The Robert Lawrence Interview

My latest author run in was with Mr. Robert Lawrence. Robert is a an author, husband and father and describes his work as "Young Adult with a sci-fi/fantasy element, but also a bit dystopian as well." So, read on to find out more about Robert...

First off, tell us a little bit about you~
I am 37 (nearly 38 which is scarily close to 40!), and I live with my wife and two children. When I am not writing, I typically watch TV/Movies, Airsoft (think of it as a grown-up version of paintball if you haven't heard of it) and play a lot of video games.

Tell us about your books/What genre do you consider your books?
The book that has just been released (knightfall) and its sequel that I am working on now (Darkest Before Dawn) and a little hard to classify! I think of them as Young Adult with a sci-fi/fantasy element, but also a bit dystopian as well. Reviewers seem to agree with me, they can't classify them either. The current story is a definite trilogy, with a fixed beginning-middle-end, but there are plenty more stories to tell in the universe afterwards if people want to read them.

When did you start writing? I have always written in one form or another. At school I would often write little stories about friends and family doing different and exciting things. As time went on, the stories got longer and more complex as the characters developed their own voices and were no longer based on people I knew. I went through stages of science fiction and horror (mirroring what I was reading at the time) before Ben started telling me his story.

Why do you write? The simplest answer is that the stories really want to be told! Really, I think about them all the time. They wake me up at night, in the shower, they distract me when I'm driving! The other answer is that I really enjoy it. Every day that I get to sit at the computer, making stuff up essentially, is a good day. Once this trilogy is done, I have several other stories in my brain, competing to be the next one that gets written.

What would be your choice for a superpower?Today, I would really like to be able to control the weather so my daughter's sports day won't be cancelled next week if it rains. I mean, really, I'm sure we did sports in the rain and snow when I was younger, why do they need to cancel it if it rains?

Who is your favorite author? Of all time, is probably Stephen King, he has written so many books that I have enjoyed, but there have been individual books by other authors that I have enjoyed more (if that makes sense). The Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman are an excellent example.

What are you reading now?I have just finished Light by Michael Grant (the last in the Gone series) and I have started Guardian Dragons by Catherine L Vickers, enjoying it so far.

Who is your favorite character to write? Catrina daughter-of-Ellabelle. She is, quite literally, capable of anything, and is somehow still functioning after enduring so much loss and hardship. I can't wait to see what she does when she finally gets her chance at revenge.

Do you have a writing process? 
Sort of. I have a general plan in my head of the story, each characters journey or story arc, and important plot points and roughly when they happen. Everything around that is fluid, and elements I realize as I write the story can dramatically change an overarching arc or important scene (like I didn't realize exactly who Alexander was until I wrote it at the end of book 1!). I try to do a more detailed plan of each chapter or the next couple of chapters before I sit down to write them, but even then the process is fluid and I will go back and change scenes or rewrite them completely.

What advice would you give to an aspiring author? I don't know, I still consider myself to be aspiring! Keep writing, no matter what. If you have a story you want to tell, get it down on paper and ask people to read it. Listen to their feedback and keep going. If you enjoy the story, others will as well. Write for you and no one else.

What inspired you to pursue writing?As I've said before, it's really that the stories want to be told. I like it when people enjoy what I have written, my best friend's son really liked Knightfall and so did my nephew so that always helps. If I could make it pay the bills, I would love to do it full time.

What are your favorite TV shows/Movies to watch in between writing?Current TV shows that I can't miss are Game of Thrones (just like everyone else I guess!), Castle, Dr Who (but this series really has been a bit poor, I hope they pull it all together Saturday for the last one), Community (but it really isn't the same without Dan Harmon), The League, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Walking Dead. There are others that I watch, but those would be the ones I would be upset about if I missed them. I just want to point out that I do have a life and I don't spend all of my time in front of the television!

What are your current projects?I am hard at work on book 2 of The Chronicle of Benjamin Knight (Darkest Before Dawn), I am about 60,000 words in, possibly a little over half way but it's hard to say exactly. After that is book 3 and then I will write either the Succession War or the first X-Calibre story, or maybe something else, who knows!

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to readers?Buy my book! No, really, buy it, it's awesome! Other than that, I really want feedback, honest feedback, otherwise how can I get better. If anyone would like a review copy or be involved in the beta reading process of book 2, or if I can help in some way anyone who is in a similar situation to me, get in touch via my website (www.jackson-lawrence.com) or my blog (http://jackson-lawrence.blogspot.co.uk). If anyone wants to chat about the story, their theories about where Ben really is, what might happen next or really anything at all, just drop me a line.

Quick Fire:

Cats or dogs? Cats

Coffee or tea? Coffee (that one was easy!)

Favorite food? Propper food – chilli

Vanilla or chocolate ice-cream? Chocolate

What are 3 things you never leave home without? Phone, wallet and keys 

(but predictable I know, but that's assuming that I am already wearing clothes!)

Laptop or desktop? Desktop

Who are 3 famous people you would to hang out with? Simon Pegg (he would make me laugh as we geeked out), Stephen Hawkins (just to get an insight into how he sees the universe, he is incredible) and Joss Whedon (loved everything he has done, and have you seen the trailer for S.H.I.E.L.D. It looks amazing? I might even get some spoilers for Avengers 2)
TV or Movies? Currently, TV, but I really enjoyed Iron Man 3

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!


Visit my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Also, please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.

