Gracie Wilson has a new book out. As a romance writer she loves love and the beauty of romantic entanglement.

More about Gracie:
You can look for her in the trees enjoying nature’s wonders, traveling to see the latest animal conservations, or at aquariums all around the world. Gracie loves nature and all animals. She has many pets and is always adding new addition. The more the merrier in her mind. She enjoys sitting under the shade reading a book, letting the world around her pass by, while she is safe in her bubble of imagination. Well that is where she’d love to stay. She is a softball player, can be talked into the occasional Karaoke and loves going out to dance. She is a first generation Canadian living in Ontario. Her family is from Scotland, so finding her in the hot sun for very long is unlikely, but give her rain and thunderstorms and she’s golden.

Gracie's new book is BEAUTIFULLY IMAGINED

Synopsis:
Imagine.
Love, Life, Lies.
Playing the game of imagining is a dangerous one. It can leave you paralyzed by all the possibilities. Not knowing because you are scared to dream.
When my life finally all came together I thought I’d imagined every outcome.
I dreamed of the ocean. The waves. But most of all the shore. Covered in sand or snow. It haunted me every night but in the most wonderful of ways. Until that night.
Sometimes taking a risk is the only way. But that doesn’t mean its going to end well. I should know.
 
Her book is available at:
Amazon US: goo.gl/9j593v
Amazon CA: goo.gl/9LDPey
Amazon UK: goo.gl/Hq4FaE
Amazon AU: goo.gl/MfGtmj
Kobo: goo.gl/zbKLde
iTunes: goo.gl/KGNV2Q
Nook: goo.gl/pidxqD
 
#KickassRomance #BeautifullySeries #BeautifullyImagined #NewAdult #StandAlone

Meet author Jeremy Hicks. If you already know of Jeremy Hicks you are one of the very luck readers. Mr. Hicks can often be seen at local conventions in the Alabama and Tennessee areas, and he is always willing to chat with fans. So without further blathering by me, meet Mr. Jeremy Hicks.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and why you write.
I’ve always told or written stories, as long as I can remember anyway. I read histories, myths, legends, and various types of fiction to fuel my creative fire. As a result, I have so many influences that different styles of scenes and stories pop up in my head all day long. Some of these make it onto paper. Even fewer of them turn into full blown storylines that I complete. I used to write simply for pleasure and to see how a plotline played out on paper. A few years ago, I decided to turn to professional writing to supplement my income. After a series of debilitating injuries coupled with degenerative conditions, I am trying to pay all my bills and raise a child with my writing.
 
What is the first book that made you think about writing?
As far as the first book that made me consider writing as a profession, I would say it was actually Stephen King’s Danse Macabre. After reading this book on the horror genre and its variations and trends in different forms of media, I thought seriously about writing, though even then my tendencies favored short stories and scripted ideas. Honestly, I wanted to write scripts for the small and big screen and use the short stories to develop those ideas. I didn’t really want to do anything as tedious and long-term as devote myself to a novel. Now, I’m editing my third and longest creative work to date. Also, the first one written solo.
 
Tell us a little bit about your books.
My co-author and I have two novels, part of the Cycle of Ages Saga, which actually started out as feature-length screenplays. They’re fast-paced, character-driven story lines that introduce our dark fantasy world of Faltyr and draw our audience into the main plot line while having story arcs for the other characters. We created a sandbox-style world big enough for all our ideas, one that would allow us to explore creative twists on common fantasy and horror tropes, plot lines, character archetypes, creatures, etc.

Cycle of Ages Saga: Finders Keepers is the initial novelization of our first screenplay, and it introduces us to Kaladimus Dor (The Master-of-Disaster), a dangerous wizard on his way home from a secret mission when he shipwrecks himself and others on an island full of ravenous living and undead residents. He is largely the plot catalyst and primary point-of-view character. Finders Keepers refers to the guild of mercenaries and adventurers who ally themselves with Dor to try and escape from the island.

The sequel, CoAS: Sands of Sorrow, continues the adventures of Kaladimus Dor and Finders Keepers months after their island escapade. It chronicles their accidental and disastrous entry into Faltyr’s Blood War, resulting in an arduous race across a haunted and twisted desert to save thousands of elves doomed to die in a concentration camp created by the Kingdom of Oparre.

I’m editing the third novel now, the first one with just my name on the byline. CoAS: Delve Deep is about three times longer than Finders Keepers and really dives into the main story line, develops the main characters further, and explores more of the weird, wild world of faraway Faltyr in the process. We’re planning two to three more novels to wrap up the Cycle of Ages Saga. But I already have a short story and novelette published in anthologies that connect to this storyline. We have more planned and a few written. So Faltyr will only continue to evolve and expand as a franchise.
 
