Maer Wilson, Author Interview

Today on the blog, I'd like to welcome author, Maer Wilson!

Her new release, Portals Book 2 of the Thulukan Chronicles, is available now.

From the Cover: 

For supernatural detectives Thulu and La Fi, “normal” is a relative term. La Fi is a medium, Thulu is a finder, and their usual clients are already dead.

But when their friend Reo is shot, and a group of stranded angels show up at their house for help to find a missing child, things are striking too close to home.

And now the portals that let the magical races return to Earth have started opening on their own.

With trips off-world, a kidnapped psychic and changes to their own abilities, Thulu and La Fi are hit with a lot more than they usually handle. Of course, their magical friends are there to help, but even they may not be enough to save an increasingly unstable Earth.

Portals is the sequel to Relics and is Book 2 in The Thulukan Chronicles.

 From the Cover:
Most of Thulu and La Fi's clients are dead. Which is perfect since their detective agency caters to the supernatural. So, a job finding relics for an ancient daemon should be simple.

The daemon needs the relics to keep a dangerous portal closed. His enemy, Gabriel, wants the relics to open the portal and give his people access to a new feeding ground - Earth.

Stunning humanity with their existence, portals to other worlds begin to open and the creatures of magic return to Earth.

When Gabriel threatens their family, Thulu and La Fi's search becomes personal. The couple will need powerful allies in the race to find the relics before Gabriel does. But maybe that's what grateful dead, magical allies and daemonic clients are for.

When the creatures of myth and magic return to Earth, they're nothing like your mother's fairy tales.


Thanks for visiting with us today!!

Thank you for having me here, Dottie!

Why don't you start by telling my readers a little bit about yourself?

I write, play MMOs (Star Wars and Guild Wars 2). I also teach college when I’m doing my impression of being an adult. I have two dogs and try to hike when I can, but that’s not nearly as often as I’d like.

What drew you to the craft of writing? 

Creating things has been something I’ve done all my life. From acting professionally to all sorts of crafting to teaching, I’ve always got some creative outlet going. Writing has been part of the acting process for me in creating my characters’ backstories. But the official novel was just something I decided to try when the characters sprang to life for me.

Do you write for the story burning to be told or do you write for a character that won't leave you alone?

Although my characters are my inspiration, I’d have to say that I’m split with both characters and their stories. It might begin with the characters, but I don’t start writing until I have a vague idea where I’m going with them.

Are you a pantser or plotter?

Panster. Totally. I know where my story is going to end up (usually), but I have no idea how I’m going to get there. I let the characters surprise me and I enjoy the journey.

When do you like to write? Mornings, Afternoons, Middle of the Night, or somewhere in between (like when the kids sleep)?

Well, my only kids are the dogs and they are good about not interrupting when I’m at the computer.  I write whenever the mood strikes me. If I’m on a self-imposed deadline, then I usually write off and on all day.

Do you have some favorite music that inspires your writing? A movie? What inspires you?

I listen to a lot of film and gaming soundtracks when I write. Depending on what I’m working on determines which ones. My playlist is pretty long…as in days long. And it’s very eclectic, with lots of epic music, but also atmospheric pieces as well. However, it’s 99% instrumental. I find words to be distracting so I don’t listen to songs with words I can understand.

When you're not writing, do you have a favorite author or genre you enjoy?

I read what I write more often than not – fantasy and sc fi. But I also love mysteries, thrillers, historical. I have eclectic tastes. I adore George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire and the Harry Potter series.

What advice would you give to others in the journey to becoming published?

If it’s what you really want then stay with it. It can be a frustrating industry at times and if you truly love it, you will weather the storms. Don’t rush the process. Be through with your manuscript and make it the best you can before you put it out there.

Did you have a long line of submissions before you “got the call”? For those readers would wonder, how long did the submission process take for you?

I did the submission process twice. I had to stop the query process and rewrite Relics as a stand-alone, so the second half of the book got tossed. From the very beginning to contract, it was two years total. But from rewrite to contract, it was about six, seven months. Most of that was going the traditional route trying to get an agent. From the time I subbed directly to publishers it was about one month before I signed a contract.

Is there any other advice/recommendations you'd like to share?

Find a good solid group of experienced writers who are willing to share their expertise. Having that support system makes a big difference. I couldn’t have done what I have without my author friends. Their advice has been invaluable. And get good beta readers who will be honest.

If your book was going to be made into a movie, who would play your heroine? Hero? Bad guy?

Jennifer Lawrence for La Fi and Chris Hemsworth for Thulu. The bad guy actually has little screen time and a lot of CGI, so I’m going to go with our other bad boy, the daemon Tyler Jones. Shemar Moore would be perfect for him.

Where can we find you and your books?

You can find my work through my author page at Amazon Maer on Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Maer-Wilson/e/B00CDX29YW/

Share with us something about your current book.

That night Parker had popped in to wake us at two in the morning to tell us our best friend, Reo, had been shot. The young ghost was distraught and panicked.

“They're on the back porch! You have to go help.”

“Where is he?” I asked groggily, as I jumped out of bed.

Thulu was instantly awake beside me, although he didn’t seem any more alert than I did.

“Back porch.” Parker enunciated each word in slight exasperation. “Go, please!”

Thulu looked at me, and I told him what Parker had said. Thulu can read lips, but even with a night light the room was too dark. 

Thulu threw off the sheet and we both ran from the room. I was briefly glad we’d been wearing PJs.

Heart pounding, I took a few precious seconds to check on our three year old son, Carter. His night light showed him blissfully unaware of anything. Whatever happy dreams he was having made him smile slightly in his sleep. I sighed in relief that he wasn’t having another of his nightmares.

Downstairs, Thulu had turned on the kitchen and porch lights. In spite of the panic moments before, none of the three people on the porch seemed frantic when I joined them. 

Thulu looked relieved, Reo was on the floor, but seemed stoic, and Sloane knelt beside him, brow furrowed only slightly in concentration as he dealt with the wound. 

My heart rate slowed down and my own fear started to slowly dissipate. My heart gradually dropped from my throat back to its accustomed place in my chest. Still my hands were shaking, and I felt the slight chill from outside. The porch was screened in, and the late August day had been hot, but the night brought a cool breeze that made its way along my arms. 

The scent of flowers from the backyard didn’t quite mask the smell of the blood that pooled on the porch floor around Reo. Sloane, his partner and an elf, had already removed Reo’s jacket and shirt. A bullet lay on the floor, and I could see the shoulder wound was already healing and closing up. In a few moments, only the blood would remain as evidence that he’d been shot. 

Reo's face was white. The strain showed around his brown eyes and his handsome face had the sheen of sweat on it. His short brown hair that was usually spiked, lay damp and flat against his head, but he gave me a shaky smile.

“Bastard ruined my favorite jacket.”

What are your future plans for your series? Are you cooking up a new one?

I’m currently working on Book 3 and no idea if this will tie up the series. I suspect not, though. I am going to be working on a new series in 2014. A sci fi series.

Some fun stuff:

Coffee, Tea, or Something Harder? 

Something harder.

If you were a rock star, what instrument would you play? 

Keyboards

If you were stranded on a desert island... would you hope that Johnny Depp, Hugh Jackman, or Gerard Butler was stranded with you (if hubby/boyfriend decided to stay home while you cruised, for me, not likely, lol, but I'd have a hard time choosing...)? 

Hugh Jackman – stage and film actor, sings, dances, acts. No contest.

Cake or Ice Cream (or both, what flavor)? 

Ice cream! Caramel.

Favorite all-time read? Movie? Favorite banned book? (Mine's To Kill A Mockingbird)

I have to go with a series, George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire. Movie - I don’t have a favorite out of the series. There are too many choices. Banned - I actually had to look this up because I had no idea what was or wasn’t banned. I guess the most recent one would be The Hunger Games. I found it interesting that was even on the list.

Favorite paranormal creature? (vamp's, always vamps, lol) 

This would be so much easier if it were magical. Lol. Paranormal…hmmm…maybe shape-shifter. The obvious answer is vampire…but not if it’s the old kind. I much prefer the newer versions. So yeah, shape-shifter for me.

If you were going to pick a book/movie character to become...who would it be?

I’m actually quite happy being me, so this is always a tough question for me. If it was temporary, I’d choose Ramoth, the gold dragon from the Dragonriders of Pern series. You know that meme? “Always be yourself, unless you can be a dragon. Then always be a dragon.” Yeah, I could handle dragon for a bit.

Secret desires?

LOL, then they wouldn’t be secret. Okay, okay. Here’s an open secret. I’d like my books to do well.

Thanks so much, for letting me stop by, Dottie! It was a fun interview!

Thanks for stopping by today, Maer!! 

Where you can find Maer..:

Maer’s Website: http://maerwilson.com/

Maer on Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Maer-Wilson/e/B00CDX29YW/

Maer on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Maer-Wilson-Author/149085628472833

Maer on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaerWilson

Maer at Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7040319.Maer_Wilson

Maer at Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/maerw/boards/

Relics at Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17767013-relics

Relics Paperback at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Relics-Maer-Wilson/dp/1939173310/

Relics Kindle at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Relics-ebook/dp/B00CLB6HUI/

Portals - http://www.amazon.com/Portals-Book-Thulukan-Chronicles-Volume/dp/1494209039/

Portals Kindle at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Portals-Book-The-Thulukan-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00H5O9P5A/

“Ghost Memory” (A Thulukan Chronicles Story, #1) - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E5W1W2Y/

“Unwanted Ghost” (A Thulukan Chronicles Story, #2) - http://www.amazon.com/Unwanted-Ghost-Thulukan-Chronicles-Story-ebook/dp/B00FYACAZO/

Praise for Portals

"Juggling angels, psychics, and a myriad of other magical folk (and their problems), Thulu and La Fi return in Portals to find a kidnapping victim, and maybe just save the universe as a side job. Maer Wilson does a beautiful job of painting their world, weaving a mystery, and sprinkling on a touch of humor in her sophomore fantasy. Such a fun escape!" —LynDee Walker, bestselling author of the Headlines in High Heels Mysteries.

Has part of Maer's blog tour, she's having a giveaway! Check out the information below!

 

Giveaway - Rafflecopter

A chance to win one of these prizes:

1 - $10 Amazon Gift Card

1 - $5 Amazon Gift Card

3 – eBook Bundles of “Ghost Memory” and “Unwanted Ghost”

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Maer Wilson's Big Cover Reveal!

Maer Wilson's The Thulukan Chronicles

Release Day!! Black Magic Rose by Jordan K. Rose

Publisher: Jordan K. Rose
Pages: 260

From the Cover:

Is it possible to reduce the amount of workplace violence in an organization run by vampires and werewolves? Sofia Engle, the new Employee Relations Manager at Cader House Hospital is about to find out, and she may not like the answer, or the series of firsts she experiences: first human employee at Cader House, first day tardy, first kiss with a dead guy. Well, maybe kissing the dead guy wasn't the worst of it after all.

For nearly 600 years Dragomir Petrescu has fought for The Alliance. As one of the most skilled warriors the Alliance has ever seen he's killed a lot of people and won many difficult battles. But his newest human adversary is turning out to be a worthier opponent than any he's met. Just the scent of her disarms him, never mind her endless policies and silly ideals about civility.

Can he possibly keep her safe from Alliance enemies, hospital employees and himself? The term Employee Relations is about to have a whole new meaning.

Book Buy Link:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H5TELOA/ref=rdr_kindle_ext_tmb

Author Spotlight: Paul Douglas Lovell: Paulyanna International Rent Boy

Check out author Paul Douglas' Paulyanna International Rent Boy:

Author: Paul Douglas Lovell

Publisher: Self Published

Formats Available In: Digital

Released: September 2013

Blurb: Paulyanna: International Rent-boy is an honest and frank portrayal of a working-class male prostitute’s life.

Many factors contribute in delivering the main character onto the streets. Some very typical such as early abandonment, poverty, lack of education and sexual abuse. But Paul does not dwell too much on the past and refuses to allow these events to mar his ambition.

At eighteen a lost train ticket leaves him stranded in the city after a job interview. He uses his questionable wits to make a quick decision that steers him down a rather dodgy path.

Without added glamour or grit, Paul shares the raw accounts of his life as a rent-boy in the 90s, from London to Los Angeles. It may not have been pretty, and there was risk and danger as well as fun and thrills, but Paul had the audacity to succeed in his quest to obtain happiness, security and wealth.

This is not an erotic tale. It is an ordinary account of day-to-day life as viewed from a unique perspective. A peek into what really goes on behind the glassy-eyed smile of a male street worker. Read about his life in this optimistic and fascinating roadbook adventure.

13th November - Guest Post - Catrina Taylor - http://iwassociation.com/ 

14th November - Review - Read 2 Review - http://read2review.com/ 

15th November - Guest Post - Michelle Miller - http://castlemacabre.blogspot.co.uk/

Contest Entry:  a Rafflecopter giveaway :

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/YzIxMjZkNjdjMTM3NDJjY2VlZGY1YWE2OTBmOGMzOjQw/

Interview: Author MJ Schiller

Today on the Blog, we have author and friend, MJ Schiller!!

Welcome MJ!!!

MJ has a new release, Upon a Midnight Clear! I know it's going to be excellent!!

Recently, MJ and I shared a little bit about how and why she writes. She's a blast! (and she doesn't live too far away from me either, sweet!) Here's a little bit of what we talked about....


Why don't you start by telling my readers a little bit about yourself?
 

Well, I’m wildly beautiful, with long, luscious blond hair which tumbles down my back. In my mid-twenties, I’m a svelte 115 pounds, 5’8. I’m built like the Tahj Mahal, baby, with amazing eyes, as you know, Dottie. I turned down a career as a rock star, though people still call and beg me to perform sometimes. I took up writing and now have a dozen books on the bestsellers list.

Ahh. The beauty of the Internet! Actually I’m 5’2, the last time I saw 115 was at the grocery store when I went in for “that one thing I needed.” My hair is chopped pretty short right now because it was super damaged from using the straightener. I’m not a rock star, but I do karaoke (that’s kind of like, “I’m not a doctor, but I play one on TV.”) I haven’t made the bestseller’s list for more than an hour (that was a great hour, though), and when I’m not writing, I’m a lunch lady (this is the truly glamorous part of my life, the kids love me! Then again, maybe that’s because I am literally the hand that feeds them.)

What drew you to the craft of writing?

As you can see from the above, I love to tell stories. ;)

Do you write for the story burning to be told or do you write for a character that won't leave you alone?

For me the two are inextricably intertwined. I write the character’s story that won’t leave me alone. My first book, which is a sci-fi romance, was a recurring dream that wouldn’t go away, so I guess that one was plot driven. My second book, though, TRAPPED UNDER ICE, is about a rock star who is haunted by his past. Chad Evans grew up in an abusive home and isn’t able to move past that until he meets Beth. She redeems him, she saves him, and I simply had to write this character’s story.

Are you a pantser or plotter?

Pantser, pantser, pantser! I feel like the industry pushes you to be a plotter, though, to fit into its box. I think I need to be a little more of a plotter, but I don’t know if I can ever choreograph my emotional sections (called beats by some) into a pre-designated pattern. I think whenever you put something into a formula, you lose its creative element, and this is, after all, a creative endeavor.

When do you like to write? Mornings, Afternoons, Middle of the Night, or somewhere in between (like when the kids sleep)?

All the time, any time. With four kids I’ve had to squeeze my writing in the nooks and crannies of my day. So I take my laptop with me to doctor’s appointments and oil changes, as well as haunting Starbuck’s and fast food joints. My challenge then is to make sure the writing doesn’t become choppy and sound like it was written in five and ten minute segments.

Do you have some favorite music that inspires your writing? A movie? What inspires you?

Everything inspires me! I have a book (TAKEN BY STORM) that was loosely inspired by the movie “Troy,” kind of muddled together with pieces of “The Prince of Egypt” and “Prince of Persia.” TRAPPED UNDER ICE is largely inspired by Nickelback music and I have another one outlined that was birthed from listening to Breaking Benjamin.

When you're not writing, do you have a favorite author or genre you enjoy?

I love RT Wolfe, who just so happens to be my friend. I hunger for anything she writes! I also love Nora Roberts, but had to quit reading her because I was picking up some bad habits. Nora is a head-hopper, which works for her, but not so much for others.

What advice would you give to others in the journey to becoming published?

In the words of Winston Churchill, “Never, never, never give up!” Then again, you should want it bad enough that giving up is not really an option.

I’d say, don’t worry about the haters in the world. Write for you. Don’t change who you are to fit someone else’s expectations, because you were given an unique voice for a reason. And I’ll finish this question with another quote, this time from D.M. Delinger. “You are unrepeatable. There is a magic about you that is all your own…”

Did you have a long line of submissions before you “got the call”? For those readers would wonder, how long did the submission process take for you?

Yes! A very long line. And I got a couple of calls that ultimately resulted in no book being published. I had a contract rescinded (on Thanksgiving Day!) because the press went out of business. That was quite disappointing! I’d say it took me about a year from when I started submitting to having a book out there.

If your book was going to be made into a movie, who would play your heroine? Hero? Bad guy?

My current book, UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR, has a hunky paramedic that I believe would be captured well by William Levy. The heroine would be the red-headed Scarlett Johansson from “The Avengers.” Bad guys I’m not as good at, but I’m thinking a kind of Joe Pesciesque type.

What are your future plans for your series? Are you cooking up a new one?

I have three collections out right now, my ROCKING ROMANCE COLLECTION, ROMANTIC REALMS COLLECTION, and now my REAL ROMANCE COLLECTION. UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR is the first in that collection. I have another rock romance coming out in December, and the book out after that will be the second in the REAL ROMANCE COLLECTION, probably coming in February or March.

Some fun stuff:

Coffee, Tea, or Something Harder?

I guess my biggest weaknesses are Diet Pepsi, Smirnoff Cherry Lime Ice (like cherry 7-Up!) and Bailey’s and hot chocolate!

If you were a rock star, what instrument would you play?

Guitar! I really wanted to learn how to play it when I was in my teens, but my mom said it wasn’t “lady-like.”

If you were stranded on a desert island... would you hope that Johnny Depp, Hugh Jackman, or Gerard Butler was stranded with you (if hubby/boyfriend decided to stay home while you cruised, for me, not likely, lol, but I'd have a hard time choosing...)?

I think I’d go for Johnny Depp. He’d keep things interesting!

Cake or Ice Cream (or both, what flavor)?

Both. And can’t believe this is even a question—CHOCOLATE!

Favorite all-time read? Movie? Favorite banned book? (Mine's To Kill A Mockingbird)

A TALE OF TWO CITIES. Favorite banned book—CATCHER IN THE RYE. Movie—either “The Holy Grail” or “What About Bob?”

Favorite paranormal creature? (vamp's, always vamps, lol)

Hard to pick here. I find them all fascinating. Probably vampires. There’s just something sexy about them!

If you were going to pick a book/movie character to become...who would it be?

Beth from TRAPPED UNDER ICE, because then I’d score my rock star!

Secret desires?

To sing in a rock band…but maybe you guessed that.

Tell us about your latest release.

Dylan Fisher is an EMT and part-time Santa Claus at a mall in Denver, Colorado. He has logged plenty of time with children sitting on his lap, asking for anything from the latest electronic gadget to a week’s worth of homework passes. Still, he never heard anyone ask for what little Delaney Kelly asked for on one snowy night in December. A dad! When Dylan’s eyes search the crowd for Delaney’s mother and land on Keira Kelly, the EMT almost finds himself in need of a little CPR. She is stunning!

Keira Kelly is still grieving over the loss of her husband, but a reckless driver has her thinking about nothing but survival as she’s headed home from the mall. When Keira wakes in the hospital to find a hunky EMT at her bedside, she begins having a few thoughts that would put her on Santa’s Naughty List for sure! But when she finds out the EMT is only hanging around because the police believe someone is out to get her, she’s not sure what to think about his kindness. Is he helping her because he wants to, or because he feels he needs to? And what about the man who rammed her car, could he have had something to do with her husband’s death?

Here’s an excerpt:

Keira’s heart began to beat faster. She was no longer singing, but Delaney didn’t seem to even notice, carrying on without her. She heard her singing about Frosty “hippity-hop-hopping through the snow.”

Keira was pretty sure that was wrong, (didn’t Peter Rabbit “hippity-hop?”), but didn’t bother to correct Delaney. Her hands clutched the steering wheel as she hunted for a street ahead they could turn down. Spotting one, she waited until the last minute to signal and then made a right-hand turn. To her horror, tires screeched and beams from the black sedan’s headlights swung crazily as the car swerved around the corner, too, fish-tailing in the snow, but following all the same. A motor raced as it zoomed up on them, getting so close she lost sight of its headlights as they dipped below the SUV’s back bumper.

Her heart thudded in her chest. I can’t panic. Kevin told me if someone ever followed me I should head straight to a police station. But where’s a police station? She searched her mind, street names and places flashing before her eyes and then the impact of the sedan’s bumper jolted the SUV.

“Mommy!” Delaney screamed.

“It’s okay, sugar.” Even though she wanted to sound reassuring, her voice was tight. The car rammed them again.

“Mommy!”

Keira’s eyes flew back and forth from the rearview mirror to the road, trying to remain in control of the vehicle and anticipate her attacker’s next move at the same time. The street she chose was dark. A park hemmed either side of the two-lane road and a long row of drivers in the opposite lane waited their opportunity to turn onto First Avenue.

“Aaahh!” She involuntarily yelped as the sedan hit them with greater impact, making her SUV skid across the pavement. She quickly corrected and then tried to speed up to avoid another collision. She checked the side-view mirror. Headlights zoomed up again and she braced herself.

Too late, she saw the car in front of her making a leisurely left-hand turn onto the thoroughfare from a side street. She screamed and slammed on the brakes. The SUV began to skid sideways, her rear bumper making contact with one of the cars waiting in line next to them, sending her vehicle spinning in the opposite direction. Delaney’s cries rang in her ears. Images blurred through the windshield, a tree, a lamp post, and then, the car gunning for them. With a tremendous crash of metal it drove the SUV into a park bench and a concrete, cylinder-shaped garbage receptacle decorated with neutral-colored pebbles. The airbags failed to employ. Her head hit the steering wheel with the initial impact, and then the side window when the SUV crumpled against the pebbled trash can.

A car horn blared…her car horn, she realized. She struggled to lift her head. About ten feet in front of them, the black sedan swam in and out of her vision. Its front bumper trailed on the ground on one side, half of the hood accordioned upward, steam rolling out of it menacingly in the cold night air. She imagined the black vehicle to be some sort of fire-breathing dragon. Why does it want me dead? she asked herself groggily.

It came to life in front of her eyes, backing up over the curb a few feet, pieces clunking and scraping against the concrete. The wheels turned and with a screech of spinning tires it scrambled toward her. For a minute, she thought it sought to finish them off. Instead, the sedan roared off into the night with sparks flying from its underbelly.

Pardoned for the moment, she became aware of the pain driving through her brain. She clutched at her stomach. She tasted blood. Head heavy, she laid it down on the steering wheel, closing her eyes. She heard the horn again…shouting… somewhere, Christmas music.

Delaney! a voice screamed in her head. Keira wanted to turn to search the backseat, but it felt like her head was no longer connected to the rest of her body. She heard a strange noise, a loud, screeching, whirring noise…the dragon returning. She whimpered and went still.

Where can it be you and your fantabulous book be found?

Links for M.J. Schiller: www.mjschillerauthor.blogspot.com, MJ on FB, Twitter, Pinterest, and Goodreads.

Links for UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR: BN and Amazon.

Thank you so much for having me, Dottie! I enjoyed answering your questions.

Thanks again for being here today, MJ!! I enjoyed having you, sooo much fun, come back anytime!! And remember to check out MJ's new release!! If you'd like to find out more about Upon A Midnight Clear, check out the rest of MJ's tour dates :)

Monday, November 11th - Dottie Taylor's blog- http://myblog2point0.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, November 12th- Lola Karn's blog- http://lolakarns.wordpress.com/blog/

Wednesday, November 13th- Andrea Cooper's blog- http://andrearcooperauthorblog.wordpress.com/

Thursday, November 14th- T.F. Walsh's blog- http://www.tfwalsh.com/blog/

Friday, November 15th- Sharon Clare's blog- http://romancebeyond.com/

Guest Post: Charles O'Keefe, The Newfoundland Vampire Series

 Writing Tip: The Importance of an Outline (Two even!)

It is one of those simple things you learn in school early on (at least I did), the importance of an outline for a story. The funny part is that for all my time in high school and university (I have a Masters) I never bothered to do an outline. It was only the past few years when I started novels that I finally saw the benefit of it. When you have an idea for a novel/short story/blog post/whatever you just want to go with it, get it down as fast as possible. What I have discovered though is that once you get the first few chapters done you need to come up with a plan, you need to know where you’re going and as the writing continues, where you’ve been.

At first I was content just have an outline which contained four things, chapter titles, dates when the story happened, a brief description of the chapter and of course the chapter order. I found that by always at least having ideas for two or three chapters ahead I had an idea where the story was going and it always gave me something to think about in terms of scenes, characters and the storyline in general. What I’ve discovered though, with the help of my most excellent editor at Penumbra (Pat), is that it helps a great deal also to have a detailed outline. A detailed outline contains all of the above details but also describes briefly every event, small or big, that happens in each chapter. Why go to this level of detail you ask? Consistency, logical flow and evenness of the storyline and characters in your story is something that may be hard to keep straight otherwise. 

 

Two examples from my own experiences: when I wrote my first novel “The Newfoundland Vampire” (available now) I just had a basic outline. It gave me an idea of what happened in each chapter but with editing and changes I lost track of a couple of things. The sequence of days, while it may not sound important, if you’re going to have your characters follow the regular week that it has to be correct, otherwise readers will become frustrated and taken out the story. Another thing I missed was the time of day that the sun would set, for a vampire novel that’s important. Without a detailed outline I had the sun setting at the wrong time for September and it needed to be changed to October. When I wrote my second novel “Killer on the Road” (also available) I spent a few hours and did an outline for the entire novel. I had an idea now of where the story will go and a plan. As I completed each chapter I added to the more detailed outline discussed above. As a result when it came to edit book 2 I ended up doing just 7 drafts instead of 16 and almost all the details flowed smoothly.

While writing is a creative process, I have found it invaluable to be organized when it comes to writing anything beyond a short story. If you are going to create your own world it needs to make sense and outlines (at least one) make sense to me.

 

PAGE TURNER BOOK TOURS PRESENT

KILLER ON THE ROAD, 

THE NEWFOUNDLAND VAMPIRE BOOK 2, 

BY CHARLES O’KEEFE

Title: Killer On The Road

Series: The Newfoundland Vampire

Author: Charles O’Keefe

Genre: Horror / Paranormal / Romance / Vampire

Publisher: Penumbra Publishing

Formats Available In: All eBook formats and Print

Release Date: January, 2011

Blurb: Joseph O’Reily is still adjusting to the lifestyle and the dangers that come with being a new vampire. He and Cassandra recently fought to the death with Cassandra’s estranged husband John Snow, and now Joseph has experienced his first ménage a trios, as only a vampire can. As if all of this was not complicated enough, he and Cassandra have been tasked with hunting down and killing a rogue vampire, Donald Rathmore.

Another of John Snow’s creations, Donald is an evil misogynistic killer in his own right. Donald has no interest in avenging his creator’s death, but killing Cassandra is at the top of his list.

While Donald continues his murderous spree, Joseph and Cassandra always seem to be one step behind him. The chase is further complicated as they encounter other vampires and learn more about the mysterious nature of the Vampire Council and the coming war between good and evil.

Joseph is only now beginning to trust Cassandra, and this trust will be shaken when he discovers she has even more secrets than he imagined. Her idea of justice and morality is at complete odds with his own. Despite all his powers and growing skill, Joseph is tested physically as a vampire and emotionally by Cassandra. This time the answers and challenges may be too much for the young vampire to handle.