Wednesday, April 25, 2012

UNTIL NEXT TIME BLOG TOUR-AMY LIGNOR GUEST POST

Today I’m turning over the blog to Amy Lignor for a guest posting. Please check out her book Until Next Time.

A Writer is a Magician:

Instead of a Rabbit, Out Come the Words!

I discovered the magic of words a very long time ago. And when I say magic, I mean real magic. My Mom was a career librarian, so my sister and I had the ultimate gift of being able to read all the new releases the second they came out. I soon understood, while I was engrossed with Mr. Darcy, or being scared by “The Raven,” or flying through the air with Harry Potter, that these words and these characters came from an actual person’s mind. A real person sat down in front of a piece of paper, and then later on, a computer, and gifted the world with their stories. They made characters that were unbelievable, and some that have lasted for generations. Not since the stories and power of Houdini have I seen such magic.

I came from a place that was beyond boring. Seriously. Without books I would’ve tossed myself into a snow bank and become a popsicle just for something new to do. But when I opened up the cover of a new book (God, I love that smell), I found myself whisked away from the mundane world of small-town Connecticut and into a place of romance, mystery, thrills, chills, fear - it was ALL there. And now to see the angels hit the scene in full force, well…I am even more amazed, honored and extremely lucky that I’ve been able to produce Matt & Emily. Am I saying they’re Mr. Darcy? No. I would have to have an ego the size of Australia in order to say that. But I am saying that I’m beyond thrilled that this angel/warrior team who has lived in my own mind for so long, can bring joy to other people.

As all authors will tell you, their stories and characters are taken from real life, and Emily and Matt are a huge extension of that small town I lived in. They come from a place that’s a bit boring too, especially because they’ve lived there all their lives. They spend most of their days training, in school learning, or getting ready to take on a new task that they must figure out on their own. Matt, especially, is desperate to enjoy a taste of freedom that Earth can provide, even though that ‘flight’ comes with some hard lessons. Human emotions are brand new to them - much like graduating college and going out into the ‘real’ world is for the rest of us. Waiting out there in the unknown is love, failure, success, fear - everything - and Matt & Emily are the innocents who try their best to keep their faith in a world that’s filled with things trying to rip them apart.

I love the fact that I can sit in a room and be taken on an adventure when I open up a book. I can stand by the side of my most beloved characters and ride or ‘fly’ with them as they head back through history. I can see and explore countries that I’ve never even heard of, and I can walk through castles, dance on clouds, beat the bad guys - and never have to stop. I can be the hero or the villain, depending on my mood, and boredom is a thing of the past!

I hope all authors - all those word magicians out there in this world never stop creating. And I hope that all the ‘up-and-comers,’ or the ones who have yet to lift a pen, succeed. I want no one to ever give up (regardless of rejection letters), because you never know if your Mr. Darcy will end up banishing the boredom for someone else.

Until Next Time, Everybody.
Amy

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Until Next Time: The Angel Chronicles, Book 1 Summary

How does a girl choose between the one who steals her heart and the one who owns her soul?

Matt and Emily were created for a specific job. Raised and trained as the ultimate angel/warrior team, they are sent down to save, defend, judge and forgive, depending on the 'life' they've been assigned. What they don't realize is that the power of human emotions, such as love, anger, passion and fear can take over even the best of souls, causing them to make mistakes and follow paths that lead to confusion and heartache.

When the reason for their training is finally revealed, the angel/warrior team find themselves thrust into a world they know nothing about. Matt takes over the life of Daniel, a young man with a great deal of baggage. Emily becomes Liz, a girl living in a remote village who relies on nothing more than her own strength to survive. A violent storm erupts one night, and framed in the window of Liz's establishment is a frightening face. Let in by the soul of a Good Samaritan, the two visitors bring with them a past full of secrets that could literally change an angel's path and a warrior's plans.

From murder to redemption, this angel/warrior team must find a way to keep the faith they have in each other in a world that's ripping them apart.

Amy Lignor's Bio:

Amy Lignor began her career at Grey House Publishing in northwest Connecticut where she was the Editor-in-Chief of numerous educational and business directories.

Now she is a published author of several works of fiction. The Billy the Kid historical The Heart of a Legend; the thriller, Mind Made; and the adventure novel, Tallent & Lowery 13.

