HERE'S DAWN SKYY

Robin Leigh Morgan: Please introduce yourself.



Dawn Skyy: Greetings and Felicitations! My name is Dawn Skyy. I'm an Indie or independent author. I work the night shift for NYPD as a police clerical. By day after my errands and workout are done, I sleep like a vampire.

I'm a life-long Star Trek fan. In fact I'm considered to be one of "The Old Guard", one who literally grew up watching Star Trek from Kirk & Company to Voyager. I also love reading, science fiction, fantasy (especially if there be dragons in it!), spy, espionage, thriller and detective are the genres I enjoy the most. I also love classical music, old school R&B, jazz, and I've recently taken a liking country and blues.


Aside from reading and writing I'm also into photography, hand crafts (crocheting, knitting, beading) jogging, power walking, African dance, weight training, and I love animals, especially cats. I currently have two rescue cats I adopted nearly one year ago. Like typical cats, they have me perfectly trained.


Robin Leigh: Tell us about your latest published novel.

Dawn: It started out as a rant against a fan club I'd joined about three years ago. I wanted to warn people that certain fan clubs were not all they are cracked up to be. I'm not saying that all are as horrible or bad. Some fan clubs are well run and monitored organizations.

The one I hooked up with was the pits because it had none of the aforementioned qualities. Since it dealt with a real celebrity (whose name I would never reveal), I concocted a highly fictitious version of the events which transpired, names, and some places involved, and let it fly.

Robin Leigh: What is the latest book you’ve published?

Dawn: Cross Eyed: Part One is my first and only book.

Robin Leigh: Can you give us about a five sentence description from it.

Dawn: Darlene, a retired NYPD cop seeks out her best girlfriend Alexis for help in solving a mystery and help a celebrity. Alexis who is a retired NYPD detective and runs her own private detective agency agrees to go under cover and sort out the mess. Alexis goes undercover and gets far more than she bargained for.

Robin Leigh: What can you tell us about your current writing endeavor?

Dawn: I'm currently working on Cross Eyed: Part Two. I ended Part One with a cliffhanger which I plan to fully address. I will also be clearing up a lot of other issues which I'd vaguely touched on in part one.

Robin Leigh: Can you give us an excerpt from one of your favorite scenes in your latest novel?

Dawn:  We didn't even have to ring the bell because Mom had the screen door open and was waiting for us. I stepped right into one of her rib crushing hugs. Mom was the type of woman who didn’t let you go unless you hugged her back with equal force. She didn't like wimpy hugs.

Without looking I could feel Dad standing behind her. I was also aware of what Russell had been doing behind me: removing his hood, taking off his hat and his sunglasses. Both Russell and Dad locked eyes and stared at each other for a half a second before recognition dawned on Dominic DeLaRosa's face. I wish I'd had my cellphone out to take that photo. My Dad stunned speechless with his mouth hanging open like a Striped Bass.....

"Holy s**t! You're, you're... Lexi, why didn't you tell me you were seeing .....THE Russell Cross?" Dad asked incredulously.

"And have you called me nuts?" I asked.

Robin Leigh: How did you decide what the title of this book would be?  If this book is part of a series, then how many books will be in the series?



Dawn: The name Cross Eyed is the name of the fictitious fan club in the story. I named it that because the star's name is Russell Cross.

I originally didn't intend for it to be a series, but I got so caught in the story and charactors some will say the "plot bunnies" went wild. I'm writing a second book which I'm hoping will be a full sized 50,000 word novel. In comparison Cross Eyed: Part One is considered a novella.

Robin Leigh: Would you consider yourself to be a plotter or a pantser?

Dawn: I consider myself to be a little of both. I plot endlessly, and I have set scenes that must happen. However, getting to that set scene is another story. For instance, I must have Lexi go to the carwash. Now, she can take an uneventful drive to the carwash or there can be a twenty mile car chase on the way to the carwash. I can never predict what will happen until I sit down to write. That's what I've so meticulously plotted turns into a monster.

Robin Leigh: What made you decide to become an author?

Dawn: I'd been writing for most of my life. I actually started writing as a result of my love for Star Trek. I wrote for fanzines (fan magazines) and published one of my own for about a year. I also wrote extensively for what are called written role playing games, within the Star Trek community.

I was really bitten by the writing bug when I was encouraged to join a writing community site named Writing Dot Com. There I learned how to create and keep my first blog. I was also introduced to and encouraged to enter and win NaNoWriMo.



Robin Leigh: What is NaNoWriMo?

Dawn: It stands for National November Write Month. It is an international writing event which happens every November. It's a race where writers participate by attempting to write a 50,000 word novel in one month. In order to meet this goal one must write a certain word goal every day (I believe it's approximately 3,000 words per day, but don't take it as gospel). To me this was a real challenge because at that time I was schlepping a laptop and would write furiously on my breaks, at home and everywhere I could. On Thanksgiving Day I didn't write a sentence as it would've been impolite because I was a guest for dinner at a friend’s home. I made up for it and won in 2011, though. That novel is currently sitting on the back burner waiting to be published.

Robin Leigh: In your latest novel, who’s your favorite character male/female? Tell us why.



Dawn: Of course all of my "Cross Eyed" characters are all my babies, because I created them. I like Russell the best because he is so laid back; you really don't who he is until you really get up close. Then it's like, "gasp"! I also like Alexis' stepdad, Dominic DeLaRosa. He is a force to be reckoned with.

Robin Leigh: Do you set aside a specific amount of time to write, write/answer emails, and market/promote your book[s]?



