Ride the Roan Stud by Stevie Klark

[Siren Classic ManLove: Erotic Altenative Paranormal Sci-Fi Romance, M/M, shape-shifter, HEA]


Blurb

On a vision quest, Ghost Walker succumbs to the harsh desert of the Four Corners badlands. With death's talons striking, he is rescued by a mustang. Orphaned at a young age, Ghost was adopted by the mysterious Olaloxie. His life has been a lonely one. Now Ghost Walker faces being shunned ­­if he survives.

Horse shapeshifter Grant Thunderhead is drumming the desert floor with his hooves to bring the rains. He senses an intruder trigger the forcefield protecting his steam engine caverns. Investigating, Grant finds a beautiful unusual man near death. To care for Ghost, Grant takes him to his ranch. Conflicted because of his unexpected attraction, Grant faces the situation, discovering only Ghost can rescue his heart. However, Ghost overhears an argument between Grant and his sister, and leaves. Grant chases Ghost through a thunderstorm. When he learns his niece is trapped by flash flooding, Grant knows he must find Ghost first, if he is to save the child.

A Siren Erotic Romance


STORY EXCERPT

 As horse, Grant Thunderhead galloped over the magnificent harsh terrain of the Four Corners. His territory, as he thought of it, having lived on his small ranch spread for nine years now.

This land of majestic rock sculptures, or hoodoos, held ancient secrets. Grant sensed them beneath his flying hooves. Over the years, he’d gradually explored, looking for those secrets, and found an unbelievable, fantastical cache of steam-powered machines.

Grant raced faster, surging with joy, with strength. All while the distinctive smell of creosote bush, and the other sparse vegetation teased his flaring nostrils.

The Earth sang to him. His every drumming hoof beat honored her, the planet-being, Gaia. Or Sophia, as some called her.

To run without boundaries, to feel the hot desert air blast over his stallion hide, Grant savored his freedom. He was also on a mission for his Native American friends as a rainmaker.

Comanche blood ran through his veins, through his paternal grandmother. Feeling a kinship with the Four Corner tribes, Grant had focused on developing a good relationship with his immediate neighbors—whatever their tribal blood connections. Eventually, one circle of elders approached him to say they knew he was a direct descendent of the Skyhorse People, or those who could shapeshift to a horse.

With his secret out, and the elder’s promise of silence, Grant often used his ability to shift, and other supernatural powers he possessed, to help the elders when needed. Yesterday, he’d participated in a drum ceremony to bring much-needed rains.

Like the sacred drumming, the sound frequency of his hooves pounding on the sun-washed land, if done with the correct rhythm for a long enough time, would encourage clouds to form, then become swollen with rain.

Reaching a long flat stretch of ground, Grant mentally chanted along with the steady beat of his hooves, Let the thirsty land drink, Benevolent One. Once he’d galloped the full distance, Grant slowed his pace. The vibrational message had been sent to the Sky Father, or what he thought of as the sacred matrix.

To give his sweat-stained body a chance to cool down, Grant leaped onto a narrow arroyo, and loped slowly, following the dry riverbed toward an area he wanted to explore further.

With the Earth singing to him, and the great towers of stone ringing, creating a high spiritual field, Grant had ignored the undercurrent of malevolence he’d sensed of late. No more.

Something strange, even dark, twisted the land’s vibrations. In his stallion form, Grant was even more sensitive to supernatural forces.

Could this be a foreshadowing?

A wicked chill slid the length of his horse spine causing his tail to move back and forth in quick jerks. To confront this disturbance in the force now, or not?

To run in the face of the wind, or run from the evil source of the winds? For now.

Grant listened to the thunderous sound of his heart, as he did often to tune into the wisdom within for answers. When the answer eluded him, he silently asked questions.

Was this a sacred forewarning for him on a personal level, or perhaps for the tribal peoples he’d befriended, who were constantly under assault by the corrupt powers that be?

Or, was there some catastrophic world event about to not only alter his life, but drastically change the life of everyone?

Grant tossed his head, hardly breaking stride. No damn doubt, the dark age was upon them. Instead of the paradise world he’d envisioned since his youth, the evil side of the supernatural had gained a serpent’s stranglehold on society.

From his highly experienced viewpoint.

Fury welled up inside Grant. He’d spiritually disciplined himself and spent his lifetime working to bring about a better life for All who lived upon Gaia. Now enraged, he bucked several times, high twists in the air.

Once his hooves solidly struck the ground, Grant dug in, catapulting himself over the barren cracked riverbed. Baring his teeth, he charged toward an unseen enemy. A startled rattlesnake uncoiled, striking in his direction.

Grant nimbly swerved, then sent calming vibes to the out-of-sorts reptile. Moments later, awareness sparked inside him, and he skidded to a halt, psi-sensing the breach of his storage cave. Had someone discovered his steam-powered ships and devices?