Romance in Fantasy

Do you want to see romance in fantasy? More so than action? A fair bit of both? More one than the other? All solid questions that need to be answered, eh? At least for me.

Most folks that I speak with about fantasy novels don’t seem to place an import on romance (at least openly) and want to see good action scenes. Admittedly, these people happen to be male.

I certainly believe in romance in novels as long as it happens organically. When I mean is that the romance happens over time, naturally. As characters get to know one another, perhaps they begin to develop feelings for one another and keep them hidden, or suppress them, explore them or nature them along. I have read some posts, reviews, and some novels recently that reminded me that romance is an essential part of maturing your characters emotionally.

Specifically I bring up one review I received where the reader did not appreciate the lack of romance. I say: I am working on it! I believe that characters need to develop feelings over time and that ‘love at first sight’ is not something I can write about without making it appear fake. It seems contrived and a bit forced when I've read it and when I try to write something along those lines. Not that it is unheard of, mind you, but I believe it would seem out of place to a more sophisticated reader that has been around the block. Just my opinion on the subject.

Powerful emotions such as strife, grief, shock and especially Romance, are the ultimate feelings that convey a genuine realism. I received one review early on where the reader wanted to see more romance and could have done less with the combat/action scenes.

This got me to thinking and plotting a little more with that in mind. And so, in Secrets of the Ebonite Mines, I started to develop a relationship and may have planted the seed in Covenant of the Faceless Knights. My latest novel—rough draft finished BTW!—takes the romance of a certain pair of characters to a satisfying level. As a matter of fact, this book has some surprising twists and turns. It takes the reader on a non-stop emotional ride with serious ramifications and deadly consequences, some genuine emotion, and major loss that sets it apart from anything I have written to date. I am quite surprised and pleased by it if truth be told. I am excited to get it released (hopefully before summer begins) and see what you guys think. But I digress...

As always, I’d love to hear from you folks as to what exactly you look for from your fantasy tales! Is there room for romance? Fire away…

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!

Visit my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Also, please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.

Photo from Stock.xchng

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.

Legend of Ashenclaw Sale!

This weekend, I am reducing the price of my ԼЄGЄƝƊ ƠƑ ƛSĦЄƝƇԼƛƜ 
novella to a measly 99 cents for Amazon's kindle only! Don't have a kindle? Download the App for your PC or tablet right HERE.

❝His heart sank as a great shadow loomed over him, enveloping the land around him...Darkness descended❞

It is the epic journey of a group of legendary heroes in the history of Wothlondia that set forth in an attempt to quell the invasion of Ashenclaw and her Dragon minions. If you like fantasy, RPG's, Dungeons & Dragons, Game of Thrones and the like, you may find yourself enjoying this page-turner too! Oh, and enjoy the rather large sample below...

US ミ★  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CLVLCF8

UK ミ★ http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00CLVLCF8

It was a day’s journey to Summerbank and as they neared, Figit realized that the town had indeed grown some since last he visited some years back. They had an inn! At least that’s what it looked like from his perspective.

As the group came rolling up and over the hill, Figit leaped onto Twarda’s back, causing her to stumble forward before her sturdy legs were able to right herself again.

“Watch yerself!” Twarda yelped, regaining her balance quickly. “”I coulda’ fell…and with ye' atop me, too!”

“I’da been fine,” Figit quipped, getting comfortable on her broad shoulders.

“An’ I’da ne’er fell. Yer missin’ me point.”

“It looks like the town has literally doubled in size since the last time we seen it. I’m seein’ maybe two dozen structures now!”

Azbiel laughed heartily while Triniach and Jon strode along quietly. As they made it to the bottom of the hill, Figit noted that something in the town did not seem right.

“Hey, guys,” he announced, leaping from Twarda’s shoulders to land on all fours like a cat. “Somethin’ ain’t right about this. Where are all the people?”

They all looked about and noted that none of the fishermen were on their boats or fishing in the bank and not a soul was outside. It was almost mid-day again and the lack of activity was both telling and disturbing.

“I don’t like it one bit,” Figit declared as he withdrew both of his daggers. The sound of leather on steel sounded again as Jon withdrew his hand and a half sword and Twarda removed her axe from her belt.

“I don’t like this at all,” Figit stated as he slipped down the remainder of the hill and proceeded ahead of the others.

He got up to where he could see things more clearly, his eyesight allowing him to see great distances, another gift of his fey blood. What he saw was distressing. He waved the others to within a few feet of him and told them to wait there at the base of the hill.

“What is it, half-man?” asked Jon.

“Shush,” Figit called back in a whisper. He wanted to whisper back to him that he was no man at all. Instead he was a creature born of fey blood, distant cousin to the elves and that he could tap into the regenerative plane much as a druid would and use the gift to heal; albeit sparingly.

He stole through the village and made it to the far western side of the town. Confirming what he saw, he made his way quickly and quietly back to the group, who awaited him on the shaded side of a storefront.

“What is it!?” asked Azbiel, his arms held out wide before returning to cross over his chest. He yawned and Figit could smell the wine on his breath from where he stood.

Typical Azbiel, he thought.

“Kobolds. And lots of ‘em! And…they ain’t alone either. There are some crazy robed figures with marks of the dragons on their garments.

“Dragon cultists,” Triniach stated as if everyone should know. “They are amassing here as they sense something, a shift in the weather or some such. I cannot quite put my finger on it just yet.”

“So, they are worshipers of which dragons?” Jon asked. “All of them?”