She is also the owner of The Write Companion, a company that offers help and support to writers through a full range of editorial services from proofreading and copyediting to ghostwriting and research. As the daughter of a research librarian, she is also an active book reviewer.

Currently, she lives with her daughter, mother and a rambunctious German Shepherd named Reuben, in the beautiful state of New Mexico.

eBook
ISBN: 9780983741855
ISBN: 9781465992697
Pages: 295
Release: February 1, 2012

Kindle buy link
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0071LLL2M/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=tributebooks-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0071LLL2M

Nook buy link
http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=dcSBhG3Rj8w&subid=&offerid=239662.1&type=10&tmpid=8432&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.barnesandnoble.com%252Fw%252Funtil-next-time-amy-lignor%252F1108191925%253Fean%253D2940014052627%2526itm%253D1%2526usri%253Duntil%252Bnext%252Btime%252Bthe%252Bangel%252Bchronicles

iBookstore buy link
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Smashwords buy link
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PDF buy link
https://www.payloadz.com/go/sip?id=1554857

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

David Leadbeater Author Interview

Today, I’m welcoming David Leadbeater to my blog with an interview.

His book “The Bones of Odin” became a UK #1 Bestseller last Friday in Action/Adventure and is currently the #1 Thriller in the UK. His other novel Chosen also hit #1 in Occult and is still there as this is written.

Where are you originally from? I was born in Pontefract, in the UK, and now live in York.

What inspired you to become a writer? I became interested in reading novels whilst still at school, the old horror/fantasy writers like Stephen King, Stephen Donaldson, Tolkien etc and first tried my hand at writing a book at the tender age of 15, which I subsequently sent off to a publisher to receive a rejection letter for a book that wasn’t even mine. Good start with the publishers, eh?

What is/are your favorite genre(s)? My favourite Genre is actually a mix of Crime Fiction and Thriller, though I love and have read almost every different type of book.

Are you currently reading anything? My current reading activities revolve around the Vampire Federation novels by Scott Mariani and his ‘Ben Hope’ series.

Who or what is the driving force that keeps you going? Two things- the belief that I can, in fact, write, helped along by the enthusiastic verification of strangers, and the great support from my wife, without which I would not be able to do this.

How do you balance your personal life with your writing career? At the moment, with great difficulty. I am still learning all the ropes, and some things that take time now will undoubtedly get easier, but all the same the balance between a family life, a full-time job, and a writing career is not an easy one.

Tell us about your book. My latest novel is called The Bones of Odin, and follows an ex-SAS solider in his explosive quest to unravel an ancient mystery, and make the greatest archaeological find of all time that will save the world.

What made you decide to write your book? I love the idea of old legends being re-imagined with a new twist, something that will make you think about it after you have finished the book. I also love the idea of ancient history being interwoven with current news topics to help ‘prove’ their authenticity. This started me off- the rest just evolved.

Do you have any upcoming events or book promotions? I am currently undergoing a guest blog tour. During this time all my books will be offered free for at least one day. News of these dates will be posted on Twitter nearer the time.

Where can people find you and your work on the web?