Before his mind’s eye, Grant witnessed the effects of the cavern’s advanced-tech force field, but not who it was that had been thrown into the cactus-gnarly arms of the desert. In seconds, he intuitively knew the intrusion had not been by an enemy.

Still, he spun around on his back hooves, jumping into a fast gallop. Near the area, Grant soon halted at the edge, where the high desert began. Boulders littered the ground surrounding the titan hoodoo that shielded his cavern’s entrance.

Blowing his nostrils to gather in scents, Grant picked his way over the rough terrain, and wove between the larger rocks. The sound of his heart suddenly matched another’s, astonishing him. A rare occurrence, it meant this meeting had been orchestrated by the Higher Ups, as he thought of his divine guides.

Grant easily followed the heart connection, concerned because the beat was too slow, with an unhealthy flutter. As he approached, quickening his pace, the smell of death clung to the small-framed man who lay sprawled on his back near one of the huge rocks.



ADULT EXCERPT


The vision of the tented blanket refused to leave his mind’s eye. In a battle with his emotions, Grant filled the pitcher. He added colloidal silver for good measure since the natural substance would help Ghost Walker’s immune system.

Intent on controlling himself, and making his recuperating guest as comfortable as possible, he padded back to the spare room. Grant didn’t deny it. Something about Ghost Walker called to him, a pull that was almost painful, as if his middle had been lassoed, the loop tightening.

Grant shook his head, and felt his inner horse mane shake. Life liked throwing curve balls at him, ones that often aimed for his head, and dammit, right between the eyes at times. Although, he reminded himself, he couldn’t rightly complain overall.

Yeah, miracles showed up on his doorstep. He believed due to his consistent spiritual practice, his natural love for humankind—for all life on the Great Mother planet, Earth.

Pausing before he entered, Grant grabbed a large breath to relieve the tension inside his gut, and his bunched muscles. So much about his guest was miraculous, including the fact that he’d found the hidden, steam engine cave.

Hell, he’d lived long enough to know a higher plan was at work. As he walked toward Ghost Walker, Grant curved his mouth into a friendly smile.

Again, he couldn’t miss the pole-tall thrust of the man’s cock beneath the blanket. Concerned, Grant set the pitcher down, and scrutinized Ghost Walker’s face for signs of a problem, beyond the man’s attraction to him.

Coffee eyes, misted by drowsiness, met his gaze—soft wise eyes Grant decided he could sink into forever. Ghost Walker blinked slowly, and Grant witnessed his extreme fatigue.

For the life of him he couldn’t look away—leave Ghost Walker to his rest. Words formed on Grant’s lips but he couldn’t speak, caught in what suddenly felt like a time warp.

Yep, he’d experienced strange shifts in time when he’d participated in medicine ceremonies. The elders had told him the practice originated close to ten thousand years ago.

Ghost Walker started to speak, hesitated, then closed his mouth. Grant watched the flicker of emotions—desire, shame, hope, confusion—all while their gazes stayed glued on each other.

Not locked, Grant thought, but connected as if strands formed between them—invisible delicate threads that were stronger than steel.

Grant knew before he acted. Even so, his hand moved without volition. He uncovered Ghost Walker, wrapping his hand around the man’s arrow-like, brown cock.

Heat, a beautiful heat seeped inside his palm. The shape of Ghost Walker’s erection burned a brand in a part of Grant he hadn’t known existed.

All he knew, the sensation was like holding erotic art in his hand. Grant slowly, gently pumped his hand up and down.

The silky skin of Ghost’s shaft felt like the most wonderful caress, and he gripped a bit tighter. Rhythmically, Grant swiveled his hand along the length of Ghost’s dick, using the droplets from his slit as lubricant.

As silence embraced them both, Grant fastened his gaze on Ghost Walker’s eyes—wide, disbelieving at first. A surrender to pleasure quickly glittered the man’s dark eyes.

Grant couldn’t help but notice how he reveled being in command, how he enjoyed relieving Ghost Walker’s need. He watched Ghost’s eyes brighten with more and more ecstasy.

When his eyes closed, Grant paused, softly stroking his thumbpad over Ghost’s swollen cockhead—so damn satiny, and now wet with his leaking pre-cum.

His extreme pleasure obvious, Ghost’s hips jerked involuntarily. Grant rubbed his palm over his crown in a tender swirling motion, and Ghost opened his eyes as if he couldn’t quite believe the ecstatic sensations.

Feeling like a dominant stud, Grant watched as Ghost’s eyes glazed over, darkened, then glinted with the start of his orgasm. He gripped the man’s throbbing hot cock, and slid his hand up and down more rapidly than before.

With each stroke upward, Grant slightly squeezed the base of Ghost’s shaft.

