Authors are listed alphabetically by LAST name beginning with P
*All the information/websites/links were current AT THE TIME OF INITIAL POSTING. As time passes, please be aware that the links provided might no longer be active.
D. Wallace Peach
Your Name: D. Wallace Peach
Real Name: Diana Peach
Genre(s) of your work: Fantasy with a smattering of Sci-Fi
A long-time reader, best-selling author D. Wallace Peach started writing later in life after the kids were grown and a move left her with hours to fill. Years of working in business surrendered to a full-time indulgence in the imaginative world of books, and when she started writing, she was instantly hooked.
In addition to fantasy books, Peach’s publishing career includes participation in various anthologies featuring short stories, flash fiction, and poetry. She’s an avid supporter of the arts in her local community, organizing and publishing annual anthologies of Oregon prose, poetry, and photography.
Peach lives in a log cabin amongst the tall evergreens and emerald moss of Oregon’s rainforest with her husband, two owls, a horde of bats, and the occasional family of coyotes.
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
Thank you so much for the invite to your blog, Sue. I’m delighted to be here and never tire of talking about books and writing.
My dad was a huge reader of used fantasy paperbacks. So, when I discovered Tolkien as a young teen, I had shelves and shelves of books to feed the new habit. It made sense that, when the idea of writing a book popped into my brain, the genre would be fantasy.
I also loved the idea that I could just make stuff up. I thought I wouldn’t have to do any research. Ha! Silly me. It’s amazing how much research goes into writing, even for a fantasy world. I know things now like how to patch up an arrow wound and how to shoot a front-loading cannon. I even got a real lesson in sword-fighting! All valuable information.
How has writing changed/altered your life?
Time is at a premium, Sue. Writing is a time-consuming vocation, and that’s before adding in the hours for marketing and networking. I’m less creative in other ways, my house has cobwebs that rival the best Halloween decorations, and my husband is Saint Randy.
I’ve slowed down a lot since I started this adventure, when I used to write 10-12 hours a day. I suspect that when Saint Randy retires, I’ll slow down some more. Will I stop? Nah. It’s too much fun. And I also like the idea that I’m building a bit of a legacy for however long it lasts.
Who are your favorite authors and why?
Now that’s an impossible question! Tolkien holds a special place in my heart, but I wouldn’t say he’s a favorite anymore. The challenge is that I enjoy a wide range of books from classics like Hardy’s “Far from the Maddening Crowd” to Uris’s “Trinity.” From Tan’s “The Joy Luck Club” to Marquez’s “One Hundred Years of Solitude. I loved Gemmell’s “Troy” series, and am currently enjoying Arden’s “Winternight Trilogy.”
And then there are all the indie authors that I’ve come to love. I’m reading a book entitled “Rage” as I write this answer. It’s by indie author Sue Rovens…. Hey, that’s you! Lol (Ed. note: Oh, oh. Now I’m nervous! LOL)
Do you believe that audiobooks are the wave of the future, more of a passing fad, or somewhere in between and why?
Somewhere between, I think. I don’t listen to professionally created audiobooks, but I figured out how to make my phone read ebooks to me, and I love “reading” while driving, cooking, gardening, and folding laundry. I’ve doubled the number of books I polish off per year, and it almost makes cleaning toilets enjoyable! The only challenge was adjusting to the monotone “phone voice” (which I happily no longer notice).
I think readers come in all flavors: some who still prefer paper, some who love the accessibility and reasonable cost of ebooks, some who listen while multitasking, and many, many who do different combinations of all three. It makes sense that authors should extend their lists into audiobooks to capture the listening audience. Why not? Well, yes, it takes time, but it isn’t hard to do and doesn’t cost much. I have one book on Audible and am working on more.
What have you found to be a good marketing tool? A bad one?
Oh, how I wish I had the silver bullet of marketing tools. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?!
For getting a FREE book into the hands of readers, the best promotional website I’ve come across, aside from kindle Unlimited, is Freebooksy. I’ll typically get about 2500 downloads for a single day’s promotion. It’s a loss financially, but it does gain readership as well as some residual sales.
For a discount promotion, Bookbub beats all. It will cost you your retirement savings, but, for me, it’s always paid for itself with sales. If you can work up the courage, it’s worth it.
Okay… another winner… blogging. Blogging doesn’t bring in monster sales, but bloggers are incredibly generous supporters of the writing community, and they’re instrumental in bringing in reviews, which are an important part of a marketing strategy. Building blogging relationships is fun aside from the bookish benefits. I wouldn’t have a leg to stand on without the kindness of bloggers.
And finally, another excellent source of reviews is the Goodreads Review Group: Reading Rounds. The reviews there are Amazon-approved and guaranteed.
Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?
I love censoring, but only if I can be the one making the decisions about what books to ban. And since that isn’t going to happen, my answer is “no.”
I do think that authors and retailers should do their best to inform the public about certain types of content. For example, I have a trigger warning for one of my books that includes a violent rape. I waffled about including it, but there are a lot of rape victims in the world, and the last thing I wanted to do was traumatize a reader, so I went with it.
Fortunately, readers have a lot of power to censor books, and I’m content to leave it in their hands. They can always stop reading and write a disgusted review that warns other readers. They can also return a book for a refund. That’s powerful censorship.
Where can people find you and your work?
Thanks again for having me over to your blog, Sue, and for the wonderful variety of questions. This was great fun, and I look forward to chatting with your visitors.
To close off the interview, here are a bunch of links:
Additional seven short stories in same time period, four of them in anthologies and one pending.
