Eileen Thornton's Trojan Project

Eileen Thornton has been writing short stories and articles for magazines since 2001. Two of her stories have appeared in anthologies. Her debut novel, The Trojan Project, an action thriller, was published in May 2008.

She is a member of several writing organisations, including The Society of Authors. She also has a Website where a selection of her published work is displayed http://www.eileenthornton.co.uk/

Eileen, welcome.When did the writing bug bite?
I started writing in 2001 when I began a correspondence course with The Writers Bureau. My first feature was published in June of that same year. Several more of my features were published before I turned to writing short stories.

What goals did you want to accomplish?
When I became a published writer of both features and short stories, I felt I had reached my goal. Truthfully, I never believed that I would actually see my name in the by line in a national magazine. Therefore, you
can imagine my delight when it kept happening at regular intervals. This was it; I had done what I had set out to do. But then, at various writers meetings, I began talking to some ‘wannabe novelists’, who made me realise that I wanted to be a novelist, too. However, I was soon to find out that this goal was going to be more difficult to achieve. Writing The Trojan Project wasn’t easy, but it was nothing compared to the difficulty of finding a publisher. Here in the UK most of the large publishers will only accept submissions presented by an agent. On the other hand, some agents don’t want to know unless you have had a novel published previously. It’s a catch 22 situation. It was only through sheer perseverance that I finally found a publisher to take me on.

Tell us about your latest book.
My novel, The Trojan Project, is an action/thriller. The story begins on a remote farm in the Cheviot Hills in North East England. A young mother is concerned when her husband, Pete doesn’t come home that evening.
While looking down the lane for his truck, she witnesses a bright green light in the sky, followed by a cloud. The next morning, when Pete still hasn’t returned she goes out to find him and makes a terrifying discovery.
Reporting this to the local police station, she finds it difficult to make the officers believe her until a quick-witted young constable sees something to make him reconsider. Thus begins a race to stay alive.
When I wrote The Trojan Project, it was meant to be a stand-alone novel.
However, I have had several people asking me to write a sequel, so you never know. ☺

How do you develop characters and the story?
I try to put myself in the character’s situation and I write what I see and feel at that time. As for the story itself, I didn’t have a plot, notes or have any real idea where I was going. I simply made the whole thing up as I went along. Incidentally, I do the same thing when writing short stories.

Who is the most likeable character?
I think it would have to be Andy, the young police constable. Bright and alert, he joined the force to catch criminals. However, when he passed out of college, he was disappointed at being stationed in the quiet market town of Wooler, under the watchful eye of Sergeant Gilmore. How could he know that his life was suddenly going to be turned upside down? Yet when it is, he rises to the occasion and proves his worth.

Best review for the novel?
I have had several good reviews for The Trojan Project. However, I think one of the best is from Brian L Porter, author of A Study in Red: The Secret Journal of Jack the Ripper. Award Winner of The Predators &Editors Best Thriller Novel of 2008:

"Terrifyingly Real - An Edge of the Seat Thriller from Start to Finish! The Trojan Project is, without a doubt, one of the finest thrillers by a debut novelist I have read in a very long time. This book had me hooked
from page one and the storyline was so terrifyingly plausible that it sent shivers down my spine. Eileen Thornton weaves an ingenious plot and the characters are all too recognisable as normal, everyday people caught up in a horrendously frightening situation, where no one is what they seem and no one knows who to trust. The villains of the piece are all the more villainous because of what, rather then who they are, and I found myself cheering for the heroes of the book as they slowly unravelled the mystery behind the ghastly Trojan Project. The truly chilling part of this tale is that the scenario the author has skillfully created just might happen one day, and as a result, I found my heart beating a little faster at times as the chilling reality of that fact made itself so clearly evident. The bookreminded me very much of the works of one of my own literary
favourites, Robert Goddard and that is probably the highest compliment I can pay to this author. The Trojan Project is without a doubt a beautifully crafted and chillingly superb read and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone with a love for the thriller genre. Bravo, EileenThornton!"

Wow! Outstanding review, and I'm looking forward to asking Brian a few questions later on.
What are your current projects?
I have started a sequel to The Trojan Project. However, I have also begun writing a novel in a different genre. This one is more light and frothy and is to be called “Divorcees.com”. I am also working on a couple
of short stories, as I don’t want to be forgotten in the short story market.

Where to buy?
The Trojan Project can be found on both Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.
It can also be ordered from most bookshops in the UK

ISBN-13: 978-1905609093

ISBN-10: 1905609094

http://www.eileenthornton.co.uk/
 

Luck

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I am posting an excerpt from Just North Of Luck. I hope you enjoy it.


My tummy howled as I grabbed rocks and roots and worked my way to the top. I pulled out binoculars and

crouched to peer under brush and trees, spotting the copper Hummer a little farther away than I anticipated,

but at least it was in sight. Finally.

I eased myself down, working out a plan a few degrees at a time. Once I was near a small patch of

flat ground I spotted it again and ran, tripping a few yards away, right into the anal glands of a skunk.

The damn striped fur bag threw its tail in reverse and soaked me with a pungent discharge. My eyes

stung and my nostrils caved in while my mouth twisted and contorted, followed by the rest of

my body.

I pulled my Ruger to shoot the little shit but couldn*t see well enough to take aim. I couldn*t wipe off since

my clothes were saturated with revolting spew. Fumbling for keys, I unlocked the Hummer and

grabbed the emergency blanket, wiping my eyes and face first. Stink dripped from my hair.

I mopped.

I peeled off all my clothes and wrapped nakedness in the blanket, careful to toss my guns and gear in the

back as far from me as possible, leaving the sturdy camo clothing and blue lace panties beside the road.

Just North of Luck is the second novel in the Logan Hunter Mystery series. Learn more about this book and the others:

http://www.susanwhitfieldonline.com/

And may the luck of the Irish be with you!

Bobby Nash shares diversity in writing

Bobby Nash writes prose (Evil Ways, Fantastix, Lance Star: Sky Ranger, Domino Lady, Sentinels: Alternate Visions, Full Throttle Space Tales: Space Sirens, Green Hornet & Kato, Secret Agent X, A Fistful of Legends, Earthstrike Agenda) and comics (Life In The Faster Lane, Fuzzy Bunnies From Hell, Demonslayer, Yin Yang, Bloody Olde Englund, Operation Silver Moon).

Bobby, thanks for dropping by. Share your writing background with us.

As a teenager I started writing comic book stories that I could draw because I wanted to be a comic book artist. Then my artist friends started asking me to write stories for them to draw. I quickly realized I was better at the writing and focused on that and eventually sold my first story.
Then one day I said, "I want to write a novel." So I did. It was terrible, but I finished it. That was a science fiction novel. Then, taking what I learned from writing that first one, I wrote novel #2, which was eventually published. That novel is Evil Ways, a suspense thriller. I seem to do the thrillers well so I’m focused on that genre.

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

I write to entertain. Sometimes messages make their way into my stories, but they do so naturally as the story unfolds. I’ve never consciously set down to write a story just to push a message or agenda.

Tell us about your latest book. Series or stand-alone?

As I type this interview (October 2009), Lance Star: Sky Ranger Vol. 2 was released. Lance Star: Sky Ranger is a pulp anthology series based on pulp aviator characters of old. Vol. 1 featured four Lance Star stories. Vol. 2 features one Lance Star story and four stories with other popular aviator characters. I wrote one story for each volume. Lance Star: Sky Ranger is produced by Airship 27 Productions and published by Cornerstone Books.

How do you develop characters? Setting?

I try to get to know my characters. If the characters feel real to me then they will feel real to the reader. In that regard I strive to make my characters three-dimensional. I know their likes and dislikes, hobbies, mannerisms, etc. Sometimes to do this I will "cast" the character so they have a voice I can hear.

An example: in my novel, Evil Ways, I cast brothers Harold and Franklin Palmer with the personalities of myself, and my brother, respectively. This helped me when writing them together because they talked to each other like brothers.

