G.L. Cromarty Interview

First off, tell us a little bit about you~

I grew up in the UK and move to Perth, Western Australia eleven years ago, where I now live with my husband and my two oddball cats. I love exploring historical sites from all cultures, but I’m English so I definitely have a soft spot for old ruinous castles.

Tell us about your books/What genre do you consider your books? 

My books are sci-fi with a touch of fantasy. I love reading both so it’s not surprising that my books crosses over between the two.

When did you start writing? 

I never wrote as a child, but I read lots…it was pretty much all I wanted to do. Once I finished university and I had free time I started writing. I don’t think I have gone more than a few weeks without jotting down something since. I only dabbled in it for many years, mostly playing about with ideas and scenes that I never finished. Five years ago I moved into my current home, and on New Years Eve I set myself a goal to finish a story and publish a book.
It took my four years to get the book out there! But there is a world of ‘stuff’ going on between a draft and a finished book that I knew nothing about when I started.

Why do you write? 

Like most writers, I love it, pure and simple. I think I started reading as an escape from reality, and writing is a continuation of that. That doesn’t mean I dislike my life, I love it! Just that there is power in controlling a world you create yourself. In a book you get to play god with your imaginary characters. It’s an amazing feeling when you’re writing, and all the little threads come together and somehow out of nothing a whole story unfolds. We all desire to create something, for me, I like creating imaginary worlds.

What would be your choice for a superpower? 

To not need to sleep.

Who is your favorite author?

I would have to pick Tolkein, simply because I first fell in love with fantasy books after reading the Hobbit when I was about 13 years old. That book guided a good decade of reading habits.

What are you reading now?

I’ve just finished Feral by PJ Post, and I’m moving on to book two. Post-apocalyptic and not for the faint hearted! Loved book one and can’t wait for book two.

Who is your favorite character to write?

I feel bad parent saying I have a favorite…but well...It would have to be John Tanis from my Divided World trilogy. There’s a lot of fun to be had in writing an antihero. They just do things their own way. He has been exiled from his home world and ends up fighting for their enemy. He’s fiercely protective of his new people and will stop an nothing to keep them safe. And torn, because there are people he still loves in his former home. He has a code, but it’s not what you would consider normal. And violent…definitely violent.
A close second would be Nate, who is a bio-engineered man with cybernetic implants that allow him to infiltrate system. He comes with a few quirks and adds a little humor. 

Do you have a writing process?

I’ve become more disciplined over time. My first book turned into a trilogy, so I need to put a container around the idea or it never has an end!
· I start out with an idea.
· Brainstorm some key points, including the rough beginning and end.
· I usually get the beginning and end done fairly soon and then slot everything in between. It’s not a linear process and I jump around as new ideas emerge. Even though I plan a beginning and end I’m not worried if they change. I just need something to contain it before I start otherwise it just goes on…
· I have a comprehensive self-editing routine.
· And a wonderful bunch of beta readers (several are authors). I love people who poke holes in the story and challenge it.
· It takes me a long time from start to end, and there are many, many iterations before I even start thinking about fun stuff like covers!

What advice would you give to an aspiring author? 

Be prepared for the long haul.
You’re never going to be rich, don’t expect it.
Get a blog, twitter account and Facebook page set up early, but don’t be a slave to it…little and often.
Enjoy every stage.
Get feedback early, preferably from someone who does not know you personally and is prepared to give you good constructive feedback.
I am not a person awash with writerly confidence, and if you are anything like me, sharing your inner world is hard. I could have so easily spent the rest of my life writing bits and pieces and never shared with a soul. I am forever glad that I stepped out of my comfort zone. Someone telling you they loved your story is the most amazing feeling. Yes, not everyone will love your book, some people might even hate it, but that’s okay. Those who love it will make it all worthwhile, don’t deny yourself a chance to experience that.
JUST DO IT.

What inspired you to pursue writing? 

Toughie. I think I just have an active imagination, and writing my stories down naturally followed on. At the heart of it, a desire to share.

What are your favorite TV shows/Movies to watch in between writing? 

I don’t watch a lot of TV, but when I do I tend to binge watch a whole show. Probably more TV than movies although I tend to go and see any big Sci-fi movies that come out.
Altered Carbon is my current favourite! But I also love GoT, 12 Monkeys, Daredevil, Westworld, and the Expanse series.

