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Latest Stop on my Blog Interview Tour is Today’s Interview With Michele Villery Aka Ty Langston
Latest stop on my blog interview tour is author and friend Michele Villery’s blog. Michele aka Ty Langston is the author of fantasy novel “By Sunset” that is being released by Lazy Day Publishing tomorrow. We talked about my novel “Monogamy Sucks” that is also being released tomorrow as an e-book by Lazy Day Publishing.
Enjoy the interview. More to come.
Interview with J.M. Kelley, debut author of Drew in Blue released as an e-book by Lazy Day Publishing on Dec. 1
As part of an ongoing series of interviews on my blog with fellow Lazy Day Publishing writers, I want to introduce you to J.M. Kelley, author of the debut novel Drew in Blue being released as an e-book on Dec. 1, 2010 by new digital publisher Lazy Day Publishing. Those of us on Twitter know her as @jm_kelley. She has also created a Twitter account for her novel’s main character @drew_doyle. Follow her and Drew read their tweets and book when it comes out.
GP
Tell us about your debut novel Drew in Blue?
Drew In Blue is the story of a thirty-six year old loner unexpectedly saddled with the task of raising a baby while trying to sort out his mess of a life. Problem is, he just keeps making things worse for himself. It’s a running theme in Drew’s life, considering he never does anything the easy way. The River’s View, Pennsylvania gossip mill is watching each misstep as Drew juggles a price-gouging babysitter, a major case of artist’s block, and a best friend with an opinion to share on every bungled choice he makes.
Drew’s love life isn’t faring much better. Despite a long history of relationships that never really get off the ground, he falls head over heels for someone new, hoping that she might be the one to end his romantic bad luck streak. After a few abysmally bad false starts, things finally start looking up for Drew. That is, until he finds out (the hard way, naturally) that this new love interest isn’t the one for him after all. Turns out, it’s actually lifelong pal, and high school girlfriend, Kristina Moser.
Drew’s feelings for Kris intensify as he witnesses her growing bond with his son, and he finally realizes where he belongs. Now all he has to do is convince Kris he’s right… and she’s just not buying it.
How did your novel develop? Did you like a lot of us have other manuscripts hidden in a drawer or other incarnations of this book you were working on?
Drew In Blue is my first novel. But I’d started writing again about three years ago – short stories and such. The concept of Drew had been floating around for a bit. For the longest time, it was just an unformed notion of a struggling single father. I ended up with this random file on my desktop with little tidbits of information, but I didn’t think I was up to the challenge of writing a whole book. But finally, I realized this Drew guy wasn’t going to leave me alone until I wrote him. So I did.
Tell us a little something about yourself.
Let’s go for some of the fun facts not necessarily shared on my website: I was born and raised in Pennsylvania, smack dab between Gettysburg and Amish country. I am accustomed to food laden with lard, and occasionally served stuffed in a pig stomach. Chicken pot pie, in my neck of the woods, should never ever come in a pastry shell. I love to read, paint, take photographs, and laugh at the antics of my slightly off-balanced nieces and nephews. I have a Wii Fit that I never use. Because I am clearly insane, I decided it made sense to attempt a move the same week my novel is published. I love the beach, but more so in the off-season. I think wearing jeans and a sweater at the water’s edge might be the most perfect feeling in the world. I’m scared of storms, but am a wannabe storm chaser. I’m my own worst critic. I have an unhealthy addiction to BBQ. But most importantly, at least to me, is I’m a writer, which means I’m finally who I always wanted to be.
You took a lengthy break to work in accounting and coffee distribution. Did those experiences help your writing? Were you always intending to leave your day jobs behind and pursue your writing dream?
I wanted to be a writer all my life, but I figured it was a pipe dream. Kind of like a kid wanting to be a fairy princess. Things just finally fell into place in the last few years. The opportunity to write finally landed in my lap, so I went with it. I will be perfectly content if I can go about my life, have a job and pay the bills, and have time to be a writer, too. But man, it would be fantastic if someday I could declare myself a full-time writer.
I think my oddball assortment of jobs definitely helps my writing. I’ve worked with some interesting people, so there’s so much in my working past to mine for nuggets of storytelling. I like to observe people and pick out tiny quirks that I file away for future use. I don’t insert real life people into my stories, but I do find inspiration in the people around me.