Bio:
Mike Peirce has been a musician and songwriter as well as a soldier in an African War, and private security agent. His “Red Dirt Zombies” trilogy started life as a musical and draws on his experiences in those other areas. The “Red Dirt Zombies” trilogy is available on Amazon in paperback or Kindle.
The TV show “The Walking Dead” shows the consequences of losing the war against the Zs. Peirce’s books focus on the consequences of winning, addressing veteran’s issues such as PTSD, alienation and the impact of war on families and romantic relationships. “The General’s Daughter” has recently been released and while set in the Red Dirt Zombies world it is crafted as a stand-alone novel.
Later in the year a non-fiction book called “African Days and Hollywood Nights” is in the works as well as several short stories.
Peirce has stories in a number of anthologies with proceeds going to veteran’s organizations, primarily PTSD support.
Additionally he has two novellas about a private military company (PMC) operating in Mexico. One of these, “The Countess Consuela” has just been accepted in a new anthology.
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
Partly because while I’ve been a writer in various markets over the years, a friend dreamed I’d write a z-poc musical. So I did. It was pretty standard z-poc fare with sixteen songs. Then I fell on hard times and had no means to promote it so I changed it so a novel format. Much harder I have to admit but once I got going my characters picked it up and ran with it and I’m very happy with the results.
I trained on screenplays many years ago so I sort of write that way.
It annoyed me that most zombie fare was about well-armed survivors searching always for an elusive can of beans. I wanted to see what a single state could do to survive the z-poc.
My zombies are possibly the nastiest you’ll encounter since I wanted to have a truly fearsome enemy, but for me it was never about that. It was always about war.
Georgia is roughly the size of Rhodesia where I fought a war so much of how I crafted these novels is based on my own experiences and observations. Because I lean toward British military usages my behind the scenes narrator is a female Irish ex–pat.
I also write non-fiction and I hope to release “African Days Hollywood Nights” by the end of the summer. A real life story of my adventures chasing rock stardom in Hollywood and fighting a war in the African bush.
How has writing changed/altered your life?
It’s helped me get a lot getting some issues out that I really hadn’t known where there. The Combined Ops Communique was something I used to hear at night during the war, where they would announce the names of my friends who were killed that day. I used it in my fiction to try and get a grip on that.
My books are full of the dangers to people fighting a horrific enemy in an environment where even the post nuclear weather is against them. Those dangers that include insanity and PTSD, measured by the State Sanity Index. Chill pills are included in ration packs.
Plus I’m one of those writers who can honestly say, I’ve written the books I wanted to read.
Who are your favorite authors and why?
I have many so I’ll just name a few off the top of my head: Craig di Louie, David Simpson, Steven Knight, Max Hastings and Trevanian come to mind immediately.
What is your opinion of mainstream/corporate bookstores?
I used to like hanging around in them but there are so few left in my neck of the woods I can’t honestly form an opinion. And I’ve gotten addicted to my Kindle. But do intend to look at what Indie Authors call “going wide” and start reaching out beyond the boundaries of Amazon.
What do you hope your readers will take away from your work?
I certainly hope they like my stories but more importantly to me, that they enjoy my characters as much as I do. Then there is that romance thing. I’m solidly non-graphic, and while some of my characters are pretty badly damaged, they can still find love in the midst of horror. I hope a lot of kids read my work and see how wonderful romance can be.
How much does personal experience play in your written work?
Much if not most of my work comes from personal experience. I’ve seen a dead man sit up and howl (during the war) so even the zombies don’t seem that far-fetched to me. Fighting in an African War with people from all over the world certainly influenced my outlook on things.
Additionally, for nearly ten years I played at Security Agent in some of the toughest neighborhoods in Los Angeles where I learned much.
How do you find the motivation to complete a book/story?
I lay out a landscape and then my characters start dancing. I owe it to them to finish and besides, I want to know how it ends!
What makes you NOT finish reading a book?
If it’s boring, poorly written, badly edited or just plain nasty I’ll drop it. I read very fast so I can usually get fifty pages which tells me all I need to know. I really hate poorly written military tales where the predictable super hero special operators are pulled from someone’s fantasy world. Even for writers will no military experience there is tons of info to be found so it’s not necessary to ham it up.
Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?
No. If I don’t like something I don’t buy it. I should note I spent four years writing for the Libertarian Web Site called LewRockwell.com. As you no doubt know libertarians are not much for things like people telling us what to do, what we can read and so on.
Any pet peeves in writing? In reading others’ work?
Well, cheesy as it sounds, I may go berserk the next time some writer has a character click the non-existent safety catch on a Glock pistol. And since I’m being cheesy, I wish folks would stop using the term “decimated” incorrectly. It’s not a big deal but the Romans would be offended!
Where can people find you and your work?
My Website / blog is being slowly put back together as I’m finally running out of excuses to duck the work.
Genre(s) of your work: Romance, fantasy, thriller, erotica
Titles/Year of Published Work(s):
The Red Tie Company (2021)
Love in the Cards (2021)
New Beginnings (2021)
Bound Fate/Sealed Fate (2020)
Pawns (2019)
Bio:
CM Peters hails from Québec where she has been working in the media for nearly twenty years.
An eclectic writer, she is equally at home penning short erotica and sci-fi, wicked fantasy, and elaborate romance novels. Whatever genre she is working in, CM always centers her stories around complex, relatable characters.
She has a few books on the market as well as anthologies.
When she’s not reading, writing, or plotting her next novel, CM is petting her two cats, watching a Friends re-run, planning mischief!