Do you have a specific writing style? Preferred POV?

To this point I’ve written with an omniscient narrator because I like to follow the various characters as they go in separate directions in the story. I have been wanting to try the single character POV and will probably do that on a project.

How does your environment/upbringing color your writing?

Growing up in the southern part of the United States, I write with sensibilities common to my area. I’m certain that speech patterns and mannerisms reflect this. For Evil Ways, I set the novel in a fictional town that was based mostly on the town where I live, but with a few locales not actually in my town that I wanted. As a child I was in the boy Scouts and loved to hike and camp so those things feed into my stories, for example.

Share the best review (or a portion) that you’ve even had.

Excerpts from Pulp Fiction Reviews review of Evil Ways:

One of the real joys of being a reviewer is the opportunity to discover new talent as it comes upon the literary scene. Such is the case with this particular thriller. It is the first novel by a talented young man that shows a great deal of promise for a truly amazing future.
Nash’s style is extremely polished for a beginner and he a comfortable storytelling pace that allows the reader to know the characters inside out. Whereas he also knows how to create knuckle-biting suspense that I found very effective.
Nash provides several clues and plays fair throughout leading them, and the reader, on an emotionally taut chase that escalated into a pulse-racing finale. The climax is a page-turning revelation and confrontation that had me completely captivated to the last word.

Excerpt from Ecto Magazine’s Evil Ways review:

For being his first novel, Evil Ways is definitely a good start. While the characters maybe a little stiff at first, it doesn’t take long for you to get caught in the books action and suspense. Bobby Nash proves that he is just as kick ass as a novelist as he is a comic book writer, so if you’re already a fan of his work Evil Ways will not disappoint

What are your current projects?

As I write novels, comic books, and short stories, I always have several projects going at one time. Currently, I am working on a novel. It is a thriller titled Blood Shot. As I type this I am roughly 50,000 words into it. The Evil Ways sequel, Evil Intent, is also in the works and I’ll focus on it after Blood Shot.

Short stories in production or awaiting publication include "A Fistful of Legends" (western), "Ravenwood: Stepson of Mystery" (pulp), "Secret Agent X" (pulp), "Weird Tales From The Zero Hour" (horror), and more "Lance Star: Sky Ranger" (pulp).

Where can folks learn more about your books and events?

I have an extensive web presence. You can find information on my projects and appearances at any of the following.

http://bobby-nash-news.blogspot.com/ (for the latest news)

http://www.bobbynash.com/

www.twitter.com/bobbynash

                                                

www.facebook.com/bobbyenash


www.myspace.com/bobbynash


www.comicspace.com/bobbynash


http://fasterlane.blogspot.com/

Bobby, I'm wishing you continued success.

Joyce Scarbrough's Symmetry

My guest is Joyce Scarbrough. Joyce, welcome and give us a brief bio.


I write full time and do freelance editing in addition to serving as president of my local writers’ guild and acting as facilitator for the Quill Masters critique group. I have three published novels, TRUE BLUE FOREVER, DIFFERENT ROADS and SYMMETRY. I also have short stories featured in three different upcoming anthologies from L&L Dreamspell. I've lived all my life in southern Alabama, I'm the mother of three gifted children, and I've been married for 27 years to the love of my life--a public school teacher, coach extraordinaire, and total hunk.

Briefly tell us about your latest book.

It's humorous women's fiction, but I like to call it "chick lit for women who own more books than shoes." However, that's not what makes it so different from other books of its kind. Like 8 million people in the U.S. and 40 million worldwide—including actor Colin Farrell—both the heroine of SYMMETRY and its author have trichotillomania (TTM), a compulsive hair-pulling disorder, and neither of us are ashamed to admit it. See, I figured that if I literally had to pull out my hair trying to get attention for my books, I might as well write about it and use it for promotion.

Is there a message in this book that you want readers to grasp?

There has never been a protagonist in a novel with TTM, and I hope to present both myself and my heroine as positive role models for the millions of people with this common physical disorder, many of whom don't even know that what they do has a name. I decided to put the issue into a novel rather than doing a reference book about it because I hope to raise awareness of TTM in the general public and the woefully uninformed medical community. I'm tired of people with this disorder being told by their doctors that they're crazy or defective when they simply have a nervous system disorder that is no more shameful than ADD/ADHD. In fact, many people with TTM have gotten good results from using the same drugs that treat ADD/ADHD, but a lot of doctors don't want to prescribe them because they don't know enough about TTM.

What’s the hook for the book?

Actually, the hair-pulling aspect is really just a small part of the heroine's personality, and the main plotline is about how she is dealing with a troubled marriage, her ticking biological clock, a domineering mother and an unexpected attraction to a sweet and sexy man from her past. Is it any wonder she pulls out her hair?

How do you determine that all-important first sentence?

Well, it was easy for SYMMETRY. The heroine's husband has just attended a sportswriters' conference in New York City, and when she calls his hotel room in the middle of the night, a woman's sleepy voice answers the phone. Hence the first line: "Jess always woke a second before she could complete the castration. Curses, foiled again." Women always laugh and men always cringe. However, if they keep reading, they find out that everything isn't always as it seems!

How do you develop characters? Setting?

So far, all my books have been set in the South because that's where I live. I'm obsessive about accuracy, so I wouldn't feel comfortable writing about places I've never been to unless I do extensive research on it. Thanks to the Internet, that's quite possible for future books. As for my characters, I do detailed sketches before I begin writing, then they always quickly come to life in my head and begin telling me their stories.

What are your protagonist’s strengths? Flaws?

Jess is a study in contrasts. With her friends and colleagues, she's self-assured and intelligent, yet she's insecure about whether or not her husband really loves her, and she lets her mother make her feel inadequate compared to her beautiful, successful sister. She's also in conflict with herself about her inherent loyalty to her husband--whether he deserves it or not--and the surprising attraction she feels for a man from her past that she encounters while separated from her husband. The book's main theme is how she learns to find balance in all aspects of her life and achieve the symmetry she craves so much.

What are your current projects?

I'm working on a coming-of-age novel that has been--I'm honored to say--compared to TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by my critique group partners, something akin to food for my writer's soul. I'm also working on a young adult paranormal novel that is best described as BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER meets DEXTER, even though there's nary a vampire in it!

Where can folks learn more about your books and events?

Sample chapters of all my novels and a few older short stories are posted on my pages at Author's Den: http://tinyurl.com/yafjyty. I also have a blog called "Blue Attitude" that I don't update nearly as often as I should, but I'm working on that. The latest post was on Valentine's Day and features some fun scenes about the first kisses shared by the protagonists in my novels. You can find it here: http://joycescarbrough.blogspot.com. I'm also on Facebook as Joyce Sterling Scarbrough and love it when readers send me a friend request.

Joyce, it has been a pleasure. Continued success!

Mary Deal: Down to the Needle

My guest today is Mary Deal from Hawaii. Aloha, Mary. Please give us a brief bio.

I’m retired and living out a life-long dream of living on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. Most of my time is spent writing, though I do get to the beach now and again. Oil painting and photography are business hobbies in which I take great pleasure and community activities too. Presently, I have four novels published, suspense and thrillers, with two additional thrillers now being written. I also write short stories and poetry which are published in various magazines and anthologies.

Briefly tell us about your latest book.
It’s a thriller called Down to the Needle. (ISBN 978-1-4401-9820-5)

The story is about a woman’s decades-long search for her abducted daughter. Her search leads her to a young woman on Death Row facing lethal injection for a crime she didn’t commit.

All of my books are available from online book stores as well as from the publisher, iUniverse.com. Just do a search for my name and all my books should come up on the same page.

How do you determine that all-important first sentence?
The first sentence, even the first word, must grab attention. Try never to start your first sentence with “I” or “The” or “There” and similar words. Actually they say nothing so it’s a lost chance to get the reader’s eyes riveted to the page. Some of my first words or phrases were “Blood red letters…” or “‘Witch!’ Randy Osborne said…” Should you find it necessary to use “the” as your first work, the next one or two words should be grabbers, as in “The jagged scar…” Or, as in my latest book, “‘The perp torched himself.’” My advice is to shoot for an attention-grabbing first word or phrase, not just the sentence overall..

