A Chat with Author Catherine Ryan Hyde

I am so proud to bring to you the author who brought us Pay It Forward, a very popular, heartbreaking and yet so beautiful story of a young boy who attempts to make this world a better place.  I cannot begin to tell you how awesome she is...but without much further ado, I bring to you the amazing Catherine Ryan Hyde.  Pay It Forward is only one of her novels.  please visit her website HERE to know more about her books.

Our Chat

Len:  I’ve seen the film, Pay It Forward, and saw how much it’s grown into a movement and a foundation.  It’s amazing that a book turned into a film continues to help people.  Please can you tell us how you came up with the story idea?

Catherine:  Yes, absolutely. I used to not like this question because it was a long story and I had told it literally hundreds of times. But I found what I think is a good solution. I edited a videotaped speech where I told the story in proper detail, and I posted it on my YouTube channel. So now I’m glad you asked. Because I’ve put a lot of work into my YouTube channel, and there’s a lot out there for my readers to explore. So I’m happy to be able to give a link to that.

The story of my inspiration for the Pay It Forward idea is here: 

http://www.youtube.com/user/cryanhyde#p/u/18/rv2cQws_5cY 

And the channel main page is here: 

http://www.youtube.com/user/cryanhyde 

I have video excerpts for most of the novels, which are little videos I made myself, with excerpts read by me. I have videos from my hiking and travel and other videos that are Pay It Forward related. I hope people will take a look around out there!

L:  You’ve written so many books.  Do you also have a day job?

C:  I do not. Since 1998, I have managed to keep the bills paid with my writing, as well as looking after my retired mom. Although I have to admit that there are times when I am not succeeding in doing so by as comfortable a margin as I might like. But I persevere.

I also have no spouse or children. Which really does explain a big piece of how I manage to get so much done. Nobody ever tugs my sleeve while I’m writing and says, “What’s for dinner?” or “Hey, mom, look at me.” This is not to denigrate spouses and children in any way. But the singular focus helps me to be more prolific.  

L:  Please can you describe to us your writing day?

C:  Well. I can describe two possible days. 

In one, I get up, do 15 minutes of Yoga, check my email, drink a cup of tea, and start writing. Sometime around 2:30 I realize my teeth are not brushed. Sometime around 5:00 I realize I should eat. Having remedied those issues, I get back to work.

On other days, I still do Yoga and tea, but I spend the whole day without writing. If I have a work in progress and I have something worth getting down, I work. If not, I balance the check book and get the oil changed in the car. Because later, when I’m working, I won’t do either of those things.

L:  Are you a plotter or a panster?

C:  Somewhere in between, I think. I like to know where I’m going so I don’t get lost and end up nowhere. But I don’t like to hammer down where I’m going so tightly that I miss an interesting side trip. So I’m forever trying to hit that balance. 

L:  I find your books focus on kindness and love...have you always wanted to write this kind, which I love, of stories?

C:  I think there was a time, a couple of decades ago, where my work was darker and edgier. And then, as I gradually got lighter, so did the stories. 

L:  In ‘When I Found You,’ it was interesting to know about guns  and duck-hunting.  Did you have to interview people about guns and duck-hunting?

C:  Interestingly, though I have never hunted, I know just a little bit about shotguns and hunting because I once took a hunter safety course. Even though I don’t hunt. It’s like this: There was a lottery for permits to hunt mountain lions. Very controversial. There are very few lions, and most people think they should be allowed to live. So a group of us got together and got our hunting licenses, so we could join the lottery. So one of us could hopefully win a permit which we would not use, thus saving one lion. But it all ended rather anticlimactically when the lottery was called off, which I think was for the best.

I did have a friend of mine, who is a hunter, in Pennsylvania, check my work before publication.

L:  In ‘Don’t Let Me Go,’ you wrote about child protective system and social services, was the research challenging to get information that’s in the book? 

C:  Not too much. I was able to learn a lot online. And every case is a little bit different.

L:  Who are your favourite authors?

C:  I read a lot of Young Adult novels (of course I write them as well) and I like Holly Schindler and David Levithan and Jerry Spinelli (who might not be well-known in the UK—I’m not sure).

My favorite adult author is Jonathan Safran Foer.

L:  Favourite books?

C:  My favorite “classics” from when I was young are Flowers for Algernon, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Of Mice and Men.

More recent favorites are Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (Jonathan Safran Foer) and The Book Thief (Markus Zusak).

L:  Which writing books would you recommend that would help us writers to improve more our writing?

C:  For those having trouble getting started (or not stalling) I’d recommend Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. 

