Natalie Buske Thomas Interview

Thanks again for stopping by for another round of interviews with some fabulous authors as I continue to give you more options to choose from. Today we have the pleasure of finding out some things about mystery writer, Natalie Buske. 

Tell us a little bit about you, Natalie

I write the Serena Wilcox mystery series, and a few stand-alone books. I’m also an oil painter. I’m part Irish and I enjoy that culture – I want to visit Ireland in the near future. Faith and resilience are driving forces in my life, as I have suffered many losses.  I was born in upstate New York, raised in Indiana, lived in Germany for the first three years of my married life, and now reside in the Twin Cities area with my husband and three children.

Tell us about your books

The Serena Wilcox Mysteries began in 1998 with a small red cheaply-printed paperback.  I wrote three mysteries before taking a decade-long break from mystery writing. I wrote and directed plays and screenplays for local community theater. I sank myself into choreography, set design, and videography. When I moved on from my theater program I returned to writing mystery novels.

 The early books, that I started when I was in my twenties, are so light on word count that they are novellas or short stories, not full length novels as I thought I was writing. Those first three books (Gene Play, 1998, Virtual Memories, 1999, and Camp Conviction, 2000) are now bundled into a 3-book e-book for 99 cents. There are few print copies floating around. I literally burned hundreds of them in a giant bonfire, thinking I had moved on to a career in theater anyway, so what’s the point of keeping those around? Now of course I’m kicking myself for not saving at least a few extra copies of the first book I wrote, the one that is laughably bad.

The series evolved from those early works (short stand-alone page-turners) into full length futuristic thrillers (storylines that are deeply connected and must be read in order).  In 2011, the Serena Wilcox Mysteries “dystopian trilogy” was launched. The first book in the series, Angels Mark, 2011, was my break-through novel. It was followed by Covert Coffee, 2012. Bluebird Flown  is in progress now, scheduled to be published September 2013. After the current political-thriller trilogy wraps up, the Serena Wilcox Mysteries will take off in a new direction. The theme for the next trilogy is a secret for now.

The Serena Wilcox Mysteries includes an interactive reading game. Choose Your Own Mystery: Agent Estep is available now, free, at www.nataliebuskethomas.com .  Additional games will be added on a regular basis, featuring different characters from the series. The game is played from the POV of the female protagonist: You are Serena Wilcox, former private detective, hired by President Ann Kinji to flush out corrupt government insiders and politicians.

The series, beginning with Angels Mark in 2011, is hard-hitting and hardboiled, but clean. The series is set in the near future, with many of the plot lines turning up in the news after publication. The books are fast-paced and switch POV from chapter to chapter. They are quirky and unusual books, and are often categorized as “humorous” by readers. It is the kind of series that has attracted passionately loyal fans, and haters alike. It seems that readers either love it or hate it, there’s no “meh” option.

When did you start writing?

My first published work was a poem I wrote when I was eleven years old. My father sent it off to the local newspaper and we were all so proud when it was published. I haven’t stopped writing since.

Why do you write?

It’s how I’m wired.

What would be your choice for a superpower?

I get only one choice? Can I time travel? If not, then I’ll take flying, even if I have to wear a cape.

Who is your favorite author?

I can only choose one? This is an odd choice for me, given that I dislike animal stories and I’m usually bored by classic literature, but I’d have to say James Herriot. His writing style is an escape for me. I’ve read his books several times over and I've also watched the BBC television series based on his books. I’d love to take the tour of the areas he wrote about. It would mean traveling abroad though, and I hate to fly. If only I had the super powers you offered me earlier.

What are you reading now?

I’m reading an inspirational self-help book right now about healing. I was my mother’s caregiver and every now and then I feel a little blue. I lost Dad to cancer when he was thirty-seven years old, I had just turned sixteen. With no one else available, taking care of Mom fell heavily on me. That journey was fairly recent, two years ago. I’m still working through a few things.

Who is your favorite character to write?

I can only choose one? You've been rather stingy. I’d go with President Ann Kinji or The Beav, but I've turned things around with Serena Wilcox in this book (Bluebird Flown) and I like writing from her POV more. Usually my answer is nearly any other character but Serena, because she is too much like me and therefore I find her boring and even annoying. I've stepped up some though, I guess I like myself better.

Do you have a writing process?

Yes. I didn't use to; I always “winged it”. Thus the first three novellas-that-were-supposed-to-be-novels are an embarrassment to me. Nowadays I’ve matured. I've been forced to. I’m juggling family needs and other career projects. If I don’t have a system not much gets done. I spend the groggy first hour or two in the mornings catching up with social media and other promotional tasks, including writing guest blogs or any other writing that takes me away from writing books. Next, I work on my current book project. I keep at it until I reach a natural stopping point. I don’t usually write more than two hours on any given day. When I write, it’s fast and furious. When I find myself staring at the screen too much, it’s quitting time. Between writing sessions I jot down ideas, stray thoughts, and brilliant plans in one of my many journals lying around the house. I also do research and promotion between writing sessions. Some of my other projects relate to writing. So even though I only spend a good solid hour or two of actual in-the-zone writing, it is quality writing that has been well prepared for through research and notes ahead of time. I do give myself flexibility to free-write also. And, if I am in-the-zone past my usual time-frame I keep going. Sometimes I crank out a ridiculous amount of work in one day. I go with the flow, but I stay on a schedule. I am on a one-book-a-year schedule, with other book projects and other creative projects in between.

