I'm interviewed on my own blog! Ha!

(Good morning, everyone. I'm reposting a unique interview from 2011. I invited David Fingerman back over to talk about his new book, but as you will see, David turned the table on me. I hope you enjoy the conversation.)

I am honored to be making my third appearance on Susan Whitfield’s blog. Other than the release of my new mystery, Playing the Hand She’s Dealt, the amazing and fantastic sequel to the equally amazing and fantastic Silent Kill, my life hasn’t change all that much since my last interview here. So, for something a little different I thought it might be fun to turn the table on Susan and interview her.  Happily (for me), she agreed.

And as you can tell, David is sooooo modest. LOL.

Susan, welcome. First off, how does it feel being the interviewee instead of the interviewer on your own blog?

LOL. Well, David, I’ve been interviewed quite a few times but not on my OWN blog. I’m honored that you’re interested.

I'd be willing to bet a lot of people are interested.
When and how did you know you wanted to be a writer, and then a mystery novelist?

I’ve been writing since about third grade, so it’s pretty much been a lifelong dream. However, I didn’t really get serious about it until I was retiring from a high school principalship. They say write what you read, and I truly love a good mystery. I tried to write a steamy novel, but I blushed so much I just couldn’t go through with it.

What’s a typical day for Susan Whitfield?

Normally I grab a huge cup of joe (some people refer to my cup as a planter) and start writing. Unfortunately, right now I have to dress and go to physical therapy in the mornings because I tore me Achilles tendon, power-walking between writing sessions to get into better shape. That’s thrown my routine off and now I’m writing sporadically in the afternoons. So my routine is quite atypical right now.

Ouch! Here's wishing you a speedy recovery.

Thank you. I'm wearing an ugly heavy boot and my husband calls me a platypuss:-( 

LOL, brave man.

You’ve completed four Logan Hunter novels thus far.  How do you keep Logan Hunter fresh and exciting?

I have to remember to let her age and change over the course of the novels. She was inexperienced in Genesis Beach as an intern at the Genesis Beach Police Department, and then once she was an official North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation agent in Just North of Luck, she tackled (quite literally) a serial killer in our beautiful Appalachian Mountains, got herself into all kinds of jams in Hell Swamp, and had truly life-changing experiences in Sin Creek.

In each book, she matured a little more, changed from heavy dark eye glasses to contacts, and married another agent. (I use internal thoughts in my first-person novels so readers can get inside Logan’s head and emotions.) Sin Creek was difficult to write because there’s so much raw emotion in it. Punch Street, the fifth novel in the Logan Hunter series, is about seven pages at this point. I’m currently writing a non-series novel, entitled The Goose Parade of Old Dickeywood, about lifelong friendship.

We'll get more into the Goose Parade in a couple minutes.
How are you and Logan Hunter similar/dissimilar?

Boy, that’s a loaded question.

I try.

First of all Logan is over six feet tall, blond, and toothpick thin. I, on the other hand, am 5’6” and shrinking, have salt and pepper hair, and am not a toothpick. I have to admit there is a lot of me in Logan. I believe in saying what I mean and meaning what I say. I believe in doing what’s right even when it’s not popular. I like bending rules as much as Logan does, but I seldom break them completely unless there’s no other choice. She’s more adventurous than I am; I write adventures but you won’t find me sky-diving…unless I develop more courage or dementia as I age.

Well, let's keep a happy thought.
Changing gears for a moment, please tell us the history and thought processes behind the cookbook, Killer Recipes.

Ah, good question. I met a lady here in North Carolina who came to an event just to meet me. She’d written a cookbook and I bought one. Later, as we kept in touch, she told me how good sales were, and she was considering another cookbook. I started to think about that and all the wonderful recipes I have. Since I had a fairly large audience of writer friends from networking, I asked if folks would consider donating recipes for the cookbook in exchange for promotion at the bottom of each one.

I decided that all proceeds from this book would be donated to the American Cancer Society Relay for Life in honor of my grandson, a cancer survivor. I didn’t think it would be right for me to pocket proceeds since the book  couldn’t happen without the support of other writers. Authors all over the country responded in an overwhelming way, and Killer Recipes has become a unique cookbook we can all be proud of. My publisher, L&L Dreamspell, liked the idea so much that they didn’t give me a chance to query, and they donate all of THEIR profits for this particular book as well. Good folks, indeed.

Indeed they are ~ and a great cause! And what a great holiday gift (hint hint).

Yes, giving this book is giving twice. You can order all of my books through my site, www.susanwhitfieldonline.com or www.amazon.com and other online stores. They're all available in print or digital formats. I love having the cookbook on my Kindle.

On a very serious and scary note, and I’m sure it’s a nightmare of anyone who has reached any level of celebrity status, but I seem to recall you were harassed by a stalker some time back. I certainly won’t ask details, but what would you advise your fellow authors to do if ever in a similar situation?

Your memory is still sharp, David. While the person never came to my house and never called my house, she showed up at several of my signings and tried to discourage people from buying books. I really think it backfired, though, because it 's obvious that she is unstable. She wrote a personal attack on Facebook about me, and posted a terrible review on Amazon about what a bad writer I am. The post was up 3 weeks before I knew about it. I contacted Amazon.com and told them about the woman, our past, and the Facebook comment. They removed the review immediately. The scariest part was that the following weekend, I had a signing back in my home county, and she’d messaged me that she was going to go. I “unfriend” her, and contacted a deputy who worked with me when I was a principal. He arranged for a deputy to ride by the bookstore every few minutes during the hours I was there. She never showed. I guess she was playing with my head.

I’m not sure what I’d advise someone else. My situation was strange and it really wasn’t about writing at all. I’ve never had another experience like that and hope I never do again. However, after that lengthy answer, I will also tell you and readers to whatever you have to do to keep yourself safe. There are plenty of nuts out there.

