Interview with Author Louise Ross - JL Anthology

The JL group is proud to announce their FOURTH anthology which was released on 2/26! They're so excited to share this newest collection of works and I'm hosting one of the authors--Louise Ross-- in celebration.

The anthology, Of Legend and Lore, is a collection of fairy tale retellings from 11 different authors around the globe. You can buy it now on Amazon!

Kristen: Thank you for joining me today, Louise. I hope you're ready for the interrogation question assault interview. 

How about we start off with the inspiration behind your retelling.

Louise: I chose the three billy goats gruff because as I kid I preferred the non-romantic fairy tales. I loved unicorns, talking pigs, scary wolves, and trolls under bridges. So I wanted to highlight the billy goats.

Kristen: What was the hardest part of writing it?


Louise: I struggle with making endings that are not overly dramatic or depressing. This story lends itself to tragedy but also calls for peace and contentment. It was difficult to bring those two feelings together.


Kristen: Do you have any other short stories you written for a JLA before?


Louise This is my fourth story in a Just Us League Anthology. In From the Stories of Old , I wrote a tale, Kris and Krampus, where Kris Kringle becomes Krampus and punishes bad children. It is a story based on Struwwelpeter, a series of Germanic poems about naughty children. 

In Between Heroes and Villains, my story Super Love features Madame Pain, villainess extraordinaire, who has devised a scheme to entrap her one true love.

In the anthology Whispers in the Shadows, an old lady faces her final hours.



Kristen: So you're going for one in each! I hope to see you continue your streak! Now, how did this experience differ from your previous JLA stories?


Louise: Every story brings its own adventure. What I like most about writing is that one day I can explore insanity and the next day go on a treasure hunt. Out of the JLA anthologies, the story in this one is probably the happiest of all. I didn’t kill anyone, and that’s a positive move.



Kristen: Assuming you wanted to join in for future retelling anthologies, what other fairy tale would you like to rewrite?


Louise: I like exploring the non-romantic fairy tales. I am working on a tale based on Goldilocks and the three bears, and I am playing with possible retellings of Little Red Riding Hood, Three Little Pigs, and The Pied Piper. There are many great fairy tales.



Kristen: And definitely not tales we get to see a lot of. So you'd definitely be tapping into stories that must provide a fountain of new ideas. Since you mentioned preferring non-romantic stories, do you prefer a HEA or

Louise: In the longer pieces I write, I tend to give happy endings, but in short pieces, I rarely let my characters have a happily ever after. When reading stories, I am mixed. Happily ever after is good but variety is better.

Kristen: How do you combat writer’s block?


Louise: I stomp and throw things then take a bath. When I sit down with no electronics, no distracting dog, no husband, no other projects, then my brain usually works through any writer’s block.


Kristen: Hopefully the dogs and husband have a safe room when the throwing objects occurs! 

Kristen: Okay, moving on. Would you consider yourself a “pantser” or “plotter”?


Louise: I’m a plotter with a bit of pantsing within that plot. I often plot the plot but pants the characterization. It can cause problems if the characters no longer fit the plot, but mostly my process works for me.



Kristen: What would be your favorite original fairy tale?


Louise: Probably Little Red Riding Hood. I used to have a cape with a hood, and I would run around in my underwear and cape. I was little. Pre-kindergarten. I promise.

Kristen: Who wouldn't want a cape like Red's! What about your favorite adapted fairy tale?


Louise: When I try to come up with adapted fairy tales, I get stuck on the romance ones. Those are the majority of what I see. Out of those, I’d have to pick some form of Cinderella, maybe Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella either the 1965 with Leslie Ann Warren (bad singer but wonderful dancer) or the 1997 with Bandy and Whitney Huston.



Kristen: If you could meet one author, alive or dead, who would it be?


Louise: I’d be afraid to meet an author I admire and find out I did not like them as a person. It would be fun to attend some of Mark Twain’s orations just to listen. I hear WorldCon in the 60’s and 70’s was full of sword fights in hotel lobbies and crazy costume parties. So it might be fun to go back in time to one of those conventions.

Kristen: I can definitely understand not wanting to meet someone whose work you admire for fear that they'll be someone you can't stand! I could go for sword fights and costumes though!

What is your non-writer alter-ego (aka day job)?


Louise: I’m a lawyer by trade, which means I spend a lot of time reading, writing, and listening to other people’s stories. Law is conflict which has enveloped individuals and requires assistance with solving. Where else can a dispute between two neighbors suck in multiple attorneys, a judge, a jury of twelve, expert witnesses, and lay witnesses. I know where, fiction. Fiction is all about controversy.



Kristen: Completely random question. What is your spirit animal?


Louise: Oooooo. Um. Maybe a chimp. I like chimps. They are fun and playful, but they are territorial, aggressive and omnivores. I couldn’t have a spirit that refused to eat steak.

Kristen: I think that question would've stumped me. Or maybe not. Mine would be a koala. Eat and sleep my whole life and never leave my tree. Okay, so maybe that's just the life that sounds amazing. 

Who is the biggest supporter of your writing?


Louise; Wow. I would have to say my sisters who both make sure I get my writing time, or my husband who doesn’t complain about all my assigned writing time. Or my mom who continuously asks to read my stories. My immediate family is very supportive.


