://kcoliver.blogspot.com
Interview with KC Oliver
GRACE: K. C. Oliver, It's great to have you here with us. Tell us about yourself.
KC: My name is KC Oliver and I am the author of the young adult thriller, Pretty Pretty about two best friends who land summer jobs in a haunted hotel in Hawaii. I live in Manitoba, Canada with my husband, my children, a goofy cat named Xena, and an amazing betta named Timbit(yup, I love Tim Hortons!) Manitoba is smack dab in the middle of Canada and has a little of everything; prairies, mountains (small ones), a small desert, even tundra complete with polar bears! It's fantastic.
GRACE: If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
KC: I'd be a gargoyle-like muse like the one on my website (See About Me)…is that an animal? I want to be the little voice that inspires authors to write.
GRACE: When did you begin writing, and what prompted you to write?
KC: I have been writing all my life in one form or another. I have always loved to read, and the way a well-written book can pull you into a world of adventure and make you feel that you are actually a part of it, always amazed and thrilled me. I found that I was filled with ideas and adventures of my own that demanded to be heard. And once I started to write, it was like the flood-gates opened, and I have never looked back.
GRACE: Which writers do you most admire, and why?
KC: I absolutely love Carolyn Keene, R. L. Stine, and J. K. Rowling. Every one of these writers has inspired me to pursue my love of reading and writing.
GRACE: What is the hardest thing about being a writer?
KC: Not having enough time to write; there just never seems to be enough hours in the day.
GRACE: Tell us about your writing—published and in progress.
KC: Early in my writing career, I had some smaller milestones; I had a short story published in a magazine and some poetry published in other publications. When Pretty Pretty was picked up by Echelon Press, I was thrilled beyond words, and the publication of the book set me on the path to something new; marketing and promotion. This was a real eye-opener because the work doesn't end with the writing and publishing of a book; that is but one part of it.
Pretty Pretty is the first book in a series of "Pretty" books. Sleep, My Pretty, is the second in the series, and in this novel, the characters find themselves in the sights of a serial killer. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time has never boon so deadly. I hope to see the second book out in 2008.
GRACE: It has been a great pleasure having another writer for young people here with us. The two of us seem to have a great deal in common. Both of our first books were published by Echelon Press in 2005, we both began writing at an early age, and we were both motivated by our reading and experiencing new worlds through the printed word. Thank you very much for sharing your time with us. We wish you the very best as you continue writing and introducing young readers to new worlds of excitement through reading.
You may find KC online at www.kc-oliver.tripod.com, www.jacketflap.com/profile.asp?member+KC+Oliver, and http://kcoliver.blogspot.com
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
August 8, 2007. This blogging is still new to me, and my feeble brain is still stuffed with images from the weekend—a stage full of actors and a mystery theater audience all enjoying the mystery event I adapted and directed. It was a chaotic evening in which the lighting was improvised, the sound system was definitely deficient (the actors couldn't hear their musical cues, the AC was struggling on the hottest evening of the summer, and the place was packed with an enthusiastic, more than sell-out crowd. Unbelievable! But by all accounts, the event was a great success.
Enough of the weekend. Today we are fortunate to have with us Silvia Foti for an interview.
Interview with Silvia Foti, author of The Diva's Fool
GRACE: Welcome, Silvia! We're very glad to have you here. Tell us about yourself.
SILVIA: I spent 20 years as a journalist writing for a variety of media. Most recently, I switched careers to become a high school English teacher and will start teaching my first class of freshmen on August 10, tomorrow. I have a Masters in Journalism from Northwestern University and am two courses shy of a Masters in Education from National Louis University.
I write from Chicago, where I reside with my husband and two children. I'm president of Love Is Murder, a multi-genre conference for writers and readers (www.loveismurder.net) where I met my publisher, and the Chicago chapter of Sisters in Crime. The Diva's Fool is my second mystery novel, the launch of a mystery/paranormal series based on the Greater Secrets of the Tarot cards.
GRACE: Sounds like an interesting series. Now we want to know you, the real person behind the writer. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
SILVIA: I'd be a wolf because it's part of my alter ego's nature—to prowl, watch, and be silent. My protagonist is named Alkexandria Vilkas, and in Lithuanian vilkas means Wolf. The country's first ruler dreamt of a wolf and built the capital of Lithuania called Vilnius, so the animal is strongly associated with my heritage.