Dawn: I really haven't been on a specific schedule. I pretty much write when I have a few minutes here and there between my studies, work, chores, and sleep. Thank goodness for smartphones and tablets. Both allow me to do significant amounts of writing and web surfing on the go, instead of waiting to get home to write read emails the way I used to.



Robin Leigh: Do you read books outside the genre you write in? What are they?

Dawn: The titles are too numerous to name. I used to read a lot of well-known authors religiously; I'm talking waiting for their next book with baited breath. That meant long spaces in between as most authors can't crank out a book a month (like the pulp fiction days). But since I've become a member of the independent author community I've found so many excellent authors within that realm, I must confess, I haven't bought a mass published book in two years.

Oh yes, I read anything but horror, zombie, erotica.

Robin Leigh: What must you have around you when you write; food, drink, music, etc.?

Dawn: When I used to write at home I had to have my music, my water and my furry writing assistants (cats) at my feet.

Robin Leigh: When you were an aspiring author you needed advice. What advice would you give to those aspiring author in those shoes today?

Dawn: For an inspiring writer/author I suggest you should join a supportive writing community like Writing Dot Com; they’re like a Facebook for Writers, only it is closely regulated and monitored. You can join for free and you get a profile which includes a blog. You can post your writing and invite members to come by and critique and help you to improve. At WDC you are also free to critique and help others. There are also clubs, forums and contests you can enter to help hone your craft. Then there is the utter madness of NaNoWriMo. This is the perfect place to get your feet wet because everyone there shares the same goal.

I also advise anyone who wants to become an independent author, to familiarize yourself with the top social networking sites. Namely: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google Plus, Good Reads. Why? Because these are going to be the avenues which you will use to publicize your book(s), touch base with other Writers and Authors and connect with your fans.

Robin Leigh: Is there anything else you’d like to briefly tell us about your book, your writing, or yourself.

Dawn: I'm so, so grateful to the Independent Authors community, I would've never made it without them. I'd wanted to publish a book for about twenty years but I was terrified of the query letter, manuscript, rejection process. I went through years ago with a fan fiction magazine. I'd sent said (long defunct) publisher my story and I received a rejection letter! I couldn't believe it! A rejection letter from a fanzine? I was devastated! It made me so angry that I decided to publish my own fanzine. I did that for a year until I went broke doing it. Back then I did not have the options we have in abundance today. I encourage you to get out there and use them.

GENERAL_INFORMATION

Where can we find your book?

Cross-Eyed: Part One is on Amazon http://tinyurl.com/l93f8jn

Where can we find you on internet?

WEBSITE: http://www.dawnskyy.com     



BLOG: http://me4cats.blogspot.com  [My blog about my rescue cats named "Cats Gone] There are also several blogs on my website. Click "Skyys the Limit Blog" and mouse over the drop downs for the different categories.



FACEBOOK FAN PAGE: http://www.facebook.com/dawnskyy



GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7451981.Dawn_Skyy
 

TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/dawn_skyy


TUMBLR: http://theknightsrealm.tumblr.com

Thank you so much Robin Leigh for interviewing me!

AND THANKS Dawn for giving me your time in allowing me to interview you.

HERE'S BRUCE A. BORDERS

Robin Leigh Morgan: Please introduce yourself.

Bruce A. Borders: I’m a self-published author.

Robin Leigh: Tell us about your latest published novel.


Bruce: The latest is a short novel called Inside Room 913. I intended it to be a mini-mystery but I got a little carried away.


Robin Leigh: What are the two latest books you’ve already published? Give us about a five sentence description for each?


Bruce: Over My Dead Body


Over My Dead Body explores the deadly reaction and consequences when a protective father, Jeff Blake, tries to prevent the state from taking his daughter. The director of Child Protective Services uses his position to exact a personal vendetta in removing three-year-old Ashley from the Blake’s home.


The situation quickly becomes violent as Jeff resorts to the only response he feels he has. By the end of the short encounter, three people are dead. Ironically, Ashley is still taken, so the tragic fiasco gained nothing.



Miscarriage Of Justice
Sentenced to fifteen years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, Ethan Rafferty has one thing on his mind - payback! With his time up, the ex-con is free to pursue his mission of revenge. The District Attorney, Mariana Clark, who, during the trial suppressed evidence that would've exonerated him, is the focus of his vengeance. Intent on making her life miserable, Ethan employs a variety of tactics to antagonize and torment the woman. Unable to retaliate through the courts, considering her role in the previous trial, Mariana decides to fight fire with fire. Soon, their feud escalates to a point where neither imagined it would go.


Robin Leigh: What can you tell us about your current writing endeavor?


Bruce: I'm working on several books at the moment - a book about an escape from prison, a western, and Book 7 of the Wynn Garrett Series. I like to do prep work on many different projects at once. That allows the story to percolate and then when I start the actual writing I have a better idea of where it's going.


Robin Leigh: Can you give us an excerpt from one of your favorite scenes in your latest novel?


Bruce: This one is from Inside Room 913

So what happened?” Cynthia spoke up. “Where is Conrad Williams now?”


Holding up his hand, Mr. Jacobson said, “All in good time, my dear. Permit me to finish.” He paused briefly, and then continued. “Not knowing what to say or do, I politely inquired if he was all right. He answered by violently swinging a baseball bat directly at my head. I ducked and luckily, he missed. Then, we struggled a bit until I finally got the better of him.”


Cynthia sat stone-faced, listening, but giving no indication of her thoughts.