Kristen: That's awesome! I know so many writers don't have that family support. It's great that your family is willing to get behind you and back you up.

What is the biggest obstacle to your writing?


Louise: I struggle a lot with word counts. I have finished drafting 5 stories, but they range in size from 35,000 to 69,000 words. Fantasy novels shoot for 75,000 to 120,000. I have been working a long time on learning how to craft novels which are more appropriate in length while not losing the fast pace energy that I prefer.



Kristen: What other projects are you working on?


Louise: I currently have a fantasy action adventure about a blackmarket alchemist battling mercenaries after his bounty. This story is in its third round of beta reads. I have a novella/long short story about a troll event planner designing a ogre wedding, which is in revision after the last round of betas. I am redrafting my untitled western and am roughly 50% done. I keep multiple projects going.


Kristen: Sounds like you have my problem. So many ideas and you just can't pick one! Thank you for stopping by and I can't wait to read Of Legend and Lore. Good luck with your endeavors!


Louise Ross writes fantasy stories from the comfort of her recliner in Missouri. She is a member of the Just Us League and can be found online on her blog

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Don't forget to check out the other JL anthologies available on Amazon!

 From the Stories of Old














Between Heroes and Villains

Whispers in the Shadows

Blog Tour Schedule

To meet other authors in Of Legend and Lore, follow our blog tour:

Don’t miss the cover reveal on the Just-Us League blog! — 7th February

Allie May hosts Matthew Dewar — 8th February

J.E. Klimov hosts Kelsie Engen — 13th February

Louise Ross hosts M.T. Wilson — 16th February

Heather Hayden hosts Allie May– 19th February

Kelsie Engen hosts Renee Frey — 20th February

RELEASE DAY — 26th February

M.T. Wilson hosts Sam Waterhouse — 1st March

Kristen Kooistra hosts Louise Ross — 2nd March

Elise Edmonds hosts J.E. Klimov — 7th March

J.E. Klimov hosts Heather Hayden — 9th March

Allie May hosts Elise Edmonds — 12th March

Aeonians Book Tour!

Hey readers! Today I'm part of blog tour for The Aeonians, a YA fantasy that'll be released . . . TOMORROW!

First a little bit about the book and then we'll go straight into the interview with author J.E.

 Isabel Deran only wants to practice archery with the castle guards, and that is the last thing expected from an elegant Princess. Living in the shadow of her late sister, Victoria, she is next in line to receive the royal armlet that is embedded with four stones: an opal, a sapphire, an amber, and a ruby. It is a revered family heirloom with the power of the elements passed down from mother to daughter.

However, an evil, once thought to be sealed away in a prison in which time does not pass, breaks free with an army that swarms the castle and wreck havoc over the kingdom in search for the magical armlet. They are known as the Aeonians. When they kidnap Isabel and place their hands on it, the precious stones vanish.

Isabel is now trapped in a race against time to locate her stones of power with the head of the Aeonian army, Bence Brechenhad, stalking her like a shadow. With the help of her trusty weapon, the sai, she fights her way through seemingly impossible trials and fearsome monsters in order to restore peace in her kingdom.


Kristen: What was your inspiration for Aeonians?

J. E.: My primary inspiration came from a beloved childhood video game: Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time. I was fascinated by the sense of exploration, the urgency of destiny, and the diverse characters. At first I was dreaming up fan-fiction, but eventually, I wanted to create a story of my own. I also was inspired by eastern elements of fantasy- traditional powers of the elements: wind, water, earth, fire.


Kristen: Who’s your favorite character and what do they do that makes them so special?

J. E.: My favorite has to go the Bence. Yes, the antagonist. The more I fleshed him out, the more I appreciated him. He is not a "bad guy" because he is evil for no reason. Bence is flawed, but has a good head on his shoulders, and his motives are the result of misdirection. This creates a complex character, which I grew to appreciate. Plus a sarcastic sense of humor. Quite the charmer (not).


Kristen: If you were transported into the world of your story, what role would you fill and how do you think you’re react?

J. E.: Oh! Fun question! If I were transported directly into my story, I would want to be in the middle of the action. I'd probably take the role of Isabel's side kick. My purpose would be dual: Help her grow her confidence (the confidence I never had growing up) and fight alongside her. Isabel covers a lot of ground in the 400+ pages, and I would love to roam the countryside with her and kick some butt!


Kristen: Can you tell us your favorite world aspect that is special to Aeonians?

J. E.: My favorite world aspect is the diverse species that inhabit it. And it expands past the primary setting, Deran. (You will see more countries in the sequel). I'm proud of the various creatures/races I created and happy to provide them with a world to live in.


Kristen: The princess is at a feast. What would be her favorite foods at the table?

Isabel loves turkey legs. If given the chance, she would toss all proper royalty etiquette out the door and dig into a nice drumstick!


Kristen: What are your plans for the future?

J. E.: I am finalizing the edits to the sequel to "The Aeonians", named "The Shadow Warrior". I am also multi-tasking and working on another fairy-tale re-telling for the next Just-Us-League anthology! In the not to distance future, I may take a break from the Aeonian series and focus on a sci-fi/fantasy mix based from The Fate of Patient Zero, my short story, in "Between Heroes and Villains."

Kristen: Thank you so much for stopping by, J.E and good luck with your launch. 