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
I cannot pick a genre. My imagination is far too wide to only pick one. So, I go with the flow, where my inspiration leads me. I started out with erotica, then moved to thriller, which I might touch again. Then I moved on to fantasy only because I love magic and supernatural things. And recently, I’ve been dabbing in romance, maybe because I’m looking for love?
How has writing changed/altered your life?
It’s opened me up to a world of creativity and gave me the chance to meet wonderful individuals that I wouldn’t have met otherwise. It has also led me to change people’s lives with my imagination.
Who are your favorite authors and why?
Oh dear. THE question!
Diana Gabaldon for igniting my passion for Scotland and historical novels.
Nora Roberts for stirring up romance ideas for me.
Clive Barker and Stephen King for scaring me during my teen years.
Anne Rice for making me love vampires so much.
Do you believe that audiobooks are the wave of the future, more of a passing fad, or somewhere in between and why?
I think it’s somewhere in between. Audiobooks are perfect for people who have less time to read or people that are more auditory.
Personally, I’m not a big fan because my span of attention for anything longer than 30 minutes fades quickly. I listen to audiobooks during long drives, though.
What is your opinion of mainstream/corporate bookstores?
I love losing myself in all kinds of bookstores. But I feel smaller bookstores should be better supported.
What have you found to be a good marketing tool? A bad one?
Social media is great for marketing. They allow you to reach so many people with a single post. And the more social media you use, the bigger the reach.
Newsletter, to me, do not seem as effective in this day and age. People are quick to delete emails they don’t feel like reading, so it’s a hit and miss.
Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?
No, I don’t think anything is taboo, but there is a way to bring about taboo subjects to be respectful to your audience.
What is your opinion of Trigger Warnings?
Very much so. I’m a woman living with three distinct PTSD issues and will avoid at all costs anything that’s triggering for me. I use them for my books and appreciate authors using them as well.
Pseudonym (if you use one): Nope. I am me. No need to hide.
Genre(s) of your work: I started out with science fiction but am dabbling with detective fiction.
Titles/Year of Published Work(s):
Creative Deductions: Home Run – Mystery (2023)
Forward and Back – SF (2022)
One Photo Too Many – SF (2020)
Off The Books – SF (2018)
Invasive Species – SF (2016)
Invasive Species: Seeds – SF (2017)
Invasive Species: Food Chain – SF (2018)
Cold Shoulder – SF (2018)
Originated Under Twin Suns – SF (2013)
The Gerfnit Chronicles – SF (1998)
SHORTS: Collected Short Stories and Essays (2019)
Music Makes Marty – Childrens (2021)
The Boy Who $neezed Money – Childrens (2020)
The Mid-Knights – Childrens – Kindle Vella (2023)
Bio:
Michael Pickard’s writing serves as the bridge between his professional work in technology and his passion for the creative arts.
Dozens of Pickard’s short stories have been published, including Hardwired, which won a Ray Bradbury Creative Writing Prize in 2005.
There is so much more to me beyond those words.
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
I started out writing science fiction because it offered the freedom to create whatever I could imagine. There’s a whole story about how my first novel was a collection of chapters I’d written to my daughter when she attended overnight camps. I’m still very comfortable there, although, over the last three years, I’ve been dabbling in detective fiction, if you call a three-volume epic dabbling.
Embedded in the above question is “Why do you write…”, which I believe is more important.
My goal is to entertain, educate, and offer my readers opportunities to think.
Entertain is easy by providing a captivating story with bits of humor throughout. Educate isn’t difficult with science fiction because in many cases there are components of real science embedded in the story. Of course, some concepts are stretched beyond their limits, but that’s why it’s called science fiction. Getting readers to think after they’ve read the last page is much more difficult. It requires me to deliver a theme or issue so strong that it stays in the reader’s mind.
How has writing changed/altered your life?
It’s given me a third career. I spent 28 ½ years doing technology stuff at the local phone company (Illinois Bell/Ameritech), retired early, then spent 13 years with Apple in one of their retail stores recommending solutions to solve customer problems, and teaching both new employees and customers. After leaving Apple, I turned to creative writing, which I started part-time in 1993.
Who are your favorite authors and why?
I relate best to science fiction masters Isaac Asimov, Roger Zelazny, Douglas Adams. They were capable of telling compelling stories that included bits of humor among the serious parts.
Do you believe that audiobooks are the wave of the future, more of a passing fad, or somewhere in between and why?
Audiobooks are here to stay. They are a great way of using time effectively. I’ve only purchased one, Snow Crash by Neil Stephenson, because I was on a deadline to complete reading it before departing for a writing conference. I heard the story as I drove to and from work, but I believe I would have gotten more out of it by seeing words on the page.
What have you found to be a good marketing tool? A bad one?
Social media postings don’t have any effect, at least they haven’t for me. I love being a guest on podcasts, which get posted and hang around. A nice way to be discovered well after the release date. I’ve had modest success with book signings. That way, I’m not competing with other authors like at a book fair.
Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?
Nope. Freedom of speech and all that. Yes, there will be too much bad stuff, which hopefully discerning people won’t consume or believe.
What is your opinion of Trigger Warnings?
When I share chapters in critique groups, they are recommended as a part of the groups’ protocol. I have only had to use them a couple of times, and I’ve appreciated the heads up by others.
Do you find that you sell better in person (at events) or through social media (like a personal blog, website, or Amazon)?
Absolutely in person. I can have a conversation and recommend a specific title based on the topics someone enjoys.
Where can people find you and your work?
http://www.gerfnit.com will take folks to my Amazon author web page for paperback and Kindle e-book versions
I enjoy getting email from potential readers or other writers at author@gerfnit.com.
