Bobbye Terry

My guest today is Bobbye Terry, a fellow L&L Dreamspell writer.
Welcome to the blog, Bobbye. Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m a mystery/suspense writer under my real name, Bobbye Terry, but have many romantic comedies under my pseudonym, Terry Campbell, with co-writer, Linda Campbell, and write fantasy/science fiction solo as Daryn Cross. I also have two inspirational non-fiction books. Additionally, my credits include short stories in many anthologies, including Dreamspell Mystery Vol. 1 and Dreamspell Haunts, Vol. 1, just released on Halloween under the name, Terry Campbell, and Just One Bite Vol. 3, writing as Daryn Cross & L.J. DeLeon, released by AllRomance Ebooks on Thanksgiving Day. My book, It’s Magic, co-written with L.J. DeLeon, Crescent Moon Press, is debuting this month.

What are your writing goals, Bobbye?

I plan to write at least one fantasy, one mystery and one novella per year. I have so far exceeded that goal. My long term goal is to make enough money off my books to write fulltime and not have to seek a day job.

What is your most rewarding experience during the writing process?

The writing itself. I love when everything is working and the words our out. Sometimes I read back over what I wrote and say to myself, how the heck did you write that? Of course, I believe the right characters have a tendency to write themselves.

Tell us about your latest book. Is it available in print, ebook, and Kindle formats?

It’s Magic is a romantic urban fantasy. It’s the first of a series involving Maxwell Magic, Santa on his off-season. Magic matches unmatchable misfits (say that three times). He matches people who can’t see to get it right when it comes to everlasting love. His match in this book is a feminist writer and every man’s favorite radio psychiatrist.

Here’s a blurb:

Can true love exist between a man who believes a woman is capable of sticking a shive in his heart while making love and a woman who is convinced men think with only one head? Maxwell Magic, an eccentric mysterious matchmaker swears it can and he’s the man to provide the stimulus to make it happen. Kasey Bell, feminist writer, and Guy McLane, radio’s famous chauvinistic psychiatrist, are his targets. Even with carefully executed plans, the road to true love is strewn with mishaps, mirth and money-hungry nighttime talk show hosts. Will Kasey and Guy risk their reputations by exposing secrets buried beneath layers of shame and self-doubt for a desperately needed big money pay-off? Or, will they claim what has evaded them their entire lives—a love that lasts forever?

Were any of your books more challenging to write than the others? If so, why?

My book Honey Blood and the Collector, yet to be sold, was a true challenge. It’s the beginning book of an epic. So, I had to introduce a complicated world and all of the lore for the characters in the first book. I’ll build on it of course, am doing so already in the sequel, but the foundation is the hardest part. It was also a multiple POV book.

My book, Coming to Climax, slated to come out by Turquoise Morning Press mid-2011, was also a challenge. It’s hard to explain to people how humor with a generous dose of Southern culture can mix with the macabre machinations of a psycho serial-killer. Thankfully, editor Kim Jacobs got it.

Both of these books are close to me. The first is dear because of the characters, individuals whom I don’t think I’d ever get tired of. The second one is very sentimental for me because I wrote it about the area where my mother, whom I lost last year, was born and grew up in her early years.

How do you develop characters? Setting?

I develop profiles for them. Most of the time my hero and heroine are opposites on the introvert/extrovert scale, but are similar in core values. They usually come from professions of which I am knowledgeable, but not always. As for setting, anything goes. Most of the time, I set the novels in places where I’ve lived or enjoyed visiting. Having said that, I obviously have never been to 14th century Ireland, 15th century Romania or 19th century America. Then here are my alternate time lines…

Any current projects?

Right now I’m working on the sequel to It’s Magic. Then it’ll be time to polish the sequel to Coming to Climax, already written, so I can submit that. I also have the second of three novellas to write. I’m shooting to have numbers two and three done by Christmas.

Where can folks learn more about your books and events?

All of my books are or will be at Amazon and other online venues. Look for my backlist as Terry Campbell in the next couple of months on Kindle. You can also go to my publisher sites, including www.CrescentMoonPress.com/books/ItsMagic.html for my current release, www.LLDreamspell.com for my two new anthologies, and www.AllRomanceEbooks.com for my new anthology released Thanksgiving Day.

Congratulations on all the accomplishments, Bobbye, and continued success.

Thanks for having me as a guest, Susan!

Cynthia Vespia's Life, Death and Back

Cynthia Vespia was drawn to writing early in life where she developed a successful career as a freelance journalist writing everything from features and fillers, to reviews and human interest stories. But it was the allure of the fantastical worlds of fiction that always remained her true passion.
 Her first novel, a medieval fiction entitled The Crescent was published in August 2005. The novel was unanimously praised as "an engaging, descriptive read" which prompted a sell-out at Borders Bookstore in less than one hour during the first official signing.


A short story, a satirical look at the afterlife entitled Death's Grand Design was published online shortly thereafter and once again met with reviews that honored her attention to detail and the flow of her prose.

In May of 2006, Theater of Pain was released. This suspense thriller unfolds within the eccentric world of professional wrestling where competitors would do anything to reach the top...even murder.