Look for my novel, The Bones of Odin in the UK - http://tinyurl.com/777pedb

Or in the U.S.A - http://tinyurl.com/84tgzgp

Look for my Blog at: http://tinyurl.com/72nqc77

My Website at: http://tinyurl.com/6mhm2ye

My Twitter ID is @dleadbeater2011

Facebook - DavidLeadbeaterNovels

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Happiness Blog Tour Stop

Bryan Cohen here, guest poster and author, promoting my new book The Post-College Guide to Happiness for The Happiness Blog Tour. I'm giving away free digital review copies of the book and doing a giveaway for paperback copies, audio copies and even a Kindle Fire! Read on and check out the info below the post. "Happiness is a thing to be practiced, like the violin."
- John Lubbock I once wanted to be on the varsity soccer team at my high school. I had some natural ability but I knew it would be an uphill climb against taller and more skilled athletes than myself. I wrote down on a piece of paper how much I'd need to practice to have an outside shot at qualifying. It would require several hours a day of running, drills and lifting weights. I came up with a master plan...and promptly didn't do it. Yes, I still practiced, but not nearly as much as I'd set out in my plan to make the team. I knew this immense amount of practice would have to be a given if I wanted a shot at a spot on the squad, but I wasn't willing to put in the hard work necessary. I've always regretted not putting in my all, because who knows if I'd have made it or not if I'd given 100 percent. My quest for happiness has kind of been my second shot at qualifying for varsity in something. Most people think happiness is an innate thing: you either have it or you don't. In actuality, it's like Lubbock says, happiness is something you have to practice. "But how?" you might ask. Let's compare it with soccer. In soccer, toughness and determination are key to working harder than the other players. In happiness, attitude is the backbone to lifting up everything else you do to be more positive. You build up your attitude by practicing with your spouse, co-workers and friends. In the beautiful game of soccer, a ton of running is necessary to keep you in shape for each contest. In happiness, you need emotional endurance, a kind of thick skin to weather things that would usually cause you distress and emotional worry. Practice building up such a tolerance by using deep breathing and logic during situation you'd usually let your emotions get out of control in. Lastly, soccer requires skill and precision to manipulate the ball anywhere on the field. Happiness requires skill at setting and achieving the goals that are most important to you. Create small, attainable goals and work your way up to larger and more life altering objectives to practice this important skill. I never played varsity soccer, but I do have the opportunity to enjoy a more fulfilled life by practicing my happiness. -- Bryan Cohen is giving away 61 paperback and audio copies of The Post-College Guide to Happiness and a Kindle Fire between now and May 7th, 2012 on The Happiness Blog Tour. All entrants receive a free digital review copy of The Post-College Guide to Happiness. Bryan hopes to give away at least 1,000 copies during the blog tour. To enter, post a comment with your e-mail address or send an e-mail to postcollegehappiness (at) gmail.com. Bryan will draw the names at the end of the tour. Entries will be counted through Sunday, May 6th. Bryan Cohen is a writer, actor and comedian from Dresher, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2005 with degrees in English and Dramatic Art and a minor in Creative Writing. He has written nine books including 1,000 Creative Writing Prompts: Ideas for Blogs, Scripts, Stories and More, 500 Writing Prompts for Kids: First Grade through Fifth Grade, Writer on the Side: How to Write Your Book Around Your 9 to 5 Job and his new book, 1,000 Character Writing Prompts: Villains, Heroes and Hams for Scripts, Stories and More. His website Build Creative Writing Ideas helps over 25,000 visitors a month to push past writer's block and stay motivated. Feel free to follow along with the tour at The Happiness Blog Tour Hub Page or on the book's Facebook Page.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Days with the Undead by Julianne Snow Blog Tour

Today, I’m welcoming Julianne Snow to my blog for a guest post on the Author’s Perspective. She is the author of Days with the Undead. Please enjoy.

Days with the Undead: The Author’s Perspective

When I first set out to craft an engaging story, my mind didn’t automatically jump to the Zombie genre. At the moment, it’s a bandwagon full of offerings with fans joining the ranks in exponential numbers. Zombies are popular at the moment; there is no doubt about it. The difference with Days with the Undead is that in the beginning I started out to write a story about survival. The perfect backdrop for that story just happened to be a Zombie Apocalypse and I’m not going to lie, the genre is one of my favourites.

In order to catch the attention of potential readers, you have to have a story that captures them from the very beginning. Most stories tend to start on the first day; it’s almost an oxymoronical statement to suggest otherwise. With Days with the Undead, I place you right into the action. There is no gentle build to the crux of the story; instead you are thrown head first into the flight of the main characters as they evade the Undead. There really isn’t even an introduction to the cast of characters until a little later. The idea behind that is to place you in the heat of the moment with the other survivors – kind of like walking into the room just as the gunmen starts shooting but without prior knowledge that a standoff was in progress. Catch my drift? You do get introduced to the characters and discover what each of them bring to the survival of the group. As they traverse the landscape, you are invited into the mind of Julie, the main character. It’s her voice that you are reading and while she appears to have her wits about her, there are times of pure vulnerability.

“The sound of the first shot ricocheted off the surrounding foliage in the relative silence of the early morning. Before my eyes the pimpled face of what was once an adolescent boy exploded, shards of bone along with infected brain tissue flying out like they were searching for their next victim even in death. I quickly turned my face, hoping to shield it from the spray of grey matter and connective tissues. Thank heavens I was just out of splatter range as the Undead kept coming at us in what felt like increasing numbers.”

