Author Pam Dingee & Mercy

Hi all!

Please help me welcome Author Pam Dingee to my blog today!

Here's my interview with her:

What is your name? Do you use a pen name (if so, why?)?

Pam Dingée  J

Tell me a bit about yourself:  

 I’m in love with love, just the absolute idea of it and I don’t think I’ll ever write something that doesn't have anything to do with a love story.

What type of genre do you write?

Romance.  I have a hard time putting it into a sub-genre box though. YA? NA? I don’t know, I think Mercy is a mix of both. 

What genre to you personally read?

I like to read any love story that includes a bad-boy or rebel (he he), young adult because I’m immature, and some vampires sprinkled in there.

Tell me about your latest

Mercy is a love story, but it’s more complicated that because my heroine is going through a divorce with Dick (yes his name has two meanings) and her father died a few months ago and Eden is just trying to be happy.  She’s hoping to love and trust again although she isn’t quite sure how to go about it and Eden is ever doubtful of her own worth because she’s been hurt.

But then … my bad-boy Dom comes into the picture.  He is her best-friend’s goofy, ever-the-player brother, but he just may be her saviour too.

Mercy is a sweet and funny love story.

What sparked your passion for books and the art of a good story?

Oh man, I think it was a lot of things.  Me going back to school for my Associate’s and reading history books (LOVE history) plus friends giving me books and forcing me to read them  … and then me absolutely falling in love with them.

Is there a particular book that changed or affected your life in a big way?  

My favorite book is the Time Traveller’s Wife because it is such an epic love story and it made me feel so many different things.  It made me cry and I hate crying, but I happily cried for his book.  Plus, who wouldn’t want to do it with a younger version of your husband who is time-travelling from the past. Sign me up!

Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp?

Love conquers all.

What challenges have you faced in your writing career?

I had no idea there was so much promoting and marketing and work involved AFTER I wrote the book.  But I’ve never loved something enough to make me want to do all the extra work involved like I do with writing.

What has been your best moment as a writer?

Just finishing it and pressing the publish button was amazing to me.  Just the coolest feeling.  Boop!

Who is your author idol?  

I don’t know that I have an idol, I think we all have our own style and stories and we portray them in the best way we deem possible.

Do you see yourself in any of your characters?

I see myself in all my characters in one way or another, since I have to put myself in their shoes.   Unless it’s a naughty villain; then it’s my evil twin!

Do you feel like your dream has come true or is there much more to do?

I accomplished one of my goals by finishing and putting my book out into the world, but I have lots more books half on paper, half floating in my head.

What does your workspace look like?

I don’t have an official one.  When my kids are in school I sit at my kitchen island and hunker down for a few hours.  Otherwise I write in bed or chillin on the couch.

Have you ever had a day when you just wanted to quit?

Nope, for the first time in my life I can’t give up and I won’t.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

I cook, clean, drive children around, listen to lots of music, and drink lots of green hippie juice.

What are the most important attributes to remaining sane as a writer?

I think we just have to have perspective.  There’s the ‘me’ that creates and the ‘me’ that pimps the creative me out to the world.  Plus, I think we must be a little insane to put our inner thoughts out there and be okay with that and the criticism that comes with it.

Did you have a moment when you realized you were meant to be a writer?

When the story of Mercy wouldn’t let me go and I had to write it I really just hoped that I could do this for the rest of my life, cause it’s so fun.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Just don’t give up, keep trudging along even if you feel like you’re stuck in the mud.  Being creative is a gift and you should give it to the world.

After this book, what is next?

Light is my next book, yes another love story.  It is situated in the same setting (Las Vegas), but different friends and acquaintances.  My hero and heroine have known each other forever, but they have a very strong love-hate relationship and we will get to see them love and fight through it.

Your website?

http://pamdingee.com/

Your blog?

http://pamdingee.blogspot.com/

Other websites?

https://twitter.com/pamdingee

https://www.facebook.com/pamdingeeauthor?ref=tn_tnmn

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7325813.Pam_Ding_e

http://www.pinterest.com/pammymay/boards/

Where can your book be found?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FELJQGO

Please help me thank Pam for joining us today! She's got a special event going on yesterday and today so check out her website for more info and check out her book!

Keep Writing!

Jodie Pierce

Andrea Stanet

Hi all!

Please help me welcome Author Andrea Stanet to my blog today!

Here's my interview with her:

What is your name? Do you use a pen name (if so, why?)?

Andrea Stanet—no pen name.

What type of genre do you write?

I write across a few genres, but mainly YA and middle grade fantasy. I have dabbled in the thriller genre recently, and used to have aspirations of writing horror.

What genre to you personally read?

I will read almost any genre. Definitely the ones I write and horror, but also some romance, historical fiction, nonfiction. I’m just a book junkie and I look for anything interesting that moves along.

Tell me about your latest?

I am in the process of doing another round of revisions on a MG fae novel, Glamour and Flame, in which a girl with a sensory disorder gets shipped off to relatives in Ireland. She encounters some murderous faery folk and learns to control her emerging fire affinity. There’s a touch of romance, lots of danger, coming of age, dragons…All the stuff you need for a good fantasy with my own spin on it.

The story I recently had published in the anthology Urban Harvest: Tales of the Paranormal in New York City is very different. In “Under the Mattress,” 17-year-old Nathan struggles to cope with loss and life with his post-Iraqi-war-veteran mom. A devastating accident and a visit from his deceased father push him to make a life-altering choice.

I will have another story released in the Stalkers anthology hopefully at the end of November. “Lucid” features new adult, Joey Santiago, who is stalked in her dreams. I think I had a little too much fun writing that one.

Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp?

One message in Glamour and Flame is that no matter how many challenges we have, everyone has that special something that makes them shine. And also, everyone has a place in this world. Sometimes we have to work a little harder to find it, sometimes it’s where we least expect it, and sometimes it’s right under our noses.

What challenges have you faced in your writing career?

Finding the time and energy to write is always tough. Between work and family, I don’t get much time for other activities. These days, I have to get up an hour early to get some writing in before the rest of the family wakes up. Even that doesn’t always work out. Just this morning, I was all set to get up and work on my revision, but the power went out. When the clocks changed, my son got up the same time as I did, thinking it was an hour later. Life has a twisted sense of humor and likes to get in the way, just for kicks.

What has been your best moment as a writer?

It was definitely the day I got the email that my first story had been accepted for an anthology. Shortly after that, I got my second acceptance. It’s been a very exciting time, careerwise.

Who is your author idol?

I have several at this point, but the first and most enduring was Stephen King. He sparked my imagination and made me want to write stories. J.K. Rowling brought me out of a decade-long writing slump. Neil Gaiman, who I fell in love with as a comic writer before I was introduced to his novels. Joss Whedon and Aaron Sorkin because they have incredible wit. Honestly, I gain something from almost every author I read because I learn from them all—even the ones I don’t love.

Do you see yourself in any of your characters?

Snippets of myself, here and there, appear in some of my characters, but not much anymore. Sometimes a bit of my snark will sneak its way into a character, and some of the situations I place them in are based on my experiences. More often, my characters resemble other people I’ve come across.

Do you feel like your dream has come true or is there much more to do?

I think I’ve just reached the tip of the iceberg, and there is a long way to go yet. Even though having some short stories finally seeing the light of day, I still want to see my novels out there. Much more work left for me to do.

What does your workspace look like?

A hot mess? Right now I tend to work at our dining table despite having two desks I could clear off to use for their intended purposes. But the table is in a corner, which minimizes distractions, and it’s also the warmest spot in the house. Behind me are precarious stacks of story drafts, books, a ton of other papers, and a big storage box of my son’s Legos that I sometimes use as a higher tabletop desk when sitting gets too uncomfortable. Then I’ll stand to work for a while. It’s a quite weird setup I’ve got going on, and now that I’ve written it all down, I think I’ve shamed myself into thinking about straightening it out.

Have you ever had a day when you just wanted to quit?

Several times a week.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

I work as an English and Essay Writing tutor in addition to freelance writing. In my spare time, I read as much as I can, run, cycle, and engage in all kinds of genre geekdom.

What are the most important attributes to remaining sane as a writer?

A sense of humor is key. For example I got a good laugh out of the use of write and sane in the same sentence! Otherwise, perseverance and a think skin come in right behind a sense of humor. Sane…good one!

Did you have a moment when you realized you were meant to be a writer?

What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Don’t quit. Ever. The moment you give up might come a heartbeat before you were about to make it.

After this book, what is next?

After Stalkers is released, I expect to have a story called “Nelita and the Shadow” appear in the YA/MG anthology called Wild Cards.

Your website?

http://Andreastanet.com

Your blog?

By Process of Lumination

Other websites?

My Autism Insights

Where can your book be found?

Urban Harvest: Tales of the Paranormal in New York City is available at Amazon in Kindle format.

Facebook author page:

https://www.facebook.com/AndreaStanetauthor?hc_location=stream

Please thank Andrea for joining us today! Check out her links and her books!

Keep Writing!

Jodie Pierce

Author Laurie Treacy

Hi all!

Please help me welcome Author Laurie Treacy to my blog today!

Here's my interview with her:

What is your name? Do you use a pen name (if so, why?)?

Laurie Treacy. No pen name yet.

Tell me a bit about yourself:

I’m a wife, mom of three really good kids and various pets, an active reader and book blogger. Movie and music fan. I love frogs, frozen Goobers, anime and haunted places. I’m also a Whovian.

What type of genre do you write?

I love paranormal, fantasy, urban fantasy, dystopian and contemporary romance. I initially started out writing YA, but I’ve also started writing for adults. My NaNoWriMo book this year is a New Adult paranormal. I find this genre exciting.

What genre to you personally read?

I don’t have just one favourite genre. I read a lot of YA, New Adult and adult romance, urban fantasy, contemporary romance, dystopian, paranormal and thrillers. Some sexy stuff as well.

Tell me about your latest?

I’m actively writing two novels. One is a paranormal YA, Everlast, which I’m actually rewriting. My progress stalled and I realized I was missing something relevant. I discovered what it was last September during a workshop on writing characters. My Nano novel is One Drop, a New Adult paranormal about a college student obsessed with visiting an abandoned mental hospital and what happens to her there one day. She went to retrieve something she’d left behind only to discover something much more important and scary.

What sparked your passion for books and the art of a good story?

I think all the time I spent in my local libraries as a kid growing up in the Bronx really helped shape and foster my love of books. I used to devour books, sometimes one a day. There’s something incredible about getting lost in a great story.

Is there a particular book that changed or affected your life in a big way?

As a reader, the first book I ever owned was Charlotte’s Web. I felt a real affinity for Fern and her need to rescue the rump of the litter. I was forever bringing animals home. In my teens I discovered Anne Rice’s Interview With A Vampire and fell in love with Lestat, with the possibilities a vampire could be more than a monster. As a writer I was blown away by Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Children’s book were not as exciting nor was the genre so huge when I was a kid. After that I was hooked on reading YA and then discovered other great authors like Dianna Wynne Jones, Susan Cooper, and many more.

Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp?

Not so much a message but simply to enjoy themselves reading.

What challenges have you faced in your writing career?

Is my work good enough? When is it truly done? Will they understand it? The usual challenges I guess.

What has been your best moment as a writer?

When I type “The End” and feel incredibly satisfied with what I have produced. Then learning my work will appear in an anthology was certainly exciting.

Who is your author idol?