If anyone would like to learn more about The Aeonians, you can find it on Amazon or get a sneak peek on J. E.'s website.

 J.E. Klimov grew up in a small suburb in Massachusetts. After graduating from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, she obtained her PharmD and became a pharmacist; however, her true passion was writing and illustration.

Ever since J.E. Klimov was little, she dreamed of sharing her stories with the world. From scribbling plotlines instead of taking notes in school, to bringing her characters to life through sketches, J.E. Klimov’s ideas ranged from fantasy to thriller fiction. Her first publication was a short story, The Guardian’s Secret, in “From the Stories of Old”─ an anthology of fairy-tale retellings. “The Aeonians” is her debut novel with Silver Leaf Books.

 Don't forget to checkout and follow all her social media!

Blog: http://jelliotklimov.weebly.com/

Twitter: @klimov_author

Facebook page: @klimovauthor.

Interview with Alex

For a twist, I'm hosting an interview with someone whose talent lies down a different creative path from my normal visitors.

Alex is a 28 year old self-taught artist from Jamaica. I met Alex in the gaming community and quickly discovered her love of creating art. I'm so excited to now be able to share her talent with all of you!

Kristen: Thank you so much for agreeing to answer some questions for me today, Alex. I'm curious to learn what got you interested in art. Was there that special moment? Or did you just always know?

Alex: I’ve been drawing since I was very small. The first thing I remember drawing as a small child was pokemon. A relative had bought me a book containing the pokemon from the first season of the anime, and I used the pictures in the book to copy them, then I cut the drawings out and stuck them on the wall in my bedroom.

Kristen: I bet that relative had no idea their gift would inspire you in such a long-lasting way! I'm sure your walls were an interesting sight.

What form(s) of art are your favorite?

Alex:  Ever since Primary School (Elementary School) I’ve been a fan of cartoons and anime. It was by watching my favorite animated programs on cartoon network that I developed a love for art, and to this day my favorite art form is anime/manga.

Kristen: Can you tell me a bit about your work and how you've progressed on your artistic journey?

Alex: During high school I put more focus and effort into my drawings, and in early high school I began to copy more complicated things like Yu-Gi-OH cards. My classmates were always fans of my work, but they began to ask if I could draw something else besides monsters. After hearing their comments I decided to try my hand at human characters, and it so happened to be around the time when Naruto first premiered on cartoon network. My first human character drawing was Gaara. I became known for being the weird girl who could draw, and classmates sometimes asked me to draw their assignments for them. At a certain point, even teachers started asking me to draw their diagrams on the chalkboard-I generously accepted.

During the latter part of high school some of the boys who were taking art as a subject began to criticize my abilities-they thought I couldn’t draw actual people. Now while realistic portraits are hardly a thing you’d expect from a child artist, I willingly accepted that challenge, and succeeded once again. As a senior in high school I started creating my own characters. 

Kristen: When you're not drawing, what do you spend your time doing?

Alex: After high school and into young adulthood I started to add to my hobbies. I learned how to do digital artwork and tattooing, and experimented with other styles. I also got into video games and weight lifting.

Kristen: Awesome! And I'm going to go ahead and share one of the pictures you sent me right now because I think it ties into that.

This was actually the first piece of artwork from you that I saw. I remember you talking about it as you worked, and going through a lot of preliminary work to get inspiration for it. And at the time I wasn't sure what the result was going to be. Then you finished it and when I saw it .  . . I was amazed. I still say you have a lot of talent.

So yes, readers, this is my favorite piece from Alex because I do remember the creation process. And the one in the stunning pink hat is Alex's fantasy incarnation.

Kristen: Out of curiosity, I punched some numbers and discovered that my state is 22 times larger than Jamaica. Holy crap! I just imagine you going stir crazy! I'm always wondering if islanders feel cagey after awhile or if it's just normal.

So on that note, iff you could go anywhere for a vacation, where would you go and what would you do?

Alex: It would be wonderful if I could one day visit Japan and experience the awesome culture first hand, that would be the best vacation imaginable.

Kristen: LOL, so another island! I guess I'm just imagining myself with island fever if I shifted suddenly from where I am to an island.

What inspires you? Is there anything about your country, town, area that you find particularly inspirational?

Alex: Living in a poor country, and being the harshly realistic person I am, I wouldn’t say I’m inspired by anything from my country in particular. Along the way however, I have met persons with whom I have things in common, which has helped me to be more enthusiastic about my work. In a place where you’re the outcast because your favorite things are foreign, it’s nice to see something that you can identify with. Whenever I feel like I can’t decide what to paint I watch a few cartoons, or maybe some episodes of bleach and a few minutes later ideas flood my mind. 

Kristen: What would you say to other artists to encourage them?

Alex: If I could give any solid advice to the other artists out there it would be-draw, paint, and sculpt, etc. what you enjoy. It’s more difficult to do something you don’t like than to do something you like. If a style speaks to you, learn it, practice it, and perfect it as much as you can. Don’t worry about if someone else’s work is better, because there are probably many artists out there who’d wish their work was like yours, and even more still who have no artistic talent. Remember that your art is tied to your emotion and is an expression of it.

Kristen: Great advice!  And so applicable to many forms of creative expression. Do what you love! 

What are your plans for the future?