What are your current projects? 

I just finished the trilogy with the final book released on the 10th April.
And drafted book one of a new six book series set in the same universe. All new characters so it has been a lot of fun getting to know that. The premise is a war torn universe. One side is about to lose, and they know it. They send a series of colony ships to a distant planet identified as habitable. But when they arrive they find their barren planet has already been terraformed with a city under construction….the mysterious creators are not home.

Quick Fire: 

Cats or dogs? Cats
Coffee or tea? Coffee
Favorite food? cherries
Vanilla or chocolate ice-cream? Vanilla
What are 3 things you never leave home without? Sunglasses, my phone, kindle
Laptop or desktop? laptop
Who are 3 famous people you would to hang out with? Can I stay at home with a good book?
TV or Movies? TV 

Visit me on my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE to borrow any of my books for FREE!

Best-selling author of Wake the Dead! On Amazon Kindle here!

All Artwork and covers of my works by William J. Kenney & Carlos Cara

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2014 unless otherwise noted.

Misha Gerrick Interview

First off, tell us a little bit about you....

Thanks for having me over! 

I’m a South African born and raised, and I live on a farm in the beautiful Western Cape with my family and a small menagerie of pets. I love writing most of all, but when I’m not doing that, I’m usually doing some craft or the other while watching TV, or reading.

Tell us about your books/What genre do you consider your books?

I’m an eclectic writer, so my works in progress run the gamut from romance to time travel to epic fantasy… My currently published works are all fantasy of some sort. The War of Six Crowns is a YA Epic Fantasy/Portal Fantasy series, of which the first two book is published. 

Then I have the first book in an Urban Fantasy trilogy out as well, called Endless.

When did you start writing?

Depends on how you define “writing.” 

I was reciting stories and poetry to my grandmother before I went to school and dabbling with writing off and on throughout primary school.
But overall, I see myself as a writer starting the year 2001, because that’s the year I decided to be serious about writing and finishing my first novel. (It’s a romance novel. And I’m still working on it because it’s cursed, I tell you.) Sadly, I can’t be more specific than that, because I never marked the day I started, and sadly the first drafts of the book are all lost. Cursed.

Why do you write?

Writing and the arts are in my blood, so my life just feels incomplete if I don’t do it.

What would be your choice for a superpower?

I think I would like that time travel gift like in the movie About Time. I would probably use it to create more time for myself to read and write.

Who is your favorite author?

I don’t have one. I’ve honestly read so many good books in my life that it’s hard for me to pick out even a top 100.

What are you reading now?

Jane Eyre. It’s one of my bucket list books, and so far, I’m liking it a lot.

Who is your favorite character to write?

All of them. In a lot of ways, they’re alive to me, and often, even the ones I don’t like at all (looking at you, James) are still amazing to write because those are the ones that seem to come alive most, with my most vivid writing.

Do you have a writing process?

Yes. I rough draft by hand without planning anything. Then I take what I like from the draft and build a plan around it. After that, I rewrite to my computer, correcting the flaws and weaknesses I’d discovered during the rewrite. After that, I go through a slew of edits and revisions.

What advice would you give to an aspiring author?

Try all the writing techniques at least once, but figure out what works for you. And don’t let anyone tell you that you’re doing it wrong. (The right way to write is the way you use to actually finish what you started.)
Bonus tip: Back. Up. Your. Work. Right now. NOW. Why are you still reading this? Go. Shoo.

What inspired you to pursue writing?

Nothing. It’s always been something I did because I enjoyed it. Although I suppose I wanted to try it back when I was five because my gran is a writer/poet and I was still in that “me too” phase. You know the one. “I want to do that too, Gran.” And she, in her infinite wisdom/cruelty, enabled me in this folly.

What are your favorite TV shows/Movies to watch in between writing?

I like basically anything and everything except for horror and erotica-type stuff, so I’m usually going through my Netflix, looking for something that strikes my fancy and suits my mood.

What are your current projects?

Depends on how you look at it. Current as in works in progress would be about ten open drafts.
Things I’m actively prioritizing at the moment: Book 3 in The War of Six Crowns, which I’m currently revising, and that cursed romance novel I mentioned, which I’m rewriting. A-freaking-gain.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to readers?

