Tag Archives: author interview

Felinity – BBB

Posted by Ross Harrison on

Felinity

An Anthology Collected By

Sammy HK Smith

Felinity, noun, plural fel-in-ities. 1. The quality of being cat-like. 2. A divine being, a cat.

Felinity Cover

Grimbold Books is proud to present our first Kristell Inkling, a collection of feline inspired flash fiction stories written by authors from all around the world.

This collection celebrates what we regard as the most important factor when writing: write foremost for pleasure. The stories showcased in this book are full of laughter, grit, odd contraptions and a lot of fur, with a loud purring nod to our beloved genres of science fiction and fantasy.

From A.F.E Smith’s unique twist on Schrödinger’s cat, to Joel Cornah’s world-jumping old queen, from Clare Neilson’s steampunk creation to Tina Closser’s dragon fighting dreaming kitty, these alternate feline worlds are bound to delight sci fi/fantasy readers and cat lovers alike.

Kindle

Paperback

Interview With A Contributor

WILL MACMILLAN-JONES is a fifty-something lover of blues, rock and jazz. He presently lives in Wales, a beautiful verdant land of myth with a rich cultural heritage. He does his best to support this heritage by drinking local beers and shouting loud encouragement at the TV whenever Wales is playing international rugby.

He has just fulfilled a lifetime ambition by filling an entire wall of his study with bookcases, and then (over)filling the bookcases. When not drinking beer and watching rugby, he remembers to write the occasional horror book or to add to his comic fantasy series, The Banned Underground. Links to all his work can be found on his website:

www.willmacmillanjones.com

Hi Ross. I don’t think that I’ve been on your blog before. Nice curtains…are they fireproof? Just asking.

Where do you live and write from?

Although I was born in God’s Own Land of Lancashire, I presently live and write in Wales. It’s a lovely, verdant, land full of myth, mystery, excellent beer and sheep. And hills. I walk on the hills a lot with my camera: I haven’t met a dragon yet, but there’s always hope, you know? Although knowing my luck the dragon would sound more like that Cucumberpatch fellow than Joanna Lumley.

Do you have a specific writing routine?

I have a very specific routine, yes. I turn on the computer, open the current document – or whichever opus I have decided to try and ignore that day, look at the blank screen or in extremis the last few lines written the day before, raise my hands above the keyboard with the fingers poised…and see what’s on Facebook this morning. Like everyone else I’m too easily distracted.

Outliner or improviser? Fast or slow writer?

I must be in touch with my feminine side, as the answer to both questions, is… both. Some works I have carefully plotted in excruciating detail. Others I have just set my eyes on the longer for final page and just gone for it… It’s the same with the writing speed. My second book, The Mystic Accountants, was completed to first draft in a little over a month. There’s a work called The Picture which I hope to complete in a few weeks which has been a year in the writing. For me it’s very much a mood thing: I write what I’m in the mood to write. That sounds horribly indisciplined, but because I write in different genres I’m always in the mood to write something.

What genres do you write, and which is your favourite?

I write fantasy; YA fantasy; comic fantasy; dark fantasy/horror and childrens’s books. This is why mood is so important to my writing: if I’m in a dark place it isn’t easy to write pages of laugh-a-minute gags ( a bored American once calculated that one of my books hit 3.2 jokes per kindle page – now that’s funny, the idea of someone meticulously adding up all the jokes. I never do that myself) and conversely, if I’m rolling around laughing I can’t write something scary.

Tell us about your contribution to Felinity.

The Hunt. The Hunt was easy. I woke up at three am one morning with the whole story there. All I had to do was to write it down, originally at about 1800 words. I had it easy, didn’t I? Can you imagine trying to get all of Zanadu down, in that complicated rhythmic structure in one go? No wonder the poor bloke forgot the ending, is it? Anyway, that was The Hunt. A dream. I just caught it as it passed by.

Felinity is inspired, obviously, by cats. Was it easy for you to find feline inspiration?

Is this where I get the chance to be catty about my ex? No? Oh well, please yourselves then. Any resemblance between the characters and real people is purely co incidental. And imaginary.

I have trouble keeping short stories short, but this is flash fiction – do you find it difficult to write something that’s so short?

No.