I don’t have just one author idol. I read so much and I’m captivated way too much. The authors I would love to sit down with in a pub and talk over a drink would be Jane Austen, James Joyce, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Anne Rice, and Maggie Stiefvater.

Do you see yourself in any of your characters?

I think there’s a sprinkling of my essence in every character I create.

Do you feel like your dream has come true or is there much more to do?

My dream has just begun. After I’ve completed my novels I want to query agents in 2014 and see what happens.

What does your workspace look like?

In my house, I’m a bohemian. In warm weather I like to write on my porch, in colder months I seek out the best room with the most sunlight and view. I hope to have my porch renovated next year and then I can claim part of it as my own.

Have you ever had a day when you just wanted to quit?

No.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

Live, be a mom, a wife, a friend, a homeowner, yet no matter what I may be doing, there’s always a glimmer of an idea or snippet of storyline somewhere in my brain just itching to get out.

What are the most important attributes to remaining sane as a writer?

Did you have a moment when you realized you were meant to be a writer?

What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Never give up. Dare to dream but in order to achieve that dream just write every day then repeat.

After this book, what is next?

I have many other books all in some state of creation. From an outline to actual chapters, my trunk of ideas is never empty.

Your website?

http://www.laurietreacy.com

Your blog?

Same as above

Other websites?

http://www.readergirlsblog.com

Where can your book be found?

The anthologies with my stories can all be found under my name on Amazon.

Jessica Sawa Extrodinaire

Hi all!

Today I'm doing something a little different. Instead of featuring an Author, I'm featuring a reader, editor, proofreader and friend, Jessica Sawa.

Here is my interview with her:

What is your name?
Jessica Sawa, Jessi, Hey you, anything you want to call me really except late for a party.

Tell me a bit about yourself:
I am a single mother of two wonderful children, Carmen my 14 year old daughter and Anthony my 5 year old son. They are my life and the whole reason I breathe. I was blessed when they became mine and I became theirs. I am fighting for disability right now and am not allowed to work, so I came up with a great idea and have been doing it now for about 4 months or so. I have always promoted and helped my author friends with anything they needed help with, but now I have broadened it and promote and proofread for all authors and all genres. I have found my niche for sure! I do more proofreading but with that proofreading I give promotion in the price of the service. I have a “like” page on Facebook, a professional and personal page and I run my own blog as well using all social media outlets. Knowing that I am able to do this stuff to help take care of my family without hurting myself or going against my doctors wishes is an amazing feeling.

What type of genre do you proofread? Prefer to read personally?

Personally I love and adore YA, Paranormal, you know anything witchy, vampirery and so on, but I will read and proofread any genre because I love love love all books. Books and authors are my passion.

What sparked your passion for books and the art of a good story?
My mother read to me from womb until I was able to read to her at 3 or 4 years old. I began to read chapter books around age 6 or 7 and from there on out I have had a love of reading, books, and authors.

What challenges have you faced in your proofreading career?

The only challenge I have found thus far is getting my name out there and gaining customers. While I have done work, I would love to be overloaded with it. I want to feel what it feels like to be piled with books and I want to know what it feels like to continue to be blessed and able to help my bookish family in any way that I can.

Who is your favorite author?

My favorite authors are Tara Fox Hall (all time favorite!!) with her Lash series: Lash, Shadowman, and WAR... Lash is my book boyfriend!... I also love Tori L Ridgewood, Jodie Pierce, Mark Knight, Tich Brewster, Julieanne Lynch, J.K. Accinni and more of the known not indie would be R.L. Stine, Christopher Pike, Stephan King, lil bit of Poe, Shakespeare,  V.C. Andrews, and oh so many more.

Do you feel like your dream has come true or is there much more to do?
Well career wise, no my dream is nowhere near coming true yet, family wise I could not dream of more caring, loving, wonderful beautiful inside and out children and a mother who love me with everything they are, as I do them. And Love wise that has been a roller coaster but I still have faith my prince will come.