Alex: In the future I plan on branching from realism to photo-realism, taking a crack at animation by studying at an art school, and perhaps practicing my tattooing skills more. 

Kristen: That sounds great for you! I wish you the best of luck. :)


And lastly, if people are interested in finding out more about you or your work, how could they do that? 

Alex: If anyone reading this would like to see some of my best pieces please feel free to visit my online gallery at paintinggallery.wixsite.com/artsyalex. Thank you for reading, now if you’ll excuse me I have to return to my pokeball ;)

Kristen: And thank you, Alex! It's been a pleasure to have you and good luck with all your endeavors

(All pictures included are ones created by Alex that she gave me permission to share with you!)

Interview with Corinne Morier

This month's interview is with Corinne Morier, also known as the Meme Queen!


Kristen - What is your favorite part of the book you're working on now?

Corinne - I think my favorite part is in chapter seven, when Ceruden is questioned by the spirit of the river. I was sort of inspired by a subplot in an anime I watched and wanted to expand upon the idea of a spirit living in the river that never stopped asking questions. Although I was also scared to death that it wasn't believable enough, so just the other day when I received feedback on it from one of my critique partners, I was so happy when she said that it added a fun layer of complexity to the world I'd created.


Kristen - What literary character do you relate the most to?

Corinne - I definitely relate most to Hermione from the Harry Potter series. We're so alike it's scary. I was also the bookish outcast who loved school and ended up the favorite of several of my teachers. And the scene in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone when they're in their first day of Potions class and Snape is asking Harry a bunch of questions that he doesn't know how to answer, and meanwhile, Hermione is sitting on the edge of her seat frantically waving her hand in the air because she knows the answer to the teacher's questions is exactly like how I was back in school.

Kristen - What do you hope readers will take away from your book?

Corinne - I just want people to walk away from my book having enjoyed the story. I don't really care if it's a character, or a certain part of the story, or even just a certain line that sticks with them. I just want to write stories that remain in peoples' heads long after they turn the final page.

Kristen - That's definitely a hope I can empathize with. The feeling that someone enjoyed your story, no matter what aspect of it, is so inspiring and makes it all feel worthwhile.


If you could have any superpower, what would you choose and why?

Corinne - I think I'd want to fly. Cliched answer, I know, but it just seems like so much fun to soar through the air.

Kristen - And no worrying about traffic! Getting to places would be faster because you could fly straight there instead of zigzagging.


What's the hardest thing about writing?

Corinne - Motivating yourself to sit in the chair, day after day, and bang out words onto a keyboard that make some semblance of sense in the hopes that someone somewhere will be entertained by them.

Kristen - Very true! Especially if you have so many other things that you want to do as well, or have to do, it can be hard to make time in a day to just write.

Thank you for joining me today, and I can't wait to see how your novel turns out!

Corinne Morier is a bibliophile-turned-writer with a penchant for writing stories that make readers think. In her free time, she enjoys blogging, playing video games, and swimming. Her motto is “Haters gonna hate and potatoes gonna potate.” 

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Interview with Allie May

This month's interview is with Allie May, writer and blogger!

Kristen - Where is your favorite place to write?

Allie May - My recliner used to be the best place to sit and write. I love writing with my feet up, and the chair was so comfortable. But it’s currently in storage. When I’m at work, I’m stuck at a desk and it’s not comfortable at all. Now I have a chair support for my bed that I use when I write on my days off work.

Kristen - Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process?

Allie May - Absolutely. For example, if a book has a shirtless guy on it, then I won’t buy it. I’m also tired of the girls in awkward positions trying to look natural on covers.

Here’s what I want my book cover to look like. It looks kind of like a textbook which I think makes it stand out more on the shelf. But ultimately the publisher gets to decide what it looks like.

Kristen - I also think knowing your audience plays into it. I feel like I'm attracted to certain kinds of covers, and that it's a great first impression aspect that authors and publishers can use to say "my book is the kind of book people who enjoy x type of fiction will love". 

And I'm so with you on the shirtless men photos! Or the headless people, where they just took a picture from the neck down. Those aren't deal breakers, but I spend too much time wondering where their heads went.

Does your book use any references to mythology or real-world folklore, or does it contain its own folklore?

Allie May - One of my favorite parts of Powerful is the mythology that I was able to create for each kingdom. They each have their own creation myths that I based off real world religions. One is a monotheistic religion with a prophet that I based off Islam. One is a polytheistic religion that I based off Indian and Japanese religions. One is kind of a Native American inspired religion where the elements themselves are gods. It was probably my favorite thing to write out of the whole book.


Kristen - What part of your writing time do you devote to marketing your book?

Allie May - I’m not really marketing books right now, since I don’t have anything published yet, but I do spend a lot of time marketing myself. I make sure to use social media once a day, and I try to come up with funny and entertaining things to post that will make readers like me when I do have something to offer. For example, I’ve started putting funny quotes that I say onto photos and sharing them.

Kristen - Even marketing yourself can take a lot of effort. So it's great that you've started now and are trying to show future readers who you are as a person. 


What’s your views on social media for marketing, and which of them have worked best for you?

Allie May - I love using social media to market. I’m a total introvert, and I hate talking about myself, but social media has really been a great way for me to connect with other writers and readers. I love Facebook because it’s easy and I already know how to do it, but I’ve also *reluctantly* started to see the value in Twitter.