Seeing he had her attention, Jacobson continued. “I physically held him down on the floor, and assured the man I did not want to hurt him. I said I’d just been concerned about his well-being. He insisted that he was quite fine and really wanted only to be left alone. Didn’t like people, he claimed.


We talked for a while longer until I thought I’d convinced him that I was no threat and simply wanted to help. He’d calmed down considerably since the moment I’d first barged in, but then he suddenly became like a wild man. His eyes raged with fire and he looked right through me as he came at me again, this time, bare-handed.” Mr. Jacobson shook his head. “Sadly, that was the last time I saw Conrad.”


Frowning, Cynthia gave the man a questioning look. “You still haven’t told me where he is.”


Mr. Jacobson sighed. “He’s gone.”


“Gone? Gone where?”


“Gone, as in dead, I’m afraid. I killed him.” The man said the words calmly, with no emotion, as if the fact that he’d ended another human being’s life was no big deal.


Cynthia’s heart was in her throat. The man in front of her had just admitted to a cold-blooded murder. She couldn’t help but think poor ol’ Mrs. Fletcher had apparently been right! There was a murderer in the building! And here she sat - all alone in his one-room apartment. What’s worse, no one on God’s green Earth knew she was there. Not a single person!



Robin Leigh: What was the inspiration for your latest novel?


Bruce: A few years ago, I heard about a guy being held prisoner in a “hotel” for a few decades and wondered how that could have realistically happened. So, I let my mind begin to wander...


Robin Leigh: How did you decide what the title of this book would be? If this book is part of a series, then the books in the series.


Bruce: I wanted something short, with a little bit of intrigue. That’s the reason for the room number. I thought Inside Room 913 fit the bill. A lot of hotels used to not have a room 13 on any floor due to superstitions of the customers. The ninth floor seemed to play into that as well.


Robin Leigh: Would you consider yourself to be a plotter or a pantser?


Bruce: Both. I plot in my head before the writing begins, then once I start writing I like to just see what happens and where I end up.


Robin Leigh: What made you decide to become an author?


Bruce: I always loved to write, always wanted to be an author. I finally decided there was no time like the present.


Robin Leigh: In your latest novel, who’s your favorite character male/female?


Tell us why.


Bruce: Cynthia Holt, the main character of Inside Room 913. She is very inquisitive and doesn’t really worry much about what she is told if that means ignoring someone’s well-being.


Robin Leigh: Do you set aside a specific amount of time to write, write/answer emails, and market/promote your book[s]?


Bruce: I don’t set a certain amount or a specific time because life is always trying to mess up my carefully laid plans! But I do make sure to write every day. As for all of the other stuff, marketing/promoting, I try to do that daily as well but it is not the top priority.


Robin Leigh: Do you read books outside the genre you write in? What are they?


Bruce: Sometimes. I'll read almost any genre except for Erotica and Horror or subjects like witchcraft.


Robin Leigh: What must you have around you when you write; food, drink, music, etc?


Bruce: Food to munch on, coffee and Dr. Pepper. I love music but can't listen while I write or I'd be writing the lyrics down. Wouldn't really be able to concentrate on writing either - listening to music for me is not a passive activity, it isn't just something going on in the background but it’s what I am doing. So, my writing environment needs to be quite.


Robin Leigh: When you were an aspiring author you needed advice. What advice would you give to those aspiring author in those shoes today?


Bruce: Write what makes you happy. Keep writing. Try to improve along the way, but keep writing.


Robin Leigh: Is there anything else you’d like to briefly tell us about your book, your writing, or yourself.


Bruce: I would like to thank Robin for the opportunity to do this interview and for her support of the Rave Reviews Book Club!


GENERAL_INFORMATION


Where can we find your books?


Ebooks: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Kobo, among others.


Paperbacks: Amazon, Barnes & Noble as well as my website.


Where can we find you on internet:


BLOG: http://bruceabordersbooks.weebly.com/blog.html    
FACEBOOK FAN PAGE: http://www.facebook.com/BruceABordersBooks  


GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5752197.Bruce_A_Borders  


TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/BruceABorders  


WEB PAGE: http://www.BruceABordersBooks.weebly.com  


Bruce, THANKS for giving me your time in allowing me to interview you.

HERE'S KATIE HAYOZ

Robin Leigh Morgan: Please introduce yourself.

Katie Hayoz: I’m originally from WI in the States, but now live in Geneva, Switzerland. I write and read young adult fiction and especially like books with a paranormal edge. My weakness is buttered popcorn; I seriously wonder if I could survive without it.


Robin Leigh: Tell us about your latest published novel.


KH: My debut novel is Untethered. It is a paranormal coming of age novel that follows 16-year-old Sylvie on a unique and slightly sinister journey of self-acceptance. Sylvie has an ability to leave her physical body and astral project. While it could be akin to a superpower, she sees it as a curse. That is, until the day she decides to play with its dark side. Sylvie then sets an evil plan in motion that she believes will change her life for the better. But she doesn’t count on it spiraling out of control.

Robin Leigh: What are the two latest books you’ve already published? Give us about a five sentence description for each?


KH: Wish I could say I have a backlog of books published, but I don’t. There’s Untethered, and a young adult short story that takes place in the 1950’s – Kissing Clarisse. I’m working on building up my list, though! 


Robin Leigh: What can you tell us about your current writing endeavor?


KH: I’m working on a series that involves creepy masks, the lost colonists of Roanoke and stories of the devil. Happy, light stuff, you know. Ahem.


Robin Leigh: Can you give us an excerpt from one of your favorite scenes in Untethered?