If you do pick up my books, I just hope you enjoy them. And if you do, that you’ll get in touch to let me know.

Quick Fire:

Cats or dogs? Both. Also…horses.
Coffee or tea? Depends on the coffee…or tea.
Favorite food? Fillet steak with a cream-based mushroom sauce.
Vanilla or chocolate ice-cream? Vanilla
What are 3 things you never leave home without? Notebook, cell phone, something to read/do (e.g. crocheting/needlepoint projects.)
Laptop or desktop? Laptop
Who are 3 famous people you would to hang out with? Oscar Wilde, Jane Austen, Charles Dickens (and if one of them couldn’t make it, Mark Twain.)
TV or Movies? Both.

You can find me and my books : Blog: http://sylmion.blogspot.com
Tumblr: http://mishagerrick.tumblr.com
Twitter: @MGerrick1
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFRZK0eX_vgzbF7jM91N8DA
Facebook: http://facebook.com/MishaGerrick
Intragram: http://instagram.com/MishaGerrick
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/98437.Stories_by_Misha_Gerrick

Visit me on my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE to borrow any of my books for FREE!

Best-selling author of Wake the Dead! On Amazon Kindle here!

All Artwork and covers of my works by William J. Kenney & Carlos Cara

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2014 unless otherwise noted.

Karen Rhodes Interview

First off, tell us a little bit about you....

I trained as an accountant and sat on several Company Boards as Finance Director before becoming Managing Director of a UK engineering company in 2013, where I remained for four years but earlier this year decided it was ‘now or never’ and I was finally going to step away from this career and concentrate on my writing.
Since leaving my job, I’ve become a total gym nutter and boxercise fanatic and train at least four times a week – I find it helps me to concentrate better now I’m working from home.
I live in a sleepy little village in South East England which I love and find lots of inspiration for my characters on a daily basis but probably best to keep that one a secret!

Tell us about your books/what genre do you consider your books?

So, I started work on my first novel in March this year having had several ideas floating around for quite some time. I have always wanted to write for young adults and being a mega fan of fantasy and sci-fi and having what my mother calls ‘a big imagination’ although I think she means I’m prone to exaggeration, I was never going to dabble in anything else. The book centers on a young human girl taken against her will by a demon to become his Queen in the Underworld and the massive turmoil and conflict his irrational move causes for everyone, both on the surface and in the Underworld.

When did you start writing? 

I wrote my first mini book at the age of five, in my first year at school. The then head teacher was so impressed, that she had the book bound and for many years it sat in the display cabinet in the school’s front entrance. But seriously, I have written all my life, from poetry to short stories. I always wanted to write for a living rather than just for pleasure and decided earlier this year that I need to write up all the stories floating around in my head before I’m too old and decrepit to remember them!

Why do you write?

I write because I have this huge imagination that leads me into constantly day-dreaming about changing ordinary situations into something more interesting or magical, even when I should be doing something else. Then I find I have to get these ideas down on paper before I lose them. It’s a compulsion – singers sing, whether they are famous or not they feel a need to do it, writers write!

What would be your choice for a superpower?

Mind reading without a doubt! Imagine all the things you would find out and all the embarrassing situations you could avoid!

Who is your favorite author?

This is a difficult one because the world is full of wonderful books written by wonderful authors, but if I have to pick one it would have to be Robert Jordan. I could read The Wheel of Time series over and over, in fact, I have!

What are you reading now?

I have such eclectic taste in books but in the main I tend to switch between historical fiction and fantasy/sci-fi. At the moment I’m reading The City of Mirrors by Justin Cronin. Absolutely loving it!

Who is your favorite character to write?

Although my novel is based on Elice, Queen of the Dark Realms, my favourite character to write is definitely her 10 year old younger sister, Mercla. I have loosely based Mercla’s character on my young niece and I picture what she would be saying in certain circumstances or situations and it often makes me laugh out loud.

Do you have a writing process?

I plotted the story in my head, made copious notes then dived straight in. With this story, I knew exactly what I wanted the outcome to be and thankfully it just seemed to flow.

What advice would you give to an aspiring author?

Being so new at this myself, any tips gratefully received.

