Thank you for being on the blog with me today Christy! Christy Nicholas is a local author to the Corning, NY area with several books bridging, or rather breaking, and proving one does not need to be bound inside a box to only one genre. Christy is the author of the Historical Fiction Druid’s Brooch Series that takes place in Ireland, going backwards in time from the first book, Legacy of Hunger to the last in the series Age of Druids
Me: With divulging what you're comfortable with, you have had an interesting life, spanning many countries, from what I understand. When did the writing bug hit you?
I used to write travelogues for each of my trips. Like, really detailed ones - what I drank, who I met, what rocks I tripped over, etc. They were both for me, so I could remember the details later, and for others, those friends and family who couldn’t travel with me. Eventually, a friend of mine (who happened to be a previous travel agent for Ireland travel AND a small press publisher) encouraged me to form these travelogues into a travel guide to Ireland. That was my first published book. Then I made one for Scotland. This was all around 2013, so not that long ago.
Me: I know that you also do gorgeous beadwork and travel to many art shows. You are very multi talented. But has there been anything along the way that you have tried that just didn’t fit who you are? As a personal example, for me, it took me into my mid-30’s to truly learn the art form of sarcasm. And even then it’s debatable. I do rather enjoy baking when I get the chance, but I did not inherit the cake making/decorating gene.
Oh, definitely. I tried doing wire-wrapping, like around gemstones and such. I was horrible! Of course, it didn’t help that I couldn’t afford good materials, like real silver. I used stripped-out electrical wire to practice on. And I’m a re-doer in crafts - if something isn’t right, I try to do it over. You can’t unbend wire. Once it’s wrapped, it’s done. Frustrating. I also can’t cook, or at least, have no passion for it.
Me: Besides the writing, what has been your favorite part of the craft? Which characters have been your favorite?
I love the planning of it. Working out the plots, subplots, conflicts, etc. So far, my favorite character is Wilda Permelia Firestone in Time Tourist Outfitters, Ltd., named for my great-grandmother. She’s feisty, she’s 55, and she takes no crap from anyone!
Me: If you can, the Druids Brooch as a whole has different main characters. But if it was only one character, how do you think the story would have changed overall?
I would have had to dream up a lot more conflicts for her! The main character in the first book, Legacy of Hunger, was a 24 year old woman of privilege who has her eyes opened to the evils of the world. The main conflict was the Great Hunger in Ireland, where she travels in 1846. I might have followed her story a little longer, throughout the years of the Hunger. I definitely don’t think there would have been nine books’ worth of story, though.
Me: You have recently published a book, outside the historical genre (Congrats!) that, if I’m not mistaken is also self published. Can you give us a bit, without too many spoilers on Time Tourists Outfitters, Ltd? And where did you come up with such an idea and a colorful cast of characters?
This is a time travel adventure, based on a plague that lands on the main character’s doorstep (literally). The idea came from a reddit meme about the people who create costumes for time travellers. The characters came from different places. I imagined Wilda as Dame Maggie Smith in Downton Abbey. Her assistant is loosely based on a friend named Mattea, an excellent author in her own right. And of course Tarren is as well - another lovely author!
Me: How would the story of Time Tourists Outfitters, Ltd be different if told from another character’s perspective?
From Mattea’s, perhaps - a frightening opportunity to see the history she’d never be able to travel otherwise. It would definitely be a romance, a love story, in that case.
Me: If you were an English/Literary teacher, what would be a question from each novel you would ask on the final exam?
Name the themes that are reflected in the ancient tales within the books
Me: Who is the main character you are the most loyal to, and what is that main character loyal to?
Since I’ve never written more than one book with the same main character, that’s a bit difficult. I think the one I hold closest to my heart is Wilda, since she reflects a lot of my own values. She is loyal to her friends above all else.
Me: Your personal website is http://greendragonartist.com/ . I don’t deny that dragon’s exist somewhere out there, as I have a daughter enamored with dragons. When did you first become interested in dragons?
That’s an easy one. 1982. I was 12 years old. I was supposed to be cleaning my room. Instead, I read a book Mom had given me - Dragonsinger by Anne McCaffrey, one of her Pern series. It wasn’t the first in the series, it wasn’t even the main series. But it was the first book I’d read where I identified with the main character, and I was hooked. Ever since, I’ve collected dragons.
Me: What authors/stories have inspired you and your work the most? That you absolutely can not live without being on your bookshelf?
Anne McCaffrey, Robert Heinlein, Diana Gabaldon, Maeve Binchy, Robin Hobb. It’s a diverse bunch, ranging from hard scifi to slice of life.
Me: If you could have any of your books turned into a movie, which one would it be, and who would you cast as the characters?
I think TTO would be best as a film, but I’d love to see the Druid’s Brooch come to life. Casting is more difficult. If Dame Judi Dench were about twenty years younger, she’d be perfect as Wilda. Maybe Sophie Turner as Mattea. Tom Baker around age 50 for Sir Algernon.
Me: Thank you again for taking the time to be here with me today. I have one last question for you today though. If you had a pet dragon, what would you name it?
Ramoth. Without a doubt. (see previously information about loving Anne McCaffrey books!)
You can find Christy’s books for sale here:
http://greendragonartist.com/books/
http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Nicholas_Christy/index.htm
https://www.amazon.com/Christy-Nicholas/e/B00E3ENH7C
Me: With divulging what you're comfortable with, you have had an interesting life, spanning many countries, from what I understand. When did the writing bug hit you?
I used to write travelogues for each of my trips. Like, really detailed ones - what I drank, who I met, what rocks I tripped over, etc. They were both for me, so I could remember the details later, and for others, those friends and family who couldn’t travel with me. Eventually, a friend of mine (who happened to be a previous travel agent for Ireland travel AND a small press publisher) encouraged me to form these travelogues into a travel guide to Ireland. That was my first published book. Then I made one for Scotland. This was all around 2013, so not that long ago.
Me: I know that you also do gorgeous beadwork and travel to many art shows. You are very multi talented. But has there been anything along the way that you have tried that just didn’t fit who you are? As a personal example, for me, it took me into my mid-30’s to truly learn the art form of sarcasm. And even then it’s debatable. I do rather enjoy baking when I get the chance, but I did not inherit the cake making/decorating gene.
Oh, definitely. I tried doing wire-wrapping, like around gemstones and such. I was horrible! Of course, it didn’t help that I couldn’t afford good materials, like real silver. I used stripped-out electrical wire to practice on. And I’m a re-doer in crafts - if something isn’t right, I try to do it over. You can’t unbend wire. Once it’s wrapped, it’s done. Frustrating. I also can’t cook, or at least, have no passion for it.
Me: Besides the writing, what has been your favorite part of the craft? Which characters have been your favorite?
I love the planning of it. Working out the plots, subplots, conflicts, etc. So far, my favorite character is Wilda Permelia Firestone in Time Tourist Outfitters, Ltd., named for my great-grandmother. She’s feisty, she’s 55, and she takes no crap from anyone!
Me: If you can, the Druids Brooch as a whole has different main characters. But if it was only one character, how do you think the story would have changed overall?
I would have had to dream up a lot more conflicts for her! The main character in the first book, Legacy of Hunger, was a 24 year old woman of privilege who has her eyes opened to the evils of the world. The main conflict was the Great Hunger in Ireland, where she travels in 1846. I might have followed her story a little longer, throughout the years of the Hunger. I definitely don’t think there would have been nine books’ worth of story, though.
Me: You have recently published a book, outside the historical genre (Congrats!) that, if I’m not mistaken is also self published. Can you give us a bit, without too many spoilers on Time Tourists Outfitters, Ltd? And where did you come up with such an idea and a colorful cast of characters?
This is a time travel adventure, based on a plague that lands on the main character’s doorstep (literally). The idea came from a reddit meme about the people who create costumes for time travellers. The characters came from different places. I imagined Wilda as Dame Maggie Smith in Downton Abbey. Her assistant is loosely based on a friend named Mattea, an excellent author in her own right. And of course Tarren is as well - another lovely author!
Me: How would the story of Time Tourists Outfitters, Ltd be different if told from another character’s perspective?
From Mattea’s, perhaps - a frightening opportunity to see the history she’d never be able to travel otherwise. It would definitely be a romance, a love story, in that case.
Me: If you were an English/Literary teacher, what would be a question from each novel you would ask on the final exam?
Name the themes that are reflected in the ancient tales within the books
Me: Who is the main character you are the most loyal to, and what is that main character loyal to?