----

Buy Link- 

Siren Publishing- http://www.bookstrand.com/ride-the-roan-stud

Paranormal Comedy Author Discusses His Book "The Substitute" and His

Scribal Love Welcomes James L. Hatch


James L. Hatch is an author in search of a genre. He writes Sci-Fi, Contemporary Fiction and Paranormal Comedy, and has published titles with xoxopublishing.com and Solstice Publishing.

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


James: First, thanks for interviewing me today, Clare. It’s a real pleasure to be here. My latest novel is The Substitute (http://www.solsticepublishing.com), a paranormal comedy. The title actually came to me before the story did, which is true of all my novels. At some point I have a germ of inspiration for a story and I usually get the title at the same time. In the case of The Substitute, the title came in a dream, and the idea for the story woke me giggling. I’ve read the book many times, and still laugh at that outrageous story. 


What is The Substitute about?  What genre is it?


I classify the novel as “Paranormal Comedy”, which is kind of an oxymoron. The Substitute tells the story of an ambitious substitute teacher, Miss Havana, who is beautiful beyond measure yet evil to the core. 


She lives a double life with gusto, as if to prove the wicked work harder to reach hell than the righteous do to reach heaven. At some point, she is murdered three times in one evening, but none of her killers realize the others have already done so. Everyone involved in her death also dies violently, but comically. 


They are all brought before Lucifer in a gaggle, where he takes an interest in Miss Havana, at first for her beauty, but later for her evil nature. She becomes his understudy before trying a power grab. Their daughter, Lilith, steps in to usurp them both. It is a hilarious romp through the life, death, purgatory and hell with lots of scheming, unlikely partnerships and intrigue, but salted with humor that will keep the reader laughing.   


Who are the main characters and why did you choose them?


The three main characters are Lucifer, Miss Havana and Lilith, their daughter. There are also a few supporting characters who play big roles, especially the shadow creature known as “Waldo” (because he’s so hard to find), and the Ben Stein-looking bureaucrat who runs things in purgatory. Characters are like cats, they choose their owners, not the other way around. I did not set out to define the characters in The Substitute; they just seemed to crop up just when I needed them. Clearly, I write by the seat of my pants...at least most of the time.


What is the coolest or best part about your book?  Do you have any Favorite scenes, world-building or the like?


Okay, this is a tough question. The whole novel is a hoot, but I do have two favorite parts. The first is when Miss Havana is murdered three times in one night without any of the killers knowing the others had already done the deed. That chapter required careful planning because everything had to fit together tightly, even though there were many characters involved in their own personal assassination plots. 


The chapter also had to be both outrageous and drop-dead funny, no pun intended. My second favorite part is the end. I won’t share that here, but I can say no one will see it coming, and it isn’t revealed until the last two sentences in the book.


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


James: Oh, yes—Miss Havana, hands down. Although I’m loath to admit it, I admire her spunk. She also has redeeming qualities, but they don’t really show up until the second novel of the comedy trilogy called, Oh, Heavens, Miss Havana! However, even with redeeming qualities, she is a pretty wicked individual. I treated her like a work in progress, in life, in death and beyond. She approaches everything from a self-serving point of view (POV), but gradually begins to see things in broader terms. Her ability to see situations in terms of herself ONLY is part of her charm…and definitely part of the reason the book is so funny. 


Miss Havana was also the favorite of the Book Wenches, who gave the novel a five-star review at http://www.bookwenches.com/september10reviews.htm#636925762.


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


Yes, it is. I have submitted the second novel to Solstice Publishing, but haven’t heard back from them yet. In my humble opinion, the second novel is even funnier than the first. It is also more socially redeeming. I am just beginning to get my thoughts together for the third novel in the series, but all I have at this time are overall concepts and the title: The Training Bra. All novels in the trilogy are all Paranormal Comedies.


I have also written a Sci-Fi trilogy (The Judge, Infinity Quest and The Empress of Tridon) available from xoxopublishing.com, and a Contemporary Fiction novel called Aftermath Horizon from the same publisher. I am currently working on two Contemporary Fiction novels that will be complete before the year is out. Like it says in the introduction, I’m still trying to find my genre.


If not, are you considering expanding it?


I believe Miss Havana has the potential for many additional novels, however, the question is really one of endurance. I tend to want to move on to new material after each trilogy, so I don’t know if I will write more with her as the main character or not. I have many novels I’d like to try, but little time to write them.


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


Honestly, no. As I mentioned above, the second novel in the series is complete, and frankly, it is both funnier and more emotional than the first. The Substitute is like the comedian that comes on before the main act, and its just fine as it is. Overall, through all the humor, the series is written to portray a gradual awakening of goodness, and each book ends on a high note that cannot be second-guessed. The Training Bra has the potential to rip your heart out, but in a good way.    


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


Yes. A lot. I didn’t know I could write humor. When I began writing The Substitute, it was like a dam broke. I wrote furiously for two months, the fastest I have ever produced a 76,500-word novel. Not only that, but I laughed until I was lightheaded many times during the process. Writing the book wasn’t a chore, but an uplifting experience that made me feel good every day. I didn’t know that was possible.  