How does one keep a story of struggle fresh? Well, you add some Zombies and put them into different situations with your cast of characters. In the middle of the book, you learn more about what the world is being transformed into. Nothing has been able to stop the spread of the Undead and as a result, the tension of their flight is still readily felt. The cast of characters has gotten smaller and their interactions and reactions with the world around them are chilling and poignant. Julie wants people to fight; her words are a constant reminder that fighting is important and that survival is a necessity. As the story continues to unfold, the sense of desperation is mixed with hope; if they can only find somewhere not affected everything will be okay.

“At what point to people actually pass from just being stupidly informed to being actually stupid? I do understand the mob mentality. It happens in all kinds of situations and I’ve seen it’s after-effects in my morgue. But this was just insanity in its purest form.

They stood on the street corner with their signs and page boards. Dressed in their Sunday best, some holding their bibles high as if in protest. Their countenances almost defiant in their hatred of the Undead. For a moment, you could almost laugh at the stupid singularity of their message. They carried signs that were almost hilarious in their injudiciousness.”

The ending of a book is just as important as the other two parts. You don’t want readers to feel cheated for having stuck with you to the end. In Days with the Undead, there is a tension-filled build to the very last moment. Is there room for more? Absolutely, but there is a point where one chapter of their flight is resolved and the next one can begin. That’s what readers ultimately want; a little bit of closure but the idea that the story could continue.

“How silly that sounds. If the living world is about to draw its final breath, there will be no one left to read this. No one left to transcribe our struggles into the history books. Every freedom that we have ever fought for, forgotten. All of our wars now seem pointless. There was only one war that we should have been preparing for; the one against the foe we assumed would never arise. We were stupid, but one can only see that in hindsight…

If I could go back to a time before VanReit was even the name synonymous with walking undeath, I would have spent more time preparing. I would have spent more time at the range, honing my marksmanship. I would have read more about the things that would have been useful. But the time to prepare has obviously passed us by and each of us trying to struggle through this Undead world can only use the skills that God gave us. And hopefully pick up some useful ones along the way; the type that will ultimately help you to survive.”

Ultimately Days with the Undead is about survival set against the backdrop of a Zombie apocalypse, but there is so much more to the story. It’s about the breakdown of society as it twists and turns through the landscape but also through the narrative as well. At times, you’ll wonder how they manage to go on and in others you’ll wonder how they managed to escape. As you read you will encounter situations that could happen if the dead were to rise and walk the earth. Would I like to you to read my book? Of course I would, but I would much rather find out that you devoured it, leaving you with an insatiable hunger for more.

***

It was watching George Romero's Night of the Living Dead at the tender age of six that solidified Julianne’s respect of the Undead. Since that day, she has prepared herself for the (inevitable) Zombie Apocalypse. While classically trained in all of the ways to defend herself, she took up writing in order to process the desire she now covets; to bestow a second and final death upon the Undead. As the only girl growing up in a family with four children in the Canadian countryside, Julianne needed some form of escape. Her choice was the imaginations of others which only fostered the vibrancy of her own.

Days with the Undead: Book One is her first full-length book, the basis of which can be found in her popular web serial of the same name. You can find Julianne’s The Living Dead of Penderghast Manor in the anthology Women of the Living Dead and stories in upcoming anthologies called Childhood Nightmares: Under The Bed and Twisted Realities: Of Myth and Monstrosity from Sirens Call Publications.

=================================================

Press Release - Days with the Undead: Book One by Julianne Snow

Days with the Undead: Book One Synopsis:

It’s a journal of survival.

Five people set out to escape the Undead who have risen too close to home. Join the emotional and physical struggle as they began on the third day after the awakening of Brooks VanReit, as they are recorded from the point of view of Julie, a former pathologist and part-time survivalist.

Each entry is geared toward helping those who want to help themselves and maybe give a few that don’t a swift kick in the ass. Join our group of survivors on their journey through these Days with the Undead.

Date Released - February 29th, 2012

ISBN: 1468007998

ISBN-13: 978-1468007992

Available in print and digital formats.