Since I’ve never written more than one book with the same main character, that’s a bit difficult. I think the one I hold closest to my heart is Wilda, since she reflects a lot of my own values. She is loyal to her friends above all else.
Me: Your personal website is http://greendragonartist.com/ . I don’t deny that dragon’s exist somewhere out there, as I have a daughter enamored with dragons. When did you first become interested in dragons?
That’s an easy one. 1982. I was 12 years old. I was supposed to be cleaning my room. Instead, I read a book Mom had given me - Dragonsinger by Anne McCaffrey, one of her Pern series. It wasn’t the first in the series, it wasn’t even the main series. But it was the first book I’d read where I identified with the main character, and I was hooked. Ever since, I’ve collected dragons.
Me: What authors/stories have inspired you and your work the most? That you absolutely can not live without being on your bookshelf?
Anne McCaffrey, Robert Heinlein, Diana Gabaldon, Maeve Binchy, Robin Hobb. It’s a diverse bunch, ranging from hard scifi to slice of life.
Me: If you could have any of your books turned into a movie, which one would it be, and who would you cast as the characters?
I think TTO would be best as a film, but I’d love to see the Druid’s Brooch come to life. Casting is more difficult. If Dame Judi Dench were about twenty years younger, she’d be perfect as Wilda. Maybe Sophie Turner as Mattea. Tom Baker around age 50 for Sir Algernon.
Me: Thank you again for taking the time to be here with me today. I have one last question for you today though. If you had a pet dragon, what would you name it?
Ramoth. Without a doubt. (see previously information about loving Anne McCaffrey books!)
You can find Christy’s books for sale here:
http://greendragonartist.com/books/
http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Nicholas_Christy/index.htm
https://www.amazon.com/Christy-Nicholas/e/B00E3ENH7C
On the blog today we are diving headfirst into the LGBTQ genre, with a six degrees of separation author for me. And that does not fall under the category of coincidence. I “met” Vicki Locey, local author from a small town in PA that barely has a map dot, when she showed up as a suggested friend on FB after attending Corning, NY’s first ever Pride Festival in 2019. It wasn’t until later that summer, that I got to officially meet her, in person, at my uncle’s celebration of life picnic. For obvious reasons, she and I didn’t get a chance to talk too much that day, but I did find out that she and her spouse had known my uncle for years!
I am thankful that she has taken the time today to be willing to be under the spotlight. Vicki, who writes under V.L. Locey, is a USA Today Bestselling Author of M/M hockey romances. She’s also a chicken herder, coffee sipper, and New York Rangers fanatic.
Thank you for being here with me today!
Thank you for having me!
Me: For those that aren’t familiar with the style of books you write, could you explain a little what M/M stands for and how you started writing stories in that genre?
Sure! In the romance novel world there are genres such as historical, sports, LGBTQ+2, western, paranormal, etc. The books I write are a sub-genre of the LGBTQ+2 genre. M/M is an abbreviation for male/male just as M/F is male/female. My books are gay romances with two (or more) men falling in love as one of the key plot points.
My first professional gay romance was a hockey romance novella for an anthology call for a now defunct LGBTQ+2 publisher. Throughout my writing career my work has always had homoerotic overtones, even back when I was writing fanfiction, which is where I cut my teeth as an author. I wrote a few M/F hockey romances then discovered gay romance and have never looked back. It really is the genre of my heart.
Me: Did you always know you wanted to be a writer, or is this something newer for you? When you realized you were going to be a writer or started writing without realizing it, did you know that this was the genre you were looking to write in?
No, actually, I never realized until I hit my forties that the stories that had been tumbling around inside my head all my life could be put down on paper, and that people would read them! It was only through fanfiction that I discovered that my voice appealed to readers. As I said above once I discovered gay romance I fell totally in love with the genre and made my home there.
Me: What value do your books have for today’s society?
I think they have great value for society. They’re reminders that people in the LGBTQ+2 community are regular people looking and experiencing the same things as straight people. It’s vitally important for people to have representation in books, TV, movies, and music. I’ve had readers come to me at events and contact me online to tell me that my books have helped them deal with being the only queer person in a small, rural area or have buoyed them during hard times. That’s incredibly moving when it happens, seeing that you’ve helped another human being feel empowered and loved. Representation is so important.
Me: What do you believe the characters reveal about themselves through their relationships?
I think they reveal their inner selves, sometimes sharing bits of themselves they didn’t know they even possessed until love appeared in their lives. Loving another human being is a mighty thing, it’s something we’re all seeking in one form or another be it a purely emotional bond or something with physical love as well.
Me: Did writing your books inspire you to explore new ideas or to look at things from another perspective?
I’d be lying if I said my characters haven’t taught me things about the world, and myself, as they come to life on the page. I’ve always been quite liberal in my world views, being raised by a vocally liberal mother who did not tolerate injustice or hate well. As I became more familiar with the gay community via by books and the fact that my daughter is an out and proud LGBTQ+2 member, I’ve come to see the world as having many beautiful hues as opposed to strictly black and white when it comes to love.
Me: What do your books have to say about intimacy outside of sexuality/sex?
A great deal! I know people think that romance novels are nothing but sex, sex, sex but that’s not true at all. Many romance novels have no sex, or it takes place behind closed doors. Mine don’t but thousands do and they sell incredibly well. Romance novels are much more than insert tab into slot. They show us the width and depth of human emotions, pain, joy, friendship, and commitment as two souls slowly become one. They’re happy ever after in a world that’s grown progressively unhappy. They’re about hope and finding that one special someone to grow old with.
Me: How much power do the characters have to change their world? How do you think the characters in your books will change the real world around us currently?
They have all the power in the world, just as we do! As for my characters, I think they help change perspectives and long held (and usually wrong) beliefs about the queer community. Many of them are proud and vocal, unwilling to hide in closets despite the hate thrown at them. Some are struggling to come out, and a few are still hiding due to religious reasons or family issues. I hope that they can help readers see that while the gay community has made strides there’s a long way to go.
Me: How might each story/book be changed if told from a different character’s perspective? (I know, I’ve been told I ask some difficult questions :P We’re writers, it’s what we do.)
A different character would make the book an entirely different novel. Each of us brings unique views, opinions, and reactions to things that happen to and around us. For instance, I have one couple where one man is outspoken and ascerbic and suffered a terrible childhood while his husband is less prone to being in your face and was raised by loving, supportive parents. Those are vastly different backgrounds which shaped two vastly different men.
Me: What emotions did your stories provoke in you while writing them?
All of them! That’s probably a common answer but it’s the truth. At various times as I’m writing I’ll feel a range of emotions from anger to joy. I laugh, I cry, I rage, I swoon, I giggle, and I grind my teeth in vexation. And, I hope, if I’m feeling those emotions my readers will too. Then I know I’ve done my job.
Me: If you were a teacher, what question would you ask in the final essay?
How can you make the world a better place in your daily life?
And one last question. I’ve been devouring books like crazy lately, and one of the character’s in the current book I am reading, The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern, is asked, “‘If you were a man lost in time where would you be?’’ I find this such an intriguing question, that I am going to ask you, if you were lost in time, where would you be?
Ooo, this is very wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey right up my Doctor Who fangirl alley! I’ve always had an affinity for the 1940’s from the cars to the clothing to the music. I recall reading once that if a person has an intense call for a bygone era that they may have lived in that era in a previous life. I’m not sure if reincarnation exists or not, but if so I suspect I might have been jitterbugging around on a dance floor when Glenn Miller was the king of the charts!
Thank you again so much for being on the blog today and helping us understand the world of LGBTQ writing a bit more.
You’re so welcome! Thanks for having me over. If anyone would like more info on me or my books they can check out my website:
http://vllocey.com/
Or they can find me online at the following places:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/VL-Locey/124405447678452
Reader’s Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1439154279700674/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/vllocey
Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/vllocey/
Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5807700.V_L_Locey
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/vl_locey/
Today, I have guest author Patrick Thomas, author of...a long list of books taller than I am. Seriously, I’m short, and if you were to stack his next to me, I’m certain, they would have already outgrown me on the ruler wall. Patrick, thanks for being here with me today.
Happy to be here. (At least that’s what you told me to say. Don’t beat me again with the tube of cookie dough. Please untie me. For anyone reading this- Help, I’m trapped in Tarren’s attic!)
Me: Patrick, where to begin with you...you have a full time job, a wife, kids who are active in several activities and attend a local writers group--The Corning Area Writer’s Group. So, my first question to you is, do you sleep?