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


Actually I have two, and am targeting the third this year. Xoxopublishing.com was kind enough to accept my first five titles. I found them on-line when they first got started. Solstice Publishing accepted The Substitute in one day, and I am currently preparing two novels for Museitup Publishing. I met both Solstice Publishing and Museitup Publishing during the Museitup Writers Conference last October. That was a fantastic free conference, where serious writers can learn scads about writing AND meet some really great publishers.


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


Probably Dean Koontz. I really enjoyed his first person presentation style in Odd Thomas, and have emulated that style in all my books. Everything I have written has been in first person, although I avoid head-hopping by separating characters into their own chapters. The Contemporary Fiction novels I am working now might be different. Those could end up with a third person limited POV, just to comfortably add more descriptive language.


What books are you reading now?  


I just finished Dan Brown’s The Missing Symbol, although my own Sci-Fi and Contemporary Fiction is more like Douglas Preston’s Blasphemy.


What current writing projects are you working on?


I am revising the first novel I wrote many years ago, the only one that hasn’t been published. That novel is called Kill Zone. It is extremely long and covers too much ground. I intend to spend the next few months separating it into two novels. 


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


I am one of the lucky ones. I am retired. I write full time. I do not depend on income from writing, or I’d probably starve.


Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?


Very clearly, in fact I blogged about that very thing on Toni Sweeney’s blog on 1/7/11 at http://www.tonivsweeney.com/Blog/Entries/2011/1/7_What_If.html. In that blog, I unequivocally credit 9/11 with causing my transformation. In all my works, Oh, Heavens, Miss Havana! included, some vestige of that outrage comes through. The possible exception might be The Substitute, which was written for humor alone and doesn’t have an underlying social theme.


Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?


Yes. They call it “showing” vs. “telling”. I love to tell stories, but have some trouble showing the story. It’s something I work on constantly. I also lapse into passive voice now and then. Thank God for good editors.


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


The turning point for me was when Sassy Sipe (RonnaGage@yahoogroups.com) offered some advice: join some writer’s groups; read their files section. That really got me started. I am a member of about twenty writer’s groups now, which means I must handle about 25,000 emails a month. On the up side, the files sections of those groups provided the guidance I needed to understand the difference between “showing” and “telling”, as well as some fundamental issues relative to grammar and punctuation. I still have a lot to learn, but I can say to any new writer he/she must learn the fundamentals before any editor will take them seriously.


Thank you again for having me here today, Clare. Your questions were insightful and I enjoyed answering every one!


Sincerely,


James L. Hatch
jhatch6@hot.rr.com


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


http://www.solsticepublishing.com/


http://www.myspace.com/author_hatch


http://www.xoxopublishing.com/shop-online


http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000328752553

Science fiction, Interracial Multicultural Author Shannon Leigh Discusses her Latest Work "Chasing Booty"

Scribal Love Welcomes Shannon Leigh!

Shannon Leigh is an author of erotic romance. Her newest work Chasing Booty is available from Amber Quill Press.

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

Chasing Booty is the title. This story is included in what the publisher calls an AmberPax, which is basically a group of 5 stories all centered around a particular theme. However, each story can be purchased separately as well. This Pax, titled Alien Nation, had to have stories about aliens and humans coming together. I wanted a title with a double meaning. Something catchy and comical.

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

Gaelyn is a bounty hunter on the tail of her latest mark. Her adversary, Reese, a sexy Trøndite from the small planet of Sør-Trøndalag in the Capricornus Sector, has a nasty habit of stealing her contracts. Thinking she’s duped him on Jupiter, she not too happy to find him on Quaoar. Reese not only has the info she needs to catch her prey, he has a business proposal that’s too tempting to pass up.

Genre: Science Fiction / Futuristic / Action / Adventure / Interracial / Multicultural

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

Gaelyn is the main female, and Reese is the main male.

I chose Gaelyn because she was strong-willed, had a quick sarcastic wit, and could hold her own in a futuristic world where humans had to be tough to survive.

Reese is like the proverbial devil in blue jeans, of the male variety. With his red skin, sinfully good looks, and goliath form, he’s the poster-boy for incubus. Put them together and you have a couple that’s likely going to melt your computer screen (or kindle/nook!).

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

I like the scene in the bar, where Gaelyn first sees Reese. She so furious she can’t see straight, and her haughty don’t-mess-with-me attitude makes me laugh. I tried really hard to use good descriptions throughout the book so the reader gets a feel for this strange world and it’s equally bizarre inhabitants. I hope I succeeded.

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

It would be Gaelyn. She is the type of girl I think a lot of us would want to be like. You know, the one who’s beautiful but not arrogant, tough but not a bully or punk, and who still manages to have a heart despite the harshness of her world. She may wipe the floor with your behind, but she’ll love you while she does it.