What inspired you to write your novel?
Life in Pennsylvania has always been inspiration enough. Eventually, I came to the realization that I was surrounded by stories just waiting to be told.
Drew himself was the big draw to the idea of writing a novel. I love complex male characters and when I’m reading, I often feel like I wanted to see the male lead do/think/feel more. I want characters with flaws. I want characters who don’t say the right thing. I want characters who have to make choices with consequences. I figured hey, if I can’t find that easily, I’ll just write it. So I did.
Does the location depicted in your novel have an impact on the characters and your book’s overall theme? Were you influenced a lot by where you grew up in Pennsylvania?
I believe it does, and my upbringing definitely influenced the development of River’s View. Small town life creates a bubble of unique people. Larger cities certainly have quirky residents, too, but in a small town, they’re confined to a small area. The weird stands out more. The familiarity of residents allows the strangeness to flow in all its glory, too.
I don’t think I could have produced the same story if Drew In Blue was set in a large city. River’s View is just as much a character as Drew or Nick or Kris. The town itself is a source of conflict for Drew, not just a setting for the action. It is there to constantly remind Drew of his past, and Drew holds a grudge or two against River’s View itself.
Tell us about your fictional town fictional Appalachian town of River’s View? Would you say Drew is a typical character of your town? Did you create a whole back history for the town while your wrote your book? Where did the inspiration for River’s View come from?
Drew really likes to rail against his hometown, but I think that’s because part of him knows he’s a part of it, and it’s a part of him. He belongs, but he doesn’t quite understand why or how. What he doesn’t realize is he’s just as quirky and fun as the rest of the residents.
I probably could start a series of stories on the residents of River’s View if I tried. I have a lot of history lurking in my mind that didn’t add to the overall story, but helped me personally visualize this place. I know the whole story of the town’s founder, his errant love life, and on and on.
River’s View is a jumble of many towns and neighborhoods and cities I grew up around here in South Central Pennsylvania. I was raised halfway between Gettysburg and Lancaster County, otherwise known as Amish Country. There’s a joke that includes some of the oddball town names around these parts: You have to go through Intercourse to get to Paradise. I don’t think anybody has figured out a good joke about Bird In Hand, though. My revelation that River’s View is, in fact, a town with no river to view is a nod to the hilarious randomness of Pennsylvania town names.
There’s a lot of weird in this portion of the state. I don’t mean that in a bad way. I adore the fact that a simple drive across the county invariably yields a sight that makes me laugh out loud and shake my head. It’s an endless source of inspiration.
How did you choose your book’s title?
I have to admit, the initial choice doesn’t have much of a compelling story. It just popped into my brain and I went with it. It rhymed. It was catchy. But upon further contemplation, I realized that the title has multiple implications. Drew In Blue alludes to the artistic nature of the characters, not just a name. The blue alludes to Drew’s general outlook on life and himself. I have to thank my subconscious for throwing out a title that knows how to multitask.
What do you think is unique about your book? What are some of the more unique themes you explore in this novel?
I think the male lead is a unique angle in a contemporary romance. Especially since it is driven by Drew’s point of view, and not shared between him and the leading lady. Drew In Blue is a romance, yes, but Drew’s life story and his world view are just as key as the romantic themes.
His loneliness is a constant companion, no matter how hard he wants to deny it. Despite the gruff, dismissive exterior, Drew is driven by his isolation. He wants to be loved and accepted, but he doesn’t really know how to make it happen, and that only drives him to build walls. He’d rather pull away before he gets rejected. Drew’s ultimate enemy is his own inability to see value in himself.
The history of Drew and Kris’ friendship is something I rarely see in stories. Usually, you see two friends silently suffering, never confessing repressed love for one another. But here, Drew and Kris are truly friends. Despite their pasts, despite the occasional urge to say, “What if?” they are committed to their friendship. They operate as a team, as family. Their love for one another is pure, be it romantic, platonic, or something else. They hold their friendship above all else.
Who are some of the authors that influenced you as a writer?
Harper Lee is the author I credit with starting me down the path of a compulsive reader/writer. I read To Kill a Mockingbird at a younger age than most, I think, and I was thoroughly obsessed with the story. Granted, it wasn’t until I was older that I understood the themes of the novel, but I felt something for each of the characters. Looking back, I realize now that even in the unsophisticated mind of a child, I recognized what she was conveying, even if I couldn’t quite put a name to it all yet. I didn’t know what racism was yet, but I felt the unjustness and I experienced frustration. Her ability to tap into such emotions still amazes me.
