Interview with author Jan Flores

Jan Flores

Sebastopol, CA

Good morning, Jan, and welcome to Vision and Verse,  We're happy to have you here with us this morning.  What have you written:

 I’ve had 35 books published over a career that started in 1976 with the sale of my first book, a Gothic suspense called HAWKSHEAD, published  in hardcover by Doubleday and Co. Two more Gothics followed (PEREGRINE HOUSE and GYRFALCON HALL); these were followed by two best-selling historical romances BITTERSWEET and CYNARA. Then came a lead book for Signet, the family saga HIGH DOMINION. 

Harlequin/Silhouette called and asked me to write for them, so I wrote 16 Superromances for them, a trilogy called THE DUNLEAVY LEGACY, and two additional romances for a Harlequin Special Project (WEDDINGS BY DEWILDE) called THE RELUCTANT BRIDE, and ROMANCING THE STONES.

A move to Fawcett produced the mainstream contemporaries, LOVING TIES, RUNNING IN PLACE, DIVIDED LOYALTIES, the best-selling ABOVE REPROACH, the award winning TOUCHED BY FIRE, and the best-selling SIREN SONG.  My most recent release is the ebook SWEETER THAN WINE (and an ebook reissue of  TOUCHED BY FIRE) from Musa Publishing.

What is your favorite genre to write?

I’ve enjoyed writing both historical and contemporary books. They each have their positive aspects. Historicals are slower paced, the language is more formal (without slang), and I love the 1800’s (as long as I don’t have to wear corsets and petticoats). Contemporaries are faster-paced, the language is sharper (the use of contractions, for example), and daily living is easier (cell phones, TV, cars, planes etc.).  Contemporaries are more familiar, but the research for historicals is fascinating.

Favorite food?

If a milkshake is a food, I’d have to say chocolate.

Where would you like to visit?

I’d like to go to England (it would definitely help when writing historicals), and if the travel to get there wasn’t so onerous, I’d love to go to Kenya on a photographing safari.

Favorite musical artist?

I’ve had so many over the years: the Kingston Trio (I’m really dating myself here) and  Fleetwood Mack for groups;  Barbra Streisand, Adele, and Lady Gaga for singles.

I don’t listen to music when I write because it distracts me—even instrumentals, because I find myself humming (or singing) along and not getting any work done.

What makes you laugh?

I’d say “who.” That would be my sister (who has the same distorted sense of humor as I do), and my husband Ray, who is probably the funniest person I know.

How old were you when you started writing?

I penned (or penciled) my first story when I was about five. It was one page, about a fox and a rabbit, but I didn’t really start to write until after I was married and took a creative writing course. I sold my first book before I was 30 and just kept going.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Inspiration is everywhere. My husband says I could make a story out of seeing a garbage can on the side of a road.  But I also read a lot and many things catch my fancy. The problem is figuring out which one to write about.

What do you do when you get a writer’s block?

I don’t believe in writer’s block. I think very often it can be an excuse not to write.  Now, before I start hearing screams of protest, let me just say that writing can be hard work. Sometimes even doing laundry or cleaning the oven is preferable to sitting down and trying to fill that blank computer screen. But I approach writing as my job, so I do it every day whether I feel like it or not.

Who is your favorite author?

Oh, wow—I have a few. Tess Gerritsen, Dick Francis, Preston and Child, Nicholas Evans,  Jodi Picoult—and an author I just found: Sasscer Hill (isn’t that a great name?).

Best book you ever read?

I’d have to say GONE WITH THE WIND. It has everything: great writing, a fascinating setting, history, and two characters who drive the plot: Scarlett O’Hara, of course, who grows from being a spoiled, petulant vixen to a woman of steel; and Rhett Butler. The name says it all!

Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why?

I’d have to say, hands down, it’s my husband, Ray. He’s always believed in me (when sometimes I didn’t believe in myself); he’s always been supportive of everything I do (except when I go to walk the sometimes-fractious big dogs at the dog shelter where I volunteer); he encourages me to try new things; and as I mentioned above, he’s the funniest man I know.

If you could sit down and have a conversation with one person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why?