GRACE: When did you begin writing, and what prompted you to write?
SILVIA: I started a diary at 8 years old and have kept one ever since. My first play was "produced" in grade school as part of a children's assembly, and I was hooked at trying to make meaning.
GRACE: Which writer or writers do you most admire, and why?
SILVIA: Caleb Carr is an incredible writer, a master at plotting and characterization, and the way he delves into New York history and brings it to life is breathtaking.
GRACE: What do you think is the hardest thing about being a writer?
SILVIA: Learning the craft mostly by myself. I wish I had pursued a degree in creative writing and had more professional feedback. I still may do it because I keep thinking about how much there is to learn.
GRACE: Tell us about your writing, published or in progress.
SILVIA: The Diva's Fool features a detective who solves murder mysteries primarily by using Tarot cards, an extended metaphor for the development of her intuition. It's the first in the series, based on the Tarot's Greater Secrets, in which a fool initiates a journey that will take twenty-two steps until she reaches enlightenment. Her own foolish endeavor is falling in love with a married man. I'm working on writing the next in the series, concerning The Magician card, in which Alexandria develops her concentration and willpower.
GRACE: Silvia we wish you the best of luck with your new series. Thank you for taking the time to be with us today. Everyone is invited to visit Silvia at her website www.SilviaFoti.com. The Diva's Fool is available from Amazon.com, bookstores, and Echelon Press.
Enough of the weekend. Today we are fortunate to have with us Silvia Foti for an interview.
Interview with Silvia Foti, author of The Diva's Fool
GRACE: Welcome, Silvia! We're very glad to have you here. Tell us about yourself.
SILVIA: I spent 20 years as a journalist writing for a variety of media. Most recently, I switched careers to become a high school English teacher and will start teaching my first class of freshmen on August 10, tomorrow. I have a Masters in Journalism from Northwestern University and am two courses shy of a Masters in Education from National Louis University.
I write from Chicago, where I reside with my husband and two children. I'm president of Love Is Murder, a multi-genre conference for writers and readers (www.loveismurder.net) where I met my publisher, and the Chicago chapter of Sisters in Crime. The Diva's Fool is my second mystery novel, the launch of a mystery/paranormal series based on the Greater Secrets of the Tarot cards.
GRACE: Sounds like an interesting series. Now we want to know you, the real person behind the writer. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
SILVIA: I'd be a wolf because it's part of my alter ego's nature—to prowl, watch, and be silent. My protagonist is named Alkexandria Vilkas, and in Lithuanian vilkas means Wolf. The country's first ruler dreamt of a wolf and built the capital of Lithuania called Vilnius, so the animal is strongly associated with my heritage.
GRACE: When did you begin writing, and what prompted you to write?
SILVIA: I started a diary at 8 years old and have kept one ever since. My first play was "produced" in grade school as part of a children's assembly, and I was hooked at trying to make meaning.
GRACE: Which writer or writers do you most admire, and why?
SILVIA: Caleb Carr is an incredible writer, a master at plotting and characterization, and the way he delves into New York history and brings it to life is breathtaking.
GRACE: What do you think is the hardest thing about being a writer?
SILVIA: Learning the craft mostly by myself. I wish I had pursued a degree in creative writing and had more professional feedback. I still may do it because I keep thinking about how much there is to learn.
GRACE: Tell us about your writing, published or in progress.
SILVIA: The Diva's Fool features a detective who solves murder mysteries primarily by using Tarot cards, an extended metaphor for the development of her intuition. It's the first in the series, based on the Tarot's Greater Secrets, in which a fool initiates a journey that will take twenty-two steps until she reaches enlightenment. Her own foolish endeavor is falling in love with a married man. I'm working on writing the next in the series, concerning The Magician card, in which Alexandria develops her concentration and willpower.
GRACE: Silvia we wish you the best of luck with your new series. Thank you for taking the time to be with us today. Everyone is invited to visit Silvia at her website www.SilviaFoti.com. The Diva's Fool is available from Amazon.com, bookstores, and Echelon Press.
Gracee's Blog
Aug. 5, 2007 Today, after much hesitation and trepidation, I become a blogger. I've wondered what in the world I could talk about that would interest people I know and hope to know. I always have more on my mind about everything than I can possibly say so you may see anything in this space.
