Another #Romance #EPublisher Closes #SamhainPublishing

News that has sent shockwaves across the romance publishing and writing community, Samhain Publishing has announced that it will cease operations soon.

I remember when the e-publisher first began their operations.  They took off like a rocket and were soon hitting best seller status for their authors on Fictionwise- yes it has been that long and the burgeoning Amazon--which was a lot back then because it took practically a miracle to get your book listed with them!  Anyways according to this article from Publisher's Weekly- which I will repost a portion of below-- declining sales and the dreaded Amazon had a lot to do with their decision to close.

We are the Amazon of the Borg.  Resistance is Futile.  You will be assimilated to add your essence to our own!  Prepare to bend over....

Here is part of the article from Publisher's Weekly....

In an email sent to authors Friday, Christina Brashear, publisher of Samhain Publishing, a mostly digital romance publisher, said the publisher will begin to shut down its publishing operations due to a steady decline in e-book sales.

“It’s with the heaviest of hearts and a great sadness I bring you the news of Samhain beginning the process of winding down due to our market share's continuing decline. We’re approaching the point where we cannot sustain our business,” Brashear wrote.

In the letter, Brashear said e-books sales at Samhaim have been declining steadily over the last two years. Attempts to renegotiate terms with Amazon for better placement on their site, “have been met with silence.”

She said the house, which was founded in 2005 and was a pioneering publisher of romance fiction in e-book formats, will layoff most of its staff and freelancers. About five staff employees will remain to wind down publishing operations. Brashear said she will not shut Samhain down immediately, and will continue to publish scheduled titles, sell books, and pay royalties as long as possible to satisfy creditors.

Brashear said royalties will be processed on a normal schedule. She said titles that are completed and ready will be published on schedule; and authors whose titles are not finished will have their rights reverted back to them. Brashear also said while she intends to revert all the rights of all books back to their authors, she cautioned that it will not happen immediately.

For the rest of this article please click on the link to Publisher's Weekly....http://publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/content-and-e-books/article/69517-samhain-publishing-to-shut-down-operations.html

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This follows the closing of Secret Cravings Publishing and a host of others who've had to close for similar reasons.

I have to admit I along with a few of my fellow romance authors are concerned.  We wonder if this is the beginning of the end of small e-publishing houses and will our own respective publishers follow the same suit.

What are your thoughts on this?

#Amazon Hiding #Reviews- Warning To Authors Who Write #Erotic #Romance And #Erotica Even #PNR

I just found this out in an e-mail from Night Owl Reviews.


New Amazon Update

Hi Reviewers, authors and the publishing industry,

Author D. Renee Bagby / Zenobia Renquist let us know that Amazon has implemented a new "Hide Reviews" system. After reading her letter I personally went to check our account and found we needed to change our settings as she directed. So a big thanks to Renee.

Please take a look at her letter below if you post reviews to Amazon are an author or have anything to do with reviews on Amazon.

The Night Owl Reviews Team

Check Your Privacy Settings

I just found out on FB that Amazon has a function to hide your reviews on what they deem "sensitive products," which translates to pretty much anything in the Romance section of the Kindle store, and especially stuff in the Erotica section, like Her Fantasy Reality.

Here's how to see if your reviews are being hidden:
- Log into Amazon
- Go to Your Account
- Scroll down to Personalization
- Click on Your Public Profile
At the bottom of the page will be an image that looks like this

- Click the "Privacy Settings" link
- Scroll down to the bottom of the page
- UNCLICK "Hide Sensitive Activity"
- Save

Now all your reviews should be visible to everyone as they were intended, because if you didn't want it to be seen, you wouldn't have left a review, right?

Spread the word to others, who might be affected.

Have a happy,
~ Renee

-Don't Let This Happen To You! 

-Clare

The New Death and Others by James Hutchings

James Hutchings is an author of fantasy. His newest work, The New Death and others is available from Amazon, Smashwords and Barnes & Noble. 


What is the name of your latest book?  And how did you come up with the title?

I actually found the image that I wanted to use on the cover first (it's by Jose Posada). It fit best with my story 'The New Death', so I made that the title story.

What is this book about?  And what genre is this book in?

It's a collection of stories and poems, 63 pieces in all. It's only a bit over 41,000 words in total, so most of them are quite short. Most of the stories are fantasy, but there's some 'general fiction' in there as well. The style ranges from funny to very grim. I'm much more influenced by older writers like Tolkien and Robert E Howard. In fact I've never read any of the Harry Potter, Twilight or Game of Thrones series, or most other popular modern fantasy authors.

Who is/are the main characters?  And why did you choose them?

There aren't many characters that recur from one piece to the next, except for the gods Death, Commerce and Fame. They're inspired by the short stories of Lord Dunsany, particularly his collection Fifty-One Tales.