Diane Piron-Gelman
Name: Diane Piron-Gelman
Pseudonym (if you use one): D. M. Pirrone
Genre(s) of your work: Suspense, historical mystery
Titles/Year of Published Work(s):
No Less In Blood (2011)
Shall We Not Revenge (2014)
For You Were Strangers (2015)
Bio:
D. M. Pirrone is the nom de plume of Diane Piron-Gelman, who works as an editor and audiobook narrator when she isn’t writing. Both books in her Hanley & Rivka historical mystery series, Shall We Not Revenge and For You Were Strangers (Allium Press of Chicago, 2014 and 2015), were named Notable Page-Turners in the Shelf Unbound Indie Novel Competition. Shall We Not Revenge was also a 2014 Kirkus Prize nominee. Ms. Pirrone’s debut suspense novel, No Less In Blood (Five Star, 2011) received excellent reviews from Booklist and Publishers Weekly.
A Chicago native and history buff, Ms. Pirrone is a longtime member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime, and is likewise a member of the Chicago Writers’ Association and the Society for Midland Authors. She is currently completing final revisions on Book 3 of the Hanley & Rivka Mysteries.
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
I’ve always enjoyed mysteries and crime fiction—they’re stories where we get to see people in crisis, who may rise to the occasion or fail to depending on who they are. A mystery lets authors explore depths of character, relationships, and human emotion, for good or ill and everything in between. I’m also a history nerd, and what I like most about historical mysteries is making the past come alive for readers through the characters they meet and the story I tell. If they can feel the chill of a Chicago winter and hear the horse-cars and train whistles in the background while caught up in the story, I know I’ve done my job well.
Who are your favorite authors and why?
I love Ruth Rendell and Sophie Hannah, for the way they take you into the minds of deeply messed-up characters and make you understand them. Also Tana French, whose gorgeous prose gives murder an Irish lyricism. I can’t stop turning pages when I read her books. William Kent Krueger is similar, writing tightly crafted stories that carry you with them and make you feel what the characters feel. Outside the mystery genre, I really enjoy Amy Tan, whose stories about Chinese women and their Americanized daughters introduced me to a culture I knew little of, while ringing absolutely true to a near-universal push and pull between daughters and mothers.
What is your opinion of mainstream/corporate bookstores?
Too preoccupied with “big” authors, not willing enough to give shelf space to newcomers or authors from smaller presses who could easily find larger audiences if they had more exposure. Independent bookstores are much easier to deal with, since all their decisions aren’t made at “corporate” HQ.
What do you hope your readers will take away from your work?
Two things: a sense that they’ve hung out for awhile in a time period not their own, and the realization that no matter the era, people are still people—dreaming the same dreams, prone to the same fears, and making the same mistakes.
How much does personal experience play in your written work?
I like to take aspects of my personal experience and use them as jumping-off points to go places that I haven’t, necessarily. For example, adoptee Rachel Connolly in No Less In Blood feels driven to find her birth family after a personal loss, but I’ve never felt more than mild curiosity about my birth mother. I do know what it’s like to wonder about your origins, though. And in the Hanley & Rivka series, part of Hanley and Rivka’s relationship stems from my and my husband’s experience—he’s Jewish, I’m Irish Catholic, and even in 1993 when we got married, there were challenges from both our families. Nothing like what Hanley and Rivka have to navigate back in 1872, though!
How do you find the motivation to complete a book/story?
My writers’ group (we meet weekly) and my publisher. Not having something for writers’ group makes me feel like the kid who didn’t come prepared for class, and in this business you don’t let your publisher down. Especially a terrific one like Emily Victorson at Allium Press.
What makes you NOT finish reading a book?
If I don’t identify with at least one character, or if they all come off as cardboard cut-outs, I’ll quit even if there’s a whiz-bang plot. I don’t have to like a character to identify with her, or him. The main character, Libby, in Gillian Flynn’s DarkPlaces is definitely un-likable, but she’s tough and brave and walking wounded, and that was enough to draw me in.
Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?
That’s a tough one. The freethinker in me says no, but there are certain topics I can’t bring myself to write about because I don’t want to spend time inside those experiences, even in my imagination. On the other hand, sometimes you need to think about how you’re presenting something negative or destructive in your work. Are you glamorizing violence or hatred, for example, in attempting to realistically portray a seriously damaged character driven to such things? The line isn’t always easy to draw. But I do think we have to try.
Any pet peeves in writing? In reading others’ work?
Head-hopping—giving multiple characters’ points of view in the same scene. I find this incredibly distracting and distancing, as a reader. Also, the walk-on character who’s clearly there just so he or she can deliver a crucial piece of information to the protagonist at the exact right time, but who hasn’t been integrated into the story line to make their presence, their knowledge, and their willingness to help the protagonist plausible. I never like to spot an author pulling the strings!
Where can people find you and your work?
All of my books are available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble online, as trade paperbacks and e-books. They’re also in libraries and several independent bookstores—for locals in the Chicago area, I particularly recommend Centuries & Sleuths, my favorite bookstore in Forest Park. For the Hanley & Rivka series, the Allium Press website has links to purchase both titles (and soon to be a third!).
As to finding me, I’m a regular attendee at Printers Row Lit Fest in Chicago every June, and upcoming book discussion events in the greater Chicago area are listed on my author website. I also have a blog, though I’ve neglected it shamefully of late (family pressures, moving house, and life in general). Interested readers, feel free to check out my author page and blog—and drop me an email if you’d like. I always enjoy hearing from you.