As I love reading and writing so much, a good deal of what you see here will be about writing, books, and stuff like that. To begin, I'd like to introduce some of my fellow writers from Echelon Press. Today the focus is on Jenny Turner with an interview of Jenny.
Interview with Jenny (J. R.) Turner
Grace: Welcome, Jenny! Tell us about yourself.
Jenny: Gosh, where to begin? I will turn 36 this fall and I'm still surprised when I think about it. I'm the same Jenny I've always been. Certainly I'm wiser and more skilled every year, at least I hope so, but overall, I'm still me. All my life I've been drawn to the romantic arts. I think this had a lot to do with some of the more harrowing experiences I had when I was very young. I longed for the time when we girls were treasured, cherished and protected—totally "unfeminist" of me, I know. From that longing, I spent a lot of time teaching myself tatting, embroidery, crochet, knitting, painting, sewing, doll making, soap making, paper making, and the list goes on and on. When I discovered a craft I hadn't tried, I would be overcome with excitement to give it a whirl. Eventually, I ended up teaching crafts for the Milwaukee Public School System. This was during my decade-long stint as a contract artist.
Reading and writing, the art of literature, however, was always a passion. No matter what craft I was engaging in, there was always a book beside me, a story percolating in my mind, a love of words and language flowing through my veins. When I finally decided to try my hand at writing, I did it like I do most things—fully and wholly, committing myself to the process. The only caution my husband had for me was that he worried I might get bored with it, as he described my constantly changing the type of handiwork I conquered.
Grace: Wow! Jenny you've been as busy as an ant getting ready for winter. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
Jenny: I would be a cat. They're independent, and I like being on my own. But I also like to "colonize" the way cats do. They can be excellent mothers, and that's at the top of my priorities. It would be awesome to see in the dark, and to be so agile that I can leap tall sofas and refrigerators in a single bound. Cats can be extremely loving as well, and purring would be really awesome.
Grace: When did you begin writing and what prompted you to write?
Jenny: About 1998 or 99 I had run out of new books to read by my favorite authors. I took a few risks, bought some books based mostly on their covers, and was so disgusted by what bad reads they were that I decided to write the epic adventure I'd been playing in my head for the last few years. My husband, a truck driver, said I could co-drive with him, and I chose the night shift. When you're in the middle of nowhere, there's not a lot to listen to on the radio so I started playing with a historical romance in my head, altering and changing each "movie scene" as I added more to the story. By the time I sat down to write, I knew every nuance of the story. My father gave me his old computer late in the summer of '99 and I started typing the story on this gigantic IBM model. Shortly after, I upgraded to regular PC with internet so I could research to my heart's content. By 2003, I had my first completed manuscript and began querying. I wrote five books before I finally sold my third manuscript, Stark Knight, in 2005 to Echelon Press.
Grace: You certainly seem more dedicated to the craft of writing than to the other crafts you tried earlier. Can you tell us which writer or writers you most admire and why?
Jenny: Oh gosh, this is like asking me which of my relatives I love most and why. Excellent authors are like family to me—each has merits, each has flaws, but each has a place in my heart just for them. Most influential would be Julie Garwood. When I first began writing, I was heart-deep in her novels and wanted to have that same flavor—with my own voice and style, of course. I admire her work so very much because her heroines and heroes are excellently shown to have every spectrum of humanity—love, jealousy, bravery, courage, fear, frustration, weakness, strength. You name it; her characters have it all. I think what I most love though, is the sense of humor she brings to the page. I can't think of any of her books where I didn't laugh out loud at something. Dean Koontz—I admire his use of language. He just blows me away. Stephen King—not just his horror, but his adventures and dramas as well (Shawshank, Redemption, Dark Tower series, etc.) King's imagination is inspiring. He's fearless when being as weird as he wants to be. Michael Crichton—his brand of sci-fi and adventure is right up my alley. He takes the mundane and makes it fantastic. And I have to say J. K. Rowling. It's a rare person who can capture the imagination of an entire world. That's freaking admirable!
Grace: What is the hardest thing about being a writer?