In general I don’t think I’d recommend books so much as a good writing (critique) group. I know books feel much safer. Which is the problem. Writers need to get used to hearing feedback. It’s unavoidable.

L:  Your biggest influence?

C:  Nature - particularly the breathtakingly beautiful vistas I see when I hike in the national parks

L:  Greatest weakness?

C:  Potato chips.  Otherwise, I am a fiendishly healthy eater.

L:  Please complete this into a sentence for me:  "When I was a child, I wanted to be...."

C:  A cartoonist.  A songwriter.  An actress.  A film producer.  An animator.  Always something creative.  Just took me a while to find my niche.


*******

It is so nice to get to know you more.  Thank you ever so much for this lovely interview.  It is an honour to have you on my blog.

A Chat with Author Jessica Bell

Jessica Bell, one of my favourite people in blogosphere is launching her book, String Bridge this month!  YaY!  Let's do the happy dance for Jessica!

I have a bit of good news - I have Jessica on my blog today!

If you are a regular visitor to this blog, you will probably notice that some of the questions I asked Jessica were the usual questions I'd ask an author.  I hope that this will not bore you - but the truth is, I really wanted to know her answers to these questions.  Now, my biggest mistake was this:  I did not ask her a single question about her debut novel, String Bridge!!!  Arrrrrghhhh!  Yes, I know, I've hit my head on the wall several times already today.  Looking back, I think that the mistake was because I sent her the interview questions months before I got a copy of String Bridge.  And I wanted to ask questions after reading the book.  Now.  I need to calm myself down.  I am posting my review on String Bridge on 15th November...I'm hoping it is not too late to ask Jessica a couple more questions.  If I get lucky, the answers will be posted with the book review, how's that?

I'm happy now.  Hope you are, too.

Now, friends, let's have Jessica!

Len:  What was your job before you made the decision to become a writer?

Jessica Bell:  An English text book writer/editor for English Language Teaching materials. Still am.

L:  Do you write full time?

JB:  Nope. Whenever I can fit it in!

L:  Who are the authors that influenced your writing?

JB:  Marilynne Robinson

Margaret Atwood

Raymond Carver

Gwen Harwood

Anne Lamott

Rebecca Miller

L:  I am really interested to know this - what are your most favourite books - the ones that you will be happy to read over and over again?

JB:  Housekeeping, by Marilynne Robinson is the only book I have ever read multiple times. I still find new things in it too. It’s an acquired taste, though; not for everyone. You need to read it and savor it. You can’t read this book for the story. You have to read it for the sheer brilliance of language.

L:  What do you look for when reading a book? Do you pick it up because of its cover or do you take friends’ recommendations when choosing one?

JB:  I actually don’t pay much attention to covers, I think it’s the blurb which is the first thing I look at. Mind you, if the cover looks tacky and cut and pasted together in five minutes, you can forget it, unless the book was written by a friend, then there’s no chance. Might be a bit shallow, but there’re only so many hours in a day, right?

L:  (*Laughing*  Because secretly, she agrees...hahahahaha!)

L:  You write poetry and literary fiction (aside from being a Singer and Songwriter), do you have to switch from one to the other - I mean, from being a poet to a novelist and vice versa depending on what you are writing?

JB:  All of my writing begins quite raw, so no, I don’t really have to switch, because the bulk of my creativity comes when I begin to embellish the content that’s already written, and I have the same system for both fiction an poetry. I write, I tweak, I color in.

*Len whispers to blog readers:  Have you heard all about it?  Jessica did not only write a book.  She also wrote and recorded a song for it...no, let me correct that, she recorded an album!  Yes, all for her book, String Bridge!

L:  How do you deal with writer’s block?

JB:  I don’t suffer from it much because I don’t ever force myself to write. I really do think that writing when you want to is the key. The rule, that we must write every day, just doesn’t work for me. If I write every day, my creativity runs dry.

L:  Please can you tell us about the challenges you had to face on the road to publication? I’m sure a lot of our blogger friends would like to know.

JB:  Hmm … challenges … rejections, rejections, tears, tears, conflicting advice, rejections, tears, conflicting advice … need I say more?

L:  Any current projects that you are working on?

JB:  Yes, MUTED, which was inspired by a short story I wrote for an anthology called TINY DANCER. Here’s my current blurb:

It's illegal to wear clothes. In some streets, it's also illegal to sing without accompanying instruments. Concetta, a famous Italian a cappella singer from before “the change,” now living in Arles, France, breaks these laws. As punishment, her vocal chords are brutally slashed and her eardrums surgically perforated. Unable to cope living a life without song, she resolves to drown herself in the river clothed in a dress stained with performance memories. But Concetta's suicide attempt is cut short as someone grabs her by the throat and pulls her to the surface. Is it the busking harpist, who encouraged her to feel music through vibration, acting as savior? Or a street warden on the prowl for another offender to detain?