Genre(s) of your work: YA horror and sci-fi/fantasy
Titles/Year of Published Work(s): Sarah, a YA horror/thriller 2016 and horror finalist in the 2017 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Quantum Wanderlust, a time travel anthology 2017, The Gemini Connection, a YA sci-fi/fantasy to be released May 31, 2018.
Bio:
Teri Polen reads and watches horror, sci-fi, and fantasy. The Walking Dead, Harry Potter, and anything Marvel-related are likely to cause fangirl delirium. She lives in Bowling Green, KY with her husband, sons, and black cat. Her first novel, Sarah, a YA horror/thriller, was a horror finalist in the 2017 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. Visit her online at www.teripolen.com
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
I joke that my mind is that of a 17-year-old boy and why I always write from a male perspective. Maybe it’s because I have sons. From a very young age, I was drawn to horror and science fiction in television, movies, and books. I blame my dad.
How has writing changed/altered your life?
When I was still in school, I dabbled in writing and was always a voracious reader–still am. I wrote short stories, kept a journal, and even penned the occasional dreadful poem. I’m at the point in my life where I can focus more on what I’d like to do, but if a few days go by when other things have to come first, it gnaws at me until I can carve out that time.
Who are your favorite authors and why?
The first young adult book I read as an adult was Harry Potter and it opened a whole new world for me, so I have to say J.K. Rowling. Stephen King was the first real horror I dove into at the age of twelve, and On Writing is my go-to reference book. Victoria Schwab’s world-building is wildly imaginative and breathtaking. I’d love to spend a day inside her head.
What do you hope your readers will take away from your work?
I hope they’re able to step out of their lives for a while, forget their problems or stresses, and enjoy spending some time with the characters I’ve created.
How much does personal experience play in your written work?
The basic idea for Sarah, my first book, came about because of my cat. We’d moved into a new house, no previous occupants, but Shadow would sit at the foot of the stairs hissing and growling at something we could never see. The plot for Sarah evolved from that. I’ve also incorporated words or phrases I’ve heard or things I’ve seen. My friends are a lot more careful around me!
How do you find the motivation to complete a book/story?
A contractual deadline is a powerful motivator! I tend to get distracted easily and have found that lists and schedules keep me on track. That and the characters inside my head clamoring to have their story told.
What makes you NOT finish reading a book?
Years ago, giving up on a book was anathema to me–I’d stick it out until the end. These days, my TBR is out of control and life is too short to spend reading books you don’t enjoy. Usually pacing and lack of character connection are my biggest reasons for not finishing.
Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?
No. There are plenty of books out there I’d never pick up or recommend due to subject material and conflicting values or opinions, but I’m not a proponent of censorship.
Any pet peeves in writing? In reading others’ work?
Sometimes my characters won’t tell me their full story and it takes some begging on my part–I keep telling them the story would get told much faster if they’d just talk. With other writers, sometimes they’re in such a rush to get their book out there, editing falls to the wayside and the final product is full of typos and grammatical errors. The occasional error is inevitable, but taking the time to proofread or obtain the services of an editor can only help you in the long run.
Christie Valentine Powell wrote her first story in second grade, and she has been writing ever since. Her other hobbies include making toys, hobby farming, and eating at Asian buffets. She lives near the sunniest city in the world with her husband, four children, and many chickens.
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
I enjoy the fantasy genre because I like to make things up :). I like to create and explore ideas without being bound by reality.
How has writing changed/altered your life?
Writing gives me a chance to play like a child in a grownup world and gives me control in a crazy one.
What do you hope your readers will take away from your work?
I hope they see life a little richer. CS Lewis says that reading about enchanted woods make all woods a little enchanted. I hope they learn a new way to look at the world. I also like to use characters that don’t appear as often in YA fantasy in particular (realistic children, elderly, parents, etc), so I’m hoping to give them a better glimpse of other age groups that don’t always show up in YA fiction or even real life.
How much does personal experience play in your written work?
I wish I remember the author who said that the mind is like a compost heap. All of your experiences go in, get mixed around and changed, and stories grow out of it. All ideas come from personal experience, whether the author is aware of it or not.
How do you find the motivation to complete a book/story?
It’s fun! The more you work on the story, the more it forms into the work it was meant to be. It’s amazing to see the pieces come together and become its own living entity.
What makes you NOT finish reading a book?
Personally, either inappropriate content or not caring enough about the characters. I rarely put one down.
Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?
If you feel the need to write about something, go ahead. If other readers feel the need to read it, go ahead. But I’m going to censor some topics that I’m not comfortable with, and there are some settings (schools especially) where there should be some guidelines.
Any pet peeves in writing? In reading others’ work?
The hardest thing for me is going back to drafting once I’ve been editing, because they are completely different mindsets.
Genre(s) of your work: Fantasy, YA Fantasy, Medieval Fantasy
Titles/Year of Published Work(s):
Last of the Gifted Series:
Spirit Sight – Aug 2020
Water Sight – Nov 2020
Bio:
Marie Powell’s adventures in castle-hopping across North Wales resulted in her historical fantasy series Last of the Gifted: Spirit Sight and Water Sight (thanks to Creative Saskatchewan Book Production and Market/Export grant programs). Marie is also the author of more than 40 children’s books with such publishers as Scholastic Canada Education, Amicus, and Lerner Lightning Bolt. Her award-winning short stories and poetry appear in literary magazines like Room and subterrain, and her nonfiction in magazine, broadcast, and online markets. She holds a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia (UBC), among other degrees. Marie lives on Treaty 4 land in Regina, Saskatchewan. Find her at mariepowell.ca
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
Well, fantasy is a favourite, maybe because I want to believe that all the stories really are true. My recent series, for example, is a chance for me to explore how some of the historical stories might have happened. It tells the tale of two siblings who pledge their magical gifts to protect their people from the invading English, with a little help from the last true Prince of Wales, after his murder. But I write in a lot of genres: fiction, speculative fiction, fantasy, historical fantasy, and nonfiction. Usually I try to find the genre that best fits the story I want to tell.