KH: I guess I’ll go with the beginning of the flashback in Chapter 19, when Sylvie and Cassie decided to become blood sisters:


The summer we were ten years old, Cassie and I held our fingers over my mother’s biggest, shiniest knife and looked into each other’s eyes.


“Ready?” Cassie asked. Her eyes shone. She dragged her front teeth across the plump cushion of her bottom lip.


The knife was her idea, not mine. I would have gone with a needle.


Robin Leigh: What was the inspiration for Untethered?


KH: Two things:


1. A fall down my basement stairs when I was about six, where I swear I had a split-second out-of-body experience. I didn’t know what it was at the time, but the weirdness stuck with me.


2. Reading the book Stranger With My Face, by Lois Duncan when I was 17. That novel was the first I read involving astral projection and I knew I wanted to write a story with that as the main thrust. I did it twenty years later.


Robin Leigh: How did you decide what the title of this book would be?


KH: I am the absolute worst at titles. Really. My brain goes on lockdown the second it’s time to come up with one. So this novel had the cringe-worthy title of Precious Possession until a friend’s husband suggested Untethered. Whew. Thank you, Robbie.


Robin Leigh: Would you consider yourself to be a plotter or a pantser?


KH: I’m a total pantser. But I really wish I was a plotter. I’ve tried to outline, unsuccessfully. My writing style is complete and utter chaos. I write. I tear the manuscript apart, picking away the fleshy parts and gnawing on the bone. And then I rewrite and move a little forward. And rip apart. And rewrite again. It’s a very long process, but when I outline I never, ever stick to the plan.


Robin Leigh: What made you decide to become an author?


KH: I am the youngest of six children. I don’t know how my parents did it. My mom worked non-stop around the house all day. But in the evenings, my mom would sit in her recliner with a bowl of popcorn and a book. No matter how much noise was around her, no matter what kind of chaos we’d create, she was lost to the world in her novel. She always looked so interested - enraptured even – that I needed to try out reading novels for myself. The reading right away took me into writing. Authors were (and still are) my rock stars. Apart from a flamenco dancer, there is nothing I would rather be.


Robin Leigh: In your latest novel, who’s your favorite character male/female? Tell us why.


KH: Nelson. He’s the boy who has a crush on the main character, Sylvie, though she’s too obsessed with her own crush on Kevin to notice. It’s funny Nelson is my fave because he wasn’t even in the early drafts of the novel. But for the first half of the novel Sylvie is a fairly unlikeable character and I needed to show that she wasn’t always that bad. It was kind of hard to show how decent Sylvie could be if no one liked her. So Nelson went from not being in, to just making appearances, to being one of the main characters.


Robin Leigh: Do you set aside a specific amount of time to write, write/answer emails, and market/promote your book[s]?


KH: I try to. It all depends on my kids’ schedules. But I do have a writing “date” every Monday with a good writing friend. We meet up at the university and sit down together with our laptops.


Robin Leigh: Do you read books outside the genre you write in? What are they?


KH: Most of the books I read are YA – I write it because I love to read it. However, I do venture out and read other genres as well. Book clubs like RRBC introduce a whole range of indie books to check out, and I think that’s great. Most recently, I’ve tried memoir and historical fiction.


Robin Leigh: What must you have around you when you write; food, drink, music, etc?


KH: Food and coffee. Lots and lots of it. Unfortunately, writing is not helping me get any thinner! 


Robin Leigh: When you were an aspiring author you needed advice. What advice would you give to those aspiring author in those shoes today?


KH: Publishing is a seriously tough business, and your skin has to be thicker than a castle wall in order to survive. My advice is, if you love writing, don’t give up. EVER. No matter what. Keep working, keep reading, keep learning and keep writing.


Robin Leigh: Is there anything else you’d like to briefly tell us about your book, your writing, or yourself.


KH: I’d just like to say thank you so much for having me on your blog, Robin!


GENERAL_INFORMATION


Where can we find your book?


On Amazon – both in kindle and paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Untethered-YA-paranormal-Katie-Hayoz-ebook/dp/B00C7A8YW2/


Where can we find you on internet:


BLOG: http://www.katiehayoz.com


FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/katiehayoz.author


FACEBOOK FAN PAGE: http://www.facebook.com/katiehayoz.author


GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7032949.Katie_Hayoz


TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/katiehayoz


WEB PAGE: http://www.katiehayoz.com


Katie THANKS for giving me your time in allowing me to interview you.

HERE's MY MOST RECENT INTERVIEW

I want to tell everyone about one of the best, if not THE BEST, interview I ever had. I wait reading your comments. I'll respond to them as soon as I can.

Reblogged from Cathy Brockman Romances:

• 

Hello everyone! Welcome back to our lair!!
November is the beginning of our Holiday season and the muses and I would like to start celebrating.  We are always looking for something to celebrate, so this makes it easier.  In honor of Thanksgiving, we would like to say we are thankful to all our guest this year and all our wonderful readers that have joined us to meet them!

Read more… 1,405 more words

TALKING with JOYCE STRAND

Hi everyone. I'd like you to join me today as I interview Joyce Strand who's volunteer this week to be on the proverbial HOT SEAT as I ask her questions about her , her writing, and of course, herself.

Robin Leigh Morgan: Please introduce yourself.  Joyce T. Strand: Please meet Joyce T. Strand, author of the Jillian Hillcrest mysteries On Message and Open Meeting, and avid reader of mysteries and suspense thrillers. I LOVE Broadway musicals, and attend as many as my budget can support. 
   I served as a PR professional in high tech and biotech companies for more than 25 years in the San Francisco area. I live in Southern California near San Diego with my two cats, my collection of cow statuary, and my muse, the roadrunner.