How do you select the names of your characters?
Hmm…depends on the genre, culture/ethnicity of the character, and their personality or attributes. You try to find a name that fits. Sometimes, the name comes first, though. Then the character writes itself. For the Cycle of Ages Saga, some of the names are derived from previous D&D campaigns Barry or I ran for various groups over the years. For example, much of the character and place names associated with Moor’Dru, Oparre, and the Crimson Phoenix came from Barry’s campaigns, whereas the Unen’ek elves and most of the actual cultures, and their fictional empires, on the continent of Ny come from mine. Many of the names have been changed at one point for one reason or another. Kaladimus Dor started out as Doore, but people kept calling him Door-E, which would not do.
 
What was your hardest scene to write?
Technically, the Battles of Delve Deep in the most recent novels were pretty difficult. There’s also a scene involving a dam that was challenging. I hope I have my research right on that one. If not, I expect to hear back about it from readers. Emotionally, the last two chapters of Cycle of Ages Saga: Sands of Sorrow were the toughest. They came to me in a dream two years after the completion of the initial rough draft and almost wrote themselves. The new editing was much rougher and harsher, but with an awful beauty to it. They left me in tears. Still do when I read them.
 
Why do you write the genres you do?
I tend to write horror, fantasy, or steampunk, but I want to try my hand at space opera, too. If you’ll notice, these are all genres that fall under the broad heading of speculative fiction. My writing tends to lend itself to something speculative regardless of what tropes and settings are used to tell a story. I research, but I am not an expert in every field. And it is not as easy as some authors make it sound to find subject matter experts willing to gab and gab about a particular plot point. Therefore, I’d rather avoid hard science fiction, medical thrillers, and murder mysteries for this very reason.
 
Since you write so many genres, do you have a favorite genre and why or why not?
Honestly, I prefer to write horror. My mind was fed with too many horror movies, history books, and revealing documentaries, so it bends toward dark, depressing, and grim topics and situations. That was why I wanted a dark fantasy bent to Faltyr and our fantasy tales associated with it.
 
What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?
Despite some bad experiences with traditional publishing, it led me to a career as a professional writer. None of that would have been possible without the ticket I purchased for Imagicon several years ago. That’s where I met another writer friend, M.B. Weston, who recommended the person who eventually published our Cycle of Ages Saga: Finders Keepers. That’s why she was named in the dedication for the first printing of that novel.
 
What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?
That’s an extensive list, and while I’d rather not drop names, I will credit those author friends who have helped me edit, promote, and even handle cover design and interior formatting for our novels.
Alan Lewis has been a big influence. He has edited short stories and longer works for me and handled interior formatting for our second novel. Alan is also a talented graphic designer who has worked on the cover layout and design for the new editions of our novels.

Kim Richardson and A.J. Johnson are other author friends who have worked as editors on our novels, and the late Logan Masterson was a close friend and a good critical editor for several of my stories. M.M. Schill has helped beta read stories for me, including Delve Deep, where she provided valuable input to help shape the story arcs for certain characters.

There are dozens of others I chat with on social media, hang with at conventions, and discuss or debate everything from movies and books to politics and religions online and in person. Besides the enthusiastic, supportive readers, these author friends have helped me keep going during bouts of sickness and depression and even anger at continued failures and impending financial doom.

Last but not least, I have to mention Barry Hayes, my long-time friend and co-author, who agreed to combine our creative ideas and work on the development and writing for the first two Cycle of Ages Saga novels and a total of four feature-length screenplays. Without his involvement, we would not have achieved our dreams of becoming published writers and small business owners. With his renewed involvement, perhaps we’ll meet with more critical success and find that oft elusive profitability zone.
 
How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?
It’s really the editing process that transforms you as a writer, if you’re learning from your previous mistakes. Heavy repeated edits before publication helps trim and clean the manuscript, shaping it into a better, more refined version of the story you want to tell. You also learn your common mistakes (grammatically-speaking), stylistic tips and uncommon grammar rules (if the editor is worth their salt), and how to avoid those mistakes in the future.

As far as the publishing process, our first novel was published traditionally. It involved a long wait (that drained us financially as we were travelling to cons to promote our upcoming release and paying for the creation of promotional merchandise and swag for potential buyers) for a lackluster cover on a book delivered literally weeks before we were due at a huge literary event. By that time, the second novel was almost complete, but we wait two more years before deciding to pull it from the publisher and publish it on our own.