I’ve given a lot of thought to this question, and I have to say that it would be my maternal grandmother. She was born in the late 1800’s, and for her time was a very independent woman. Her mother was the first white woman in Butte, Montana, and at one point she worked on a ranch, feeding 30 ranch hands three times a day using a wood-burning stove, while keeping track of two kids and helping my grandfather (who was the ranch foreman) with the livestock. I wish I’d had sense enough to tape her stories while she was alive; if I was given another chance, I’d make sure to do it now.

What advice would you give to someone who aspired to be a writer?

I used to say that the best way to write a book is to pick up a pen (nowadays it’s a computer keyboard), start writing, and don’t quit until you reach the end. But I’ve realized that isn’t very helpful.  So now I’d say that there isn’t a thing on earth that hasn’t been written about in some form; the trick is to write it a different way—to write it your way.  So many aspiring writers have said to me that they planned to submit something even though they knew it wasn’t quite finished. I’ve known many editors over the years, and I can tell you that’s the best way to have your submission tossed in the “round” file (the wastebasket). Make sure that your book, or story, or novella, or whatever it is, is polished until it shines. Don’t send anything out until you believe it’s the best it can be.

Links, etc.

You can find my newest release, SWEETER THAN WINE, and a reissue of the award-winning TOUCHED BY FIRE, at Musa Publishing; also at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Overdrive and—I recently heard—at iTunes. Some of the links are:

SWEETER THAN WINE:

Musa Publishing:  http://tinyurl.com/ebookSweeterThanWine

Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/JF-STW

Barnes and Noble: http://tinyurl.com/SweeterThanWine

TOUCHED BY FIRE:

Musa Publishing : http://tinyurl.com/Musa-Touched-by-Fire

Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/JFlores-TBF

Barnes and Noble: http://tinyurl.com/eBN-Touched-by-Fire

For further details, I’d be delighted if you visited my website: JanisFlores.com

You can also find me at Facebook: Facebook.com/janfloresauthor

And Twitter: @JanisOFlores

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to reach out to your readers.

Thank YOU, Jan, for being with us this morning and sharing your terrific insights with us.  We at Vision and Verse wish you the best of luck in all your endeavors.

MORE FROM KIEL KAGAN

In recent months, Vision and Verse had introduced you to the work of the late Houston artist Kiel Kagan.  It is an honor for me to bring you another of his amazing works which had been in storage at his family's home.  The work above is titled, "Melted".  It is 4' x 7', acrylic on canvas, completed in 2012.

I'm hoping to bring you more of his earlier works in the coming months, so stay tuned for that.

Image above, "Melted", 2012 by Kiel Kagan.

Echo of Heartbreak

Carol Ann Kauffman, Author

Parker Kauffman, Cover Artist

"Echo of Heartbreak: A Recipe for Life is a heartwarming story of love and devotion a mother has for her unborn child. Knowing she may not live through the pregnancy or childbirth, she is still determined to bring her child into the world. So she begins to leave a legacy in the form of a journal, filled with tips of how to live a good life and adds recipes from her Italian heritage.

This is an extremely enjoyable story filled with emotion and sentiment. It shows, on every page, the love this mom has for her child, no matter what and plans ahead to teach her child about love and devotion. I also like the way the author enveloped the journal entries and the recipes in between the pages of the story, to tug our heart strings along, every step of the way."

                                                                       - Review from pagedabbler 21 on Amazon.com

"This is a wonderful little novella. Carol Ann Kauffman, author of Time After Time series, has written a completely unrelated touching novella. It's letters from a dying mother to her unborn baby. She is leaving her letters on how to live her life, advice on growing up, falling in love. This book is incredibly touching. It's also filled with amazing recipes, that the mother is passing down to her child. recipes that the family always made.  This little cookbook/ novella is wonderful, touching and a great addition to a kitchen! :)

                                                                       -Review from Cianna on Amazon.com

Cover Reveal of A Telltale Secret

A Telltale Secret

by

Mj Rain

Synopsis:

~Five Keys. Two Parallel Universes. One Destiny.

   Willow Rain lives in a seemingly perfect world with her sister and their nanny, on a planet where those who are deemed useless seem to vanish without a trace, along with those who speak of the forbidden keys. When she gets her chance to be of use, she begins on the path to her destiny when the magical key from her dreams is set in her possession. With it, she embarks on a journey to another world in search of her parents and slowly she uncovers the mysteries that surround her family's past, present, and future. When she uncovers the deepest secret of them all, the difficult path ahead of her reveals the true purpose of her life. 

