On Writing Author Interview: Yvonne Hertzberger

To avoid pre-conceived notions which can sometimes be connected with certain genres, the number of books published and/or an author's appearance, none of that information will be revealed until the bottom of the interview.   So pour a cup of coffee, have a seat, and check out this interview - see how much, or how little, you have in common with this published author.

ON WRITING:
What is your favorite part of being a writer?
When I started I thought it was the process of writing, the flow of ideas that became images on my computer, the meeting of characters as they introduced themselves to me, watching their stories unfold. And I love all of that, but the real thrill is when a fan tells me they couldn’t put my book down. That means that I touched someone with my story. It is what keeps me believing. And believing keeps me writing.

What is your least favorite part?
Now that’s easy. Marketing and promotion. I am, first impressions notwithstanding, an introvert. Putting myself out there for all to see makes me feel naked. But without it no one will beat a path to my door.

Name one obstacle you’ve had to overcome.
I am a computer nincompoop. Nor am I friends with electronics or technology. Nothing stresses me more than learning to use my computer for keeping my website up to date, blogging, and social networking. It is not connecting with people that is hard, but rather figuring out which buttons to click to achieve what I need. That goes for the actual writing, too. Somehow hidden formatting keeps popping up. I swear, my computer seems haunted sometimes. Those binary codes are out to get me!

Is there a specific part of your writing you’re working on to improve?
I keep trying to improve the balance between character development, plot and description. Much of my editing deals with this; changing placement of events, adding dialogue where I had narration, keeping the pace flowing.

What part of your writing makes you particularly proud?
The feedback I have received from my fans and from my editor is that my characters are so real and believable. Several have told me they cried for a character as they encountered a traumatic or difficult situation, and were angry and actually mourned when I killed off one they had come to love. They tell me they see events as though they experience them personally instead of from the outside as a reader.

What does your favorite main character have in common with you?
That he (in the first book) and she (in the second) act with integrity and dignity in spite of self-doubt, emotional traumas and huge difficulties. They both overcome obstacles with strength and determination and let nothing undermine their values. And they keep learning and growing (only they do it better than I do).

Do you do a lot of research for your projects or do you only write about what you already know?
...The short answer is, I do both.

How do you use the internet for your writing?
I will occasionally search out a particular fact or item but I do not use the internet a great deal. I still get frustrated with finding the depth of detail I look for on a particular topic, eg use of a particular herb along with its side effects on the internet.  (Did I mention I have trouble learning which button to click? lol) Lately I have come to appreciate the vast amounts of knowledge other writers are generous enough to share with a newbie like me. I have learned so much from social networking sites and discussion groups.

If you’ve won any awards for your writing, what impact do you think that has had? 
iUniverse gave me their Editors Choice award, the result of three editorial reviews with consequent edits, copy edit and proof-read. That process made me a much better writer.

What one marketing tool have you had good success with?
Most of my books were sold through the personal contact. That is by doing readings, book signings, and word of mouth. It didn’t get me royalties but I did sell close to 350 books. It is only now that my second book is almost ready that I am branching out into social media so I have no idea where that will lead. But I will still follow up with all the folks who supported me the first time around.

What good writing habits have you developed that you think would be helpful to someone starting out?
Oh man! I am one of the most disorganized people I know. That makes me a very poor candidate for giving suggestions. But I do need a quiet place and a fairly clear desk. The more cluttered my desk the less I accomplish. And I get the most accomplished when I make sure to sit in front of the computer at roughly the same time every day.

Do you have any bad writing habits that you’d advise writers to avoid?
Procrastination. It’s great for saving money but lousy for writing productivity. If I don’t get my ideas down while they are fresh in my mind I cannot retrieve them at their best later on.

Do you have any strange writing habits?
Of course not! I’m perfectly normal. What are you suggesting? One thing I do when I feel unsure of where I am going is to stop and do gardening, housework or cooking. It seems to quiet my mind so that the ideas can percolate up through the barriers in my brain, sort of like a semi-hypnotic state.

When you’re not writing, do you read, and if so, what?
I still love to read Fantasy ...But I will read some non-fiction, articles on science, archeology, religions, early humans and the occasional work of new fiction that has been recommended. Health and socio/psychology too. Anything that increases my understanding of human behaviour.