That had to have been not only scary, but very frustrating and time consuming as well. I'm glad it's long behind you.

Thank you , David. I hope it’s over.

I see on your website that Punch Street is due out in 2012. Would you mind giving us a sneak peek into that novel?

Punch Street (working title) is the next Logan Hunter novel, dealing with bullying, a major issue that’s been around since the beginning of time but seems to be in the news so much more since Internet and texting arrived. Logan and another agent go undercover in a school to get to the bottom of a student’s death. Remember, not all bullies are children. They come in every size and package.

Not only an excellent sounding  plot - but very timely.

I also noticed that you’re working on a stand-alone book, The Goose Parade of Old Dickeywood. Would you be willing to share any secrets on what that is about?

Writing this stand-alone has been a hoot, for sure. It’s about lifelong friends who’re now going through menopause, marital problems, and health problems. Their friendship endures even through misfortune and conflict. The title comes from the fact that they live near a pond that is overcrowded with geese, only one of many conflicts that arise.

I can already sense the fun you're having writing this. That's always a good sign that it will be an equally fun book.

What else does the future hold for Susan Whitfield?

My first goal is to get well and back to full-blown writing here shortly, complete Goose Parade and Punch Street, and dig into all the research I’ve gathered about my ancestor, a Knight of the Bath. I hope to write an historical novel about him, son-in-law of King Henry I.

It certainly sounds like you're keeping your writing plate full.

I have to stay busy. I don’t idle well.

Susan, thank you for being such a good sport and letting me turn the tables on you. I hope you had fun being on the other side of your blog.

I certainly did, David. That was a great idea and I appreciate your support. I also wish you tremendous success with your new book.

Thank you. As mentioned above, Playing the Hand She's Dealt is the sequel to Silent Kill. In Silent Kill, Louise Miller was after a psycho-killer. In Playing the Hand, someone is after Louise. Not only does he want her dead, but he first wants to destroy her piece by piece. A great mystery if I do say so myself.

I can’t wait to read it. BTW, as I repost this interview, I'm walking a mile every day and not limping. It feels good to be back. Hugs!   

NOTE: Since this post first "aired", I have completed the Logan Hunter Mystery series with Sticking Point, created my own publishing company, and re-published my cook book, Killer Recipes, now under the Studebaker Press logo.

Laurie Stevens: The Dark Before Dawn

Laurie Stevens has written for the stage ("Follow Your Dreams"), the screen (Chris Isaak's Guide to Jazz Fest) and a novel, The Dark Before Dawn, the first in a psycho-thriller/detective series based in Los Angeles. It was awarded the Kirkus Star and named to Kirkus Review's Best of 2011. Psychology and forensics interest her immensely so the book is rich with both. Lauire and her husband once snuck into the L.A. morgue to do research on the book and one of her favorite pastimes is to pick the brains of therapists. "Believe me, they love to talk like anyone else! I'm sure most of the officers at the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Malibu substation think I'm insane, but I do get a lot of good information there."

I bet you do, Laurie;-) I usually do my best sleeping in the dark before dawn, but I have a feeling your book will change that. LOL.

Where do you live, and how has your environment affected your writing?

I live near the Santa Monica Mountains outside of Los Angeles and I love exploring those hills. It's the perfect setting for the book - being so close to a huge metropolis and yet filled with nature, beauty and the nearby ocean.  The people you encounter run the gamut from New Age artsy canyon people to movie stars and deluxe snobs to suburban soccer moms. Add all of these types to an abandoned movie set or an historical adobe found in the mountains, and I get much fodder for my muse.

How many books have you written?

Shhh. I've written 2 but The Dark Before Dawn is the first published.

Give a short synop of each book, please.

The first, Autumn Leaves is about my grandfather and I. He was a European war orphan at 13 years old, who eventually made a success of himself. Me, a silly 20-something filled with angst, used his stories of survival to put in perspective my own American upbringing, and used his advice to get through a difficult decade of self-discovery.

The Dark Before Dawn revolves around Los Angeles Sheriff's detective, Gabriel McRay, who is fired from his job for police brutality.  When a serial killer begins leaving personal notes on the bodies of his victims addressed to Gabriel, he is reinstated in the hopes of "luring" in the killer. It soon becomes apparent that the killer's identity lies within the blocked memory of a trauma from Gabriel's own childhood. Gabriel then must run two parallel investigations. The first: a dark journey into the terrifying recollections of his past and the second: the hunt for a serial killer who seems to know more about Gabriel, than he knows himself.

What sets your book apart from others?

Readers ask me about the research I did, especially from the psychological aspect.  Then many of them will usually divulge something deeply personal that affected their lives, which makes me surmise that the book encourages folks to delve into their own darkness in order to "see the light."  Maybe it's a sort of demented self-help book.

Is it available in print, ebook, and Kindle formats?

Oh yes, in all formats.

Here are links:

 http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Before-Dawn-Laurie-Stevens/dp/1456450115/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1328209066&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/The-Dark-Before-Dawn-ebook/dp/B005FM2F38/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&qid=1328209066&sr=1-1

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dark-before-dawn-laurie-stevens/1104216079?ean=9781456450113&itm=4&usri=the+dark+before+dawn

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dark-before-dawn-laurie-stevens/1104216079?ean=2940011460289&format=nook-book&itm=4&usri=the+dark+before+dawn

What do you think is the greatest lesson you’ve learned about writing so far? What advice can you give other writers?

Forget the invisible judge looking over your shoulder.  Accept the fact you are a creative artist and writing is what you do, no matter what. Embrace the creative soul you are - revel in it.  It's a gift. If you work to make your work the best it can be - the cream will rise to the top.

Can you tell us your writing goals/projects for 2012 or beyond?