Robin Leigh: Tell us about your latest published novel.  Joyce: Open Meetings is a Jillian Hillcrest mystery. PR Executive Jillian Hillcrest is having lunch with a reporter colleague when a woman enters and begs him not to print anything she’s told him because they will kill her if he does. A few days later, the reporter tells Jillian that the woman was killed in his hometown in the California wine country. Police ruled her death as an accident in a car crash caused by driving while under the influence of alcohol—except the woman had vowed never to drink again. Jillian joins with the reporter to investigate the suspicious death, and they both uncover far more than anticipated.

Robin Leigh: What are the two latest books you’ve already published? Give us about a five sentence description for each? Joyce: In addition to Open Meetings, which I described in the previous response, I have also published On Message, the first Jillian Hillcrest mystery. Jillian, the head of corporate communications at Harmonia Therapeutics, is eagerly staying “on message” to inform investors, the media, and the community about her company.   
 

  A call from a homicide detective interrupts her routine when she learns of the murder of a friend. She encounters a determined San Francisco police inspector who is convinced she is the key to her friend’s murder, which he subsequently connects to another killing. With the help of her ex-husband–whose attentiveness to her suggests he wants to amend the “ex” status–and a retired middle-aged intrusive motherly neighbor, Jillian fits together disparate pieces of the puzzle to help solve the crimes.

Robin Leigh:  What can you tell us about your current writing endeavor?  Joyce: I am currently finishing the third Jillian Hillcrest mystery, Fair Disclosure, which is going through the editing process. Jillian and her ex-husband are enjoying a play at a local community theater when a scream interrupts the production upon discovery of a bludgeoned volunteer. When it turns out that the victim is someone Jillian interviewed for a job at her company, she becomes involved in another crime, drawn ever deeper by a second murder, an irate investor, and suspicious stock trading in her company. 

Robin Leigh:  Can you give us an excerpt from one of your favorite scenes in your latest novel?  Joyce: From Open Meetings  

Chapter 1
    “You absolutely cannot print anything I told you. They'll kill me.”
    Jillian Hillcrest looked up from the lunch menu. She saw a non-descript, thin, brown-hair-in-a-bun, middle-aged woman dressed in jeans and a white V-neck top frantically approaching her lunch companion, a local reporter. Jillian watched as the reporter quickly stood up, uttered a brief “Excuse me” to Jillian, and put his arm around the woman, leading her outside. He appeared to be trying unsuccessfully to calm her along the way. She continued to plead with him that he must never repeat what she had told him. 
  

  Jillian was interested in what the woman was saying to the reporter. Somewhere in his late 40s, the tall and slightly stooped Miles Smith was a stringer for a local newspaper and also had a blog focusing on city, county, and state government. He had a history of investigative journalism that impressed and fascinated Jillian. For example, he had uncovered a county assessor's officer who collected for property value assessments that weren't done, and then funneled the money into personal bank accounts. So she was intrigued about whatever it was the frightened woman did not want Miles to print.

Robin Leigh:  What was the inspiration for your latest novel?  Joyce: All of the Jillian Hillcrest mysteries are inspired by real California cases. Actual events of the murder of a former biotech executive in La Jolla, Calif. led to On Message. A series of crimes committed by a network of former and current police officers in the San Francisco bay area suggested the core plot for Open Meetings.

I based my protagonist, PR Executive Jillian Hillcrest, on my more than 25 years serving as the head of public relations at high tech and biotech companies in Silicon Valley.        

Robin Leigh:  How did you decide what the title of this book would be? If this book is part of a series, then the books in the series.  Joyce: Open Meetings refers to the California Brown Act that guarantees citizens’ rights to attend and participate in meetings of local legislative bodies. As part of her responsibilities as a PR executive, Jillian works with local communities as a representative of her company. In Open Meetings much “not-open” corruption draws her into trouble as part of her community relations duties.
    On Message is a phrase used by public relations practitioners to indicate communicating a particular point, or message, and continuing to reinforce it through repetition in various situations. Since Jillian is a public relations practitioner, it seemed like a good title to connote the book’s environment.

Robin Leigh: Would you consider yourself to be a plotter or a pantser?  Joyce: When I start writing a new mystery, I know the main characters, opening chapter, the crime—which is based on a real case—and the conclusion. Jillian and her friends guide me through the bridging chapters. Frequently, the antagonists gets an upper hand, and another murder occurs, or Jillian disappears and her ex-husband has to track her down. I let them guide me as I write as long as we are headed toward the intended conclusion.

Robin Leigh: What made you decide to become an author?  Joyce: As an out-of-work public relations professional, I was spending a frustrating time trying to find a job – for more than a year. My husband, who I’m sure was tired of my moping, suggested I write a mystery. I had always been a writer. Throughout my career, I wrote my doctoral dissertation (which I consider my first book), dozens of by-lined articles, hundreds of press releases, lots and lots of white papers, fact sheets, and many other documents. To become an author, I had to learn how to write fiction—and I’m still learning.

Robin Leigh: In your latest novel, who’s your favorite character male/female? Tell us why.  Joyce: In Open Meetings, I tend to favor Jillian’s friend and neighbor, Cynthia Anderson, a retired SFPD police officer. She is friendly most of the time, but we gain insight into her police persona as she helps Jillian and her reporter friend to track down the truth about a dead informant and her own husband’s death 20 years earlier. I like her because she is a strong—but understated—woman who chose a typically male career of a policeman, and someone who still engages in solving crimes when presented with them. She also loves to cook.

