Friday, September 15, 2017

Marie Lavendar's Writing in the Modern Age Blog Tour and Book Giveaway


Dear Gentle Readers,
We have a special treat for you today! Marie Lavender's Writing in the Modern Age Blog Tour and Book Giveaway covered multiple authors and multiple genres in her mega-giveaway. And, yes, some of mine are included.

http://marielavender.blogspot.com/2017/09/400th-anniversary-post-early-autumn-mega-book-giveaway.html

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Witch Wars by T.A. Moorman


An Interview with author T.A. Moorman:

What is the most unethical practice in the publishing industry?
I could go on for days on this one. Lol. Let’s just go with the longest standing one, the fake publishing houses. The ones that truly aren’t publishers at all, but really just a vanity press and not up front about what they truly are. If you’re paying for an editor, and for graphics for your cover, and everything else, then you are not with a legit publisher; you’re just self-publishing and don’t even realize it. A true publisher is one that believes in you enough to invest in you. After all, if you aren’t selling they aren’t earning. It’s more than a win win, it’s a partnership.

What are common traps for aspiring writers?
See above. Lol. Also, beware of phony editors, if you’re self-publishing. Ask for credentials, ask for references, you do not want to end up with someone who is truly no more than a paid beta reader. I love my betas, but they will be the first to tell you, they are not editors and only have a wide tooth comb, not the fine tooth needed to find the mistakes you both might miss. Never be afraid to ask the needed questions. Remember, there is no such thing as a stupid question, just dumb ass answers.


What is your writing Kryptonite?
Myself. Sometimes, though I hate to admit it, I let the doubters and the naysayers get into my head and doubt myself because of that. Kind of hard to get the words flowing when you second guess every word you write.

What's your favorite genre to read for pleasure?
Paranormal. I’ve been through pretty much everything you can think of, when I read I want to escape ALL of that.

Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?
Yup. LOL! Especially in the second book in the Underlayes series. Let’s just say one particular ex gets what’s coming to him. Since I would never be able to do the things I’d like to do to him in real life… It was very satisfying writing those scenes.



What was your hardest scene to write?
The ending! I am not a planner, I’m strictly a pantser. I have to just let the story take me wherever it goes, and sometimes those endings have me in tears as I write them.

What do you want readers to know about your book?

In the Underlayes series there are a few Goddesses you may not be familiar with. They don’t play an integral part where you’ll miss anything by not knowing them, but their names just may be new to you; Sekhmet, Nyx, Hel. And always keep in mind I love ALL my readers. So if you have a questions never hesitate to ask. You can find me on my FB page.

Buy Linkhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B075C8LFLZ











Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Interview with Fantasy Author Daniel Peyton


Daniel Peyton
Morristown, Tennessee, USA


Good morning, Daniel, And welcome to Vision and Verse, the Place for Art and Authors. What have you written?
Published: Legacy of Dragonwand trilogy, The Cyrstal Needle books 1 & 2, The Winter Wizard, Wisdom Springs.
Pre-Publishing: Bark: Origins of a Superhero, How a Robot Weeps, The Winter Wizard 2, The Crystal Needle 3, Remnant.

What is your favorite genre to write?
Fantasy


Favorite food.
Chinese


Tea or coffee?
Tea (however, I do enjoy coffee)


Pizza or ice cream?
Ice Cream


Where would you like to visit?
Japan


Favorite musical artist.  Do you listen to music when you write?  What? 
Enya is a personal favorite, but I love a diverse selection of music. I do not often listen to music when I write, but I do when I brain storm about my stories. I usually stick with symphonic styles for my brainstorming.


What makes you laugh? 
Classic television. Jeff Dunham, Gabriel Iglasias, lots of stuff. I stick with mostly clean humor.


Favorite work of art or sculpture. 
Anything Michelangelo, I have a minor background in art history and Renaissance was my specialty. Studying his art and sculpture inspired me to develop my own art skills, though I am no where near the master he was.




How old were you when you started writing? 
I was 11 when I started writing my first books.


Describe your perfect evening. 
It starts with a good cooked meal, I love to cook. Then I spend a little while working on brainstorming with some music. Around nine o'clock I take an hour to work on my bible study. Then, I spend an hour writing on a story. At eleven, I get comfy, turn on something mindless on netflix, pull out the art supplies and practice drawing for a couple hours, then off to bed.


Where do you get your inspiration? 
Life mostly. I do love to go to Panther Creek State Park near my house. It is a beautiful place that inspires fantasy in me. Reading great stories and watching good movies also keeps me inspired.

What do you do when you get a writer's block? 
Cry, mumble, gripe about it. Okay, you want to know how I break through? Relax. If I fight and fight against that wall between me and the next scene, it will never break down.


Who is your favorite author? 
Me, of course...kidding. I love classics, so C.S. Lewis and Charles Dickens are both greats I read often. I also love J.K. Rowling, not just for her writing but her passion for writers and readers.

Best book you ever read. 
How Much for Just the Planet by John M. Ford. Perhaps not as great as Harry Potter, or Classic like Christmas Carol, but I am a long time Trekkie and this was an incredibly well written, hilarious Star Trek story. It is hard to think of Star Trek being a comical, slap stick musical, and yet he accomplished this and I have probably read that book more than any other book.

Last book you read. 
Fablehaven


What would you do for a living if you weren’t a writer? 
I dreamed of being an actor. But, with my looks, that's not likely to happen. However, I have discovered a passion for graphic design.


Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why? 
My mother. First, she got me into fantasy and sci fi, and the love of books. Second, she was the one who pushed me into actually attempting to becoming a published author. I did not believe in myself and only wanted to write fan fiction. She convinced me to try, in spite of myself.


If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why? 
Betty White. I love classic television and she has been a part of it for decades. She also has a wonderful grasp of humor that it would be fun to pick her brain about that.


What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a writer? Finish your book. I have done conventions and book signings where many people come to me and tell me about how they long to be an author. They have a book they've been working on for years. In fact, they'll tell me about the five, six, twenty books they have in the works, none of which are actually finished. It isn't starting a book that's the hard part, it's finishing it. Once you break through that barrier, it starts to make more sense. 




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