This year, the second in the series will be released: Deep into Dusk.

Meanwhile, The Dark Before Dawn has been approached by a film company for option, so we'll see how that goes.

Wow! Lucky you.

Where can folks learn more about your books and events?

Website: http://www.lauriestevensbooks.com

Follow me on (http://twitter.com/#!/LaurieStevens1)

Twitter

and please Like the Fan Page!( http://www.facebook.com/lauriestevensbooks)
Facebook  

Thanks Susan, for the opportunity to appear on your site!

Nice to have you over, Laurie. I wish you continued success, and let us know if there's a movie in your future.

Bobby Nash returns

 

Bobby Nash has been on the blog before and it's a pleasure to have him back.

Bobby, welcome back. You've been busy since last we spoke. Please give readers a brief bio and tell us something about yourself that might surprise us.

Susan, it's always great to visit your blog. 

Readers might be surprised to learn that I started out wanting to be a comic book artist, not a writer. The writing came about because I started writing stories for myself to draw. Eventually, I realized I was a much better writer than artist and started to focus my efforts on writing.

Here’s my bio:

From his secret lair in the wilds of Bethlehem, Georgia, Bobby Nash writes. A multitasker, Bobby is certain that he doesn’t suffer from ADD, but instead he... ooh, shiny.

When he finally manages to put fingers to the keyboard, Bobby writes novels (Evil Ways; Fantastix; Deadly Games!), comic books (Fuzzy Bunnies From Hell; Demonslayer; Domino Lady vs. The Mummy; Lance Star: Sky Ranger “One Shot”), short prose (A Fistful of Legends; Full Throttle Space Tales: Space Sirens; Green Hornet Case Files; Tales of The Rook; Zombies vs. Robots), novellas (Lance Star: Sky Ranger; Ravenwood: Stepson of Mystery; Nightbeat; Blackthorn: Thunder on Mars), graphic novels (Yin Yang; I Am Googol: The Great Invasion; Bloody Olde Englund), and even a little pulp fiction (Domino Lady; Secret Agent X; The Avenger; The Spider) just for good measure.  And despite what his brother says, Bobby swears he is not addicted to buying DVD box sets and can quit anytime he wants to. Really.

When not writing fiction, Bobby attends conventions and writers conferences, promotes his books, teaches writing courses and panels, and is a part-time extra in movies and television. Bobby is also the co-host of the weekly Earth Station One podcast (www.esopodcast.com) and writes for New Pulp (www.newpulpfiction.com) and All Pulp (http://allpulp.blogspot.com) news sites.

For more information on Bobby Nash please visit him at www.bobbynash.com, www.facebook.com/bobbyenash, www.twitter.com/bobbynash, www.lance-star.com, and http://BEN-Books.blogspot.com among other places across the web.

How many books have you written?

 14 published Short Stories/Anthologies
 29 finished and in the hands of editors awaiting publication
 3 published novels
 2 finished and in the hands of editors awaiting publication
29 published Comic Books/Graphic Novels
6 finished and in the hands of editors awaiting publication

Of course, this doesn’t take into account the projects that are in process and not yet completed.

ARE YOU SERIOUSLY KIDDING ME?

Holy crap! I didn’t expect this number to be quite this high.

I'm almost afraid to ask you to give a short synop of each book.

With there being 83 stories to choose from I will save you some space and point you toward www.bobbynash.com where there is information on most of these projects available. Some have not yet been announced by the publisher officially, even though they are completed so those are still hush-hush at the moment.

Whew! Thanks. My blog can't handle all of that:-)

How do you motivate your protagonist—with fear, desire, both or something else?

It varies depending on the book, the theme, and the characters. There is not a specific motivating factor that I use all the time.

What elements are important to include in your plot?

The most important element for me is well-rounded characters. If I have defined the character and he or she feels real to me then all I have to do is insert them into the story and follow the character’s reactions to the plot. Cohesiveness is also important. I want to make sure the plot holds together. I hope it makes sense to the readers.

How do you make certain that you’ve included all necessary elements in the book? Do you use specific techniques like maps or timelines?

Sometimes. I have been known to make notes and graphs, especially if there is a mystery involved so I can track the clues I’ve placed throughout the story. I’m fortunate that I’m somehow able to keep the plots straight in my head. Not sure how I do it, but I do. For the shorter works I usually put a brief plot in the manuscript so it is easily accessible as I go along, leaving little notes, hints, character names, etc. so they are there if needed.

What sets your books apart from others?

I’d like to think that I have a unique voice that makes my books stand out. I have been told by people who have met me in person that they can hear my voice in their head when reading the story. I don’t try to emulate any particular style of storytelling. I write the story the way that I would like to read it. Fortunately for me my readers and publishers seem to like my style.

Are all of them available in print, ebook, and Kindle formats?

Yes. All of my books are available in print (although some have gone out of print at this time). Most, but not all are available digitally. I am working with various publishers to get more of the books out there for electronic devices. Hopefully, that will happen. You can check the digital edition tab at
www.bobbynash.com to see which books are available as ebooks.

What has been your most rewarding experience during the writing process?

There is a moment when writing where suddenly everything makes perfect sense and you get into the writing zone. It’s almost like a literary epiphany and the words just flow out of you as if a creative dam has burst. I love that feeling.

Me too, Bobby.

One of the most rewarding moments is when someone comes up to me and wants me to sign a copy of my book for them. Very humbling and flattering.

Yes, indeed, it is.

Were any of your books more challenging to write than the others? 

Oh, sure. Working on anthologies, I often find myself writing characters that I did not create and might not be as familiar with. As a result, sometimes it is more of a challenge to get into that character’s head than others are so the challenge is to connect with that character and tell a good story. And usually I have to do it quickly to meet the deadline.

When writing, how do you determine when enough is enough?