L:  Thank you very much once again, Jessica. Is there anything you’d like to add or tell your friends and supporters out there?

JB:  Have you crossed the String Bridge yet? Hahahahaha …

L:  Yes I have!  I have!  And I loved it!  Congratulations once again on your debut novel!

*****

How about you, blog friends?  Have you crossed the String Bridge yet?  If you haven't yet, here are the links:


Jessica's links:
String Bridge Website: http://www.stringbridge.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11502954-string-bridge

String Bridge Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rv-hRMA0kqQ
String Bridge Merchandise: http://www.cafepress.com/janicephelps/8155170
website: http://www.jessicacbell.com/
blog: http://thealliterativeallomorph.blogspot.com/
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/author.jessica.bell
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MsBessieBell
retreat & workshop site: http://hwrw.blogspot.com/

Purchase links:

eBook

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/String-Bridge-ebook/dp/B005Y48DF6/ref=sr_1_1_title_0_mains=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319369262&sr=1-1

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/String-Bridge-ebook/dp/B005Y48DF6/ref=sr_1_1ie=UTF8&qid=1319370801&sr=8-1

Paperback:

Amazon.com: (Coming soon) 

Amazon UK: (Coming soon)

Barnes & Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/string-bridge-jessica-bell/1030101696

Soundtrack:

iTunes:
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playlistId=465313522

Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Melody-Hill-Other-Side/dp/B005P7ARNS/ref=sr_1_1ie=UTF8&qid=1317118328&sr=8-1

Amazon UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Melody-Hill-Other-Side/dp/B005P7G02A/ref=sr_1_1ie=UTF8&qid=1317118484&sr=8-1

******

Jessica's November Blog Tour:

http://thealliterativeallomorph.blogspot.com/p/string-bridge-book-music-blog-tour.html

Interview with Author Amber Argyle

Thank you to all who have left a comment on my last post.  Yes, that was a review of the enthralling novel, Witch Song.  Today, I bring to you the author behind it, Amber Argyle!

What was your job before you became a writer?


The same job I have now - a full time mom.  I love being at home with my kids (most of the time).  One of my favorite parts is reading them stories.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?


Spare time?  What's that?  LOL  With three kids, cleaning, cooking, writing, editing, and marketing; I really don't have much spare time. Although I have been doing Zumba aerobics.  I'm terrible.  Really, really terrible.  But it's so much fun.  I love it when you get an amazing workout and you don't even realize it.

If I had a spare time, I'd scrapbook and play basketball.

Did you struggle to get published?  Can you tell us your experience on getting published?

Long, long story. I’ll try to give the short version. Being an author meant so much to me that I didn’t pursue it for a while for fear of failing. After the birth of my very colicky baby, I desperately needed some sort of stress release and started writing January of ‘06. I was offered a publishing contract for my first book (Priestess Prophecy) fall of June of ’08. I turned that contract down because the terms were rotten. Shortly after, I found an agent who subbed Priestess. I broke up with my agent after about a year. I shelved Priestess and started circulating Witch Song. Rhemalda Publishing offered me a contract August of 2010. I’m so grateful/lucky to have such a fantastic publisher.

Where’s your favourite place to write - is it inside your own home or do you have to go out somewhere - into the woods, by the beach or in a cafe - to find the inspiration?

I’m trying to imagine myself writing in a café with my three kids tipping over the displays and running out into the road. It’s making me very tired. ;) I write at home, in my family room so I can keep an eye on my chillins.

Let’s talk about your debut novel, Witch Song – how long ago was it when you began to write this novel?

I started writing Witch Song summer of ’07. I finished the first draft in a month. I edited it pretty steadily for another 6 months. Then I worked on it off and on when the muse struck.

Can you tell us about Witch Song?  What is it about?

My 14 year old protagonist, Brusenna, is the last Witch left. All the others are being held captive. And without the Witches to control nature, seasons are crossing hardened boundaries, seeds rot in the soil, and the heavens are sealed shut. If Brusenna doesn’t find and free the others soon, there might not be anything left to save.  

Did you have to research to write the story?

There’s an epic sea battle near the middle of the book, so I had to do a lot of research on cannons, ships, and sailing. I also had to do a lot of research on tropical climates.

Are you working on another novel right now?

I’m editing Daughter of Winter, which should come out next year (finger’s crossed). I’m trying to fit in the first draft of The Forbidden Forest, but I just can’t find the time.

What would you like to read? Any favourite books?  Favourite authors?