I love Toni McGee Causey, because her sharp style of writing is completely up my alley. I call her my guru of sassy writing. I love any author who can make me truly hear the characters’ voices in my head, and Toni excels at that.
How do you come up with your characters? Were they composites of people you know or knew?
There are aspects of people I know in a lot of my characters. Nothing so blatant that anyone would say, “Hey, wait a second….” I’m definitely an observer of people around me, and I find myself cataloging random things I take notice of in acquaintances and complete strangers.
It never feels like I’m piecing together a character, though. It feels more like they reveal themselves to me. If there’s a process I follow to formulate a character, I’m out of the loop. Drew just came to be somewhere in the recesses of my mind, and he kicked and yelled until I sat up and paid attention.
What was the most difficult aspect of writing your book?
Writing in first person was an interesting experience. I’m used to third person. I like to play the omniscient puppeteer. But third person didn’t work for Drew In Blue. I tried. There was something lacking. I realized that I needed to hand the reins over to Drew and let him tell his story, and when I did the story began to flow. The vibe of sitting on a porch, listening to the guy tell you a little about himself is just what the story needed.
You created a Twitter account for your character Drew — @drew_doyle How has that worked out? Why did you do it? Was it a way for your character to talk your Twitter fans and followers in real time?
I’m still learning how to handle Drew’s Twitter account, to be honest. But I enjoy the process. I like to keep it in Drew’s voice. He’s a sarcastic person. He likes to hide behind the snark. I think that it will be a great way for potential readers to experience the boy’s sense of humor and get a sense of who he is (and why Kris adores him, even if sometimes she wants to smack him).
Did you always know you wanted to be a writer? How did you get started?
I’ve always been a right-brain thinker. I like to sketch, paint, I dabble in photography. So writing was something I enjoyed immensely, especially during the school years. But life got in the way after graduation, and I abandoned my writing for punching the time clock and paying the bills. I missed it, though.
When my father died, I was chock full of angst, and started writing again to purge the whirl of emotions surrounding me after he passed. Naturally, I felt like I was back in my element. The nugget of a story began to form in my head, and I played around with it for a bit. Then I was laid off from my full-time job. Aside from job searching and resume emailing, I had a lot of free time on my hands, and I decided the lay-off was a clear sign that I should just squeeze my eyes shut and dive in headfirst.
A paycheck would be nice, but aside from the financial downfalls, that lay-off was the best thing that ever happened to me.
Do you have any writing rituals? Ever experienced the dreaded writer’s block?
If so, how did you break through it?
I’m not very ritualistic about writing, at least not at this point. I have a laptop table that I curl up under, and most of my writing is done in bed due to lack of space. Hopefully that will change once I get a dedicated writing area set up in my new place. Most of my work is done late at night because I’m a night owl by nature, and the synapses don’t really start firing until the sun goes down.
Writer’s block happens often. I think my brain gets too cluttered with possibilities and the gears freeze. Sometimes, I’ll mix things up and write a rambling short story that nobody will ever see just to free up the mechanism. Other times, I’ll just step away from the story for a bit. Let things simmer. Get some space and come back to it fresh when the muse decides it’s had a decent vacation.
What did you learn from the writing and publishing of your book?
I learned that I am a chronic comma abuser and a shameless exploiter of the gerund. No matter how certain you are of your grasp on the English language, once you decide to write a novel of your own, you realize you still have a lot to learn. Aside from the actual mechanics of writing, I learned that I can actually achieve goals if I work hard enough. I learned that believing in what I’m doing is a huge part of success. I had a nasty co-worker who once called me mealy-mouthed. Now I know that when I want something enough, I won’t take no for an answer. (Also, if I ever meet that former co-worker, I’ll have the nerve to speak my mind now).
What do you think about the e-book revolution? Are U excited to be a part of it? How is it working with a new digital publisher?
I’m absolutely excited to be a part of the e-book surge. To be able to participate in this new medium is thrilling. I will always be a fan of books you can hold in your hand, I admit this. I think e-books and print medium will always be able to co-exist. I want my book in hand to curl up next to the fire with, but adore the idea that I can now carry dozens of books with me and fit them in my pocket.