Usually, it’s based on the word count limit given to me by my publishers. On the novels that I write then shop around I write until the story is done, although I know what publishers are generally looking for length-wise so I try to stick close to that.

Bobby, we all know how important promoting our work has become. How do you get the word out both off and online?

Promotion is very important and I spend a good deal of time doing promotional work. I have a website (several, actually) and I try to update them regularly, especially www.bobbynash.com as it gets a good bit of traffic. I also use social media. Facebook, Twitter, Google+, writing forums and message boards, comic book forums, and the like. Wherever I am allowed to post, I do.

Off line I visit stores, make and pass out promotional postcards and flyers, attend conventions, set up book signings and other appearances, and always have copies of my books on hand because you never know when someone will be curious about what you write when you talk to them.

The trick is to balance promotion with other things. I see some writers who only post “Buy My Book” posts. I find myself ignoring those posts. I mix in updates about books I’m reading, what other writer friends are doing, convention, favorite movies and TV shows, etc. in addition to information about my books. Promotion is selling your books and yourself.

Can you tell us your writing goals for 2012 or beyond?

2012 is already shaping up to be a busy year and I have deadlines stacking up around me. So far this year I have 13 short stories/novellas to write, 5 comic books/graphic novels in productions, 5 novels I need to write or finish writing (3 are already in progress), 1 novel that is being re-issued by a new publisher so there will be a small amount of work there, and 1 completed novel that I will be releasing through my publishing imprint, BEN Books so I have to do design and layout work on that. Definitely a busy year.

Where can folks learn more about your books and events?

You can always find information about me, my books, and my appearances at www.bobbynash.com. I’m also at www.facebook.com/bobbyenash, www.twitter.com/bobbynash, www.lance-star.com, and http://BEN-Books.blogspot.com, www.esopodcast.com, www.newpulpfiction.com, and http://allpulp.blogspot.com on a fairly regular basis.

Well, Bobby, you've probably missed out on at least one book by taking the time to answer these questions, but I'm glad you did. I hope you get all of that done. Continued success with all endeavors.

Thank you, Susan. The same to you.

J.Conrad Guest's Cobb Legacy

J. Conrad Guest is the author of five novels—January’s Paradigm, One Hot January, January’s Thaw (all based on the character, Joe January, a Philip Marlowe type private investigator circa 1940), Backstop: A Baseball Love Story in Nine Innings, and The Cobb Legacy—and a novella, Chaotic Theory. Backstop was nominated as a Michigan Notable Book in 2010 and was adopted by the Illinois Institute of Technology for their spring 2011 course, “Baseball: America’s Literary Pastime.” His short fiction, memoirs, op-ed pieces and sports articles can be found at a variety of websites; simply google J. Conrad Guest.

J. Conrad Guest finds his muse in a good cigar and a pot of coffee or glass of scotch, depending on the time of day. They’ve become part of his ritual, his creative process.

Welcome back, Conrad.

Where do you live, and how has your environment affected your writing?

I live in Michigan, where the long winter months make for a grand environment for writing. I live alone, which is also good for writing, which is a very solitary endeavor. I’ve had my heart bloodied and bruised several times—the warm and caring guy women claim to seek, tossed away in preference for the bad boy. But I’ve also bloodied a couple hearts myself and so my name is likely still cursed. Writing is therapeutic for me. I write largely about regret and the relationships between men and women and between children and parents. In short, I succeed in crafting happily ever after stories for my characters I can’t seem to write for myself.

Give a short synopsis of your most recently published book.

The Cobb Legacy spans more than a century. Baseball legend Ty Cobb’s father was killed, by his mother, a week before Ty became a major league ballplayer. Although she was acquitted on the grounds it was accidental, who can know what Cobb thought. His father, who was against his son playing ball, told him only not to return home a failure. He never did, but he did lament, after his playing days were done, that his father never got to see him play.

More than a murder mystery, The Cobb Legacy is the story of a man’s search to connect with his dying father while also coming to terms with an adulterous affair and impending divorce, and doubting that love with an old friend can be his.

What sets your books apart from others?

I probably rely more on personal experience—the disappointments I’ve encountered throughout my life—than most writers. I tend to write mostly in first person, which gives my work an almost autobiographical or memoir feel. I like to think this allows my readers to connect with my work more than books written from a purely fictional perspective. I also don’t follow a specific formula; I tend to mix several genres.

Is it available in print, ebook, and Kindle formats?

All my books are available as e-books, including Kindle and Nook, and several others as well as print—The Cobb Legacy will be available in print in May.

The Cobb Legacy i snow available for download for your Kindle, Nook, EPUB, MOBI orin PDF. Normally priced at $2.99, download The Cobb Legacy today for only $1.99. From the Pulse Publishing website, insert the promo code “FFTCLJCG” when prompted and you’ll be able to download The Cobb Legacy.

What do you think is the greatest lesson you’ve learned about writing so far? What advice can you give other writers?

The greatest lesson I’ve learned is to enjoy the process. I used to get too wrapped up in publication. Rejection letters were, to me, a reflection of my work, its value. When I learned to enjoy the creative process, I became a writer, and publication eventually fell into place.

My advice to other writers is not to be so quick to self-publish. Try to learn from your rejection letters. Sure, publishing is highly subjective—what one publisher or agent seeks may make another yawn. Publishing on a credit card is the easy way; but it also results in stagnation—one can’t learn the art of writing because one continues to make the same mistakes.

We all know how important promoting our work has become. How do you get the word out both off and online?

Oh, gosh, that’s a difficult question because I’m still learning. Promoting my work doesn’t come easily to me; I’d much rather spend my free time writing than marketing. But it’s a necessary evil. Even the monster publishing houses expect more from their writers. A few years ago I learned that in order to get anywhere I needed a website and a blog, so I’ve got both. The trouble is, so does every other writer, so it becomes an exercise in making mine different to separate myself from all the others, and that’s something that is ongoing and which I’m still learning. I try to do interviews elsewhere, like this one, but it’s difficult to measure whether or not they’re effective.