As much as possible. I can only do all that I do thanks to an understanding wife (Who no doubt has noticed I’m missing and notified the police. Or started a garage sale with my belongings. Best let me go now so I can save my painting of Dogs Playing Poker and Rover, my pet rock.) and a finely honed ability to write under pressure.
Me: You have been able to write and publish across multiple genres. Is there one you write the most consistently in? And how have you published across the multi genre platform? Publishing house, agent, or Indie/self-publishing?
Humor pervades all my work. (And this holding the writer hostage thing is hilarious, but the joke is over now. Time to let me leave. Or at least let me have a bathroom break. Or move the litter box closer.) I tend to do a lot of paranormal mysteries- Terrorbelle, Hell’s Detective, Agent Karver, Soul For Hire and of course the Mystic Investigators series. But I have written horror, science fiction, fantasy, mystery, and the Dear Cthulhu advice column. And lately as Patrick T. Fibbs, books for kids.
I’ve been published by small presses, in anthologies, and magazines. Dear Cthulhu is on the radio. I helped found a small press publisher over 20 years ago and self-published a limited edition flipbook with John French. The only time I had an agent was for when the TV and Film rights for Fairy With A Gun were optioned by Laurence Fishburne’s Cinema Gypsy Productions.
Me: Do you have a favorite book of your own that you have written and why/how did that become your favorite? Or, if not a favorite book, maybe a favorite character?
Ah the favorite among my literary children. I often line the books up in a death match to see which one really wants to be my favorite the most. The hardcovers do the best.
I’d have to go with Exile and Entrance because it was my first but John Murphy, bartender at Bulfinche’s Pub in the Murphy’s Lore series is my favorite character, with Terrorbelle, Dagonet, and Hell’s Detective coming up behind. (And stop coming up behind me and yelling booga bogga! It wasn’t funny the first time or the twelfth. Even with the blindfold on, I know it’s you, Tarren.)
Me: Going along with the previous question, playing off your favorite book/character, who or what is the main character most loyal to?
Murphy is most loyal to doing the right thing and helping those who need it. (A lesson you could very well learn, don’t you think? I need help and untying me would be the right thing to do.) Then to his friends and boss at Bulfinche’s Pub.
Me: When writing, do you find you are more of a planner or pantser or somewhere in between? That being said, do your books end the way you expected them to?
For novels, I start with an outline, some parts more detailed than other but there are times I pants sections of a book but still knowing where I want to end up. (And you aren’t planning to take my pants are you? I mean this whole Misery vibe thing you and I have going on here is way weird and wrong, but that would just be awkward.) Most of the time my books end like I expected them to but sometimes the path getting there is very different. Although for short stories I have been know to pants a bit.
Me: Do you feel that any of your books are missing scenes or details that should have been included?
In Fools’ Day after the fact I realized I wanted to add one line to foreshadow the Mysticaust alternate timeline and go to put it later when it went to a second printing. (And I’m sure plenty of people are missing me by now, not just the ones I owe money to. Just saying.)
Me: Out of all your characters, which one would you most like to know in real life? And if you don’t mind me taking a stab at this, I may have a hunch at who it could be.
I think Paddy Moran, the owner of Bulfinche’s Pub would be the most beneficial and helpful to know in real life, but Murphy, Dagonet, and Terrorbelle would be the most fun. (And could you please not mention stabbing and real life in the same sentence while I am bound helpless to this chair, please and thank you.)
Me: My guess is Cthulhu, from Dear Cthulhu: Good Advice for Bad People.
Absolutely not! He would be the most terrifying to meet in real life. (Sorry, you are a distant second.) I’m fine with interviewing the Great One from a safe distance for the Dear Cthulhu advice empire.
Me: Do you find your characters are more optimistic or pessimistic or are they more of the, bring me another beer before the glass is half empty, kind of characters?
Actually, at Bulfinche’s Pub, most of them would want another beer and maybe a few pitchers to make sure any portion of an unfilled glass isn’t an issue.
Murphy, Terrorbelle, and Dagonet in my Murphy’s Lore universe are definitely optimistic. Others like Agent Karver from the DMA Casefiles and Negral, Hell’s Detective, are definitely pessimistic but are still trying anyway. Some of my characters like Hex, might feel the glass is half empty but are trying to see it as half full. Morty Graves from Undead Kid Diaries is trying to become optimistic, hard for a zombie kid. Babe, from the Babe B. Bear Mysteries, is most definitely a root beer glass half full kind of kid.
So I guess most of them at least have optimistic tendencies even if they are pessimists at heart or from experience.
(And look at all that beer over there. It’s just calling your name. Can’t you hear it whispering, “Tarren, drink me and all my friends!”. Go ahead. You know you want to. I won’t escape or draw a mustache and funny eyebrows on your face in permanent marker while you’re passed out drunk. I’ll even leave you all the cans so you can get the deposits back. You can trust me.)
Me: When did the writing creature grab you, hit you over the head, kidnap you and force you to be a writer?
(You mean like you did for this interview? You could have just asked or offered me cash. Cash would have been far preferable for future reference.)
I’ve been writing since I was a kid but probably in my mid-twenties for book length work, so like last week.
Me: If you had the chance to have any of your books made into a movie, which one would be your top pick?
Not sure if this is a cheat, but my Soul For Hire story-Act of Contrition-was actually made into a short film.
But Exile and Entrance, Fools’ Day, or Redemption Road would all make awesome movies. Murphy’s Lore, Fairy With A Gun, Dead To Rites, and Lore and Dysorder would all make amazing TV shows. (And if I survive this interview, I’m selling the movie rights to I Survived Tarren: One Author’s Brave Struggle Against the Interview of Darkness.)
Me: Do you have a “muse” or are the ideas always floating in that weird (and I mean that as a compliment) brain of yours?
No muse per say but lots of voices in there that the writings helps quiet down. Or not, depending on the project or the day. (And my weird brain may have figured a way out if I can just reach that tub of pudding, the rubber chicken, a spork, and the pink chainsaw.)
Me: Do you have any advice for current and future writers as we close out?
Read everything, write lots, and have fun. (And never, ever let Tarren sneak up behind you at a coffee shop with chloroform. It is not a new favor of tea. Turn down the free sample!)
Me: Thank you again for sharing your time with me on the blog today.
You’re welcome. (Ha ha! I’m free! Free!!!!! And I’m taking the beer cans for the deposit! Feet don’t fail me now!)
(*Actually, Patrick is not in my attic, he's keeping the mice at bay under the house...and I'll give anyone my Girl Scout cookies to keep quiet that he is missing from The Corning Area Writer's Group.)
The following are just a few of Patrick’s works. Check it out.
www.patthomas.net
The Murphy’s Lore™ series
TALES FROM BULFINCHE’S PUB
FOOLS’ DAY
THROUGH THE DRINKING GLASS
SHADOW OF THE WOLF
REDEMPTION ROAD
BARTENDER OF THE GODS
NIGHTCAPS
EMPTY GRAVES
THE MUG LIFE
https://www.amazon.com/Murphys-Lore-9-Book-Series/dp/B07Q32LM1Z/ref=sr_1_15?keywords=murphy%27s+lore&qid=1583285223&sr=8-15
Murphy’s Lore Startenders™
STARTENDERS
CONSTELLATION PRIZE
https://www.amazon.com/Startenders-2-Book-Series/dp/B07XTK5HR5/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=startenders&qid=1583285270&sr=8-5
Murphy’s Lore After Hours™ Universe
Terrorbelle:
FAIRY WITH A GUN
FAIRY RIDES THE LIGHTNING
TERRORBELLE THE UNCONQUERED
https://www.amazon.com/Terrorbelle-3-Book-Series/dp/B07XTK78QS/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=Terrorbelle&qid=1583285321&sr=8-2
Agent Karver:
RITES OF PASSAGE (with John French)
DEAD TO RITES
Hell’s Detective:
LORE & DYSORDER
BULLETS & BRIMSTONE
(with John French)
THE CASE OF THE MOON MANIAC
(graphic novel with Blair Webb)
Hexcraft:
BY DARKNESS CURSED
BY INVOCATION ONLY
Soul for Hire:
GREATEST HITS
Xiles:
EXILE & ENTRANCE
Dear Cthulhu™ Series
HAVE A DARK DAY
GOOD ADVICE FOR BAD PEOPLE
CTHULHU KNOWS BEST
WHAT WOULD CTHULHU DO?
