Author Meet & Greet

All are welcome here.

Connect with authors through their social media links (if they choose to share them), learn about their writing process, and purchase their works.

The 4 most current interviews are posted here. Older ones may be found under the Archive: Author Meet & Greet on the main page of this blog by the author’s last name.

**Jack Ketchum’s Interview from December 2017 is PINNED at the bottom of this page**

So, without further ado, let’s get to know

Meet & Greet Author:  #204

CM Peters

Your Name: Julie Côté

Pseudonym (if you use one): CM Peters

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.

Where can people find you and your work?

Website: cmpeters.com

Facebook group: CM’s Book Nook | Facebook

Instagram @authorcmpeters

Twitter @charliempeters

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/CM-Peters/e/B015D1NEBM

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/cmpeters

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Diana Stevan

Your Name: Diana Stevan

Genre(s) of your work: Historical Fiction, Romantic Mystery, Women’s Fiction

Titles/Year of Published Work(s): 

A Cry from the Deep, 2014

The Blue Nightgown, (a novella) 2015

The Rubber Fence, 2016

Sunflowers Under Fire, 2019

Lilacs in the Dust Bowl, 2021

Paper Roses on Stony Mountain, coming out 2022.

Bio:

Diana Stevan likes to joke she’s a Jill of all trades as she’s worked as a family therapist, teacher, librarian, model, actress and sports reporter for CBC television.

Her novels cross genres: A Cry from the Deep (2014), a time-slip romantic mystery/adventure; The Rubber Fence (2016), women’s fiction, inspired by her work on a psychiatric ward in the 1970s, and Sunflowers Under Fire (2019), historical fiction / family saga, based on her Ukrainian grandmother’s life during WWI and the wars that followed in Russia. This last novel was a finalist for the 2019 Whistler Independent Book Awards, sponsored by the Writers Union of Canada, a semi-finalist for the 2019 Kindle Book Awards, Literary Fiction category, and Honorable Mention in 2020 Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards.

Her latest novel, Lilacs in the Dust Bowl (2021), set on the Manitoba prairie during the Great Depression, is the sequel to Sunflowers Under Fire. Diana is set to publish the third novel in the series, Paper Roses in Stony Mountain, in the summer of 2022.

She’s also published newspaper articles, poetry; a short story, and a novelette, The Blue Nightgown, and was featured as one of 100 authors in Alex Pearl’s book, 100 Ways to Write a Book (2022).

When she isn’t writing, she loves to garden, travel, and read. With their two daughters grown, Diana lives with her husband Robert on Vancouver Island and West Vancouver, British Columbia.

Why do you write in the genre that you do?

That’s a good question. I write where the muse takes me. I’m particularly interested in the stories of women, their relationships—love and family—their dreams, and the challenges they need to overcome to see their dreams become reality.

The first one, A Cry from the Deep, started out as an idea brought to me by a friend. We struggled to write the screenplay together and when that failed and he gave up, I expanded on the idea and wrote the book. Because I’m a sucker for romance, it became both a romantic mystery and time-slip adventure, set in Ireland, Manhattan and Provence, all places I’ve travelled to.

The Rubber Fence was a screenplay at first, inspired by my work on a psychiatric ward in Winnipeg, Manitoba. I was so traumatized by my time there as a psychiatric social worker that I had to write about it. It’s fiction, but it’s a story that portrays what was going on in that ward in the early 70s. Not much has changed since then. It follows the stories of three women: a psychiatric intern (who has her own troubles at home), an old lady who’s been shocked too many times, and a mute young mother, accused of trying to kill her baby.

As for Lukia’s Family Saga series (Sunflowers Under Fire, Lilacs in the Dust Bowl), my granddaughter encouraged me to write my grandmother and mother’s stories after she heard a number of anecdotes. The first is set during WWI, the Bolshevik Revolution, the typhus epidemic and the wars that followed in Ukraine, and the sequel, an immigration story, is set during the Great Depression in Manitoba, Canada. And now I’m about to publish the third and final book of the series, Paper Roses on Stony Mountain, set during the last years of the Great Depression and WWII.