During that period, I found my writing heavily impacted the inability of our first novel to find sustainable sales; the inaction of our publisher on the sequel; and the mounting expenses of promoting online with little success and paying to attend conventions (our major source of sales). Dealing with another publisher for our Faltyr short stories involved an extensive wait as well, and recently ended with the rights reverting to us (without another of them even being published). This experience motivated me to do more with self-publishing with our own company rather than deal with small-time publishers who are largely wasting people’s time and driving writers to write less, not more. We do have our sticks in the first with a big house, but only we chose to approach them after hearing that they treat their writers well, prompting us to create more and wait less.
 
Does writing energize or exhaust you?
The initial ideas and planning/plotting phases energize me, and the writing and editing phases exhaust me. I find the marketing and promotional phases soul-crushing, financially-draining, and often depressing. That’s truly the worst part.
 
What are common traps for aspiring writers?
For us, it was unscrupulous agents and back-end vanity presses that technically qualify as small-to-midlist publishers because all the costs incurred by the authors are on the back-end, when you have to buy your own books to sell, book your own cons and book-signings, manage every aspect of promotions, and pay for all the marketing costs, while taking home a small percentage as a royalty.

If you plan on having co-writers or illustrators, put everything in writing, have a lawyer look over it, and pay a notary to file it. Then establish yourself as a business, obtain an FEIN, and then keep track of expenses. I think most writers fail to write off their expenses to cover their tax burden on their business expenses. This is the only way to soften the blow of marketing, promotion, and travel expenses for conventions, book signings, and literary events. Treat yourself, or your writing organization, as a business and act like a business, but a legitimate one. Also, don’t spam people to market your book and don’t engage in so-called shotgun marketing to reach agents or managers. It’s expensive, annoying, and those who respond are usually looking to take advantage of new writers. One more thing, build an online presence and platform and start building an email subscriber list before your book is done. We wanted to wait until we had a finished product, so we were “real” writers, not aspiring ones. That’s a mistake. If you don’t market and engage on social media and build a readership, you will have no one to launch your book to, unless you happen to have several years to wait on a traditional publisher to take notice, consider your book, and let you know if they want it or not. Then several more years to wait while it is edited, promoted, and then released.
 
Have you ever gotten reader’s block?
Yes, and some of it is intentional. I try to avoid similar books from the same genre as something I am writing or planning to write. I read those in between projects or while working on another genre. And sometimes part of writer’s block is reader’s block. Often you get to the point where you are simply tired of re-reading and editing what you’re writing. Lay it aside for a bit and then come back to it. You’ll be surprised what errors and awkward phrases you will be able to eliminate after some time away from a piece you’re writing or have written.
 
Do you Google yourself?
I don’t Google myself as much as posts involving me, my co-writer, or our creative works. I do that to check and see where we (or those specific posts) fall in various keyword searches. I advise doing that to make sure your posts, interviews, reviews, etc. are showing up on the first search page for each search engine.
 
What question do you wish I had asked and what is the answer to that question?
I would have liked you to ask, ‘What book do I think should be required reading for students?’ My answer would be Mark Twain’s War Prayer. If you’ve never read it, read it. Then you’ll know why.
 
Mr. Hicks has two stories coming out it the anthology Chronicles of Mirthstone.
 
Mr. Hicks can be found on Facebook and at jjeremyhicks.com
 
His books can be found at cycleofagesaga.com and on several websites (Amazon and Barnes and Noble)
 
Feel free to ask Mr. Hicks any further questions you might have.

Today I have a treat for you, an interview with author and playwright Wayne Miller. Mr. Miller has written and produced several plays in and around the Huntsville, Alabama area, and is known for not shying away from tough subjects. He has also recently released his first novel, to which there are links at the bottom of the interview.

You have written plays and at least one novel, do you have a preference of which you write?
Not really. I love both. Each has its own unique charms. I do like that plays don't take as long to write, though.
 
What is your favorite genre to work on, since you have written in several genres? Why?
I'm a Horror junkie, through and through. As to why, exactly, I don't really know. It could be as simple as my parents letting me watch old monster movies when I was little. Or I could get all deep and psychological with it and comment on the ways in which make-believe horrors make the horrors of the real world easier to process; how Horror as a genre allows human beings to experience fear in a safe way, and how it is vital to our mental health to develop the proper coping mechanisms for dealing with fear. Or, if you ask some people, I'm just a sicko. You can take your pick. :)
 
What is the first book that made you cry? Why?
I honestly can't remember. I know Where the Red Fern Grows damn near killed me in elementary school.
 