Jenny: Letting the world know you exist. I love what I write, I love the stories, the characters, the plots, playing with the language, having fun coming up with new twists and exciting action. I love everything about writing, but the toughest part is this sense that I'm a little fish in a very big ocean and as much as I wildly wave my tail fin to let the passersby know "I'm here! I'm here!" I'm just not making a big enough wave to get their attention. It can be a bit frustrating and lonely at times. Especially when you run out of people to tell about your latest book, your work in progress, or your future plans. I can't say how many times my husband has looked at me and said, "Yeah, I know. You told me that last week." Poor guy!
Grace: I know just what you mean. Now let's wind this up with something about your writing—published and in progress.
Jenny: Right now I'm finalizing the manuscript for Good Knight, the third and final book in my Knight Inc. series. The first, Stark Knight, was my attempt to write a character-driven novel and I fell in love with the form. Sara Stark is a memorable character. She's so flawed, but so honorable, that the complexities of her personality have made her difficult to write at times—yet highly enjoyable and satisfying. In Silent Knight, when she confronts a notable person from her past for the first time, I really felt for her. She's struggled to overcome so much that this sort of shattered a lot of her defenses. In Good Knight though, she comes back tougher than ever. My Biker Bodyguard is my latest release. This was the first book I drew on past, personal experiences to write. Jess Owen is a tattoo artist living with a family of bikers. She more resembles me (in my early 20's) than any of my other characters—aside from the gun-toting Mustang-driving scenes, that is. Mitch Conner, the hero in the story, is my vision of Mr. Hunk-o-Rama. Strong men in leather really get me where I live!
For works-in-progress, I'm revising a thriller I wrote a few years ago and starting work on a new series of young adult adventure novels that I'm especially excited about. The series focuses on two groups who have "inherited" special powers after a series of natural disasters destroys the planet and most of the population. Each group sort of gravitates toward one another based on personality, the powers they inherit, and their vision for the future. Tons of action, tons of adventure, some exceptionally fun and unique characters, plus a strong paranormal element will drive the series.
Grace: That sounds exciting! Thank you for telling us about it. And thanks for being with us today.
Jenny: Thanks so much, Grace, for spending this time with me!
Grace: Check out Jenny's website at http://www.jennifer-turner.com/ to learn more about her and her books.
As I love reading and writing so much, a good deal of what you see here will be about writing, books, and stuff like that. To begin, I'd like to introduce some of my fellow writers from Echelon Press. Today the focus is on Jenny Turner with an interview of Jenny.
Interview with Jenny (J. R.) Turner
Grace: Welcome, Jenny! Tell us about yourself.
Jenny: Gosh, where to begin? I will turn 36 this fall and I'm still surprised when I think about it. I'm the same Jenny I've always been. Certainly I'm wiser and more skilled every year, at least I hope so, but overall, I'm still me. All my life I've been drawn to the romantic arts. I think this had a lot to do with some of the more harrowing experiences I had when I was very young. I longed for the time when we girls were treasured, cherished and protected—totally "unfeminist" of me, I know. From that longing, I spent a lot of time teaching myself tatting, embroidery, crochet, knitting, painting, sewing, doll making, soap making, paper making, and the list goes on and on. When I discovered a craft I hadn't tried, I would be overcome with excitement to give it a whirl. Eventually, I ended up teaching crafts for the Milwaukee Public School System. This was during my decade-long stint as a contract artist.
Reading and writing, the art of literature, however, was always a passion. No matter what craft I was engaging in, there was always a book beside me, a story percolating in my mind, a love of words and language flowing through my veins. When I finally decided to try my hand at writing, I did it like I do most things—fully and wholly, committing myself to the process. The only caution my husband had for me was that he worried I might get bored with it, as he described my constantly changing the type of handiwork I conquered.
Grace: Wow! Jenny you've been as busy as an ant getting ready for winter. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
Jenny: I would be a cat. They're independent, and I like being on my own. But I also like to "colonize" the way cats do. They can be excellent mothers, and that's at the top of my priorities. It would be awesome to see in the dark, and to be so agile that I can leap tall sofas and refrigerators in a single bound. Cats can be extremely loving as well, and purring would be really awesome.
Grace: When did you begin writing and what prompted you to write?