What advice would you give to an aspiring author?

As hard as it is to see the big picture, do your best to see your writing projects as only one rock in the career wall you are building. Someday your wall will be impressively high, but it must be built one rock at a time. Yes, some authors plop down a huge boulder, usually with the help from a whole team of people, from book one: Off they go – instant success! But the reality is that this scenario is like winning the lottery and it does rely more on luck than skill. If you are not exceptionally lucky, your realistic plan for success is to keep adding more rocks to your wall, no matter how small, and no matter how many years it takes you. Each promotional tool, each contact, each new reader, and especially each new book, is a rock. One day you will climb your wall to place a new rock on it and you’ll be nearly dizzy from the height! You’ll realize how far you've come. You’ll look down at where you used to be and you’ll be so proud of all you've accomplished.  You will also have a paycheck.

What inspired you to pursue writing?

I needed no inspiration. It’s what I do. How fabulous to get paid for it, sort of. I have to do a lot of other work I don’t particularly enjoy to promote the books that I write. That’s why I add an element of fun to the (mostly unpaid) non-writing work that I do. For example, next weekend is an author event held at a local winery. Yeah, don’t feel too sorry for me.

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

Finally you are letting me choose more than one! I love, love TV. I hate watching a show that I don’t like though, I can be intolerant. The TV is off all day because I can’t bear the noise. But in the evening when I’m ready to zombie out, I enjoy: Doc Martin, Doctor Who, NCIS, Covert Affairs, White Collar, The Office, and more. I’d love for my own books to be a TV series. I’d rather watch a book than read it, which is a totally uncool thing for an author to say, I know, but ooh the HD! The soundtrack! I just love doing book trailers. I’m an oil painter in my “other” job – I am a highly visual person. And well, I really like eating snacks and watching TV with my family, hard to share a book that way.

Natalie Buske Thomas, author of the Serena Wilcox Mysteries

www.nataliebuskethomas.com

Twitter: @writernbt

 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.

Daniel Zazitski Interview

Continuing with my interviews, I have a fellow writer that I have befriended on twitter and Facebook named Daniel Zazitski. He is a writer of an ongoing sci-fi series ~ The Amderesta The 3rd/4th Republic Series. 

Daniel, thanks for stopping by! Please tell us a little bit about you~

My name is Daniel Zazitski and I have lived in the southeastern part of NC my entire life. I’ve written a nine book scifi series within the last 12 years give or take a brief sabbatical from writing. I enjoyed company of a few cats, some of whom like to help with my writing. I also make regular visits to a coffee shop ran by a friend of mine where I’ve written most of my books.

Tell us about your books

Well, the nine books I have written and  published so far are all in the same book series and form an ongoing storyline. The Amderesta The 3rd/4th Republic Series basically depicts an intergalactic conflict centered around the 4th Amderestan Republic. I am currently writing the tenth book to my series and have started to write an online serial as well.

When did you start writing?

Honestly, I’d say around 2001, I proceeded to type up the first chapter of what is now Amderesta The 4th Republic #1. The NDEG Mission and set that aside. I wrote the first five chapters of Amderesta The 4th Republic #4 then proceeded to handwrite the rest of Amderesta The 4th Republic #1, all of Amderesta The 4th Republic #2, and Amderesta The 4th Republic #3, and the rest of 4.

Why do you write?

Basically, I love to write and want people to read what I write, hence the reason I’ve put my books out there.

Who is your favorite author?

Besides yourself, I’d say William J. Kenney, Tom Clancy, Charles Cumming,  and many others as well. Both indie and traditional published authors are in favorite author list.

What are you reading now?

Let’s see, I am reading Secrets of The Ebonite Mines, Shards of S’Darin, The Hobbit, The Spanish Game, and many other books.

Who is your favorite character to write?

That would have to be Jack Airian, he starts as in the first book as high-ranking politican and by book 7, he has become a freedom fighter against his government. He basically does a Bendict Arnold in my second book.

Do you have a writing process?

I normally write as I go along even though my series has an intended goal in mind. Anyone reading this will have to read my books in chronological order story-wise to find out what that is.

What advice would you give to an aspiring author?

I’d tell them to keep writing and one day you could see yourself in print something, however you publish if you do is a lot of work. Just don’t give up and keep it at.

What inspired you to pursue writing?

I am not sure actually. I’ve had a love of writing from a very young age.

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

Any Star Trek Series or movie, Star Wars, LOTR, actually this would take a entire blog post.

 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.