How has writing changed/altered your life?

I sit all day, and I have to force myself to get up, and exercise. But I love what I do. I’ve wanted to write since I was in my early twenties, but I got married at 19, had a baby at 20, and then my husband wanted to go back to university and writing was not a guaranteed way of living. It’s probably less so today with so much competition. Fortunately, I’m retired and comfortable, so I can afford to sit and write.

Who are your favorite authors and why?

I have so many authors I love. Below are a list of books by authors who’ve impressed me with their brilliance.

One I’ve recently discovered is Esi Edugyan, whose prose is exquisite. She says a lot with few words. I recommend: Half-Blood Blues and The Second Life of Samuel Tyne.

Anne of Green Gables by Lucy M. Montgomery is a classic and a book I loved because of the emotion the author conveyed. I remember reading it when I was eight and sobbing.

Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates, a powerful look at a marriage in trouble. (I’m a former family therapist).

Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant by Anne Tyler, the family dynamics in this story were powerful emotionally. I will read anything of hers

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, a master at weaving the stories of different protagonists and linking them in the end.

Shipping News by E. Annie Proulx, brilliant at characterization. You want quirky; you get it in spades in this lovely story.

And Alice Munro, the Queen of short stories. And a Canadian. 😊

I could go on, but…

Do you believe that audiobooks are the wave of the future, more of a passing fad, or somewhere in between and why?

I don’t believe they’re the wave of the future, but it’s a wonderful addition to the other ways we can access a book. I only have one audiobook, Sunflowers Under Fire, narrated by myself and that was a joy to voice, as it’s based on my Ukrainian grandmother and her family’s life in Ukraine during WWI and the turbulent years that followed.

What is your opinion of mainstream/corporate bookstores?

I’m not sure if you’re asking about online vs. brick-and-mortar stores, but I believe they are a critical resource for readers. Amazon, though it controls a high percentage of the book market, made it possible for more writers to express themselves through a published book. And the reviews Amazon posts helps readers sort through which books are worth checking out.

I enjoy browsing books online as well as in bookstores. It was especially helpful to browse and purchase books during the pandemic.

But I’m pleased, that despite the power of these mainstream/corporate bookstores, independent bookstores have continued to thrive. I get tremendous support from local bookstores in my area and those outside of it can order through Book Manager or the Ingram catalogue.

In other words, I believe there’s a place for all types of booksellers.

What have you found to be a good marketing tool? A bad one?

That’s a good question. I don’t know which is a good marketing tool. I’ve used Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to some success. I prefer to write rather than market, and have to remind myself to expose my books in various ways, so that readers know they’re there.

I’ve had some significant success through a Facebook group site that posts about my heritage. Because Lukia’s Family Saga series is about my Ukrainian grandmother and her family, many from this culture have bought my book and passed the word along.

However, Sunflowers Under Fire and Lilacs in the Dust Bowl, have reminded some readers of the Little House on the Prairie series, as it’s about family and homesteading and survival on a farm. And interestingly enough, I’ve also had readers of The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah purchase my family saga.

Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?

I don’t believe in censorship in literature.

I’m against child pornography or any kind of writing that incites violence against one another. But if we make that a rule in literature, then we wouldn’t have books like Lolita, or Silence of the Lambs. The perverted and violent are among us, and we need to understand who and what they are so we can deal with the bad seeds in our communities. Books can entertain, but they also inform and educate the reader. They help us find our way in the world.

What is your opinion of Trigger Warnings?

I wouldn’t want them for myself, as they could ruin my reading experience. I like being surprised by the author. I can tell early on if I’m in the hands of an author who’s done their homework. If so, I trust that whatever they impart will make sense in the story they want to tell. I personally am not crazy about authors depicting extreme violence or graphic sexual acts, but I have a choice to either not buy those books or skip through those pages when they come up.

But then again, films have warnings, so maybe books should, too. You can see, I’m on the fence about this one.