After a short hiatus, Cynthia returned with Demon Hunter. It is the story about a nobody who becomes a somebody in the bloodiest of ways. Following the tradition of dark fantasy and combining the concept of high-adventure, Demon Hunter examines both the light and dark side of human nature when a man learns he is fated to hunt demons before they corrupt mankind. The success of Demon Hunter was followed up by the sequel, Seek &Destroy which takes the characters and the reader on a journey that begins on the high seas and ends in Hell. Both novels (published in e-book format) were nominated for Best Series in 2009 by LRC Cafe.

Cynthia’s next release returns to the contemporary side of thrillers but still contains that special twist that her novels are fast becoming known for. Life, Death, and Back (WeavingDreamsPublishing) delves into the paranormal when a mans life is tragically cut short and he remains on Earth to tie up loose ends with his family.


Today Cynthia writes mainstream suspense fiction with savagely powerful characters and strong storylines. Cynthia likes to refer to her novels as "Real life situations that you could find yourself in but hope to God you never do. In her spare time she enjoys reading, movies that involve a strong plot/characters, and keeping active through various forms of martial arts and as an active fitness competitor.


Welcome, Cynthia, and congratulations on your recent Covey Book Trailer Award.

Thank you, Susan.

When did the writing bug bite, and in what genre(s)?

I started writing as young as 8 on my sisters old typewriter producing random short stories on a daily basis. It wasn't until my senior year in high school that I decided I wanted to write professionally. I write what I like to read which is mainly contemporary thrillers and a smattering of fantasy.

When you started writing, what goals did you want to accomplish? Is there a message you want readers to grasp?

My goal has always been to entertain. Looking back on some of my novels I can say that the themes have messages of their own but when I sit down and start a book it is never about getting some hidden meaning across. I like to write real and authentic to whatever world I'm creating. Essentially I just want to create stories like the bards of old.

Briefly tell us about your latest book. Series or stand-alone? If you have written both, which one do you prefer?

Unfinished Business (Weaving Dreams Publishing, ISBN #978-0-9824876-3-1, $13.95), weaves together a tapestry from life to death and back again. In the wake of his death Bryan Caleb begins to realize how precious living is and how much he’d taken for granted. Now he has unfinished business. In exchange for more time on Earth, Bryan has been granted guardianship. Even as he struggles with his own immortality Bryan must find the compassion within himself to help guide Lisa Zane, an emotionally and spiritually drained young girl, through her troubled life to find her true purpose. For it is only with Lisa's help that Bryan can rescue his very own son from the life of crime he has fallen into before Kriticos Caleb's fate mirrors his father's...in death.

What’s the hook for the book?

All humans die, but what happens beyond the grave? Can the dead return to the world of the living? These are questions that have been asked for centuries.

How do you determine that all important first sentence?

That's like trying to get a car out of the mud by rocking it back and forth until you finally hear that satisfying "pop!" I usually began with some sort of action event to get the story moving immediately. What action? Well that depends on the story. I meditate on it...no lie.

How do you develop characters? Setting?

That's the best part of writing in my opinion. The creation of worlds and people to populate those worlds, its a gift from God and what better way to pay him back then to create the way you yourself were created. The setting develops out of the initial story idea and those come to me at random times. Then you fill in the characters to match that time and place. Or I'll get an idea for a really interesting character that I just have to use and I'll build everything else around that. Most of the time the characters are a mix of personalities that I've known in my lifetime coupled with creative license. Like I said I want the story to feel as real and authentic as possible.

What are your protagonist’s strengths? Flaws?

The protag for Unfinished Business, Bryan Caleb, has the strength of perseverance. He's a good man in essence, always trying to do the right thing in his life. His flaw comes in death. He's dead, the rules have all changed and he has to learn what they are and how he can use them if he hopes to finish his task at hand.

How do you determine voice in your writing?

That is something which develops in time and it can only come from writing and writing a lot.

Do you have specific techniques you use to develop the plot and stay on track?

Back when I first started writing I let the story take me for a ride. I’d follow the characters and let them tell me what would happen next with just a shimmer of an idea in the distance. Now I tend to outline just a little bit more. I get my characters in order with deep, rich details...some of which I may never even use but they are there from which to draw. Then I jot down a few key scenes I want to include and build from there. I try not to map the entire story otherwise I feel it loses its spontaneity.

How does your environment/upbringing color your writing?

Events in my life lend themselves to stories if I see fit to draw from certain experiences. But being that I write fiction the majority of the writing comes direct from the imagination. I see the story in my head and it’s my job to deliver it to the page in a way that draws the reader into that same story.

Have you started any online networks or blogs to promote yourself and others?

Yes, I like to stay active within many different networks to reach out to fans and other authors alike. Most recently I’ve revamped my blog to make it more fun and user friendly. I invite everyone to drop by for a visit at Cynsights.Blogspot.com

I’m also online at Twitter (www.twitter.com/cynfulcharm ); Facebook; and Myspace

After hours of intense writing, how do you unwind?

Writing does get intense. It’s mentally draining sometimes. I like to workout. I do strength training and martial arts. Or sometimes I just put on a good movie and kick back. Watching great films inspires me.

What are your current projects?

I’m getting knee deep in a series of novels told with grit and suspense in some of the most popular cities in the states starting with my hometown of Las Vegas. Hold on to your butts because I’m going to push a lot of buttons with this one…no apologies!

Where can folks learn more about your books and events?

Go to my official web presence at www.CynthiaVespia.com

I also maintain an author page at Amazon.com where you can find my current novels and a link to my blog.

Thank you to all for the continued support!