CTHULHU HAPPENS
CTHULHU EXPLAINS IT ALL
https://www.amazon.com/Dear-Cthulhu-6-Book-Series/dp/B07XLMZT4Y/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=dear+cthulhu&qid=1583285440&sr=8-1
Mystic Investigators™ series
MYSTIC INVESTIGATORS
MEAN STREETS
ONCE MORE IN CRIME omnibus
by Patrick Thomas & Diane Raetz
SHADOWS & BRIMSTONES omnibus
by Patrick Thomas & John L. French
Playworlds:
AS THE GEARS TURN:
Tales of Steamworld
YA:
THE WILDSIDHE CHRONICLES OMNIBUS (contributing author)
Anthologies as co-editor
NEW BLOOD (with Diane Raetz)
CAMELOT 13 (with John French)
https://www.amazon.com/Padwolf-13-5-Book-Series/dp/B07KX2YFM6/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=padwolf+13&qid=1583285522&s=digital-text&sr=1-1
THE JACK GARDNER MYSTERIES
THE ASSASSAINS’ BALL (with John French)
Writing as Patrick T. Fibbs
UNDEAD KID DIARIES™:
OVER MY DEAD BODY
BABE B. BEAR MYSTERIES™:
BAD HAIR DAY
5 SILLY MONSTERS JUMPING ON THE ZED: an Ughaboos™ picture book
SOGGY GOES TO THE BEACH: an Ughaboos™ early reader
https://www.amazon.com/Patrick-T-Fibbs/e/B07L2M185M?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_4&qid=1583285483&sr=8-4
Below are just a few of Patrick's book covers.
Before we dive in with today's interview, I wanted to say THANK YOU to my readers and writers for being here with me, especially as I'm learning as I go. It is so much appreciated, and I know the authors appreciate you, the readers. So, yes, I am enabling. #noimnotsorry
We have a vast writer/readership that encompasses local to the NY/Twin Tiers/PA border area. To give an idea, a few years back, I read in a magazine that some stores often define local as being in a radius of 400 miles for their food supplies.
Certain book stores to the area, also consider authors from NYC area as local authors. As such, I wanted to take a moment and give a rudimentary "boundary" for lack of better word for local authors in the moment. This will more than likely morph as such things do. For now, I will consider local to be authors who live within a 2 hour drive from the Elmira/Corning, NY area. This includes places like the Greater Niagara, Finger Lakes, Central New York and the Catskills region. For PA it is currently North Central and North East regions. But please, do not take this as a hard and fast rule. And I am hoping to expand my author interviews near and far.
Thanks again for your time and chillin' with me on the blog.
Without further ado, today on the blog, I have local author Dawn L. Lubertowicz, writer of The Darkness Series/The Dragon Chronicles. Dawn and her husband are big animal lovers and advocates. In her words: “ My husband and I just finished fostering four kittens and their mother. We had them since the kittens were six and half weeks old and just went to their forever home when they were six and half months old. The three kittens and the mother went to their forever home and we kept the one that reminded me so much of my one cat, Gremlin. I did cry when they left but I knew they were going to a good place. I felt like a parent watching her children go off to college. (laughs)
When I learned about the Australia wildfires and how much damage it caused, I knew I needed to do something to help out. I offer most of the royalties of my books sold ($8) would go toward the Animal hospital to help with medical cost.
I grew up with animals and loved being with them. Most of our pets, including my algae eater is considered to be part of our family. I would get upset if something happened to them and we actually would spend whatever it takes to help them. My husband and I actually ate peanut butter sandwiches for weeks to pay for medicine for our one cat that had diabetes and congestive heart failure. We would do anything for animals, especially ours. Ours are actually spoiled and get a better life than we do (laughs).”
I’m laughing right there with you on the animals eating better than we do. We have two of them that are both on grain free diets/foods that we can only get at certain stores. It definitely is true you comparison to filet mignon to peanut butter sandwiches.
On that note, thank you for being here with me today.
Me: This seems like such a basic question, but it seems to be a popular one that most people want to know answers too, when did you start writing? Were you one of those kids who was always scribbling notes on walls (to my audience, I don’t really know if she wrote on walls, only she can tell you that ;) ) or were you a late bloomer or somewhere in between?
Dawn: (laughs) I wished I could have written on walls when I was a kid, but that was frowned upon by my parents. Yes, I was writing and coming up with stories as a kid. My family used to travel a lot so you had to entertain yourself. There weren’t any smartphones or DVD players back then (yes, I’m old). So, all you could do was watch the world outside pass you and listen to cassettes that played in the car stereo (yes, like I said before, I’m old…I’m an 80’s child). Growing up, I was writing short stories or small scenes. There were times I was thinking of music videos (laughs). Then I got into writing screenplays during high school until college. Only about 8 years ago was when I decided to publish my stories. I didn’t think I would be able to, but my dream became a reality as I’m up to twelve published books I still teeter between screenplays and my stories as there are always screenplay contests out there that may give my books a chance to be a movie. Plus, I prefer to write the screenplay where it doesn’t ruin the book.
Me: Writing changes how many people view the world, whether they publish or not. How has writing your books changed your view about the world?
Dawn: Actually, I was lucky enough to travel the world because my father was in the Air Force. During our travels, I got to see the different cultures and learn about them. When it comes to my characters, it helped shape their personalities and actions.
Me: How do the principle antagonists in your books view the world differently, not just from other characters in their own books, but other characters as well in the series and, your world view. (PS: Joseph Gary Crance said I ask some tricky questions...you’re welcome.)
Dawn: My principle antagonists view the world as something that is there to serve them or in the way of their goal. They tend to try to take over a group or rid the world of a certain group, such as the Lykings in Books 1-3 of the Darkness Series. I have one antagonist named Ty that believes he’ll do what he wants and hates it when the world tries to control him. He’s a werewolf or a wolf demon as called in the Darkness Series and believes he’s better than anyone else and the mortals are nothing but pests. Ly, another werewolf or wolf demon, believes the world or people have a purpose that serves her best interests such as gaining power and ruling the world.
Me: What role do you think faith, of any kind, or the lack thereof, plays in your characters lives?
Dawn: My Characters tried to believe in something, but sometimes it doesn’t work out and they lose faith in humanity for a time period until they realized they need to have faith in each other.
Me: Which fairy tale or children’s story or stories have similarities to your books?
Dawn: In the Dragon Chronicles, by accident, they fell into children’s stories/fairy tales. One is called Beauty and Beast. The other Dragon Chronicles story is called Taming the Beast which is the retelling story of the ugly duckling but with dragons.
Me: Without giving too many spoilers, for those who haven’t yet had a chance to read your work, are you stories more about fate or free will?
Dawn: As you read the stories, it mostly evolves around fate, but once in a while someone breaks out of their destiny and makes their own future. There are even characters that are forced to follow their destiny but eventually they find a way to break away and are either viewed as heroes or outcasts. I always love using fate and free will in my stories to see how people would act if they know their fate but learn that they do have free will and can do what they want instead of following their destiny.
Me: What has been your favorite passage you have written so far?
Dawn: I actually have a lot of passages that I like so it’s really hard to pick just one. I would say there’s a scene between Lance and Alexis in Scarred where it’s a great dialogue between them. Throughout the story, they’re having relationship issues to the point where Alexis wants Lance to leave her. Then another one would be between Gordon and Amelia where he shares a part of him to her. There are many favorite passages in one book that is in the works called Crazy Eight. So, like I said it’s hard to pick just one. I think there needs to be a lot of favorite passages to make the story work. If you just throw a scene together without liking it, then I think it would feel like I’m just trying to create fillers for the story.
Me: Divulging with what you’re comfortable with, what was the personal impact of writing any of the stories?
Dawn: Lone Star deals with second chances more than being a southern love story. Some days, when I have a moment for myself, I wonder what my life would be if I took a different path. What I mean by this is that there was a farm boy that I was in the midst of dating. He was too shy and I was too shy, so nothing came of it even though we both liked each other. I sometimes wonder what would have happened if one of us made the first move and we had a life together. That’s how Lone Star came to be as a second chance story. My friend, Olivia told me it would be a great story to write about even though it was out of my genre. You would see that most of my stories are currently fantasy fiction. Now, it seems to be a popular book in Pennsylvania how much of an emotional roller coaster it is and how people can relate to it.
If you read my stories, not only do I add some humor but I do add some personal touches where you can feel the emotions that the characters go through. I didn’t want their emotions to be fake, but you know how they’re feeling by expressing how I would feel during those moments.