Although they don't have any characters in common, several stories are set in my fantasy city of Telelee. It's partly based on Fritz Leiber's Lankhmar, partly on Terry Pratchett's Ankh-Morpork, and partly on Port Blacksand in the Fighting Fantasy series.

What is the coolest or best part about your book?  (Any Favorite scenes, the world-building etc..

Overall, people's favourites seem to be the story 'The God of the Poor', and the poem 'If My Life Was Filmed'.

Do you have a favorite character in the book?  If so, why?

Apart from the gods mentioned above, my favourite is probably LP Hatecraft from 'The Adventure of the Murdered Philanthropist'. The story is a parody of Sherlock Holmes, and LP Hatecraft is a parody of the writer HP Lovecraft. He's pretty much a one-note comedy character, so I wouldn't put him in other stories, but I think he works well in his brief appearance.

Is this book part of a series?  If so? What can we expect in future books?

The book as a whole isn't, but I'd like to do more with some of the stories. In particular, I'm looking at a novel set in Telelee.
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

I don't think I'd change anything (apart from a few minor typos, which I've corrected as I found them), but there are things I intend to do differently in the future.

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

I've learned a lot about what people want. In particular, I thought that having a collection of lots of stories with a wide variety of tones and themes would be a positive thing. Some people said that, but more people said that they'd have preferred more consistency. So in the future, if I put out a collection, it will probably be based around some kind of theme rather than just being 'my best writing from the last year'.

I've also learned a lot about what works in terms of self-promotion (or, at least, what's worked for me).

Do you have a publisher?  And if so, why did you choose them?  

I've never tried to be traditionally published. 

Firstly I didn't want to waste paper by being traditionally printed. There are publishers who only publish electronically, but I was skeptical about what they'd do for me that I couldn't do for myself.

Secondly it seems like traditional publishers expect most of their authors to do their own promotion anyway, so what are they giving in return? Also, of course, it's very difficult to get a contract, and bloggers like JA Konrath argue that it's going to get more and more difficult, because publishers will respond to loss of income by cuting their 'mid-list', or paying them less, to concentrate on a few authors who can make them a lot of money.
If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

What books are you reading now?

The last story I read was The Cats of Ulthar by HP Lovecraft. I'm currently doing a poem based on the story.

What are the current writing projects that you are working on?

The main project I'm working on right now is a poem set in the old West, called Confession of a Bounty Hunter.

I'm in the first stages of writing a novel set in the city of Telelee.

I'm considering doing a collection of poems and stories about cats, and I've been writing some shorter poems towards that.

I'm also writing a serial for the new website JukePop Serials. It's similar to the comic and movie Watchmen, in that it's a detective story but the detectives are superheroes.

Do you write full time?  If not, do you hope to do so one day?

I'm currently at university, doing a Graduate Diploma in Creative Writing. But I hope to write full time in the future.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

Not really. I've been writing stories at least since I started school.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

I mostly write fantasy, and I tend to write short stories with one-off characters. Unfortunately fantasy fans tend to want long novels, in long series. So what I write tends to be the opposite of what's commercial. I don't know whether I'll be able to adjust my writing to fit the market, or whether I'll have to move away from fantasy, or if I can get a fanbase despite this disadvantage.

Do you have any advice for other writers seeking to get published for the first time?

Nowadays anyone can self-publish. If you can make a Word document, you can have an ebook on Smashwords or Amazon. However that means that if your work is no good, no one's going to stop you. I'd recommend that people get onto Critique Circle (www.critiquecircle.com) and/or Scribophile (www.scribophile.com), put their work up, and listen to what people tell you. Don't 'defend' your work against people's 'attacks'. They aren't attacks, they're helping you. I've found that the people who defend their work have a strong tendency to have the worst writing, I suppose because they're not making the changes they need to make.

My next point doesn't matter if you're going to self-publish, but it is important if you want to be published by a regular publisher, or if you want to submit stories to magazines. Most places won't publish work that's already been published. And most places count putting a story on the internet as publishing it. In my opinion that's silly, but that's what they do. Scribophile and Critique Circle are exceptions, because google doesn't index them and you can't see any stories without logging on. However there are writing group websites out there where, if you put a story on the site, that counts as the story being published. That seems like a really terrible way to set things up, but they're out there.

I'd also say that getting a book out isn't the final step. It's just the start of the work of self-promotion. This is true even if you're not self-publishing: I'm told that authors are expected to pretty much arrange their own book signings and so on (if you just want to have a book out to show family and friends then this doesn't matter, of course).