Kristen - It's a lot of time to build connections, so it's great that you're enjoying the process and getting out there and meeting people. Everything's easier if you find pleasure in it. 

Thank you for letting me interview you, and I can't wait to see Powerful published!

I am Allie May, fantasy author and mother of the world’s cutest dog. I run the blog, Hypergraphia. Hypergraphia means the overwhelming and uncontrollable impulse to write, and I combat it by writing fantasy novels and blogging twice a week. When I’m not writing or working, I’m usually at Disneyland. I’m currently editing my novel, Powerful, while working on another novel that I started when I was twelve called A Fairy’s Tale. On the weekends, you might catch a glimpse of me in the shadows as a lightsaber-wielding superhero. Maybe.

Don't forget to check out Alyson on all her social media!


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Author Interview with Sue Seabury!

Let's welcome YA author Sue Seabury!

Kristen - Hi Sue! Thanks for dropping by. First questions of the day! How often do you write? Do you have a special time during the day to write?

Sue - I write every morning, and maybe snatch a few minutes later in the day to work on editing.

Kristen - Ah that's the opposite schedule from mine! I write late at night when everyone is sleeping. Though I do also try and snatch those precious moments during the day if there's a lull in activity.

Do you aim for a set amount of words/pages per day?

Sue - No. My preference is to finish a scene in one sitting, but that isn’t always possible.

Kristen - Do you write on a typewriter, computer, dictate or longhand?

Sue - Computer. My handwriting is officially illegible.

Kristen - Mine too! Besides, it all needs to go on the computer eventually so I might as well save myself some time. Not to mention I type way faster than I write.

Where do your ideas come from?

Sue - Where don’t they come from? Anything I see, hear, etc is fair game. Look out. I’m collecting ideas from you right now.

Kristen - Eep, I'll be careful then. I knew there was a reason I made sure my socks were matching for this interview! 

What are your ambitions for your writing career?

Sue - To be #1 on the NYT bestseller list . . . What? That’s not everyone’s ambition?

Kristen - Haha, I'm sure most writers at least hope that's in their future! I think if I made it anywhere near the top 10 I'd think it was a dream. 

Thank you so much for joining me today!

Sue Seabury enjoys travel, good food and great conversation. Since she doesn't often get to do any of these things, she writes about them in her books.

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Find her books on Amazon.

Interview with H.S. Cook

This month's interview is with H.S. Cook. First, a little bit about her.

Working in a world of logic and reason, while dreaming of one filled with magic, H.S. Cook lives between her scientific research and her fantasy writings. A molecular biologist by day, she finds ways to inject the magic of her worlds into daily life, making time to write. She is currently working on an epic fantasy series: The Blood King Chronicles.

On now to the interview.

Kristen - Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?

H.S. - The first story I was given to read was a series of Wind in the Willows books. It was before I went to school, but they were not oversimplified. It was published as a box set of 9 books, so the individual books were short and easy to manage. I remember reading them and getting lost in the adventures of Rat, Mole, Badger and Mr. Toad. I loved those books so much, and they started my life of reading. I still have them today!

Kristen - I only remember reading one story from Wind in the Willows. So I at least know who people are talking about, though I didn't get to enjoy all the same adventures as you did. Mr. Toad is quite the character!


What was the first thing you remember writing?

H.S. - I am sure we had assignments before this, but the first thing I remember was a two-line story for school that had to start: ‘In the dark, damp basement…’ I do not remember it exactly, but in two lines I was eaten by a massive hairy spider.

Kristen - And later that night you probably wondered why you had nightmares! At least you managed to pack a riveting ending into two lines.  


What do your friends and family think of your writing?

H.S. - Generally, they are supportive. They understand that I need to write. I would like to say that they enjoy it, but that may be friends and family just being nice.

Kristen - What are your thoughts on good/bad reviews?

H.S. - I crossed out good/bad there because a review is an opinion, whether good or bad. I appreciate honest reviews. I do not care whether it is loved or hated – I cannot force people to like what I write. I only ask that they are honest and representative of your actual opinions.

Reviews left with an agenda, or jumping on the bandwagon, are not helpful to other readers or to the writer. They are a waste of space.

Kristen - Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and why?

H.S. - Writers – Tolkien. He is my idol. Non-writer – Rosalind Franklin. She is one of my many idols in science and was vastly under-appreciated at the time. X-Ray Crystallography is vital to my current research!

Kristen - I'm so glad I got to learn more about you. And you're a Tolkien fan too! Thank you for answering some questions for me.

Thank you for taking the time to talk with me.

By the Blood, may the Fates show mercy.

H.S. Cook

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Interview with JR Creaden

This month's YA writer is JR Creaden! Let's jump right in.

Kristen - Did you have any ideas about being a writer that becoming a writer changed?

JR - Perhaps it was those summers spent in Maine reading Stephen King, but I imagined writing as a more solitary experience than it’s been for me. Instead, I’m involved with more writers than I ever dreamed possible—exchanging stories and tips, brainstorming, commiserating, researching. I talk to more writers everyday than I knew existed before.

Kristen - I was much the same way. I assumed writers holed up in caves and never spoke to anyone, but for me it has been a lot of interaction with other writers and discussing the craft and brainstorming. 

What do you do when Real Life intrudes on your writing?

JR - As in when the characters are too much like their real life counterparts? That’s happened a few times, but then I call up the facts and reorganize my thoughts. The characters are unrelated and from alien worlds that didn’t even coexist in the same time periods prior to coming aboard the ship (where the story begins in Re: Morse). Also, none of them had parents, so their core problems—personality or otherwise—have to be addressed by themselves. I am their author, not their parent.


Kristen - Do you have a favorite scene or line you’ve written?

JR - I do! The scene when Relativity’s crew performs a Vincil play, Renderings, for the cadets. I’ve been pressured quite a bit to drop the scene, but I’ve stuck to my guns. The play, which is not exactly “children-oriented” any more than Romeo and Juliet, and the character reactions to the play, are essential to the plot of the whole series.

As an educator and a parent, I believe it’s important for our literature to expand our familiarity with different media. Students of all ages are expected to read, perform, and engage with theater, and using theatrical performance within literature is a fantastic method to model a universal experience. 

Kristen - Tell us about your main character’s weaknesses. How do these affect the first book of your series?

JR - In Re: Morse, the main character, human Hugo Morse is plagued by self-doubt. While we don’t go into major detail about Hugo’s background, certain elements haunt him. Despite the utopian version of Earth he remembers, Hugo’s experiences were not so pleasant. His upbringing within the Syndicate, raised on space ships before being deposited at the Rodanbary Academy, was rather lonely. His fear of failure holds him back and puts everyone in danger.


Kristen - What do you want your tombstone to say?

JR - “Free Fertilizer ↓” I wrote a poem ages ago about my wishes for after death called “Bury Me Standing” all about how I’d like to be buried Bene Gesserit style—upright, wrapped in linens, with a fruit tree planted over me. It might sound morbid, but I have no qualms about death, about the function of my physical body after death. I can’t stand the idea of being put into a sealed box, where my matter is isolated from the Earth that sustained me. I want to give back.

Kristen - Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing! If you'd like to find out more about JR, follow any of the links below!

Check out her Website
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JR began her writing career as a child disgruntled with song lyrics. After some early success with poetry and essays, she spent decades distracted by songwriting and academia until her story dreams became too interesting to keep to herself. Re: Morse, the first book in JR’s YA scifi series Contact Files, will soon be ready for public consumption or vivisection. Her goal is to share stories that inspire readers to embrace cultural diversity, the promise of science, and the value of humor and imagination to build a future that’s more Star Trek and less 1984. When she’s not writing, JR enjoys exchanging “your mama” jokes with her children, floating in lakes, and slaying virtual dragons.

Interview with Krisna Starr

This month I'm interviewing fantasy writer Krisna Starr who also happens to be a good friend of mine. Krisna sneaks her writing in around parenting her two adorable children and is currently working on her novel Dragons of Atlantea.

Kristen: What drew you to write in this genre?

Krisna: I’m an avid reader of almost all genres – mystery, thriller, sci-fi, YA, but my all-time favourite is fantasy. From the time I can remember, I’ve been fascinated by magic, different worlds and fantastic creatures like dragons, mermaids and unicorns. When I read novels featuring them, I get transported to their magical world and get to meet them :)

LOL! Who wouldn’t love to fly upon a dragon’s back, ride a unicorn or uncover the treasures of the ocean with mermaids?

Kristen: Fantasy is my favorite too! All the magical creatures and worlds, not to mention you have the freedom to create more and not be limited by our world.

When did you decide to become a writer?

Krisna: I don’t remember when it became a conscious decision. I’ve always been making stories in my head. After reading a fascinating book by Enid Blyton in my eighth grade, I started penning down my own story. But it was just for my entertainment. I had no wish to share it with any one. One story lead to another and before I knew it, the passion for writing overtook my life.

Kristen: What is your favorite motivational phrase?

Krisna:

Kristen: Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process?

Krisna: Definitely. I think an alluring book-cover is one of the major hooks for a reader. Many times, people think of a hook in terms of a great prologue or chapter 1. But it is much more than that as I described in my blog post on “Elements of a Strong Hook”.

Before a reader reads our chapter 1, his attention has to be grabbed in some way to entice him to pick the book, have a look at it.

When I go into book stores or browse through amazon, two things grab my attention – the book cover and a catchy title. If I’m hooked by them, then I read the back blurb and the excerpt.

So a great cover translates definitely to more sales.

Kristen: I'm of the same mind. With so many books available and so little time, the best place for me to start narrowing down choices is to see what covers catch my eye and go from there.

Where is your favorite place to write?

Krisna: Hm, my favourite place to write is the beach. I’ve always felt calm and peaceful when I sit on the sands of the beach and gaze upon the infinite ocean. And when I write in this state of mind, the words just flow like the waves. But, the beach is about an half-hour drive from my house and I can’t spend as much time as I want there.

So the next best place is the meditation center that is across the street from where I live. The atmosphere is so peaceful there that my mind is instantly calm. The ideas just flow. I’ve written some of the best scenes of my novel there. Of course life gets very busy that many times I can’t afford the time to even go across the street and spend some alone time. Then it’s back to my writing desk with my laptop :) 

Kristen: I'd love to be able to write by the beach! Like you, I live about 30 minutes away from a decent beach(though mine's on a big lake, not the ocean!).