Purchase Links - Print:

CreateSpace: https://www.createspace.com/3736479

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Days-Undead-Book-Julianne-Snow/dp/1468007998/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330611569&sr=8-1

Purchase Link - Digital:

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/137213

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Days-Undead-Book-One-ebook/dp/B007F14OTA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1330471120&sr=8-2

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007F14OTA

Amazon DE: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B007F14OTA

Amazon FR: https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B007F14OTA

Amazon ES: https://www.amazon.es/dp/B007F14OTA

Amazon IT: https://www.amazon.it/dp/B007F14OTA

About the Author - Julianne Snow

It was while watching Romero's Night of the Living Dead at the tender age of 6 that solidified Julianne’s respect of the Undead. Since that day, she has been preparing herself for the (inevitable) Zombie Apocalypse. While classically trained in all of the ways to defend herself, she took up writing in order to process the desire she now covets; to bestow a second and final death upon the Undead.

As the only girl growing up in a family with four children in the Canadian countryside, Julianne needed some form of escape. Her choice was the imaginations of others which only fostered the vibrancy of her own. The horror and forensic/crime thriller genres top her list of favourites, but she can never turn down a good science fiction, fantasy or mystery read.

Julianne appears in the anthology Women of the Living Dead with a story entitled The Living Dead at Penderghast Manor. Look for her short stories in future anthologies. Days with the Undead: Book One is her first full-length book, the basis of which can be found in her popular web serial of the same name.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Series of Fears Blog Stop

Check out this neat series~~~Can't wait to read it! Ingenious idea.

Series of Fears on Facebook

Buy Series of Fears on Amazon

Ami Blackwelder Guest Blog Post

Today, I'm turning the blog over to Ami Blackwelder, author of She Speaks to Angels and The Mers. Please relax and enjoy her musings.

How do authors come up with ideas for writing?

As a reader you must often wonder how us writers come up with our ideas for books. While I can’t speak for all authors, I can speak for me. I imagine most writers have similar processes, but this surely does not encompass every writer.

Sometimes we are impassioned by political or social events and this leads us to form a seed of idea, a theme we want our story to have.

Sometimes the story comes from the redundancy of story lines on TV and in books, and a simple desire to read or see something different.

Sometimes the stories come to us in dreams.

Where ever the initial spark, the story then must undergo a process of plot development and character development.

When I wrote The Hunted of 2060 the character April came first. Her identity as an alien offspring with the ability to shape shift was the catalyst for her character. The story developed around her character.

Yet when I wrote She Speaks to Angels, the story or plot lines came first and the characters grew out of the story. A story can be written anyway and it really depends on what you are comfortable with and how the story comes to you.

Often story tellers say we are merely vessels, a medium in which a story unfolds itself. Perhaps the stories dwell in another realm, in another time and they reveal themselves so that the voices, the emotional truths, can be heard and witnessed and learned.

Stories often speak to authors, and then so do characters. When I wrote The Day the Flowers Died, a romance set in 1930 Munich, Germany, I wrote the story because of the intense emotional dream I had which compelled me to write their story.

Often writers use an outline and each scene might denote a chapter. But many writers veer off the outline as the plot thickens and the characters develop a mind of their own. As a writer, you often have to be flexible enough to allow your characters free will so to speak.

But many writers write without an outline, sometimes the story is in their head, or they develop the story as they write. It really boils down to what works best for you as a writer.

I have always been a story teller and I love my readers, because they get to be the ones to hear my stories. I often try to cater to what they might like, but I stay true to my voice and my passions. When my passions and reader interests mingle, then I have done a good job.

My new release coming April 6th exclusively on kindle is SHE SPEAKS TO ANGELS.

---YA ANGEL THRILLER---

FIND AMI HERE

Don’t fret nook owners and others without ereaders. The kindle app can be downloaded for free on your PC, MAC, iphone, ipod and such and the novel is DRM FREE, so nook and other ereaders can simply convert the mobi into epub and read it on their device.

Friday, April 6, 2012

D.W. HAWKINS INTERVIEW & BOOK GIVEAWAY

Greetings, beautiful butterflies, today I'm excited to introduce you to D.W. Hawkins, author of The Seven Signs Series. Book One is called The Sentient Fire. He is an epic fantasy author and as you all know, that is one of my favorite genres. He has graciously offered a free copy of his book to one lucky winner. To enter, fill out the Raffle-copter below. Also for 2 lucky commenters, he'll be giving away 50% off Smashword coupons for his book. Also at the end of his blog tour, one lucky winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift-card. See rafflecopter form below for that prize.