What inspired you to pursue writing?

I think ‘who’ inspired me would probably be more appropriate here and along with JRR Tolkien (of course) it has to be my mother, who always said I had an over the top imagination that really should be put to better use!

What are your favorite TV shows/Movies to watch in between writing?

Well it has to be Game of Thrones without hesitation!

What are your current projects?

I am concentrating purely on QUEEN at the moment, with a view to making it the first of three books on Elice and the Underworld.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to readers?

Don’t be afraid to try someone new, you never know they might just become your favourite author (and yes, tongue in cheek, I’m pushing myself here!!)

Quick Fire:Cats or dogs? Cats
Coffee or tea? Tea
Favorite food? Pasta
Vanilla or chocolate ice-cream? Vanilla
What are 3 things you never leave home without? Phone, House Keys, Hairbrush
Laptop or desktop? Laptop
Who are 3 famous people you would to hang out with? Alison Weir – my all-time historical writing heroine; Peter Jackson – I’d love to persuade him to make QUEEN into a movie; Charles Dance – Big fan and I have the perfect part for him to play
TV or Movies? Both

Visit me on my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE to borrow any of my books for FREE!

Best-selling author of Wake the Dead! On Amazon Kindle here!

All Artwork and covers of my works by William J. Kenney & Carlos Cara

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2014 unless otherwise noted.

Juli D. Revezzo Interview

First off, tell us a little bit about you...

I’m Juli D. Revezzo and I write a blend of fantasy and supernatural—well, a lot of things, actually. My current list of published works run from the Supernatural suspense series Antique Magic, to my fantasy romance series Celtic Stewards Chronicles. I even released my first steampunk novel, this year, Watchmaker’s Heart.

Should your readers be interested, they can find out more about me at:
Homepage
Facebook
GoodReads

Google+
Instagram
Pinterest
Twitter

Tell us about your books/What genre do you consider your books?

My Antique Magic series is about a woman and witch who has been asked by the gods to help forlorn ghosts with their problems. The genre? I’d say supernatural suspense with a hint of fantasy. Something of a cross between Charmed, Charlotte Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”, and Grimm (except Grimm didn’t exist when I first conceived The Artist’s Inheritance, years ago.). My latest release, MOURNING DOVE LOCKET, belongs to that series.

When did you start writing?

I started making up stories when I was a child. I started writing seriously when I was 18.

Why do you write?

I’ve always been creative, and it’s an outlet. If I didn’t get the stories out, I’d probably implode! *lol* If I’m not writing, I’m listening to music. I can’t draw worth a darn but I’ve tried. I do love photography and fiddle with photo manipulation, from time to time. I’m working on another supernatural fantasy series called Reign of Tarot and have been studying up on the tarot for that. Oh, and I knit a little. See? Creative. But my first love is writing.

What would be your choice for a superpower?

To heal sickness in man and sea.  Breathing underwater might be cool too.

Who is your favorite author?

I have a ton! First and foremost, Fantasy author Michael Moorcock, for one. Without him, I probably wouldn’t be writing; I love the gothic authors and poets like Mary Shelley and Poe; Tanith Lee; Patty G. Henderson, Marsha A. Moore, Suzanne G. Rogers, Jolene Dawe and many more indies. Also, the Medieval bards who wrote the Celtic myths the Mabinogion and so forth. They are the major influence on MOURNING DOVE LOCKET—well, honestly it greatly influences both my Antique Magic series and my Celtic Stewards Chronicles.

What are you reading now?

 I’m currently reading Spirit Touched: A Caleyna Summoner Tale by Jolene Dawe. I just finished Witch’s Moonstone Locket by Marsha A. Moore and about to start the next in her new series.

Who is your favorite character to write?

 Caitlin definitely. But I must say, the new girl in Mourning Dove Locket, Maria was fun. She’s a younger character than I’ve written in the past but she’s so eager to know all Caitlin has to share, I enjoyed being in her head.

Do you have a writing process?

 Depending on the day, I’ll do a little research first, make notes, and then start writing for the day. Sometimes, I wake up with an idea and write first, then research. I’ve been known to (more often than not!) get halfway through a draft before I do much heavy research. *ducks* For MOURNING DOVE LOCKET, since this is so far into the Antique Magic series, I made a few notes and when I finally got to a section where research on Cuba was needed (for the ghost) I stopped and went on the research spree then went back to writing. And then I’ll usually just write all day, stopping here and there for social media and sanity breaks and such.  But like I said, my daily process changes from day to day.