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

Not as of yet, but I will probably write some more stories off this line. I don’t know if it will have the same characters, or maybe introduce some new players in the line up.
In future books, I’d expect a similar story line with bounty hunters and marks, but there’s always got to be a new twist.

If not?  Are you considering expanding it?

Whatever I come up with will likely expand from the original storyline.
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?No. I like it and can honestly say I wouldn’t change a thing.

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

I had to research space and solar systems. It was pretty cool and certainly opened my mind to some new ideas.

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

Actually, I have 3, but Amber Quill carries most of my titles. I love working with AQ, they’re very easy to talk to, get back with me on things right away, and offer great author services. Trace does an awesome job on the book covers, and my editor is very pleasant to work with.

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

Probably Anne McCaffrey. Her Dragon Riders of Pern series really had a big impact on me. I haven’t tackled a dragon story as of yet, but I’m getting there.

What books are you reading now?

I just finished Eternal Embrace and am getting ready to start Feral Hunger.

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

Several. One, The Age of the Vampire, is a joint effort with author Rebecca Suma. I’m also trying to finish up my novel length science fiction romance, Krécelian Mate. I have a sequel to More Than Prophecy, called When Destiny Summons, in the works, and a few others that have grown to several pages. I’m hoping this year I will get to finish what I’ve started, and start some more.

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

I wish. Unfortunately, I have to work full-time so I get far less writing time that I want. But where there’s a will there’s a way and so I chug along as best as I can, catching a few minutes or hours late at night or in the evenings when my hubby is occupied and my kids are busy saving the world on the PS3.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

I’ve always loved to read. Somewhere around the age of 10 I had a writing project for school. I think that really sparked my interest. I began writing short stories through the years, but didn’t really take it serious until about 10 years ago.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

The time it takes. I try to be so descriptive and thorough that it takes me a long time to finish even a short story. I envy authors who boast about completing one in a week or a few days. 

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

Don’t give up. When someone says no, take their criticism as constructive, fix what needs to be fixed and submit it somewhere else. Perseverance goes a long way in this industry.

Thanks Shannon for Dropping by!

You can find Shannon on the web at:

Publisher: http://www.amberquill.com/AmberHeat/ChasingBooty.html

Author website: http://shannonleigh.org

Science Fiction Novelist David Perlmutter Discusses his Newest Work "The Pups"

Scribal Love Welcomes David Permutter!　
David Perlmutter is an author of science fiction, fantasy, horror and mystery stories and novels, as well as works of non-fiction. His newest work “The Pups”, will soon be available from Library of Science Fiction Press.

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

The book is called “The Pups”, in honor of its lead characters.

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

It is a science fiction novel set in the future, where dogs, through both the intervention of humans and their own fertility growing from this, become a sentinent, semi-human race of beings. Much of the backdrop involves the racism they experience from the human population and how they have to deal with it, positively and negatively. This runs through much of the book’s action.

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

The Pups are a sextet of humanized dogs who are drawn together both randomly and by chance. Their parents were all exposed to the after effects of a meteor strike before they were born, and, consequently, they all have a variety of super-canine abilities that set them apart from their own people and the humans. Each in his or her own way develops an understanding of what they are capable of doing and what they can better achieve for themselves and their race together. Because I structured the book so that each of them would be telling their own story, as it were, these elements will become much more clear to the reader than if I had used a traditional narration, and will allow for them to better sympathize with them as a result.

What is the coolest or best part about your book? (Any Favorite scenes, the world-building etc..
The best part of the book is that I managed to create a portrait of dogs that does not mention or involve any of the traditional stereotypes humans typically use when they write about them. The use of these stereotypes in the media has always bothered me deeply. If it is considered wrong to use stereotypes in creating human characters, should it not be the same for animal ones?

Do you have a favorite character in the book? If so, why?
I am very partial to each of The Pups because each of them, in a way, represents a different version of myself. Each of them has a different dominant power- intelligence, strength, speed etc.- along with subordinate abilities, along with a passionate sense of justice and a desire for political action and change. In creating and writing them, I found I was able to express sentiments about the world I would not have otherwise, in more earth-bound styles of writing, and I am glad their adventures will now be shared by a wider audience, because that I was what I intended for them all along.

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

Yes, that is my intention. My publisher, Michael “Dr. Pus” West, accepted it in the hopes that we would able to create a future series out of it. My deal with him is that I have to write at least three books in the series, but I hope to do more if it catches on.

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

Not an awful lot, I don’t think. It works well.

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?
I did. I learned that I can write long narratives as well as short ones, and now I feel more confident in trying to add novel writing to my short story production. I’d probably end up making more money doing that, anyway.