Enjoy!

D.W. Hawkins

In one short night, Dormael Harlun’s life was changed forever.

Tired and half drunk, Dormael stumbled upon Shawna Llewan, a beautiful young woman, wounded and near death. What he didn’t realize was that his decision to come to her aid would be only the beginning of his unwitting role in a labyrinthine and perilous game.

Suddenly, Dormael and Shawna find themselves surrounded by enemies bent on their destruction. All avenues to safety are closing rapidly, and their only hope is to find the key to a dangerous secret lost to antiquity. With every ally a potential foe, they can rely only on Dormael’s brother Allen and his cousin D’Jenn to escape the will of a tyrant, the designs of a traitor, and the attention of powers beyond their imagining. Dormael has never been much for games, but destiny has rolled the dice for him and irrevocably placed him in the middle of a deadly game he must desperately play for keeps. Should he lose, he will forfeit not only his own life, but the lives of the ones he loves.

The Sentient Fire, Book One of The Seven Signs, available at the following...

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006AF8BIW/ref=s9_simh_gw_p351_d1_g351_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0E7WG3EXQDSCK6Z7D05N&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

Amazon (print): http://www.amazon.com/Sentient-Fire-Book-Seven-Signs/dp/1467968285/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1327384883&sr=1-1-catcorr

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/106594

Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-sentient-fire-d-hawkins/1107841878?ean=2940032880165&itm=1&usri=the+sentient+fire

Sony eReader: http://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/d-w-hawkins/the-sentient-fire/_/R-400000000000000556063

Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/The-Sentient-Fire/book-Y9QBNJPcM026qzIAYlxnjg/page1.html

Website: http://www.dwhawkins.com/thesentientfire.htm

What inspired you to become a writer??

Actually, I started writing on a whim when I was in college. I’ve always been into creative pursuits, though. I used to draw, then I spent years concentrating on playing guitar, and even went to college for it. I had always been an avid reader, and writing was just the next thing for me to try. It became a hobby, then somewhere along the line it became the most important pursuit in my life. The Seven Signs is what came out of that pursuit.

What character(s) of your book(s) do you most relate to??

Dormael, without a doubt. I modeled some of the characters in The Seven Signs after people in my life, and Dormael inherited a lot of my own flaws and quirks. The story is told mostly from his point of view, and so his opinions and mental dialogue colors the setting, and tends to reflect what I think I would be thinking in his place.

How do you visualize your stories? By dreams? Inner monologue with your characters, dreams, etc.?

Mostly just by sitting at the computer and imagining being there with the characters. I often write them into situations and brainstorm with them, as weird as that sounds, on how to get out of them. In my head, the entire scene goes down like a cross between The Matrix and 300, or any of those hugely-expensive epic movies they’ve made in the last couple of years. I try to bring out small details while simultaneously showing the readers the larger picture.

What is your writing ritual? Music?? Silence? Meditation?

Well, I’m one of those writers that need to be left completely alone while I’m writing, or I lose my momentum. I usually write a bit here and there when I’m really feeling the urge, and then I’ll buckle down for a few months and pump out multiple chapters every week. I take every moment that my brain is free, such as in the shower or cooking, and visualize the story and what needs to happen. The longer I keep myself “in their world”, so to speak, the easier the story comes. As far as my ritual, as long as I have privacy, Diet Coke, and Avenged Sevenfold or spooky film scores to listen to, the stories almost write themselves.

What inspired you to write The Sentient Fire?

Well, mostly I love epic fantasy, and I wanted to my stamp on the genre. I’ve become a bit disillusioned by some of the stuff that’s out there, and the tendency of fantasy writers to concentrate more on their setting and magic system than characters and other elements of the story. They’ve become sort of predictable, and there seems to be a fear of putting too much sex or violence in a fantasy story. Thing is, the more primitive times in our history were incredibly violent and dangerous times. I think most people who read fantasy, myself included, tend to read only a handful of good authors, and pass over the rest because the stories are all so much alike. I wanted to write a good fantasy story that concentrated not just on setting, but also on the human element of the story, and what drives the people involved. I also wanted it to be impressively epic in its telling, and have boatloads of magic and action. Basically, I wanted my cake, and I wanted to eat it, too.