How do you develop characters? Setting?
Usually with me, and with both novels and long shorts stories, I have an idea for the story and where it might take place. I see the character in my mind. One of the first things I do is to make a character sketch. That’s as simple as listing each character’s physical features, habits, traits, quirks and even disposition. I’ve written an article about setting up characters. Making a thorough list enables the writer to get into the mind of the character. Guaranteed, by the time you make this list for each of your characters, you will know them and how they will act out your plot.

Do you have specific techniques you use to develop the plot and stay on track?
I make notes anytime I think of some bit of information I can use in a story. I may not use it all in my present story, but if something comes to mind that’s way too good, I must write it down and save it. When I’m starting a story, I gather anything that may be usable in that story into one file to refer back to.

The way I write is not a way I can recommend to anyone else, unless it is their habit to begin with. When I begin a story, all of it is jumping around inside my mind begging to get out. I write what seems to be the most important scenes that I cannot afford to let get away. That means I may write the ending even before I begin the first chapter. Of course it will change later, but at least I have captured the idea while it contained the original spark of creativity. Too, I may write different scenes knowing, of course, the general order in which they should appear. Later I go back and join them together, maybe by adding more scenes, more story. I’ve also written an article about this subject. I write about anything I experience in order to clarify points for others.

Many people start a story at the beginning and that’s what I usually recommend others do. I can write like that, but invariably while I’m writing one chapter, it will trigger something that needs to happen much later in the story. So I write that part as soon as I can and then store it till I can work it in. However, especially for fledgling writers, know your plot. Make an outline or usable list of scenes. Start at the beginning.

How do you promote yourself online and off?
More promotion today is done online. Join as many sites as is feasibly possible to maintain a presence. A writer MUST have a website and, hopefully, one with PayPal buttons or other means of payment. Readers love autographed books.

I travel a bit so I always try to line up book signings even a year ahead of time. However, book signings don’t sell books. In rare cases it does, but appearances mostly help to come in contact with readers so they get to know you.

Other ways to promote is to make your book available as an ebook and downloadable for Kindle and other hand-helds. The publisher should do this for you. Too, if there are charity drives in your area, donate books. I am in charge of the Silent Auction for the local annual Kauai Coconut Festival. We love books! We have tourists coming here and they read books. Find locations in your area where you can make yourself and your books known. The ultimate goal anywhere is to build readership.

Enter your books into the best, the biggest contests. Even just making Honorable Mention gets your book publicized beyond what you might be able to do.

And finally, send your book out to reviewers. Reviews sell books.

What are your current projects?
My third novel, River Bones, a thriller, won a huge award in the Eric Hoffer Book Awards competition. I’m told by my readers that they loved the characters. So I am already in the process of writing two sequels to this book. River Bones has a subplot of a man traveling back and forth to Viet Nam searching for his MIA brother. Since he and the protagonist, Sara Mason, have fallen in love, the first sequel will begin deep in the Vietnam jungle. Most of the book, however, will take place on Kauai where Sara solves another cold case of a missing child. The second sequel will take place both on Kauai and in the jungles of Borneo, where Sara finds answers to an international cold case.

I read River Bones. It was great.

Where can folks learn more about your books and events?
My mega-website, WriteAnyGenre.com offers my books for sale, and is also meant to be a resource for writers. All information on the site is free for the reading. I keep adding to the number of pages so there is a great deal on information available. The site covers creative writing of all kinds – fiction, nonfiction, poetry, etc. - and business writing. Chapters from my books are analyzed. We discuss how to choose character names. Aspects of how my books are put together, and how writers can get help with their books, are to be found on WriteAnyGenre.com.

For those wishing an autographed copy of any of my books, PayPal Shopping Cart buttons are available on all the book pages. Notices about my book signings are also posted on the book pages when I have confirmed travel arrangements.

Thanks for the interview, Mary, but I think next time I really should do this in person. LOL.

Donald James Parker Discusses Homeless Like Me

Donald James Parker

Synopsis of book:

Brian has a dream of writing the great American novel. He knows that without a gimmick to set him apart from the rest of the pack, he'll never succeed. From reading Black Like Me, he gets the idea to masquerade as a homeless man to get the material to write the saga of those suffering from poverty. During his first visit to the local homeless shelter to gather facts, he is accosted by Zeke, one of the subjects of his research. In order to save his skin, Brian spills his guts to the huge black man. After hearing the story, Zeke sees value in the project for his homeless brethren, and pledges to help the wannabe paperback writer. Also on his first visit, a vision of loveliness, aptly named Angel, takes away Brian’s breath and subsequently his heart. She turns out to be a fanatical Christian who is waiting for God to reveal the identity of her future husband. Brian decides to write a novel and make Angel the heroine. With the recent popularity of atheist books, he figures he can market a story where the Christian heartthrob is sweet-talked out of her irrational faith by a smooth talking protagonist. He hopes his plotline will somehow become a reality, and he will be able to sweep Angel off her feet and her religion under the carpet. Things get complicated when Angel becomes involved in protesting same-sex marriage and ends up mentoring the former homosexual partner of a member of the Rainbow Warriors, an anarchist organization trying to usher in gay power while ushering out the government. When a Native American patron of the rescue mission introduces Brian and Zeke to the supernatural power of God, they both are faced with a decision that could rock their world.

Donald James Parker is tha author of Homeless Like Me.  Donald, thanks for stopping by. Please give us a brief bio.
There is nothing exciting in my life to spice up a bio. I went straight from high school to college (thus avoiding the Vietnam War and some potential excitement). I obtained my degree in four years and then my life became unpredictable. I taught school for a few years before giving the classroom up to program computers. I discovered the computers listened to directions much better than teenagers. My heart is still with the young adults though. It was hard finding my way when I was a kid. Our world has become much darker and more dangerous since then, making the coming of age process a very precarious one. My goal is to help teens find their way toward a productive, healthy, and happy life.

When did the writing bug bite, and in what genre(s)?
I dabbled with writing back in 1980. The real journey to publish began in 2006. I'm not sure the bug has bitten yet, because I'm not compelled to write out of love for the publishing jungle. I hate having to classify something as a certain genre. I think I cross genre lines with my work. My books are about life and man's relationship with God. Life doesn't stay within genre lines. If you have to pigeonhole my work, Christian fiction will perhaps be the most meaningful classification.

When you started writing, what goals did you want to accomplish? Is there a message you want readers to grasp?
I started out wanting to write about sports and love to teach people to love each other and to live life to its fullest by taking on challenging projects which stretched them as a person. Now after maturing, I find my message is similar but incorporates God into the equation as a main ingredient rather than just as a catalyst.

Briefly tell us about your latest book. Series or stand-alone?
My latest book, a stand alone titled Homeless Like Me, came out about a month ago. It should be interesting to the writing community because the protagonist is a wannabe novelist. He decides to write a story about the homeless and disguises himself as a transient. His disguise doesn't fool one of the regulars, a 300 pound angry black man. The two become an odd couple and work together to produce the book. A twist of fate occurs when the hero falls with one of the volunteers at the rescue shelter. Due to her influence, the hero has to entertain the notion that God might really exist, bringing about some agony of the soul in deciding what to do with his book.

Who’s the most unusual/most likeable character?
Zeke is a huge black man who hangs out at the shelter. He is unemployed as a result of a former drinking and anger problem (mostly directed at his father) that earned him some jail time. He takes the wannabe novelist under his protective wing to help him with his project. His journey to learn to forgive his father is one of the main themes in the book, even though he is only a sidekick and not the hero.

How do you develop characters? Setting?
To be perfectly honest, I don't develop anything. I just sit at the computer and type. When I get done, people ask me how I did that. I can only say it is a God thing. I don't analyze what I've written and contrive to add a dash more romance or make a character a tad meaner or more loveable. I sometimes wonder what kind of monster I could create by applying my computer analysis skills to my writing. I don't plan on finding out anytime soon.