What Have You Done For Me Lately...(And Other Things)

Taking a brief respite from the stream of amazing interviews (next is Sci-Fi writer, Daniel Zazitski, and then Natalie Buske Thomas, author of the Serena Wilcox Mysteries), I wanted to let the readers of my blog in on some things that have been going on with me. I have been on a bit of a hiatus, especially at the pace at which I was writing as I have these past few years. I have been getting some emails and queries asking when my next book will be out and I am hoping it will be this summer. Here's why...

In order to tell you what's going on now, I need to take a step back first. In March of 2012, I started a new job. It is a call center job that requires technical knowledge as well as the customer service skills required for such a thing. It is mentally exhausting. I was writing throughout, trying to learn the ins and outs of the job AND preparing for GenCon 2012 and all of the preparations that it demands. While I was at GenCon, my wife had a seizure. Out of nowhere. 

She did not tell me until I got home, and of course I yelled at her for it. Well, not yelled, but scolded her for not calling me. But, she knew that if she called me, I would have packed up and left. It was kind of reckless and scary, but her heart was in the right place. But, I digress.

In October, she began to stutter. We did speech therapy and eventually purchased an expensive piece of equipment--a delayed auditory functioning device with which she can hear her own voice on a 130 millisecond delay. With the device on,  she can speak with no stutter. Another blessing and an answer to her immediate frustrations. 

A week after she had it, she lost it! (Not kidding)

Her co-workers and people she did not even know (customers/passersby/etc.) scoured the store and everywhere inside and out where she had been, looking for it, but to no avail. Two of her co-workers even went back to look for it after dinner from 8pm until 1am that same evening. I am grateful and humbled by their dedication and love for my wife that they would do such things above and beyond. Incredible people. So, long story short, we worked with her therapist and got a replacement three weeks later. Again, a blessing, despite the economic strains it puts on us.

My wife had her second and third seizures this past Monday. So, instead of turning the corner, we are back to square one again with the meds. I feel so bad for her as she is an amazing woman—so kind and warm—and she certainly does not deserve this hand that she has been dealt. As I ramble on about this and my personal dealings, I am encouraged and happy for several reasons, despite the hardships.

1. It could be worse; always! And if you don’t think so, think again.
2.   She has a loving and supportive family and I am comforted by the continuous support and love that her friends and co-workers show on a daily basis.
3.   It always puts life in perspective when you suffer some kind of hardship (not that I encourage it, but it happens and is unavoidable)

Now, about the writing... I ran into a bit of a Writer’s Block situation. I had hit the wall. Despite a solid outline and an exciting story-line  I was rambling on and the writing suffered. I had to stop and give myself a break. At the time, I did not recognize what was happening, but looking back, I see it.

Ashenclaw thumbnail by William Kenney

I hadn't realized why, but when I stopped to take a breath, I realized this: In three years, I had been laid off from my job of 9 years, my father passed away, I studied and graduated with a B.S in Information Technology, wrote, edited and promoted 3 books from scratch and all that entails, dealt with getting a new job (I actually had 3 others prior to this one) and now the issues with the epilepsy. Whew! That’s a lot. Not insurmountable. But certainly a lot.

That being said, I am picking up the remains of what I had started on Book 4 and am continuing to push forward with edits, new twists, re-writes and more editing. And so, I tell you this to let you all know that the series will continue; your heroes are not dead, merely in hibernation as they await the breath of life I give them so that they may come back to entertain you in the near future.

On another positive note, I am working on releasing ‘The Legend of Ashenclaw’ as a singular story that is currently in 'A Gathering ofDust’ and William Kenney is doing a dragon cover for me. Can’t wait!

Thanks as always for checking out the blog and listening to my rants! See you in Wothlondia!

 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.

Tiffany Heiser Interview

Continuing my rounds of author interviews, I received a reply or interest from author of paranormal romance: Tiffany Heiser. The following is the interview as she shares information with the readers of Eye on Ashenclaw!

First off, tell us a little bit about you

I was raised in Granbury Texas, a small town near Fort Worth. I’m an only child, raised by two wonderful parents. Married now to my wonderful husband, Brian, we recently gave birth to the greatest joy of our lives, our son Parker. Life, I wouldn’t say is easy haha, but definitely fulfilled and perfect!

Tell us about your books

I published the first book of my With Love series, Bonded With Love, in November of 2011. It is the first of three paranormal romance novels. A vampire love story and my absolutely favorite type of romance novel; it follows the main character, Rena, throughout her adventure of meeting a vampire and the discovery of her true destiny.

I have also written a short story, a prequel, to the With Love series titled Broken Bond. Also Book 2, Struggled With Love, is due to come out in the next few months. 

When did you start writing?

I started writing poetry as a teen and realized then how much I enjoyed it. As I got older my vivid imagination kicked in even stronger and that was when the stories started forming.

Why do you write?

It started off as a way to express my emotions, and now it is the only way to get my mind in order haha! I have too many story lines and thoughts running through my mind on a daily basis, and the only way to get them to go away is to write them down.