Where can people find you and your work?

On all the major booksellers’ sites.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vMKxse

My website: https://www.dianastevan.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DianaStevan

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diana.stevan

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/diana.stevan

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-stevan

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/dianastevan

And any questions, I’m always happy to hear from readers at info@dianastevan.com

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Emersyn Keith

Your name: Emersyn Keith

Pseudonym: E.G. Keith

Genre(s) of your work: YA Fantasy

Titles/Years of Published Work(s):

Havoc (2022)

Bio:

E.G. Keith is a young author that, until recently, never mustered up the right amount of patience to write a full novel. With a debut novel that several have good opinions on, she hopes to make a splash in the author world with her punny jokes, witty remarks, and evil way of thinking. She is very into Greek mythology and spends a lot of her time looking for books on the old stories, and she is convinced that her story, no matter how unique, has already been told by an old Greek writer. She strives for perfection in everything she does, and the several annotations in the first draft of this novel can prove that.

Why do you write in the genre that you do?

People often say that you should “write the books you want to read,” and I believe that’s what I was trying to accomplish when I set out to write my book.

How has writing changed/altered your life?

Writing, either essays as assignments or novels that are just for fun, has changed my perspective on things very much. I like to write my books with a dual point of view so that you can see how two people narrate the same story. It has also gotten me a lot of attention, which can be seen as a good and a bad thing.

Who are your favorite authors and why?

Rick Riordan is one of my favorites, since he’s written some of my most favorite books, and Cassandra Clare has to be another one. I believe I like her writing so much because we write the same dramatic stories of love, adventure, high fantasy, and warrior main characters.

Do you believe that audiobooks are the wave of the future, more of a passing fad, or somewhere in between and why?

I think audiobooks will definitely be big in the near future. Most people, especially now, don’t have time to sit and read a book, and audiobooks will satisfy the want to read without having to stop your work. I definitely think it will be very big for a lot of people very soon. But there are still plenty of people in all the bookstores I visit.

What is your opinion of mainstream/corporate bookstores? 

I think they are great places to shop for new, glossy, untouched books, but indie bookstores and places that aren’t too well known should definitely be talked about and visited more, especially if you’re the kind of person who likes things to be more comfortable and well-loved.

What have you found to be a great marketing tool? A bad one?

Social media is definitely a huge help when it comes to marketing. I am fortunate enough to be born with media parents that have connections which have hugely helped market my book, but social media apps, like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok are amazing when it comes to marketing. And I don’t really believe there can be a bad marketing tool, unless you just don’t try to market it at all.

Do you believe writing should be censored — that some topics should remain taboo?

I think, while writing is a very healthy way to have ideas and creativity expressed, some topics are just not made for my eyes. People are very cruel, but if you find your target audience, then you should write what you want. So I guess it greatly depends on the person and the audience that the person is trying to reach. I’m going to read what I want and my parents have encouraged me to do that even if what I wanted to read wasn’t “age” appropriate. They trust me to talk to them about things that are disturbing rather than hide those discussions. That helps.

What is your opinion of Trigger Warnings?

I believe trigger warnings are, in some works, definitely needed. It shows the reader that you are thinking of them if you include a trigger warning. Plus, you never really know what triggers someone, and what a reader has gone through. Trigger warnings may not be necessary for one person, but needed for another.

Where can people find you and your work?

As of late March, 2022, my books will be sold virtually on Amazon and (hopefully) in some bookstores!

E.G. Keith on Facebook, egkeith.com is the website, and eventually if you search Havoc by E.G. Keith on Amazon, it will appear.