What authors did you dislike at first but grew into? What changed your mind about them.
I used to hate the Harry Potter books. Not so much because I thought they were bad. There were just so, so many Fantasy books I thought were more worthy of all the attention, and all these kids had never heard of them. But watching the movies (because my wife made me) led me to a respect for the overall story. Plus Twilight came along and made me realize just how good the Harry Potter books were, after all, and deserving of the accolades.
 
Does writing energize or exhaust you?
Both. But it's a good exhaustion.
 
You just published your first novel, did you find the experience exhausting or inspiring? Why?
Inspiring. I detest the traditional publishing route, had tried to go that route, and even used to work in that industry. Technology has advanced to the point that an author doesn't have to choose between traditional publishing with all its drawbacks and throwing money away on a vanity press. It is now possible to go around the minefield.
 
How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?
It didn't, really. If anything, maybe I won't second guess myself so much in the future, worrying about whether something I want to do or say will satisfy some industry crony.
 
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
It depends. If the book is set in the present day, that requires little in the way of research. Historical stories are more involved.
 
What did you edit out of this book? Why?
This one? Me – yes this recent one. Just a word here, a sentence there. I didn't make any big cuts.
 
What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?
On books I want to read. The best thing a writer can do is read as much as he can get his hands on. Read for pleasure. Read to educate yourself. Read to study style.
 
What are common traps for aspiring writers?
There are so many. One of the biggest, I'd say, is grammar. You have to learn the rules before you break the rules. Back when I used to work as a submissions editor, if a manuscript came across my desk and there were grammatical mistakes or misspelled words, I'd dismiss it out of hand. One must learn to write properly before he can make the words "sing."
 
What literary pilgrimages have you gone on?
I've been to Cross Plains, Texas, home to Robert E. Howard, several times. I've visited the Rosenbach Museum in Philadelphia, where they have the original notes Bram Stoker wrote for Dracula and a whole wing dedicated to Maurice Sendek, author of Where the Wild Things Are. I've sat in the sharecropper's shack in Louisiana where the "Brer Rabbit" stories were first compiled.
 
In your opinion, what is the most unethical practice in the publishing industry?
Those literary agents who've figured a way around the rule against charging reader's fees, in fact some of the biggest names in the business are guilty of it, and they get away with it because of who they are.
 
What is your writing Kryptonite?
I have to be alone to write. If anyone else is around I can't do it.
 
What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?
I'm not the fastest typist. I really should have taken typing in high school, but who knew I'd need it one day?
 
Websites Mr. Miller writes for: vampires.com, werewolves.com, zombies.org, topcomics.com, and darkness.com.
 
Mr. Miller’s newest novel is The Confessions of Saint Christopher: Werewolf and it is available at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/734763
 
His personal website is evilcheezproductions.blogspot.com and he is on Facebook as "Evil Cheez Productions."

Author Salice Rodgers is a multi-genre author who explores many different topics in her novels. She has several novel series and a few standalone novels that you can find on Amazon.com. Here is your chance to get to know a little bit about her. If you are interested in her novels or getting to know even more about her, she is easily found on Facebook and you can message her there.

What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?
Definitely in high school. Reading class we would go in to a small library and pick a book to read and at the end of the class we had to write about what we read that day. It was then that I truly fell in love with reading. 
 
What is the first book that made you cry? Why?
A Child Called It. The story is so deep and at times it grabbed my heart and ripped it out.
 
Do you think someone could be a writer if they don’t feel emotions strongly? Why or why not?
Hmmm, Hard question. I would think that it would be hard to write a scene in a story if you didn’t feel any emotions about what you are writing about.
 
What genre do you write and why?
I write in many genres. I have Romance and Paranormal. I love writing in any genre. I love paranormal because there are no limits with what you can write whether it be vampires, wolves or anything else you can dream up. And I love Romance because I who doesn’t love a good love story right? 
 
As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal? Why?
I haven’t really ever thought about that, but it would probably be something with a skull, just because I love skulls.
 
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
Bing is my best friend. I research anything I am not sure about until I know I won’t mess it up when I write about it. I will do research until I am sure about something.
 
Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?
No. When I wrote my first book many pointed out that the lead character was described to look just like my husband and I didn’t realize I had done it. I guess if I had to pick out one thing it would be that A LOT of my stories are in Louisiana. I would pack up and move to NOLA today if I could talk my husband in to it. lol
 
What was your hardest scene to write?
I have found YA to be a pretty hard to write. It isn’t a scene but for some reason it’s been difficult for me to write. As far as a scene it would have to be sex scenes.
 
How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?
I learned a lot. I learned how to write better and editing tips to make the editing process a lot easier as well as formatting.
 