Robin Leigh: Do you set aside a specific amount of time to write, write/answer emails, and market/promote your book[s]?  Joyce:  Setting aside a specific amount of time sounds so organized. I’m really a “just do it” kind of person, although when I set goals I typically achieve them. When I’m in the middle of writing a mystery, it becomes my primary driver, and I usually devote more time to it than marketing. However, I also like to see results. So I gear my marketing efforts to achieve a certain number of likes, followers and hits.  That helps guide my input so that my efforts are effective. 

Robin Leigh: Do you read books outside the genre you write in? What are they?  Joyce: I read mostly mysteries and thrillers. However, my favorite book is Shogun a historical novel about medieval Japan. I do enjoy historical fiction especially if a mystery is involved. So I guess you could say that I read historical fiction, which is outside my typical mystery/thriller genre.

Robin Leigh: What must you have around you when you write; food, drink, music, etc?  Joyce: Above all, coffee in the morning. No music – I need silence. (Yes, I was one of those students who had to go to the library to study.) I definitely need my computer—not just for writing but to research. Having a cat on my lap can be helpful, but also distracting. I use food as a way to take a break and bribe myself to write just one more chapter.

Robin Leigh: When you were an aspiring author you needed advice. What advice would you give to those aspiring author in those shoes today?  Joyce:  First – if you want to be a writer, just write. Don’t worry about your first words being perfect. You’ve got the editing process to re-write as much as you want.                                                          

Second, if you self-publish, make sure your book or short story is error-free. You can control errors and typos. Do not allow your output to be posted as an e-book with formatting errors, typos or spelling and grammatical errors. Readers deserve perfection, and they expect it.

Third, help other authors. You can learn much from them.

Fourth, market, market, market. Be prepared to learn more ways to market, and market some more.

Robin Leigh: Is there anything else you’d like to briefly tell us about your book, your writing, or yourself.  Joyce: I’d like to ask readers to please show your appreciation for a book by posting reviews. Aside from the fact that it takes us authors years to bring a book to market and so we appreciate hearing from readers, our sales and marketing efforts rely on reviews.  We really need them to be successful.

Thank you so much, Robin Leigh, for the opportunity to do this interview.

GENERAL_INFORMATION

Where can we find your book?

Open Meetings

Amazon:  
Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cent6zr

Paperback: http://tinyurl.com/d7leoyh

Barnes and Noble:

Nook: http://bit.ly/YiHW6V

On Message

Amazon:
Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/crog4om
Paperback: http://tinyurl.com/d8wbtem

Barnes and Noble:
Nook: http://bit.ly/ZGTO3c

Where can we find you on:

BLOG: Strand’s Simply Tips  http://strandssimplytips.blogspot.com

FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/JillianHillcrest

GOODREADS:  http://bit.ly/Xx8kab

TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/joycetstrand

Are there any other internet sites you would like to tell us about where we can find you?
WEB PAGE:  http://joycestrand.com

Joyce: THANKS for your time in allowing me to interview you.  Robin: You're quite welcomed, it has been my pleasure. I believe my readers as well as yours will be pleased with this informative interview.
If you have any comments or questions for Mandy, I'm sure she'll be happy to hear from you or answer your questions.
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TALKING with NICKY WELLS

Hi everyone. I'd like you to join me today as I interview Nicky Wells who's volunteer this week to be on the proverbial HOT SEAT as I ask her questions about her , her writing, and of course, herself.

Robin Leigh Morgan: Please introduce yourself.  Nicky Wells: Hi! I’m Nicky Wells, your ultimate rock chick author. Signed to US Publisher, Sapphire Star Publishing, I write Romance That Rocks Your World, featuring the rock star and the girl next door. 

    My books offer glitzy, glamorous contemporary romance with a rock theme ~ imagine Bridget Jones ROCKS Notting Hill! If you’ve ever had a crush on any kind of celebrity ~ rock, pop, movie or other ~ you’ll connect with my heroes and my leading ladies!

    Like my first leading lady, Sophie, I love listening to rock music, dancing, and eating lobsters. When I’m not writing, I’m a wife, mother, and occasional teaching assistant. Rock on!

Robin Leigh: Tell us about your latest published novel.   Nicky: Sophie’s Run. My second book baby… *sighs wistfully* Bringing you glamour, glitz, intrigue, romance, betrayal, a fire, an exploding cake, a dashing male nurse and, of course, the gorgeous rock star! What a labor of love. Here’s the blurb:
    Her famous star remains her rock while life takes her on a little detour…
    Who says that the road towards true love is straight and even?  Sophie is certainly discovering that it is anything but.  
    So she has finally found the man of her dreams! Well… she knows who he is, even though she hasn’t actually quite met him yet.  But she misses her opportunity, and then her life goes crazy.  Rock star and ex-fiancé, Dan, keeps getting in the way of her new romance—even if he is just trying to be helpful.  A fire, an impromptu mini-trip with Dan, and a dreaded wedding later, Sophie is still struggling to meet the love of her life. Then, just as she is getting it together with her perfect man, best friend Rachel commits an act of unspeakable betrayal.
    Sophie has had enough. Confused and distraught, she decides that it is time for radical change.  Surprising herself and shocking her friends, she embarks on a secret journey and eventually gets her life back on track.
 

AMAZON.CO.UK | AMAZON.COM | BARNES & NOBLE

Robin Leigh: What are the two latest books you’ve already published? Give us about a five sentence description for each.   Nicky:  Well, I’ve given you the blurb for Sophie’s Run above. Here’s the blurb for Sophie’s Turn, my first published novel. 