Jenny: About 1998 or 99 I had run out of new books to read by my favorite authors. I took a few risks, bought some books based mostly on their covers, and was so disgusted by what bad reads they were that I decided to write the epic adventure I'd been playing in my head for the last few years. My husband, a truck driver, said I could co-drive with him, and I chose the night shift. When you're in the middle of nowhere, there's not a lot to listen to on the radio so I started playing with a historical romance in my head, altering and changing each "movie scene" as I added more to the story. By the time I sat down to write, I knew every nuance of the story. My father gave me his old computer late in the summer of '99 and I started typing the story on this gigantic IBM model. Shortly after, I upgraded to regular PC with internet so I could research to my heart's content. By 2003, I had my first completed manuscript and began querying. I wrote five books before I finally sold my third manuscript, Stark Knight, in 2005 to Echelon Press.
Grace: You certainly seem more dedicated to the craft of writing than to the other crafts you tried earlier. Can you tell us which writer or writers you most admire and why?
Jenny: Oh gosh, this is like asking me which of my relatives I love most and why. Excellent authors are like family to me—each has merits, each has flaws, but each has a place in my heart just for them. Most influential would be Julie Garwood. When I first began writing, I was heart-deep in her novels and wanted to have that same flavor—with my own voice and style, of course. I admire her work so very much because her heroines and heroes are excellently shown to have every spectrum of humanity—love, jealousy, bravery, courage, fear, frustration, weakness, strength. You name it; her characters have it all. I think what I most love though, is the sense of humor she brings to the page. I can't think of any of her books where I didn't laugh out loud at something. Dean Koontz—I admire his use of language. He just blows me away. Stephen King—not just his horror, but his adventures and dramas as well (Shawshank, Redemption, Dark Tower series, etc.) King's imagination is inspiring. He's fearless when being as weird as he wants to be. Michael Crichton—his brand of sci-fi and adventure is right up my alley. He takes the mundane and makes it fantastic. And I have to say J. K. Rowling. It's a rare person who can capture the imagination of an entire world. That's freaking admirable!
Grace: What is the hardest thing about being a writer?
Jenny: Letting the world know you exist. I love what I write, I love the stories, the characters, the plots, playing with the language, having fun coming up with new twists and exciting action. I love everything about writing, but the toughest part is this sense that I'm a little fish in a very big ocean and as much as I wildly wave my tail fin to let the passersby know "I'm here! I'm here!" I'm just not making a big enough wave to get their attention. It can be a bit frustrating and lonely at times. Especially when you run out of people to tell about your latest book, your work in progress, or your future plans. I can't say how many times my husband has looked at me and said, "Yeah, I know. You told me that last week." Poor guy!
Grace: I know just what you mean. Now let's wind this up with something about your writing—published and in progress.
Jenny: Right now I'm finalizing the manuscript for Good Knight, the third and final book in my Knight Inc. series. The first, Stark Knight, was my attempt to write a character-driven novel and I fell in love with the form. Sara Stark is a memorable character. She's so flawed, but so honorable, that the complexities of her personality have made her difficult to write at times—yet highly enjoyable and satisfying. In Silent Knight, when she confronts a notable person from her past for the first time, I really felt for her. She's struggled to overcome so much that this sort of shattered a lot of her defenses. In Good Knight though, she comes back tougher than ever. My Biker Bodyguard is my latest release. This was the first book I drew on past, personal experiences to write. Jess Owen is a tattoo artist living with a family of bikers. She more resembles me (in my early 20's) than any of my other characters—aside from the gun-toting Mustang-driving scenes, that is. Mitch Conner, the hero in the story, is my vision of Mr. Hunk-o-Rama. Strong men in leather really get me where I live!
For works-in-progress, I'm revising a thriller I wrote a few years ago and starting work on a new series of young adult adventure novels that I'm especially excited about. The series focuses on two groups who have "inherited" special powers after a series of natural disasters destroys the planet and most of the population. Each group sort of gravitates toward one another based on personality, the powers they inherit, and their vision for the future. Tons of action, tons of adventure, some exceptionally fun and unique characters, plus a strong paranormal element will drive the series.
Grace: That sounds exciting! Thank you for telling us about it. And thanks for being with us today.
Jenny: Thanks so much, Grace, for spending this time with me!
Grace: Check out Jenny's website at http://www.jennifer-turner.com/ to learn more about her and her books.
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