What advice would you give to an aspiring author?

 Write and read as much as you can. Unlike other advisors, yes I think you should read in the genre you wish to write in. However I also think you should read as widely as possible and don’t get too stuck on labels. From experience, I can tell you sometimes, genre, is in the eye of the beholder! So my best advice is don’t limit yourself.

What inspired you to pursue writing?

 While studying literature in college I realized there might actually be something of a career to be made out of my passion. And so, I thought it a great fit for me.

What are your favorite TV shows/Movies to watch in between writing?

I love all kinds of movies. Excalibur, Star Trek, the Godfather, Fifth Element, True Grit, Pan’s Labyrinth, Malificent, Cloud Atlas, Apollo 13, Labyrinth, just to name a handful. My TV list is much smaller: Once Upon a Time, and I’ve been trying to catch Houdini, a bit. I miss Sleepy Hollow and can’t wait for that one to come back. 

What are your current projects?

Well, I just released the latest instalment in my Antique Magic series, MOURNING DOVE LOCKET. I’ve also got more edits on other things: I’ve got a follow up to my story “House of Cards” on deck for sometime this fall (I hope) and the follow up to my paranormal romance Druid Warrior’s Heart to get out.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to readers?

Just that I hope they enjoy MOURNING DOVE LOCKET and the entire Antique Magic series, as much as I’ve enjoyed writing them. If they’d like to they can check it out at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Smashwords

Quick Fire:Cats or dogs? dogs
Coffee or tea? Coffee
Favorite food? Lasagne
Vanilla or chocolate ice-cream? Both. Mix strawberry in with it and it’s awesome.
What are 3 things you never leave home without? My MP3 player, my camera, and a notebook.
Laptop or desktop? Desktop
Who are 3 famous people you would to hang out with? Virginia Woolf, the medieval authors who wrote the Celtic myths, and Ann and Nancy Wilson (of the band Heart). 
TV or Movies? These days? Movies, hands down.

Thanks for having me here today, Gary! It was fun.

(My pleasure, Juli! Also check out her book trailer here)

Visit me on my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE to borrow any of my books for FREE!

Best-selling author of Wake the Dead! On Amazon Kindle here!

All Artwork and covers of my works by William J. Kenney & Carlos Cara

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2014 unless otherwise noted.

Rae Elliott Interview

Tell us about your books/What genre do you consider them?
I write mostly in the Fantasy, Science Fiction, and YA genres.

When did you start writing? 

As long as I can remember I've been writing, but if I had to narrow it down, I’d say my first memory hits on the age of six.

Why do you write? 

Because it is my undying passion. I cannot imagine not writing, and I wouldn’t be whole if I couldn’t express my thoughts, my views, through stories and characters that speak to other readers. I know it is my strong suit, but I feel it is more than just a hobby.

What would be your choice for a superpower? 

I think I would be a morpher or body changer, so that I could become anything that suits the occasion, or the need.

Who is your favorite author? 

 Man that is a really tough one. I have a huge nostalgia-inducing pull towards J.R.R Tolkien, but I often love how F. Scott Fitzgerald puts a really beautiful and unique perspective on a person or the world in just a few words.

What are you reading now? 

Unfortunately, nothing too fantastical. Really, just indie author homework. How to Market Ebooks, gain loyal readership- those sort of books. And quite a few at a time.

Who is your favorite character to write? 

My favorite character I have written thus far has to be my main female character in my science fiction novel Fractured. Queen Darphina. She is a battered wife and mother, but she shows complete selflessness and unwavering bravery in the face of a man who could kill her and their beloved children with ease. That man being her husband, King Magnus.

Do you have a writing process? 

My writing process usually goes like this: I have a wild idea, begin writing it down right away, maybe even making it five or six chapters in, and then once the writing spree is over, I look it all over again. By that point I re-flesh the whole thing out, organize it, and change up a mess of things, including major edits like character or chapter cuts. Then I typically read it to a willing ear, usually my husband, and he helps me flesh out the ideas a bit better. That process gets repeated.