What would be your choice for a superpower?

Right now, with learning to be a mommy plus write, I want to be able to multiply myself J That way I can write, take puppy out, cook dinner, and feed baby all at once haha!

Who is your favorite author?

I have a few faves, but my main two are Melissa Marr and Stephenie Meyer.

What are you reading now?

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. I’m definitely excited to see how good the movie is!

Who is your favorite character to write?

My favorite character as of right now to write would be my main character Rena, her personality is sarcastic and fun. Plus watching her grow from the beginning of book one to the end was exciting, and as I finish book 2 her growth is still continuing and very much inspiring.

Do you have a writing process?

I tend to write out all ideas of where I want the novel to go. I have an old school process of handwriting the first draft, so that when I go back to type it all up the editing process seems easier to me. It’s as if I’m reading it all with fresh eyes and I can catch the changes that need to be made.

What advice would you give to an aspiring author?

Write. Write everything, write it all down, and don’t quit writing.

What inspired you to pursue writing?

I actually had a dream about the With Love series, and I couldn’t get it out of my head. I had brought it up to friends and my husband, and everyone told me the same…write it down. So I did and that was about two years ago, and here I am still writing J

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

Right now I’m in love with Pitch Perfect, such a funny movie.

But TV shows, I love Vampire Diaries, Arrow, Supernatural, and Pretty Little Liars. 

 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.

Heather Jensen Interview

I discovered Heather Jensen on twitter recently and she was kind enough to share her writing and life experiences with us here at Eye on Ashenclaw. Heather is a speculative fiction author that writes about vampires and musicians! Check out the interview below:

First off, tell us a little bit about you

I live in Southern Utah with my husband and my son.  When I'm not writing or fulfilling my usual mom and wife duties, I love going to concerts, playing Halo on the Xbox with my husband, and playing guitar in a band with some friends. We call ourselves Kicking Pigeons. 

Tell us about your books

The Blood And Guitars series is really based on my desire to fuse two of my favorite things together into one: vampires and music. I began writing the first book back in high school, which was way before Twilight came out and the vampire books flooded bookshelves. Although that's showing my age a little, I think the fresh perspective I had gives a unique edge to my vampires and the series.

You can get the first book, Blood And Guitars, at Amazon in paperback or for Kindle here:

http://www.amazon.com/Blood-And-Guitars-ebook/dp/B00529IDZS/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1

The second book in the series, Immortals And Melodies, is available for Kindle here:

http://www.amazon.com/Immortals-Melodies-Blood-Guitars-ebook/dp/B0086GMMAQ/ref=pd_sim_kstore_9

I'm planning to release the third and final book in the series, Fangs And Fame, this year.

When did you start writing?

I've been writing stories for as long as I can remember, but I wrote my first fantasy novel, The Rift, while I was in high school.

Why do you write?

It's cheaper than therapy.  ;)

What would be your choice for a superpower?

This is such a great question. I've always wished I had the ability to project the things I've dreamt about in my sleep onto a TV screen or something the next day so I could show other people. I have some really crazy, fascinating dreams and I can never explain them right. Being able to project something from your mind onto a screen so you could share it with others visually.

Who is your favorite author?

I can never pick just one, but I especially love Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. She was published at thirteen, and her books inspired me to start writing when I was younger.

What are you reading now?

I'm just starting Vaempires: Zombie Rising by Thomas Winship. I loved the first two books in the Vaempires series.

Who is your favorite character to write?

The Blood And Guitars series is written in dual points of view from Trey and Aurora. I love writing them both for different reasons. Aurora is fun to write because she's an unusually powerful  vampire for someone her age, but she has this sensitive creative side to her that allows her to make beautiful art and to connect on a deep level with Trey. Trey is fun to write because he knows exactly who he is at any given moment, and in any situation. Even though he's a famous musician with hordes of fans, he's about as level-headed as anyone can be. It's always interesting to throw him into strange situation and see how he'll come out of it. Also, his relationships with his band mates are fun to explore.

Do you have a writing process?

I really only require my computer and my playlist. I do my best writing when I have the perfect soundtrack playing in the background. Oh, and in the morning, I'll usually have a cup of hot chocolate at my desk with me. I'm a plotter, but my writing often steers me in directions I couldn't have foreseen.

What advice would you give to an aspiring author?

Write, write, write. It's the only way you can get to know who you are as an author, and what your voice is. Also, write what you're passionate about.  You don't have to be an expert at something to write about it. Do your homework. Sometimes research can be a fun part of the process. Also, be grateful for any constructive criticism you get and always strive to grow.

What inspired you to pursue writing?

I've always been a writer, even if I didn't realize that's what I was. My husband has always been a huge source of inspiration and support for me. He makes it easy to believe I can accomplish anything I set my mind to.

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

I'm a huge fan of The Walking Dead. I also really enjoy Psych, Castle, and Bones. I love almost anything Joss Whedon does, but especially Firefly. Also, since I'm outnumbered by the boys in my house, there's always room for another super hero movie.

