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Interview With Charles Peterson Sheppard

9/18/2015

1 Comment

 
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Charles Peterson Sheppard, author of The Specialist: The Costa Rica Job (who also happens to be one cool cat) stopped by to chat with us today.

Mr. Peterson, a Southern California implant, shares his work, interests, and what's next for him.

"Some People Pray, Some People Promise, Some People Talk, Some People Do." C. P. Sheppard.  
Welcome, and thanks for taking time to share with us today.
Well, thank you for inviting me for this interview. It's a pleasure to be here and a great opportunity to engage in a conversation and reach out to readers everywhere. What did you want to ask me about, Mike?

Can you share anything about yourself we can't learn from your bio?
Hmm, let's see...No chess set has ever existed that I would not buy, given proper circumstance and enough money. No toy soldier has ever sat safely in my presence; I collect them passionately as well (particularly metal, Gothic knights). I like 1970's Rock, 1990's Hip Hop, drink a quart of orange juice a day, am totally addicted to coffee and chocolate, and love my three dogs.

Did you always plan to be a writer?
No not at all. I knew at an early age that I had a certain proficiency in writing, and I believe it stemmed from my love of reading. I benefited from being raised in a reading family, which lent itself to a natural proficiency in writing. I use the word proficiency, because for my entire adult life writing has been more a function of scholarship or job expectations than pleasure. I am not, at my core, a writer. Rather, I think I am an analytic thinker, an observer, and a life-long reader who has been well-trained as a writer. Writing is not my joy, people are my joy; I love 'all things people' and that is what I have always been about. I like meeting and knowing and interacting with the world of people, yet I feel I am also adept at the art of writing, by chance and circumstance, if that makes sense.
Please tell us a bit about The Specialist: The Costa Rica Job.
Sure, I would be glad to. First, the novel itself started out as an episodic adventure story, which I later expanded into a novel. The story itself deals with a retired CIA operative who works as a hard-fisted problem solver for troubled clients wealthy enough to hire him. In this novel, The Specialist goes to Costa Rica to rescue a kidnapped banker, only to find himself caught up in a web of danger and deceit far greater than he bargained for. The tale's main focus centers upon action-oriented adventure and lots of brawling. The plot is linear, direct, an easy read, and I think the strength of the narrative rests upon the action sequences. It really is a fun, short little read, perfect for an airplane flight or a day at the beach!
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The book is an action-packed thrill ride, but there is another aspect. Can you tell us a bit more about the branding concept behind the book?
Yes, I would be happy to discuss the whole branding concept! I wrote the novel to help my brother with his acting career. He appeared on the reality game show Survivor and called himself The Specialist. He never managed to win the game, but he did make a splash and excited many viewers. My goal was to write a heroic story which he could parlay into a television show or perhaps a movie. To be frank, the branding concept involved pushing the imaginary character and my brother, taking both as far as possible into the public eye in the hopes that someone in the television or movie industry might bite, and make a marketable product. Ultimately, my brother wants to become an executive producer in Hollywood, and this book, its main character (and other books and characters) comprise the main thrust of his efforts.

What inspired you to write this story?
My inspirations were my father's military service (a U.S. Marine), my two brothers' military service (U.S. Army), my mother (a Registered Nurse) and my beloved sister (also a Registered Nurse). Although I never really knew my father as a young adult, I include him because he always seemed very charming buy tough, like the main character. My military brothers were obvious influences, and the main character's compassion are extensions of my mother and sister. Another big inspiration was the chance to write a cool story that would elevate my brother in his ambitions. I am not a huge 'fame and fortune' fan, but the prospect intrigued me enough to move forward and write the book!

What are you working on right now?
Right now I am pushing a lot of other authors on Twitter, strengthening my social media presence and networking with people online. I like doing that; interacting and promoting and communicating with my fellow authors and creators in the Twitterverse. In the meantime, I am pushing an illustrated version of The Specialist and simultaneously writing a new novel called Flint of Dreams, which is a coming of age, paranormal thriller. Some sample chapters of Flint of Dreams are posted on Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/120181186-flint-of-dreams-chaps-1-4

Do you have a favorite author?
Mike Reynolds! Seriously, I think my favorite author of all time would have to be Ernest Hemingway. To me, Hemingway did with less what other greats have done with more, and still wrote brilliant, moving masterpieces. That is what I try to do as an author... I am a less is more type of writer, like Hemingway.

What is it about Hemingway's writing that speaks to you?
The conservation of space and the careful word choice, the rhythm, the sound of words and the sounds of groups of words. There are some writers (and humbly, I include myself in this lot) who read well silently and who read well aloud. That is what speaks to me in a great writer: does it sound good in my head and good to my ear? That is a craft which I feel Hemingway mastered. Also, Hemingway concerned himself with the inner human condition and outside human observation at the same time. That speaks to me.