I absolutely love Shannon Hale and Kristin Cashore. Let’s face it, the girls can write an write well. I also like Brandon Mull, Tolkien, David Farland, Jessica Day George, Clare B Dunkle, Jennifer Roberson, Suzanne Collins, Clare B Dunkle, Aprilynne Pike, and Robin McKinley. I could probably go on forever.

Do you think any of your favourite authors has influenced your writing?

Absolutely. David Farland has taught me so much about the craft of writing. When I get stuck, I read a great book and that usually propels my writing into high gear.

Do you have any tips to share with aspiring writers out there on how to get published?

Worry more about becoming a great writer than about getting published—because being published is a byproduct of great writing. Also, improving your writing is something you can control. Being published is not (unless of course you self pub).

****


Thank you very much, Amber.  It’s been a pleasure to have you on my blog. 

I have been interviewed!

Yay, would you believe? I have been interviewed!

Please go over at Deirdra's and have a look :)

Please click HERE.


Not a very long post today.  Just sharing with you about my interview.  Hugs!

A Nice Natter with Author Glynis Smy

It has been more than six years since the day I began blogging.  Around that time, I came across Author Glynis Smy and we became blog friends.  Then there was a gap somewhere and we lost touch.  When we found each other the second time around, it took awhile for me to realise that we had been friends for awhile!

Now, I am so honoured to have her on my blog!  I give to you, Author Glynis Smy!

Glynis Smy (GS):  Hello Len. Thank you for sharing me on your blog today.

Len:  Hello, Glynis! Thank you for sparing me some time for a cup of coffee, lots of cakes and a lovely chat! Here's my first question....What part of the world do you live and write in?

GS:  I was born in the UK and moved to Cyprus in 2005. I live in a hillside, rural village. My home is surrounded by vineyards, and I consider myself very fortunate. I did write an article about my new life if anyone is interested in reading it. http://trifter.com/europe/cyprus/village-life-polemi-and-stroumpi-paphos-pafos-cyprus/

I don't know why I want to ask you this but I'm curious...do you have any pets?

GS:  We most certainly do. When we emigrated we brought over our Cairn Terrier, Jakeyboy. We then did some voluntary work for a dog pound. We were captured by a tiny one-eyed dog we called, Ginny. Lucy captured our hearts the following month. Then we got a cat, Fluff. Along came Max, he was a hunter’s puppy who had been treated cruelly. He collapsed outside our home four years ago. Four dogs, one cat, an aviary and a fish tank. I bet you regret asking now!

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time when you are not writing?

GS:  One of my hobbies is card making. I raise money for a small hospice ward here in Cyprus by selling my greetings cards. I also cross stitch. During the summer I will swim and snorkel.

Who are the authors you emulate or that inspire you?

GS:  There are so many who inspire me. To name a few: Charles Dickens, Charlotte Bronte, Catherine Cookson, Barbara Erskine, Ken Follett and Jodi Picolt all weave stories I envy. I started out hoping to write like Catherine Cookson. However, I found my own style and it is nothing like her work at all.

Any favourite books? Favourite authors?  And why?

GS:  Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. I love the emotional waves in the book. Sadness from death and joy from kid gloves, the boy next door and other events, gave me equal amounts of wow factor while reading the book. I never found a flat moment. I envy her talent.

Any book on writing you'd like to recommend to aspiring authors out there?

GS:  I found The Fire in Fiction by Donald Maass and turn to it often for clarification or inspiration. Recently I downloaded Nail Your Novel by Roz Morris, and have found it very useful. I am also big fan of the website The Grammar Girl.

Can you tell us about your books and the challenges you met on the road to publication?

GS:  When I turned 50 I held my first book in my hand. From My Heart Inside My Head. I had achieved a dream. It was a gift to myself, I self published my poetry as a private project. To my surprise I have sold several copies and not all to family. After I had finished the second,Sticky Sandwiches, I started scribbling notes for a short story. However, a little character called Chewy Chester crept into my brain and I had to write his little ABC story, Chewy Chester Meets Wallis Worm. It is not glamorous, but it was a little itch I had to scratch. I self published him and put the story to bed. I returned to my short story and realised it was going to be rather large for a short story. I had written 50, 000 words. I gave it a title and carried on writing. Ripper, My Love, ended up over 80,000 words long. It has just spent the past few weeks being torn apart. The edits have paid off and a stronger story has emerged. It is my hope to find an agent. If not I will self publish just to hold a copy in my hand.

One of my challenges was the fact I sadly lost my mentor to cancer. Jan had been my guide from short story to novel. Life is good though, I have some brilliant support now and have hope for RML. It is a Romance Suspense. It started out as an Historical Romance, but me being me, added a twist. The twist changed the genre.

My second novel, Maggie’s Child is a Historical Romance novel I wrote during NaNoWriMo. I love the story and am chomping at the bit to edit it, but it must wait its turn.

You write poetry, children's books and historical romance, how do you switch from one to another?

GS:  My poetry comes and goes depending on my mood. I work on the children’s stories when I am struggling with my adult work. They are so different it is like a change of scenery.

Do you have a special routine before and when you are writing?

GS:  I didn’t think I had, but now you ask I realise I do have a slight one. I get up and have breakfast with DH. While he is checking out his aviary, I rush around with fresh air spray, polish and disinfectant to con him I have cleaned house. The washing machine is stuffed to the gills and the dogs thrown around the vineyard. Another coffee is called for, then it is check email, log onto twitter and Facebook time. I Facebook a message to my three children. Then switch to my ‘author’ account, say hello to my writer friends. By about 9am I open my files and write. I come up for air and a play on Facebook every now and then. I am fortunate, my writing day is my own.
(Thank you for providing a photo of your very neat work space, Glynis!)


How do you deal with writer's block?

GS:  I write. As crazy as it sounds, I just write for half an hour, about anything. A fantasy shopping list, what I would buy if I had money. I literally write anything. It opens up the pathway and sometimes it produces a poem. When I have done that I go for a walk and draw in fresh air. It is amazing how the urge to get home and write comes back. If I am really struggling, I sit in the hills and just relax. I never let block get to me. However, I am not on a deadline so it is easy for me to say that.

Oh I love that idea, just write anything! Thank you, Glynis!  Anything you'd like to say to fellow writers and aspiring authors out there?

GS:  Thank you, Len.  I would like to say to all, follow your dream and enjoy it. Never make it a chore or you will lose the joy. Good luck to those who have agents, publishers or are self publishing. I wish you all high sales. To aspiring writers...write. Just write it down, never hesitate or hold back. Let it out. We are waiting to read your work.

Glynis, what a lovely way to end this interview.  All the best to you and your writing, too!  

Now, let me get some more coffee....and oh, would you like to try some cheesecake? It's yum! ☋

*****

If you aren't following Glynis yet, hop to her blog!  Please click HERE.
Note:  Glynis is also known as Nissi Peters.  Hop to Glynis' other blog HERE.


To purchase any of Glynis' books, please go to lulu.com


They are also available on Amazon.com

An Interview with Writer and Editor Lisa Stowe

As promised, I'm back with the promised interview post.  This interview should have been posted two months ago but as you already know, life happens sometimes. I apologise to Writer and Editor Lisa Stowe for the delay.  

Lisa has edited some of my writings, one of which was sent to a writing competition (my first time to enter a writing competition in the UK) and another one is going to be in an anthology in, hopefully, late 2011.  As a writer and aspiring author, I find Lisa to be so helpful.  She encourages me to continue to write and points out where I need to improve in a way that inspires.  Her comments are honest and constructive.  

I've enjoyed this interview so much and learned a lot.  Thank you, Lisa!
Note:  I've underlined and highlighted in colour my favourite parts of this interview.

What is your goal as an editor and how do you meet that goal?

Lisa Stowe (LS) :  I’m sure I’m expected to say that my goal is to help writers polish their work and hone their craft.  That’s part of it to be sure, but I absolutely love developing a friendship over the course of an editing project, of seeing a writer who, after getting their packet back, is excited and enthusiastic about their project.  There’s nothing worse than seeing a fellow writer discouraged.  I think those feelings of failure come from our nasty inner critics, and from harsh critiques.  I try to meet my goals by editing the way I’ve been edited, with empathy, respect, clarity, and concrete suggestions.

Does editing others work detract from your own writing?

LS:  Well to be honest, sometimes editing is an excuse to avoid my writing!  For the most part though, editing helps me improve my stories.  It’s kind of weird but I see things in other’s writing that I miss in mine.  Too close to the work I guess.  What’s also kind of weird is that when I leave a writer excited about their project, I end up just as excited about working on my project.  Like that enthusiasm is catching.

Do you edit in a different medium than you write?

LS:  I can edit other people’s work on the computer or with a hard copy.  My material though, is easier to edit on paper.  It’s like the computer screen is too small a window.  I think the difference is because with others I don’t know the story as intimately yet.  I also write to specific kinds of music but edit to silence.  It seems to create more of a working environment and less of an organic, flowing moment.

Does helping another writer improve not create competition for your own writing?

LS:  Not in the least.  How can there be competition when every voice is so unique and each story so individual?  Plus, the world is big enough for an infinite number of writers.  And think about the feeling you get when you realize the person you are talking to is also a writer.  That’s not competition, that’s kindred spirits.  Maybe if I was up in that rarified air where the top best sellers are I might be more worried about competition.  But down here on the ground floor I’m just happy to not be alone.

Tell us about your work space.  Do you have a special place at home where you write and edit?

LS:  Before I can write or edit I have to build a fire, light kerosene lamps, close the door on a tiny cabin, and try to ignore the creek, the woods, the mountains, the bears in the garbage can, and the raccoons on the roof.  I write while two stray cats that have moved in keep the mouse population from coming out of the walls.  I have a tea kettle on the wood stove for tea, and I’m very lucky that my husband gave me a laptop with a powerful battery.

Do you also provide a critique and not just editing of grammar, spelling, and the use of language?

LS:  Yes, and technically a person could hire me for one or the other.  A line edit with grammar, punctuation, etc., or a full edit with plot development, character arc, and so on.  I find it easier to do line edits on non-fiction.  It’s harder for me to do only a line edit on fiction though I do it if requested.  I get too wrapped up in the stories and end up wanting to dive in and do a full edit.

You are both writer and editor – which do you like best and why?

LS:  Oh, hard question Len.  When I can see a story coming, breathe it in, when the words are flowing, there’s nothing better than writing.  But editing makes me happy.  Not to sound corny or clichéd, but it does.  And it’s a different happiness than writing.  Imagine sitting down with your best friend over tea, and sharing something you both love deeply.  That’s what editing is for me.  Maybe writing is a private peace while editing is a social joy.

Do you edit any kind of genre?

LS:  Anything and everything.

When you receive a manuscript from a writer, what do you expect to see?

LS:  If someone has a first rough draft that they haven’t edited themselves yet, I prefer only a few chapters.  Rather than having the writer pay for a full edit they may not be ready for, I’d rather do a few chapters and let them see what is involved.  Then they can decide if they want to continue or wait until they have a more complete draft.  I also caution writers to think carefully before sending me something that’s not finished.  Many writers find that if they expose the story too soon, it dies and they’ll never finish it.  

How long have you been writing? And editing?

LS:  I’ve been telling stories since before I could write.  But the first one I remember writing was about age nine.  I wrote an adventure starring myself and my first crush, Huckleberry Finn.  The original fan fiction!  So I’ve been writing more than forty years.  But a lot of that was in secret, the result of being told I was no good.  No wonder I hate negative editors.  For editing, I’ve been doing that about ten years now.

For those interested in sending you their work, how can they contact you?

LS:  The website is being built slowly.  One brick at a time, I swear.  So for now, I can be reached by email at wordmuse@yahoo.com.  Put ‘edit’ in the subject line.  I also have a blog that has a page with more editing information.  That address is www.thestoryriver.wordpress.com

Any words of advice you’d like to tell aspiring authors out there? 

LS:  Sure, ‘do as I say, not as I do’!  As in, don’t give up, don’t listen to that inner critic, never be afraid of rejections, never be ashamed of being a writer.  And then try the things I have done, like building a trusted circle of fellow writers for support.

Thanks for interviewing me Len, and I’m still waiting to read your story again!

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Lisa,  again, thank you for this wonderful interview!  And please let me thank you for giving me the courage and confidence to enter a writing competition and for telling me other avenues to get published! It means a lot!

Don't forget to visit Lisa's blog and website:

The Story River

Outlaw Creek Editing Services

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Coming up Next:  An interview with a writer from The Mediterranean island at the crossroads of three continents, Cyprus.  Don't miss it! 

A Chat with Author Beth Webb

As promised, here is my surprise author interview.  Last year, I came across and read an enthralling story about a girl named Tegen.  I was enchanted by her and wanted to know more and find out if there's another book that continues her beautiful story.  In my search, I found out that there are four more books following Star Dancer, (Fire Dreamer and two more on their road to publication and one which intrigues me, Tegen's World)...and I also found the book's author, Beth Webb, on Facebook.  How cool is that?  I took the chance and asked Beth if she'd spare me some time for a blog interview and she so kindly said yes!  Yay!  I was so excited!  I'd like to thank you, Beth, for taking the time answering these questions despite your busy schedule.

Here's the interview, blog friends, I hope you enjoy it!


When did you find out you wanted to be a writer? 
Beth Webb:  I was about 3. I couldn't read or write, but I loved making 'books' with light bulb packets  (with a ballet dancer on) cut up to open like a book,  and folded pieces of paper inside, scribbled on. I remember being very frustrated that I couldn't make the writing as black as in a proper book.