When not rocking out or playing video games, Heather Jensen can be found here:

Author Website www.heatherjensen.info 

Facebook www.facebook.com/BloodAndGuitars

Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/theedgeofwords

 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.

Meinos Kaen Interview

I happened to speak with another writer on social media the other day. He is a relatively new writer in the Sci-Fi/YA/Superhero genre. Check out more about our friend in the following interview!

When did you start writing?

I have been writing since I was in grade school. I was already an avid reader thanks to my grandpa, and my Italian teacher then went and did something wonderful: she started reading to us The Story of A Seagull and The Cat Who Taught Her To Fly by Luis Sepulveda, in weekly episodes, acting out the voices of the whole cast. I still distinctly remember her rendition of the distraught seagull asking Zorba if they wanted to eat her. Soon after I started writing and then completed a thriller. Yes, a thriller in grade school. I was engrossed with this Disney comic called Mickey Mouse Mystery Magazine at the time. The final result was not bad, considering who wrote it. It had many ‘borrowed’ elements taken from M4 and even the Virtua Fighter anime, but I showed promise. The killer was a dog.

Why do you write?

To do what my grade school teacher did for me when I was a young kid. I want to write something that as many people as possible can enjoy and react to the same way I did to Sepulveda’s writing. I want them to be engrossed, to want to know what happens next as soon as possible, for their emotions to show clearly on their face as they go through the tale. To hate the villain and cheer for the hero, and like the story so much to rant about how it continues on Internet forums. You don’t get angry for something you don’t love, after all.

What would be your choice for a superpower?

Now, this is the question. I’m writing a book about super-humans after all. At the end of the day, though, I’ll always want to have the power of the character Forge, from the X-Men comics. For those not Marvel-educated, the guy can basically create anything he can think of. He thinks of a concept, he knows how to build a device to that effect. Endless possibilities. We’d need just one guy like that and half of what we write about wouldn't be just a dream anymore.

Who is your favorite author?

Really hard to choose. I have a favorite book -The Portrait of Dorian Grey- but it’s not exactly easy to compare the level and effectiveness of a fantasy author to that of a noir writer, for example. With all the genres I read... But, if I really have to choose one above everyone else, I’ll have to go with Neil Gaiman. His Sandman is maybe the best comic series ever created, and I love American Gods to death.

What are you reading now?

I’m reading the spin-off books for the Supernatural TV Series. I’m on the Boney Key by Keith R.A. DeCandido right now, and I’ve really enjoyed Witch Canyon by Jeff Mariotte.

Who is your favorite character to write?

Jason, the lead from my novel S-Class. He’s not only the center of the story, he’s the center of his little dysfunctional family. Writing about his interactions with the other characters and how he approaches new situations, problems and threats is always entertaining, although not always happy for the characters themselves. Also, I like putting in his mouth references that I wonder how many people will get. Like when he describes a certain mistake in a famous cult movie that made it into the final product.

"There! Did you see that?!" Jason hollered while the scene kept on playing on the screen. "In the reflection of the sunglasses, he was still sitting in a chair!"

Do you have a writing process?

Of course. Strictly concerning writing...

Step 1) Look for inspiration, but I don’t believe in ‘researching’ the perfect subject for a book. The basic idea for it has to come to you naturally, and it can arrive from the most unexpected sources. Like a conversation with a fellow writer about cats, of all things.

Step 2) Think and write down the scenes you’d like your story to have. The milestones, so to speak, that came with the basic idea. Example: if your idea is a story about ‘cats almost taking over the world’, the scene when they almost do so.

Step 3) Fill the empty space. Once you know what scenes you’d like to happen, go ahead and write everything that comes in-between them. This allows you to appoint yourself a goal and grants you enough flexibility to make even major changes to your plot.

Step 4) Check everything as many times as you need, especially when you make changes to your plot or your characters that may influence scenes you’ve already written.

What advice would you give to an aspiring author?

Research your market. I haven’t at the beginning, and I’m only now catching up. Learn what an Author Platform is and build it. This goes double if you decide to go down the Indie Road.

What inspired you to pursue writing?

I’ve had many trysts with writing something original since that mishy-mashy thriller, but I never exactly brought it anywhere, no thanks to my once mole-habitat level of self-esteem. I stuck to Fanfiction. Then I read Eragon, back when it was a big deal. 2005, I believe? Anyway, I read the age when Paolini started writing the book. I was the same age as I read it. I told myself: ‘If he could do it, I can at least try.’ I was glad I did, even more so after I worked out all my self-esteem problems. If you can’t appreciate yourself, you’ll never appreciate the effort you put into your endeavors.

Tell us about your books

My first published book is called Proud Parents Blog. A Sci-Fi story set in a semi-dystopian future, where the whole of humanity has evolved following a never fully explained catastrophe that also wiped out almost the entirety of the planet’s digital data banks in a world which had almost completely turned to Cloud Computing. It focuses on a small group of people who, by chance, come together attracted by the contents of the titular blog, which forces them to face the various problems and mysteries of this new world and its new humanity, changed forever, and gets one of them caught up in a spiral of political intrigue.