Where can we buy your book?
 Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/Specialist-Costa-Rica-Job-Illustrated/dp/1457538679/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1442313037&sr=1-6&keywords=charles+peterson+sheppard

How can readers connect with you?
Twitter: CPSWorks14560 (The numbers are my hometown zip code)
About.me: https://about.me/charlespetersonsheppard
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CharlesPetersonSheppard


Thanks again for sharing with us today. I can't wait to see what's next!
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Interview With J. L. Clayton

9/13/2015

6 Comments

 
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J. L. Clayton, a writer specializing in fantasy and paranormal, joins us to share her work and ideas.

J. L. Clayton lives in a small town and works at the local post office, delivering mail every day with a smile on her face. She and her husband, Robert, have a 15-year-old daughter, Shyla. J. L. Clayton was inspired by the Twilight series to write her first novel, A Spark of Magic: Chosen Saga Book One.
Thanks for agreeing to share with us today.
Hello there. Thank you very much for wanting me to share my life and books with you.

Can you tell us something about you we can't learn from your bio?
Something not on my bio... I love doing things on the spot. If someone I knew asked me to try something I've never tried, I will; but I might not do it again. It just depends on if I like said things I'm doing. Also, there are times when I will get this small burst of (I call it my happy juice). It just hits me out of nowhere and I'll either smile like a fool, or clap my hands together 2 or 3 times and let off a high pitched squeal. There have only been two people who have seen me clap-squeal. They are my daughter and my best friend.

Please tell us a bit about the Chosen Saga.
The Chosen Saga is about a teenager named Charlize, aka Charlie. She learns she isn't quite human. She is spunky, sarcastic, and she doesn't take no for an answer. In the first book of Chosen Saga; A Spark of Magic, you get the feel of what's going on. Charlie moves from city to city, never understanding why her family has to move so much. Now she and her family are settling down and she is thrilled about this prospect. Plus, the fact that she is turning sixteen, making
friends, and crushing on some seriously hot guys who seem to like her; doesn't hurt either. Charlie learns a lot about herself and the truth of why she is always uprooted. She finds out who keeps invading her dreams and why she feels so drawn to him. There is a mixture of a normal life and a supernatural one. In book two, A Blaze of Magic, I pick up from the cliffhanger. You meet more characters like sexy Vampires, beautiful Dragon Shifters, and many other supernaturals including the wicked Crispin. Charlie is finally using her magic and becoming the person she was meant to be. Of course there is a cliffhanger in this book to set the tone for A Ghost of Magic - Book Three.

I read somewhere that the Twilight Series inspired you to write the Chosen Saga. What about the series spoke to you?
I didn't base my book off the Twilight saga, I watched the movie, and I wanted to know what would happen next. Well, because I had to know what happened text; I read the books... Mind you, I've never really read a book for the fun factor until I read Twilight. Then I instantly became a book lover. After reading a lot of books, I had a dream about Charlie. And yes, I know that is cliche... But it's the truth.

Was The Chosen Saga always a series, or did it grow into one?
It was always a series. There is just to much going on for one book. *Smiles*

Have you always wanted to be a writer?

Nope. Like I said previously, I watched a movie, I read a lot of books, and then I had a dream. That just sounded ominous... Boom-boom-boom and now she writes.

Do you have a favorite place to write?

I have my computer room. It's really the only place I write my books.

What are you working on right now?

I am working on my third book in the Chosen Saga. I'm also working on some other stories, because that's how I roll. I might be getting in over my head too, but I'll cross that bridge when I reach it.


What do you like to read?
I like to read everything as long as it's not nonfiction. I just can't get into it. I guess I want to live in an imaginary world.

Where can we buy your books?

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other sites on the web. You can also buy one from me! *Winks*
Here are the links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/kindle/series/B00XLX31J0?ref=series_aw_dp_link
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-spark-of-magic-j-l-clayton/1119379685?ean=9781478731849&itm=1&usri=9781478731849&r=1
Website: http://jlclayton.wix.com/chosensaga

How can readers connect with you?
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/JLClayton/511530608969551?ref=hl
Twitter: @JLClaytonBooks https://twitter.com/JLClaytonBooks
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/JLClayton
Website: http://jlclayton.wix.com/chosensaga

Thanks for sharing with us today.
Thank you very much for having me.
6 Comments

Where is Mike?