What was your first job ever? 
Beth Webb:  I think I was a mother's help. I was a disaster. I got shouted at because i didn't know how to use an upright vacuum cleaner. (My mum had a cylinder one). I was 14.

Were you working full time when you began to seriously write and finish a novel?

Beth Webb:  Yes, I was illustrating books for adults with learning diabilites for St George's Hospital Medical School. I was also a full time mum of four. Don't ask me how I did it all - I have no idea. 

What was your first story ever written? 
BW:  Hummm... I can't really remember. When I was a teenager, there weren't many books for young adults, so I wrote my own episodes of 'Tha Man from UNCLE' (with me playing opposite David McCullum (Now 'Ducky' in NCIS), of course! My first published piece was when I was 15, I interviewed my fav rock group and sent it into a pop magasine.


Do you ever get a writer’s block?  If you do, how do you get rid of it and carry on writing?
BW:  Rarely. More like fatigue when I just feel too numb to keep going. For writer's block I go for a long walk, or blow lots of bubbles. One BIG rule with WB is NEVER to think, just chill and daydream. Lots of Mars Ice Cream helps (but makes me fat!). Another thing I do is to go to the book shop of library and get out LOTS of books and read for about a week - not to 'nick' ideas, but to refresh the brain and get back into gear.

How long does it take for you to finish the first draft?  
BW:  If it's 'flowing,' I can do a draft of a 60,000 word book in 6 weeks. If I'm struggling, a couple of years.

What do you consider your greatest achievement so far as a writer?
BW:  It's always the book I'm currently working on - so it's got to be Wave Hunter, out in May or June this year. After that it'll be something else. Probably Bk 4 of the Star Dancer seires - Stone Keeper. 


Who are the authors who inspire you? 
BW:  Diana Wynne Jones, Ursula le Guin, Katherine Langrish, Jenny Nimmo, C S Lewis and J R R Tolkien, Neil Gaiman. I could go on for ever.

What made you write for children and not adults?
BW:  I do write for adults, but haven't seriously tried to publish much. I love writing for children and young adults because the stories are faster, more to the point and less self-consciously 'literary'. Basically kids books are more fun both to read and to write. 

Do you write full time now?  If not, do you have a day job? Would you like to tell us about it?
BW:  I write almost full time. I also teach creative writing, mostly at local schools or Kilve Court http://www.kilvecourt.org/enrcourse.asp. When I'm not doing that, I'm helping my old dad.


Do you have a special place where you write?  Does it have to be really quiet or do you prefer some music?
BW:  I usually write in my study, where I'm sitting right now. I have a lovely big desk and a gentle AppleMac (my dearest friend, probably). I have to have absolute silence because music has rythyms that might spoil the rythyms of the words I'm trying to write.  I believe that even prose has to be written rythmycally, like poetry.

I've read Star Dancer and fell in love with Tegen and am still scared of Derowen.  I find her story very interesting and unique.  Where do you get your story ideas from?  Do you base your characters to real life people?
BW:  Story ideas have no manners, they pop up everywhere and all the time, crawling out of life's nooks and crannies. I just scrawl them down in a notebook. Some are more persistant than others. Those are the ones that tend to get written.

I also often use ancient myths and legends to give my stories structure. Eg, many of the stories Tegen tells and refers to (eg the one about the boar with the comb between his ears) comes from a wonderful collection of Welsh stories called the Mabinogion.

These sorts of tales are also are the nearest one can get to original Celtic storytelling art, so by referencing them, I hope to add real authentic flavour to my work.

As to the characters, they are rarely real-life people, I can only think of one actual incidence, the others tend to evolve from experiences and people I have known. For example, my sister and I were bullied relentlessly by 'Ma Bennett', an awful teacher at school. From her, I learned how to fear fierce old women. That fear I put into Tegen's experience of Derowen, but 'Derowen' isn't 'Ma Bennett' as such.

What advice would you give to writers aspiring to get published out there? 
BW:  You've got to really, really want to be published. It's a nasty, backbiting, tough world, but also loads of fun and thrilling. A bit like taming and riding a rather bad-tempered dragon, I'd guess. Also, It's important to think about why you want to be published? Is it the cudos, or just because you HAVE to tell stories? There are other ways of telling stories than being mainstream published that are less stressful, and maybe more effective (see my link to my Guardian blog - on 'Not Being Published' on my website www.bethwebb.co.uk

1. 1. 
      Anything else you’d like to add?

BW:  Can I have a cup of tea now please?
Len:  Ooops, sorry, did I really forget to offer you a drink?  My apologies.  Let me get you a cup of tea....

Please visit Beth's website to find out more about her books!  www.bethwebb.co.uk .