If you were doing it all over again, what would you do differently?
There’s not much I’d do differently. Maybe I’d trust myself more, and not wait so long to go after what I want. Otherwise, I guess things happen the way they do for a reason.
Are you working on your next book? Will Drew show up in future adventures? What can you tell us about it?
For now, Drew feels like a stand-alone story, but one can never completely close the door on the possibility for more! I am working on my next novel, and am at around the fifty thousand word mark on that. It’s a new story that’s also set in small-town Pennsylvania, this time a fictional town located in Amish country. The working title (that will change once I dedicate more time to the selection process) is Daddy’s Girl. The story is about a free-spirited black sheep of the family who must come home to care for her ailing father. In the midst of the sadness and loss, she discovers love when she least expects it to happen.
What is the best advice you could give other writers about writing or publishing?
I always aim for balance in the advice-giving. Believe in yourself and don’t give up, but be self-aware. Know your weaknesses and do what must be done to improve upon them. Have faith in your story, but keep your eyes open. Understand when the time is right to fight for your vision, and when it’s time to take a step back and reevaluate what you’re doing. Reach for your dreams, but be smart about it. Sometimes, the most courageous thing you can do is recognize that you’re not quite there yet. Take a deep breath, do the work, and get yourself to that point where the words you’ve written shine.
Who is the ideal reader for your book?
I’m hoping to find quite the cross-section of readers. With Drew In Blue being a contemporary romance, I will be trying to reach a predominantly female audience. I believe the trials and tribulations of dating in the 21st century will appeal to many people who’ve been there, done that and sympathize with Drew and crew, and I’m really hoping to attract a male readership as well. I’ve tested the story on a few guys, and have gotten compliments on being able to maintain a realistic male POV. I’d love to hear more from the testosterone set!
You recently won some book awards for your short stories. Can you tell us about that?
My short story, Killing Me Softly, earned a first place finish in the In Other Words Competition at the 2010 Pennwriters Conference. It was a prime example of my adoration for getting inside the male mind to find what’s lurking there. The story is posted on my website, and not very long ago, I was contacted by a male reader who told me that his wife has been battling cancer, and the piece perfectly summed up his feelings for his wife. That was an amazing experience to receive such a message. I admit I got very emotional when it hit home that something I wrote touched someone I didn’t even know.
My non-fiction piece, Anniversary, won a Carrie McCray Memorial Literary Awards at the 2010 South Carolina Writers Workshop. This piece was a rare foray into non-fiction for me, and was about my feelings after my father’s death. It was very personal, and I actually haven’t posted the work for viewing yet, because it was so emotional for me. I might need some more time before I can lay out something so raw for all to see.
Where can readers learn more about you and your book?
Drew In Blue will be available in eBook format December 1, 2010 from Lazy Day Publishing (www.lazydaypub.com). Online retailers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble will also carry Drew In Blue. Readers can visit my website at www.jmkelleywrites.com for links and updates as they become available.
The Rise of Blog Tours: The New Normal in Book Promotion
I must admit before I started my blog tour for my novel Monogamy Sucks (being released as an e-book on Dec. 1 by Lazy Day Publishing ) the whole concept was a foreign one to me.
Blog tours?
Like most authors, I dreamed of the traditional glamorous book tour to numerous cities, including stops for book signings and interviews with influential media outlets.
Now, I am realizing, except for a few select popular or literary authors, the traditional book tour is fast becoming extinct. Blog tours are turning into the new normal in book promotion.
Now, this has obvious advantages for writers and publishers alike. These include no travel costs, more immediate response to books from reviewers and potential readers, a chance to feature a comprehensive multi-media experience complete with links to author’s blogs, Web sites, book trailers, other writing, and Twitter and Facebook pages.
Of course, that in-person relationship an author can create with fans and the media is lost. Also you can’t sign a Kindle or iPad if you have an e-book to promote.
However, as we witnessed with rapid changes in the music business, e-books, like digital music files, are truly the wave of the future no matter what any says. More importantly, e-books fit perfectly with the blog tour model.
As I am discovering with the start of my recent blog tour, it is only enhanced with the writer and potential reader contacts I have met on Twitter and Facebook. I can repurpose links on Twitter (@gpwriter) and my Facebook fan page to my interviews and book excerpts as my blog tour continues. Additionally, I can blog about my own reaction and experiences to my blog tour interviews and reviews.
View Twitter, Facebook, your blogs, etc. as a series of links between you, your work and interested friends, readers and supporters, and then you will fully begin to grasp the immense potential of blog tours. Think in community terms.
From a personal stand point, I no longer feel as isolated as a writer through my social networking efforts.
Soon writers of all stripes will have no choice to participate in blog tours. The future is now, and I say embrace it. It is the direct line we writers always dreamed we’d have with our fans and fellow writers.
My own blog tour began on fellow Lazy Day Publishing author Liz Borino’s blog. She is @lizborino on Twitter.
I was also interviewed on the blogs of writers Rebecca Tsaros Dickson and Jessica Kristie. I also met both of them on Twitter.
Rebecca (who is @thinking2hard13 on Twitter) interviewed me and posted a link to excerpt of my first chapter.
Jessica (who is @jessicakristie on Twitter) also hosted me on her blog with an another interview and author’s page.
Jessica also hosted an excerpt of my novel’s third chapter on her blog.
Look for future blog interviews to be promoted on my blog.
GP
Interview with Michele aka Ty Langston, author of Novella “By Sunset,” Released by Lazy Day Publishing on Dec. 1
As part of an ongoing series of interviews on my blog with fellow Lazy Day Publishing writers, I want to introduce you to Michele aka Ty Langston, author of the novella By Sunset, being released an e-book on Dec. 1, 2010 by new digital publisher Lazy Day Publishing. It is the first book of her fantasy/romance/adventure trilogy. Those of us on Twitter know Michele as @bedofroses2001. Follow her, read her tweets and books when they come out.
GP
What is your most recent book? Tell us about it.
My most recent novella is a debut for Lazy Day Publishing called By Sunset. It’s the first book of a fantasy/romance/adventure trilogy.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I was born and raised in Upstate, New York and raised by four of the strongest women I have ever known. I’ve been writing my entire life, probably since I was about 6 or 7. I’ve been an avid reader since the age of 2 (according to my mom!) and I always loved reading about fairy tales, dragons, prince and princesses. I guess after reading one during the summer, I said to my grandmother that I could write a story just like these authors could (I don’t even remember what it was) and she said ‘just write then’ so I did and I’ve been hooked ever since.
What inspired you to write your Fantasy Series By Sunset? Did you always envision a trilogy?
I’ve always been fascinated by dragons, princes and princesses and their lives at court and wanted to make this series fun, entertaining and fast-paced. I also, despite their various classes, wanted the characters and their situations to be relatable as possible to the reader.
Also, the series was always envisioned as a trilogy, although there is room for more due to the characters.
Does the location depicted in your novel have an impact on the characters and your book’s overall theme?
I think this book’s overall theme is about forgiveness.
This first book has both of the main characters, which are princes, arriving on Earth from their galaxy called Monarcha to retrieve these ‘assets’ and win the annual Dragon Race. For one of these families, to win means to gain back a level of respectability, and for the other, it’s just another race and a quest for revenge.
Without giving too much away, there are people and things that are destroyed due to several accusations throughout the books. Because of the long history between the families, eventually all members of the both families come to terms with the accusations and what it means for them long term throughout the course of the trilogy.
How did you choose the title?
Without revealing too much, I should say everything must happen for our main characters in this book, By Sunset. There are a couple of “Big Time” spoilers in this book.
What do you think is unique about your book? What are some of the more unique themes you explore in this novel?
I’m very happy with how I wrote the female characters, especially Lauren and Olivia. They prove to be strong, intelligent and on equal footing with the Princes in this book. Especially Olivia, despite her station as a lady-in-waiting to Kergan, she doesn’t care about overstepping the royal family she serves when they need her help in protecting them.
The major themes here and throughout the series is not that everything is in black or white or that there is a good vs. bad. There can be redemption and forgiveness as well as violence and revenge.
Who are some of the fantasy or science fiction authors that influenced you as a writer? Are you a big fan of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings or Frank Herbert’s Dune Series? If so, how you do think they affected your own work?
I loved Tolkien and also Frank Herbert. I love C.S. Lewis also. What impressed me the most about them both, especially with Tolkien, is that their worlds were so detailed right down to the language! I think you and I talked about that a lot recently.
George RR Martin does this every well also. I do recommend his ‘A Song of Fire and Ice’ series.
But in all honesty, two of my favorite writers are actually screenwriters, one is Michael Hirst, who was the creator of The Tudors and co-wrote the movies, Elizabeth and Elizabeth: The Golden Age and the late John Hughes who wrote and directed Home Alone and The Breakfast Club.
Hirst can make historical people, i.e. King Henry VIII or Queen Elizabeth, the most vibrant and entertaining characters ever depicted on a big or small screen. I loved how he wrote both of their courts to be at times fun and sensual yet as the characters mature, and from history, could also be treacherous and in tragic scenes.
He made history (although not always accurate) fun and compelling to watch. For each of these stories, I loved how detailed and rich the characters were. Hughes also wrote this way and loved how his characters to be very relatable.
What I took away from those authors and their series was to make my characters as three-dimensional and as real as possible, but try doing so in a shorter format. I hope it worked.
How do you come up with the names for your characters?
There wasn’t a rhyme or a reason. It just happened that way.
A lot of the lands Pagos, (land of ice that will be showcased in book II) and Gaea, are derived from Greek terms.
Monarcha is derived from Monarch in Latin and is the galaxy where our main characters, Prince Julian and Prince Caleb, are from. Since this galaxy is full of lords, mistresses and mythical creatures I wanted a fictional place where most of them resided. The dragons (well most of them) are based on Greek names. Orion, (Apollo and Mira in Book II) Hera in the first book. I wanted the names to show their strength and different personalities.
Was it daunting to create new worlds for your characters to explore? How do you keep track of the different laws, customs, etc. your characters will encounter in your books? Do you have extensive lists, a glossary for each world, etc. to keep it straight?
It’s hard! LOL. One of the things I do is use index cards and lots and lots of highlighters. I do have to admit I sometimes have to go back and double check-something because if I don’t, I KNOW someone else will. LOL.
Another way I keep track of everything is that I use a really cool program called Dramatica Pro. Actually I use that a lot whenever I first start a project of any kind. It helps me really layer a character; outline-plots and sub-plots (at least the major ones) and then I print it out. There’s no glossary, but with the index cards and the main points of the stories and what’s associated with them, I manage to keep them straight,
In the first story we learn of this capital crime: Monarcha Law # 1, If you kill a Dragon, it is punishable by death.
Why do you write under the alias Ty Langston?
Actually, it’s to keep real life separate from my writing one. It’s not a secret or a big deal that people know what my real name is. Most people at my job know that I write as well as pretty much all my friends. I have to tell you, everyone has been truly amazing throughout this whole process. I really lucked out with the friends and family I have.
I wanted the writing to be an extension of who I am and I think the alias does that. FYI. Ty is my middle name. Langston is in tribute to my late grandmother John Ella. It was her maiden name and I know that she has to be sitting on a cloud somewhere cheering me on loudly. She would have got the BIGGEST kick out of all of this. She from day one encouraged me to literally “Be all you can be!”
Did you always know you wanted to be a writer? How did you get started?
I wrote a lot as a child. I read a lot and writing actually came from a challenge that after reading a book that I could write a story just as well as the author. I think my grandmother wanted me to just leave her alone because I remember that summer and it was I and three or four of my cousins bothering her at every turn. LOL. She just told me to “Just write.” And I did. And I have been hooked ever since.
I did write throughout high school and in college I stopped for a bit to go to college and because of just life at the time.
I worked at a newspaper for more than ten years. I was a receptionist and I also did some news briefs for five years, and then I worked in the advertising department for the remaining five years so that I could finish college.
That was a huge learning experience for me and if I could give anyone advice, it would be to learn and ask everyone a lot of questions. I’m still friends with a lot of the newsroom staff there to this day, and I am truly grateful for that experience. It was a positive one looking back over twenty years ago now.
Just before my grandmother died, I went to back school and studied broadcast journalism. I thought would be reporter or a producer and to be honest I did like the pace, but for me at the time, TV news wasn’t for me.
Do you have any writing rituals? Ever experienced the dreaded writer’s block? If so, how did you break through it?