Funny story: I posted an excerpt from The Cobb Legacy on Good Reads, a lengthy diatribe on Romeo and Juliet, which has gone quite literally viral. It’s been picked up by dozens of sites and been viewed by thousands. My name appears as the source; but unfortunately none of my book titles accompany it, so I have no way of knowing how many readers may have discovered my novels through that venue.

Can you tell us your writing goals/projects for 2012 or beyond?

I’m currently shopping my sixth and seventh novels—A Retrospect in Death and 500 Miles to Go. The former takes the reader to the other side after the protagonist’s death, where he meets his higher self. The two of them analyze his past life, looking for the breadcrumbs that led to his unhappiness in preparation for his return to the lifecycle. The latter takes place in the 1960s, during the golden age of motor racing, and chronicles the efforts of a young man to achieve his dream of winning the Indianapolis, but at the cost of losing his childhood sweetheart, who is certain he will leave her a widow. It’s a story of the importance of, as well as the dangers associated with, pursuit of dreams.
 

I’m just getting involved with a collaborative novel with several other Second Wind Publishing authors, which will keep me busy through the first several months of 2012, and I have a couple of ideas for my next novel; but neither has gotten to the point where I need to set pen to paper.

Where can folks learn more about your books and events?  

I can be found on Facebook, Red Room and Good Reads, and at my website: www.jconradguest.com.

Funny Valentines

How does this blog cover a book that was conceived on an internet group, has forty writers, occupies a sales niche with a shelf life, and doesn't even take itself seriously?  This humor anthology bills itself as "America's funniest writers take on love, romance, and other complications," and that’s exactly what it offers.  No literary pretensions here: this pocket-sized book only wants to make you laugh.  Or at least chuckle, chortle or guffaw.  This collection of "Love Day" humor essays, jokes and cartoons was brought together by two writers already known for tickling ribs: Karla Telega has a highly-regarded humor blog as well as authoring the funny cozy mystery "Box of Rocks" while Linton Robinson was a co-perpetrator of "Mayan Calendar Girls," in addition to the scathing "The Way of the Weekend Warrior," based on his cult humor columns.

Both Karla and Lin contributed pieces to My Funny Valentine but are quick to note that other writers really power the book: writers who syndicate their columns, win contests, write for standup and television, produce programs, and pester people in subways.

I interview a lot of authors here, but aren’t you actually the editors of My Funny Valentine?

Lin:  Well, Karla and I both contributed pieces, but what makes this book so cool is that it was written by forty very funny writers, so there's a gamut of style and types of writing and humor.

Karla:  I have to check in the mirror each morning to see which hat I’m wearing. One day I’m writing, and the next day I’m trying not to squirt coffee out my nose while reading a story from one of our contributors.

Lin:  Editing gives a different perspective to writing.  I used to hate snotty editors who thought they were superior, and now I am one. Actually, I have edited publications before, just never funny ones.  Not intentionally funny, anyway.

Where did you find the writers?

Lin:  That was the main job on this project--and believe me, we were learning the job as we went along.  We posted public calls on many forums and sites, but many were people we already knew and invited personally.

Karla: I’ve gathered a bit of infamy in the online humor community, so we called on some contacts there. We didn’t have to resort to bars or houses of ill-repute, although Lin volunteered to check them out.

Other than "funny", how would you characterize the writing?

Lin:  One thing I noticed is that, although there are quite a few sweet and/or surrealistic pieces in what we think of as the "canon" of Valentine, a great many stories were from two viewpoints: women defying the stereotypes that Vday urges on their relationships, and men terrified that if they don't get the right present or do the right thing they'll end up sleeping alone and unconsummated in a Toyota.  This goes beyond cheap laughs (hey, ten bucks for a book is cheap these days) into sociological significance.  Since I'm not a sociologist, I have no idea what it signifies, but it's major, see?

Karla:  With forty writers, odds are good that there is some socially redeeming value mixed in with all the hilarity.

Who do you think would read My Funny Valentine?

Lin:  Two kinds of people, I think.  One kind would be humor fans, people who like funny books and pick up titles by Dave Barry or Sedaris or Grizzard or Foxworthy.  The other kind would be people who just want something novel as a Valentine's stocking-stuffer. One of our writers convinced us to do the Kindle version for the sort of last-minute panic purchase to avoid the doghouse, as is touched on several times in the book itself.

Karla:  I boil it down to: women who have bought Valentine’s Day power tools for the last five years running, and men who prefer not to be blinded by the perfume spritz-person (the politically correct term) at the department store.

Why did you choose humor as the topic of your imprint?

Karla:  I talked to several agents when shopping my own humor book, and got the same response: “This is hilarious, but you have to be a nationally syndicated humor columnist before a publisher will take it on.” It seemed outrageous that traditional publishers would turn their back on a whole genre. I skipped over self-pity and went straight to stubborn. If fresh humor was going to get into the hands of readers, some idiot(s) would have to champion the cause. “Some idiot,” by the way, is my job title.

And why Valentine's Day?  It's not what we think of as a funny holiday, particularly.

Lin: One thing our writers brought out, Valentines might be the most bipolar, ambivalent holiday of them all.  Most people feel the same way about Christmas and Thanksgiving and Halloween (other than fundamentalists and humbuggers) but a day that is all about love is just a set-up for touching on some complex emotions and attitudes.  But mostly we just figured people would buy it to give to their love objects.

Karla:  Besides, Christmas, Armistice Day, and Purim were already taken.

Were you friends or writing partners before editing My Funny Valentine?