What are you trying to accomplish with/through your writing?
I have no ambition to write ‘great literature’. My aim is to tell stories that will resonate with readers on an emotional level. It thrills me when a reader tells me they couldn’t put my book down or that I wrote so vividly that they were ‘right there’ with the characters, that it all felt real to them. But I also want to write competently, with skill. I suppose if readers are giving me those messages it must mean that I am.

ADVICE TO OTHER WRITERS
What words of wisdom do you have for young writers?
For new writers I would say listen to the feedback you get from all sides - be that writers groups, editors, teachers - it doesn’t matter who. Learn the current fashions and trends in writing. Understand the ‘rules’. Only after you have gone through this can you decide which rules to break, what your own voice is and when to buck the system. I don’t care what art form you create in. If you don’t learn to use the skills taught by those before you, you will not be able to articulate your own creation in a competent way. You can’t go to grad school without first passing through grade school. Be patient and ‘learn it’. I had to, and I was 55 before I even got started. It is worth the effort. But after all is said and done, be true to your own voice. What you write will not resonate with readers if it is not written from who you are.

What advice do you have for someone looking to get published?
I felt rebellious when I was told that every writer who wants to get published needs to get a professional edit done first. Now I agree. Since it has become increasingly difficult to get picked up by a publisher it is imperative that your work be as perfect as possible. It will never pass muster if it is riddled with errors. Your manuscript must be clean. This is true even if you plan to self-publish. After all you will build your reputation on the results.

Any thoughts on what this author writes?  How many books published?  Here's a little more information about the author...
 
How many published books are to your credit?  2.

Do you have an agent? No, nor do I plan to look for one.

Are you self-published? Yes.

How many different companies have you published with? Two

How long have you been writing? Five years.

Do you write full-time? If not, what is your other job? And how do you balance work/writing?
I am retired from paid employment but I do have a number of other activities that require my time. So I would say I write semi-full-time. Finding balance is a constant struggle. I admit I go through stages where it works or doesn’t. When I had to stop writing for several months recently because we were moving to a new city and renovating it was very hard to get back into the saddle. But I am back now, and with all the support I am getting from other writers it is getting easier.

So, any thoughts?  Here's the full scoop:

In Epic Fantasy Author Yvonne Hertzberger’s words:  I live with my spouse, Mark, in Ontario, Canada. My two children are grown and flown, one married. I stopped half a thesis short of completing my M.A. in Sociology (due to a political difference with my committee). My favourite job was as a hairdresser, where I got to combine creativity with socializing. Other creative interests are gardening, decorating, singing and a bit of acting. I love to spend time with family and friends, but in small numbers. When our kids were growing up our house held a menagerie of fauna but due to allergies we are now pet-less. We recently moved into a tiny, cute, 130 year old brick cottage where we hope to spend the rest of our days. If the fates allow I would love to travel more. And I want to keep learning and writing for the rest of my life.

Yvonne’s titles include: Back From Chaos: Book One of Earth’s Pendulum  and Through Kestrel’s Eyes, Book Two of the Earth’s Pendulum series. (Epic Fantasy)

Both books are available through Amazon.com and http://www.amazon.ca

What are you working on now?
The final volume of my Earth’s Pendulum trilogy. 

PARTING WORDS
Anything else about being a writer that you’d like to share?
I have never taken a creative writing class. Most of what I learned about writing came from high school, when they still taught the old fashioned way. I learned essay writing by writing them in university. Anything else has been from reading voraciously and through trial and error. I learned the rules and break them in an informed and careful way. And I have learned to take feedback as a gift, to accept or not, as it suits my style and my work. My readers have taught me to believe in what I write. In the final analysis they are the critics I want to please. They are the ones paying for my work.

You can learn more about Epic Fantasy Author Yvonne Hertzberger on her website and blog: http://www.yvonnehertzberger.com

On her Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/EarthsPendulum.YvonneHertzberger.author

And her Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1792913445

Is there anything else you'd like to know about this author, or any questions you'd like added to future interviews?  Let us know...drop us a comment below.