Who are your favorite authors and why?
I have so many favourite books and authors! I read a sprinkling of everything, but mostly fantasy. Everything from the classics like T.H. White’s Once and Future King and Edgar Allan Poe to modern authors like George R.R. Martin, Cassandra Clare, Jim Butcher, Leigh Bardugo, Robin Hobb. So many! I love books with strong characters that draw me into their lives, and face impossible dangers with honest courage and their own special style. I read about 50 books a year for pleasure, over and above the research I do for my books.
Do you believe that audiobooks are the wave of the future, more of a passing fad, or somewhere in between and why?
I love audiobooks. Listening to an audiobook is convenient and enjoyable, especially in the car when I’m driving. It keeps my mind active, and helps me be more patient with traffic snarls (my pet peeve!) Also, my first degree was in theatre. I trained and worked as a dramaturg, and I love hearing actors bring a character and situation to life. Audiobook actors who can do character voices create another level of enjoyment for listeners, and remind me of those days of sitting in rehearsals, listening to actors work. Love it!
What have you found to be a good marketing tool? A bad one?
The best marketing tool is honesty, I think, and a willingness to try different ideas. Marketing can help you get your books in front of people who want to read that kind of book. So you have to do your best to describe the book accurately and then find the audience that will be receptive to it. I really love visual images, and the covers of my books reflect that. I have video trailers and lots of visual images with the books, so readers can see themselves with that book and decide if that’s a match.
Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?
Those are tough questions. I’d like to say no, that I believe in free speech. But I think that some stories can harm us: stories that promote racism, for example, or misogyny. But it’s interesting that throughout the past 500-600 years, our definitions and perceptions have changed. Stories from the early 20th Century that were loved by readers then, are considered wrong-minded now. That’s something I think writers should think about. What is our role, and what responsibility do we have to our readers (and listeners)? The thing is, readers have changed too, and most readers know what they will tolerate and what they will reject. We need to trust readers more, and trust ourselves as readers.
For review copies and promotional opportunities, please contact Mickey Mikkelson, Creative Edge Publicity, +1.403.464.6925, mickey.creativeedge@gmail.com
Jannifer Powelson
Your Name: Jannifer Powelson
Genre(s) of your work: Children’s Educational picture books and Adult Cozy Mysteries
Titles/Year of Published Work(s):
Four books in the Rachel Raccoon and Sammy Skunk Series
Working on the 7th book in the Nature Station Mystery Series, to be published Winter 2022.
Bio:
Born and raised on a farm in Northwestern Illinois, Jannifer Powelson’s interest in writing, conservation, and the natural world was sparked at an early age. Books in the Nature Station Mystery Series encompass her passions of writing, photography, nature, travel, and reading mysteries.
Powelson is also the author of four books in the Rachel Raccoon and Sammy Skunk series. These books use entertaining storylines, colorful and realistic illustrations, and photos taken by Powelson, to educate children about nature.
Powelson works as a conservationist and resides in northwestern Illinois with her husband and two daughters. Powelson is currently working on the seventh book in the Nature Station Mystery Series, “Land of Ice.”
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
My children’s books evolved through my day job as a conservationist. The books also feature photos taken over the years of native plants. The books came from programs I do through my job and are all nature related.
My adult cozy mysteries are a direct reflection of “writing what I know” and writing what I love to read. They are relaxing to write, (when I’m not stressed about not having enough time to write) because they are my favorite genre to read.
How has writing changed/altered your life?
The older I get, the more I enjoy having a creative outlet. Whether taking photographs to use in children’s books or on the covers of my mysteries, to writing the text, being able to express my creative side helps me to deal better with the everyday stress of life. I am doing what I’ve always dreamed of doing, which is an added bonus.
Who are your favorite authors and why?
I’ve always enjoyed reading mysteries—everything from classic cozies, historical mysteries, to quirky mysteries set in modern times. I loved reading Mary Stewart, Agatha Christie, and Victoria Holt books in high school and college and still enjoy them. A few favorite contemporary authors include Rhys Bowen, Donna Andrews, M.C. Beaton, Carola Dunn, and Tasha Alexander
Do you believe that audiobooks are the wave of the future, more of a passing fad, or somewhere in between and why?
I personally am not a fan of audiobooks; I just don’t retain things as well when I listen vs. read them. However, I know audiobooks are popular with those who don’t like to read or who don’t take time to read but still love a good story. In today’s hectic times, people can multitask while listening to an audiobook. I think they will always be popular, like eBooks, but there will always be readers who prefer holding a well done hardback or paperback in their hands while they read the written word.
What is your opinion of mainstream/corporate bookstores?
My closest bookstores are more than thirty miles away and happen to be independent bookstores with lots of selection, events, customer service, and charm. However, I think mainstream bookstores are important to authors and readers alike. They offer a great selection of all genres, oftentimes have promotions, but they definitely lack the appeal that most independent bookstores have.
What have you found to be a good marketing tool? A bad one?
I think social media is a must in today’s world. Posting consistent material related to your books, subject matter, and related topics keeps people interested. I also think that working your local areas and finding your books’ niches (mine are all nature-related, so the niche is nature!) is vital. Tap into your local audiences and expand from there.
Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?
I don’t think writing should be censored, but as a writer, I know there are topics that I consider taboo and will not write about. Good grief, my mother gave me a hard time about using the word “crap” in my books. As a reader, I will only read books that aren’t too far out of my comfort zone. Cozy mysteries are a good fit for me as both a writer and a reader. They aren’t too “dark” for me and are light, easy, and entertaining reads, which is what I look for to escape and unwind.
Genre(s) of your work: Horror/Science Fiction/Thriller/Mystery
Titles/Year of Published Work(s):
Novel – THE EQUINOX ― published in 2012,
Novel – ACADIA EVENT ― published in 2014,
DARK PASSAGES: Six Short Stories bt M.J. Preston ― published in 2015
DARK PASSSAGES II: Tales from the Black Highway ― published in 2016
Novel – HIGHWAYMAN
Bio:
M.J. Preston’s debut novel: THE EQUINOX, published in 2012, was a quarter-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Awards and rated a solid straight horror novel by a reviewer at Publisher’s Weekly.
His second novel: ACADIA EVENT, published in 2014, was inspired by his time running the world longest ice road, as an ice road trucker, in the Canada’s Northwest Territories. It was also met with praise, including an endorsement by Gregory L. Norris, a screenwriter for Star Trek Voyager and writer for the Sci-Fi Channel. Norris called Acadia Event, ‘an Epic read and a personal favorite.
Along with many short stories published in anthologies, MJ Preston is also an artist who does his own cover artwork. He also dabbles in photography.
As well, he has published short story paperback called Dark Passages II which includes many known and up and coming writers in North America.
His third novel: Highwayman, a thriller, is forecast to be published in late 2016
He resides in Alberta, Canada with his wife, Stormy.
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
I am drawn to the darker side of humanity or those things that frighten us. Now that I think about it, I always have had an affair with everything horror and science fiction as well as suspense. I remember sneaking in to see Alfred Hitchcock’s “Frenzy”, when I was kid back in the 70’s. I suppose it was inevitable that I would end up writing about such things.
How has writing changed/altered your life?
I don’t know if its altered my life in any way. I’m not hanging out with Stephen King or John Sandford, but I have met many talented people in the industry. From that standpoint, I guess it’s been altered. I’m not walking down any red carpets, but I believe that I have earned recognition for writing.
Who are your favorite authors and why?
I started out 40 years ago as a huge Stephen King fan, but today there really are too many to name. The short list these days, Robert R. McCammon, John Sandford, Joe Hill, Michael Connelly, Joseph Heller, Frederick Forsyth, Joseph Boyden and so many more. If a writer pulls me into a story and leaves me wanting more of their work, then you have the “why?”
What is your opinion of mainstream/corporate bookstores?
I love bookstores, I’m not a fan of corporations.
What do you hope your readers will take away from your work?
We writers first tell the story to ourselves as we write it. Most would agree that we follow the rabbit down the hole and are along for the ride as we write that first draft. Once that’s done we go to work, paring it down, polishing it and eventually presenting it to readers. If the reader finishes the novel feeling satisfied with the story I’ve told, then my job was done right. I hope that hard work is appreciated not in acknowledgement of the 1000’s of hours of work that went into, but for the story itself.
How much does personal experience play in your written work?
Pretty much everything in life is up for grabs. My second novel, Acadia Event was inspired by my time as an Ice trucker. My first novel has many personal reflections that are told through the eyes of others. I can only speak for myself, but every day things like, insecurity, sadness, anger, happiness, sight, sense and sound all come from places of personal reflection. At least for me.
How do you find the motivation to complete a book/story?
There are always moments of lethargy, but when I find my rhythm the writing almost happens on its own. I don’t think of it as motivation or discipline, it’s just what I do. But sometimes, in the middle of a big project I ask myself, “Are you some kind of masochist?”
What makes you NOT finish reading a book?
I hate formulaic writing and sadly, there is a great deal of that out there. When I start seeing repetitive trends in a writer’s work. Example, they always have the alcoholic or drug addict as a protagonist and it begins to feel that they are not telling you a story but exercising some personal demon. It doesn’t just have to be the example given. Predictability can be a deal breaker.
Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?
I’m a free speech guy and one of the things writing is being scrutinized here in Canada for is cultural appropriation. There are those who believe you shouldn’t be allowed to write about a culture you don’t belong to. To me that is censorship. I think you should be able to write about whatever it is that comes into your mind, but you must also understand that you take ownership of what you write.
For instance, if someone writes about a topic as taboo as pedophilia, which I have, I don’t think it’s necessary to give graphic blow by blow details. To imply the act is far better than describing it and drives home point far more effectively. I think your more apt lose readers if you feel a need to tell them every detail. I also think you aren’t giving your readers enough credit.
Any pet peeves in writing? In reading others’ work?
Man, that’s a loaded question. (Smiles) I guess we all have pet peeves. Everyone does something that annoys someone else. I have been queried by people who want to write and occasionally I will agree to look at someone’s work. Sometimes you have people asking you questions like, “Do you think I have what it takes?” That’s a pet peeve, because what that person wants is validation without putting in the time.
Writing is a tough bloody gig and sometimes luck plays into it. Ask Tabitha, Stephen Kings wife, when she retrieved Carrie from the trash. Ask J.K. Rowling who wrote Harry Potter while living on Mothers Allowance. These people have talent, but they were also lucky enough to rise above the waves of mediocrity.