Do you have a publisher? And if so, why did you choose them?
Yes. The Library of Science Fiction Press. It’s a unit of the Library of the Living Dead, which also encompasses the Library of Horror and the Library of Fantasy as well as the aforementioned titles. I chose to work with them because they were the first publishers to be truly accepting of “The Pups” and the social and political ideas they were based around. They’ve also been supportive of my turning some of my other short story characters into novel protagonists, so, the way things are working out, our relationship is probably going to last a while.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
When I was younger, the author that first got me interested in reading and in writing as a career was Jack London. His style of writing is much leaner and more action driven than today’s writers, and he gave me a sense of what I needed to do to move a reader the same way he moved me. More recently, though, I have become a great admirer of Robert Bloch, the author of “Psycho” and dozens of outstanding short stories, novellas and novels besides. The important thing I learned from him, I think, is that it actually is possible to write intense fantasy and horror stories while still being able to inject humor into the storylines and situations. I have been trying to study him as closely as possible, and I very much think his style has now intensely rubbed off on mine.

What books are you reading now?
I have been reading a lot of fiction anthologies, in the speculative and mystery fields, to help me understand how to write good short fiction. It must be paying off, since I made about forty sales last year, much more than the first three years of my career combined.

What are the current writing projects that you are working on?
I have several ebooks coming out this year. Several of them are from Untreed Reads, whose editor, Jay Hartman, has been very encouraging and supportive of me. He sends out messages to his authors regularly about interview opportunities, blog posts etc. Like Michael West, he seems to understand me and my work very well, and I hope to continue working with him more over the years. The same goes for Books to Go Now, another ebook publisher, which has published one of my stories as an ebook and has another slotted for release soon.

Do you write full time? If not, do you hope to do so one day?
I write very often, since I live and work at home. I work doing freelance writing for a local magazine publisher, but I have more than enough time to do my own writing. However, this doesn’t earn me enough to live yet, so I’ll have to do work for other people until I can afford to live off my writing earnings.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
Mainly in the fact that, in some of the stories I read or I watched in the movies or television, I didn’t like the way the story was told. There would be something wrong with the words or the attitudes the characters used- or particularly the tone of voice- that I would object to. Because I couldn’t control those situations or those words, I felt helpless. Writing offered me the opportunity to revisit some of the scenarios I had seen other people work with, and invent new ones of my own, in a way and a style that I and not other people saw fit to use.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Trying to write stories for anthologies or magazines when the editor does not give you an exact sense of what is wanted or needed in the story. In those situations, I end up writing something that I think will be perfect for whatever the thing is, only to have the editor turn it down flat. I find that very hard. Fortunately, it hasn’t happened so much recently, since I’ve gotten better at reading submission calls and asking the editors whether or not the story would work, but also because, I think, I’ve become a better writer since I started out.

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

Do not give up, for any reason, because you get rejected the first time out. Make sure that you understand that you will be rejected from time to time even if you start making sales, because not every editor is going to like everything you write, and even editors who like your stuff may not buy everything you write. The important thing for creating a sustained career as a writer is to find an editor who likes what you write and is willing to be a mentor figure for you. Keep pitching ideas to them and let them help you develop your feelings into stories. If you have at least one editor in your corner, you can write securely knowing that somebody likes what you’re doing, and then you might possibly build a career out of it.
　
　　

Interview with Dana Davis, Author of Desert Magick: Dream Catcher

Dana Davis is an author of fantasy, paranormal, and science fiction novels.  Her newest work Desert Magick: Dream Catcher is available from SynergEbooks Publishing. 

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


Desert Magick: Dream Catcher is the second book in my Desert Magick series. This series features witches, ghosts, shape-shifters and other paranormal characters and takes place in the Phoenix-area of Arizona, which is how the title came about. Each subtitle reflects something that happens in that particular novel and usually has multiple meanings.


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


Dream Catcher is a paranormal fantasy. Daisy Hammel-Kavanaugh, a witch living in Arizona, is the main character throughout the series. In the previous book, she managed to survive a mortal enemy. But just when Daisy thinks she’s getting her life under control again, her college-age cousin Zoey reveals a disturbing family secret. Even with Daisy’s assistance, Zoey might not overcome what awaits her. And if they fail, humankind will suffer a most terrible fate.




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


Well, sometimes I don’t choose my characters, they choose me. The character of Daisy came to me almost immediately as I began having ideas for the Desert Magick series. This might sound odd to those who don’t write, but characters often pop in and out letting me know when and where to put them. Or just demanding that I tell their story. And they will hound and hound until I write about them. This happened with Daisy’s cousin, Bridgette.


I was working on a scene with Daisy and Noah, when Bridgette popped into the room and demanded to be put into the novel. She told me who she was, where she’d been, and that if anyone was going to help Daisy, she would be the one doing the helping. I tried to ignore her for the moment and just get on with the scene I was writing, but she wouldn’t let me. Basically she bullied me into putting her into the novel right then and there, and she’s become one of my favorite characters to write.