“I would say. It is a dragon cult. Their symbol is something of a dragon claw. Is that correct, Figit?” Triniach asked.

“A claw of red, one of blue, another of white and a black one, too. All in a circle, or a cross or some proportioned pattern. Can’t really see it too well.”

Triniach waved his hands about and stood silently, the white of his eyes shifted in hue to  yellow, like that of an eagle’s.

“That is it exactly,” the mage announced with confidence.

“If you can do that, then why do ya’ make me—never mind,” Figit said with a sigh and a shake of his head.

“It is to keep your skills intact. You never know when you will need them. Magic does not solve everything,” he stated in a lecturing manner with a sideways glance toward him and then added, “almost. But not quite.”

 “Well, whatever. The four-clawed dragon cultists have taken over the town for whatever reason,” Figit exclaimed, willing his body into the shadows.

 “Then we be needin’ ta’ take ‘er back!” proclaimed the dwarven warrior, tapping her axehead upon her shield three times.

“Let’s gut ‘em and save the day. Like usual,” stated the halfling.

“Nothing like rescuing damsels in distress!” Azbiel proclaimed, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.

“We are ready then?” inquired Triniach, adjusting his robe.

All of them nodded and Figit stayed to the shadows, moving ever closer to the commotion. After a moment or two, he could hear the words of the cultists.

“We shall make sacrifice for the scorching drakes and so that Ashenclaw will spare us,” he heard one man say.

“The queen of the scorching drakes will let us live if we show her gift,” said one of the dozen kobolds lurking about. A pair of women were both tied to stakes that were planted firmly inside a large amount of tinder. Their clothes were torn and they were bleeding from several wounds already, though none of them looked fatal to the halfling. But, it certainly seemed as though they were going to roast these two ladies alive.

“We need them all to burn,” stated another kobold, confirming Figit's obvious fears.

Figit looked from where they'd come from and, held captive inside the inn that he could see through the window pane, were several more of the villagers bound and gagged. And there were even more of the kobolds in there. 
He hated the little lizard things. Whenever they gathered, there were always too many of them around, he thought with a grimace. 

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 of my work can be found on AMAZON -- Kindle versions here

See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase my full length novel, Covenant of the Faceless Knights, the short stories: Wothlondia Rising, and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.

The Matt Schiariti Interview

I'd like to introduce to you fellow writer and a personal friend, Matt Schiariti . I met Matt a few years back as we have a mutual friend (my best man at my wedding Mike, who I've known for more years than not) and Matt was working on his craft for years back then. He has since taken the step forward and put his work out for all to see (a brave step for any new writer) and is patiently waiting for you all to find him. I thought I'd show you the way...




First off, tell us a little bit about you~
Well, I’m a Gemini. I like long walks on the…never mind. My name’s Matt and I’m a 38 year old Engineer by trade.

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

Right now I have two short stories published. The first is part of the Apocalypse 13 anthology and it’s called ‘Hollow: Be Careful What You Wish For’. The other short story I published on my own. It’s called ‘Words With Fiends: A Short Story’. Both of those are horror/supernatural. I have a paranormal type urban fantasy coming out within the next couple months, also to be self published. It’s called ‘Ghosts of Demons Past’. I actually just saw the final cover and it’s awesome.

When did you start writing?
I’m still pretty green. I started to write in February 2012.

Why do you write?This question always reminds me of the scene in Star Trek when Spock had asked Kirk why he likes to scale mountains. Kirk’s simple, yet classic answer was ‘Because…it’s….there!” I’m kind of the same way. I’d entertained the idea of writing when I was younger but it always seemed like one of those things I couldn’t do. I’d convince myself it’s too hard, or I’d stink at it, or I’d just move on to my next fascination. So now, it’s a matter of being ‘bit by the bug’. I sit down at the computer and write a short story or work on one of my own novels just to see if I can do it. I’ve found that, while it ain’t easy, it’s fun when it all comes together.

What would be your choice for a superpower? X-ray vision…heheh. Honestly, I have a lot of favorite super heroes but I always thought Green Lantern had one of the coolest gadgets in the business. A ring so powerful, the only limitation of which is the user’s imagination? Too cool.

Who is your favorite author?
Ken Follett. Hands down. I read The Pillars Of The Earth and it blew me away. Easily my favorite book of all time.

What are you reading now?I’m reading the second in the Timecasters Series, Supersymmetry, by Joe Konrath. It’s trippy. He’s not quite right but his books are so much fun.

Who is your favorite character to write?I really enjoyed writing Seth Gabriel, the lead from my upcoming first novel, Ghosts of Demons Past. He’s a bit of a sad sack at first. Seth is a medium but he’s more than that. He can see and talk to ghosts and of course, it’s more curse than blessing. 

Do you have a writing process?This is one of those ‘ask ten people, get ten different answers’ types of questions! =D What’s worked for me so far is writing when I think I have something to say. I’m very much the ‘pantser’. I haven’t outlined anything yet, whether it be my books or my short stories. I have the flow in my head then I sit down and write it. Some will say you have to get your butt in the chair every day and write write write. To me, if I don’t have an idea, I’m not going to write. I’ll edit or just read. ‘Pantsing’ has worked well so far. That’s how I did Ghosts of Demons Past and the book I’d written before that, which I’m now going back through and cleaning up.