7a. A bit more than that?

All right. I actually write quite a bit of Flash. I thoroughly recommend it as a good discipline for writers, many of whom are inclined to run off at the mouth for ever, without thinking of the poor reader left to follow on as best they may. It’s also a great way of breaking a block. If you are stuck on a story, open a new file and stare at the blank screen until something comes out. Very likely it will be rubbish, and you’ll throw it away: but I have several book projects that have started as a piece of flash fiction and then grown. I did win a respected national Flash Fiction Competition in 2013, so it’s always worth trying your hand in the field.

What other projects do you have in the pipeline?

I’m under contract to produce two comic fantasy books in my Banned Underground collection a year until we hit twelve books, so there’s always one or two of those on the go. Plus I’m now aiming to finish one horror book and one children’s book a year as well, so that’s why I’m always writing, and wearing out keyboards.

Give us your important links!

I thought you’d never ask!

Websites:

willmacmillanjones.com Where you can see the full range of stuff I write, and see a bit more about me.

thebannedunderground.com Where my major comic fantasy series hangs out. Gags, excerpts, reviews, trailers, all the usual stuff we authors put on these sites to pretend we are interesting. Plus loads of book links.

willmacmillanjones.wordpress.com The blog, where I talk to other writers and occasionally muse about stuff.

Try these then:

The Satnav of Doom The Banned Underground #5: a serious High Fantasy involving a dwarf Rock N Roll band, some accountants who are also Dark Wizards, dragons, and some mystical beings who have turned their Fairy Hill into an International Merchant Bank. And an anarchic SatNav.

Snort and Wobbles:

Dragons are not real. Everyone tells you that. So what do you do when you are eight years old, and meet a dragon living at the bottom of your garden? You have the adventure of your life!

When Wobbles and her family move into their new home, she is delighted to find that a green dragon is living in secret at the bottom of the garden. But Snort the dragon is not the only one: underground a gang of Goblins have also made their home, and when they capture Wobbles’ big brother Jeremy, it is up to her and Snort to save him: before the Goblins roast him on their barbecue.

Written for those children who are just becoming confident in reading for themselves, and for those parents who (like the author) are addicted to reading bedtime stories to their children and grandchildren, Snort and Wobbles is a thrilling, captivating adventure for 6 – 10 year olds.

Thanks, Will!

All Authors Blog Blitz

Posted by Ross Harrison on

Today, I am hosting an author interview as part of an ‘All Authors Blog Blitz’, started on Goodreads. My own will be hosted by Patti Lavell. My guest is Max E. Stone, a thriller writer. So…here he is, I guess (just pretend there’s trumpets and things):


Let’s start with the obvious: tell us about your book, August To Life.

“August to Life” is the story of three families—the Warrens, the Bennetts, and the Johnsons—unwittingly and reluctantly thrown together by their children which forces them to deal with the secrets they’ve buried for years. And that’s just the beginning.

What led you to write in this genre? Would you consider venturing into other genres, and if so, which?

I’ve always enjoyed reading fiction and writing it is no exception. It’s an escape for me and gives me an opportunity to create something new. For instance, “August to Life” was the result of a series of traumatic incidents during my junior and senior high school years. During that time, escaping through fiction writing was all I really had to keep me sane. As far as other genre’s I would like to at some point do paranormal and maybe children’s books.

Thriller and mystery works seem to me some of the hardest fiction to write, with all the interconnecting threads and so on. How do you go about it?

You’re right. It’s not an easy genre at all because there are so many different threads of storyline that you have to clearly connect to create this yarn of one interwoven story and then you have to show the audience how its all connected. It took me years of practice with writing prompts, reading, agent rejection letters, and the like to have an idea of how to do it and even now, I learn something new every time I pick up a book by another author.

What kind of challenges did you come across in bringing this book to life?

Writing in a way that scared me was one of the most challenging aspects of bringing this to life. My mom, one of the smartest people and biggest book lovers I know, taught me that. I always let her read my drafts. I let her read the first draft of “August to Life” and she commented on how dialogue should go with the character at least in the context of the moment. From then on, I had to make sure I said what my character said, regardless of my feelings.