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


I have to say writing about ghosts is probably the coolest thing about this series. I’m a ghost buster in real life. Meaning, I’m a member of a paranormal investigative team so ghosts have become part of my real life in a large way. I write fantasy, so I take a lot of liberties with certain aspects, but some scenes come from my real-life ghost experiences or stories I’ve been told by others.


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


Well, like a mom with her children, I don’t have favorites. Really. Okay, so maybe I do. I always like writing Daisy. She’s a bit quirky at times, which is fun, but things get really interesting when this normal witch trying to live a normal life gets thrown into some very dangerous situations she would prefer to avoid. And Bridgette is always a favorite. This redhead is not shy about voicing her opinions and she’s not shy with men. Bridgette and Daisy do things I would never do or couldn’t do in real life, which is kind of a guilty pleasure for me as a writer.


Is this book part of a series?  If so? What can we expect in future books?
  
Oh, yes. The next book in the Desert Magick series will be released in 2011. I don’t have an exact date yet but my publisher is pushing for March. After that, I’m under contract for two more novels in the series. 


If not?  Are you considering expanding it?


If this series is popular, then we might consider even more novels than the planned five. Otherwise, I have another series I would like to begin working on once this one is complete.


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


Since it’s a series, I can adjust some things with each new novel, or add new characters and situations I need them, as long as I’m consistent with what I’ve written in the previous books. At this point, I’d have to say no, I wouldn’t change anything.


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


I learn things from every novel I write. As a writer, I would be disappointed if I didn’t. From Desert Magick I’ve learned to meld fantasy with a mundane, real life setting. My previous books take place on other worlds or in other times so creating fantasy in a real place and current time was a new venture for me. I was nervous when I began working on this series but excited to challenge myself. I’m really enjoying it.


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


I have a wonderful publisher with SynergEbooks. I’m trying to leave a small footprint on this world, but I’m also a geek so I love technology. I found myself getting frustrated with publishing houses that requested printed material only, which is not only wasteful, but costly, and you have long postal turnarounds. So I began to focus on electronic books. I had researched quite a few publishers and was impressed with SynergEbooks and the personal attention they give to their authors, as well as the “green” aspect of electronic publishing. When SynergE chooses a book for paperback format, they use print-on-demand technology, so the hard copies are only printed once they’re ordered and don’t sit around in a warehouse or get tossed in the trash when they don’t sell. 


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


Oh, gosh, I have so many writers that I admire, like Anne Rice, Mary Gentle, and David Eddings. But I would have to say Sheila Finch was probably one of the most influential in my life. She’s a Nebula Award winner who taught at the college where I attended school, so I got personal instruction from her. She also shared ups and downs of the career with her students, as well as giving us the chance to branch out into whatever genre we felt comfortable writing. Her critique workshops were a great learning experience, as well. Sheila and I stay in touch through social websites. Did I mention that I love technology?


What books are you reading now?  


I’m a bit ADD when it comes to reading and I tend to read several books at once, shifting from one to another depending on my mood at the time. Right now, I’m reading electronic versions of Bram Stoker’s Dracula and a book about the Bodicca on the Nook, and the Legend of the Seeker series in paperback. I also pick up City of Saints and Madmen now and then and read a story from it. I just downloaded Kim Harrison’s latest Nook novel and am looking forward to starting it.


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


Since I’m under contract, the Desert Magick series takes priority. But I have two other novels I’m in the process of editing for submission, and another paranormal series I’m looking forward to starting on, so I’m making notes for it. I have a long list of novels I plan to write. I just hope I live long enough to finish them all.


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


Yes, I’m very fortunate to write full-time. I have a wonderful, supportive husband who helps make that possible. I like to sit at long stretches and write without interruption. I admire those who work other jobs and also finish their writing projects. That would be difficult for me.


Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?


Writing has always been a part of my life in one form or another. When I was a very young child, I created stories in my head. Once I was in school, I got in trouble on several occasions for daydreaming. I worked mainly in the entertainment industry as a performer or behind the scenes but I was always writing for myself on the side. I also wrote and adapted scripts for children’s productions but after years in the entertainment industry, I decided I wanted to delve into novels. While a degree isn’t necessary to become a successful writer, I wanted and needed that focus, so I went back to school. After graduation is when I began seriously writing as a career and sending work out for publication. That was twelve years ago.


Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?


Blogging is a challenge for me. You might laugh at that, but it’s true. Blogging is a big part of connecting with readers today and they expect to read about your real life, not fictional stories. Non-fiction is not within my comfort zone so it’s always a challenge for me to write without bringing fantasy or science fiction into it. 


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


Be patient, be persistent, put your best work out there. Once you’ve sent out that latest work, start another project right away. Always have something else to work on, get excited about it, and never ever think you’ve learned it all. There’s a saying in the entertainment industry that goes, “If you’re not nervous, you’re not any good.” I try to take that philosophy into my writing and hope for a very long career in this business. Like wine, writers tend to get better with age. It’s one of the few careers you can continue growing with into your 60s and beyond. I’m looking forward to what my writing self will come up with in ten years or twenty years or thirty years from now. And I hope to keep learning with each new project.