What advice would you give to an aspiring author?I’m not exactly a seasoned veteran, but one of many things I’ve learned over the past 14 or so months is don’t be intimidated by other writers. I’ve suffered a big self confidence problem from the get go. In this age of social media, it’s not uncommon to ‘friend’ other authors or like their pages if you’re trying your hand at the whole writing thing. I’d see author X or writer Y touting their numbers or reviews or how proud they are of their latest work in progress. I’d find myself thinking ‘wow, they’re published, they have a huge backlist…will I ever be that good or can I stack up?’ At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what they’re doing. Do what YOU do and do it as best as you’re able. Don’t fall into the trap of trying to keep up with the Joneses.

What inspired you to pursue writing?
A common acquaintance of ours! I shall call him ‘MC’. As you know, he’s a big reader. He and I discuss books a lot. So, one night over more than a couple beers, I said ‘we should write a book together’. He agreed and we started running ideas. Some of them were pretty interesting but after months of talking about it, the project never came to fruition. But, he planted the writing idea in my head so I went out on my own. So I started with a couple short stories and it went from there.

What are your favorite TV shows/Movies to watch in between writing?Wow. How much time do you have? ;) Some of my favorite TV shows are The Walking Dead, Dexter, Justified, Game of Thrones, Orphan Black, Law and Order SVU. I could go on but your eyes would start to get that glazed over look. As far as movies, I’m open to just about anything. Funny fact though: even though I’ve been writing primarily horror/paranormal stories and books up to this point, I don’t watch many horror movies. Things that make ya go hmmmmm.

What are your current projects? Welp, Ghosts of Demons Past is currently being looked at by an editor. I usually do my own (I edited Words With Fiends myself) but this is my first full length book and I want it to be as highly polished as it can possibly be. That and 96,000 words is a lot to self edit. I’ve recently completed several more shorts this year, two of which are going to see the light of day via Padwolf Publishing’s ‘13’ series. While Ghosts is with the editor and I have no other anthologies to write for, I’m going through a novel I’d written BEFORE Ghosts. My very first book. I’d typed out about 128,000 words in a little over five weeks last year and I’m in the middle of trimming it down. I’ve knocked 32,000 words off of it so far. It’s kind of a life story/drama and it involves a funeral. But that’s all I’m willing to say about it at this point ;) But, all my time will be sucked up by Ghosts once I hear back from the editor. I don’t have to tell you how much work it takes to get it converted and ready for upload to Amazon!

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to readers? Thanks for reading! And to those who leave reviews and spread the word, an extra special thanks. Makes all the difference in the world for those of us who are self published.

Quick Fire:Cats or dogs? Dogs.
Coffee or tea? Without coffee, I don’t see the point in getting up out of bed in the morning.
Favorite food? Food happens to be my favourite flavor but I’ll go with all things Italian.
Vanilla or chocolate ice-cream? Chocolate.
What are 3 things you never leave home without? Smart phone, wallet, keys.
Laptop or desktop? Laptop! Got my first this past Christmas and I’m on the thing constantly.
Who are 3 famous people you would to hang out with? Iron Maiden’s lead guitarist, Adrian Smith. Ken Follett. Olivia Wilde.
TV or Movies? Always asking the tough questions! Movies.

Where you can find Matt Schiariti!Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Matt-Schiariti/e/B00AX9Y6GW/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1366676649&sr=8-1
Blog:
mattschiariti.blogspot.com
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6873499.Matt_Schiariti

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 of my work can be found on AMAZON -- Kindle versions here

See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase my full length novel, Covenant of the Faceless Knights, the short stories: Wothlondia Rising, and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.

Cover Preview: The Legend of Ashenclaw Novella

Hello Ashenclaw fans! I am currently preparing to re-release my epic novella, The Legend of Ashenclaw as a stand-alone product. It is available currently in the Skulldust Circle Anthology.

I am doing this only to brand my own product in case fans want this book as a stand-alone book. In order to do that, I have hired artist and fellow-Skull-duster, Mr. William Kenney again and I have the cover art to show you. Please let me know what you all think.

If you want to reach William for art-related to book-related reasons, please feel free to email him directly at:

WilliamKenney_author@yahoo.com

You will be doing yourself a favor. William is excellent and affordable.

Ashenclaw in all of her glory!

 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 of my work can be found on AMAZON -- Kindle versions here

See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase my full length novel, Covenant of the Faceless Knights, the short stories: Wothlondia Rising, and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.

Gary Val Tenuta Interview

I recently ran into fellow writer Gary Val Tenuta on twitter and he was excited to be interviewed here on Eye on Ashenclaw.  Gary had an interesting path and the following interview is certainly worth reading!

First off, tell us a little bit about you Writing and art have always been two of the things I do best. So I’ve combined those two talents to become both an author and a book cover designer (http://www.freewebs.com/bookcoversandvideos).

I graduated from The Evergreen State College (otherwise known as “that hippie school in the woods) with a degree in Social Psychology. My professional writing career began as a contributing writer for Fate Magazine in the 1990s. One of my feature articles about the mystery of the alleged secret military group known as Majestic-12 resulted in requests to appear on radio programs across the U.S. and Canada.

Having had a life long interest in paranormal phenomena, the supernatural, occult and ancient mysteries and basically anything that could be squeezed into those categories, it should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me that these same elements would become the fodder for my novels and short stories. I grew up devouring Poe, Lovecraft and Roald Dahl and those writers definitely had a huge influence on me. I wonder if they realize what they've done? Maybe I should dig out my old 1920s-era Ouija board and let them know. Nah. Probably not a good idea.

Tell us about your books My debut novel, The Ezekiel Code, took nearly 9 years to complete. It was released in 2007 and quickly became an amazon.com bestseller and held on to that ranking for over 57 weeks. When I started writing it back around 1997 I knew about the approaching end of the ancient Mayan calendar (December 21, 2012) and I suspected the closer we got to that event the more it was going to become a pop phenomenon on a global scale. So I incorporated that cultural element into my original idea for a story which was, basically, about how the Biblical prophet, Ezekiel, encountered an alien spacecraft and what that fact would mean to mankind when modern day humans realized that’s what actually happened. By the time 2007 came along, the whole “2012” thing was starting to get some feet. People everywhere were beginning to discuss it. Lots of nonfiction books were being published about the phenomenon but, as it turned out. The Ezekiel Code was one of (if not the first) work of fiction based on the phenomenon to hit the market. Then along came the blockbuster movie, titled “2012”, and all of the press about the movie, the internet forums focusing on 2012, and so on – all of this essentially functioned as “free” publicity in a sense, helping to bring attention to my novel. It was a heck of a ride for a newbie at this novel writing stuff.

My current novel, Ash: Return Of The Beast, is a supernatural crime chiller steeped in occult lore. The story is a work of fiction inspired by a little known factoid about the death of Aleister Crowley (1875—1947), the notorious British occultist whose favorite number was 666 (hence, the “Beast” in the title) and whom the British Press once labeled as “The Wickedest Man In The World”. Crowley’s body was cremated but the unexplained 1947 disappearance of the urn containing his ashes has remained a mystery… until now. (Cue spooky music…)

The timeline shifts to the present day where Brian Kane, a street-worn Seattle police Lieutenant, is investigating a series of mysterious deaths, ostensibly caused by heart attack. The victims are all clergymen from a variety of Christian denominations  Their bizarre deaths, oddly enough, are occurring exactly nine days apart. Is that a clue or just a strange coincidence?

Soon, a rather unconventional female FBI agent by the name of Rowena Ravenwood joins the detective to help solve the case. She’s an expert in the field of paranormal phenomena and she suspects the perpetrator in this case may be dangerously knowledgeable in the occult arts and ritual magick. Kane doesn’t believe a word of it but he seems to be stuck with her and her weird ideas whether he likes it or not.

Eventually, a suspect rises up out of the mire of perplexing clues and it turns out he’s the leader of a death-metal rock band. But is he really the killer? What about the other suspect? The one who heads up an occult group called The Brotherhood of Baphomet? His past association with the infamous Charlie Manson of “Helter-Skelter” fame does cast him in a suspicious light. And what is the disturbing secret that detective Kane is holding so close to his chest?

Or is none of this what it seems to be? Indeed, are these deaths even really homicides? Is this a murder case or isn’t it? No fingerprints, no eyewitnesses, no signs of struggle, no weapons. There is one thing, however. Those black plastic Batman coins that are found stuffed into the mouth of each “victim”. What is that all about?

Ravenwood thinks she knows. But, to be certain, she’ll have to risk her life, not to mention her very sanity, should she manage to survive. She’s uncovered a clue that leads her to believe a bloody carnage of unimaginable horror is about to be unleashed upon the world as the offspring of the fabled “Old Ones” are awakened from their ancient slumber.

The survival of the entire human race hangs in the balance and the amount of time to stop this from happening is running short. All Hell is about to break loose and, according to Special Agent Ravenwood, that’s not just a figure of speech.

KINDLE (U.S.) $3.99 - http://amzn.com/B006J6HRGE

PAPERBACK (U.S.) $12.95 - http://amzn.com/1478314192

PAPERBACK (U.K.) £9.95 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1478314192

I’m currently working on a series of short stories (almost novelettes, actually) for a series called Twisted Tales From The Files Of The Second Chance Limousine Service. When asked what they’re like, I say think Twilight Zone. Two of those stories (“A Bite Out Of Time” and “Atonement”) are currently available in Kindle format from amazon.com for 99¢ each.

A BITE OUT OF TIME -- http://amzn.com/B002OHD2CK

ATONEMENT -- http://amzn.com/B00AZISY14

When did you start writing? I think the first story I ever wrote was when I was about 12 years old. It was a sci-fi story called The Beam From Saucer-X. It was really good, too. I know that because my mom told me so.

But it wasn’t until I was about 15 or 16 that I started to really become interested in creative writing. There were two authors that pretty much kick-started that interest. First was Edgar Allan Poe and then H. P. Lovecraft. I think the first Poe story I read was The Telltale Heart. I was immediately hooked. I read everything by Poe that I could get my hands on.

Why do you write? Because I don’t have a life? No, that’s not entirely true. However, it seems the more I write the more true it becomes. But the serious answer is that I think, to some extent, it has something to do with my life long dream of being a screenwriter, an actor and a movie director. Since those things didn’t come to pass, I’ve sort of incorporated all of them into writing novels and short stories. I get to write the story, direct the action and play all the parts.

What would be your choice for a superpower?It would have to be to fly like Superman. I get to do that in my dreams sometimes. It’s awesome.

Who is your favorite author? Oh, man. I guess if I had to pick one I’d say my favorite since 2003 has been Dan Brown. I’ve read everything he’s published so far.

What are you reading now? I’m reading two indie books right now. One is an outstanding true story for which I had the pleasure of designing the cover. It’s called Scoundrels In Paradise. The author is Scott Adlai Stevenson, the cousin of the former ambassador to the United Nations, Adlai Stevenson. Scott led an a nefarious life of high adventure on an international scale as a drug smuggler. The stories he tells are incredible.