Another challenge was publishing. I didn’t know much about the self-publishing industry or publishing in general, which is another place my mother shined. She found all these details and information about publishing with Amazon and Smashwords. It helped me to get my voice heard so thanks mom 🙂

What lessons have you learned so far from your writing?

One lesson I learned was not to be afraid to be me. Sometimes what works for someone else may not work for you. For example, Donna Summer and Giorgio Moroder were just two people who changed the face of music simply by doing what they did best: being themselves. My writing role model is Quentin Tarantino. He’s not afraid to say what needs to be said the way it needs to be said. His structure and dialogue is phenomenal.

If you knew everything you know now about writing, what, if anything, would you go back and do differently?

There are a few things, but mainly I would definitely read more of a wider range of authors both in and outside of fiction to see their different styles and tactics of reaching an audience and telling a story.

I’m pretty sure it was Elmore Leonard that said (but don’t quote me) that writer’s block is just another term for lazy. What do you think of that? Have you ever had writer’s block? If so, how do you get around it?

Well, I’ve never really considered it before. I have suffered from writer’s block before so I would have to both agree and disagree. You’re never truly blocked just because you don’t know where to go. Sometimes you just need to write or talk it out to get back on track.

Lastly, tell us anything else you want us to know: coming projects, tips, interesting facts about yourself… Anything.

“August to Life” is part of a series so you’ll be seeing more of the Warrens, the Bennetts, and Johnsons. The second in the series “The Bleeding” is a hard core thriller that goes into why one character is what he is and what he is planning next (if anything.) It will be available September 2013 and I will be posting updates and changes on twitter on my pages at @maxestone and @maxestonebooks as well as my blog “The Coloured Blog” on Tumblr at http://thecolouredbook.tumblr.com/


August to Life

‘Around, Around, and Around they go. Where the blood stops?…Who knows?’

August to Life is available from Amazon UK and Amazon US now.

The Next Big Thing

Posted by Ross Harrison on

Well, I’ve been tagged in this blog tag thingy. I refuse to admit just how long it took me to work out just what was happening, and why I’d been tagged, and what I was meant to do about it. It involves answering questions about one’s current project. We then tag someone else to force them in a thumbscrew manner to spill their respective beans.

I was tagged by Sammy HK Smith, who writes…stuff. Mainly fantasy and speculative fiction, I think I’d be right in saying. And it’s a good thing she did, because you only have to look at how long it’s been since my last post to see how hard I find it to come up with stuff to say! Which is odd, for a writer.

Anyway, on with the game!

What is the working title of your book?

I’m working on three (five, if you count my terrible habit of skipping ahead to start the sequel to the book I haven’t yet finished), but one may never see the light of day, and one is the third of the series in which the second hasn’t been published yet. So in short, it is ‘Temple of the Sixth’.

What genre does your book fall under?

Science fantasy. Genres are something of a necessary evil, though. They are needed for obvious reasons, but it does mean that authors can feel quite restricted, and readers often get the wrong or incomplete idea about what they’re looking at. Although science fantasy is the best and most accurate description of my novels, it (and the broader ‘sci fi’) brings unwanted connotations and requirements. I felt like I was going somewhere with this deep and philosophical paragraph, but it turns out I wasn’t, so moving on…

Give a brief synopsis of your book:

The Hierarchy is that most cliched of things: an ancient evil (ghostly ‘woooo’). Having experienced a most devastating betrayal by those they once fought to protect, the Hierarchy’s leaders did not go where they were meant to after death. Instead, they remained between planes of existence, seething in hatred and fury, and awaiting their chance to wipe all life from the universe in a raging torrent of vengeance.

In response to this unforseen threat to all life, the Celestians were created. Whenever the Hierarchy rises to exact their revenge, the Celestians vanquish them. But even they do not have the power to stop the furious immortals for good, and now, the Hierarchy has begun to control their anger. Now, they are scheming, intelligent and crafty. Now, they may be unstoppable.

Theak is one of the mortal agents recruited by timid – and debatably insane – little Fonau and his telepathic hotline to the kidnapped god who will bring the Celestians together. If they do not rescue her, nothing will stop the end of all life. Theak doesn’t believe a word the little man says, but there’s something compelling in those big, round eyes, and the trembling lower lip, and so he agrees to help. He probably wouldn’t, had he known how many times he’d be chased, bitten, burned alive, and have his chest ripped into by Death himself.