There are a lot of sharks out there, who make their money from authors and not from readers. They will make all sorts of promises about how they're going to promote you and help you, but these are lies. Authors do not pay publishers, ever, and if they're asking you to pay then it's a scam. Of course if you're self-publishing you might end up paying someone to design a cover for you, or you might pay for internet advertising, but those are different things. You might also pay a printer to print your books if you want to get physical books rather than ebooks - but in this age of the kindle and print-on-demand I don't know why you'd want to. Preditors and Editors (www.pred-ed.com) is a good website to look at, and you can get good advice at the forums of Critique Circle. The best-known reputable and free self-publishing venues are Amazon Kindle Direct, Smashwords.com, and for physical books Lulu.com.

Finally, I'd suggest learning to touch-type if you can't already. You're going to be doing a lot of typing, and every hour you spend getting faster at typing will save you ten in the long run.

Thanks James so much for stopping by.

Btw here's a quick blurb of his really cool book "The New Death and Others"

Death gets a roommate.. 

An electronic Pope faces a difficult theological question...

A wicked vizier makes a terrible bargain...

44 stories. 19 poems. No sparkly vampires. There's a thin line between genius and insanity, and James Hutchings has just crossed it - but from which direction?

Here's the buy link: http://www.amazon.com/The-New-Death-others-ebook/dp/B005Q8Q8DY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343078577&sr=8-1&keywords=the+new+death+and+others+by+James+Hutchings

Shelby Nichols is Your Average American House Wife but After a Run In With A Gunman and Carrots, Her Life Will Never Be the Same! 'Carrots!' by Colleen Helme

Scribal Love Welcomes Colleen Helme

Colleen Helme is an author of romantic fantasy.  Her newest work Carrots is available from CreateSpace. 

Hi tell us a little about yourself.  How long have you been writing?  Do you write full time?

I have been writing for about ten years and try to write at least four hours a day. 

So what is the name of your new book?  And what genre is it in?

Carrots is a contemporary paranormal fantasy. It is a change from my other books because it takes place in our world, but with the twist that the main character can read minds.

Tell us about your new book.  What is it about?

Shelby Nichols is an average woman who is married to the only guy she ever fell for. Her life is organized and predictable, revolving around her husband and children. All that changes the day she stops at the grocery store for some carrots. As the cashier rings up her purchases, a gunman is busy robbing the bank inside the store. When a customer grabs the robber's mask, he is shot and everyone runs for cover. Everyone except Shelby, who finds herself face to face with the killer. The next thing she knows, she's lying on the floor with a bullet wound to her head. 

Luckily, the bullet only grazes her scalp, and she doesn't suspect any lasting effects until later, when she suddenly 'hears' what people are thinking. With this uncanny ability, her life takes on a whole new dimension. Her kids think she's bossy and too old to understand them, but that's nothing compared to her husband. He says he loves her, but what is it about the beautiful redhead at work that he doesn't want her to know? 

As if that isn't enough, the gunman knows she can identify him, and he's out to silence her forever. In her fight to stay alive, she is saved from certain death by a handsome hit-man with ties to organized crime. This pulls Shelby even deeper into danger, where knowing someone's thoughts can not only hurt your feelings, but get you killed.

Can you give us an excerpt? 

My life changed that day because I didn’t have any carrots. 

In the late afternoon hours of a beautiful spring day, I was driving home when the dark, threatening clouds finally let loose, and it began to pour. It was April, so rain wasn’t unexpected, but it couldn’t have come at a worse time. All I wanted was to go home and relax, but first I had to make a pit stop at the grocery store to pick up some carrots. I was planning on making chicken soup for dinner, but of course, I didn’t have any carrots, and everyone knows you can’t make chicken soup without carrots.

Luckily, the grocery store was on my way home, but when I pulled into the parking lot, all the good spots were taken. I ended up parking the van so far away that I knew I’d get soaked. I turned off the engine and without the wipers going; I could barely see out the windshield. Did I really need those carrots? I waited a few minutes, but the rain wasn’t letting up, and time was wasting. I’d just have to run for it.

Gathering my courage, I took a deep breath and jumped out of the car, then made a mad dash for the doors. I was nearly there when I came across a massive puddle. With my momentum I couldn’t stop, so I jumped. That was a huge mistake, and the resulting splash sent dirty water halfway up my pants and soaked my shoes. I caught my breath at the sudden wetness and cursed out loud. Not only were my shoes completely drenched, but the splash made it look like I’d wet my pants. 

I grabbed a shopping cart and marched into the store. Now that I’d made it this far, there was no turning back. It didn’t matter that my shoes were squeaking, and water was trickling down my neck. Or that my hair was now plastered to my skull, and water was dripping from my nose. Come hell or high water, I was going to get those blasted carrots.

I got to the produce isle and triumphantly placed the carrots into my cart and stood there, feeling ridiculous. I’d risked life and limb for this? After all I’d been through it was anti-climatic. I wiped the rain from my face and pushed the hair back from my forehead. There had to be something else I needed. 