 

Book Signing Basics

A first time author asked about book signings.  Here is my input/advice:

Honestly? Book signings are a pain in the ass.  That’s only because they’re a lot of work and preparation for a usually small return on investment.  They are a necessity, nonetheless.

Don't be discouraged if only a couple of people show up and you don't sell any books.  That's normal for a first book.  And to add insult to injury, the most commonly asked questions (depending on if you're in a mall or stand-alone book store) will be A) where are the Harry Potter books? and B) where is the restroom or food court. Be prepared for that and DO NOT take it personally. It's no reflection on you whatsoever.  It takes time to build a following where people will actually want to be where you are...

Since the book is new, make sure you do a press release to announce your book as well as your signing. They should be 2 separate campaigns. When your book comes out, issue a press release. Spread that release as far as you can.  (Please see free press release blog).  Then as it gets closer to the book signing, do another release - and make sure you get listed in calendar events sections of every area paper/online news, etc.  If the signing is outside of your local area, hit all those news outlets as well.  You have to create a buzz around the book and yourself – that’s how you build up ‘demand’ and get people to want to come to the signing so they can see what you’re about.

If you’re ambitious, print up some flyers for the signing and a week or two in advance go around and post them wherever you can get permission.

To prepare for your signing, there are some other things you may want to take into consideration:

Having a conversation piece on the table with you (that relates to your book) is a great way to break the ice. I always have at least one grenade in plain sight.

You will probably also want a table cloth, and a couple of small easels to set your books UP.  Otherwise people will be looking at a bunch of spines.  Have a sign-up sheet where people can write in their email addresses for your newsletter.  Have a small brochure with order information on your book, and bookmarks to give away for free.  Everyone likes free stuff.  You can get a small business card holder and place cards you made or had printed with your name, logo, web site and book title on them:  anything to get the word out.  I have a large laminated banner with my name on it to hang across the front of the table.  I also have some of the major news articles about me and my books, reviews and my biography laminated and in a magazine stand.  But I’ve been doing this for a very long time, and I have eight titles available.

Don’t forget, you’re going to have to lug all this stuff into the store.  Make sure you have some good boxes – stackable ones with handles are helpful – I even invested in a foldable cart so I could wheel the items in.  Especially if your signing is in a mall - who knows how far away you’ll have to park.  And if it’s on a blazing hot summer day and you’re wearing a black suit – the last thing you want to do is run back and forth to your car seven times, building up a sweat and plastering your hair to your head. 

Be nice to yourself on the day of a signing.  Have a good breakfast.  Bring your favorite beverage, a bottle of water, some mints and a snack.  (Make sure any liquids are in a sealed cup/bottle so you don’t spill on your table.) Even though the event is usually only a couple of hours long, I guarantee your stomach will start growling if you don’t eat beforehand.  That’s just how it works.  Bring a notebook and a good pen, too.  You’ll have plenty of down time.  Make notes of what you could do better next time to make your life easier.

It’s always good to have friends stop by during the signing, not just for moral support, but to give the impression of people being interested in you.  (Plus they can get you nice things like a cup of coffee, a tissue, etc.)  Make sure they hold a copy of your book while they’re standing there.  Many times strangers are reluctant to stop if they don’t know what’s going on – unless they see someone else taking the risk first.

I’m not a hard-seller.  I can’t stand it.  So sometimes I would get a signing “partner” – another author who is very good at getting in people’s faces and pulling them over to the tables.  That still doesn’t mean you’ll sell any books, however, it does take some of the pressure off you if you’re shy.  You also can get twice the press coverage if your signing partner is from a slightly different geographical area – press releases would go to their papers/outlets as well as yours, in their calendar sections as well as yours.  Just make sure they share the workload and you’re not stuck doing everything.

So, all-in-all, there’s really no need to be nervous.  Have fun with it.  

On Writing Author Interview: Newt Love

To avoid pre-conceived notions which can sometimes be connected with certain genres, the number of books published and/or an author's appearance, none of that information will be revealed until the bottom of the interview.   So pour a cup of coffee, have a seat, and check out this interview - see how much, or how little, you have in common with this published author.

ON WRITING:
What is your favorite part of being a writer?

Creating the characters and the world that they inhabit. I breathe life into them, and place them in challenging situations that they must embrace, so they can discover who they are, and how they relate to the others that inhabit their story(ies). I believe in real life and reality, but everyone can achieve a modicum of success in a quest for a happy life.

What is your least favorite part?
The “day job” that pays the bills (until I can make consistent money from writing) certainly cuts into the fun of writing.

Name one obstacle you’ve had to overcome.
“I have scar tissue older than you.” – Newt Love 2001.
Where do I start? I moved out into my own apartment at 16, finishing high school on my own. Classmates thought it was “cool,” but a teenager coming home to an empty apartment every night was very lonely. It took a long time to believe in myself; but I digress.

Is there a specific part of your writing you’re working on to improve?
I need to cut-loose more. I realize that I am already pretty eclectic as a writer, but I sense a “next-level” in my writing is coming.

What part of your writing makes you particularly proud?
I surprise my readers with plot twists and circumstances that while aberrant, are none-the-less resonant with reality. (Or so I hear.)

What does your favorite main character have in common with you?
He has no clue about where his life will take him.

Do you do a lot of research for your projects or do you only write about what you already know?
I have extensive collections of web news articles about the people, places, and events that inhabit the stories I write. Realism flows from understanding reality, and that comes from observation. Besides, people watching (and eavesdropping at restaurants) is fun!

How do you use the internet for your writing?
Primarily for research.

If you’ve won any awards for your writing, what impact do you think that has had? 
Umm... I don't really go in for competitions. I remember surfing one day in Venice Beach, CA, and when I came in, there was a cheering section for me. They were convinced I was a pro-surfer because of how I knew where to consistently find the tubes.
“No, I'm a soul-surfer. I don't compete. It's just me and Mother Nature, and we dance together as soul-mates.”
I did enter a contest for Best 1^st Novel. A famous author really loved my entry, but I didn't win.

What one marketing tool have you had good success with?
While it was good, MySpace. Also, Facebook is good, and remains my primary source of contacting / gaining fans, and alerting them to my new works.

What good writing habits have you developed that you think would be helpful to someone starting out?
Write. Seriously, write! Just get it out of your head, and on paper. Edit and refine later!

Do you have any bad writing habits that you’d advise writers to avoid?
If you can figure it out, quit the day job; it really sucks the creative life out of the writing soul. I still hope to figure that one out.

Do you have any strange writing habits?
I tend to get into the head of the main character for the scene-du-jour. Sometimes that means creating circumstances that put me in the same mood as the character when I write the scene. Sometimes I get lucky, and life shoves me into circumstances that are right for the scene I'm writing. Sometimes, I get to drink good Scotch to get into that character. Other times, it's cheap red wine, or going hungry and drinking only water for a day.

When you’re not writing, do you read, and if so, what?
I read everything. Other writers, Internet news, blogs, et cetera. It comes in and influences what flows out of me.

What are you trying to accomplish with/through your writing?
Understanding. I write about the evolution of incomplete humans moving toward more complete humans in their trajectory along the human condition.

ADVICE TO OTHER WRITERS
What words of wisdom do you have for young writers?
Dream! And then always believe in your own dreams.
Are you normal? Then the normal rules apply.
Are you not normal? Then the normal rules do not apply.
Success is yours if you embrace your inner you, and follow that to what you are supposed to be successful.

What advice do you have for someone looking to get published?
Perseverance is the key to achieving your goals.

Any thoughts on what this author writes?  How many books published?  Here's a little more information about the author...
 
How many published books are to your credit?   4.

Do you have an agent?  No.

Are you self-published?  No. All my publishers are bona fides.

How many different companies have you published with?  4

How long have you been writing?   I got serious about writing in 1992. It's 2011, so, 19 years.

Do you write full-time? If not, what is your other job? And how do you balance work/writing?
I work as a Technical Fellow for a US DoD Contractor.

So, any thoughts?  Here's the full scoop:

In Author Newton Love’s own words:  Like most people, you won't believe my bio is true. The short version, with the more believable parts can be found on my web site. The total truth of my life experience is too much to put down, without pushing potential fans into disbelief or getting in trouble with DoD Security.