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David M. Kelly

Your Name: David M. Kelly

Genre(s) of your work: Science fiction

Titles/Year of Published Work(s):

2015 – Dead Reckoning and Other Stories (Short story collection)

2017 – Mathematics of Eternity: Joe Ballen, Book One

2018 – Perimeter: Joe Ballen, Book Two

2019 – Transformation Protocol: Joe Ballen, Book Three

2020 – Kwelengsen Storm: Logan’s World, Book One

2020 – Hyperia Jones and the Olive Branch Caper: Hyperia Jones, Book One

2021 – Intersection: Joe Ballen, Book Four

2022 – Kwelengsen Dawn: Logan’s World, Book Two (Release June 7th)

Bio:

David M. Kelly writes fast-paced, near-future sci-fi thrillers with engaging characters, cynical humor, and (mostly!) plausible science. He is the author of the Joe Ballen, Logan’s World, and Hyperia Jones series, and has been published in Canadian SF magazine Neo-opsis.

David’s interest in science and technology began early. At the age of six his parents allowed him to stay up late into the night to watch the television broadcast of Neil Armstrong stepping on to the surface of the moon. From that day he was hooked on everything related to science and space.

An avid reader, he worked his way through the contents of the mobile library that visited his street, progressing through YA titles (or “juveniles” as they were known back then) on to the classics of Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, and Harry Harrison.

David worked for many years in project management and software development. Along the way his interests have included IPSC combat (target) pistol shooting, crew chief on a drag racing team, and several years as bass player/vocalist in a heavy rock band. He also managed to fit in some real work in manual jobs from digging ditches and work on production lines to loading trucks in a haulage company.

Originally from the wild and woolly region of Yorkshire, England, David emigrated to Canada in 2005 and settled in Northern Ontario with his patient and supportive wife, Hilary. Foot surgery in 2014 temporarily curtailed many of his favorite activities – hiking, camping, piloting his own personal starfighter (otherwise known as a Corvette ZR-1). But on the plus side, it meant a transition from the world of IT into life as a full-time writer—an opportunity he grasped enthusiastically.

David is passionate about science, especially astronomy and physics, and is a rabid science news follower. Never short of an opinion, David writes about science and technology on his blog davidmkelly.net. He has supported various charity projects such as the Smithsonian’s Reboot The Suit and the Lowell Observatory Pluto Telescope Restoration. He also contributes to citizen science projects such as SETI@home.

Why do you write in the genre that you do?

Watching the moon landing fueled a lifelong interest in space, science, and technology, so I naturally gravitated into reading science fiction. When I decided to try my hand at writing, to escape the boredom of a tedious train commute, sci-fi was the obvious choice, though I do have plans for writing in other genres at some point.

How has writing changed/altered your life?

It’s changed it completely! I used to work as an IT project manager, which brought with it high levels of stress and depression. When I was forced to stop working due to foot surgery, I finished my first book and have been writing full time ever since. Writing has reduced my stress levels enormously, and I’m now almost addicted to it. I love how a lot of people are genuinely excited and interested when I tell them what I do for a living. And meeting other sci-fi fans and readers at comicons and book fairs has been a lot of fun. I’ve missed it in the current covid time, and hope to get back to it soon.

Who are your favorite authors and why?

Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, Harry Harrison, Douglas Adams, James S. A. Corey, Arthur Conan Doyle, Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammet, Charles Dickens. There are different reasons why they’re my favorites – but generally speaking, I love the characters and worlds they create, how they pull you into the story and keep you engrossed until the very end.

Do you believe that audiobooks are the wave of the future, more of a passing fad, or somewhere in between and why?

I think they’re a bit of a passing fad and that they’re far more profitable for the retailers than the authors. That said, if people prefer to listen to my books instead of reading the print version, I’d love to be able to accommodate that in the future. And I certainly appreciate how important they can be for people with visual impairments.

What is your opinion of mainstream/corporate bookstores?

Are there any left?  All the ones I see seem to be selling almost everything else BUT books. I’m grateful for the indie bookstores and libraries that are doing a great job to spread the word about indie authors.

What have you found to be a good marketing tool? A bad one?

I’ve had some success on a small scale with Amazon advertising, but I believe the best form of marketing is producing good books and generating word-of-mouth. In terms of less effective strategies, I found that listing my books with NetGalley resulted in few reviews, so that’s likely not something I would try again.

Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?

I don’t believe in censorship in any form, though I believe people should be held accountable for what they create. I also think that censorship can sometimes lead to more creativity. I’m thinking, for example, of screenwriting in the 40s and 50s where they had to find very creative ways to convey certain taboo topics or scenes.

Where can people find you and your work?

My website, Amazon, and most other online book retailers

https://davidmkelly.com

https://www.amazon.com/David-M-Kelly/e/B00PQXCCHU/
http://www.facebook.com/David.Kelly.SF
http://twitter.com/David_Kelly_SF
www.goodreads.com/DavidMKelly

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Jack Ketchum

(PINNED – Interviewed in December 2017)

Name: Dallas Mayr

Pseudonym (if you use one): Jack Ketchum

Genre(s) of your work: Horror and Suspense (and the occasional Black Comedy.)

Titles/Year of Published Work(s):  Writing professionally since 1970, first fiction 1976, first novel, OFF SEASON, 1981.

Bio: see my website http://www.jackketchum.net/and add to that, Most Recent Novel, THE SECRET LIFE OF SOULS, written with Lucky McKee and Most Recent Collection, GORILLA IN MY ROOM.

Why do you write in the genre that you do?  

I grew up loving fantasy, and horror is the dark side of fantasy.

How has writing changed/altered your life? The usual perks of self-employment — no punching the time clock, no damn bosses hovering over your desk.  But in addition to that, writing mandates continual periods of self-examination.  You don’t easily get away with lying to yourself on the page.  It requires you to scour your history and your present for your deepest faults and pleasures, to reveal and revel in them, to find the strengths in your life and work from there, reaching outward.

Who are your favorite authors and why?

Far too many to list here.  I read all over the place and consequently my favorite writers come from all genres and backgrounds, from Henry Miller to Gabriel Garcia Marquez, from Raymond Chandler, Elmore Leonard and John D. MacDonald to Thomas Hardy, Philip Roth, Michael Chabon, Joyce Carol Oates, Peter Straub and Stephen King.  Why?  Because they’re smart, empathic, courageous.  Because they’re good!

What is your opinion of mainstream/corporate bookstores?

I wish we had a lot more mom-and-pop, brick-and-mortar bookstores.  I seriously miss browsing.

What do you hope your readers will take away from your work?

The need for empathy and tenderness in the world, that the souls of beasts and humans matter.  And a few hours of just plain fun.

How much does personal experience play in your written work?

Depends on the piece.  Some, like THE GIRL NEXT DOOR and RED, are highly personal, others…?  I don’t know where the hell they came from!

How do you find the motivation to complete a book/story?  

Finishing a piece is almost always easy.  It’s getting started that’s hard.  Getting all your ducks in a row and then having the balls and suspension of disbelief  to say to yourself, this is really going to work.

What makes you NOT finish reading a book?

I give books a first paragraph test.  If it passes, then a first chapter test.  If it passes that, I’ll almost always finish the book — I can tell from there that I’m going to want to.   If it fails I scuttle it immediately.  Very occasionally, too much repetition will make me dump it.  I don’t want to waste reading-time.  Too much good stuff out there.

Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?

Nothing should ever be censored.  Everything is worth discussing.  How long a discussion is another matter entirely.

Any pet peeves in writing? In reading others’ work?

 Life’s short.  I don’t bother with peeves.  If I’m bored, I just close the book.

Where can people find you and your work?

Website, see above. I have a list of published works there.   Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/jackketchumofficial/ Twitter, https://twitter.com/jackketchum Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Ketchum

What can I say?

I am honored to have snagged a bit of Jack Ketchum’s time, for him to share his thoughts and words with me (and my readers), and for his participation in a blog such as this one. Thank you so much – for the interview as well as your writing. It has and continues to be an inspiration.

Readers, I implore you to look into Jack Ketchum’s work, especially if you are a horror/suspense fan. From the mouth of Stephen King – “Who’s the scariest guy in America? Probably Jack Ketchum.”