What’s the best way to market your books?
Hmm, I use Facebook and Twitter. But I am always looking for more places to market so if anyone knows any let me know. Lol

What are common traps for aspiring writers?
Be careful when looking for agents and publishers.
 
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
Don’t second guess yourself so much. Let the story flow.
 
Have you read anything that made you think differently about fiction?
No.
 
What is your favorite childhood book?
Anything Dr. Seuss, I still love those even now.
 
What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?
I still tend to second guess myself and sometimes doubt myself even knowing I shouldn’t. Starting the story is usually hard for me. I will have the story in my head but end up writing the first chapter at least once or twice.
 
Is there anything you wish I would have asked? If there is what would you have liked to have been asked?
No 😊
 
You can find Ms. Rodgers books on Amazon. Her current titles are:
 
Series 1
Master May I
Lilies
Mistress A
 
Series 2
Destruction
Temper
 
Series 3
Say Something
Forgive Me
Revive Me
Redeem Me
 
Surviving This Life (Co-wrote with N. Nieto)
Sanguinosa Notte
The Deception of Annika
 
You can find her on Facebook as Author Salice Rodgers and Twitter: @AuthorSalice
 
My PA: Emma Lloyd
 
Ms. Rodgers is hoping to be going to the book signing in NOLA in November 2018, and since she loves NOLA so much she is looking forward to it.

Evelyn Murdock is a published poet, and the first poet I have interviewed. She is here to tell you not only a little about herself, but also to expand on why poetry is important. Poetry is often a misunderstood form of art and writing. I can honestly say it wasn't until recently that I began to appreciate poetry for not only its form but also its function and expressiveness. Evelyn is moving to San Diego, CA to attend UCSD. She will be working towards her MFA, and I can say I am just a little jealous because San Diego is my hometown and I really miss it.

Ms. Murdock has also been very involved in Shakespearean theater, which is where I met her.

Without further ado let's get to know a little more about Ms. Murdock and her process and poetry.

As a poet do you feel that you are understood or misunderstood? Why or why not?

I don’t believe that there’s a “correct” way to interpret any work of art and I’m a firm believer in artists not explaining their work to people. A strong work should speak for itself. With that in mind, I think that my minor successes as a writer indicate that I have an audience that takes something from my work, though I can’t say for sure that what they take from it is the same as what I’ve put in. Maybe they’re laughing at me, I don’t know.

How did publishing your first poem change your process of writing? Or did it?

When I first got this question, I realized that I’ve never thought about it. I’m not sure that I’ve changed my process, but I think that the fact that it was the first prose poem I wrote, rather than one written in verse, encouraged me to explore prose poetry more. However, my poem "A Moment of Joy..." in WUSSY Mag’s Fight Issue, is the first piece I’ve had published as Evelyn, as opposed to my dead name, so we’ll see if it has any effect this time.

What was the best money you ever spent as a writer/poet?

For me, I think part of the appeal of being a writer is that it’s an inexpensive art form. A lot of people who don’t know me well but feel the need to get me a Xmas gift or something will often buy me things like fancy leather-bound notebooks or nice pens, but the fact of the matter is that I do most of my writing in either Google Docs or with stolen pens in spiral notebooks that I’ve spent less than a dollar on.

But I guess, if I had to say, going to college and taking writing classes hasn’t hurt.

Do you find that poetry is as accepted or less accepted as novels? Why or why not?

Poetry is the oldest form of literature, so it has seniority on its side, but I think that a lot of readers don’t really understand modern poetry. Poetry prior to the Modernists is easy to identify, as it was typically written in verse with meter and rhyme. Modern poetry is a lot denser. It takes more effort to unpack, so I think that a lot of people see poetry as inferior just because it takes up less space on the page.

I was once asked which writers I like at a party. When I started listing poets and playwrights, the guy interrupted me and said “no, I mean real writers.” I was kind of blown away by that, but it makes sense. I’m a millennial, so of course I’ve read a lot of dating profiles online, and I’ve noticed that those who self-identify as “readers” will typically list novel after novel to drive the point home. I think that people feel as though you’re not really reading unless you’re ready to commit to at least a hundred pages. But I have a short attention span.

What type of poetry do you write?

Dr. Dan Colson at Emporia State University called it “Neo-Beat.” I like that.

Why do you write poetry? Have you thought about writing a long piece (like an epic poem) or novel?

I started writing poetry on accident. I played in bands in my late teens/early twenties, and after I stopped, I kept writing lyrics. I didn’t even really think about it as being something I “did” until I took a poetry writing class in undergrad at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and found out that I had actually gotten to be decent at it.