What advice would you give to an aspiring author?

 The writing advice I can give other authors is the same question that guides me with every book I create: "Why does your reader care?" If your reader does not care about your characters and what happens to them, then you have no audience no matter what genre you write in.

What inspired you to pursue writing? 

The fact that I have always loved writing stories and found that it was my strong suit. Over anything else I have ever done, my love and passion always comes back to writing stories. I knew I had to try to make some kind of a career off of it, and even if it doesn’t go anywhere, at least I shared my story with a few people out there.

What are your favorite TV shows/Movies to watch in between writing? 

Oh man. This list is too long for words but I’ll sum it up. Favorite shows: Freaks and Geeks, The Blacklist, Gilmore Girls, Criminal Minds, Downton Abbey, Sherlock, Doctor Who, Parks and Recreation, Broadchurch. And, a few movie faves include: The Lord of the Rings Series, Gladiator, Frequency, Forest Gump, The Planet of The Apes, Brave, Ever After, Wall-E, The Count of Monte Cristo, Man of Steel, and the list could go on.

What are your current projects? 

I am always in the middle of a few different projects, but to narrow it down I'm in the final editing stage of two different books. One is the first in a Fantasy/thriller/YA series called "Treefell: Legend of the Wood", and the next is a how-to-guide for indie authors about marketing their work on Pinterest to their advantage.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to readers? 

I hope you enjoy my books, each story is meant to speak a very real problem one and all have either faced ourselves or have seen the results of. I think a lesson can be learned from each character and what course they choose, in the face of real, relatable problems.



Quick Fire:Cats or dogs? Always Dogs.
Coffee or tea? Tea
Favorite food? Thai food.
Vanilla or chocolate ice-cream? Chocolate
What are 3 things you never leave home without? My wallet, my phone, and my Nintendo 3DS.
Laptop or desktop? Laptop

Visit me on my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE to borrow any of my books for FREE!

Best-selling author of Wake the Dead! On Amazon Kindle here!

All Artwork and covers of my works by William J. Kenney & Carlos Cara

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2014 unless otherwise noted.

Jeff Roberts Interview

I've recently had the pleasure of meeting Jeffrey Roberts, writer of science fiction, fantasy, horror and comedy. Author of THE HEALER. Jeff, thanks for stopping by and sharing with the readers of the blog over here and best of luck moving forward. So, let's discover some info about Jeff....

First off, tell us a little bit about you

I was born in New York City on 2/24/1949. I attended Northern Arizona University, in Flagstaff, AZ, where I received degrees in writing and American history. I’m an advocate of disclosing the truth about UFO’s; I’m an airplane freak, and I’ve lived in Tucson, AZ for 4 years, having moved from my hometown of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Tell us about your books/What genre do you consider them? 

 I write science fiction, horror, fantasy, and comedy/fantasy.

When did you start writing? 

I started writing in college.

Why do you write? 

To create worlds that never were – but might; characters that never existed – but could; and strange situations in this life- and others that can only be imagined.

What would be your choice for a superpower? 

I think perhaps either invisibility, or the power of teleportation.

Who is your favorite author? 

 I have no 1 favorite author, but several come to mind: Ray Bradbury, James Thurber, Thornton Wilder, Arthur C. Clarke, Ray Bradbury – and I kind of like me, at the risk of sounding conceited!


What are you reading now? 

Nothing right now. Too busy writing and promoting.

Who is your favorite character to write? 

The underdog, the iconoclast that saves the day and gains new found respect.

Do you have a writing process? 

 I write in long hand first, on black & white composition books, where I edit ceaselessly until it looks like I’ve hemorrhaged all over it. Then I transfer the final version to my computer, on WORD 2007.

What advice would you give to an aspiring author? 

Buy all the books you can about the craft of writing, study them—then toss them in the garbage! Because if you follow them to the letter, your book will end up bloodless, like a dry textbook. And it will read like everyone else that did the exact same thing! Do you think Hemingway or Steinbeck followed all the rules? Hardly. They had their “Own voice”. Develop your own voice, your own style! March to the beat of a different drummer, and you’ll be remembered for it!

What inspired you to pursue writing? 

Hard to say. My Dad was a writer for radio after the war. Perhaps creativity is genetic. I reasoned that since I didn’t have the math skills to be an astronautical engineer with NASA, I would use the one mental gift I did have, a creative mind- to write stories that challenge the imagination.

What are your favorite TV shows/Movies to watch in between writing? 

Sleepy Hollow, Grimm, Constantine, Supernatural, Scorpion, and Ghost Adventures, to name a few. Plus the History and Travel channel.

What are your current projects? 

My next book, a fantasy entitled IN THE SHADOW OF THE HOUSE OF GOD, should be out in about a month, and I’m working on a horror novel, THE HORROR ON THE HMS COTTINGLY.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to readers? 

Please buy THE HEALER, by Jeffrey G. Roberts! It is a 5-star science fiction novel whose plot has never been done before!


Quick Fire: Cats or dogs? Cats, but I adore puppies, and all animals.
Coffee or tea? Coffee, but I enjoy tea also.
Favorite food? Anything that doesn’t eat me first! But out of many things, probably steak and pizza.
Vanilla or chocolate ice-cream? Definitely chocolate.
What are 3 things you never leave home without? My clothes, my wallet, and my phone.
Laptop or desktop? Laptop, a HP 2000.
Who are 3 famous people you would to hang out with? Nikola Tesla, Capt. Glenn Edwards, for whom Edwards A.F.B. was named after, and scientist Dr. Thomas Townshend Brown, who experimented with electrostatic propulsion in the 50’s.
TV or Movies? TV.

Visit me on my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE to borrow any of my books for FREE!

Best-selling author of Wake the Dead! On Amazon Kindle here!

All Artwork and covers of my works by William J. Kenney & Carlos Cara

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2014 unless otherwise noted.

WAKE THE DEAD Chapter 1

Hello everyone! I am hoping that all of you have seen that Wothlondia Rising is Free on Amazon.com and many other places, and that I am doing a contest for a $25.00 Amazon gift card, of which three readers have already partaken. I would like to see everyone get involved, simply follow the details laid out for you here, and get reading! You have until April 1st.

Also, if you haven't heard yet, I have a new stand-alone novel coming out very soon, entitled Wake the Dead! It is a hardcore zombie apocalypse, which I am very excited to show you all, and well, I'll let you be the judge. 

So, with that last thought in mind, I have released another teaser on WattPad for Wake the Dead. 

Cover art Thumbnail for Wake the Dead by Carlos Cara

Chapter 1 as it stands now, is up on WattPad for the viewing. 

Please sign up for WattPad if you already have not (shameless plug: follow me & vote on my writings!) as it has oodles of amazing stories from thousands of authors for FREE! If you like to read, you should check it out.

And, as always, I hope to see you in Wothlondia in the near future! 

Visit me on my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE  and my SMASHWORDS PAGE!

Also, Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!

All Artwork and covers of my works by William J. Kenney

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2014 unless otherwise noted.

Wothlondia Rising FREE (mostly) Everywhere!

Amazon.com has finally come around and I am hoping that the rest of the Amazon stores will follow suit and reflect the price change soon enough. As the title says, the introductory book to my Realm of Ashenclaw series is finally FREE, almost everywhere. I must say, there's never been a better time to dive in and experience the tales that set these heroes on their path to become legends in Wothlondia.

Art by William Kenney

If you are so inclined to begin the journey and experience the tales that introduce you to my world and it's inhabitants, it can be found mostly everywhere now for free. And I am excited for that.

The book can be found here:
➲ KINDLE ➲  iTunes ➲  NOOK ➲ Smashwords  ➲ WattPad

I wanted to re-post some lovely things that the editor of the series, Stephanie Dagg, said in an interview--things which I could never have even conceived about my own writing, etc. And so, this is what she had to say about Wothlondia Rising...

I’ve worked on all sorts of books during my 25 years of editing, most of them as a freelance, and it’s true to say that fantasy is one of the more interesting literary genres. Fantasy authors are not only creative, extremely so, but of necessity also very methodical. Does that sound contradictory? What I mean is that because they’re creating a unique universe, they have it all mapped out in their heads, and often physically too. I made plenty of use of Gary’s map of Wothlondia during my editing, to check that when he said certain characters were heading northwest towards Greymoors from Chansuk that they were. (Editors have to keep an eye on everything!) Gary clearly knows his way around Wothlondia like the back of his hand since and he never put a foot wrong there!

