Blakely’s Friday Interview with Evi Asher

Please give a warm welcome to Evi Asher, Author of the Eternals Series: Burning Ember, Burning to Ashes, & Forever Burning.

EviTell us a bit about yourself and what you’re currently working on or promoting.
I’ve got three projects running at the moment. The Eternals Series—The first miniseries in that is out, The Burning Mini. A YA book called More Things in Heaven and Earth, and a new series entitled Echelon that will be a bit of a post-apocalyptic paranormal romance series.

What genre is your book? Do you write in other genres as well?
I love Paranormal-Romance, but I do write other genres, Young Adult being my second favorite.

Who or what inspires you?
In one word: EVERYTHING. It could be a line in a movie, or a song on the radio or a dream. My inspiration comes from all around me.

Has a dream every inspired any of your stories?
Oh yes, the young adult book I’m working on More things in Heaven and Earth is based on a dream I had when I was a teenager, that I never forgot.

Do you have an agent and/or publisher or are you self-published? If self-published, do you use a professional editor? If traditionally published, who is your publisher?
I have a publisher. I work with Extasy Books. They are fantastic.

Do you use test readers? If so, how many?
I don’t have “test readers” as much as I have a writing circle. It’s a small circle, only four of us, but they do read my work, or bounce ideas off each other.

What advice do you have for writer’s just starting out?
Don’t give up! (and I can’t stress that enough) That is the thing that kills more writing careers than anything else. Keep trying no matter how many rejections you get. If they (the publisher) address the rejection to you personally instead of “Dear Author” count it as a win, and keep going.

Do you set writing goals and if so, what are they?
Yes I do, I try and write a minimum of 1250 words a day. Life gets in the way and I have many other things, but there are days that I have written 5k or more.

Do you outline your stories or just go with the flow?
Outline and then some. I start with what I call “the bones” it’s the skeleton, the base story idea and where I want it to go. Then I do chapter breakdowns, but I don’t let it stifle me, if I come up with a good idea while I’m writing, I’ll go with it.

What does your writing space look like?
PINK haha, I have a small desk and everything is organized. Pink makes me happy so it’s my dominant color.

What project are you currently working on?
I’m currently writing Book 6 in the Eternals series.

Is being an author your dream job? If so, how long have you been chasing the dream? If not, what would be your dream job?
Yes, I’ve wanted to be a writer my whole life. To be a published author is a dream come true for me.

What book are you currently reading?
Grave Peril by Jim Butcher. It’s part of the Dresdan Files. I love Harry Dresdan.

What has been your best moment as a writer?
When my EIC contacted me to get my series title so she could send me my contract. It was payoff for a heap of hard work

What do you do when you’re not writing?
I’m a mom and wife, but that’s my other day (night 24/7 ) job. I love crafts, I knit and cross stich and sew teddy bears (of all things)

How much time a day do you spend on social media?
About 2 hours a day, maybe more.

I have found the writer’s community to be very supportive and welcoming. Please share who you recommend for us to check out. Bridgitte Lesley

You can find Evi on her website, Facebook, Facebook page, and Twitter.

Blakely’s Friday Interview with GL Giles

Please give a warm welcome to GL Giles, author of Water Vamps.

GL Giles on New Year's Eve 2013Tell us a bit about yourself and what you’re currently working on or promoting.
I have recently finished (edits and all, thankfully!) a short story for an anthology with my fellow BlackWyrm Pub authors. If all goes according to plan, it’s slated for an April 1st (2014) release—no foolin’! 🙂

What genre is your book? Do you write in other genres as well?
My WATER VAMPS (2nd ed.) is YA Horror, but it also has some paranormal romance (for the target audience of 12-16 yrs.) in it. I have also paired up with wonderful illustrators to create children’s picture books—including HURRICANE HOUND, THE CLEVER CAT THAT COULD, THE BOULDER’S RAMBUNCTIOUS LITTLE ROCK and I WANT MY KITTY CAT TV!

Who or what inspires you?
I am inspired by those who work tirelessly to make the world a better place for all animals.

Has a dream every inspired any of your stories?
Yes, the Prologue in my WATER VAMPS (2nd ed.) was inspired by a dream (well, more like a nightmare 🙂 ) I had.

Do you have an agent and/or publisher or are you self-published? If self-published, do you use a professional editor? If traditionally published, who is your publisher?
I was happy to sign on with BlackWyrm Publishing in 2012, and they published my WATER VAMPS (2nd ed.). BlackWyrm Publishing is a traditional publisher, and I was also traditionally published through Alexandrian Archives in 2009. Before that, I was nontraditionally published.

Do you use test readers? If so, how many?
I plan on having two beta readers for the novel I’m currently working on. Fortunately, I’ve already roped one of my fellow BlackWyrm Pub. authors into being one, and I’m trying to get another. As I love their writing, I really want them to inspect mine and give me pointers. I’ve had issues in the past with things like pesky misplaced modifiers, so it’s great to have ‘fresh eyes’ look over my work.

What book are you currently reading?
I am currently reading (and greatly enjoying) DESCENDING LINES by L. Andrew Cooper.

Is there a message in your book(s) that you want readers to grasp?
If there are any hidden messages/agendas, then it’s for readers to deduce. 🙂

What do you do when you’re not writing?
I love listening to music, as I’m also a lyricist. I wrote the lyrics to “Don’t Just Sit on Your Laurels” after being inspired by the Dogs in Brazil cause; you can check them out, at Target Audience Magazine.  And, I also wrote the lyrics to “Medusa’s Revenge” and “Don’t Ask” (these were both set to music by the New Zealand band Beltane). Plus, I love checking out bands via YouTube videos, etc. in my spare time. In addition, I really enjoy all of the what I call ‘kitty cat parkour’ (compliments of our 7 cats: Eclipse, Luna, Vega, Anubis Star, Comet, Bo Aries and Dyson Mars) in our home—on the cat boards, through the tunnels, et cetera. As a matter of fact, I’ve been working on a children’s picture book entitled KITTY CAT PARKOUR for about four years now; it’s based on my cats’ antics and acrobatics. Then there’s great fun to be had in walking with my ‘pittie’, Dejah Thoris, and going to watch movies with my husband.

How much time a day do you spend on social media?
Too much! 🙂

What do you do to stay sane as a writer?
Strangely enough, I stay sane by embracing my insanity, and then turning it into great plotlines. 🙂

If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the title be?
Since A WILD AND WONDERFUL WALK has already been done, I’m thinkin’ IT’S A SPRINT NOW would be applicable as, at nearing 50, I’m ‘sprinting’ to have my dreams fully realized.

I have found the writer’s community to be very supportive and welcoming. Please share writers that you recommend for us to check out.

  1. I had the pleasure of interviewing author L. Andrew Cooper in 2013.
  2. I had the pleasure of interviewing author Georgia L. Jones in 2012.
  3. I had the pleasure of interviewing author Hunter S. Jones in 2012.

You can find GL on Twitter, Facebook, & blog.

Blakely’s Friday Interview with E.L.R. Jones

Please give a warm welcome to E.L.R. Jones, author of The Norton Sisters: Rayna.

Hades Mistress book coverTell us a bit about yourself and what you’re currently working on or promoting. 
My Author pen is E.L.R. Jones (yes, these are my actual given initials-lol). I am new to the published Author scene, but I have 4 works out and available for purchase.  I have been writing since I was 14. My latest work is Hades Mistress which is due to release on March 14th. I am excited about this piece because I truly love Greek Mythology.

What genre is your book? Do you write in other genres as well?
This book falls in the Contemporary Romance genre. Yes, I do.  I have a poetry book and I have a few Paranormal Romance novels to come.  Most of my books deal with some form of interracial relationship though.
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Blakely’s Friday Interview with A.L. Kessler

Please give a warm welcome to A.L. Kessler, author of In the Light of the Moon (Dark War Chronicles) (Volume 1).

alkesslerTell us a bit about yourself and what you’re currently working on or promoting — I’m A.L. Kessler. I’m a stay at home mom and wife to a giant geek. I write primarily paranormal romance and I live in Colorado Springs, CO. I have two black cats who think they own the house. I’m addicted to chocolate and coffee. My current project is The Dark War Chronicles (DWC), a paranormal romance series that has all sorts of creatures fight a war against each other. It has adventure, romance (of course!) and amazing characters. Continue reading