Lin: Not really.  I knew Karla's name and had seen her work on a humor webzine called  The Flying Trapezezine, but our decision to do this together came out of a discussion about publishing on a writing forum.  We were talking about publishing and I think I came up with the question of, "Why don't we do it?"  And Karla was the only one who stepped up and said, "Yeah, lets."

Karla:  I actually ran a background check to make sure Lin wasn’t in witness protection, an international spy, or a Cubs fan.

Was it difficult for two independent writers like you to work together?

Lin:  Not at all.  And I'm not known as the sweetest guy in the world to work with.  Karla, on the other hand, is a dream to work with.  But what was spooky to me was how much somebody across the country was on my same wavelength.  We've actually come up with the same idea and mentioned to the other in crossing emails.  Even odder, it turns out that we shared a lot of background.  Both military brats, both graduated from University of Washington, both of us speak Spanish.

Karla:  My first marriage should have gone so well. What I most appreciate is the mutual respect. We’re both good listeners when there’s a disagreement.

How are sales going for My Funny Valentine?

Lin: Nicely, but it's hard to tell for sure.  We expect a last-minute flurry around the first week of February (followed by a drop off to zero until next year).  It's moving on Amazon and Kindle, but at least half the sales are coming from writers buying them at wholesale for signings and sales from their websites or standup gigs, and those sales don't show up on retail rankings.  These are POD books, but we now realize we could have gone to an offset run.  Next time we will.

Karla:  Marketing an “event” book leaves very little time for a learning curve. We’re pleased with the numbers, but there’s so much more we can take from this for future projects.

So you are planning to do more humor books?

Lin: Definitely.  Humor anthologies are our entire focus, though we might get into single-writer collections once we figure out what we're doing.  Our plans at the moment are to issue a call for contributors on March 1 and produce at least three more titles in 2012. 

Writers interested in receiving calls, or humor fans who want to know when new books are available, can sign up for notices at http://myfunnybooks.biz/mail

The topic of our next book isn't yet carved into stone.  (eBooks and POD make all that carving unnecessary.)  We've rejected "My Funny Prostate Operation", "My Funny Rotten Junkie Teenager", "My Funny Post-Partum Suicide Attempt" and "My Funny Expense Account Cheating", but will come up with something as equally fabulous, we promise.

Do you have advice for humorists?

Lin:  Yes: quit clowning around and get serious.   Seriously, I think there is a strength in association and mutual support.  You see this in the networks of humor bloggers out there.  And--surprise, surprise—you’ll want to pursue anthologies like ours, McSweeney's, Chicken Soup.  Three of our contributors were offered assignments from publications on the strength of their inclusion in My Funny Valentine. Take every opportunity to get your name out there.

Karla:  Humor is so subjective. If you’re a new writer, don’t be discouraged by rejections. We’ve had to turn down some very funny pieces because they didn’t fit with the overall style of the book, or it was a subject that was already well covered. If you stick with it and you’re lucky, your book may grace the backs of millions of toilet seats around the country. See you all at the next humor conference: John Con II.

Karla and Lin, thanks for contributing humor to the blog. It's always appreciated.

I'll get you, my pretty!

Let's continue our discussion about writing a strong plot, thanks to the Writers Digest article in the previous post. Today's topic: REVENGE.

Right away, we have to make certain that our protagonist is likeable and sympathetic or readers simply won't care about the character or what s/he is trying to accomplish. Most of the time, our protagonist is innocent of any wrongdoing. Afterall, we want to write about nice folks, don't we? So, whatever is wrong wasn't his fault.

But what if your main character is a villain, or you decide to write your book (or portions of it) from the villain's point of view, as I did in Just North of Luck? This worked well for me because I wanted to show readers that even though this man was mean and cold-hearted killer, he was horrendously abused as a child. I had to grab some sympathy from readers so they understood why this man, a highly intelligent and talented man, came unglued and took out all the crap Life dealt him on innocent people in a close-knit community. His methodical plan for revenge ended in his demise, of course, at the hands of my protagonist, but the point is REVENGE drove the plot from his perspective.

Have you ever written from a villain's point-of-view, or had a protagonist who got caught up in revenge rather than justice? Please comment for a chance to win a free copy of Just North of Luck.

Blessings to All!

As 2012 breathes down my neck, I want to thank all of you authors and industry experts who graciously took the time to answer questions about your writing habits and tell me and the wonderful followers of this blog about your books. With the economy still ailing, I hope I helped you in some small way with book sales, or at the very least, visibility. Many readers are looking for good books, but aren't quite sure where to find them. This blog gives authors a chance to entice, and I must say I've purchased a number of the books mentioned this year. But that's not the best part, in my opinion.

I've met so many wonderful people all over the world, some who've become cyber buddies, and others I've had the privilege of meeting in person at book signings, conferences, or quite by accident. As 2011 winds down, I extend my cyber arms to hug each of you who stop by this blog. I hope you will continue to drop. At the present time, I'm working hard to complete The Goose Parade of Old Dickeywood for its 2012 publication. I'm also writing scenes for Punch Street, the next Logan Hunter Mystery. My book shelf is filled with research on a medieval ancestor of mine, and I plan to write an historical mystery about him ONE OF THESE DAYS.  

Please stop by and keep us informed about what you're reading or writing. I am inviting all who enter here to guest blog on my site during 2012. I'd love to know what readers look for, what reviewers have to say, and how editors and publishers pick through the masses to find gems.

Enjoy the last days of 2011 and plan to celebrate 2012 every day in some way. We have so many blessings in our lives. I count you among mine.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

John Zunski

John Zunski is my guest today. Welcome, John.

Thanks for having me, Susan.

What inspires your stories?