Newt is author of the following titles: 

     In 2005, the Annapolis Chorale, directed by J. Ernest Green accepted my Easter Cantata, "Man of Sorrows," for performance and publication. The cantata is written for double choir and full cathedral organ. You can download a WAV file of the score on my web site. I'm working on a Opera “Sitting Bull.”

    No Accounting for Taste, A Nick Schaevers Mystery.

    How the Strong Survive (thriller)

    La Voie des Braves(French version of How the Strong Survive)

    Odd and Odder: A Collection of Sensuality, Satire and Suspense

 

Newton Love’s titles are available through Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.co.fr, Barnes & Noble, Booksamillion, and other online retailers.

THE FUTURE
What are you working on now?
When Dead Cats Bounce, the 2^nd Nick Schaevers Mystery is finished. The cover art is progressing. In the meantime, I'm writing Roadhouse Affairs, an homage to Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and James Ellroy. It's set in the Winter of 1930, in the Roadhouse that would become the present day Moss Beach Distillery in Half Moon Bay, CA.

PARTING WORDS
Anything else about being a writer that you’d like to share?
“Abandon hope, all yee who enter here.”

If you'd like to know more about Newt Love, the most famous person nobody has heard of, visit his web site at http://www.newtlove.com/

Is there anything else you'd like to know about this author, or any questions you'd like added to future interviews?  Let us know...drop us a comment below.

On Writing Author Interview: Morgen Bailey

To avoid pre-conceived notions which can sometimes be connected with certain genres, the number of books published and/or an author's appearance, none of that information will be revealed until the bottom of the interview.   So pour a cup of coffee, have a seat, and check out this interview – see how much, or how little, you have in common with this published author.

ON WRITING:
What is your favorite part of being a writer?
Never knowing what’s going to come out regardless of how much plotting I do (which is usually negligible). It all goes to pot as the characters take over (which I love).

What is your least favorite part?
Not having enough time. Give me a deadline though and I’ll keep to it (with rare exceptions) so I can get everything done if I put my mind to it. It’s just that my mind is usually split into too many directions.

Name one obstacle you’ve had to overcome.
Eek. Writing-related? Mmm… probably the most annoying aspect of what I do is when Google Feedburner refuses to recognise the latest podcast episode script in the Dreamweaver text for no apparent reason or my website software reformats the fonts for exactly the same non-existent reason; because it’s a computer and, like the aforementioned characters, it does what it likes.

Is there a specific part of your writing you’re working on to improve?
Cutting down on the waffle… I’m not doing badly so far here am I? 

What part of your writing makes you particularly proud?
These are good questions Kat (think I might have to steal one or too… oops you said no touting)… OK. Generally: that I’ve done so much of it in a relatively short time (although I keep having to remind myself of that fact as it feels like I’ve done diddly). Specifically: there have been moments when I’ve been so chuffed with something that I’ve sat at my desk and clapped (which bemuses my dog).

What does your favorite main character have in common with you?
I’d have to pick April because my other favourite is male (and unnamed!) she’s female but she’s been married to a farmer for umpteen years and older than me so I guess being female is about the only thing; although I’d say we both have our feisty moments.

Do you do a lot of research for your projects or do you only write about what you already know?
Research… yuk. Some people love it but me? Not so fond. I’m SO grateful for the internet as it cuts it right down and when I was writing my NaNo novels it was great being able to Alt/Tab (more recently cmd/Tab – I’m a Mac convert), Google something (other search engines are available), slot it in and carry on (or if I’m really on a roll I put ‘MORE HERE’ and come back later). I did ask my vet for an avine disease once (I’d picked the wrong one so was grateful for the steer) which is about as adventurous as my researching gets. I tend to set my stories locally too (because Northampton’s had very little written about it) so I don’t even have to travel far.

How do you use the internet for your writing?
Apart from the minimal researching, it’s great for being able to bounce ideas off other people (on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook in the main) and for hooking up with fellow writers when I’m struggling, or just chatting to them when I’m not.

If you’ve won any awards for your writing, what impact do you think that has had? 
I’ve won a couple of competitions and been shortlisted in a few others and it’s great to put on my CV. It’s affirmation from a professional that I have potential and it boosts the rejection-flagging ego.