Thank you so much for joining me today and I can't wait to read your book once it's published!

Krisna is an avid reader and a lover of dragons, unicorns and all things magical. She divides her time between living in this world doing her day-to-day tasks, and the wonderful world of her dreams that is full of magic and fantastic creatures. Her current WIP, Dragons of Atlantea
(working title), is set in the magical world of Atlantea where magic rules, dragons roar and angels soar in the skies.

Besides books, she enjoys spending time with her children, mediation/ yoga, music and watching animes on the net.

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Where Carpets Fly Blog Tour

Hey everyone! Today I'm super excited to share a book release and an interview from newly minted YA fantasy author, Elise Edmonds. 

Elise and I met about three years ago when we were both starting out on our writing journey. I was working on what is now my first published novel and she was doing the same. It's been a blast to grow as writers together and to now be on the author path together.

Today she is here to share details on her novel Where Carpets Fly and answer some questions. First a little about the book.


Elina Faramar finally leaves her family's flying carpet shop when her father reluctantly agrees she can take magic lessons in nearby Kamikan. Urban life promises adventure, and new friend Kara shows her the sights.

However, Elina soon sees a darker side of life: a foreigner arrested at the circus, forbidden schoolhouse rooms with odd comings and goings, and unsociable pupil Simeon's shady deals at the docks. Everything seems connected to the volatile neighbouring country of Pallexon, but no one will tell her why.

When Elina and Simeon develop a magical mind link, he seems close to confiding in her. But an unexpected voyage takes Elina and Kara away from answers and towards unknown danger in Pallexon.

Alone in a strange country, with no identity papers, the situation rapidly turns into a nightmare when Kara is mistaken for a spy. With her own freedom at stake, Elina must rely on her wits and magic to save her friend and unravel the secrets of Pallexon.

You can get Where Carpets Fly on Amazon(available in paperback and ebook).

And now the interview!

Kristen - Elise! I've been waiting for what seems like forever to see Carpets in its finished form. I'm so excited to have you here.

Elise - Hi, Kristen! Thanks for having me.

Kristen - Let's get started. One of the things that makes Where Carpets Fly so unique is its setting. Often when creating fantasy worlds, we use a lot of Western European/Medieval influences, but you went a different route. How did you decide on a setting and what influenced the world that your main character, Elina, lives in?

Elise - I knew I wanted to create a complete fantasy world, so I did some research on worldbuilding and just started drawing a map. I wanted to include flying carpets, and they always seem to have an Arabian setting, so I knew I wanted to have a warm country on the map. In the end, Elina's country, Tamarin, was influenced by my love of Moroccan/Spanish food and Mediterranean/Persian lifestyle and architecture. It takes aspects of all those cultures and blends them into something new. I'm also conscious that it's good to have diversity in fantasy settings, and I wanted to get away from using the standard medieval European type setting.

Kristen - A nice warm country sounds amazing right about now. To completely switch gears here(just to keep things interesting), can you share something special about where you live? Any interesting facts, sights, or history? Maybe a picture?

Elise - Wow, I could be here all day! For the last twenty years, I've lived in or near the city of Bristol. An awful lot of the history here, unfortunately, is connected to either the slave trade or the tobacco industry. However, the city is also famous for its 19th century engineering. The most famous engineer is Isambard Kingdom Brunel, who built the Great Western Railway, many ships including the SS Great Britain (a popular current tourist attraction following its fairly recent renovation), and the famous Clifton Suspension Bridge. The bridge is probably my favourite thing in the city – I attach one of my husband's photos for you. And of course, Bristol is home to Aardman Animations: of Wallace and Gromit fame.

Kristen - I love Wallace and Gromit! I remember watching those when I was a kid. The Wrong Trousers one was my favorite. Great picture too! Here's a sorta book question for you. If your characters had a pet, which would each of them choose?

Elise - Mmm... that's a tough one.

In one of the early drafts, I had Janni (a sailor lad) trying to tame a seagull. It didn't make the final cut though! I think his older brother Niels would have preferred a ship's cat, to get rid of all the pesky rats.

And Elina would have liked a pet bird too, but something smaller than a seagull: a canary or a finch maybe, so she could practice her Biological Magic (which allows her to communicate with plants and small animals).

Kristen - I'm sure Batman would love to learn that skill! It'd certainly make his namesakes better partners! What was the toughest thing to write for this book? Any research you hadn't expected to do?

Elise - I think the hardest chapter research-wise was the one where Elina gets to see over a large ship for the first time. I suddenly realised I had to describe the ship in quite a bit of detail. But not only did I have to learn about the ship, because the book is from Elina's point of view, I had to use terms that she would be familiar with.

In general, I didn't have much idea of structuring a plot when I first wrote the book. It's been a huge learning curve, and I had numerous great critique partners on the website Scribophile who helped me out and made it what it is today.

Kristen - Ha, yes, I remember that chapter because I was going through a similar situation at the time. I also had a character on a ship for the first time and was trying to dredge up any lingering memories on the subject. I believe we discussed how we'd both be doing ship research in the near future. What are your future writing plans? Do you have any more novels for this series planned?