Me: Do you have a writing routine that you follow? A certain time of day? A cup of tea or coffee? A favorite place to write?
Dawn: I don’t really have a routine or a certain time. I used to have a writing buddy named Gremlin. He was my cat and loved cuddling with me as I would sit on the couch and write. Unfortunately, he passed away a couple of years ago so it’s been tough to write without having a fur ball laying next to you.
Me: Who has inspired you the most in your writing career?
Dawn: I didn’t really have anyone that inspired me to write, but my uncle had given me tons of writing magazines and information so I would be able to publish my books. I just learn things so I could get my stories out there.
Me: And one last question. What has been the biggest lesson you have learned from writing?
Dawn: People really enjoy a good story and love the art of writing. I’ve had tons of people come up to me and ask how I’m able to write. I just tell them it’s like any other hobby, some people are good at some things and others are good at other things. My most favorite part is meeting new or up and coming writers. I love giving them tips and helpful information to help them start their life as a writer or know where to start.
Thank you again for taking the time to be here on the blog with me today.
Some extra cool information about Dawn's books: All her book covers except Scarred were designed herself. Scarred was designed by her sister Thomasine Gilbert.
The books for the Darkness Series are Harvest Moon: My Guardian (owned by a publishing house that I’m trying to get the rights back), Blood Moon: My Dark Angel, Awakening Moon: Evil Rises, Marked, Scarred, Burned and New Blood: Beating Heart. Books 1-3 are about Zero and Abby. Books 4-6 are about Lance and Alexis. Book 7 is about Jeremy and Izzy. These don’t have to be read in order. For example, you can read Book 4 before Book 1.
The books for the Dragon Chronicles are Beauty and Beast, Taming the Beast and The Unclaimed Beast.
I started a new fantasy fiction series called the Infinity War for young adults.
Lone Star was original meant to be a standalone but my friend talked me into a prequel and sequels (laughs)
I’m working on a steampunk fiction called Helix, hoping to be another series.
Since 2013, I have twelve books published. Eleven through Amazon and one through a publishing house.
Thanks for allowing me to join this blog :D
We have a vast writer/readership that encompasses local to the NY/Twin Tiers/PA border area. To give an idea, a few years back, I read in a magazine that some stores often define local as being in a radius of 400 miles for their food supplies.
Certain book stores to the area, also consider authors from NYC area as local authors. As such, I wanted to take a moment and give a rudimentary "boundary" for lack of better word for local authors in the moment. This will more than likely morph as such things do. For now, I will consider local to be authors who live within a 2 hour drive from the Elmira/Corning, NY area. This includes places like the Greater Niagara, Finger Lakes, Central New York and the Catskills region. For PA it is currently North Central and North East regions. But please, do not take this as a hard and fast rule. And I am hoping to expand my author interviews near and far.
Thanks again for your time and chillin' with me on the blog.
Without further ado, today on the blog, I have local author Dawn L. Lubertowicz, writer of The Darkness Series/The Dragon Chronicles. Dawn and her husband are big animal lovers and advocates. In her words: “ My husband and I just finished fostering four kittens and their mother. We had them since the kittens were six and half weeks old and just went to their forever home when they were six and half months old. The three kittens and the mother went to their forever home and we kept the one that reminded me so much of my one cat, Gremlin. I did cry when they left but I knew they were going to a good place. I felt like a parent watching her children go off to college. (laughs)
When I learned about the Australia wildfires and how much damage it caused, I knew I needed to do something to help out. I offer most of the royalties of my books sold ($8) would go toward the Animal hospital to help with medical cost.
I grew up with animals and loved being with them. Most of our pets, including my algae eater is considered to be part of our family. I would get upset if something happened to them and we actually would spend whatever it takes to help them. My husband and I actually ate peanut butter sandwiches for weeks to pay for medicine for our one cat that had diabetes and congestive heart failure. We would do anything for animals, especially ours. Ours are actually spoiled and get a better life than we do (laughs).”
I’m laughing right there with you on the animals eating better than we do. We have two of them that are both on grain free diets/foods that we can only get at certain stores. It definitely is true you comparison to filet mignon to peanut butter sandwiches.
On that note, thank you for being here with me today.
Me: This seems like such a basic question, but it seems to be a popular one that most people want to know answers too, when did you start writing? Were you one of those kids who was always scribbling notes on walls (to my audience, I don’t really know if she wrote on walls, only she can tell you that ;) ) or were you a late bloomer or somewhere in between?
Dawn: (laughs) I wished I could have written on walls when I was a kid, but that was frowned upon by my parents. Yes, I was writing and coming up with stories as a kid. My family used to travel a lot so you had to entertain yourself. There weren’t any smartphones or DVD players back then (yes, I’m old). So, all you could do was watch the world outside pass you and listen to cassettes that played in the car stereo (yes, like I said before, I’m old…I’m an 80’s child). Growing up, I was writing short stories or small scenes. There were times I was thinking of music videos (laughs). Then I got into writing screenplays during high school until college. Only about 8 years ago was when I decided to publish my stories. I didn’t think I would be able to, but my dream became a reality as I’m up to twelve published books I still teeter between screenplays and my stories as there are always screenplay contests out there that may give my books a chance to be a movie. Plus, I prefer to write the screenplay where it doesn’t ruin the book.
Me: Writing changes how many people view the world, whether they publish or not. How has writing your books changed your view about the world?
Dawn: Actually, I was lucky enough to travel the world because my father was in the Air Force. During our travels, I got to see the different cultures and learn about them. When it comes to my characters, it helped shape their personalities and actions.
Me: How do the principle antagonists in your books view the world differently, not just from other characters in their own books, but other characters as well in the series and, your world view. (PS: Joseph Gary Crance said I ask some tricky questions...you’re welcome.)
Dawn: My principle antagonists view the world as something that is there to serve them or in the way of their goal. They tend to try to take over a group or rid the world of a certain group, such as the Lykings in Books 1-3 of the Darkness Series. I have one antagonist named Ty that believes he’ll do what he wants and hates it when the world tries to control him. He’s a werewolf or a wolf demon as called in the Darkness Series and believes he’s better than anyone else and the mortals are nothing but pests. Ly, another werewolf or wolf demon, believes the world or people have a purpose that serves her best interests such as gaining power and ruling the world.
Me: What role do you think faith, of any kind, or the lack thereof, plays in your characters lives?
Dawn: My Characters tried to believe in something, but sometimes it doesn’t work out and they lose faith in humanity for a time period until they realized they need to have faith in each other.
Me: Which fairy tale or children’s story or stories have similarities to your books?
Dawn: In the Dragon Chronicles, by accident, they fell into children’s stories/fairy tales. One is called Beauty and Beast. The other Dragon Chronicles story is called Taming the Beast which is the retelling story of the ugly duckling but with dragons.
Me: Without giving too many spoilers, for those who haven’t yet had a chance to read your work, are you stories more about fate or free will?
Dawn: As you read the stories, it mostly evolves around fate, but once in a while someone breaks out of their destiny and makes their own future. There are even characters that are forced to follow their destiny but eventually they find a way to break away and are either viewed as heroes or outcasts. I always love using fate and free will in my stories to see how people would act if they know their fate but learn that they do have free will and can do what they want instead of following their destiny.
Me: What has been your favorite passage you have written so far?
Dawn: I actually have a lot of passages that I like so it’s really hard to pick just one. I would say there’s a scene between Lance and Alexis in Scarred where it’s a great dialogue between them. Throughout the story, they’re having relationship issues to the point where Alexis wants Lance to leave her. Then another one would be between Gordon and Amelia where he shares a part of him to her. There are many favorite passages in one book that is in the works called Crazy Eight. So, like I said it’s hard to pick just one. I think there needs to be a lot of favorite passages to make the story work. If you just throw a scene together without liking it, then I think it would feel like I’m just trying to create fillers for the story.
Me: Divulging with what you’re comfortable with, what was the personal impact of writing any of the stories?
Dawn: Lone Star deals with second chances more than being a southern love story. Some days, when I have a moment for myself, I wonder what my life would be if I took a different path. What I mean by this is that there was a farm boy that I was in the midst of dating. He was too shy and I was too shy, so nothing came of it even though we both liked each other. I sometimes wonder what would have happened if one of us made the first move and we had a life together. That’s how Lone Star came to be as a second chance story. My friend, Olivia told me it would be a great story to write about even though it was out of my genre. You would see that most of my stories are currently fantasy fiction. Now, it seems to be a popular book in Pennsylvania how much of an emotional roller coaster it is and how people can relate to it.