I suddenly had a hankering for some hostess cupcakes, yummy chocolate goodness with creamy whipped filling inside. Now was my chance to grab a box. I could probably hide them easily enough in the back of the kitchen cupboard with the pots and pans. No one but me would know where they were. While I was at it, why not pick up some more diet cherry coke? I hated to run out, and it never hurt to have extra on hand.

When I reached the check-out, I was feeling lots better. This hadn’t been a wasted trip after all. Sometimes the checker knows what I’m making for dinner from what’s in my cart, but not tonight. She rang up my items; carrots, celery, diet coke, cupcakes, potato chips. Then she gave me one of those knowing looks while she scanned the twizzlers, twinkies, cheetos, and candy bars. With a guilty flush, I quickly explained that most of it was for my kids and their friends. It was the truth, but from her smile, I wasn’t sure she believed me. Maybe I had gone a little overboard in the unhealthy foods department.

As she placed the bags into my shopping cart, somebody screamed. My heart skipped a beat and I flinched when an earsplitting crack came from the area near the bank. I stared in astonished disbelief as a man fell heavily to the floor, blood oozing from his chest. As he fell, he grabbed the rubber mask from the face of the man beside him. The man with the gun. 

Another shot went off, and everyone scattered for cover. Everyone except me. My brain seemed to be moving in slow motion, and I stood there with my mouth open like a dummy. How could something like this be happening in my grocery store? The man with the gun pivoted and saw me staring at him. His eyes blazed with demented zeal and he fired.

Next thing I knew, someone was holding a cloth to my head and murmuring something I couldn’t make out. His face was white, and when he spoke, his voice shook. I tried to ask him what was wrong, but the words just wouldn’t come out of my mouth. What was I doing on the floor? What was that awful noise?

With a surge of recognition, the wailing sirens got louder and louder. That seemed to jolt my senses awake, and I reached for my head. It suddenly hurt. I started to sit up and smashed the potato chip bag with my elbow. The bag exploded and sent chips flying everywhere. 

The man helping me was horrified. I tried to tell him that I hadn’t meant to make such a mess, but he wouldn’t listen. Instead, he kept trying to push me down, but there was no way I wanted to lay my hurting head on those greasy chips. His face turned a bright shade of red before he finally quit trying and left to get help. 

End Excerpt

Are there more books we should look out for?  Say a series or other books you have written?

Yes! This book Carrots is the first in a series. I am currently writing the next Shelby Nichols Adventure titled Fast Money!

I also have two romantic fantasy novels available titled Songbird and Flame of Destiny with a sequel to Flame of Destiny called The Relic coming out September 2011 from Mundania Press.

Who is the publisher and where can we find you on the web?

The publisher is Createspace and Carrots is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and as a KINDLE!

Link: http://www.amazon.com/Carrots-Colleen-Helme/dp/1456414143/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1305842052&sr=1-4

Visit my website: http://www.colleenhelme.com for more information and reviews on all my titles.

Email: colleen@colleenhelme.com

I would love to hear from you!

Thanks Clare!

"Links To the Past," a Fascinating New Read from Fantasy Author, G. A. Teske

Scribal Love Welcomes G.A. (Jerry) Teske

G.A. (Jerry) Teske is an author of Fantasy.  His newest work "Links To the Past"  is available from Create Space and Amazon.com

What is the name of your latest book?  And how did you come up with the title?

Links to the Past. It is the third of four titles in the Soul Sword Chronicles. It refers to the links of the most powerful magical relic in the world, the Chain of Anyullyn.

What is this book about?  And what genre is this book in?

This is an epic fantasy story. The series is about Captain Persephelon Millan who was killed on a battlefield by an evil wizard, but awoke to find his soul trapped within his own sword. He was forced to use his skills in the service of his enemies until he discovered how to exert his own will over whoever held his blade. The sword eventually comes into the possession of a group of young people whose mission is to rescue the world from destruction by an errant moon.

In Links to the Past, Persephelon, with a few friends, must overcome betrayal by a trusted companion, the murder of family members, and the schemes of both an evil wizard king and a vile demon to successfully locate and reconstruct the legendary artifact, the Chain of Anyullyn, the only magical relic with enough power to prevent the world’s destruction.

Who is/are the main characters?  And why did you choose them?

1) Persephelon: a former captain in his country’s army, 2) Vincent Whitehorse, a savant with magical powers of light, 3) Kandlas Wicke, an elf with the magical power to manipulate invisible forces, 4) Jade and 5) Aron Dorr, a sister and brother who are basically adopted by Vincent after the murder of most of their family, and 6) Khan, a rare & mysterious gnome from whom no one ever gets a straight answer.

Most of the characters above were created by my friends for a role playing game. I adjusted their personalities and abilities to mesh with the world that I created, so their interactions, dialog, and decisions were more lifelike.