Time is inevitably running out, and the chances of success are looking worse with each passing minute. As the Hierarchy’s infection spreads across countless worlds, bending every living creature to its will, the thought in Theak’s mind is, how do you win a war against those you’re fighting to protect?

Where did the idea for the book come from?

People are going to get tired of reading it, but as usual, it just came about by itself. I decided I wanted to write something big. I also wanted it to be a little more fantastical.

Contrary to that… Although I didn’t mention it above, one of the parallel storylines in the novel has two ordinary men trying to survive this extraordinary situation. These two men work as secretaries, and have never so much as left their home town. I wanted to see the whole situation from their perspective, as well as from that of the people who know what is happening. These two think they’re being attacked by zombies! I liked the idea of writing that.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Well, Theak is black, bald, and twenty-eight years old, so that narrows it down a little. I’m not sure, though. I like Chiwetel Ejiofor – even if I can’t pronounce his name – but I’d rather have unknown actors, so they can be seen purely as their character.

Of course, some familiar characters from my first novel do show their faces, including Juni. I wouldn’t mind Kate Beckinsale playing her part, but then I’d have to do a rewrite for her involving a nude scene with a bald author…it might get a little contrived.

Tag!

I nominate (read: unceremoniously kick into the spotlight): Mary Fan, Marita Hansen, Danny at Uproar Comics (because I’m stretching the rules a touch), and Nichole Sotzek.

It…Ends!

Posted by Ross Harrison on

Like the end of the world, come December. But with less violence, looting and I told you so’s.

The final stop on the tour is Tea and Text.

I admit, I was a little concerned about today’s review, as it was the only one that I hadn’t seen ahead of time. Ann also kept quiet in emails about whether or not she was enjoying the book. I know the run of four and five stars must end at some point, and I wondered if it might be today.

It isn’t. I nervously found my way to the review, and the smile hasn’t yet left my face. Four hot cups of tea is a lot better than a glass of prune juice. I don’t like prunes. I don’t like prunes at all. Although the dried ones aren’t too bad.

I’m sure I’ll be back in a short while to rant about Star Wars 1313.

It…Continues!

Posted by Ross Harrison on

Today is day three of the mini-tour, and I’m at Sammy HK Smith’s blog for another interview and a review from guest blogger, David Muir.

He gives Shadow of the Wraith 9 stars out of 10!

Tomorrow, I’ll be at Zigzag Timeline for another interview. M’s review of the book is already up there and on Goodreads.

It…Begins!

Posted by Ross Harrison on

A bit like Batman did, but with less violence and skin-tight rubber.

The first day of my blog mini-tour is here, and it has started with a 5 star review and interview on Dragon’s Lair Books.

It continues tomorrow with another review and interview on Bookishly Devoted.

Don’t forget, Shadow of the Wraith has been reduced to £1.49 and $2.99 until Friday, 8 June.

Book Tour!

Posted by Ross Harrison on

Blog tour for Shadow of the Wraith

Well, blog mini-tour.

From Friday, 1 June to Tuesday, 5 June, I will be doing a book tour! Or more accurately, I will be sat here doing pretty much nothing while the blogs do the work of posting reviews and interviews with me.

I will be sitting all day with the blog open in my browser, just in case there’s a huge rush of die-hard fans with their own questions. All in all, I think it will be a quiet five days… But a fun five days! I’ve never done a blog tour before – mostly because I’ve never had a book out before – and I’m not entirely sure how it works. Hence the mininess of it.

Anyway, the tour will be happening in these places:

1 June: Dragon’s Lair Books – Michael will be posting his review of the book, and an interview with me.

2 June: Bookishly Devoted – Kari will be posting her review and interview.

3 June: SammyHKSmith – Sammy will be posting her review and interview.

4 June: Zigzag Timeline – M. will be posting her interview with me (she already has a review of the book posted).

5 June: Tea and Text – Ann will be posting her review and interview.

During the tour, Shadow of the Wraith will be lowered to just £1.49/$2.99, lasting until Friday, 8 June. Then on Saturday, it will be free for the day!

So come and join us! If anything changes, I’ll update here.