Once upon a time I owned a Dek hockey rink, I was a firefighter for six years, now I own a small town bar; that being said, I’ve been blessed with incredible voyeuristic opportunities. I’ve encountered interesting characters over the years, it would be a wasted opportunity if I didn’t translate some of those characteristics onto the page.  Great characters give good stories; it’s my job to add variables and make the stories memorable.

What genre do you gravitate toward?

I dabble in many genres. Cemetery Streetis a coming of age tragedy/tearjerker –Shangri-La Trailer Parkis a dark comedy. I also have a political satire and a ghost story in the pipeline. A writer friend calls my tendencies schizophrenic – simply because I don’t linger within one genre.  A common link through my work is that the settings are contemporary.  That could change in the future, but my‘schizophrenia’ would have to deepen.  

What are your work habits?

I prefer writing in the wee hours.  I usually take an evening nap, wake up around two AM and write at least two hours before turning in.  Living in the mountains of Montana, the calm of the night resonates with me – during the summer, when the windows are open, I find inspiration in the sound of the creek or on occasion, the sounds of wildlife - especially coyotes and wolves. During the winter, the full moon on snow is super inspiring. If I’m lucky, I’ll catch the shadow of the muse lurking within the night. 

What do you consider your best work?  

That’s a hard question, it’s like asking a parent what child is their favorite. Cemetery Street is emotional – which I love. Any book that elicits emotion is a winner with me. Shangri-La Trailer Park is gritty, it really looks at the dark side of life with a humorous, if not offensive eye. Nightwatching – my ghost story – packs a wallop, it has more twists and turns than a mountain road. My current work – Montana Rural – has some intense moments that have left members of my writer’s group cursing the characters for their actions.   That being said, can I take a powder on the question and give you an answer in twenty years?

Do you plot out your novels in advance or do you write on the fly?

I’ve set out to do both. Cemetery Streetwas plotted, as is its forthcoming sequel Montana Rural. Shangri-La Trailer Park,Nightwatching and Dirty Bum for President piloted themselves.

What experience do you want for your readers?

I want them to have an emotional experience. I hope readers relate to my characters and have lingering images of them. My job is complete when long after a reader finishes  reading one of my books the characters resonates in their memories like old friends.

Are any of your character traits or settings based on real life?

That goes without saying!  Most characters and settings are, but I always will add extra elements. I’ve been asked if Cemetery Street is autobiographical – other than the settings, it is not. I believe you have toadd realistic settings – they’re the canvass on which the painting of the story rests. It would be an injustice to craft a beautiful picture on a paper bag. It cheapens the art. 

What are your most significant challenges when you write?

Getting started. Once I silence the prattle in my mind and fall into my chair, magic happens.

What are you currently working on?

Montana Rural –  it’s a story of a dysfunctional rural fire district in Montana.

Do you have any writing advice you would like to share with aspiring authors?

Be tenacious and never, ever, give up! Actively seek insight and criticism, and when someone criticizes you or your work, use their words as fuel to fire your creative engines.  Stay true to the passion that initiallyinspired you to write.

Good advice, John. Have a Merry Christmas!

You too, Susan.

Roxanne Smolen's Wolf Boy

Good morning, folks. I'm sitting here with author Roxanne Smolen to discuss her new release, The Amazing Wolf Boy. Welcome back, Roxanne. Help yourself to a cranberry orange muffin and cup of hot tea.

Yum, Susan. Thanks for having me again.

For those who may have missed your first interivew, please give us a short biography.

My name is Roxanne Smolen, and I write science fiction. I’ve been writing professionally since the year 2000. Before that, I guess I wrote unprofessionally. I have nine published novels. My first three books were adult fiction. Someone said that sex sells, so I thought I’d try my hand at it. Since then, I decided that I didn’t want to write anything my grandkids weren’t allowed to read. Now my books are rated PG—no bad language, and no overt love scenes.

What books came along at just the right time to influence your reading/writing?

Harry Potter had an impact on me, for what it was as much as for what it wasn’t. I was amazed at how Rowling took the rules of writing for young adults and threw them in the air. Her books were big. She used big words. And still she wrote some of the most popular books of all time. She taught me that it’s great characters and good stories that make a book memorable, not rules.

Please give us a short synopsis of your new book, The Amazing Wolf Boy.

Being a teenager is difficult enough without having to hide the fact that you’re a werewolf. Cody would do anything to be a regular kid again, especially after he meets Brittany, the most perfect girl in the world. But when Brittany is kidnapped and her life threatened, Cody learns to appreciate his untried super powers. Can he rescue her in time?

When do you accomplish your best writing?

I’m a morning person. Around 6:00, I brew a pot of Earl Grey, sit with my laptop in my comfy chair, and write. On a good day, my tea grows cold because I forget to drink it. On a very good day, I forget to eat lunch, as well.

Is there another book on the horizon?

One of the joys of writing, or reading for that matter, is when the characters get under your skin and feel like friends. I love Cody and Brittany too much to let them go, so I’m writing a second book that picks up right where the first one ends. Hopefully, I’ll continue documenting their lives for a dozen books or more.

After hours of intense writing, how do you unwind?

Don’t laugh, but I like to watch old science fiction television shows. Firefly, Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica. I spend my evenings with them. Currently, I’m revisiting Torchwood.

Is The Amazing Wolf Boy available in print, ebook, and Kindle?

My book will be released in print on October 28th. You can pre-order it at Barnes and Noble  http://bit.ly/qLMivu  It’s available as an ebook at All Romance Ebooks http://bit.ly/nPUPZD

Or buy it now for your Kindle http://amzn.to/qiz0Jz

Where can we get more information about you?

You can find me most anywhere. I try to keep a digital presence. My favorites are:
http://www.roxannesmolen.com
http://www.facebook.com/roxannesmolenauthor
http://twitter.com/roxannesmolen
http://booktown.ning.com/profile/roxannesmolen

Thanks for having me, Susan. It’s always a pleasure. 