9/8/2015

0 Comments

 
It occurred to me last night (late...very late...far too late to act on the revelation) while I was shining up and putting the final touches on my interview with Alicia Kobishop (author of The Fine Line) that I have been quite absent from my blog lately. I mean, I've been here. I manage the site myself, so I'm the one doing all the posting and whatnot. However, everything I've been posting has been about other people and their work. It's been quite a while since I've posted an update about what I'm up to. That doesn't mean I've been sitting idle. I've actually been quite busy.

There's my day job. It isn't very exciting...not much to report there. I manage the digital operation for a web to print shop with some pretty popular websites filling my presses with work. Need a business card? Anyway, like I said...not terribly exciting. But hey, I've gotta' sleep sometime.
A little better than a month ago, I was able to try my hand at acting. Now that was pretty exciting! It was for a pilot called Rumpel4skin. No...it's not a porno. It is riotously funny though. I brought the bass part to a barbershop quartet and I got to wear a fake mustache! What could be better than that?!?! I hate excessive punctuation. I'm sorry I did that. I'll try not to do it again. I had so much fun it was probably worth the extra punctuation. I got to meet and work with some really talented people too.
Meanwhile...back at the desk... I've been editing Lake of Dragons: Kallum's Fury. It is the second book in the Lake of Dragons series, and I can't wait to share it with you. The story takes place five summers after the events of Lake of Dragons. Maelich has just finished writing the book and Ouloos has entered a golden age of peace and prosperity. Or...at least it should have. Unfortunately, things haven't really changed that much. And when three dead-eyed men pay a visit to the forest just outside the castle at Havenstahl, all hell breaks loose. Well...if there were a hell on Ouloos it would definitely break loose. I suppose the concept of hell doesn't really exist there. It can't really break loose then, can it? Fine, things get really, really, really bad...but hell doesn't break loose. 

While all of those shenanigans are going on, I've also joined a screenplay writers critique group. Yes...I'm also working on a screenplay. I'm in the rough, rough draft phase, but it is coming along pretty nicely. I am learning a ton from the feedback I'm getting from the group. I love writing groups, and this one boasts some very talented writers. It was a huge honor for me to be invited to join.

Then there are the interviews. I love doing them. I've hosted four fantastic writers so far, and it has been a great experience. Getting a peek inside such creative minds is truly enlightening. On top of that, I feel like I'm helping them spread the word about their work in my own small way. I'm really glad I decided to launch the interview segment. I hope everyone enjoys learning about the authors I'm interviewing as much as I do.

Finally...giveaways! Dude! Sorry...is that too informal? Anyway...dude, I have been running tons of giveaways. Okay...not literally tons, but there have been quite a few. I love giveaways! And I have recently discovered Amazon's "Give as Gift" feature. Somebody better stop me! I gave away five Kindle copies of Lake of Dragons (the book that started it all for me) in August, and for September, I'm giving away five Kindle copies of Hell and the Hunger. That giveaway is live right now. You can enter it here. Meanwhile, ReadAways.com is running a giveaway for a signed, paperback copy of Hell and the Hunger. You can enter that one here. Wow! I'm not sure what next month looks like just yet, but I'll come up with something.

I think that's it for now. Thanks for checking out my blog. Happy Reading!
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Interview With Alicia Kobishop

9/8/2015

0 Comments

 
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Today we welcome author Alicia Kobishop to share her work and ideas with us.

Alicia Kobishop is a contemporary fiction writer and author of The Fine Line, a mature young adult/new adult contemporary romance. She currently resides in Milwaukee, WI, USA with her (super-supportive) husband and two (phenomenal) children

Her current work in progress is a mature young adult contemporary fiction she can't wait to share with us.
Thanks for taking time to share with us today, Alicia.
Absolutely! Thank you so much for having me!