What is the coolest or best part about your book?  (Any Favorite scenes, the world-building etc…)

The parts that were the most fun writing were the interactions and dialog among the characters, especially the ones who had some animus between them. I also enjoyed creating scenes, characters, and magical abilities that were entirely original.

Do you have a favorite character in the book?  If so, why?

I think that my favorite character is Khan, the gnome. There are no dwarves in my world so the gnomes are kind of a cross between the mischievous gnomes of children’s fantasy and the dwarves in most high fantasy stories. One day he can be intelligent, sarcastic, jovial, greedy, and at another time he can be brave, resourceful, practical, or prone to mistakes. He basically helps to tie many of the scenes together with the other characters with humor, wit, and sometimes scorn.

Is this book part of a series?  If so? What can we expect in future books?

This is the third of a four book series: The Soul Sword Chronicles. Book four, the Soul Sword, will reveal whether or not the young heroes can learn to fully control the magic needed to overcome the evil forces arrayed against them. Despite their inexperience and skepticism about the value of their abilities, they must find a way to defeat an evil wizard and his armies, save the world from a multitude of demons, prevent the destruction to be wreaked by a falling moon, and finally, find a way to help Persephelon escape from the soul sword.

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

I’m sure that there are a few scenes that I would like to tweak and make more succinct. I also might like to add another chapter about the dragons and their relationship to the elves in Links to the Past.

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

I think I relearned that the second and third (or more) rewrites take longer than the first draft. They are not as exciting but are just as important to a good story.

Do you have a publisher?  And if so, why did you choose them? 

I don’t have a traditional publisher yet, but am always looking for one. I have self-published my novels with three different publishers. I have changed companies because I have been looking for one that would give me a good package for my printed book at a price that is competitive with novels from traditional publishers. My paperbacks, 6x9 format, range in price from $18.95, $12.95, and my newest one is $10.95.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

I have always been impressed with the world of middle earth created by J.R.R. Tolkien. I would probably say that R.A. Salvatore would be more of a mentor, though, because I was reading a lot of his work when I decided that I’d like to give writing a try, myself.

What books are you reading now? 

I’m reading a couple of different series now. One by Elizabeth Hayden, called Rhapsody. It’s followed by Prophecy and Destiny. The other series is by David Farland called the Runelords Trilogy. I’ve recently read the first four books by George R.R. Martin, A Song of Fire and Ice. I’ve been waiting quite a while for his fifth novel in the series to come out. (Along with a lot of other readers.)

What are the current writing projects that you are working on?

In addition to my fourth book in the Soul Sword Chronicles I have a start on a couple of young adult novels. One is set in St. Augustine, Florida and revolves around two friends and the discovery of an ancient letter relating to the creatures we know as Bigfoot, or Sasquatch, and their origins that go all the way back to Genesis in the Bible. The other is a series of short, humorous vignettes of life in a country school, set in the early 1960’s. And finally, I’m also working on a script for my church’s Easter celebration.

Do you write full time?  If not, do you hope to do so one day?

I pretty much can now, since I retired last January. I hope to write about one novel per year, so I guess that’s pretty much full time. I do write almost everyday although how much I do varies.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

I started writing short stories when I was in high school. I wrote a sci-fi novel when I was in my twenties and a few other short stories. After I got married, work and raising a family pretty much stopped me from writing much at all until 2006. Tossing around some ideas with a few young friends in their twenties, led to their encouragement to get started again. Once I began in August of 2006 I haven’t been able to stop. I’ve finished and published three novels in four and one half years.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

I have a tendency to over describe the scene and the characters. My friends in a local writers’ group help me a lot with paring my chapters down to the essential information.

Do you have any advice for other writers seeking to get published for the first time?

I would like to ask this question to a lot of published writers myself. Most of the ones who I’ve talked to or heard from say pretty much the same thing: Don’t get discouraged, don’t give up, and also that you have to find a publisher or an agent who likes your work. They don’t all like the same writing styles or genres.

Welcome British Romantic Thriller Author Stuart Aken as His Discusses His Newest Book 'Breaking Faith'

Scribal Love Welcomes Stuart Aken


Stuart Aken is an author of Romance and Science Fiction Books.  His newest work Breaking Faith is available from Smashwords and Amazon. 

So where do you hail from?
  
My birth is a story all of its own. Hull, a large port in northern England, was much bombed in the 2nd World War. My father had worked as chief engineer on small boats that guarded the English Channel from U-boats. 


Because of his dedication to duty, eating on the job in rough seas, he developed a duodenal ulcer. After the war, he became a mechanic at a local garage and his job entitled him to the house next to the workshop; a valuable asset in those days. But the ulcer burst and he died, leaving my mother homeless and pregnant with my 18 month old sister in tow. My short story, Ella, a contest prize-winner, is a semi-autobiographical account of the time around my birth.  


What inspired you to write 'Breaking Faith'?