A Chat with Writer Theresa Milstein

Imagine this:  celebrating the New Year with writer friends and fellow bloggers!  The coolest, isn't it?  Well, I have - sort of - started the New Year having a nice natter with a friend and fellow blogger - only virtually.  I don't want you to be too jealous so I will tell you all about it!  I had a lovely-lovely chat with Writer Theresa Milstein...and we drank lots and lots of coffee - of course!...And ermmm, no snacks for Theresa though, but we had her favourites - Lindt Truffles and Reese's Peanut Butter cups!

From across the North Atlantic Ocean, we talked about our favourite subject - writing.  I'm sharing it with you on this post!  Hope you enjoy it!

How long have you been writing seriously?

I began writing seriously over four years ago, but I had much to learn about writing because I’d never considered that I had enough talent so I hadn’t worked it. I thought it was something you were born with – not something you had to learn and practice.

When did you realise you wanted to be a writer?

For years, I’d begin to write a story, remind myself I wasn’t a writer, and then stop. But then Melissa Glenn Haber spoke to my fifth-graders. She told the students she used to write stories and hide them away. At some point, her husband told her she’d be happier if she tried to do something with her stories.

That resonated with me. I decided to write a middle grade novel. I finished the hot mess in six weeks.

What was the first novel you read?

The first novel I read was Charlotte’s Web. It made me cry in third-grade and it still makes me cry now. It’s a beautiful book.

Do you remember the first writing piece you’ve written?

We weren’t encouraged to write fiction in elementary school. I took a creative writing class in high school, but I can’t remember anything I wrote. I don’t think I tried fiction again until I was twenty-four, but that was during my hiding-writing phase.

Would you like to tell us about novels you’ve finished?

My last completed YA novel is The Mist Chasers. Here’s the pitch:

Sixteen-year-old Eve and her best friend Adam are the sole witnesses to a badass mist that obliterates a Walmart, launching them on a ludicrous quest to salvage the planet before it reaches the tipping point.

I’m shopping it now. The query and beginning are on my 2nd blog, Earnest Writer’s Excerpts: http://theresamilstein2.blogspot.com/

Did you make any research on the novels you’ve written?

Yes, I’ve done plenty of research. For one novel, I studied celtic traditions. For another, I looked up information about witches. I’ve researched vampires. For The Mist Chasers, I read plenty about global warming.

What do you think can make a character interesting to the readers?

To me (and Stephen King) character is more important than story. If the reader doesn’t identify with the character and know what s/he wants, then they won’t care about the plot. And it’s important for that the character grows. They need to control instead of be controlled by the action. Is that too vague?

Who are your favourite authors and favourite books?


That’s tough. I have a list of some of my favorite books in my Blogger profile, so I’ll mention a couple of authors. Although I read adult books too, I really pay attention when reading middle grade and YA authors. J.K. Rowling, even though I know that doesn’t make me unique. She’s truly a genius. And I like Kate DiCamillo because each of her stories is so different from the other.

Who inspires you the most in your writing?

I think my childhood inspires me. Relationships with my parents, insecurities, friendship issues, awkwardness, the feeling of wanting to be free of parental rules but frightened of being on my own. And writing helps me work through my past.

Any current projects?

Yes. I’m about halfway through a YA WIP called Naked Eye. Lucienne runs with scissors and loses her eye. When she’s sixteen, her prosthetic eye is replaced with a magical one and when people lie, she knows the truth. She has to figure out whom to trust. It’s my most complicated manuscript yet.

Do you have any tips to share with aspiring writers out there who’d like to finish their story?

Writing “The End” isn’t the end. You must keep editing. Know your grammar because no agent or editor is going to do that work for you. And find critique buddies. Don’t submit until you have a polished piece, which means all that’s left to do is move commas around.

What is your biggest dream as a writer?

I would LOVE to make a living from writing. Now that I teach full-time, I really begrudge the lost writing time. When I was a daily substitute teacher, I devoted hours to writing and editing each day.

Thank you very much, Theresa, do you have anything else to add?

Thank you for interviewing me, Len. And for you and all the writers out there, don’t give up. I love this quote:

"Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work, so most people don't recognize them." ~Ann Landers

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There you go, dear readers!  I hope you enjoyed reading my absolutely exciting chat with Theresa.  And thank you, Theresa, I enjoyed every minute of it immensely!
Theresa blogs on Substitute Teacher's Saga.

Also, I'd like to thank you all for all the lovely holiday greetings you've left on my blog and Facebook page.  I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year's!

Oh, wait! I have a question for you before you go - I'm really curious - what was the first novel you read? Mine was Swords of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs.  That was the beginning of my book addiction.  Please tell me what was your first book! Did you like it?