Do you have specific techniques to help you maintain the course of the plot?
See the answer to question above. Mark Twain said that anyone attempting to find a plot in Huckleberry Finn would be shot. I might suggest that trying to find a plot in my work is a daunting challenge. I like to duck out of this one and say that my novels are character driven instead of plot driven. I usually don't know what's going to happen myself until I write it. Some people call that writing by the seat of your pants. Others might call it creative genius.

Do you have a specific writing style? Preferred POV?
I have a distinct (I think) writing style. I don't follow rules very much. I'm trying to tell an engaging but edifying tale, not conform to someone's arbitrary regulations for writing a good novel. I couldn't care less about setting and description. The interaction of my characters, their conversations, and their thoughts are the things I focus on. My characters carry on intense and humorous (I hope) conversations that I refuse to interrupt with meaningless literary fluff. My POV is usually third person omniscient. I like to get into my POV's head and reveal his or her thoughts about what happens to them.

How does your environment/upbringing color your writing?
I was raised in a rural area. My hometown, in which I am living again, had 5400 residents when I grew up. I spent a lot of time on my uncle's farm. I learned the facts of life and death on the farm. The importance of character and reliability were hammered home in that crucible (or maybe it was only an incubator). My heroes are usually people grounded in such character with emphasis on honesty, hard word, and the golden rule. They might have their moments of wavering, but they always find their way back to the straight and narrow.

Share the best review (or a portion) that you’ve ever had.
Hard to choose. I'll use this one from Apex Reviews:
“Homeless Like Me courageously exposes the reader to one of the more often ignored aspects of the human experience….Parker's insightful tale chronicles a…journey through the good, bad, and ugly experiences of a particular subset of the greater population. Without falling into hyperbole or exaggeration, Homeless Like Me provides the reader with invaluable insight into how devastating homelessness can be - as well as just how easily it can happen to anyone, regardless of the stability of your current situation. Despite the heaviness of the subject, though, Parker's trademark humor adds just the right touch of levity, providing an effective counterbalance to what could be a decidedly difficult subject to explore. A compelling read from beginning to end, Homeless Like Me is recommended reading for anyone unfamiliar with the specific trials and tribulations that accompany life as a homeless person. Sure to inspire an increased appreciation for the plights of people from all walks of life."

What are your current projects?
I am working on perhaps my most ambitious novel yet – a story of an American Indian reservation and a clash of traditional native religious practices and Christianity.

Donald has written many other books as well:  Reforming the Potter's Clay, Love Waits, Angels of Interstate 29, Against the Twilight, and the Masterson Family series including The Bulldog Compact, More Than Dust in the Wind, All the Voices of the Wind, All the Stillness of the Wind, and All the Fury of the Wind
Learn more about Don at:
http://donaldjamesparker.com/

Joan Hall Hovey: Nowhere To Hide

My guest today is Joan Hall Hovey. As well as penning suspense novels like Nowhere To Hide, Joan Hall Hovey's articles and short stories have appeared in such diverse publications as The Reader, Atlantic Advocate, The Toronto Star, Mystery Scene, True Confessions, Home Life magazine, Seek and various other magazines and newspapers. Her short story, “Dark Reunion” was selected for the Anthology, Investigating Women, published by Simon & Pierre, edited by David Skene-Melvin.
Joan also tutors with Winghill Writing School and is a Voice Over pro, narrating books and scripts. She lives in New Brunswick, Canada.

Welcome, Joan.
When did the writing bug bite, and in what genre(s)?
In early childhood. Of course, like most writers, I started out as a story listener. Both my mom and dad were great storytellers, and I needed only to hear the words: 'I remember the time when ...' to feel that rare and exquisite pleasure in the anticipation of a new story.
The dark, scary ones were best -- my father told of a man with the cloven foot who showed up at a card game...a young girl's body found in the woods behind the school... (murder was not so common then) the town drunk found dead in the cemetery, his face as granite-white with frost as the tombstones surrounding him. Word was that something had scared him to death.

My mother had a ouija board she and her friends took quite seriously. And we had a neighbor who visited us¾a fortune teller name Mrs. Fortune. It's true. Everyone was poor in money, but not in the abundance of inner life. Not so surprising then that my background should influence the kind of stuff I find delicious to write about.

When you started writing, what goals did you want to accomplish? Is there a message you want readers to grasp?
I don't think I had any goal in mind except to write a publishable novel, and the drive to do that was all-powerful. And I achieved it, three times, twice with a New York major publishing company once with another press, less prestigious. The truth is, I'm not all that ambitious in terms of career. But I do love to write and I love my readers and my goal is to entertain, while at the same time having my words make some comment on the human condition. A truth to resonate when the last page is turned.

Briefly tell us about your latest book. Series or stand-alone?
My books are stand-alones.

What’s the hook for your latest book?
I don't think in terms of hooks but of course you do need one. The Plan, my suspense novel-in-progress is an entry at textnovel.com Here is the blurb, which will give a better sense of the novel:

After nine years in Bayshore Mental Institution, once called The Lunatic Asylum, Caroline Hill is finally being released. There will be no one to meet her. Her parents, who brought her here, are dead.
They have found her a room in a rooming house, a job washing dishes in a restaurant. She will do fine, they said.
But no one told her that women in St. Simeon are already dying at the hands of a vicious predator. One, an actress who previouly lived in her building. Others.
And now, as Caroline struggles to survive on the outside, she realizes she is being stalked. But who will believe her. She's a crazy woman, after all.
Then one cold winter’s night on her way home from her job, a man follows her and is about to assault her when a stranger intercedes?
A stranger who hides his face. And whispers her name.


Compelling.
How do you develop characters? Setting?
I think about my characters, especially my main character, for a long time before I put words to page. I try to imagine her in various settings, depending on the story I want to tell. In The Plan I saw Caroline Hill standing at the window of Bayshore Mental Institution, looking out the barred window. I also listen to what she is telling me until she is so real to me I would recognize her voice on the phone, and I hope my readers feel the same.

I set my novels in a similar place to where I live, in New Brunswick, Canada as this is the place I'm most familiar with: the mind set, the flora and the fauna. But I might call it Maine or New Hampshire. I was an extra in Children of a Lesser God, filmed a couple of miles from my home, and pretending to be in the U.S. I do that, too. -J On the other hand, in my novel ,Nowhere To Hide, part of the story was set in New York, so I did a good bit of researching to get it right. In Listen to the Shadows one of the characters had flashbacks to his time in Vietnam, and that required some research, which I always do on a need to know basis. But be wary; you can really side sidetracked on the web, so many things to take your attention.

How do you determine voice in your writing?
I don't really do it consciously. The voice emerges in the process of writing, of getting to know my character. It comes out of my subconscious. That which Stephen King calls 'The boys in the basement' in his wonderful book for writers titled On Writing. It's one of the best books around, in my opinion. Voice comes out of character.

Do you have specific techniques you use to develop the plot and stay on track?
I don't outline as many authors do, but I do make copious notes, and I do a lot of rewriting. Novel-writing is a process of trial and error, and I do at least two drafts before I let anyone see it. However, I do often read passages to my husband as I progress. He's really my first reader, and is quick to point out if I've got the doorknob on the wrong side of the door, that sort of thing. It's very helpful and I'm sure keeps me from making a fool of myself.

My advice to new writers is to boldly barrel through that first draft and then you have something to work with. You're also a better writer now then you were when you began.

How does your environment/upbringing color your writing?
We writers are never sure exactly what part our environment and background color our writing, but of course they do. We perceive the world as we have experienced it. It's a part of who you are and you can't escape it. For example, a blue porcelain pot, a cracked medicine cabinet mirror or buckled sidewalks from my childhood will inevitably show up in my stories. They are there for the picking. To paraphrase Stephen King, (you can see I'm a fan) it's like having a whole circus inside your head. And I'm always eager for the next ride.

What are your current projects?
Aside from The Plan , my entry at textnovel.com I have completed another suspense novel titled The Abduction of Mary Rose and it's doing the rounds now right. Keep your fingers crossed for me. And check out my website for a release date.

Fingers crossed.
Where can folks learn more about your books and events?
My website: http://www.joanhallhovey.com/you can read more about my books, including excerpts and reviews. My book are all available as ebooks on www.smashwords.com in most formats, including for your Kindle, Sony and more.
Love to hear from readers and writers both, so don't hesitate to drop me a line at jhhovey@nb.sympatico.

Thanks for the opportunity to talk to you. I've enjoyed it.

 So have I. Continued success, Joan.

Joselyn Vaughn's CEOs Don't Cry

Joselyn, welcome to the blog. Please give us a brief bio.

I grew up on a family farm in West Michigan and have always loved the charm and closeness of small towns. After getting married, my husband and I tried out the big city for a while and decided the pace just wasn’t for us. We moved to a small town and live there with our children and two beagles.
Before I became a stay at home mom, I worked as a librarian which kept me in close proximity to books. My favorite part of my job was buying books for the library. I got to read about all these great books coming out and pick ones that I knew our patrons would like. I miss having other people’s money to spend on books. The library’s budget was much bigger than mine.

I have always enjoyed reading and writing. I would check out stacks of books from my local library and finish them way before my mother was ready to make a return trip. I like that magic that reading brings to you. A whole other world that you can explore without having to go anywhere.

When did the writing bug bite, and in what genre(s)?
I’ve always wanted to write, but didn’t know exactly what length or genre. A couple years ago, a friend and I were talking and the idea for the Ladies Night Out in CEOs Don’t Cry came to me. I went home for lunch (benefit of being in a small town) and wrote the first chapter. At that point I knew the story would be a romance, but it languished until I ran into W.S. Gager and we became critique partners. She helped me get the story moving and has kept my feet to the fire ever since.
Currently, I am inspired to write romance. I have several romances in my mind for future novels. When that runs out, who knows what I will try to tackle.

When you started writing, what goals did you want to accomplish? Is there a message you want readers to grasp?
My first goal was to finish a novel length project. Then my characters started talking to me. The main characters are people who need to find their own destiny. They’ve been locked by preconceptions or outside pressures into roles or paths that won’t get them to the place where their dreams come true. Through the story they will discover how they can make their dreams come true. In CEOs Don’t Cry, the Ladies Night Out are manipulative, but Leslie ultimately makes the decisions for her future.

Briefly tell us about your latest book. Series or stand-alone?
CEOs Don’t Cry is the latest published book. It came out from Avalon Books in April of 2009. Courting Sparks has been contracted, but does not have a firm release date yet. They are both stand alone novels, but take place in the same community.

What’s the synopsis for the book?
After being passed over for a junior partnership and getting relegated to a branch office in the middle of nowhere, Leslie Knotts vows that she won’t let budget cuts, corporate upheaval or meddlesome ladies distract her from turning the branch around and showing she has the savvy for the upper echelons of the company.

Organizing and advertising his new construction business has been harder than Mark Schultz expected. Having his Aunt Minnie and her friends from the Ladies Night Out group throwing women in his path isn’t helping matters.

When his aunt's outrageous schemes spell trouble, Leslie and Mark team up to outsmart the Ladies. Mark introduces Leslie to his friends and she discovers genuine friendships as well as a love with Mark like she has never known. When a competing company offers her the big city partnership she has always dreamed of, will Leslie risk her future as a top executive to stay where her heart has found a home?

How do you develop characters? Setting? Do you have specific techniques you use to develop the plot and stay on track?
I usually try to write my first draft as quickly as possible. So far, all of my novels have been romances, so I use this draft to get the hero and heroine together. Subsequent drafts add complexity to the story, like more emotional content and other subplots. My critique group is fantastic at finding ways for me add more layers to each story and character. Sometimes it’s a bit overwhelming, but it definitely helps add to the story. About midway through my second draft, I will do some kind of outline to keep track of some of the plot lines or setting characteristics. For my WIP, I plotted the events on a calendar because I had a character with poison ivy. Once the events were on the calendar, I realized the character had the rash for two months! Ooops! I had to rearrange some events to shorten his illness. I hope he appreciates that.

How does your environment/upbringing color your writing?
Definitely. I grew up in a small town and I like to include that flavor in my novels. Everyone knows and cares about everyone – in good ways and not-so-good ways – but there is pride in the local community. Another thing about small towns that I like is how people refer to places – the Smith house, five-mile-corner – Everyone in town knows what these are.

What are your current projects?
I am currently working on another novel involving the origination of the Ladies Night Out. It takes place about seven years before CEOs Don’t Cry, so it’s been interesting working with some of the characters at a different time in their lives. In the WIP, several characters aren’t quite the people they grow into in CEOs Don’t Cry. It is hard to show the glimmers of the confidence they have in the later book in the less mature characters in the WIP.

Where can folks learn more about your books and events?
I love to have people visit my website: http://joselynvaughn.com/. They can sign up for my newsletter there. They can also friend me on Facebook. I also try to pop into the chats on Writerschatroom.com when I can.

Thanks for the interview, Joselyn, and have great success with your writing endeavors.

Helen Macie Osterman's Notes in a Mirror

Helen Macie Osterman lives in Homer Glen, a suburb of Chicago. She has five children and nine grandchildren. Osterman received a Bachelor of Nursing degree from Mercy Hospital-St. Xavier College and later earned a Master’s Degree from Northern Illinois University. Throughout her forty-five year nursing career, she wrote articles for both nursing and medical journals. Helen is the author of The Emma Winberry Mystery Series: The Accidental Sleuth, The Stranger in the Opera House, and Notes in a Mirror.  She is a member of American Association of University Women, Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime.

Helen, welcome to the blog.When did the writing bug bite, and in what genre(s)?
When I had children and began telling them stories. I wrote them down and decided to do my own illustrations. Nothing came of this endeavor.

When you started writing, what goals did you want to accomplish? Is there a message you want readers to grasp?
Stories and plots simply found their way into my consciousness. I did it for fun. But, when I began the Emma Winberry cozy mystery series, I decided to instill a social problem into each book. Of course, Emma addresses these problems as well as solving the mystery.

Briefly tell us about your latest book. Series or stand-alone? If you have written both, which one do you prefer?
My latest book is Notes in a Mirror, a story of two student nurses during their three- month psychiatric rotation at a state mental hospital in 1950. This is approximately the time I did mine as a student and it was pre-tranquilizer days. Though the work is fiction, it actually portrays the care of the mentally ill at that time. I enjoy the series because my characters become like part of my family and I’m eager to know what their next adventure will be. They always tell me.

What’s the hook for the book?
The hook for Notes in a Mirror is mirror image writing. The ghost contacts my protagonist by this means.

How do you develop characters? Setting?
In Notes in a Mirror the character of Mary Lou Hammond is somewhat like I was a young girl. I accentuated her fears to increase the tension in the book. The setting is real, just as I remember it.

What are your protagonist’s strengths? Flaws?
Mary Lou grows through the three-month experience. She begins as a timid, easily influenced, young girl and becomes strong and independent at the end of the story.

How does your environment/upbringing color your writing?
I began my life as a protected member of a close-knit family. Through years of nursing, marriage, child-rearing and divorce, I experienced many of the situations that appear in my stories.

After hours of intense writing, how do you unwind?
I unwind by attending water aerobics classes three times a week, tending to my many houseplants, playing the piano, and reading.

What are your current projects?
I am writing about a new character, an older woman living in a retirement community. Haven’t decided yet if it will become a series.

Where can folks learn more about your books and events?

On my web site: http://www.helenosterman.com/

Helen, continued success.

Siobhan Cunningham's Penance List

Siobhan C Cunningham was born in Surrey, educated in Berkshire and has her roots firmly planted in County Wicklow Ireland, She lives in London with her Artist daughter Scarlett Raven. www.scarlettraven.com

A former model, she was once married to acclaimed musician Raf Ravenscroft, whose stellar career included providing the saxophone solo for Gerry Rafferty'S 'Baker Street' and the Pink Floyd.

Cunningham has worked extensively in both the music and sport industries, notably for Chelsea Football Club and the management company responsible for the careers of the likes of David Beckham. After a five year stint with horseracing's elite at The Jockey Club, and 10yrs of writing in her spare time, she decided to focus on her passion for writing full time.

Having crossed the paths of two psychotic killers (thankfully unscathed), witnessed the wrath of misguided religion and the abuse of money, sex, drugs, fame and power first hand, she was drawn to write The David Trilogy of thriller novels - The Penance List, Unfinished Business and For My Sins.

The Penance List is being adapted to film, and  will be a slick, glossy Basic Instinct style movie.

Respite from the suspense of her thriller novels comes in the form of her Ginormous Joe children’s picture book series. A humorous, loving, good-wins-over-bad look at life through the eyes of a big white, fluffy, huggable, dog called Joe. Her artist daughter, Scarlett, contributed the stunning artwork.

Siobhan, you're a busy lady. When did the writing bug bite, and in what genre(s)?

Babysitting my siblings; being the eldest of five children I started creating night-time stories for them from the age of 8yrs. Having three brothers, the stories had to be pretty lavatorial, crash bang wallop action humor to keep them entertained, giggling. Have been writing my current thriller series for the past 10yrs.
The Children’s picture books started as respite from the blood and gore of the thrillers, and to be able to collaborate with my artist daughter. It is good to be able to help rescue dogs groups by allocating a royalty share.

When you started writing, what goals did you want to accomplish? Is there a message you want readers to grasp?
My main goal is to entertain, drag the reader into another world, escape for a while. I worked for 8yrs in the music to film industry, so I write with film in mind. I write novels for movies.
The messages within the Thrillers:  good always wins over evil, abusers leave children alone, there is a backlash, the power of passion, women should not to take their romantic life too seriously,  and evil crosses the paths of normal people too.
The messages with the Children’s books: good always wins over evil, treat animals well,  love, care for each other, and accomplish goals.

Briefly tell us about your book(s).
25yrs ago my path crossed that of a serial rapist killer, luckily I got away unscathed, but I remember looking into his eyes and wondering how he had come to be so calm, powerful, cold, indifferent to his actions, to the carnage he caused. How had this animal been created? He looked like a clean cut, handsome mummy’s boy. He could have been a timid bank clerk or scout leader. He had a mother, a sibling a childhood, a life. How could the police not have caught him earlier? I wrote The David Trilogy about a cherubic altar boy who, due to the actions of his peers, teachers, priests, became a cruel warp of everything we hold dear. We hate him but understand him. The lead female is an honest, hardworking, normal, struggling with life, contemporary woman – evil can cross anyone’s path. Passion is powerful.

The thrillers are pretty intense to write; as respite I needed something to work on in-between each book. I had the pleasure of meeting Joe, a rescued Pyrenees Mountain Dog found dying on the streets of Dallas, he recuperated with us and inspired love, courage and laughter in our lives. I write the books in honor of him, a share of royalties goes to saving other dogs like him (SPIN Rescue). I also get to work with my talented daughter who produces the artwork in between her gallery shows (contemporary oils).

What’s the hook for the trilogy?

The power of love, passion, religion, and the carnage it can cause.

How do you develop characters? Setting?
They are based on those that have come into my life. Once I start on the basic skeletal outline the story and characters write themselves in directions I didn’t know existed. It sometimes feels as if I have been taken over by a spirit/ghost. But I guess that happens to many writers, the books write themselves.
As I write with film in mind, I have to be able to close my eyes and see, smell, feel, taste, hear the scene. I think that is why film directors like my work, they see it too.

Who’s the most unusual/most likeable character?
David is the most charming, hypnotic, addictive of characters, But I have a soft spot for one of the sub characters, a camp hairdresser, Anton de Menton, who makes us giggle with his camp antics, relaxing us amongst the fear.

Having read The Pennance List, I agree that David is hypnotic. I had to continue reading to see where this tormented character went next. He held me hostage, I suppose.
Ginormous Joe is a wonderful, huggable, arm stretching hug of a character, he brings a tear to your
eye and joy to your soul.

Do you have specific techniques to help you maintain the course of the plot?
Just reading the manuscript over and over again trying to make sure I haven’t dropped any stitches of the complicated story. Every few pages some form of action must occur, keeping the readers on their toes.

Do you have a specific writing style? Preferred POV?
I have a chatty writing style, direct and shocking. I guess that is me as a person…… shocking, no messing around with polite chat. Life is too short, get to the point.

How does your environment/upbringing color your writing?
Totally. I need authenticity with a touch of fantasy.

Share the best review (or a portion) that you’ve even had.
'' A masterful, dark, suspenseful, psychological thriller, expertly exploiting the tensions between the erotic and the macabre, wonderful dialogue, the characterization is phenomenal! '' - '' Intense, hard-hitting, forceful, narrative, about as powerful as anything I've seen, writing doesn't get much better than this. This book is hard to ignore, impossible to put down. ''

What’s the funniest thing that’s happened to you as a writer?
A wonderful 80yr old lady neighbor had been asking to read The Penance List manuscript. I was nervous to let her as I thought it a little explicit, risqué for her very sweet Christian Miss Marple type soul. Eventually I could put her off no longer. I admitted that it was best she did not read it, it was a little x rated, I didn’t want to embarrass her. She promptly shook her head, dragged me into the garden, behind a tree and whispered into my ear that ‘what anyone does behind closed doors in their own bedroom is their own business, I have a whole library of such books in my bedroom… ‘

What are your current projects?
Completing the second book of The David Trilogy, Unfinished Business, am dreading finishing the third book For My Sins, I love my characters too much to let them go…. (Message to self; - get a life!)
In talks with film directors and producers re the adaptation of The Penance List. Fascinating learning the way film writers work, how to cut a 400 page novel to 100 page screenplay, how the Director sees each scene, what he gets about my characters and what he doesn’t get. Amazing to see.
Completing ‘Ginormous Joe’ book two, where he falls in love. Ahh!.

Where can folks learn more about your books and events?
http://www.sccunningham.com/

Siobhan, I wish you the best with all your writing and film endeavors. Keep us posted about their releases.


Susan Whitfield, author of The Logan Hunter Mystery Series

http://www.susanwhitfield.blogspot.com/

The Ezekiel Code Author Tenuta Discusses 2012

Welcome, Gary Val. Please give us a brief bio.
Hi Susan. First I just want to say thank you for the opportunity to do this interview! I’m a writer/artist/book-cover-designer, former contributing writer for Fate Magazine (U.S.) and Beyond Magazine (U.K.) and I’ve been a guest on numerous radio programs (including Dreamland, hosted by best selling author Whitley Strieber and The X-Zone hosted by Rob McConnell). As you might guess, from that bit of background information, I have an interest in just about everything that could be considered “paranormal” as well as cutting edge ideas from quantum physics. I’m fascinated by the mysteries surrounding many of our ancient cultures, the UFO phenomenon, synchronicity, sacred geometry, crop circles, and pretty much anything that resides outside the box or goes bump in the night.
Some readers might be interested to know about my exploration of the possibility that the English alphabet is “encoded” in such a way that it can be used in a manner similar to the system of divination known as gematria. Gematria, for those not familiar with the term, might be thought of as a kind of “sacred numerology”. That is over-simplifying it but does give you the idea that it involves numbers in combination with the alphabet. Gematria was practiced by the ancient Greek and Hebrew priests and mystics. This work, interestingly enough, provided the plot device that propels the entire story of my novel, The Ezekiel Code. The details of the work (including hundreds of examples) can be seen at http://www.secretofnine.com/.

When did the writing bug bite, and in what genre(s)?
The writing bug bit me when I was about 12 years old. That’s when I wrote my first story. It was a science fiction piece called “The Beam From Saucer X”. It was great! Well, okay, maybe it wasn’t so great but, hey… my mom liked it.

When you started writing, what goals did you want to accomplish? Is there a message you want readers to grasp?
I didn’t really get serious about writing until around the late 80s/early 90s. I started a science fiction novel that was coming along pretty well but I stopped working on it when I was struck with an idea for a different story. That idea kept nagging at me to get it started. Once I got started I couldn’t stop although it took nearly 9 years to complete it. The result was my debut novel, The Ezekiel Code (http://www.ezekielcode.com/).
Yes, there was a message I wanted readers to grasp. The message can be summed up by a quote from Shakespeare’s Hamlet: “There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy”. There is another quote that works here also. I’ve seen it attributed to Albert Einstein. It goes like this: “The universe is not only stranger than we imagine, it is stranger than we can imagine”. In writing The Ezekiel Code I wanted to introduce readers to a wide range of ideas and concepts they may never have heard of. As one reviewer said:
“It changes you because it opens a portal to so many fascinating concepts, some of which are right before your eyes, laced throughout our lives and history, and others, which exist just beyond our general understanding, that it will keep you thinking and wondering about what it presents long after you've read it.”

What a wonderful review!

Briefly tell us about your latest book. Series or stand-alone?
The Ezekiel Code is a blend of fact and fiction based on the idea that the strange object encountered by the prophet, Ezekiel, was actually an extraterrestrial craft, or an interdimensional craft. In other words, it ain’t from around here. That idea occurred to me back in the 70s and I later learned I wasn’t the only person who noticed the similarities between Ezekiel’s descriptions of the object and some of the modern day accounts of UFO encounters. The novel is loaded with conspiracy, codes, secret societies, UFOs, ancient mysteries, the prophetic Mayan calendar end-date of 2012, alternative interpretations of Biblical events, mystifying metaphysics, good guys, bad guys, murder most foul, a touch of romance and a trace of sci-fi.
The book has been out in paperback since 2007 and was selling quite well. I recently made it available also in Kindle format. Much to my surprise and delight, within three weeks of being available on Kindle, the book hit the amazon.com “Best Seller” list in the categories of “Occult” and “Religious Fiction”.

What’s the hook for the book?
The big hook for the book is that it deals with the 2012 phenomenon, the approaching end of the ancient Mayan calendar. There has been a virtual plethora of non-fiction books about the 2012 issue published over the past few years but relatively few novels have approached that theme. Most of those few novels take the “dooms day” approach to 2012. The Ezekiel Code, however, takes a different approach. In my story the end of the Mayan calendar offers an unprecedented window of opportunity for enlightenment and an extraordinary future of the human race. There’s just one problem. Something disastrous is coming that could prevent us from ever reaching the year 2012. Discovering what it is, and how to prevent it, becomes the mission of one man while a highly placed group of conspirators are maneuvering behind the scenes to keep him from accomplishing his appointed task. Here’s a brief synopsis:
(1887 AD)

A fabled "lost scroll", scribed by the prophet Ezekiel, comes into the hands of a secret society, the Order of the New Dawn. Brother Hiram - a mystic priest of the Order - has a vision in which he sees the year 2012 (the end of the ancient Mayan calendar) as an unprecedented window of opportunity for the next step in the evolution of human consciousness. He also sees something coming that would prevent this window from opening; a catastrophic event that, if left unchecked, would seal the fate of humankind forever. He realizes the Lost Scroll and his vision of 2012 have a strange but vital connection. In an attempt to save the future he devises a coded message that he hopes will one day find it's way into the hands of someone who can prevent the greatest natural catastrophe the modern world has ever known.
(1999 AD)

Frank McClintock - a self-styled adventurer and researcher of ancient mysteries - comes into possession of the coded parchment. But an unfortunate fate awaits him and the parchment will lie hidden for another six years.
(2005 AD)

Zeke Banyon, a Catholic seminary dropout, is running a homeless shelter in the old waterfront district of Seattle. He and his assistant, Angela, unwittingly stumble upon the code and soon find themselves thrust into a world of secret societies, metaphysics, mystery, and murder. In the process of trying to understand the code – and dodging rogue Jesuit priests and the mysterious Illuminati at every turn – Banyon discovers a disturbing truth about himself and the extraordinary fate that awaits him... and us. No amount of seminary schooling could ever have prepared him for this.
2012 is coming...

The clock is ticking...

The code must be deciphered...

And only one man can save the planet...

If he can just figure out how - before it's too late.

Intriguing, indeed.
How do you develop characters? Setting?
Like many writers I have a general idea of what my main characters are like before I begin writing and then I find that their personalities evolve almost naturally as the story progresses.
As far as the setting goes, I decided to set the story of The Ezekiel Code primarily in Seattle because that’s where I was born and raised. Placing the characters and most of the action in a familiar setting helped me provide an added sense of reality to the story. The characters do, however, leave Seattle and go to a location in New York and then off to a location in the South of France, two places where I’ve never been. Their stay in New York is brief so I only had to do a little bit of research to assure my accuracy of that part of their journey. The location in France was more of a concern because it’s a key part of the story I knew that many of my readers would be familiar with it, some more so than others, but I wanted it to be accurate. It’s a small village called Rennes Le Chateau, a place of legend that has been discussed in several non-fiction books. So I contacted the author of one of those non-fiction books, a man whom I knew had actually been there to do some hands-on research. Although he was in England and didn’t know me from Adam he was kind enough to answer my questions about the location, the climate, the general terrain, and so on. With that detailed information, and a few photographs, I felt comfortable when it came time to write that part of the story.

How do you determine voice in your writing?
I think I like to keep my voice out of it, for the most part, and let the voices of the characters come through.

Do you have specific techniques you use to develop the plot and stay on track?
Some writers like to establish an outline of the story before they begin writing. I didn’t do that with The Ezekiel Code. I thought I knew pretty much how the story would begin, what would happen in the middle, and how it would end. Turned out I was surprised by much of what occurred in the middle and the ending was not at all what I had envisioned. The story became much more complex than I had anticipated so I had to start keeping a legal pad next to me as I worked. I would jot down the various new ideas that were constantly coming to mind as the story progressed and I made notes about how to incorporate those ideas into the story. Another thing I hadn’t anticipated was how difficult it would be to coordinate all the events toward the end of the story as the characters found themselves in a race against the clock. Inevitably, I had to literally diagram a timeline, down to the day, the hour, the minute and the second when the big event would occur. That was probably the most difficult part of the whole thing.

What are your current projects?
I’m working on a new novel, an occult crime thriller, called “Ash: Return of the Beast”. It’s based on a little known but very curious bit of trivia concerning the infamous practitioner of occult “magick”, Aleister Crowley. An excerpt from the intriguing introduction and a short synopsis and the cover art can be seen at
www.ezekielcode.com/ashteaser.html.

Where can folks learn more about your books and events?
Readers can watch three video trailers for The Ezekiel Code (one of which is a visual presentation of the entire prolog from the book), and read some of the reviews and even the first 12 chapters of the book at
http://www.ezekielcode.com/. Authors who want a top quality, original, attention-grabbing book cover at an extremely reasonable price can get all the information and see samples of my work at

http://www.bookcoversandvideos.webs.com/.

Gary Val, thanks for a great interview! Continued success!

Aggie Villanueva's Rightfully Mine

An historical novel by Aggie Villanueva

Originally published by Thomas Nelson, reprinted by Aggie Villanueva

Available in several formats at:
 http://aggiev.typepad.com/rightfullymine/order-rightfullly-mine.html

“Let us enter into an era in Israeli history where anticipation is a palpable hum, where the bedouin lifestyle gives way to the birth of a nation, a promised nation, where men gear up for war: the era between their forty-year wandering and their victories over Canaan.
After wandering in the desert for forty years the Israelites are preparing to move on at last to the Promised Land. But when Moses divides the new land among the men of Israel, it is Rizpah (called Noah in Numbers 27) who has the courage to fight for her family of sisters.” ~~Excerpted from review by Linda Yezak

It was an unexpected blow to realize that the Promised Land was being divided all right, but only between the men. Rizpah must stand against an entire nation of men to earn for her and her sisters what is rightfully theirs.
And into this era of the Bible that is often brushed over Villanueva “seamlessly weaves into the plot a love story of Rhett-Scarlett-Ashley proportions.” (Linda Yezak) This is a women’s equal rights amendment straight out of history, and handed down straight from the throne of God. How much more do we need to understand the great worth of women, and our worth to God throughout history, today and evermore?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aggie Villanueva has been writing since the late '70s. Her first novel, Chase the Wind,  was published before she was 30 and her second, Rightfully Mine,  in 1986. Villanueva freelanced throughout the '80s and '90s, also writing three craft columns and three software review columns for national magazines. Villanueva was featured on the cover of The Christian Writer Magazine October 1983.
After teaching at writers conferences throughout the Midwest, she founded/directed the 3-day Mid-America Fellowship of Christian Writers conferences for four years until 1990. For the past several years Aggie has blogged. She is founder of Visual Arts Junction: http://www.visualartsjunction.com, and is known for her in-depth interviews both in print, podcast and teleseminars.
Photographic art entered in 2007, and within two years Villanueva was critically acclaimed and award winning. Dubbed the "Grandma Moses of the American Southwest" by her artistic peers, Villanueva is represented in several online and walk-in art galleries across the nation.

Aggie, it is indeed an honor to interview "Grandma Moses of the Southwest".

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

My grandparents and mother used to have slips of paper with poems and stories I wrote starting at five years old. The poetry continued though my hippie years and my early marriage. But the write-to-publish bug entered when I was 28 years old.

I pulled a friend, Deborah Lawrence, into the adventure with me and we co-wrote a Biblical novel, Chase the Wind, was published by Thomas Nelson publishing. We were ecstatic. And I was hooked. The house also accepted my next solo novel, Rightfully Mine, which I have now re-published.

When Chase the Wind was accepted I had just signed up to take every course offered at The Christian Writers Institute of Wheaton, IL. I had completed only two lessons from the first course, Journalism. Being so busy writing the novel that was due within the year, I wrote the Institute asking for a leave of absence in my courses. When they read my explanation for the leave they refunded my money.

As to what genre, I read a few Biblical novels at the time, the late 70s. Biblical fiction was a fairly new genre then. They seemed to be no more than ancient romances. But then I read Thieves, by Thomas Noton, a hard hitting, honest book at the thieves who hung beside Jesus. I wanted to write Biblical fiction like that.

One of the impressive aspects of Thieves is the amount of research Noton put into it. I spent a year researching Chase the Wind and Rightfully Mine before I was satisfied. Thomas Nelson publishers send all manuscripts to expert scholars for accuracy before publishing. The historical expert reported only three inaccuracies in mine. But he was incorrect. I sent my research notes to back up my facts and they left them each stand as I wrote them.

What’s the hook for your recently self published book, Rightfully Mine?
I believe it’s the subtitle “God’s Equal Rights Amendment.” That seems to draw much interest, no matter the religious point of view. And it seems the fact that it all took place so long ago (scholars debate, but approximately 1200 to 1500 BC) incites further interest.

Tell us more.
It’s the story of the woman, Noah, in Numbers 27, who was one of 5 daughters of Zelophehad, and only daughters. When Moses was finally instructed by God to divide the promised land between the nation of Israel, he did it according to legal custom, which means only men are allowed to own/inherit land.

With only women in the family, and Zelophehad dead in the wilderness wandering, someone had to defy the law; it was Noah, who the publishing house urged me to rename to avoid the obvious confusion. I nicknamed her Rizpah.

The subplot involves love, actually a love triangle, and greed that murders, and family ties that bind, but the story is of an infant nation finding itself before it can emerge to war and earn what is rightfully theirs. How could the nation inherit the Promised Land when they denied some of their own their rights?

How do you develop characters? Setting?
I develop characters the old fashioned way. I write about them to myself. Staring with basics, I note where they are the from, who are their parents and immediate/extended family, height, weight, physical characteristics, etc..

Then come long essays about things that happened in their childhood, whether they like carrots and hate spinach, how they sit, stand, walk, run, what makes them cry/laugh/angry. I write the essays in first person so I can learn the nuances of their speech and emotions. Before long my characters are as real as you, to me anyway.

Developing setting is not so fun, but is so satisfying. Lots of plain old hard research. I remember during my research for Rightfully Mine I read one entire tome, seriously it was over 1200 pages. After reading this reference book, the only thing I learned was how the wandering Israelites handled their, well, toilet duties.

Think about it. A million people with no plumbing. The fact that they were a sanitary encampment is proven by how healthy they remained for 40 years. That step in my research was maximum tedium, but so worth it. It fascinated me so much I wrote an entire scene where my heroin thought out her problems while taking care of their family sanitation. Besides, I wasn’t about to let all the time I invested in that knowledge go to waste!

How does your environment/upbringing color your writing?
My grandparents, who raised me, were the biggest influence of creative thinking in my life. My grandfather, Reverend Vernon A. Vance, was, believe it or not, a Southern Baptist Minister. But they taught me through word and deed (mostly deed) that if I am true to the Word of God in my own personal life there will be few in line with me, least of all those within the church who need someone else to do their higher thinking.

They both taught me that God is our Source for everything—period. We need no human interpretation clouding his clear guidance. Though he was a preacher, he believed, and lived, that we should “call no man teacher,” and that if we do call a man teacher, we cease to hear clearly from the Bible and from God. He taught me well, apparently. You’ll notice the heroines, and heroes, of my books rarely follow the religious tradition taught in the church/temple.

Share the best review (or a portion) that you’ve ever had.
Here are four.

“Her portrayal of a humanity struggling between safety and destiny is touching, palpable, and memorable. This is easily one of the best biblical novels I’ve ever read.” From a review of Rightfully Mine by K.M. Weiland.

“One of my favorite movies of all time is The Ten Commandments. Rightfully Mine is now one of my favorite books.” From a review of Rightfully Mine by Cindy Bauer.

“…with the economy of words that is the hallmark of a masterful writer. Her characters are full-bodied; her action scenes are tense and exciting; her love scenes are both pure and seductive.” From a review of Rightfully Mine by Linda Yezak.

“This reviewer liked the book so much that she is buying it as a Christmas gift for a family member.

**** 4 stars Carol Langstroth, Manager, Mind Fog Reviews.

Great reviews!


What are your current projects?
I’m compiling two books from my 2009 interviews; one is interviews of photographers/artists, and the other of writers. They will be available at excellent prices and in various formats. Also I’m gathering the courses I teach on rewriting into book format.

Where can folks learn more about your books, other ventures, and events?
JOIN ME FOR A VIRTUAL PHOTO SHOOT: http://www.aggiev.org/aggielogic/join_me_virtual_shoots.html


VIEW PHOTOGRAPHIC ART: http://aggiev.typepad.com/aggielogic/art-collections.html

RIGHTFULLY MINE: GOD'S EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT: http://www.aggiev.org/rightfullymine/

THE REWRITTEN WORD WRITING COURSE: http://www.aggiev.org/therewrittenword/

DISCOVER YOUR NICHE & STYLE COACHING: http://www.aggiev.org/findyournicheandstyle/
VISUAL ARTS JUNCTION BLOG: http://www.visualartsjunction.com/
LANDSCAPES VIDEO TRAILER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsQHc6K3Fkk
RIGHTFULLY MINE TRAILERS: http://www.aggiev.org/rightfullymine/rightfullyminetrailer.html
Sign Up For:

VISUAL ARTS JUNCTION NEWSLETTER: http://www.visualartsjunction.com/

TWITTER: http://twitter.com/myaggie2

LINKEDIN: http://bit.ly/RytG9

FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/aggiev

Continued, success, my friend.