So the rock star wants to marry her, but she’s already engaged…  
  One fine day in Paris, Sophie Penhalligan suddenly finds herself engaged to her teenage crush and love-of-her-life-from-a-distance, rock singer and star extraordinaire Dan Hunter.
But there is the small matter of her very recent, but very prior, engagement to Tim. Reliable, honest, trusting Tim, her boyfriend of two years stashed away safely in his mews house in South Kensington while Sophie is drinking rather too much champagne with Dan in Paris. This contemporary romantic fairy tale describes how Sophie gets into her impossible situation and how she turns it around.

Robin Leigh:  What can you tell us about your current writing endeavor?    Nicky:   Ah. Interesting! See, I’ve just finished the third book in my rock star romance trilogy. Sophie’s Encore will be published on 5 September! So that makes my current writing endeavor my fourth novel. 

    So, my current WiP. It is a completely new story; no more Sophie and Dan; instead, you’ll meet Emily, Nate and Mike. Don’t worry, this isn’t a love triangle. It’s way more sophisticated than that but I don’t want to give too much away until I’m confident that the plot develops how I want it to. Suffice it to say that there’ll be a rock star in this book; possibly two!
Robin Leigh:  Can you give us an excerpt from one of your favorite scenes in your latest novel?    Nicky:  Here’s one of my favorite excerpts from Sophie’s RUN:
    Abruptly, he handed me four dresses. The magical blue one wasn’t among them. “Try these on,” he commanded. Fingering one of the dresses lightly, I sighed heavily. They looked divine. And expensive.
    I stepped back, my arms folded across my chest. “I don’t think I can afford these.”
    Dan rolled his eyes as though to say, “Not that old chestnut again.” Grabbing a random dress off the rack, he disappeared in a cubicle and pulled the curtain shut behind him. This got the personal shopper’s attention. She jumped up from her chair and walked over to me swiftly, eyes swiveling between me and the cubicle. She cleared her throat, uncertain how to handle this.

    "Did he…did he go in there?” she confirmed unnecessarily.
    “It looks that way,” I offered, trying not to laugh at her disconcerted expression.
    “He’s not—is he trying the dress on?”
    “Err, yes.” I breathed. “Why, is that a problem?”
    Meanwhile, Dan had run into trouble in the changing room.
    “I need some shoes,” he shouted woefully. “Could you get me some shoes to match? Size ten please, for me, and size six for the lady as well. Please?”
    Confronted with a direct request, the personal shopper sprang into action. “Schuhe…” she murmured. “Size forty-four and size thirty-nine…. Hmm…” She bustled off.
    Finally erupting into laughter, I bounced into Dan’s cubicle. I was going to ask him what he was doing, but the words stuck in my mouth. There he was, in a bright orange, low-cut, floor-length dress with a big bow at the front. He had filled in the missing curves using his socks, and he hadn’t managed to do up the zip. He looked disturbingly attractive in ladies’ fashion.
    “Will you do me up?” Dan turned his back to me and tugged experimentally at the fastening. I swatted his hands away and closed the zip to halfway up Dan’s back.
    “It won’t go any further,” I informed him dryly. “By the way, did you know your dress is called GaGa?” My eyes had caught on the flashy black-on-orange label sown inside the back.
    “I didn’t, but it makes sense. It’s a wild dress.” He gave a little twirl. “What do you think?”
    “I think you’re nuts,” I snorted. “You be sure not to ruin this dress or else we’ll have to buy it.”
    “Never fear,” he grinned wickedly. “It would look much better on you, though.”
    I shook my head. “I don’t do orange. Not if you paid me.”
   A discreet cough disturbed our whispered conversation.
  “Excuse me, sir? Madam? I’ve got your shoes…”
  “Great,” Dan enthused and stepped out of the cabin. “Let’s have them.” He took a pair of orange flats out of the assistant’s hands and regarded them critically.
  “I was hoping for heels,” he announced with a straight face, and I almost peed in my pants with laughter.
  The assistant was now in professional mode. “I can’t offer you heels in this style in your size,” she announced, “but I do think we have some silver-colored shoes that would work with the dress. The heels are—” She looked attentively at Dan. “The heels are probably about six centimeter stilettos. Would you like to try them?”
  “Why, yes!” Dan enthused. “I most certainly would.”
  The personal shopper went off to fetch the silver stilettos, and Dan grinned his wicked boy smile at me.
  “Do you reckon she’ll let us take a picture?” he wondered out loud.
  “Hm…possibly, why?” I wondered back.
  “It’d be cool to stick up on our website, don’t you think?”
  I regarded him critically. He was most probably joking, but with Dan you never did know.
  "Yeah. But perhaps you ought to tuck those socks in more carefully,” I suggested, tugging playfully at a black-and-pink striped heel that was protruding from his chest area. “It does rather kill the look.”
   He peered down his front appraisingly. “D’you reckon?” he asked. “I think it has something, this unexpected flash of black sock.”
  “Well, it does rather go with your hairy chest,” I conceded. “If you’re serious about the dress, you might consider shaving.”
   “I thought you liked my chest hair?” Dan mock sulked.
   “Yes, but it doesn’t work with a dress. It’s just wrong.”
   “That’s sexist,” Dan declared, then changed the subject abruptly. “Here, try this.” He handed me the divine-looking blue silk creation. “It’s perfect for you.”
   I gave in.