What does your workspace look like?
Oh it is horrible!! I have a little laptop table that I use when I sit on the couch with my heating pad and such, it is COVERED with junk and well truthfully the whole room could use a once over I have been so busy. OH MY and on bad days I lay in bad with my laptop and well lets just say the clean clothes are all in baskets willy nilly around the room and there are two dirty clothes piles on the floor. I really need to take some time and get this place in order so that I can start taking the decorations out. PHEW! This is going to be some hard work!

Have you ever had a day when you just wanted to quit?
OH YES! But haven't we all?

What do you do when you’re not proofreading?
When I am not proofreading I am still reading lol, what can I say I have an addiction. But when I am not reading (which is around spring and summer that I slow down the most I kinda hibernate in the fall and winter, I do not like the cold at all!) I am playing with my son, watching movies with the kids, playing taxi for them and hanging out on facebook talking to my wonderful author friends and family.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
 Have thick skin, Do not worry about edits, leave those to us proofreaders and editors that is what we are here for, but find a good one, one that will go above and beyond to help to make you the best that you can be. Xoxo DO NOT QUIT!

Your website?
https://www.facebook.com/JessiPromotions

Your blog?

JessicaJabbers.blogspot.com

Other websites?

https://www.facebook.com/JessiSawaPromos
https://twitter.com/JessiSawaPromos

Let's all thank Jess for joining us today! If you're ever in need of her services, I HIGHLY recommend her and she's reasonable! Check out some of her fav Authors and don't forget her website!

Keep Writing!
Jodie Pierce

Author Emma L. Adams & Darkness Watching

Hi all!

Please help me welcome Author Emma L. Adams to my blog today!

Author Bio:

Emma spent her childhood creating imaginary worlds to compensate for a disappointingly average reality, so it was probably inevitable that she ended up writing fantasy and paranormal for young adults. She was born in Birmingham, UK, which she fled at the first opportunity to study English Literature at Lancaster University. In her three years at Lancaster, she hiked up mountains, skydived in Australia, and endured a traumatic episode involving a swarm of bees in the Costa Rican jungle. She also wrote various novels and short stories. These included her first publication, a rather bleak dystopian piece, and a disturbing story about a homicidal duck (which she hopes will never see the light of day).

Now a reluctant graduate, she can usually be found in front of her writing desk, creating weird and wonderful alternative worlds. Her debut novel The Puppet Spell, published in 2013 by Rowanvale Books, is a fantasy tale for young adults and the young at heart, inspired by her lifelong love of the fantastical, mythology, and video games. Emma also writes supernatural/urban fantasy novels for older teens and adults. Her next book, Darkness Watching, is the first in the upper-YA/New Adult Darkworld series, and will be published in September 2013 by Curiosity Quills Press.

Darkness Watching
Emma L. Adams
(Darkworld #1)
Publication date: September 30th 2013
Genres: New Adult, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy

Seventeen-year-old Ashlyn is one interview away from her future when she first sees the demons. She thinks she’s losing her mind, but the truth is far more frightening: she can see into the Darkworld, the home of spirits– and the darkness is staring back.

Desperate to escape the demons, Ash accepts a place at a university in the small town of Blackstone, in the middle of nowhere – little knowing that it isn’t coincidence that led her there but the pull of the Venantium, the sorcerers who maintain the barrier keeping demons from crossing from the Darkworld into our own world.

All-night parties, new friendships and a life without rules or limits are all part of the package of student life – but demons still stalk Ash, and their interest in her has attracted the attention of every sorcerer in the area. Ash is soon caught between her new life and a group of other students with a connection to the Darkworld, who could offer the answers she’s looking for. The demons want something from her, and someone is determined to kill her before she can find out what it is.

In a world where darkness lurks beneath the surface, not everyone is what they appear to be..