Proud Parents Blog also acts as a prelude to S-Class, which will be my first major work, with a release date for March 2013. Set in the same world as Proud Parents Blog shortly after the events narrated in the first book, it focuses on a small group of young people which also happen to be some of the most dangerous beings in existence as they deal with their powers, the hate and fear they receive on a daily basis and a plot which threatens to unravel a world who has just now found a delicate balance. While a Sci-Fi at heart like its prelude, S-Class features many elements which also mark it as a YA novel.

And last, but not least, I’m working on a small novel called Catmageddon: That time cats almost took over the world, which I hinted at in one of the above questions. Born out of a Twitter chat with author Michael R. Hicks, I think I chose the most explicative title ever. It’s a fantasy story, focusing on fantasy and humor. I’m doing my best to try and release it by the end of January, hope I can make it. I can be a bit of a perfectionist with my stories, you know.

But, hey. The best thing about being an Indie author is that you set your own deadlines. Thank you for your time.

Thanks for stopping by, Meinos~Best of luck moving forward!

 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.

Marny Copal Interview

I had the distinct pleasure of catching up with paranormal/urban fantasy author Marny Copal just the other day and she agreed to be the recipient of an interview. Marny's book, Freeblood is the first book in the Quinn Chronicles and the Kindle edition is only 99 cents through January 15! Now go pick it up!

Marny, thanks for stopping by here at Eye on Ashenclaw. When did you start writing?
I started writing when I was a little kid. My earliest tales featured our household cats as secret agents. When my seventh grade English teacher told the class to write a short story, mine turned into a novella. That assignment stands out in my mind as my first real and exciting writing experience.

Why do you write?
I write because it’s fun. I enjoy developing characters and creating scenes. I also write to develop an understanding of certain actions, feelings, issues, and concerns.

What would be your choice for a superpower? This is a tough one. So many options. The power to heal would be my choice, but I also wouldn’t mind having the ability to fly.

Who is your favorite author? I don’t have a favorite author, but I have a lot of go-to authors in fantasy, which is my favorite genre.

What are you reading now? I’m reading Wildwood, by Colin Meloy; Spider Silk, by Rod Collins; and Neuromancer, by William Gibson. I recently finished Kevin Hearne’s Hexed.

Who is your favorite character to write? I prefer writing about characters with gumption and flaws. My gutsy, smart-ass protagonist from Freeblood, Quinn Zauber, fits the bill.

Do you have a writing process? I like to develop an idea in my head before I start to write. This often happens when I’m out for a walk. Then I sit down to type what I thought up. If I come to a stop and more ideas aren't flowing easily, I get up and do chores around the house. Typically, writing problems are solved when I’m away from the computer, doing other things.

I don’t try to force anything, and I’m not an advocate of keeping the butt glued to the chair until ideas come.

I used to outline scenes late at night, but lately I've been doing a lot more actual writing during the wee hours. I’m more productive when I switch things up every now and then.

What advice would you give to an aspiring author? Be teachable. Learn your craft. Go to writing classes, and read books about writing—everything from grammar primers to symbolism studies. Also, read, read, read inside and outside your genre. Learn to cope with critiques and rejection. Those are part of the business. Perseverance is essential; don’t give up.

What inspired you to pursue writing? Many wonderful authors have encouraged me to think, feel, and experience life in different ways. They are my inspiration.

Tell us about your book. Freeblood is a fantasy thriller set in Portland, Oregon, driven by nimble banter, budding chemistry, and seat-of-the-pants action. Quinn is a lost soul, just getting by financially and emotionally. When her roommate Jo-Jo is kidnapped under strange circumstances, she sets out with her cousin Kasey to find answers in the supernatural world. The hunt takes them many places, including to the doorstep of a shrewd vampire club owner and deep into the infamous Shanghai Tunnels beneath the city. Paranormal investigator Del Whelan steps in to assist, which to Quinn, still smarting from their unresolved attraction, isn't much help at all.

 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.

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays, Folks!


I wanted to thank all of my followers and contributors in the past year that have helped me develop this site and all of the others.

I will be bringing the blog back with more exciting interviews, updates on writing and reading and everything else from the Realm of Ashenclaw in the new year!

In the meantime, please have a happy and safe holiday!

 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.

Michael Eging/Steve Arnold Interview

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Michael Eging and his writing partner, Steve Arnold on social media. The two of them have written a dark fantasy series, beginning with The Paladin of Shadows Chronicles, Annwyn's Blood. The two of them were kind enough to let me interview them and the following is the result of said discussion.

The book!

When did you start writing?~

Mike:  I started writing in Junior High School.  My father passed off to me The John Carter of Mars Series, Sailor on the Seas of Fate (Elric Series) and other.  As I read them, I realized I had stories I wanted to tell as well.  Throughout High School, I had a few notebooks that I would write in and doodle illustrations in the margins.  My grandmother’s old typewriter allowed me to clack away into the wee hours of the night on a variety of short stories and a never finished novel.