The other book is The Rosaries by indie author, Sandra Carrington-Smith. It’s the sequel her first novel, The Book of Obeah which is currently being made into a movie.

Who is your favorite character to write? Usually the main character of what ever story I happen to be working on at any given time.

Do you have a writing process? I don’t really have a “process” in terms of something that I follow rigidly. I’m what has been called an “organic” writer. I just get an idea, I know basically how it will begin and I usually have at least a vague idea how it will end and I just jump right in and start writing. More often than not, the ending of the story is not what I originally thought it might be. But, for me, that’s part of the fun. As the characters grow and the plot takes on new dimensions that I hadn’t foreseen, I get really pumped to see where it’s going to go next. I also tend to edit as I go.

What advice would you give to an aspiring author? Don’t be intimidated by people who might doubt your talent or ability. As the Nike slogan said: Just Do It! But learn all you can from reading authors that you like and try to figure out what it is you like about their writing. You might find yourself copying something of their style but eventually you’ll come into your own. Also––and this is really important––get a good book on how to edit your work. There are several good books on the subject. I always recommend “Self-Editing For Fiction Writers, Second Edition: How To Edit Yourself Into Print” by Browne and King. I found it to be an excellent book on the subject, easy to read and comprehend and filled with valuable tips. I wish I’d had it when I wrote my first novel. It would have made a big difference in the final product. Whatever you do, be sure your book is edited before you have it published and out on the market. If you can’t afford to hire a professional editor (many of us can’t) then do it yourself. But, if you do it yourself, approach it like it’s the most important thing you’ll ever do in your life. Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a bit. But even if you hate every minute of it, JUST DO IT! Read the book I mentioned above (or one like it) and soak up every little morsel you find in those pages. Take it seriously because it’s one of the most important aspects of the whole process. Believe me and every other author whose been around the block, if your book is full of misspelled words, missing letters, missing quotation marks, missing periods, missing commas, awkward sentences, massive paragraphs that fill an entire page, too many exclamation marks, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera… you’ll hear about it from your readers when they post their scathing 1 and 2-star reviews on amazon. And remember this: If you edit it once, and you think it’s perfect, you’re probably wrong. You missed something. I can just about guarantee that. You probably missed several things. Go through it again and then go through it again. Yeah, I know. It sucks. But it’s worth it in the end.

What inspired you to pursue writing?I always seemed to just have the desire. It was there when I was just a young kid and never went away. Many times, throughout my school years, some of my teachers recognized my talent and encouraged me to keep at it. Those words of encouragement were huge inspirations.

What are your favorite TV shows/Movies to watch in between writing? I’m mesmerized by the serial-killer drama called “The Following” with Kevin Bacon. My other “must watch” TV show is “Castle”. I love the humor and the relationship between Castle and Beckett. I’m also a fan of “Nashville” and “Smash”. Having been a musician (singer/songwriter) in the past, I can relate to those shows. So, of course, I’m also a big fan of American Idol and The Voice. Love seeing those young folks getting a chance to do what they love and maybe go on to fame and fortune.

 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 of my work can be found on AMAZON -- Kindle versions here

See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase my full length novel, Covenant of the Faceless Knights, the short stories: Wothlondia Rising, and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.

Marie Phillips Interview

Next up for your entertainment is Sci-Fi/Fantasy author, Marie Phillips! Marie has a few books out now and is working on 2 more. Please stick around and see what she is up to and how she got there...

Describe your books? What genre do you consider your books?  Mostly Science fiction / Fantasy, though KHAN: A MAINE COON is not of that genre. I suppose it is an animal tale, but is also a biography. It is hard to categorize.

When and why did you begin writing? Who inspired you to start writing? I started writing when I was five, creating picture type stories with a tree as the main character! As I grew older, I even designed my own publishing “firm” called “Sunrise Publications” and it featured a rainbow over a sunrise logo in glorious Crayola crayon! I’ve had the desire to write from the nonhuman point of view for as long as I can remember.

How did the idea for this book come to mind? I started out with the idea of turning Khan’s early months before we adopted him into a fantasy cat yarn, but as time went by I ended up writing his life story from his point of view. I did use some of the fantasy elements, but for the most part stuck to the true events of his life. When he fell ill, the story was no longer just a cat’s tale but a tribute to him, a bit of immortality for such a sweet gentle giant.

Who is your favorite character in the book besides the protagonist and why?  Khan’s best buddy Phantom. In writing this story, I realized just how special this cat was in all our lives. He was Khan’s best friend and in the end, protector.

What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, and logistical) in bringing the book to life?  In the research, all I had to do was carefully comb my memory, photo accounts, and medical records to keep everything true to what happened. In doing this from his point of view and allowing the characters to speak, I tried to be sure that stayed true to the cat’s personalities as well as the species. I tried to get into their heads.

What is the hardest part of writing the book? The last few chapters, since when doing revisions and editing, it was very difficult reading about the events.

Who designed the covers of the book? I did. It features a photo of Khan when he was two years old.