Robin Leigh:  What was the inspiration for your latest novel?   Nicky:  Let me tell you about the inspiration for the Rock Star Romance Trilogy. You see, this is all my husband’s fault. He knows I have a ‘thing’ for rock stars. He’s made his peace with the notion. Yet sometimes, he can’t resist teasing me. So imagine the scene. Here’s Nicky, over eight years ago, heavily pregnant, watching something on the telly involving one of her favorite stars. Nicky swoons. “Cor, if he ever proposed, how’d a girl turn him down?” Nicky’s husband, deadpan: “Good job you’re married to me then.”

    We had a laugh about this but it got me thinking. What would I do if Jon Bon Jovi knocked on my door tomorrow? Well, nothing, is the answer. But in a different life… and there, the story was born.
Robin Leigh:  How did you decide what the title of this book would be? If this book is part of a series, then the books in the series.  Nicky:  Interesting question! Sophie’s Turn was born under the title “Full Circle” and lived as such for nearly six years. It was only when I was trying to figure out a cover design that I realized the title didn’t work. It lacked a certain… panache. My husband pushed me and pushed me, trying to distill the nugget of the story—which, in essence, is about choice. Well, the title “Sophie’s Choice” was very much taken so I opted for “Sophie’s Turn” and the title works on so many levels… it was just perfect.
    “Sophie’s Run” and “Sophie’s Encore” followed on naturally, both playing on the key ideas of the respective book. Although my personal favorite is, I have to say, “Sophie’s Encore”. You’ll have to read the book to find out why… Did I mention it’s out in September?
Robin Leigh: Would you consider yourself to be a plotter or a pantser?  Nicky: Plotter. Compulsive, obsessive plotter. Iterative plotter! From nugget to hand-drawn plan on one-page, to hand-drawn page on two-meter piece of paper, to Word outline, to detailed chapter-by-chapter crib sheet and research notes. I use colored post-its to track character development and sub plots. Yes, I am a plotter.
Robin Leigh: What made you decide to become an author?   Nicky:  Um. I didn’t really decide that, it kind of happened. Maybe I was born that way, because writing in some capacity or another has been the core professional theme in my life. Maybe I simply got lucky and had the opportunity, when the time was right, to get writing fiction… and keep writing. Either way, it’s a life-long ambition, a dream come true. And it gets me excited to ‘go to work’ every day!
Robin Leigh: In your latest novel, who’s your favorite character male/female? Tell us why.   Nicky:   That would have to be Dan, the rock star; referring back to the Rock Star Romance Trilogy. I want one of him. Kind, caring, highly talented, good-lucking, powerful, musical, smart, funny, not to mention sexy… with just a hint of naughty in there for a bit of excitement. *swoons*
Robin Leigh: Do you have a set aside a specific amount of time to write, write/answer emails, and market/promote your book[s]?  Nicky:  Oh yes. I can only pursue my authorly existence during the school day, between 9 am and 3 pm during term time. Holidays are a different matter and I won’t bore you with the detail.
   So, between 9am and noon, I write. I don’t do anything but. No phone, email, Internet. Just write. (Oh, and I drink copious amounts of tea!). After lunch, I catch up on emails and do all the promotion I can squeeze into the available time; yes, that means Facebook, Twitter, blog and so on.
Robin Leigh: Do you read books outside the genre you write in? What are they?   Nicky:  I read almost anything. I don’t particularly like science fiction or horror, but apart from that, I’m game. Firm favorites outside of the romance genre are crime and travel books.
Robin Leigh: What must you have around you when you write; food, drink, music, etc?  Nicky:  Tea. Milk, and two sugars please. Biscuits. And a cardigan; my office is an ice box, even in the summer!
Robin Leigh: When you were an aspiring author you needed advice, what advice would you give to those aspiring author in those shoes today?  Nicky:  LOL, Robin, in many ways I’m still an aspiring author. Yes, I have books published, but I still want to write more, grow my readership, improve my craft… I think it’ll take another twenty or so years before I consider myself ‘accomplished’! J
    But in answer to your question… here goes.
   1) Build an author platform as early as you can. Blog, Facebook, Twitter—you have to
           have a presence, a means to connect with readers.
   2) Build a brand. What is it you write? What makes you unique? Be clear about your
           brand—it tells your readers what to expect.
   3) Don’t oversell. In fact, don’t sell, as such. Build relationships. Make friends. Let your
           friends know about your books. Honestly! Think about it. When is the last time you
           bought a book because an author told you every five minutes in your Twitter stream,
          Buy My Book? Exactly. It turns you off. So don’t sell. Be you, live your books, your 
          excitement, and share that with your friends and potential readers.
  4) Write, and keep writing. The ONLY way forward is to keep writing, to show the world
         what you’re made of.
Robin Leigh: If there’s anything else you’d like to briefly tell us about your book, your writing, or yourself.   Nicky:   Did I mention I love rock music? Ha ha ha, I bet I did. Robin, I think I’ve said enough and I can’t thank you enough for your time. I hope your readers enjoy meeting me here today!

GENERAL_INFORMATION

Where can we find your book?

SOPHIE’S TURN AMAZON.CO.UK  | AMAZON.COM| BARNES & NOBLE

SOPHIE’S RUN AMAZON.CO.UK | AMAZON.COM | BARNES & NOBLE

Where can we find you on:

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Loveahappyending.com Lifestyle | Romantic Novelists’ Association | Sapphire Star Publishing | Amazon | Goodreads

Robin Leigh: THANKS for your time in allowing me to interview you.   Nicky:  THANK YOU, Robin, it’s been a pleasure!

If you have any comments or questions for Mandy, I'm sure she'll be happy to hear from you or answer your questions.
If you're not already following this blog. I'd like to invite you to consider following it.