Years ago, I was on holiday in an area of outstanding natural beauty, the National Park of the Yorkshire Dales. Teetering on the brink of oblivion at the edge of a sinkhole (a type of vertical cave) with the damp rocky bottom barely visible, a question came to mind: 'What if there was a woman's body down there?' That was the starting point.


Do you have a specific writing style? 


I used to be a professional photographer, so my writing is very visual; many readers have said they can picture my characters and settings as if they were watching a film. I prefer to 'show' my readers what is happening through the eyes of the character whose point of view I'm using. Some things you have to 'tell' the reader, mostly for brevity, but it's much more absorbing for the reader to live the story from within the character, don't you think?


How did you come up with the title?


Because my heroine is steeped in the religious prejudices of her bullying master, and she's the eldest of 3 sisters, it seemed appropriate to borrow from a religious quote. '..faith, hope and charity..', which, of course, names all 3 sisters in the story. As she matures, she breaks free of Heacham's imposed restrictions, and she understands that her faith is false. Also, she's put through difficult and dangerous challenges that might break her. So, the 'breaking' part has multiple meanings. The downside is that some people may see the title as indicating the novel is about religion, which it most definitely isn't.


What is Breaking Faith about?


Breaking Faith is a romantic thriller about the influence of corruption in society.
A naive young woman, emerging from obscurity, a philandering photographer and his glamorous models, and a jealous misogynist eager for revenge turn the pages. Older friends, mistaken parents and a younger sister, all with their own motives, complicate Faith's voyage of self discovery. When she falls in love, her inexperience places her in great danger.


The novel, primarily a romance, heightened by aspects of the thriller, is set mostly during the heat wave of 1976, in the Yorkshire Dales of northern England. The eponymous heroine, Faith Heacham, is naive and trusting. Raised in isolation by her hypocritical, abusive, Bible-bashing father as his skivvy and as nursemaid to her disabled sister, she has no knowledge of the wider world. Made to find work, in order to support the household, she takes a job with Leighton Longshaw, a notorious local photographer. His misogynist assistant resents her presence and threatens her with violence. Just as Faith realises she's falling in love with Leighton, she rediscovers her estranged, beautiful, and sexually predacious younger sister, Netta, and introduces her to him without understanding the likely outcome.


Is it a single or multi-layered storyline?


The overlying story is the developing romance between Faith and Leighton, but there are other threads drawing Faith into renewed relationships with her family members and entwining Leigh with his other women, especially Netta. Underlying the whole is the growing menace of the woman-hating Mervyn, who desires revenge and isn't too concerned who satisfies his needs.


So is it a man’s or a woman’s novel?


I hope it appeals to both; certainly both men and women have responded positively with reviews of the book. On the surface, the romance will probably find more favour with women whilst the sexual elements of Leigh's relationships with his models and other women, will attract more men. But, as the novel is written from the viewpoints of the two main characters, both female and male voices speak throughout the book.

And what is Ten Tales for Tomorrow about?


Ten Tales for Tomorrow is a collection of short stories, some prize-winners, some previously published in small magazines. All are speculative fiction, with a strong leaning toward science fiction. Most, though not all, are dark tales of one sort or another. But there's some light and humour here as well.


Is it a book for men or women?


I suspect this one will appeal more to men than women, but only because traditionally the readership for science fiction has been male centred. 


What books are you reading now?


I've just finished The Time Traveler's Wife, by Audrey Niffennegger . An excellent story with some wonderful writing. At this moment, I'm re-reading Hamlet and will soon re-read Jane Eyre, because these are some of the texts my daughter's studying for her A level exams and I want to be able to discuss them with her, if she wants my input. I have an extensive and somewhat eclectic list of 'to read' books, however. Time is the basic block, isn't it?


What are your current projects?


A long time ago, I drew a map of an imaginary land and marked it with invented places and features. That was the real beginning of an adult fantasy novel I'd been considering for a while. The history, religions, myths, customs, geography, societies and politics all followed until I had a world that seemed real enough to stand as a setting. But, as I always start a piece of fiction writing by getting to know my characters, I developed the 50 or so named people who populate the pages before I started on the story.


I've written and edited the first volume of The Seared Sky, but at 277,000 words I suspect it's a little too long to attract most publishers. I'm now reading the typed MS from beginning to end to see if I can split this first volume into two books before I start to write the next part of the story.

Do you see writing as a career?


I'd dearly love to join the 2% of authors who write full time and make  a living but it's very difficult in the modern world. In the past, publishers supported writers they considered promising and allowed them time to develop. Sometimes they got it wrong, but often they allowed real talent to grow and reaped their rewards in great sales and the production of brilliant books. This no longer happens: now, publishers are interested only in celebrity and are run by bean-counters; people with no understanding that the world is about more than money. 