I write lots of things. Poetry just happens to be the one I’m best at. I’ve also written short stories and plays. I’ve never had much of a desire to write a novel. I like for my work to be something that people can take in in a single sitting.

Do you think someone could be a writer if they don’t feel emotions strongly? Why or why not?

I think that anyone can be a writer as long as they’re prepared to take criticism and suck at it for years and years before they ever produce anything decent.

What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel? Why?

I’ve noticed that The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy gets a lot of flack, for some reason. I love that it incorporates cosmic horror into this wacky absurdist story about a man in a bathrobe being thrust into a search for the meaning of existence, when all he really wants to do is have a cup of tea. The commentary in Hitchhiker’s Guide on our own lives and the society we live in has definitely influenced the way I see things today.

How many hours a day do you write? Do you have a set place you write? Can you describe it if you do? If you do not where do you like to write?

I try to write for at least an hour every day, but that’s still dependent on whether or not I’m gonna be a puddle of depression that day. I typically write sitting at a desk or table. If I try doing it in bed I usually just end up watching Netflix.

Does writing energize or exhaust you?

I think that if I’m just doing my daily writing it can help to get my brain working, but when I get on an idea that I feel good about I’ll keep writing until I’ve finished a first draft. That can sometimes take days, so by the end of it I’m pretty beat.

What are your publishing dreams? Are there any poets today that you admire and aspire to be like?

I’ve joked a lot that I’d like to be included in a Norton Anthology someday. I think that’s how you know that your work has had a significant cultural impact, when a bunch of academics decide to include you in an expensive book that they’re going to make all of their students buy.

I’m a huge fan of Dean Young. I applied to the Michener Center for Writers for my MFA because I would have loved to have a chance to work under him. Unfortunately, I was not admitted to the program.

For aspiring writers/poets what tips or information would you give them?

When you first start writing, you’re going to suck at it for a long time. Don’t let that bring you down. Just keep doing it. I wrote a thousand bad poems before I ever got anything published and I still think that most of what I write is crap.

What does literary success look like to you?

Making enough money to have a house, no roommates, and plenty of food, while having time to focus on writing.

Have you ever had writer’s block? How did you handle it if you did? What about reader’s block?

I almost always have writer’s block. I don’t know that I have a technique for getting over it, other than to force myself to write something until I have a decent idea.

What question do you wish I had asked and what is the answer to that question?

“What is your greatest influence?”
Anxiety.
 
My writing is pretty frantic. I think that it still carries the energy that it did when I was trying to write punk rock songs. I’m fond of grotesque imagery, and at some point in my life I played with sound a lot. Maybe I still do, and I’m just less aware of it. Until recently, a lot of my poetry ended up being prose poetry, but I’ve started straying away from that a little more.
 
My most recently published poem, “A Moment of Joy Amid a Storm” in WUSSY Vol. 2, is about a childhood friend who I had been reconnecting with. Shortly after I finished the poem, but before I could show it to her, we had a major falling out and haven’t spoken since.
 
You can buy WUSSY Vol. 2 here: http://www.wussymag.com/shop/the-fight-issue
 
“Wild Burt Logger and the Kerouac Kid—on the Icy Road to Arkansas, February 2009” earned me the E Nelson James Poetry Award a couple of years ago. It’s a pretty straightforward piece about a former friend and I driving through an ice storm to get from Seattle to Hoxie, Arkansas.

You can read it here: http://www.english.org/sigmatd/pdf/publications/Rectangle16.pdf

Recently I had the pleasure to interview author Shirley B. Garrett. Dr. Garrett has published several novels, a self-help and several in the mystery/chick lit genre. Information about her books, social media and website, and upcoming events will be at the end of this interview.

So, let's get to know Dr. Garrett!

What sets your books apart from others?
     Strong characterization helps to make my books unique. Because I have a doctorate in psychology and over twenty-six years of experience providing mental health and substance abuse treatment, I'm good at writing. I try to help my readers understand what drives each of my characters. (I know this makes me sound as old as Zombie, cemetery dirt. Not true).

Why do you write in the genres that you do?
     I write self-help because I'm still trying to save the world. (I know it's corny, but I can't help myself.) I'm planning a series of short 99-cent eBooks on different topics like confidence and boundaries. I want them to be affordable to the people who need them. I'm writing the gritty, Charlie Stone, crime thriller series because as a therapist, I understand the dark underside of the driving forces of the human psyche. After I write a chapter about the antagonist in this series, I often feel the need to take a break and wash my hands. The Hot Flash series is fun to write, and the four Divas, Phoenix, Gina, Latishia, and Kat practically explode onto the screen while I'm writing them. Any woman who goes through this difficult period of life needs to be able to laugh about the challenges it presents. The interesting thing about Hot Flash Divas is both the guys and gals in my critique groups loved it.