If you read my stories, not only do I add some humor but I do add some personal touches where you can feel the emotions that the characters go through. I didn’t want their emotions to be fake, but you know how they’re feeling by expressing how I would feel during those moments.
Me: Do you have a writing routine that you follow? A certain time of day? A cup of tea or coffee? A favorite place to write?
Dawn: I don’t really have a routine or a certain time. I used to have a writing buddy named Gremlin. He was my cat and loved cuddling with me as I would sit on the couch and write. Unfortunately, he passed away a couple of years ago so it’s been tough to write without having a fur ball laying next to you.
Me: Who has inspired you the most in your writing career?
Dawn: I didn’t really have anyone that inspired me to write, but my uncle had given me tons of writing magazines and information so I would be able to publish my books. I just learn things so I could get my stories out there.
Me: And one last question. What has been the biggest lesson you have learned from writing?
Dawn: People really enjoy a good story and love the art of writing. I’ve had tons of people come up to me and ask how I’m able to write. I just tell them it’s like any other hobby, some people are good at some things and others are good at other things. My most favorite part is meeting new or up and coming writers. I love giving them tips and helpful information to help them start their life as a writer or know where to start.
Thank you again for taking the time to be here on the blog with me today.
Some extra cool information about Dawn's books: All her book covers except Scarred were designed herself. Scarred was designed by her sister Thomasine Gilbert.
The books for the Darkness Series are Harvest Moon: My Guardian (owned by a publishing house that I’m trying to get the rights back), Blood Moon: My Dark Angel, Awakening Moon: Evil Rises, Marked, Scarred, Burned and New Blood: Beating Heart. Books 1-3 are about Zero and Abby. Books 4-6 are about Lance and Alexis. Book 7 is about Jeremy and Izzy. These don’t have to be read in order. For example, you can read Book 4 before Book 1.
The books for the Dragon Chronicles are Beauty and Beast, Taming the Beast and The Unclaimed Beast.
I started a new fantasy fiction series called the Infinity War for young adults.
Lone Star was original meant to be a standalone but my friend talked me into a prequel and sequels (laughs)
I’m working on a steampunk fiction called Helix, hoping to be another series.
Since 2013, I have twelve books published. Eleven through Amazon and one through a publishing house.
Thanks for allowing me to join this blog :D
My Little Editor
Today, I have local author, backwoods guy and servant to the King of Hounds—(the real) Seth—Joseph Gary Crance.
Joe is the author of several books in the Ryland Creek series, starting with The Last Coon Hunter (2017). Since then, he’s published two more books in this family saga: An Exceptional Hound, Book II (2018), and The Legends of Ryland Creek, Book III (2019), all self-published through Lulu. Thank you, Joe, for taking the time to be here with me today.
Joe: Hi, Tarren. It’s a pleasure to be here with you.
Me: From what I understand, you’ve lived a very colorful, story-filled life! Has this inspired you to be the writer you are today, or were you always writing, even as a kid?
Joe: Well, yes. . .and yes. I would write often as a kid. I’d even finish two novels before I’d publish The Last Coon Hunter. I would learn later, that writing a novel or two before publishing your first book was quite normal.
Growing up in Upstate New York, just above the Pennsylvania border, afforded something of a magical upbringing. My father, Gary, was the local New York State Forest Ranger, and we were always training our coon hound field trial dogs, so I had the opportunity to spend many, many hours in the forests—day and night and in every season. I still do spend a lot of time out there. It gives you time to think.
I left home at 20, spending the nearly three decades working for the Department of Defense—U.S. Air Force mostly. That adventure let me dive in the Pacific Ocean (Guam, where I’d meet my future wife, Brendalyn, also in the Air Force at the time), explore the swamps of Georgia, visit the rain forests in Washington state, experience the deserts of the Middle East, the plains of Texas, the woodlands of Virginia, and the prairies of Ohio—and many places in between.
Still, I’d make it back to Painted Post often when I had a chance to take leave.
When I retired at 40, I was a bit of a road warrior for several more years, but we set down roots for our three kids—Christopher, Matthew, and Samantha— to get through their high school years. In my late 40s, I moved back to the Painted Post region for good--and it was the best decision for me and my family.
Don’t get me wrong—those other places were very much wonderful in their own right, but Upstate New York, Painted Post, was always home.
Me: What “mysteries” of Painted Post drew you in to declare that’s a story worth sharing?
Joe: Excellent question. One of the taglines of the series, talking specifically about Painted Post, is: “There’s a magic here, if you know where to look.” And, using the writing term, ther eis a magical realism that runs throughout the series.
Chasing behind a pair of coonhounds will let you see such places and things.
For in these forests are hidden waterfalls, abandoned motels and bridges, farms and highways, overgrown cemeteries; cliffs covered with tall white pines and hemlocks; and massive oaks growing on steep hillsides safe from the logger’s axe.
But just as important as the land, it’s the character of the people here in Upstate New York and Northern Pennsylvania—particularly the farmers and houndsmen. And in this day and age, I’d best clarify that the term “houndsmen” also includes many, many ladies, who are tough as nails with hearts wider than the Pacific.
I think the rural lifestyle, rugged terrain, and weather inculcates a certain take-it-as-it-comes-and-deal-with-it nature within the folks in these parts. Regarding the weather, the old joke is we have nine months of winter, followed by three months of really bad sledding—there’s a lot of truth to that.
Me: The Corning/Painted Post/Twin Tiers are of NY/PA are most famous for its glass production from Corning, Inc. Pretty soon it will be famous for some specially trained coon hounds. How does that make you feel?
Joe (laughing): Well, that remains to be seen. In the end, it’s about the story, and the reader’s reaction to that story and the characters, that really matters.
My books deal with the Ernst family and their coonhounds, so I often ask people, “Did you read the book, or see the movie, Where the Red Fern Grows?” And very often, they nod excitedly, some even saying it’s their favorite story/movie. Then I ask them, who wrote it? Nearly always I get a blank look. To me, that is the true achievement of an author—people so enamored with the book and not the author.
By the way, it was Wilson Rawls who wrote Where the Red Fern Grows.
Me: When you first started writing The Last Coon Hunter did you know from the beginning it was going to be a series?
Joe: Oh, yes, from the get-go. Now, did the storyline differ from what I had originally planned? Yes, to some degree—and those tweaks often influenced by reader reactions to previous books--but not changes to the main story line in a major way.
I’ve had many clever readers—some reading the books multiple times—catch the allusions to the other books that follow. For example, the villain in An Exceptional Hound has a cameo appearance in The Last Coon Hunter. And there’s some foreshadowing of the other books that follow, for example, when a character says, “That would be a story for another time.”
Me: Do you feel your stories are more character- or plot-driven?
Joe: Well there’s a writer’s question! And let’s not forget setting, as the land itself—Painted Post—is in many ways a character, too. As a family saga, I think there is a tendency (rightfully) to say the story is character-driven—both human and hound characters—so I’ll come down on the side of character-driven.
Me: How do you feel you have grown as a writer since publishing your first book?
Joe: You’re constantly learning as a writer. I don’t think that learning how to write better ever stops. You always have to keep the reader in mind. You learn there are general principles to good writing. But you likewise learn that you sometimes break those principles with specific intent to achieve a certain effect.
For example, in changes how I write, Last was written very linearly—one chapter ever the next in sequence. I learned that writing non-linearly—jumping back and forth between scenes that move you to write them at the moment—not only gets you to the end product much faster, but when a future scene is already written, you know how to work to that scene to make a coherent storyline.
Me: I’ll be honest and say my favorite line so far in the series is, “For I have seen the world of men and found it wanting. I prefer the company of hounds.” That being said, who has been your favorite character to write during this series?
Joe: You ask great questions. And this one, I can’t answer—at least not outright. Jacob has a certain stoicism I like. Nathan can be a hothead at times—but as one reader/writer told me, “Yeah, but when he does fight, he does it for the right reasons.” True. Mead’s playfulness? Sharon’s kindness? The hound Seth’s nobility? Uncle Arthur—who some refer to as a modern mountain man—and his quirkiness? Ugh—you tell me!
By the way—you quoted Nathan. (Smiles)
Me: When writing the series, did anything surprise you in the stories that you didn’t expect? And did they inspire you to explore new ideas or to look at things from another perspective?
Joe: Ready? The characters often run away from you. They say things, do things, make errors in judgment, even things you sometimes don’t want them to do or say. But you have to sit back as a writer and say, “Yeah—I wouldn’t do/say that—but he/she sure would!”