My only pet peeve in writing is when I hear established writers beat up on other writers who have found success. I’m never going to read a Stephanie Meyers book, simply because I’m not a fan of vampire romance, but I’m not going to beat up on her either. God love her, she found an audience and is doing what most writers want to do full time. Write. If you don’t like it, don’t read it. So, my pet peeve is arrogance in the field of writing and the holier than thou attitude that often accompanies it. We’re all in this together folks, let’s try and support one another.
I am American and have lived in London since 1990 with my South African wife.
Jobs have included selling vacuum cleaners door-to-door in Los Angeles, picking grapefruit on a kibbutz in Israel, and teaching literacy to black domestic workers in Johannesburg.
I have been published in literary magazines, journals, and newspapers in California, South Africa, and London. Besides two novels, I have written a memoir: Teaching Shakespeare to Hairdressers: an American Teacher in London.
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
Self-indulgently, I get to play with the sound and rhythm of words, create stories and focus on some of the smallest things in everyday life.
How has writing changed/altered your life?
It has given me quiet time alone to have the chance to try to create art.
Who are your favorite authors and why?
Jack Kerouac, for the speed at which the words in his head reach the paper; and his neologisms and lyrical pyrotechnics.
Hermann Hesse, for his gentle, internal meanderings.
Laurie Lee, for the world’s most beautiful English prose.
HD Thoreau, for his directness, honesty, and simplicity.
Do you believe that audiobooks are the wave of the future, more of a passing fad, or somewhere in between and why?
Like the Kindle has been, they are another future wave, affording people an additional way to receive a writer’s words.
What have you found to be a good marketing tool?
Speaking to local groups about my book.
A bad one?
Writing to everyone who I think may have even the slightest interest in my book.
Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?
No. I think people can find anything they want, and if they don’t want to read something, they don’t have to.
What is your opinion of Trigger Warnings?
I don’t think they are a good idea. A production of ‘The Sound of Music’ had a warning that some people might find Nazis offensive.
Do you find that you sell better in person (at events) or through social media (like a personal blog, website, or Amazon)?
In person so far, as I have only begun to wade into social media.
I also wrote a memoir about Alzheimer’s Disease and care-giving: On Little Cat Feet, 2014
Bio:
For thirty-four years, I taught high school outside of Chicago. After I retired, I became a caregiver for my mother and aunt. They both loved to tell stories of coming to America from Scotland, and together we worked on genealogy. After they passed, I collected those stories for a family book, Just a Memory Away. Not done with writing, I moved on to telling the story of being a caregiver. Then came my first love – mystery writing.
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
As a kid, I read mysteries. They fit my mindset of someone cutting through chaos. My reading of mysteries continued. Decades later my mother had Alzheimer’s Disease. After she passed, I discovered secrets she squirreled away. I developed an understanding of some family members. After I wrote a memoir of my time as a caregiver, I followed my path back to mysteries, to the influence of hidden events.
How has writing changed/altered your life?
When I can’t sleep at night, it gives me an excuse? Really, I’m learning about a whole new world. I’ve met wonderful independent writers of all genres. I’m still piecing together the business side of writing, but people are helpful and willing to share.
Who are your favorite authors and why?
Sara Paretsky, Sarah Vowell, Walter Mosley, Sue Grafton, Anne Perry, Kerry Greenwood. I admire their storytelling but also the blending of dire and humor.
Probably the biggest influence, however, is Sandy Cisneros’s “The Rice Sandwich.” The character reflects on people being made up of all their years. We are like an onion. Sometimes our decisions or reactions are true to our three-year-old selves. One of my characters who is in her sixties, Lena, at times responds as a wild, sixteen-year-old; those decisions generally land her in trouble. Alice, however, absorbs detail like a curious middle schooler.
What is your opinion of mainstream/corporate bookstores?
I’ve been able to convince a couple of mainstream bookstores to shelf my books. It involved begging. Seriously, I think as new independent authors we sometimes forget the other side of wanting to be published – the business. For corporate bookstores, it must be easier to work with an agented author with a publicist getting the word out. Networking is time consuming.
What do you hope your readers will take away from your work?
The focus of The Case of the Girl Who Didn’t Smile is a neglected child. Although she finds herself in a terrible situation, accused of arson and murder, a quiet community stands ready to help. Lena would call that a posse while Alice’s experience sees people weaving into our lives at a time we need them most. My two sleuths can be goofy, but there is strength in bedrock friendships.
How much does personal experience play in your written work?
The short answer is my friends know when they do something silly, they might appear in the next book as Lena.
But, I’ve also spent years working on genealogy. When naming a character is giving me grief, I turn to family names. That’s also true for some story-lines and motives. A child’s loss runs through my stories (the loss of parents, childhood trauma, neglect), and these children are shaped by the experience, sometimes becoming stronger. In doing genealogy the surprise for me is how childhood emptiness can carry into the next generation.
How do you find the motivation to complete a book/story?
The story is in my head before I begin to write. One author told me she never leaves the garage unless she has a destination. I find that helpful advice. And then there are those pesky character voices pushing me to tell their story. I am currently working on the fourth book in the series, but five and six have found filing space in my mind.
What makes you NOT finish reading a book?
Preaching and lengthy description. Otherwise I read most everything.
Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?
Reviews matter. I don’t envy the work librarians do. Works shouldn’t be censored, but they should be directed to the right audience. I don’t want gross scenes or grotesque violence shoved in my face. But other people prefer noisy, screaming writing. Not me.
Any pet peeves in writing? In reading others’ work?
I’m not a fan of simple answers. Flawed characters with messy lives are much more interesting. Order is good. Glorying in perfection? Not so much.
Sue Rovens 