Back at you, Roxanne.         

John M. Daniel's Redwood Door

Come in, friends! John Daniel and I are Behind The Redwood Door, waiting for you. John has worked as a bookseller, a free-lance writer, an editor, an entertainer, a model, an innkeeper, and a teacher. He and his wife, Susan, live in Humboldt County, California, where they are small-press book publishers. Susan enjoys gardening, John enjoys writing, and they both enjoy living with their wondercat, Warren. 

John, I'm delighted to have you here this morning to talk about your latest book, Behind The Redwood Door.

Thanks so much for inviting me to your distinguished blog, Susan. I feel honored!

Tell us something about yourself that readers might be surprised to learn.

People may be interested to know that in addition to writing mysteries, I am also a publisher of mysteries, under the imprint Perseverance Press. So I’ve seen all aspects of this game.

How many books have you written?

Yikes! I’ve written 29 books. Eight of them never got published, thank goodness. Seven of them were ghost-written for other people.  I published a few of them myself. But I’m proud of them all.

Wow! What books or authors have influenced you?

I still can’t get The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which was the first book I read by myself, out of my mind. It made me want to be a reader, and I’ve reread that book at least a dozen times over the years. But I thank Richard Bissell for making me want to be a writer. He is (was, because he’s been dead quite a while now) my favorite novelist.

What has been your most rewarding experience during the writing process?

When my first Guy Mallon mystery, The Poet’s Funeral, was published by Poisoned Pen Press in 2005, it got a STARRED REVIEW in Publishers Weekly. This meant the world to me, because my book was a loving satire of the publishing industry, and I knew the review (and maybe even the book) would be read by my colleagues in the business.

However, let me say this: the most rewarding experience I’ve ever had as a writer is the process of writing itself. The joy of writing story beats all the reviews.

I agree, John.

Tell us about your latest release, Behind the Redwood Door.

As I write this, Behind the Redwood Door hasn’t come out yet, but it will be published November 20, just in time for my birthday. It’s the third Guy Mallon mystery. It takes place on the North Coast of far-northern California, redwood country, where I have lived for the past eight years. Guy’s no longer a publisher, but he still can’t stop getting into trouble. He stands five feet tall, but he stands up tall against bullies. In this book his foolhardy courage almost costs him his life.

Is it available in print, ebook, and Kindle formats?

It will be a print book, paperback at $14.95. It will also exist in ebook form and will be available in Kindle format.

Were any of your books more challenging to write than the others?

My second Guy Mallon book, Vanity Fire, presented a huge challenge because I dealt with the dark side of publishing. I went into a black mood as I wrote that book, because I knew how sadly true some of it was. However, I got through it, and I’m proud of the book. Another book that gave me fits was my ebook, Elephant Lake. It dealt with an eight-year-old boy’s problems sorting out the serious problems of his mother’s alcoholism and his uncle’s suicide. Believe it or not, the book has its lighter moments, though.

What are some of the problems you faced while plotting a series with ongoing characters?

Well, it’s hard to believe that a mild-mannered amateur sleuth like my pint-sized hero, Guy Mallon, would always get himself into a pickle with hardened criminals. At the end of Behind the Redwood Door Guy promises his wife that he’ll stay out of trouble from now on. Will he? We’ll see.

How do you develop characters?

No matter how hard I try to tell them what to do or what to say, they always seem to have a mind of their own.

So true, John, and I love that, don't you?

How do you choose your setting?

I write about places I’ve been. Most of my books take place on the California coast, my stomping grounds.

What are your protagonist’s strengths? Flaws?

Guy was called a “flawed” protagonist in reviews of Vanity Fair. His flaw was to succumb to dishonesty. That will never happen again, at least in my books. Otherwise his flaws are a sassy courage and a feisty manner shared by many short people (think Mickey Rooney, think Danny DeVito). His strengths? He has the tenacity of a bulldog and the wit of a class clown.

We all know how important promoting our work has become. How do you get the word out both off and online?

 I’ve been blog-hopping a lot lately, as publication date draws nigh. I maintain a blog of my own, too, and I’m on Facebook. I’ve sent out a lot of advance reading copies to mystery media. (We maintain a good list of them for promoting Perseverance Press.) When the book comes out I’ll be sending out review copies and press kits. But I expect my most effective sales campaign will be emailing my own list of friends, family, and hundreds of colleagues in the writing and publishing worlds. I also teach creative writing, so I have a giant list of former students.

Can you tell us about current or future projects?

Just a there are always more books to read than I have time to read them, I have more plans for books to write than I’ll be able to finish in my lifetime, and the idea bank keeps getting fuller and fuller. All I can say is this: I’ll always be writing, and whatever I’m working on at any moment will be the place my spirit is living.

Where can folks learn more about your books and events?

The new book, Behind the Redwood Door will be published by Oak Tree Press: http://www.oaktreebooks.com/

Here are my contact spots:

my website: www.johnmdaniel.com                             

my blog: blog.johnmdaniel.com

my amazon author page: amazon.johnmdaniel.com

and facebook: facebook.johnmdaniel.com

John M. Daniel was born in Minnesota, raised in Texas, and educated in Massachusetts and California.  He was a Wallace Stegner Fellow in Creative Writing at Stanford University and a Writer in Residence at Wilbur Hot Springs. He has taught fiction writing at UCLA Extension and Santa Barbara Adult Education and was on the faculty of the Santa Barbara Writers Conference for nearly twenty years.  He now teaches creative writing for Humboldt State University Extended Education.

John’s stories have appeared in dozens of literary magazines. His thirteen published books include four mysteries: Play Melancholy Baby, The Poet’s Funeral, Vanity Fire, and Behind the Redwood Door, recently published by Oak Tree Press.