Me: As the author, and feel free to plead the 5th on this, but do you think your characters symbolize anything and if so, what?
Joe: I’ve literally been in the middle of the woods, waiting for my hound to open on a raccoon’s track, and my cell phone (when I’m somewhere in these hills where there’s coverage!) will go off. I’ll look down, and see the question on Facebook’s Messenger: “Are you Jacob?”
To which I respond, “No.”
I think every fiction writer’s character represents a conglomeration of real people who we’ve known personally or read about—but that character is also a unique creation. In the end tally, if I did my job, the characters represent the real character of this region.
Me: Who have been some of the most influential authors on your writing style?
Joe: This one is easy. The two authors who influenced my writing style the most are Clive Cussler and R.A. Salvatore.
Cussler, who writes action adventures, has a penchant for detail—done effortlessly—that I admire to no end. His character dialogue often had me chuckling.
R.A. Salvatore’s imagination has no limits. He’s had several different series I like to follow—and while he may have written a hundred sword-fighting scenes (he writes science fiction/fantasy) no two sword fights are the same.
Me: One last question, as I know you’re a busy college student, making the President’s List at Mansfield University--congratulations by the way--what do you want to be when you grow up?
Joe (chuckling): A fitting way to end an interview. I will continue to follow this writer’s path—no matter how circuitous it may be. It just seems the right thing to do.
Thank you again Joe for taking the time to answer a few questions! Below are the current books in the Ryland Creek Saga. Definitely look forward to more (hopefully) coming.
Joe is the author of several books in the Ryland Creek series, starting with The Last Coon Hunter (2017). Since then, he’s published two more books in this family saga: An Exceptional Hound, Book II (2018), and The Legends of Ryland Creek, Book III (2019), all self-published through Lulu. Thank you, Joe, for taking the time to be here with me today.
Joe: Hi, Tarren. It’s a pleasure to be here with you.
Me: From what I understand, you’ve lived a very colorful, story-filled life! Has this inspired you to be the writer you are today, or were you always writing, even as a kid?
Joe: Well, yes. . .and yes. I would write often as a kid. I’d even finish two novels before I’d publish The Last Coon Hunter. I would learn later, that writing a novel or two before publishing your first book was quite normal.
Growing up in Upstate New York, just above the Pennsylvania border, afforded something of a magical upbringing. My father, Gary, was the local New York State Forest Ranger, and we were always training our coon hound field trial dogs, so I had the opportunity to spend many, many hours in the forests—day and night and in every season. I still do spend a lot of time out there. It gives you time to think.
I left home at 20, spending the nearly three decades working for the Department of Defense—U.S. Air Force mostly. That adventure let me dive in the Pacific Ocean (Guam, where I’d meet my future wife, Brendalyn, also in the Air Force at the time), explore the swamps of Georgia, visit the rain forests in Washington state, experience the deserts of the Middle East, the plains of Texas, the woodlands of Virginia, and the prairies of Ohio—and many places in between.
Still, I’d make it back to Painted Post often when I had a chance to take leave.
When I retired at 40, I was a bit of a road warrior for several more years, but we set down roots for our three kids—Christopher, Matthew, and Samantha— to get through their high school years. In my late 40s, I moved back to the Painted Post region for good--and it was the best decision for me and my family.
Don’t get me wrong—those other places were very much wonderful in their own right, but Upstate New York, Painted Post, was always home.
Me: What “mysteries” of Painted Post drew you in to declare that’s a story worth sharing?
Joe: Excellent question. One of the taglines of the series, talking specifically about Painted Post, is: “There’s a magic here, if you know where to look.” And, using the writing term, ther eis a magical realism that runs throughout the series.
Chasing behind a pair of coonhounds will let you see such places and things.
For in these forests are hidden waterfalls, abandoned motels and bridges, farms and highways, overgrown cemeteries; cliffs covered with tall white pines and hemlocks; and massive oaks growing on steep hillsides safe from the logger’s axe.
But just as important as the land, it’s the character of the people here in Upstate New York and Northern Pennsylvania—particularly the farmers and houndsmen. And in this day and age, I’d best clarify that the term “houndsmen” also includes many, many ladies, who are tough as nails with hearts wider than the Pacific.
I think the rural lifestyle, rugged terrain, and weather inculcates a certain take-it-as-it-comes-and-deal-with-it nature within the folks in these parts. Regarding the weather, the old joke is we have nine months of winter, followed by three months of really bad sledding—there’s a lot of truth to that.
Me: The Corning/Painted Post/Twin Tiers are of NY/PA are most famous for its glass production from Corning, Inc. Pretty soon it will be famous for some specially trained coon hounds. How does that make you feel?
Joe (laughing): Well, that remains to be seen. In the end, it’s about the story, and the reader’s reaction to that story and the characters, that really matters.
My books deal with the Ernst family and their coonhounds, so I often ask people, “Did you read the book, or see the movie, Where the Red Fern Grows?” And very often, they nod excitedly, some even saying it’s their favorite story/movie. Then I ask them, who wrote it? Nearly always I get a blank look. To me, that is the true achievement of an author—people so enamored with the book and not the author.
By the way, it was Wilson Rawls who wrote Where the Red Fern Grows.
Me: When you first started writing The Last Coon Hunter did you know from the beginning it was going to be a series?
Joe: Oh, yes, from the get-go. Now, did the storyline differ from what I had originally planned? Yes, to some degree—and those tweaks often influenced by reader reactions to previous books--but not changes to the main story line in a major way.
I’ve had many clever readers—some reading the books multiple times—catch the allusions to the other books that follow. For example, the villain in An Exceptional Hound has a cameo appearance in The Last Coon Hunter. And there’s some foreshadowing of the other books that follow, for example, when a character says, “That would be a story for another time.”
Me: Do you feel your stories are more character- or plot-driven?
Joe: Well there’s a writer’s question! And let’s not forget setting, as the land itself—Painted Post—is in many ways a character, too. As a family saga, I think there is a tendency (rightfully) to say the story is character-driven—both human and hound characters—so I’ll come down on the side of character-driven.
Me: How do you feel you have grown as a writer since publishing your first book?
Joe: You’re constantly learning as a writer. I don’t think that learning how to write better ever stops. You always have to keep the reader in mind. You learn there are general principles to good writing. But you likewise learn that you sometimes break those principles with specific intent to achieve a certain effect.
For example, in changes how I write, Last was written very linearly—one chapter ever the next in sequence. I learned that writing non-linearly—jumping back and forth between scenes that move you to write them at the moment—not only gets you to the end product much faster, but when a future scene is already written, you know how to work to that scene to make a coherent storyline.
Me: I’ll be honest and say my favorite line so far in the series is, “For I have seen the world of men and found it wanting. I prefer the company of hounds.” That being said, who has been your favorite character to write during this series?
Joe: You ask great questions. And this one, I can’t answer—at least not outright. Jacob has a certain stoicism I like. Nathan can be a hothead at times—but as one reader/writer told me, “Yeah, but when he does fight, he does it for the right reasons.” True. Mead’s playfulness? Sharon’s kindness? The hound Seth’s nobility? Uncle Arthur—who some refer to as a modern mountain man—and his quirkiness? Ugh—you tell me!
By the way—you quoted Nathan. (Smiles)
Me: When writing the series, did anything surprise you in the stories that you didn’t expect? And did they inspire you to explore new ideas or to look at things from another perspective?
Joe: Ready? The characters often run away from you. They say things, do things, make errors in judgment, even things you sometimes don’t want them to do or say. But you have to sit back as a writer and say, “Yeah—I wouldn’t do/say that—but he/she sure would!”
Me: As the author, and feel free to plead the 5th on this, but do you think your characters symbolize anything and if so, what?
Joe: I’ve literally been in the middle of the woods, waiting for my hound to open on a raccoon’s track, and my cell phone (when I’m somewhere in these hills where there’s coverage!) will go off. I’ll look down, and see the question on Facebook’s Messenger: “Are you Jacob?”
To which I respond, “No.”
I think every fiction writer’s character represents a conglomeration of real people who we’ve known personally or read about—but that character is also a unique creation. In the end tally, if I did my job, the characters represent the real character of this region.
Me: Who have been some of the most influential authors on your writing style?
Joe: This one is easy. The two authors who influenced my writing style the most are Clive Cussler and R.A. Salvatore.
Cussler, who writes action adventures, has a penchant for detail—done effortlessly—that I admire to no end. His character dialogue often had me chuckling.