Did you learn anything from writing this book and what is it? I learned more about my own cats and everything that goes into caring for them when they are ill. The book helped heal my heart, and in it, Khan and his best buddy will always live on.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in the book? I think I might have added Phantom’s point of view. But since I did not, it leaves it wide open for another story, this time Phantom’s.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing? Was there somewhere in the book you felt stuck? My problem is I have more I wish to write than I could possibly ever finish! On the rare occasion I get stuck, I will shift to another project and come back to it. Generally, yhe answers come suddenly and I must write myself notes! With KHAN: A MAINE COON, I never got stuck. The story was already there to transpose to print.

What are your current projects? I have the first two books of my FURLITES OF ARORIEL series out now. Book one is On Matissia Wings and Book II is EARTH-BRED, MATISSIA-BORN. I am working on Book 3-Eyes in the Dark of my Furlites of Aroriel series, short story Fantasy collection, that includes a tale about Old Gent, an ancient Norway Spruce,  a Furlitian Tales collection, Phantom’s tale called F-4 Phantom Wild Weasel, and  eccentric collection of stories called THE SECRET LIFE OF MODEL HORSES.

Which book of yours will be coming out next and when? Could you describe what happens in this book? Can we get an excerpt?  The Fantasy short story collection should be the next book out sometime early in 2012. It features a story called The White Dragons of Suvwilur. Here is an excerpt. If you prefer something longer let me know.

    Feklaar lifted his head, ears pricked and quivering, as thunder cracked suddenly in the high, frigid peaks he called home. A shaft of bright sunlight illuminated the entrance to his lair, telling the majestic dragon no mere thunder reverberated in the mountains. The sounds died away, and Feklaar listened carefully. The unmistakable keen of a dragon followed the last echo of thunder. Feklaar growled deeply, the utterance rumbling deep in his broad chest. Another of his kind killed by the Strange Ones, who appeared in the skies south of the Mountains months ago. He lurched to his feet, allowing a puff of smoke to escape his toothy maw. Unfurling his vast pinions, Feklaar bared impressive cutlery and shot a brief burst of flame.

What book are you reading now? Which are your all-time favourite authors / books? Favourite movies and favourite music band? I am reading Merry Maines: A Shaggy Cat Tale by Garnet Quinn. Also am reading The Land of the Painted caves by Auel. I have many others in the Kindle-waiting. I love Anne Mccaffery’s Pern stories, Robert Sawyers’ Quintaglio series, Shirley Murphy’s Joe Grey Mysteries,  Mercedes Lackey’s Valdamar series,  and have already fallen in love with the Merry Maines feline crew!  There are so many more. I love Science Fiction/ fantasy and one of my favourite movies was ET, and one of my favourite TV shows is Dr Who. I love the old classic rock bands, and Christmas music in just about any genre.

Give us three “Good to Know” facts about you, something you could not read just about anywhere.   I love birdwatching, collect, customize, and show model horses and other animals, and I suppose my political affiliation could best be described as a conservative libertarian.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to readers? Well, my stories are definitely off the mainstream. I love to write stories from the nonhuman point of view. If you are a reader, like myself, who loves to read stories that feature aliens, cats, horses, trees, fantasy creatures, which tell the story from their eyes, then you will likely enjoy my work! If talking animals bother you, or nonhumanoid aliens bother you, you will likely not enjoy my books.  I had one editor tell me she could not relate to my Furlites because they had tails! She suggested removing them and I laughed. My proofreader and mentor said, “don’t you dare”.  I replied, “don’t fret, I can’t! Cut off a Furlite’s tail and they can’t walk very well!”  We had a great laugh.  You can’t lop off the tail of a Saurian biped!!! So if you enjoy books like Watership Down, Tad William’s Tailchaser’s Song, or Robert Sawyer’s FARSEER, you most likely will enjoy mine.

Quick-fire questions:

ebooks, paperbacks or hardcover? I always loved hardcovers and paperbacks, but since I got my Kindle—its ebooks now.

Cats or dogs? Love them both but choose cats.

Coffee or tea? Coffeeee-where is the IV????

Favorite food?  So many to choose from but I love a nice rare steak!!

Vanilla or chocolate icecream? Chocolate!

What are 4 things you never leave home without? Purse, cellphone, keys, and a special bracelet I have in memory of my Mom.

Laptop or desktop for writing? Mostly desktop, but have a laptop for times working at the desktop is not possible.

Where and when do you prefer to do your writing? At my desktop, with the huge 24’ screen, during the day.

If you were deserted on an island, who are 3 famous people you would want with you? Dan Marino, Anne McCaffery, Chef Gordon Ramsey

List 3 of your all-time favourite movies?  ET, Star Trek IV and Lord of the Rings

What is a movie or TV show that you watched recently and really enjoyed? DR Who Christmas episode

Where to find Marie...

My blog:

My facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rias-Books/258778057484770

My Goodreads author page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rias-Books/258778057484770

Twitter:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Marie-J-S-Phillips/e/B006GSBNAG/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_nu_Fe-1ob1NE0X2K

Smashwords:

Other: http://www.freewebs.com/riasp/index.htm

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/riap27

 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 of my work can be found on AMAZON -- Kindle versions here

See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase my full length novel, Covenant of the Faceless Knights, the short stories: Wothlondia Rising, and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.

C.G.Ayling Interview

I wanted to thank fellow writer C.G.Ayling for stopping by here to do this interview with me. C.G. is in the midst of an epic series named Malmaxa. I hope you all enjoy the interview!

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

I’m a young soul, trapped in an aging body and I have no desire for fame, or fortune.  C.G.Ayling is my pseudonym, borrowed from my Godfather, an honorable man very deserving of fame.  Sadly, fortune would serve him poorly, as he passed away in 1990.  While who I am physically really doesn’t matter, I reflect who I am spiritually, and philosophically, in my tweets, which you can find by following @CGAyling on Twitter.