Don't miss her contest too!

Dana's eBook Contest:

For a chance to win a free PDF copy of Dana's Desert Magick: Superstitions eBook, please send an email to danadavis@danadaviswriting.com with

"I want in!" in the subject line.

The winner will be chosen at random and must have a valid email address that accepts attachments in order to receive the prize.  Contest ends December 31, 2010 at 9pm MST.

　

Hurry and good luck!

Thank you Dana for dropping by!


You can visit Dana on the web at:

My website: http://www.danadaviswriting.com/
My facebook: www.facebook.com/people/Dana-Davis/591073862
My publisher: http://www.synergebooks.com/
My blog: http://danadaviswriting.blogspot.com/ 

Interview of British Author John Trevillian, and about his new book 'The A-Men'

iScribal Love Welcomes Author John Trevillian

John Trevillian is an author of punk-noir science fiction novels. His newest work The A-Men is available from Matador, Amazon and Author's Website at www.trevillian.com.

So where do you hail? Where are you from?

I was born in London, England, and so I guess I am technically a cockney, but just now I live about fifty miles north of the City in deepest, darkest Essex.
What is the name of your latest book? And how did you come up with the title?

The book's called The A-Men (with the trilogy continuing with The A-Men Return in 2011 and Forever A-Men in 2012). The name refers to the street gang the main protagonist creates when he finds himself alone on the streets of a dying city.


What is The A-Men about?
It's about not being able to run from our past; our mistakes. It's written from five first-person viewpoints of people who find themselves in a place that comes to be known as Dead City fighting for survival. Jack is the central character ; a man with no memory awakening to find he paid a corrupt medical officer to erase his memory after signing himself into a peace-keeping force sent to quell the riots. The only clue to his former life is a handwritten note in the pages of a book of faerie tales entitled Forevermore.

Marked for death, he finds sanctuary and survival with other renegades who form The A-Men. Yet that is until their paths cross with Dr Nathaniel Glass and his mysterious experiment locked deep beneath the Phoenix Tower.



What inspired you to write this book?

When I read I have always enjoyed either hardboiled science fiction or mythic fantasy, and this story began with a setting to cross the two.  I had also watched for too many noir movies and one in particular 'Somewhere In The Night' sparked the idea of a man with no memory battling with three questions:

For what possible reason would you pay to have your memory erased?
How can you enact revenge on someone you cannot even remember meeting?
What would you do if you found out that your greatest enemy was yourself?

Do you have a specific writing style?

Intimate first person narratives, fast paced, action oriented.  I've been told my style for the 'A-Men' books is incredibly cinematic, that the book is as visual as it is visceral.

What books have influenced your life most?
I love such a wide selection of books, but always the top three for personal enjoyment and inspiration are:

The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen Donaldson
Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan
Shadowland by Peter Straub

Did you find the idea of having your work published for others to read intimidating?  If yes, why? If no, why not?
Not at all.  The reason these books got written is that they are immensely character-driven and, after having a lot of fun watching their adventures over the years, I wanted to share the fun and mayhem with others.

Do you find that international audiences are different from your home or native country's audience? 
No, not really.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
I wouldn't say that any one writer was a mentor, but many have inspired me.

What books are you reading now?
Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky.
Kick-Ass: The Graphic Novel by Mark Millar.
The House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski.

What are your current projects?
I have just sent the second novel, 'The A-Men Return', final manuscript and cover to the publishers and am expecting switching into proofing mode when they send back layouts soon.

Do you see writing as a career?
As I write the way other people watch the television – for relaxation and pleasure – I would love to write for a living. Currently though I also have a full time career path just to be sure I can eat.

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

The A-Men have been written over the past seven and a half years of my life, so when the final novel came out, I'd had a long time to

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

My mother was given a Smith-Corona typewriter and she let me play on it from the time I was four. By six I'd typed my first (four-page) novel!

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Two things:  signposting for the reader and over-structuring.  Both of which I need to watch to keep my writing coherent.

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?
Novels only get written if you love your characters.  They're like babies.  Writing about them gives them life, and only by having that special relationship do you want them to thrive – and continuing to write more is the only way you can do that.  The hardest part with 'The A-Men' is that after three books I have to learn to stop imagining more adventures for them.

Do you have any advice for other writers?
To be a writer is everything.  To be known as a writer is nothing.   If you learn nothing else, learn this – and your heart will be in the right place when you begin.

Thank You John for Dropping By!
You are welcome Clare.

You can find John on the web at:


www.trevillian.com
There's a full dramatised audio podcast available free from iTunes or from http://trevillian.libsyn.com/