I tend to write a lot in the evening just before I go to bed with a notebook, pen and iPod and also early in the morning before work.
And I have experienced writer’s block. I did with this book’s sequel, By Moonlight; I simply try to just work through it by just trying to find out what is blocking the voice. If I have to re-write the entire thing or a chapter, then that’s the way it is.
What did you learn from the writing and publishing of your book?
You always learn lot about yourself when you write a piece, it can be therapeutic to explore elements of yourself that you wouldn’t normally express. The publishing part is beyond exciting. I still can’t grasp that I’ll see my name in print on Amazon, Borders and Barnes and Noble.
The promotion part I’m still learning about. I’ll probably be doing a blog tour, plus some readings in my area and attending some writing conferences.
Are you excited to be part of the e-book revolution? How is it working with a new digital publisher?
I think they’ll always be printed books around in some way. For some there is nothing like holding a book in your hand and the feeling of the pages beneath your fingers. E-books also have instant access, if there is bad weather, instead of going to the bookstore, you can go onto Amazon, or Barnes and Noble, and download a book in minutes.
But I do like e-books a lot. We’re now seeing authors, very good authors (I may add) that we may not have been able know through traditional publishing.
Lazy Day Publishing has been great in that manner. There are so many genres to choose from them and everyone’s voices are so distinct that there is something for everyone. I’m glad and proud to be involved in the process with our Lazy Day team.
If you were doing it all over again, what would you do differently?
I would have sent this story sooner to Lazy Day. I was so nervous that even after it was polished and ready to submit, I was too scared to send it in even though my critique partners told me it was ready to go.
Are you working on your next book in your trilogy? What can you tell us about it?
Yes, I am. I’m working on the sequel to By Sunset, called By Moonlight basically picks up literally where By Sunset ends and involves another Dragon Race. It focuses heavily on repercussions, duty and loyalty.
Without giving too much away, we are introduced to several people, two of which are just mentioned in By Sunset, which is Caleb’s and Marrkos’ youngest brother, Tristan and Julian’s best friend, Jacob.
What is the best advice you could give other writers about writing or publishing?
If you want to write, read. Read a lot. Read as much of your genre as possible and better yet, read what isn’t your genre, too. It gives you a feel of what’s out there and also will make you a better writer in the long run as well.
For publishing, I say there if you’re a writer that wants to be published. Network, use the networking sites, i.e. Facebook, Twitter, and blogs. Talk to authors. Talk to publishers, find out what they like and don’t like in their submissions and network a lot. I met Staci (Helling) after commenting on an interview and I loved Lazy Day Publishing’s business model. We kept in touch, and I asked her a lot of questions and when it was time to submit, I just did it the way Lazy Day wanted.
Publishers hate when submissions aren’t done to their specifications and if you have a question regarding it, just ask them. There a lot of them on Twitter and also use Writer’s Digest. There’s a lot of information out there that can help out anyone.
Who is the ideal reader for your book?
Well, this series isn’t for children. These are fast-paced novellas for people wanting to be entertained and taken away to a faraway land while enjoying the journey.
Where can readers learn more about you and your book?
People can learn more about me on my blog Shell’s Musings (my website is coming soon)
http://shellmusings.blogspot.com
On Twitter: @bedofroses2001
And on my Facebook page
Interview with Liz Borino, author of Novel “Expectations” Coming out Dec. 1 by Lazy Day Publishing
What follows is an interview with author Liz Borino about her debut novel Expectations, which comes out on Lazy Day Publishing on Dec 1, 2010. Liz can also be found on Twitter @lizborino and Facebook. Her thoughtful tweets about her book and writing in general are worth checking out on Twitter. This is the first in a series of interviews with my fellow Lazy Day Publishing authors. Interview starts below.
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What is your most recent book? Tell us a bit about it.
EXPECTATIONS, depicts the struggle between what we desire for ourselves and our familial obligations. This is personified by Chris and Matt Taylor, identical twins, who are trying to win their overbearing father’s approval and acquire their trust funds. Their best friend and roommate, Aiden O’Boyle, left his family behind in Ireland to pursue a career in dance.
Robert Taylor, Matt and Chris’s father has set certain conditions that must be met in order for them to receive their trust funds. Matt must work at a job he hates, while struggling with alcoholism. Chris has to deny his own desires and deep love for Aiden, to get married to Matt’s girlfriend. All the while, their father continues to use extreme measures to ensure his sons’ compliance. The story takes place against the backdrop of preparation for Aiden’s upcoming performance.
Tell us something about yourself. (Where are you from, what is your background, how long have you been writing or anything we might find interesting about you.)
Liz Borino is the debut author of Expectations. Throughout her education, including a Bachelor’s Degree from Hofstra University, she’s kept her stories to herself, but this only child is all grown up and wants to share them with the world. Her roots are in Bethlehem, Pa, but she loves to experience new cultures. As fun as that is, Liz likes nothing better than curling up at home with a good book or her work in progress.
What inspired you to write this book?
Last year I read The Secret and I wanted to write a book about living your own life and not conforming to the expectations of society. It went through a lot of plot changes, but I’m thrilled with how it turned out.
Does the location depicted in your novel have an impact on the characters and your book’s overall theme?
You know, I was going to say no, that I just picked New York because that’s where I happened to be living at the time, but upon reflection, it does have an impact. People of every background go there to change their lives because it’s so different from most every other place in the world and presents unique opportunities.
How did you choose the title?
That also went through many changes. For a long time, it was just called Right, as in picking your right path, but then I realized in my synopsis I kept talking about the expectations of the boys’ families.
What do you think is unique about your book? What are some of the more unique themes you explore in this novel?
I made sure to present Chris’ and Aiden’s relationship as a mainstream romance. I deliberately did not make it a m/m story.
What obstacles did you encounter in getting this book published? How did you overcome them?
I went through the traditional publishing route, trying to find an agent, querying everyone I could, but after a few months of rejections, I started again. I revitalized my story, shortened my word count and searched out smaller presses. I desired a publisher with a unique and innovative vision. That’s what I found with Lazy Day Publishing.
How did you know you wanted to be a writer? How did you get started?
I love this question. I knew I wanted to be a writer since I was a little kid who lived in her head. There was always some story playing out up there and it was consistently more interesting than my own experiences. Eventually, I started writing them down. They weren’t always good, but I knew from day one I had to keep doing it and soon I was dreaming of making it my career.
Do you have any writing rituals?
I write in the morning when the house is silent and I’ve hopefully had inspiring dreams or wake up with a plot point solved. I sit there with my breakfast and Snapple and just let the words flow.
That’s another thing. Every time I start a story I try to outline. It doesn’t work. My writing process refuses to meld like that. I’ll fill out pages and pages of character sheets, but as soon as I start to outline the characters refuse to talk to me. Someday, I’ll learn to stop trying to go against the proven process.
How do you come up with the names for your characters?
I’m really bad at this. I usually end up with a name generator. This story was interesting because I needed ethnic Irish names. One of my main characters, Aiden, was originally named Shane, same as one of my cousins. I had the hardest time renaming him. I went through so many Irish names, but it had to go well with Chris.
Did you learn anything from writing and publishing this book? What?
I’m still learning. I’ve learned every step of the way. Probably the biggest lesson has been striking the balance between my vision for the book and my publishers. I’ll tell you, I’m incredibly lucky that those visions have melded almost flawlessly.
Do you think e-books are the future of publishing? How is it working with a digital publisher?
I think e-books are here to stay, but they will not be the exclusive format that people receive their books. I know there will always be people who prefer paper books and that’s why they’ll always be people willing to cater to them.
If you were doing it all over again, what would you do differently?
I’d let my manuscript sit longer before editing it. You need distance from a story to properly evaluate it and the first time I didn’t give myself that.
What types of books do you like to read? Who are your favorite authors? Why?
I don’t stick to a genre. I like anything with a compelling story line and characters I want to root for. I find that in Michael Cunningham books all the time. Aiden was actually inspired by one of his characters, I’ll let you guess which one.
Are you working on your next book? What can you tell us about it?
I’m working on Escape, the sequel to Expectations. It continues the story of the twins and how they come to terms with their own conflicting views and experiences with parenthood.
What is the best advice you could give other writers about writing or publishing?
Stop seeking advice. Know yourself and know your story. Know what you see for your career and move accordingly
Who is the ideal reader for your book?
Someone who is starting their adult life and figuring out who they are.
Where can readers learn more about you and your book?