What one marketing tool have you had good success with?
It has to be my blog. I have lots of things going on (that’s not being too touty is it?) and it’s been an amazing journey, albeit for just five months so far, meeting some wonderful people (writers and readers) along the way.

What good writing habits have you developed that you think would be helpful to someone starting out?
This is where I burst out laughing. And I like that you’ve put ‘habits’ plural. I suppose because writing is now my life (although not as yet one that pays the mortgage) any form of writing-related activity is a boon but as far as actual writing, it tends to be during writing workshops (c. 3-4 evenings a month) or deadline projects such as NaNoWriMo (http://nanowrimo.org) or StoryADay (http://storyaday.org). So yes, write daily, more than 3-4 times a month, and don’t beat yourself up if it’s drivel. Beat yourself up if you don’t write but want to. You can ALWAYS find time (see aforementioned NaNoWriMo or StoryADay).

Do you have any bad writing habits that you’d advise writers to avoid?
Waffling. Just don’t. Ever. At all. Every word counts in short stories and every sentence (or better still, word) in novels. And I’m an avid repetition nut. Only use the same word or phrase if it enhances or proves something. Read your work out loud and the errors jump out.

Do you have any strange writing habits?
I love writing in second person which a lot of people find strange (if they’ve written it and don’t get on with it – it happens often – or they’ve never tried it). Also I can’t write with a pencil. I can obviously but don’t and try not to. I’m not sure why, perhaps the fear of it being rubbed out too easily. And I love to ‘red pen’ with a… red pen, especially others people’s (this is where I’d mention my new ‘red pen’ podcast sessions but I won’t because I’m not allowed to tout yet).

When you’re not writing, do you read, and if so, what?
It tends to be audiobooks more than paper or eBooks (my eReader gathers dust as I rarely travel) because I can multi-task when listening. I do read novels of some of my interviewees but that tends to be more coincidence than plan (a/ because I interview a different author each day and even I’m not Superwoman and b/ because I have so many other books to read) and I keep quiet about it (too late now I guess) or I’d be inundated by review requests. To answer your question a little more succinctly (see earlier reference to waffling) I love reading short stories and novellas – a format I can do in one go as I don’t read daily (slap wrist) and two extremes: dark (I love quirky) and humour. Roald Dahl and Kate Atkinson are my favourites.

What are you trying to accomplish with/through your writing?
To get people to read it (without making them do it obviously) and hopefully amuse, chill or entertain them.

ADVICE TO OTHER WRITERS
What words of wisdom do you have for young writers?
Start now, please. I started when I was late 30s and even then it took another 4 years to take it seriously. If you have any passion for it then keep going. If you’re like the other 99.9% of us that finds it thrilling to write then it won’t be as hard as you think… until you get a rejection. React as badly as you need to for the first one then get over it – it gets easier.

What advice do you have for someone looking to get published?
Ditto. Keep going. These days you have two basic choices; try your heart out for an agent / publisher or go it alone (but ideally with some help – everyone needs an editor) and do the eBook thing. I tried the former, to a single-figure extent, before realising that I’d rather do the latter although I still wouldn’t say “no” to having my books in the shops.

Any thoughts on what this author writes?  How many books published?  Here's a little more information about the author...
 
How many published books are to your credit?  5

Do you have an agent? No

Are you self-published?  Yes.

How many different companies have you published with?  Three

How long have you been writing?  6 years dabbled, last 2 obsessively.

Do you write full-time? If not, what is your other job? And how do you balance work/writing?
Sadly not. I work two and a half days as a secretary for a chartered surveyor (who’s an avid reader) so I’m luckier than most, especially as being a secretary for (lah lah lah) years has given me a good typing speed (80wpm?) so I can do things like write a 117,000 (it was a bit more than that but who’s counting?) novel in a month (NaNoWriMo 2009).

So, any thoughts?  Here's the full scoop:

Morgen Bailey is a blogger, podcaster, fiction writer (of four and a bit novels but mostly short stories, her first love), author interviewer, ‘red pen’ critiquer and writing group lead. English was her best subject at school and she was an avid reader (and sometime limerick writer) in her teens, before life took over, but came back to writing, thanks to a college evening class six years ago and has never looked back. Her mother told her recently that she shouldn’t let it take over her life but she didn’t have the heart to reply that she was a couple of years too late.