Another example of fantasy writer organization. In one of the new stories, A Rose in Bloom, I felt we needed a couple more sentences in one part where a character, Ganthorpe, was rattled by the ringing of the bell for midnight. So I sent a request to Gary. Now, some authors tend to panic when an editor asks for extra material, and rattle something - anything - off. You duly slot it into place, only to find a few pages later that this new stuff proves to be inconsistent with later events, so it’s back to the drawing board. Not with Gary. He sent me a well-constructed replacement paragraph that lent the clarity I was after, and mentioning Brogan the timekeeper, so I put those in. I’m currently reading Covenant of the Faceless Knights and was delighted to come across a mention of Brogan and his bells in an early chapter! Everything fits together perfectly, not only in this story but in the way all Gary’s tales interact.

Fantasy has its own lexicon with words such as phylactery, mage and goblinoid that you won’t find in other genres. The language also tends to be more formal with some archaisms. I’m always delighted to come across those since I’m all for using as diverse a range of vocabulary as possible in writing. And the different races that inhabit the fantastic world have their own way of speaking. You can tell an elf from a dwarf from an ogre simply by listening to them.

Other distinguishing features of fantasy, on top of these elements of a cracking good plot, organisation and rich language, are the idea of a hero (or heroine) on a quest, the common ‘humanity’ of this central figure that means we empathise with him or her, the existence of magic and the supernatural, and the fight of good against evil. Alongside the quest there often comes a journey of self-discovery, and this is very much the case with Gary’s characters. You’ll see this strongly in the Wothlondia Rising series of short stories, particularly in Maturation Process and Reflections.
I guarantee that you will be deeply moved by the latter.

And all Gary’s heroes and heroines are likable because they’re so real. We get clear, detailed physical descriptions of them and their personalities quickly emerge. We can see parts of ourselves in them, even if they’re elves, or barbarians or half ogres. For example, Rose Thorne enjoys a glass of wine, Rolin Hardbeard doesn't like riding horses, Saeunn has her eye on the handsome lad from the next village, and Elec lets his personal hygiene slip a little when he’s on his own. They could be any one of us... But imperfect as they are, when put to the test they’ll do what’s right.

Fantasy mirrors not only real people but a real world. Wothlondia has many of the same terrors and threats that we have, such as racism, dishonesty, violence and crime. I’m just grateful we don’t have the added complication of Blood Rot Zombies!
In conclusion then, editing fantasy, and especially Gary’s Wothlandian fantasy, is an interesting and rewarding challenge. And memorable. Here are a handful of sentences from Gary’s stories that have stuck in my mind because of their sheer power or beauty:

Nimaira still lay on the cold ground, rubbing her jaw, with tears—not tears of pain, but tears of what might have been—welling in her beautiful eyes.
His eyes were reflections of the bluest of skies, quite unlike those of any ogre, whose eyes were always as black as the darkest caverns of the Subterrane.
The Paladin felt the darkness closing in on him, wresting control of his soul.
He merely stood frozen in place while a tumult of emotions bombarded him.
She had wept for countless hours and felt there should be no more tears left to cry, yet still they came, unbidden and unending.

You’re going to enjoy Wothlondia Rising, make no mistake.

(Originally posted here on Feb 12, 2012) 

Thanks and I hope to see you in Wothlondia!

Visit me on my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE  and my SMASHWORDS PAGE!

Also, Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!

All Artwork and covers of my works by William J. Kenney

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2014 unless otherwise noted.

The Heroes of Wothlondia

alternate Covenant cover
by Mr. Kenney

I posted this informational piece on Wattpad, along with samples of all my works and other free works, for those interested in some background on my characters in the Realm of Ashenclaw series. I also divulge my cinematic choices for the roles if it were to ever hit the big screen (I can wish, cant I?)

I am planning to release another one on the antagonists probably next week. Hope you enjoy it!

THE HEROES OF WOTHLONDIA

Hope to see you all in Wothlondia soon!

Visit me on my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE  and my SMASHWORDS PAGE!

Also, Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!

All Artwork and covers of my works by William J. Kenney

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2014 unless otherwise noted.