Come with me and discover what became of the people of Atlantis!

About Mj Rain:

Mj Rain, woman, wife, activist, and author, lives in Iowa with her husband, her mom, and her cat Lucky. Her passion is to have a major impact on the world by causing a positive change through her writing. She has always made her presence known for causes she believes in, and plans to continue doing so as she expresses herself through words.

My Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mj-Rain/517670434943373

My Novel Blog: http://mjrainwriter.wordpress.com/

Madison's Christmas

Madison's Christmas is my Christmas short story.  I wrote this for an anthology with other indie authors to be published for a holiday project that fell through for some unknown reason.  It is being offered free on amazon.com from midnight tonight until midnight tomorrow night, November 1, 2013.



Synopsis:
Christmas is Madison's favorite holiday, but this year she has to face it alone, without her father and her best friend, amid the problems of running her own high-stakes business and dealing with family issues.  Can the spirit of Christmas lift a heavy heart?


Review:
What a thoroughly enjoyable read!  Thank you.
                  -Maria M.

THE ART OF THE FILM POSTER

Just what is a film poster?  It is a poster used to advertise a film.  They are used by movie studios to promote a film, both domestically and internationally.  Present day posters feature photos of the main characters of the movie.  Prior to 1990, the posters used illustrations rather than photographs.  These placards also contain the film title, actors and directors names, and the release date of the movie.  They can be found inside and outside theaters and elsewhere on the streets and in retail entertainment outlets.

The earlier advertisements were compositions of multiple overlaid illustrations from scenes in the film.  Many others were artistic interpretations of the overall theme of the movie displayed in various artistic styles.

Originally these posters were printed for the specific theater where the film was being shown.  At the end of the film's run, the posters were returned to  the National Screen Service which was responsible for the printing and distribution.  In the 1980's most American movie studios took over production and distribution of film advertisements.

There are several kinds of movie poster formats.

Lobby cards were a smaller form of poster, usually 8x10 or 11x14 inches in size, popular before 1930.  These cards are very collectible.  Age, quality, and popularity determine their value.  Lobby cards were most commonly issued in sets of 8, each with a different film scene.

Teaser posters are used in the early promotion of a film.  They feature a basic image or design which doesn't reveal much about the plot or characters.  They are generally used to create hype over the film.

Character posters are promotional placards that feature a character and the name of the actor playing it.  It may also carry a tagline reflecting a quality of that character.

Pictured above are 10 of the most famous movie posters in recent film history.

Interview with Author Gregory S. Lamb

 Gregory S. Lamb

Portland, Oregon

What have you written?

The People In Between:  A Cyprus Odyssey

Family Saga - Historical Fiction

A Ghost Named Manky

Young Adult - Campfire Story

A Dangerous Element

Military Thriller - (currently in the mill)

What is your favorite genre to write?  

Contemporary Fiction

Favorite food:  

Çoban or Mercimek çorbası - Turkish for Shepherd's Soup often made with red lentils

Where would you like to visit? 

The Kingdom of Tonga in the South West Pacific - It would mean tramping on an Inter-Island supply ship - something I've got on my bucket list.

Favorite musical artist:  

Aoife O'Donavan - Progressive Blue Grass Singer/ Song Writer with the sweetest airy voice you'll ever hear.  The original music she performs with the Band "Crooked Still" tells some amazing tales.

Do you listen to music when you write? 

Sometimes - I find music with lyrics to be a distraction

What?

When I do it is Modern or acoustic Jazz Instrumentals

What makes you laugh?

Great question.  When I was a kid I remember experiencing the uncontrollable emotion of laugher when I heard certain types of music being played.  Recently I've re-discovered the joy of listening and have found myself laughing when listening to Old Time American Folk music.

I also find myself laughing at some of the silly things I see my dog, Matisse doing.  He's a Faux French Bulldog (mom was Frenchie, dad a Boston Terrier). 

How old were you when you started writing?

I wrote a play in Fifth Grade...that must have been my first foray into the world of creative writing.  I was a terrible student and really terrible writer until my sophomore year as an undergraduate.  However, I didn't really learn to write until later. 

Believe it or not, writing policy documents in my former career taught me a lot about crafting a story line. About three years ago, I began my second career as an independent author and I'm still learning.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I've been thinking about this question since I discovered the importance of marketing my work. By reading the work of others - both good and bad, I've started to populate my creative writing tool kit with a variety of techniques.

I'm often impressed with the creativity of the work written by young artists.  I don't believe I would have been able to do what I'm doing now without the perspective of my life's experiences.  In recent years, I've come to realize that I'm a collector of other people's stories, which sometimes form the basis or framework of a plot line.

What do you do when you get a writer's block?

Thank goodness I haven't experienced this plague!  My stories burn in my mind and I'm compelled to write them down - they spill out in ways that sometimes keep me from remaining in the present.  Two things emerge as a result:  I sometimes miss what is happening around me while imagining how I would document an occurrence or emotion that I just experienced. Second, I end up with lots of written material that requires sifting, organizing and eliminating all together.  That is the hardest part for me - As Stephen King points out in his work, "On Writing."  We must learn to eliminate "our little darlings," to keep the plot moving and our readers engaged.

Who is your favorite author?

Jack London - This guy had the credibility of experience.  He wasn't afraid of adventure.  I would be so bold as to describe him as one of the world's first participative authors.  He was a ground-breaking war correspondent at a very young age - long before the popularity we see with today's celebrity journalists.

Best book you ever read.

Why do people ask me that?  It is perhaps the most difficult question for me because I have so many and my answer varies with my mood.  However, two recent novels come to mind: 

I liked the structure of The People of the Book, by Geraldine Brooks more than anything I’ve read in the past year.  The story arcs from Cutting for Stone, by Abraham Verghese really grabbed me and I admired the way he structured the chronology and flow into a complete novel.

Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why?

I couldn't afford college so I worked my way through school as a sail maker.  My world revolved around sailing in competitions in the San Francisco Bay Area and saving money for college.  Kame Richards, the owner of Pineapple Sails in Oakland, California was a generous employer who I admired for his creativity and energy.  He always kept a spot for me on his small staff of employees so that I could make it through college.

If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why?

Henry Kissinger because I'd want to learn every detail about the path he took to acquire so much influence. Not because I'm interested in becoming a power monger either.  I'd like to go eyeball to eyeball with Mr. Kissinger and challenge him to defend keeping the American public in the dark about his involvement in manipulating international politics.  I'd want to hear what he has to say about the many people in various places in the world who endured and suffered as a result of his political engagements.

What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a writer?

Enjoy the process.  Have fun on the adventure ride that you would be creating for yourself as you journey along the trails of your characters.  Manage your expectations and follow your heart and allow yourself to write what you feel matters.

Amazon: 

http://www.amazon.com/Gregory-Lamb/e/B008IFYOYW/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/greg.lamb.1612

https://www.facebook.com/LambPDXAuthor

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/GregorySLamb

@GregorySLamb

My Website:

http://gslambpdxauthor.webs.com

My Blog: 

http://gregorylambpdxauthor.wordpress.com 

Read about my soon to be realeased novel:  A Dangerous Element

http://gslambpdxauthor.webs.com/news.htm

Interview with Author Mellie George

 Mellie George

Indiana, USA

Welcome, Mellie, to Vision and Verse, the place for Art and Authors.  We're happy to have you here with us this morning.  Tell us, what have you written?
 Say Yes (Glenbrook Girls Series), Back To Life, and the
upcoming novella Rebel (part one in a four part series)

What is your favorite genre to write?
Steamy romance

Favorite food.
Pizza. LOTS of pizza, lol. It’s my eternal weakness.

Where would you like to visit?
I would love to travel around the US and see places I haven’t seen like New York City, New Orleans, Boston, Chicago, and Las Vegas.

Favorite musical artist.
Wow, that’s like asking me which child is my favorite! I am a rock chick at heart and my favorite bands right now are Memphis May Fire, Saving Abel, and Shinedown. I also surprisingly am loving the heck out of Lady Gaga’s new stuff, and I will admit I crank up the radio when Katy Perry’s new song comes on.

Do you listen to music when you write?  What? 
I definitely listen to music when I write. In fact, my second book “Back To Life” includes a playlist of all the music I listened to and what inspired me to write and shape the character of Rory. My first novella, “Rebel”, will have a playlist attached as well. I don’t have one in Say Yes, but I am thinking of going back and adding one since I get asked that question a lot. I tend to listen to music I think my characters would listen to while I am shaping them.

What makes you laugh?
My friends (including my work family who I adore so much), and anything from Family Guy. Seriously…funniest show EVER.

How old were you when you started writing?
I wrote my first short story when I was eleven, actually. It was a story about a figure skater and her partner. (The Cutting Edge was a big movie at the time, lol.) I wrote a lot through high school too, but I began writing “Say Yes” in October of 2012 and I seriously considered publishing it that December.

Where do you get your inspiration?
I am a hairstylist, so I get a lot of inspiration from hearing about my customers love lives, lol. I am also a sucker for a good love story, so I just write about what I would love to read about.

What do you do when you get a writer's block?
Step away from the computer and read a good book. I also listen to different kinds of music or watch sappy movies…anything that can help me get the creative juices flowing again. I also sometimes step away from my current WIP and work on a different one. It helps to get out of one person’s head and dive into another.


Who is your favorite author? 
Oh man…this is hard. I don’t think I have one favorite, but the authors I have loved and whose books have stayed with me are Jay Crownover, Terri Anne Browning, Sophie Monroe, and Molly McAdams.

Best book you ever read.
Again, a hard question. I absolutely loved Rule by Jay Crownover, I love Terri Anne Browning’s “The Rocker” series but my favorite of the series so far was “The Rocker That Needs Me” (Book 3). Both of those chicks are crazy talented and they are who inspired me to put myself out there and self publish.

Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why?
I have many people that have influenced me, but I honestly I have to credit my new friends I have met through Facebook as the ones who have the biggest influence on me recently. I have met some incredible lifelong friends on there that never fail to support me and will listen to me cry all the while encouraging me to let it all roll off my back and keep going. They know who they are, lol.

If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why?
Oh wow…I think I’d love spend a couple of hours with John Lennon. I’d love to get inside his brilliant mind and just talk about anything and everything.

What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a writer?
The biggest advice I can give is don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Not everyone is going to like you and you have to be okay with that. Do bad reviews hurt? Absolutely. I think I cried when I got my first bad one, lol. (It was freaking brutal). However, for every one person that doesn’t like your books there are one hundred people that do and would follow you and your books anywhere. Learn to take constructive criticism, but don’t ever put up with cruelty and bullying. Let it roll off your back and keep on moving with your head held high. Don’t write because you want to be liked, write because it’s what you love, even if it’s crap. Be proud of your crap!!! Lol


Links to my books on Amazon:
Back To Life (US): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EIPG5IE
Back To Life (UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00EIPG5IE

Say Yes (US): http://www.amazon.com/Say-Glenbrook-Girls-Series-ebook/dp/B00D4BFUXO/ref=pd_sim_kstore_2
Say Yes (UK): http://www.amazon.co.uk/Say-Glenbrook-Girls-Series-ebook/dp/B00D4BFUXO/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1380404607&sr=1-2


Links to my books on Barnes & Noble:

Back To Life: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/back-to-life-mellie-george/1116480253?ean=2940148443506&itm=1&usri=2940148443506

Say Yes: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/say-yes-mellie-george/1116812649?ean=2940148806486&itm=1&usri=2940148806486

Like me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Mellie-George/329475417182667?bookmark_t=page

Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/AuthorMellieG  @AuthorMellieG

THE ART OF THE BOOK JACKET

Book jackets, also known as dust jackets or dust wrappers, have been a part of book publishing since the early 19th century.  Most are made of paper and are adorned with print and illustrations.  Covers are detachable, usually with folded flaps that hold it to the front and back of the book.

The jacket's main purpose was to protect the book's hard cover.  Many times the paper jackets were encased in a transparent wrapper to further protect the book, especially in instances where it was a library volume.

Typically, the back flap contains information about the author, the publisher, and promotional comments.  The front flap in turn usually has a snippet of the contents of the book.

Often overlooked as an art form, they also bring attention to the artists/illustrators that design them.  Many iconic books have become instantly recognizable because of their cover art.

Pictured above are 10 of the most recognizable books and jackets known today.

Interview with Author Matthew Munson

I

Matthew Munson 

Welcome to Visio and Verse, the place for Art and Authors this morning, Matthew.  It's a pleasure to have you here.  Tell us, where do you call Home?
    A seaside town called Broadstairs, in Kent – the south-east of England. I’ve lived in and around the town all my life, and love it here. It hosts the country’s second-largest folk festival in the summer, and goes a lot quieter in the winter, and I’m proud to call it home.

It sounds just lovely.  What have you written?
    Two full-length novels, both in the contemporary fantasy genre. My first book, Fall From Grace, was published in October 2011, and its sequel, Leap of Faith, came out just recently in September 2013.
    They’ve both been published by Inspired Quill, a fairly new indie publishing house. IQ began trading just six months before my first book came out, which set for an interesting and busy production period; it was a learning curve for all of us, and great fun – but when Leap of Faith came out two years later, it was a lot calmer!

What is your favorite genre to write?
    Fantasy / sci-fi, most definitely, but I do want to try some writing in crime and drama genres at some point in the future.

Favorite food?
    Scrambled egg on toast – I’m obsessed!

Where would you like to visit?
    New York; I’ve heard it’s a fantastic city to see. I’m not a very seasoned traveler; the furthest I’ve ever been is to Calais in France, so I need to up my game in the next few years. I’m considering doing a walking marathon in Iceland at some point in the future.

Favorite musical artist?  Do you listen to music when you write?  What?
    I don’t have one particular favourite, but Fun is a great current group – although with many others.
    I do always listen to music when I write; it helps me feel a lot more creative. What I listen to depends on what I’m writing. I usually search on Youtube to find various medleys – dramatic, sad, etc. I couldn’t write very easily without music.

What makes you laugh?
    My friends; they’re very witty people, leaving me in the dust!
    There’s quite a few comedians that make me laugh, and I’m always on the look-out for new people on the comedy circuit.

How old were you when you started writing?
    10! I wrote a short story to escape from a geography class (which I hated throughout my school career). A shame, really, as I’m useless at map-reading now.
    Still, I’ve got a writing career out of it; swings and roundabouts and all that.

That's okay about the map-thing, Matt.  They even put GPS in rental cars.Where do you get your inspiration?
    Partly from reading and listening to other people and writers talking; I’m a great magpie for picking up snippets of conversation that set my mind wandering and thinking “What if …?”
    Of course, part of my inspiration comes from my own odd imagination; I wish I could tell you exactly how it works, but it’s a mystery even to me. I just enjoy it while it lasts!

What do you do when you get a writer's block?
    Tell my brain to buck its ideas up; I haven’t got time for any of that sort of thing!

And that works?  Who is your favorite author?
    I can’t honestly be tied down to one author; I worship at the altar of the greats; China Mieville, Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, Harlan Coburn and the legends – Arthur C Clarke, Agatha Christie, H G Wells, etc.

Best book you ever read.
    Again, I’d struggle to pick just one, but H G Wells’ “Time Machine” certainly was an early inspiration to me.

Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why?
    Must I pick just one? I’m going to buck the trend here and sod the rules!
    My parents and the three grandparents I knew have all been magnificent influences. My dad was a journalist for about 50 years before he eventually retired, with a great passion for words, and he instilled a love of words in me. My mum loved fiction, so there were always books sitting around the house, which taught me to respect writing – in whatever genre it might have been (but especially gritty crime and grizzly murder – I worry about my mum sometimes), and I knew then that I would have always preferred writing fiction to non-fiction.
    My grandparents were awesome folk; my mum’s dad (who I sadly never met) actually wrote a book once, but sadly never had it published. I would have relished the chance to have had a good conversation with him about that.
    When I was diagnosed with dyspraxia, at 15, they, above everyone, pushed me on and made me realize that there was so much I could do with my life. I am very fortunate to have such a lovely family.

If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why?
    Shakespeare. His words are poetry on the pages, and I would want to learn what made him tick – how he thought, how he used his inspiration … all that and more!

What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a writer?
    Keep going. Never give up. If you love writing – if you feel inside that you love writing (and you’ll know exactly what I mean if you do), then don’t you dare ever give up. Keep writing.

Well, Matthew, you are delightful.  Thank you for your refreshing look at things and "sodding" my rules.  Come back and see us again when your next fantasy novel comes out.  We go cover reveals, and in special cases, book reviews.


Links?
My website is www.matthewmunson.co.uk and my Facebook page is www.facebook.com/matthewmunsonauthor

My books can be brought from Amazon, Play.com, Waterstones, W H Smiths … pretty much everywhere!