If you could write in any genre what would you write and why?
     Interesting that you should ask this question. I completed the first chapter of a cozy mystery that will have a paranormal flavor. That's all I'm revealing at this point.

How many hours a day do you write?
     Four to six hours a day.
     Most people who run a successful business must learn to manage their time in an effective way. In general, I write daily and to some degree on weekends. If I'm not having lunch with friends, grocery shopping, doing laundry, or attending an art class, I'm writing. I schedule activities each day to get out of the house and away from the computer for a few hours. Unless my husband is busy with a project, I stop when he arrives home and spend quality time with him. Writing is my profession, not a hobby.

Do you have a set place where you write? Can you describe it if you do?
     When I closed my four-room therapy office, I compressed my office into an extra bedroom in my house. I have a large double window that faces the front lawn and flowerbeds. I use a MAC desktop with a large monitor, an ergonomic keyboard, and wireless mouse to reduce the strain of long hours of writing. My chair is adjustable and supports my lower back. On the desk area to my left, which is in front of the window sits Pookie's basket. She's my bibliocat and makes sure I take breaks by standing in front of my monitor, purring.
     I don't go to coffee shops to write. Hunching over over a laptop while I try to tune out a plethora of sounds and distractions isn't conducive to my writing. I like my comfortable, quiet, ergonomic office, with the great view. I do take an iPad Mini and a small keyboard with me when I travel. I wrote many of the Florida scenes in Hot Flash Divas on location.

Does writing energize or exhaust you?
     Writing is an energy that excites me. It almost flows like a force, unless I've been at it for too many hours or I've forgotten to eat. Editing is more exhausting. (Personally I agree with Shirley here. I think writing is easier than editing and I often feel exhausted after editing. The only reason way I am tired after writing is if I am emotionally exhausted).

What is the best money you have spent as a writer?
     I hired a professional editor. I'd edited my first book so many times; I couldn't have seen a mistake if it had been in bold print. My beta readers caught some problems. After all that, my publisher corrected more mistakes. Even best-selling authors hire editors. Using an editor may give a writer the advantage of catching an agent or publisher's interest. If self-publishing—it's a must. Poorly written self-published books make it hard on the authors who produce quality work to be taken seriously in the world of publishing.

Have you ever had writer's block?
     No. There are several reasons why. First, I write almost every day, so I don't stop the creative flow. Second, as I go about I watch people, listen to conversations, and check out places to use in my stories. The third way I avoid this curse is by writing two to four books at one time. (Yep, I know that sounds insane.) When I hit a place where my path isn't clear in one book, I switch to another one. (She is one lucky lady here)

What about reader's block?
     I've never had it and pray I never do. I love to read and tend to have a print book and an audiobook going at the same time. I always make sure the books are by different authors, so I don't mingle the plots.

What other writer's are you friends with and how have they helped you become a better writer?
     I'm a member of Sister's in Crime—Atlanta Chapter, North Alabama Mystery Writers (NAMW), Huntsville Literary Association (HLA) Critique Group, Coffee and Critique, and Coffee Tree Writers. I learn by doing critiques as well as receiving the feedback from these talented writers. The two most well- known authors who have helped me with their advice are Baron Birtcher, who writes the Mike Travis series and John DeDakis, who writes the Lark Chadwick Mystery series.

What was an early experience where you learned language had power?
     As a counselor, I had many patients tell me when they were about to relapse on alcohol or drugs, reenter a bad relationship, or needed to make a major decision, that they would hear my voice in their heads reminding them of something I told them in a therapy session. Some would think, "What would Dr. Garrett do?" That was when I realized the power of words and tried to use them wisely.

How did publishing your first novel change your process of writing? Or did it?
     My first book was a self-help book titled Stop the Craziness: Simple Life Solutions. I used a conversational style similar to the way I spoke to people during therapy sessions. Remembering my patient's frustrations with self-help books that go on and on about the problems, I made mine a solution-oriented book that got to the point. I used call-out boxes to emphasize the most important points and cartoons to give a visual of each chapter topic. Also, I provided a simple intervention at the end of each chapter to help the reader improve his or her life.
     Fiction is entirely different. My writing style in Deadly Compulsion, a crime thriller, is graphic and intense. In Hot Flash Divas, a chick lit novel, my style is poignant and humorous.

For aspiring writers what information or advice would you give them?
     Write first, edit second. Some folks are plotters and write a detailed outline. Others write by the seat of their pants and let the story take them where it will. I'm a bit of both. I do a loose plot to make sure I hit the correct story arc to avoid a saggy middle, but I still let the story and the characters take me where they choose.