Steve:  I remember even as a child being simply awed by the imagination of writers, how they could come up with entire worlds.  I tried to make stories of my own but just could never come up with anything to compare.  Then when I was about twelve I discovered Dungeons & Dragons.  I started running a game with Mike as my first player, and sort of fell into making up dungeons and creating histories and back-stories to go along with them.

Why do you write?~

Michael Eging

Mike:  Now?  For sanity’s sake in large part.  With life being so consuming, it is wonderful to push aside the crush of the everyday and create.  Also, a few years ago, I was busy taking my older children from activity to activity and slowly crunching away when I had time on a novel.  Suddenly it dawned on me that if I didn't take this seriously, one day I would be gone and I wouldn't have these stories to pass on to my kids.

Steve: I find it's an escape.  It's refreshing to take a little time, go off to a world unlike my own and imagine what life would be like.  It's also a way to show other people how I see them, sort of hold a mirror up to the world.

What would be your choice for a superpower?~

Mike:  I have always been an Iron Man fan.  So, I guess no super powers per se, but I would really dig a suit of armor, with a splash of hot rod red.  Or the really cool stealth armor, even better!

Steve:  Never really thought of myself as a superhero.  I don't really have a good answer for that one, though I have often thought it would be pretty cool to be like John Carter on Mars, master swordsman and with a physique made for another planet.  Right now if I was to put on one of those muscle breastplates my physique would (to paraphrase one of my favorite authors) 'fill it like Jell-o fills a mold'.

Who is your favorite author?~

Mike:  I have many favorites.  Michael Moorcock, Robert E. Howard, Stephen R. Donaldson, Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Timothy Zahn, David Drake… and the list goes on.  However, I keep coming back to Roger Zelazny and the Chronicles of Amber.  I first found those in the library in the late 1970s as a child and I remember curling up sitting in the windowsill at the library to read them as I waited for my parents to finish work and take me home.  The noir opening of Nine Princess in Amber grabbed hold of me and I found myself riding in a car on the mad chase to Amber - the car driven by a man who you are never quite sure has a complete grip on reality… or does he?

Steve Arnold

Steve: Terry Pratchett, hands down.  I like the funny edge and how he captures the stupid things we do.    I first found Colour of Magic in the library in high school and have been hung up ever since.

What are you reading now?~

Mike:  I am reading a book by an ancient Greek historian/chronicler name Procopius called the Secret Histories.  It is a scandalous account of life in the Byzantine court of Justinian and good pre-reading for future projects.

Steve: Hah!  Draft chapters of Book Two of the Paladin of Shadows.  Seriously, it's like this never ends.  I just got done re-reading The Road to Serfdom by F. A. Hayek.  It's an analysis of the origins of totalitarian governments and why they end up the way they do.

Who is your favorite character to write?~

Mike:  I was just talking to my wife and writing partner, Steve, about this.  I think my favorite character to-date is Roland, from the Song of Roland.  When I was in college, my favorite professor, Dr. Paul Pixton, introduced me to The Song of Roland.  I was sucked into the world of Charles the Great and his valiant knight who faced down treachery and found immortality in legend at Ronceveaux.  Dr. Pixton mentioned that he hoped someone would one day produce a movie based on the story.  Shortly after I wrote an outline for the script and put it on the shelf as I pursued graduate studies in History at the University of Maryland and took my first post-college job working on Capitol Hill.  Over a decade later I dusted off the outline and wrote the first draft of the script.  Needless to say, it needed a lot of work, and a friend who works in Los Angeles mentored me into developing the script further.  Many producers and agents who read the script loved it, but wondered why I pursued a medieval epic as my first project.  Sometimes, passion for something just can’t be shaken off because of “the market.”  As a result, while yet unproduced, Song of Roland was my first optioned script and will always have a special place in my heart.    Stay tuned, there is more to this story to come!

Steve: I don't know that I can say I have a favorite overall, but in Annwyn I have a special affinity for Aldonzo.  Yes, he's young, vain, shallow and foolish, but he has the greatest potential for growth out of all of them and I think ultimately that's what I've liked in any of my characters or for that matter characters in other writers' stories – that they learn something.  I like kids' movies a lot and I think that's why.

Do you have a writing process?~

Mike:  It depends on when something pops into my brain!  I try to write every night after my wife and children head to sleep.  Even if only a few paragraphs or two.  But sometimes, I will wake in the night and something is just burning on my mind.  So, I jot it down before I forget it.  A fantasy novel I am currently working on is the result of one such encounter with a story in the darkest of the night.