R.A. Salvatore’s imagination has no limits. He’s had several different series I like to follow—and while he may have written a hundred sword-fighting scenes (he writes science fiction/fantasy) no two sword fights are the same.
Me: One last question, as I know you’re a busy college student, making the President’s List at Mansfield University--congratulations by the way--what do you want to be when you grow up?
Joe (chuckling): A fitting way to end an interview. I will continue to follow this writer’s path—no matter how circuitous it may be. It just seems the right thing to do.
Thank you again Joe for taking the time to answer a few questions! Below are the current books in the Ryland Creek Saga. Definitely look forward to more (hopefully) coming.
For my first ever author interview, I have kidnapped and bribed...I mean politely asked Melora Johnson, author of Earthbound, if she would be willing to be my first guest of honor for The In Between Girl website/blog. Thank you Melora for taking the time today to answer a few questions.
Thanks for inviting me! It’s a pleasure.
Today is a big day! Today is release day for Earthbound, released by Tirgearr Publishing. Overall, how does that make you feel?
Mmm, excited, nervous. It’s one thing to release a book but another to convince people it’s worth their time and money to pick up a copy and give it a try.
The road to publishing is certainly not easy and doesn’t happen overnight. What were some ups and downs you had along the way?
Well, time management is always a problem but, like a lot of authors, I can be my own worst enemy, doubting my own work. Luckily, I’ve had amazing support over the years – from my high school English teachers to the librarian in college who accused me of plagiarism because she didn’t think a new student should be able to write that well. When I brought my writing portfolio in, she started searching for grants and fellowships to give me time to write, but I was determined that between school and work, I just didn’t have time. I should have paid more attention to her, I might have been much further along earlier. But my writer’s group has been the biggest help, keeping me pushing forward over the last ten years.
When you were writing Earthbound, did you find yourself being particularly drawn to a certain character over the others? What qualities do you find you like the most or the most admirable about this character? Are there any pet peeves about this character that annoy you the most?
Oh, one of my favorite characters is Zyriel, a fallen angel who keeps popping up. Just whose side is he on? It was very hard to pin him down. I wasn’t really sure whose side he was on until the end! But he’s very colorful, and he’s pretty funny.
What did you enjoy most about writing this story?
I love discovering what the characters are going to do next. I try to plot things out in advance, really I do, but it’s easier for me to let my subconscious do the work and it just take twists and turns that I never expect. For example, one morning Ally gets up and gets her coffee. I never expected footprints to start appearing the in the frost on the grass outside, though I knew it was a demon as soon as that happened.
Editing aside, how long did it take you to write this story?
Earthbound actually started as a National Novel Writing Month project back in 2014 titled “Something About Demons.” There are definitely demons, and angels, aplenty in this book.
Every reader is going to have a different opinion of course, but do you think Earthbound is more plot driven or character driven? How do you feel about your writing in general being one or the other or do you think there is a decent balance between plot/character?
I would have to say my books tend to be driven by character, simply because I know who my characters are first and it’s their desires that drive the plot choices. I’m a big fan of the Scene/Sequel way of writing. You have a scene question, which is something the character wants, and it’s answered with either a “no” or a “yes, but . . . .” Then the character has to evaluate and strategize in the sequel before they decide on their next move. It’s like the old E.L. Doctorow quote, “Writing a book is like driving at night. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole journey that way.”
Writing is often thought of as solitary, lonely pursuit. Most of us that do publish (Congrats to you again, you deserve it!) or dream of publishing often don’t make millions right out of the gate (not that money is a motivating factor) but there is that balance that has to be found between work--whether outside the home or work from home--and having a family of any sort (children, spouse, the care of other family members.) How did you find the best balance for your life and schedule?
Oh, my, I can’t say that I have. I’m a full-time librarian during the day with a commute of an hour each way. I’m very lucky that, when I was hired, I was asked to create a writer’s group for adults. That has really helped me maintain my goal of writing and publishing.
Writer’s groups are so inspirational and everyone in our group is so supportive. I’ve truly found my tribe.
Then I have a husband and daughter that need my time and attention when I get home. Luckily, my husband is very supportive of my writing and will even help with meals. I basically eke out time to write wherever and whenever I can. I guess you could say that I’ve trained myself to take those opportunities. National Novel Writing Month and free writing exercises have helped me learn to make the most out of small increments of time. I’m looking into transcribing software so that maybe I can make better use of my commute time by verbally writing while I drive.
Are you more creative in the morning or afternoon or late night sort? (Hoot, hoot to all my other night owls out there!)
I would say definitely morning. My mind just starts writing scenarios in the shower in the morning, or lines of poetry. But I have done a lot of writing in the middle of the night, particularly poetry, tapped into my Kindle note pad while sitting up with a sick munchkin. Also, if given time to write in the afternoon, like a half day of work, I’ll jump at it. The coffee shop with my ear buds in and a white noise app running, that’s where you’ll find me. I have a notebook that says “This girl runs on dreams and a latte.” That’s me to a T.
I won’t take up too much of your time, as that’s valuable writing time, but what are some of your favorite go to authors and books that have inspired you over the years?
There are SO many. I’m a huge fan of anything by Neil Gaiman and the Harry Dresden series by Jim Butcher, Charley Davidson books from Darynda Jones and The Hollows Series by Kim Harrison. Then there’s Katherine Howe and Chuck Wendig. But I also love literary fiction like The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker and Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. I also adore autobiographies by authors and I love a good mystery. Oh, and the Invisible Library series by Genevieve Cogman. I’m a librarian and a writer, I could go ON forever.
As a reader, where is your favorite place to read a book?
I really like a good audio book, Neil Gaiman is a wonderful reader, because my commute is an hour each way. I mostly get to read on my Kindle at night while putting my daughter to bed, but my favorite place to read, all other things falling into place, is the couch, with a cup of coffee and a fire in the woodstove. That is pretty rare though.
And one last burning question...if your book were made into a movie, who you cast as the main characters?
That’s actually a bit tricky because as I write, I cast people to play the characters, it helps me picture them. For this book I was picturing an actress, Jan Smithers, when she played Bailey Quarters on the old television show WKRP in Cincinnati, for Ally, Jeremy Renner for Matthew, and Russell Brand for Zyriel. Sometimes I pick people who are musicians who don’t act at all. However, by the time a movie got made, they wouldn’t be the appropriate people to play the characters. Plus, I always think a movie is a different animal from a book. A director would interpret it their own way so they and the casting director should decide that.
Thank you again for taking the time to be with me here today! I wish you continued success in all your writing adventures!
Thank you!
Out now – Earthbound by Melora Johnson (@MeloraJohnson) #paranormalromance
#urbanfantasy #TirgearrPublishing
Do you love action, romance, and fantasy all rolled into one? Love strong heroines? Then check out Earthbound!
Earthbound is a paranormal romance filled with angels and demons struggling to find their way here on Earth.
Blurb:
Her healing touch could start a fire.
Ally Reynolds is a veterinarian specializing in raptor rehabilitation in New Hampshire. Other than one horrific incident in her childhood and a little extra “spark” for healing in her hands, both of which she has kept secret from even her best friend, her life has been singularly boring. It has also been extremely lonely. Ally longs for someone to share her life with, but how can she trust anyone with her secret?
Matthew Blake, an ornithologist at Cornell University, calls Ally, asking for her help with an injured raptor. Matthew grew up in New Zealand and has lived around the world. He has read about Ally’s high success rates in raptor rehabilitation and suspects there is more to it than is generally known.
Matthew has some secrets of his own; he is a demon hunter. He suspects Ally’s healing powers could benefit him. He wants her to join him and thinks they’d make a great team.
Can Ally trust him or is he just using her? Matthew definitely has more secrets, and some of them are about Ally.
Buy now on any ebook platform: http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Johnson_Melora/earthbound.htm
Add to your Goodreads shelves: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18209725.Melora_Johnson?from_search=true
Author Bio:
Melora Johnson is a poet and novelist living in Upstate New York with her husband, daughter, a black cat, and quite a few chickens. Her most recent published work includes A Sanctuary Built of Words: Poems of Peace, Grief, and Passion, and publication in The Sexuality Poems from Foothills Publishing. She also runs a large and thriving writer's group for adults. Of course, into every life a little rain must fall as well as the occasional tornado, but you'll find that amply covered in her writing. Find out more about Melora and her writing on her website www.melorajohnson.com and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MeloraJohnson.Writer or follow her on Instagram or Twitter @MeloraJohnson