She has just released a couple of writing guides to Amazon and the likes. ‘The 365 Writer’s Block Workbook’ and ‘A Story A Day – May 2011’:  the latter of which details the process of (and includes) the 32 stories I wrote for the ‘Story A Day May’ project earlier this year. Thereafter I plan some other short story collections and two or three novellas (the novels with the waffling removed!).

All of Morgen's books are currently available on Smashwords.  Her author page is http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/morgenbailey

THE FUTURE
What are you working on now?
Getting my eBooks ready. I’ve been taking photos (took some great ones in Norfolk last week) leaving plenty of plain space (well… sky, grass, concrete etc) for the title and my name so it’s all coming together.

PARTING WORDS
Anything else about being a writer that you’d like to share?
Just how wonderful it is to write and how exciting the future is for us. If you read but have never thought of writing, do it. I’ve shared some of my writing with reading friends and they (kindly) said that they could never do anything like that but if they’ve never tried how do they know? Even with the best outline, a story can spin away into unexpected territories keeping a fiction writer on his or her toes, and who wouldn’t want that?

You can learn more about Morgen Bailey at her main website which is her blog (http://morgenbailey.wordpress.com).  She also has a website (http://morgenbailey.com) but the WordPress (blog) software is so much more user-friendly that the website is more of a ‘this is what I’m about, best go have a look at the blog’.

Morgen would also like us to know that she..."can bark like a seal and used to be able to flip a dozen coins from the back of my write elbow. Oh, and I like to swim upside down."
  
Is there anything else you'd like to know about this author, or any questions you'd like added to future interviews?  Let us know...drop us a comment below.

On Writing Author Interview: Pat Valdata

To avoid pre-conceived notions which can sometimes be connected with certain genres, the number of books published and/or an author's appearance, none of that information will be revealed until the bottom of the interview. So pour a cup of coffee, have a seat, and check out this interview - see how much, or how little, you have in common with this published author. 

ON WRITING
What is your favorite part of being a writer?   Mostly, I love working with words. 

What is your least favorite part?   There’s not much to dislike! The whole process is fun—from getting an idea through drafting and revising and then finally the satisfaction of arriving at “the end.” Trying to get someone to like what I wrote is nowhere near as much fun, but then, that’s publishing, not writing.

Name one obstacle you’ve had to overcome.   Time is the main problem. I am not a person with limitless energy, so day jobs can make it hard to get writing done, especially a day job that involves sitting in front of a computer and writing things for other people. After a day of that, the last thing I want to do is spend more time in front of a computer screen. And I am not a morning person, so getting up an hour early to work on my own stuff just isn’t going to happen. Thank goodness for writer’s residencies! I can get more done in two weeks at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts than I can in six months at home.

Is there a specific part of your writing you’re working on to improve?  All of it, all the time.

What part of your writing makes you particularly proud?   When someone comes up to me at a book fair and tells me how much they loved my book. Or when I get a fan letter—which is rare, but really gratifying. 

What does your favorite main character have in common with you?   I don’t have favorites. I love them all.

Do you do a lot of research for your projects or do you only write about what you already know?   Goodness, writing about what you already know sounds so boring, doesn’t it? One of my favorite writing teachers, Peter Murphy, says that we have to surprise ourselves if we want our readers to be surprised, too. I think that’s great advice. And because I thoroughly enjoy doing research, I am always happy to be in the middle of a project that requires it. I especially love researching realistic details.

How do you use the internet for your writing?   The most influential thing was joining a listerv of creative writers and writing teachers in 1995. I am still on that list and I really value the friendships and professional relationships that I have made as a result. I belong to another listserv for women poets, which has also been a valuable resource. I have had publications as a direct result of the networking on both lists.  I also use Facebook and Twitter to keep in touch with other writers and to let people know about upcoming events and publications. 

If you’ve won any awards for your writing, what impact do you think that has had?    It certainly makes me feel like a “real” writer, but aside from the personal gratification, there’s little tangible benefit, at least, not for someone at my level. Maybe I’d feel differently if I’d won a MacArthur grant or Pulitzer prize! 