Q. Tell us about your books.

My principle work is a series bearing the name Malmaxa.  The first two books, “Beltamar’s War” and “The Pilgrimage”, are already available.  Beltamar’s War introduces readers to an apparently brutal, primitive world ruled by six divine, immutable laws.  In Malmaxa, no other laws are permitted, this has many ramifications the most obvious being that no government is possible.  The first of the six laws states, “None Shall Speak for the Gods.”  As with many elements within the series, this law seems contradictory, but is not – its purpose is to prevent the formation of organized religion, not belief itself.  Like any functional, developed culture, Malmaxa is an extremely complicated world.  My writing style gradually reveals it, and by the end of the first book readers are only beginning to grasp where this tale leads.  That makes it sound like it’s a slow moving, rambling tale – it isn’t, a lot happens, with literally everything resulting in cause and effect.  Expect to be confused, but anticipate rewards as you decipher clues revealing the true nature of Malmaxa.  If you don’t enjoy complex, epic tales that raise more questions than they answer, Malmaxa is not for you.

Q. When did you start writing?

With passion?  In 1976.  With purpose? In 2006.

Q. Why do you write?

For release.  As I age, I become more and more disillusioned with the state of the world.  The world is not improving, it is becoming more controlling with each passing year.  Every year we have less real freedom, and are bound into increasingly restrictive little cubicles from which escape is virtually impossible.  The mass-media actively tells us what to think.  Instead of serving us, our governments enslave us to corporations for whom there are no rules, since laws are purchased by corporations.  Malmaxa offers me release from this unjust world, and lets me reveal my view of perfection to anyone who cares to read it. If that turns out to be no one, I’m still content as Malmaxa has let me cast out some of the demons that trouble me.

Q. What would be your choice for a superpower?

Invisibility!  Actually, in Malmaxa one of the six classes of Seizen (in my series, Seizen is the collective name for humanity) holds this power.  Think how much you could accomplish, if no one knew you were there.  Kind of like being anonymous, which I am, so in a way I already possess my superpower of choice!

Q. Who is your favorite author?

Omar Khayyám.

Q. What are you reading now?

At the moment I’m listening to an audio series from “The Great Courses”, titled “Memory and the Human Lifespan”, as presented by Professor Steve Joordens of the University of Toronto Scarborough.

Q. Who is your favorite character to write?

In Malmaxa, my favorite used to be the villain.  Placing oneself in the mind of an utterly selfish person is rather liberating. It’s also extremely challenging – I really want readers to identify with him and realize that he is human, with human desires, fears, goals and misunderstandings.  You’ll notice I never named the villain – that’s because I have no desire for who the villain is, to be immediately obvious.  My new favorite character is Eden.  Eden is a six cycle old child (a cycle might loosely be considered a year, but is actually significantly longer) by the end of the second novel, Eden’s character is developing and maturing far faster than that of a young child should.  This is because of her exposure to elements normally reserved for adults, much like young children of our time.  Eden is a crucial character in the tale, although she is not the protagonist – there, a hint, without any spoiler.

Q. Do you have a writing process?

I do. I use hidden text to outline a section, before filling it out.  I don’t intentionally write in sequence, though a lot of it ends up this way.  I spend a great deal of time back tracking and cleaning up story threads, of which there are many.  While driving, which I do an extraordinary amount, I record thoughts onto a voice recorder.  Then, when time permits, I incorporate these thoughts into my hidden text, and later flesh them out.  I do a significant amount of research as I write, and I pay extraordinary attention to the little details – to me, the tiny things matter more than the biggest, for truth is easier to ascertain with sharper focus.  I never tell anyone where the plot is going, not even my wife or youngest daughter, Julia.  They often ask me for hints and clues, but I’m nothing if not hard hearted and point them back to what they’ve already read – it’s all there, hidden in obscure details and metaphor.

Q. What advice would you give to an aspiring author?

Anticipate heartache – though it won’t reduce the pain of rejection, it will reduce the shock.  Thought that sounds overly dramatic, I present it with the best intentions.  Having poured your heart into our writing, our natural tendency is to assume everyone will love it as much as we do.  If you go the traditional publishing route, you’ll face rejection – usually in the form of complete silence from agents and publishers who exempt themselves from courtesy in their submission guidelines.  If you self-publish, the indifference and assumed rejection of silence is still there, though more insidious.  If you’re expecting it, it won’t shock you quite as much – if you’re anticipating instant fame and accolade… well it might shock you enough that you stop writing, that would be a loss for us all.

Q. What inspired you to pursue writing?

The desire to bring honor to my Godfather, or at least to his memory.

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

I don’t watch TV willingly, and I can’t recall the last time I went to a movie.  Occasionally I’ll watch shows or movies on Netflix.  I recently watched the first four seasons of “Sons of Anarchy” – I enjoyed the first two seasons, an intriguing premise about just who the “bad guys” really are.  The third and fourth season crossed far beyond the line of believability, I won’t be following that series any further.  One of my favorite movies is “Apocalypse Now”, another close contender is “To Live and Die in LA”.

 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 of my work can be found on AMAZON -- Kindle versions here

See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase my full length novel, Covenant of the Faceless Knights, the short stories: Wothlondia Rising, and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2012 unless otherwise noted.