Elise - Yes, I hope to have several more books in the series! Book two is already well underway and I hope to make good progress on it this year. Aside from this series, I have various half-started projects, as all good writers do, and it remains to be seen what will become of them! But book two is my main focus right now.

Kristen - I can't wait to read it! Thank you again for stopping by and good luck on your novel!

Born in Staffordshire in England, Elise Edmonds has always been an avid reader, especially of fantasy and young adult books. Elise moved to Bristol in her teens, to attend university, and undertook a career in the finance world. Now living in a quiet South Gloucestershire village, she spends her free time with her husband and two cats, and enjoys attending local fitness classes, watching movies, and playing the piano. Pursuing writing in her spare time as a creative outlet is a way to bring the magic back into her everyday life.

You can keep up with Elise and see what's next for her and Elina on her social media.

Website
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Author Interview with Becca Patterson

This month I'm interviewing Becca Patterson! Becca has authored several books such as Daughter of the Revolution.

Kristen - Thank you so much for joining me today, Becca. One of the new "things" in publishing is book trailers. What do you think of “trailers” for books?

Becca - I think it’s a rather odd concept, but if it works go for it. I’ve not been sold on any book by it’s “trailer” though I have found trailers for books I want to read and watched them. They can be fun and provocative, but they don’t tell me much about what the book is going to be like.

For a movie, showing little snippets of the movie in a seriously shortened arc that doesn’t reveal the end make a whole lot of sense. The trailer is a closely related medium to the the work in question. A book, though, is all about the words written on the page. It would be great if you could get actors to portray the characters in the way that a movie does, but that would be expensive. So most trailers are made of quotes from the book or about the book. They look like an automated slide show, usually with some music playing in the background.

Kristen - I feel much the same as you do. I think they're interesting, but haven't been sold on a book over them. Right now at least, the best ones do have actors and I just saw the pricetag on one recently and *whistles* I was like, "Okay, so I'm never affording one of those."


One of what I think is the best parts about being an author is the people who fall in love with your work. What do your fans mean to you?

Becca - My fans are the reason I publish. I write for myself, but I edit and polish and make it perfect for my fans. They deserve the best I have to offer, so I will give it to them.

The fun part for me, is that I work with a group of my fans. I work in a high school, and my books are in the library. I get to watch the frenzy when the kids know that I’ve released another book and they are waiting for the librarian to get it checked in for the first time. Then once they start reading it there are cries of “no spoilers” from the ones who haven’t read it yet when it comes up in conversation. I suspect not many authors get that kind of view of their fans.

It’s a double edged sword though. I love my fans dearly, but I could do with a little less nagging to get the next book out.

Kristen - Aww, that is so amazing! That sounds like the greatest confidence booster. That'd give me all the warm fuzzies. I've got only one person who harassed me about getting the next book out, and I'm just imagining her several times over and sending you lots of sympathy. :D


The writing process is a long one and after awhile I know I find myself going "no more! please!" After that first draft, do you let the book stew – leave it for a month and then come back to it to edit?

Becca - It’s usually more than a month, but yes. Once I finish a first draft I can’t edit it right away. I still remember too much about what I meant to say, which makes it hard to see where I didn’t say that. Also, I need time for my writing skills to mature between the draft and the edit.

Really though the truth is I write fast and edit slow. I have more drafts complete than I know what to do with, but I can’t just stop writing. So I finish a draft and add it to the waiting list for edits. There are, I think, seven books in there right now. Sometimes I find that a novel just doesn’t make the cut when it comes up for edits. It’s sad when that happens, but I put it away and move on to the next one. By the time some books come up in rotation they are already two years old and wow, I really didn’t know how to write back then.

That’s what editing is for.


Kristen - How do you develop your stories?

Becca - For short stories, I start with a character and a goal and just write my way to the end. Then I have to go back and make sure it all makes sense, but that’s doable with a short story.

Novels start sort of the the same. They come to me as a character and a goal. Then they bring in some secondary characters, with different goals and a villain with an opposing goal and then I know I have a mess. I do character interviews to sort everything out and get a good feel for the world they are living in. Once I start writing the novel it’s pretty much the same as a short story - I start writing and stop when I get to the end. Then go back and make sure it all makes sense. It just takes a little longer.

The real big difference is the number of short stories worth editing is somewhere around 15% where at least 75% of my novels are worth editing.


Kristen - What is the easiest thing about writing?

Becca - The easiest thing about writing is: writing.

The initial draft flows from my fingers so willingly. If only that were all it took. I have thousands of short stories, in first draft form. They will never be anything more than that. I wrote them just to write. To feel the flow of words and see the thoughts in my head become life. It’s how I imagine magic feels.

The next best thing about writing is hearing how much people liked your story. It’s good that those two are on the ends, otherwise I’m not sure I’d make it through the middle.

Kristen - I loooove writing the first draft. And usually the second isn't too bad because i have so many plot holes to fix. But after that I'm like nooo, can't I just write the first draft and someone else can polish them?

Thank you for joining me today. Good luck with your writing and hope you have a Merry Christmas!

Sci-Fi and Fantasy are just two of Becca Patterson's preferred genres. An author hailing from Minnesota, she has been writing for as long as she can remember, and takes much of her inspiration from the teenagers she works with. In her spare time, Becca enjoys making her husband laugh, and playing string with her three cats. 

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