Steve:  I like to roll things around in my head for some days before I write them down.  I rarely have something flash into my head that I just have to get down on paper that turns out any good.  I've found if I go with the first thought I get it's usually just a variation on what I've already seen and seems tired and overdone.  But if I let it sit in the background and percolate while I work, run errands or whatever, I find that new variations, new perspectives, come to mind and things get a lot more interesting.  This was the difficulty I had trying to write as a kid – I hadn't learned to wait yet.  Once I have the idea then I try to decide, what am I writing?  Crime drama?  War story?  Hero fantasy?  What is the core feeling I want to evoke?  I want to have a general idea, then identify basic elements of hero, villain, motivations.  Then nail down linking details.  How does it all work?  What's the environment and context?  How do we get from point A to point B?  Why does the hero/villain/wingman want this and not that?  Sometimes this takes back story that never sees light in the final product, but you need just the same so your storytelling is consistent.  Then fill in all the little style points in between with stirring prose.

What advice would you give to an aspiring author?~

Mike:  Understanding the marketplace will be critical to your long-term success.  E-books and print on demand have given a voice to aspiring writers across the globe.  After a well-written piece of work, I recommend two things.  First, read voraciously.  Not just in a singular genre, or path.   Read authors who inspire you, find new voices and dig through old, new and emerging classics.  Second, find a way to stand out.  There is a deluge of material for readers to search through to find your work.   Find ways to get in front of your readers.  Find others who are willing to take a risk, read your work and join your chorus.

Steve: Write what you know.  You can take your own personal experiences, no matter how mundane, and put them into a story no matter the setting.  People really want to read stories about people.  Settings are just trappings, window dressing, that adds flavor, but it's the experiences lived and lessons learned of your characters that will make them memorable.  And don't be afraid to let things percolate for a while.  You'd be surprised what can come into your head that way.

What inspired you to pursue writing?~

Mike:  My father at first.  He read my work.  Encouraged me. Instilled in me a love of the written word.  Whether books, short stories, poetry, or screenplays, he was the greatest influence in my life.  Second, my own family.  As I held my children in my arms, I realized that I wanted to share these worlds and characters with them.  Third, good friends who encourage me to not give up and allow me to share with them ideas, thoughts and stories.  Friends, like Steve, keeps me inspired.

Steve: I just wanted to emulate those people that made it possible for me to while away some of the more boring parts of my life in a much more fulfilling way.  It wasn't until Mike started approaching me about helping him with his projects that I seriously considered doing this for real. 

Tell us about your books~

Mike:  We just launched Annwyn’s Blood, Book One in the Paladin of Shadow Chronicles.  These characters have been with my writing partner and me since college.  Albion of the Dark Ages, after Rome fell and Arthur’s Camelot, was a dangerous place and ancient forces contended with newer ones for control of the isle.  Here is the blurb we did for Smashwords that encapsulates this:

Amid the dying embers of a fallen Empire, a young knight embarks on a personal crusade to reclaim the soul ripped from him by a deceitful lover's bite, and to save his family and their world from the rage of the implacable god who sent her. Ancient magic awakens from centuries–old slumber as the dead no longer rest in peace, and long buried legends and secrets could be the world's only hope.

This was something that when we wrote it, we received responses from publishers and agents that they loved our writing, but seriously…. Vampires?  Please send us your next novel.  So we put this on the shelf in the mid 1990’s and moved on to other projects.  We co-wrote the story for a WWII thriller screenplay and a horror script.  But this novel was sitting on the hard drive and nagging me to get into readers’ hands.  So I called Steve and said, “Hey, if I can recover these old WordPerfect files, do you want to do something with this?”  Of course, the result is Annwyn’s Blood.  We are very excited to revisit this world and bring all of you along with us.

Steve: Annwyn is a Dark Ages vampire tale, with a reluctant hero that finds himself hounded by an Elder God who's desperate to make him point man in a bloody bid to regain power in the world of men.  It started out as a short story Mike wrote back in the late 1980's, inspired by a little 'girl trouble' he had.  Some time later he got the crazy idea to turn it into a novel and he called me up to help.  To be honest I don't know why – my real passion isn't writing, it's drawing (every year I do a piece for my wife for Christmas).  I suspect he wanted his old dungeon master to figure out a backstory.  So I thought about it, not really sure what I was going to be able to do with it (which is probably where I began to realize things work better for me if I let them stew for a while) and eventually came up with a couple of chapters which he thought (rather to my surprise) were great!  We spent the next five years finishing the book, and then the rejection letters came.  Like your stuff; not what we want.  After a while we just had to set it aside and get on with life, jobs, kids, and so on.  Then I had an idea for a story, a WW2 spy/crime thriller and jotted up a treatment just because it was in me.  It was hard to do that much.  Mike turned it into a screenplay and now it's getting shopped around with Roland.  Next came the horror script and by now we were settling into this whole 'writer' thing (or at least I was; I think Mike had long ago).  By then online publishing was a big deal and Mike realized we could bypass the gatekeepers, so he pulled Annwyn off the shelf, blew the dust off it, sneezed a few times, and sent it back to me for a fresh edit.  And here we are.

I'd like to thank Mike and Steve for sharing with the folks here at Eye on Ashenclaw...now go buy some books!

 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.