What can you tell us about you we can't learn from your bio?
Well, seeing as I've just gotten home from a camping weekend with my family, let me tell you what's on my mind at the moment. Something you may not know about me is that I'm cursed. Every time I go tent camping with my husband and kids...it rains! But it doesn't just rain...it storms! It never fails, and being cursed is the only explanation. *Laughs* Luckily we camped on my Uncle's property this weekend, so we were able to take shelter from the storm in his house. And the tent didn't collapse on us this time either (yep, it's happened to us before)! I call that a major WIN! Plus, I'm sure this adventure is something the kids will always remember, and we have a fun camping story to tell. It's all about perspective, right?
Can you tell us a bit about The Fine Line?
Sure! The Fine Line is a New Adult Contemporary Romance about high school senior Liv Evans, who has built an enormous barrier around her heart. Every father figure she's loved has left her in one way or another, leaving her completely jaded and unwilling to open herself up to any guy that comes along. When she meets Logan, an illegal street racer, she's drawn to him, but knows he is the exact type of guy she needs to stay away from.
The story explores how Liv copes with loss and whether or not she will allow herself to open her heart again, especially with someone like Logan, who lives so dangerously close to the edge.
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What inspired you to write The Fine Line?
The decision to write a book came when several people in my life passed away within a very short time frame. It caused me to evaluate my priorities and lit a fire under me to do the things I always said I would do "someday."
Around the same time I began reading fiction again, something I hadn't really done since childhood, and in doing so, remembered how much I loved letting myself get caught up in fictional worlds, characters, and
relationships. The more I read, the more I wanted to write a fictional story of my own--you know--"someday." Then, I decided instead of waiting for "someday" to come, I'd just do it. So, I sat down on my PC and got started, and The Fine Line was born. 
**Check out the book trailer for The Fine Line**
**Enter to win a signed paperback copy of The Fine Line**
There are quite a few intense racing scenes. Are you drawing from personal experience?
Thanks for asking, Mike! I always smile when I get asked this because it means I have created something that makes people wonder if it's true to real life. Which means I must be doing something right! The racing is not drawn from personal experience, though. I spent many hours researching street racing, its lingo, and what's involved in it. One thing that IS real, however, are the cars. The yellow Mustang and the white Nova with the black racing stripes are straight out of my own, personal memory files.

Can you share anything about Crossing the Line with us?
Absolutely! Crossing the Line is a "Fine Line Novella" told from the points of view of Chloe (an antagonist in The Fine Line), and a male lead character who's name I have not yet released. (It's a secret!) After completing The Fine Line, I really wanted to explore Chloe's character and learn more about why she did the things she did and why she acted the way she acted. Crossing the Line will shed some light into some questions that were left unanswered in The Fine Line. Liv & Logan will make appearances in this novella, but it will not be about them. This will be a stand-alone novella.

Are you working on anything else at the moment?

I am jumping between Crossing the Line, and Spark (this is a tentative title), an adult romance with more mature characters who are in their 30's. I am excited about Spark because it blends serious, real-life problems with a sexy, exciting, romantic adventure. 

I've heard rumors about a collaboration with a younger, first-time author. Can you elaborate?
*Smiles* Yes! I have collaborated with my son to create a story called Into the Abyss by A.C. Lee (a pseudonym). One day, my daughter went to a birthday party and my son was feeling a little jealous that she got to go and he didn't, so I tried to make him feel better by saying it would be the perfect opportunity for us to spend some quality time together...just the two of us. When I asked him what he wanted to do, he said, "Let's write a book!" So that's what we did. He was the idea man. I just helped with elaboration, sentence structure, grammar, and editing. Into the Abyss is a story about four boys who take a self-built submarine on an adventure down to the ocean's floor where they see creepy, freaky fish and learn about friendship and other life lessons. We had so much fun writing it together!
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What are your favorite books to read?
I tend to gravitate toward contemporary romance. Nothing hooks me like love with a little bit of angst and realistic drama thrown in. I'll read anything that draws me in from the beginning and doesn't let go, and for me, that means books with a lot of engaging, realistic dialogue. There's nothing better than getting so lost in a story that you lose all sense of time and reality, or one that keeps you awake, reading until the wee hours of the morning! Some of my favorite contemporary romance books are On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves, Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire, and Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens.

Where can we buy your books?
At the moment The Fine Line is under a Kindle Direct Publishing Select contract which means it's only available on Amazon. What's awesome about this is Kindle Unlimited members can read it for FREE! Both the eBook and the paperack are available on Amazon. Into the Abyss is available on Amazon, Google Books, Smashwords, and Barnes and Noble.

How can readers connect with you?

I love hearing from readers! Since publishing The Fine Line, I have gotten to know so many people in the reading and book blogging community, and it has really been such a blessing. Anyone who wants to reach out can feel free to email me at AliciaKobishop@gmail.com, or connect with me on my Website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, or TSU. I make a point to respond to everyone. Unless it's spam!


Word has it you're very interested in nutrition. What can you tell us about that?
I AM very interested in nutrition! I learned SO much about natural, whole-food, healthy eating when I managed an Integrative Medical Clinic. For several years, I had suffered from chronic headaches, body aches, and fatigue, and one of the things that helped me to feel better was changing my diet. And getting of the Dew. You know--the Mountain Dew. Oh yeah, being addicted to soda is a real thing. Sugar, too. I added in exercise a year or so later and through exercise and nutrition, I felt better than I had in years. Now, in addition to writing, I am an Independent Beachbody Coach, supplementing my income by helping others learn how to be fit & healthy!

Wow! You sure do have a lot going on. Thanks for taking time to share with us today.

Thank YOU for having me, Mike! I appreciate your personalized questions. I can tell you've done your research. You're awesome!


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