In your opinion, what are the most important magazines for aspiring writers to subscribe to?
     Writer's Digest and Poets and Writers.

What is your favorite under-appreciated novel?
     Dollface, a thriller written by J.D. Frost, which was published by Ardent Writer Press. James is a member of North Alabama Mystery Writers, and he can write a chase scene that puts you in the vehicle.

If you could tell your younger aspiring writer self anything, what would it be?
     The same things I told myself when I closed my private counseling practice in 2014 and started writing full-time. I was a neophyte. I knew how to run my business and how to use my knowledge and skills to help people get better. I knew nothing about the publishing business. Here's the plan that I used.
     Commit to go to my home office and write every day.
     Learn my craft. Read books and attend webinars about my new profession.
     Take an online college course on writing fiction.
     I used three different critique groups, and eventually started my own, North Alabama Mystery Writers (NAMW) to hone my skills and to give and receive valuable feedback.
     Visit writer's conferences and book fairs to learn more about writing, meet authors, agents, and publishers. Pitch my books.
     Attend Toastmasters to become a proficient speaker. I needed to communicate well while pitching a book, speaking on a panel, doing an interview, or giving a keynote address.
     Never give up.
     Accept rejection as part of the process.
     Keep writing while querying agents, especially if it's a series. Don't let the momentum stop.

About Dr. Garrett's books:

Stop the Craziness: Simple Life Solutions is a fun to read toolbox of 50 simple solutions to help you improve your life.
 
Deadly Compulsion is the first in the Charlie Stone crime thriller series.
     Dr. Charlene Stone, Ph.D., is called in for her first psychological profile consultation for the Huntsville, Alabama Police Department. Middle-aged, alcoholic men are being seduced in nightclubs and lured to their deaths. They are found naked, beaten, and mutilated in their beds. The crime scenes are neat and organized. Within weeks, the police discover a second and then a third victim. The killer's time between murders is shortening. To complicate matters, Charlie is suffering from insomnia, nightmares and sleepwalking episodes.  Her attraction to Detective Ryan Roberts adds to her emotional turmoil.
Due to mounting circumstantial evidence, Charlie finds she is a suspect and banned from the investigation. She puts her life in danger during an unsanctioned attempt to clear her name and to stop the brutal murders. Will Charlie catch the killer or discover her worst fear?
 
Hot Flash Divas is the first in the Hot Flash Series.
     Phoenix O'Leary faces the worst year of her life as a psychologist. Her father dies of cancer in September. On Christmas Day, her funeral director husband, Todd, asks for a divorce. She knew he was a buffet-loving, recliner slug, but didn't suspect that he was a liar and cheater. Her friends, the Divas sweep in to help Phoenix cope with her grief, reconstruct her life, and learn to have fun as a single lady. Gina Borgiano is her best friend and a single, Italian, Catholic, divorce attorney. She represents Phoenix when Todd files for divorce. Latishia Snide, built like a five-foot basketball with braids, navigates life on three-inch designer heels. A successful loan officer, she helps Phoenix finance a new home in Huntsville. Kat Wang, a Chinese-American nurse, helps Phoenix's see to her medical needs. The mishaps and adventures the Divas encounter along the way produce tears of sadness, hot flashes, laughter that stresses the limits of their cranky bladders and a sprinkling of zesty adult romance.
 
Upcoming news: Thunderchild Publishing has signed a contract to publish the next books in each series: Deadly Lesson and Hot Flash Romance. They will be released in 2017.

Where you can find Dr. Garrett's books:

Website: http://www.ourworlds.net/thunderchild/
Email:  thunderchild38@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thunderchildpublishing

You too can follow Dr. Garrett on these platforms:
Website: http://www.ShirleyBGarrett.com
Email: shirleybgarrett.com.
Facebook.com/ShirleyBGarrett
Twitter.com/ShirleyBGarrett
Author page on goodreads.com

Dr. Garrett is available for interviews, book signings, review copies of her books, and speaking engagements. Check out Dr. Garrett's blog on her website for more insight into her characters. 

Upcoming events where you can meet Dr. Garrett:
     Dr. Garrett will be one of the panelists at the Decatur book fair on Labor Day weekend. Location: The Decatur Library , 215 Sycamore Street, Decatur, Georgia. Her books will be available in the Sisters in Crime Bookstore.

Hopefully, I have introduced you to a new author, and if you already knew about Dr. Garrett, hopefully she gave you some helpful and interesting information.

A big thanks to Dr. Shirley Garrett for answering these questions!