This year, I'd like to finish the adult fantasy to the point where it can be published; volumes 1 and 2. I've more stories I'd like to compile as anthologies and there are writing contests to enter, magazines to submit my short stories to. My website and blog need constant up-dating to remain of interest and help to my readers. I hope to attend my writing group regularly for the weekly meetings that prove so supportive and inspiring. So, not a lot going on, really.


Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?


At school, my English homework frequently consisted of essays and stories; it was the only homework I actively enjoyed. In fact, the only two subjects that resonated for me were English and Technical Drawing. Had the teacher of the latter been more sympathetic, I might have become an architect. My English teacher, a pretty young woman, whose sexual presence was quite stimulating for an adolescent, encouraged me to enter an annual writing competition. I won first prize; the cup. From there I went on to some journalism and playwriting, to novel and short story writing.


Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?


In the writing itself; not really. I can sit down at the keyboard with no prior preparation and turn out a decent 1000-3000 word short story at one sitting. It'll need editing, of course, and occasionally it will be rubbish. But I love the act of writing, of being there in that other place that my imagination takes me when I'm in the creative phase.


What I do find a constant challenge, and a real drain on my time and energy, is the necessary marketing activity. The two aspects of being a modern author – writing and publicity – are diametrically opposed activities, requiring different personality traits for real success. I think publishing made a huge error when it decided to place the burden of marketing on authors instead of hiring people with those specific skills.


What books have influenced your life most?


I've read since my early years. We had no TV until I was about 14, so I'd exhausted the children's section of the local library by the time I was 11. I was allowed to take out one book at a time from the adult section after that. My first such book was Erich Maria Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front, a classic of war and coming of age, set in the First World War. It was an eye-opener and made me realise what could be done with a book. Since then, I've read countless books, and all have influenced me in their own ways.

Did you find the idea of having your work published for others to read intimidating?  If yes, why?  If no, why not? 


Not intimidating. I wouldn't put something forward for publication unless I was relatively confident it was something people wanted to read and unless I was sure I'd made it as good as I could at the time. I love the idea of publication. Readers will undoubtedly let me know if I've sent a pup out there.
  
If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?


Very difficult. Different writers bring different qualities to the craft. But, if I'm forced to name names, I'd choose William Golding for the richness of his metaphor, Graham Greene for the depth of his story telling, Shakespeare for his poetry, William Horwood for his empathy, J.K Rowling for her imagination, Stephen King for his menace and tension, and Rosie Thomas for her intelligent emotional component. But that does a disservice to hundreds of other brilliant writers I've encountered, and continue to come across, in a lifetime of reading.


Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?


I'm learning all the time. Sometimes, my ignorance astounds me. I think what came across most, in the publication of both these books, was the importance of the reader. To write for yourself, a phrase too glibly repeated, is to embrace the danger of self-indulgence. Yes, you must write what you know and what you would want to read, but modified by the knowledge that others will spend time and money on your output. Respect for those who read and buy your books can only be a good thing, can't it?

Do you have any advice for other writers?


Unpopular, but, yes. There are too many people writing. In the same way that everyone with a camera believes themselves a photographer, everyone with a pen, keyboard or PC thinks they're a writer. Please, only write if you have something worthwhile to say, understand the rules thoroughly enough to break them without causing offence, and, most importantly, if your life depends on you writing. Anything less than a deep passion about writing and the work you produce is insufficient to preserve you in a world where would-be authors are ten-a-penny but where good, published authors are as rare as altruistic politicians.


Thanks Stuart for Dropping by!  You can find Stuart on the Web at:


Stuart Aken: Author of Breaking Faith & Ten Tales for Tomorrow. 


Editor of A Sackful of Shorts (An anthology of short stories from the Hornsea Writers group). 


Find them on my Author page at Amazon: 
UK - http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=stuart+aken&x=15&y=19


Or USA - http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=stuart+aken&x=12&y=17


Sample or buy as Ebook: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/stuartaken


Visit my Website: http://stuartaken.co.uk/


Follow my Blog: http://stuartaken.blogspot.com/


Tweet with me: http://twitter.com/@stuartaken


Friend with me at Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/stuart.k.allison?v=wall&ref=profile


Thank you, Clare, for this generous opportunity for me to interest more readers. They're the lifeblood of the author; little point in publishing for yourself, after all. I've enjoyed this session with you and hope I haven't rattled on too much. Words, you know, are the downfall of the writer.

Paranormal Erotica and Contemporary Author- Lucy Felthouse

Happy New Year!!


Scribal Love Welcomes Lucy Felthouse!

Lucy Felthouse  is an author of contemporary and paranormal erotica.  Her newest work 'Uniform Behaviour' is available from Amazon and All Romance eBooks. 

So where do you hail?  Where are you from? 


I was born and bred in Derbyshire in the UK. And I’m still there!


What inspired you to write this book?


I’d wanted to put together an anthology for some time. It almost came to fruition with a publisher, but then they sold up and I was back to square one. So I decided to go it alone, put the book together myself and use a distributor that had been recommended to me to get it into the online retailers.


Do you have a specific writing style? 


I guess I do. A lot of what I write is contemporary, with characters around my age. So many of the female characters I write about have a similar personality to me, always come out with wise-cracks and love sexy men. I have been challenging myself more lately to create characters that are nothing like me, both in age and background and to give them a very distinct voice.


What is the name of your latest book?  And how did you come up with the title?


My latest book is called 'Uniform Behaviour.' The title had been rattling around in my ideas book for some time and it was only when I decided to put the anthology together that I knew the title would be perfect for it.


What is 'Uniform Behaviour' about?


It’s an erotic anthology. It has sixteen short stories from fourteen different authors about various uniforms. There are soldiers, pilots, sailors, cleaners, waiters and much more nestling between the covers!


What books have influenced your life most?


It’s difficult to say as I’ve been reading voraciously since I was old enough to read. I’ll read most things I can get my hands on, but naturally I have favourite genres, which are erotica, chick-lit and supernatural books. They’re also the genres I tend to write in so I guess they must influence my life!


Did you find the idea of having your work published for others to read intimidating?  


No, not really. I found it really exciting! I figured that if the people who knew what they were doing thought my work was good enough to publish, then it couldn’t be that bad! It’s actually very rare that I like many of my stories when they’re finished, but I think it’s because after working on them and revising them, I get too close. So by the time I submit them I’m convinced they’re rubbish. Luckily, editors don’t seem to think so, and by the time the book has gone through the publishing process and I receive my author copy, I re-read the story and realize it’s not so terrible after all!


If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?


To be honest, the erotic writing community is so huge, cool and friendly, that I couldn’t consider one person to be a mentor. Many of them have influenced me, encouraged me and helped me along. However, writing is a pretty solitary task and my creative writing degree has given me the strong base I need to make my writing the best it can be. It also taught me not to be too precious about changing my work. At the end of the day, I’m writing for publication so it’s got to impress others, not just me!


What books are you reading now? 


I’m glad you said books plural. I’m currently reading Monica’s Secret, by Saskia Walker, which I’m enjoying very much. I’m also reading Michele Hauf’s Seducing the Vampire, Girl Fun One from Xcite Books and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. That last one is proving a real struggle, but I’ve been told to persevere beyond the first fifty pages or so and it gets better. Watch this space.


What are your current projects?


I’m currently working hard to promote Uniform Behaviour. Writing-wise I’m working my way through a huge pile of calls for submissions for short stories. So hopefully I’ll have more books to add to my publications list in a few months – fingers crossed!


Do you find that international audiences are different from your home or native country's audience?  


Within erotica, I don’t think there’s much of a divide. I’ll be honest, when I’m writing now I am aware of using words which are very “British” and could have an American, Australian, etc, reaching for the dictionary. I’d find it off-putting when I was reading if I didn’t know what a word meant. Luckily, you can work most words out from their context, but often I just won’t risk it and I’ll find a better word! However, because of the internet and improved distribution it means that all countries read works from other countries so we’re definitely getting a better handle on each other’s slang terms anyway. They’re even creeping into worldwide vocabulary. So maybe in a few years we’ll never know the difference!


Do you see writing as a career?


Not at present. I have a full time job in marketing, so writing is very much my sideline. However I’d love to do it full time, and my long-term goal is to write a full-length novel. Then of course I’d have to hope it was good enough to be published!




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


No, not really. I’m proud of what I and the other authors involved have achieved with the book. My only regret is that it’s only available as an eBook.


Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?


No, I don’t remember. It’s always been there. As a small child I was always reading and writing. I guess that my love of reading had a lot to do with it though, I probably wanted to create something as cool as what I was reading!


Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?


Yes – coming up with titles! I really do struggle with titles and they often pop into my head quite a while after the story is finished. Other than that I think that writing is a constant learning curve and I hope that I’m improving all the time.


Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?


Not so much from the writing point of view, but definitely from the editing side. I learnt that I’m good at proofreading, but not perfect! 


Do you have any advice for other writers?


Yes – just do it! For too long I kept talking about doing certain things in writing and never actually getting around to it. Now I’ve set myself realistic goals and I’m doing my hardest to achieve them. Naturally, life and the day job can affect what I’m doing but all I can do is my best.


Thanks Lucy for dropping by!  


You can vist Lucy on the web at:

Lucy Felthouse

Freelance Writer

Editor of Uniform Behaviour

Website: http://lucyfelthouse.co.uk

Creator of: http://eroticaforall.co.uk

http://eroticaforall.co.uk/new-erotica-releases/new-release-uniform-behaviour-edited-by-lucy-felthouse/