What one marketing tool have you had good success with?   The old-fashioned kind: word of mouth and personal networking. All of my publications have resulted from those two things. I also sell books at book fairs and festivals. I can buy book s from my publishers at a discount, so selling directly is how I make the most money per individual copy. And it is a lot of fun.

What good writing habits have you developed that you think would be helpful to someone starting out?   I am probably the worst person when it comes to good writing habits. I am easily distracted when I am at home. There’s always something that needs doing—getting work done for a client and grading papers are things I get paid to do, so of course that work gets priority. By the time I am done with paid work, it is just too easy to procrastinate by refilling the bird feeder or doing a load of wash. If I didn’t belong to a group that meets twice a month, I probably wouldn’t get anything written. 

Do you have any bad writing habits that you’d advise writers to avoid?  Procrastinating is the main thing I do much too well. I also suggest NOT looking at email or Facebook when your main task should be to sit down and write. The Internet is a huge distraction. I am really good at avoiding it when I’m at a residency, but I am really bad about it at home. 

Do you have any strange writing habits?  I generally compose using the computer, so I don’t have a lucky pen or use a particular kind of writing paper. I don’t play music. I don’t have any real rituals, although in my office I have objects that I hope will put me in a writing mood—a turtle figurine that my husband gave me, some pretty beach rocks and shells, writing books, things like that. Sometimes, though, I need to get out of the office, and so I’ll drive to a local park and watch birds for a little while to get back into a creative mood.

When you’re not writing, do you read, and if so, what?  I love to read and always have several books going at once. I love mysteries and admire writers who can write them. I’m also a geek so I reread The Lord of the Rings every few years. I’m a birder so I have a lot of bird books, too. I just got Jerry Ligouri’s Hawks at a Distance because I volunteer at the Turkey Point Hawk Watch every year. 

What are you trying to accomplish with/through your writing?   To write the best that I can. If someone reads one of my books and enjoys it, that makes me incredibly happy.

ADVICE TO OTHER WRITERS
What words of wisdom do you have for young writers?  Just do it no matter how many people tell you that you are uncool. 

What advice do you have for someone looking to get published?   This is the best of times and the worst of times (sorry, Dickens). It’s the best for anyone who wants to self-publish an e-book or a print book because there are so many options out there. It’s the worst of times for anyone who wants to publish through the traditional route. The few publishing houses that are left are run by bean counters, not editors, and they are so driven by the bottom line that it’s really hard for any writer who doesn’t write a potential blockbuster (99.99% of us) to even get read.

Any thoughts on what this author writes? How many books published? Here's a little more information about the author...

How many published books are to your credit?   4

Do you have an agent?   Not at present. If an agent reads this and wants to get in touch, that would be great.

Are you self-published?  No 

How many different companies have you published with?  Three 

How long have you been writing?   Ever since I learned to read, but writing seriously for about 20 years.

Do you write full-time? If not, what is your other job? And how do you balance work/writing?   I wish! I am a business writing consultant and I also teach part-time, and mostly online, for UMUC. How do I balance work/writing? Not well at all.

So, any thoughts? Here's the full scoop:

Pat Valdata, a native of New Jersey, lives in Elkton, Maryland. She received an MFA in fiction writing from Goddard College. She has written two novels, Crosswind (Wind Canyon Books, 1998) and The Other Sister (Plain View Press, 2008), which won a gold medal from the Árpád Academy in 2009. Her newest book, a full-length poetry book titled Inherent Vice (Pecan Grove Press), was published in March 2011. Her earlier chapbook, Looking for Bivalve (2002), was a finalist in that publisher’s chapbook competition. Pat is an adjunct associate professor at the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) and president of Cloudstreet Communications. 

Pat's titles are available for purchase at http://www.cloudstreetcomm.com/books.htm

THE FUTURE

What are you working on now?  I am working on a new novel and a new book of poetry.

PARTING WORDS
Anything else about being a writer that you’d like to share? I have always loved Hemingway’s comment about why he rewrote the last page of Farewell to Arms 39 times. His writing problem? “Getting the words right.”

For more information on Pat Valdata, novelist and poet, please visit http://www.pw.org/content/patricia_valdata_1

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