If you could be a book genre? Which one would you choose and why??

Fantasy, definitely. It’s the only genre which allows its characters superpowers, whether it’s magic or the Force. Every little boy secretly wishes he were a ninja or a wizard, and I’m just a little boy trapped in a man’s body!

What knowledge do you want to share with aspiring authors like myself??

The largest piece of advice I can give is just to keep at it. There are a multitude of great resources out there, especially for indie authors, and finding them is relatively easy. The hardest part is not getting discouraged by having your delusions of grandeur shattered, and keeping up the discipline to write to a deadline. Persistence pays off, and your book will only be as good as your work ethic. If you refuse defeat, you’ll win.

if you were stranded on a deserted island, what 5 things would you bring and why??

In the spirit of the game, I won’t say “an airplane” haha. A big knife, a multi-tool, a sturdy rucksack, a mirror, and a modern parachute. I think with all of those things, I could survive for a while and possibly get off the island.

What other books do you have to write or be written in the horizon??

Well, after I finish The Seven Signs, I’m going to start working on a couple of things. I have a science fiction story that’s been kicking around in my head for a little while, and that will probably be next. Other than that, I plan on writing something steampunk-ish, a couple of urban fantasies, and an alternate history love story set in a fascist America called Lainey’s War.

If you could have dinner with anyone alive or dead? Who would it be and why??

Dimebag Darrell, former guitarist for Pantera. He was my teenage idol, and I’d pressure him for a guitar lesson.

If you could time travel, what time period would you go to and why??

I think I’d go about 500-800 years into the future, just to see what it would be like. Who knows what kind of things we will discover? Just think about how far we’ve come from the 1980’s to now.

How do you write your books?? By the seat of your pants? Or is it plotted out in advance??

I keep a very rough outline that rarely survives the first chapter of the book. I basically write down key events in my storyline, and write to them. I find that when I’m writing, I tend to let my ideas flow, and I don’t have the patience to go back and update an outline, so I just keep writing and keep scattered notes. So I guess I write more by the seat of my pants.

How many books in the future do you see in the Sentient Fire?

Two to four more, but the story will ultimately decide for itself.

**Just a note, the series is called The Seven Signs, and book one is called The Sentient Fire.

Here is a twist...5 words or less, what comes to your mind first??

Harley

Disturbed

Minor

Computer

Stephanie (my wife lol)

Feel free to add any information that you feel I left out here. Please include your social media links.

Here are my various profiles for social media:

Website: http://www.dwhawkins.com

Twitter: @authorDWHawkins

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/DW-Hawkins/115177268592019

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5346141.D_W_Hawkins

Author Central: http://www.amazon.com/D.W.-Hawkins/e/B006CAZGWE/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_3

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/DWHawkins

Blog: http ://www .dwhawkins .blogspot .com

Wattpad: http://www.wattpad.com/user/dwhawkins81

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Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Rebecca Sinclair's Birthday Spring Fling

Reb’s Birthday Spring Fling

DURING THE MONTH OF APRIL, REBECCA WILL BE HAVING A BIRTHDAY spring fling giveaway

WINNER RECEIVES A STARBUCKS GIFT BASKET. Winner chosen by Random.org on April 30^th. See this at Wine Country and Gifts

Basket Includes:

Starbucks Selects Brown & Haley Cashew Roca (.84oz)

Tazo Organic Apple Red Tea (.9oz)

Tazo Organic Spicy Ginger Tea (.65oz)

Starbucks Selects White Chocolate & Raspberry Cookies (.88oz)

Tazo "Awake" Black Tea 1 filter bag (.9oz)

Tazo "Zen" Green Tea (.8oz)

Tazo "Calm" Herbal Infusion (.05oz)

Starbucks VIA Ready Brew Mocha Flavored Coffee (.529oz)

Brown & Haley Buttercrunch Toffee Cookies (3oz)

Starbucks Ground Coffee French Roast (2.5oz)

Starbucks Ground Coffee Sumatra (2.5oz)

Starbucks Ground Coffee Caffe Verona (2.5oz)

To enter this contest, please fill out the Rafflecopter form below: