Tuesday, December 28, 2021

Author Interview - Linda Marie Pankow

 

Linda Marie Pankow is a busy mother of 4 children. She was born and raised in Wisconsin, where she still resides with her 4 kids, her husband, and their four dogs. Linda Marie Pankow writes her stories using the cover model for inspiration (with their permission, of course!). She has not been writing for long, but she can no longer imagine her life without having a book on the go. Her latest book, NewYear’s Dream is out on the 1st of January, 2022.

Genre: Erotic Romance

Q&A

Q1: What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?

My book coming out on January first is called NewYear’s Dream. It was inspired by my friend who is a single mom, trying to make it on her own with four kids. I’ve always dreamed of her finding true love and not suffering as much as she does on her own.

Q2: When you’re writing an emotional or difficult scene, how do you set the mood?

Honestly, I’m not sure, I just let the scenes play in my head and write what I see. I usually wind up crying when I write sad scenes though.

Q3: What authors, or books have influenced you?

I’ve loved reading since I was 4 years old and I have dreamed of being a writer since then. But I never had the lady balls to do it until I was over 30... I was inspired by writers like Dr. Suess and Stephen King. Then I was inspired by all the authors before me on the Chapters app.

Q4: When did you first realise you wanted to be a writer?

I first realized I wanted to be a writer when I was 4. I still have the evidence for this from when I read and filled in Dr Suess’s My Book About Me. I’ve always loved writing, well, typing at least. My handwriting stinks!

Q5: What advice would you give to a writer working on their first book?

Just dive in, let the words flow from you, don’t force them, the best writing comes when you are inspired, not when you are forced.

Q6: What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

I was surprised to learn that I can create whole worlds, with new people, people who only exist in the confines of my mind. I learned that my worlds can be fun, and inspire people to better their own lives, or value themselves more.

Q7: What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?

I mean the earliest was as a 4-year-old, reading Dr. Suess’s Sleep Book, just seeing the word ‘yawn’ a bazillion times makes one want to yawn. Don’t you feel like yawning already?

Q8: What was the first book that made you cry?

That’s a tough one to answer, a lot of books have made me cry. It’s not that I’m overly emotional or anything, but I am an empath and can feel the emotions left in the words of the book. I feel each emotion as the characters in the books do.

Q9: What are you working on now?

The next book I’ll be working on is called Training My Puppies, and it’s all about a dominatrix woman who has found not just one but two men to call her own, and they love to submit to her.

Q10: What are you currently reading?

Currently I’m reading a few books, each of them for different reasons. One is an arc/beta read called Time Wader, another is a precursor (Going Down) to an arc I’m going to read, called No Limits, and the third one is a book I saw and wanted right away, The Psycho.


Linda Marie Pankow's newest book, New Year's Eve, is available on Amazon on 01.01.2022

She pulls into the parking lot knowing full well what she was getting for me. “We are having a spa weekend, then by the time the party rolls around, you will be relaxed and ready to meet my friends from camp last year.”

I can’t stop my laugh as we get out of the car. “Your friends from camp, what are we teenagers?”

She gives me a look that drips sin as she smirks. “Yeah, cause that’s the kinda camp I went to last summer, Elizabeth. It was just a bunch of teenagers....” Her eyebrow raises. “I mean we acted like kids who just hit puberty, but I assure you that everyone was well over eighteen at the camp I went to.”

To find out more about Linda Marie Pankow, check out the links to her socials below:

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Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Author Interview - Emé Savage

 

Emé Savage is the author of The Genesis Chronicles, an adult epic fantasy series. She lives in Dearborn, MI with her author husband, A.M. Holmes, and their three feline overlords, Rosie, Tilly, and Mylo. She has been writing since she was seven, finding great joy in building new worlds, creating maps, and going on adventures. She is also a storm chaser, quilter, financial whiz, sewist, and entrepreneur. Yes, she has been struck by lightning. No, it wasn’t while storm chasing, and sadly no super powers were acquired.

Genre: Adult epic fantasy

Q&A:

Q1: What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
It is called Mirror of Ettek, and it was inspired by my experiences as a disabled person. I knew I wanted to write something where the main characters were disabled and how they are the heroes of this particular story.

Q2: What is a significant way your book has changed since the first draft? 

The biggest change was switching out a side character for a different one. The original character wasn’t working, and the new one adds some additional layers in a very satisfying way.

Q3: What authors, or books have influenced you?
My biggest influence is Madeleine L’Engle. She wrote the Time Quintet novel series, which is a blend of fantasy, SciFi, and Biblical retellings. I’m drawn to multi-layered stories that make you think. So, I decided that is what I would write too.

Q4: What is your schedule like when you’re writing a book?

I use NaNoWriMo and Camp NaNo to draft my books. I didn’t do that with my first two novels, but I did with Mirror of Ettek in 2019. I went from drafting a book over several years to drafting this one in eight months. I did it again in 2020 with Beneath the Copper Sky, which is my debut SciFi novel, and I’m doing it again for 2021 with the final instalment of the fantasy series called Gateway of the Makar.

Daily I’m either drafting, editing, or marketing my work. I do schedule breaks between stages. When I became more disciplined with my work, I definitely became more productive and better at what I do.

Q5: What advice would you give to a writer working on their first book?
Develop a consistent habit. If you can only write once a week, then write once a week. If you can do once a month, then do once a month. Five minutes a day? Do that. Developing a consistent writing habit is how things will get done.

Q6: What is the best writing advice you have ever heard?

Don’t edit while you are drafting. That made a big difference in my work. For my first two novels I edited while drafting and it took fifteen years to draft the first one, and ten years to draft the second one. For Mirror of Ettek, which I wrote without editing, it only took 8 months.

Q7: How do you celebrate when you finish your book? 

First, I let everyone know what I did. Then I have cake. Then I rest, watch Star Trek, play video games, and sew something.

Q8: What do you think is the best way to improve writing skills?

Practice. Get feedback. Practice more. Read a lot. Practice some more. I’m still learning how to be a better writer. No one creates in a vacuum. 

Q9: What are you working on now?

Right now, I’m drafting the fourth and final instalment of my fantasy series called Gateway of the Makar. All the promises I’ve made in the first three novels will come to fruition. No pressure. 

Q10: What are you currently reading?

Wolf in Winter by Barbara Lennox.

Keep reading for an excerpt from Mirror of Ettek, available 27th December 2021

His hands shook as he carefully wrapped the Mirror in a piece of leather and placed it in his vest next to his heart. Stiffly, he pushed himself up with a very loud grunt. The pain of his joints snapping and crackling distracted him from the persistent ringing that came whenever such memories intruded on his present. He closed his eyes for a moment, waiting for his head to stop swimming as he concentrated on the roughness of the bark beneath his fingertips. Finally, the geo righted itself.

He sighed. The Mirror always exacted a price. Always.

To find out more about Emé Savage, check out her social media links below or sign up to her newsletter here:

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Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Author Interview - Céline Perron

 

Céline Perron was born in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario and now lives in a small community outside of Ottawa, Ontario. In 2018 she graduated post-secondary with a Master of Arts Degree in Criminology. In addition to writing, she works full-time as a Fraud Investigator.


When not writing or working, Céline enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching Crime shows, and working through her ever-growing TBR pile. Céline is currently working on her next book, The Shallow Graves due for release on the 13th of December 2021

Genre: Crime Thriller / Mysteries

Q&A:

 


Q1: What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?

My latest book is entitled The Caged Curse and it is the first in a series of four paranormal mystery books. The book itself was inspired by my love of paranormal books similar to Meg Cabot and Kelly Armstrong. Being able to bring similar stories to life has been a goal of mine for many years now, but it was only until recently I was inspired to write about Nora Palmer and her story. I distinctly remember plotting out how the book would go and suddenly I wondered, What if she could see ghosts? Just like that, The Caged Curse series was born. (Book two is set for release December 13th 2021).

 

Q2: What advice would you give to help others create plotlines?

I am partial to plotting out my books in a three-act format, but that wasn’t always the case. I distinctly remember hearing other authors recommend this same method and all I could think was how much it reminded me of High School English and that I was not at all interested in applying this to my own books. However, on one particular day when I was struggling with the outline for The Caged Curse, I decided to give it a shot and before I knew it, everything was mapped out. The Hook all the way to the Climactic Moment that would leave readers guessing, it was all laid out in a nice and organized way. So ever since, I have applied this method to my writing. I find that it’s also helped as a nice visual so that I can clearly see when there are areas in my book that need more work before I dive into the drafting stage.

 

Q3: What authors, or books have influenced you?

When I think of the books that inspired me to write I have to give notice to the Canadian authors whose work did just that. Authors like Don Aker and his book The First Stone is the book that inspired my debut novel The Next Right Thing. Other authors, like the late Norah McClintock’s brilliant mystery books have inspired me for years and her books remain on my shelves to this day.

 


Q4: What is your schedule like when you’re writing a book?

My schedule can differ quite a bit in comparison to my fellow author friends, mostly because unlike some of them, I also have a full-time job that takes up most of my time Monday-Fridays. On the days when I am drafting a book, I take up any spare time I can find, whether it be while on break from work, after work, and then late into the. My family, friends, and co-workers would always find it astounding that I could just go from working on one computer to another without issue. But I would just tell them that when you spend time working on something you’re passionate about, it’s really easy to do. Writing a book can take a couple of months, but this also depends on work schedules, family time, and the occasional writer’s block which could set me off course for a time. Nevertheless, I’ve found that this system – if you want to call it that – really works for me and I love that I can just disappear into another story at a moment’s notice and the process begins all over again.

 

Q5: Does writing energize or exhaust you? Or both?

Definitely both! I could go from having the longest day at work and then be able to just walk over to my writing desk and pick on my current WIP with no issue. On the days when I’m struggling to write a scene or a plot hole is giving me a hard time, it can at times feel exhausting and as if I’ll never figure it out. But such is the ways of an author, it’s the ups and downs of the work that keeps it interesting.

 

Q6: What is the best writing advice you have ever heard?

The best writing advice I’ve ever heard came from Dan Brown – “Write as if no one is watching, because no one is watching.” This quote alone was so impactful for me, especially in the beginning. I used to, and sometimes still do, get nervous about what people will think about a certain scene I’m writing or even the book as a whole. I felt those concerns when I wrote The Next Right Thing and then again when I wrote The Caged Curse. The truth is, you never know what anyone is going to think about your writing until you actually sit down, write the book, and put it out into the world for people to read. It was because of this quote from Dan Brown that I learned to get out of my own way and just do what I love: write! The rest will come with time.

 


Q7: How do you come up with character names for your stories?

Character names are as unique as the personalities of my characters themselves. I prefer to think up my characters personalities, their likes and dislikes, whether or not they have a moral code, or have something in their life they’re passionate about, before I give them a name. This way, I can choose a name that is more fitting to who the character is as a person – fictional or otherwise. I’ll be the first to admit that I struggle the most when it comes to character names, and especially title ideas. So much falls on just one name or the title of a book, that I’ve had times where I changed the title or character name several times throughout the plotting process. But once I have the right name/title, I’m able to dive right into the story and begin drafting.

 

Q8: What do you think is the best way to improve writing skills?

Practice, Read, and Practice! I remember in the early stages of my career as an author, someone had mentioned that authors should set aside time to read just as much as they set aside time to write. Back then I thought, well I love to read so that’s not hard at all. As it would turn out, writing can take up a pretty big chunk of your free time, especially when you already have a full-time job. I used to read several books a month, I was now going months without picking up a book. It was only when I heard this comment that I began to rethink my strategy. Reading has always given me that time to just relax and let my imagination wander. Wouldn’t you know, the best cure for writer’s block is to read more books? That or literally doing anything but writing and just going outside for a walk and getting some fresh air, listening to music, watching some TV. Any of these options have significantly helped me when I’ve been stuck. But above all, you improve your writing by working at it. No one becomes the best overnight.

 

Q9: What are you working on now?

I am currently working on plotting out and drafting book three in The Caged Curse series – title to be released soon – as well as another WIP which is a standalone Crime Thriller I am absolutely excited about sharing with the world.

I am also hard at work at translating my book The Next Right Thing in French – coming soon!

Finally, I am working with the official narrator for The Caged Curse audiobook, which will soon be released as well.

 

Q10: What are you currently reading?

I am currently reading the latest release from my dear friend and writing colleague Tiffany Andrea, We’re All A Little Tired.

The Shallow Graves, available on 13-12-21

THE DARK WANTS NORA...
​BUT IS SHE STRONG ENOUGH TO RESIST?


Life for Nora Palmer has become an altogether different place since coming into her newfound abilities of seeing and speaking with the dead. Navigating the world of the supernatural through her mentor Lenora, and working to maintain a respectful reputation as a junior in High School, Nora is adamant that she has things well handled.


That is, until one night when Nora is drawn into the depths of the forest behind her family home and comes across the still form a recently attacked town local.


Now a suspect in a gruesome murder, Nora struggles to balance her life and to convince others that she hasn’t gone off the deep end. But such things are easier said than done, and the dark is sensing blood in the water. Coupled with a mysterious new arrival in town, Nora battles far more than wayward spirits and sees the life she’s carefully made for herself begin to fall apart at the seems.
Will she succeed in coming out on the other side? Or will the dark finally win?

To find out more about Céline Perron, check out her social media links below: