Author Interview with Patricia Garber

1. Why do you write?

"I write to silence the voices inside my head," applies here. Now imagine my relief when I discovered- gasp- I wasn't alone.  Can this be true?  I'd never heard this quoted until it was used in a movie entitled "Anonymous". (Hollywood's attempt to shed light on the creative works--namely who actually created the body of work--of William Shakespeare.) As the final credits rolled, I almost jumped up out of my seat, ready to celebrate the simple truth that justifies the countless times I've driven from point A to point B with no memory of how I got there. (I was far too busy listening to the character dialog inside my own head.)  What a relief! And here I've been waiting for the men in white coats, convinced my turn will come when they've reached the letter G on the writer-round up list!  At last, now I can pull over--let's hope safely--and dig around for a scrap piece of paper, just so I can jot down my thoughts, in peace. I can actually celebrate my craziness because, like you, I'm in good company.

2. How many books have you written?

I've written two published novels (Eternal Flame and Dream Angel). The Angelic Saga, as it's called now, turned out to be an unexpected series.  Truthfully, I wasn't aware there was more than one book inside of me, and I never could have guessed, readers would want more. I feel truly blessed.

  

3. What inspired you to write your (latest) book?

"Write what you know," we've all heard this one. It's talked about in every writing seminar in every convention across the country. It's the best advice I've ever taken. I truly believe, if we can find one pulsating truth inside the fiction we're writing, and express it honesty, even if it brings you great pain, readers will come.  They're begging for us to take them on a journey, one that feels real but not too real (Real life bites there for we read).  They want the end to have a point. It doesn't have to be a life changing point, just something that sticks with them for at least a day. Something that assures them, they haven't wasted their time.  Not so hard, right?  No!  It's downright dreadful, but it's what we're called to do, so we might as well get serious about it.  

4. What is your favorite genre to read?

I enjoy any story with a good twist. Especially all genres of suspense like romance suspense or even a good crime novel where the sexual tension between the villain and the hero act as a side story.  Is that twisted? Ok, maybe just a tad, but conflict makes for a great story!

5. Is your writing style at all influenced by those of your favorite authors?

I would love to think so, but I don't have it in me to even presume this could be true.

6. Which is your favorite book that you’ve written?

A tough question, as I've enjoyed each book for a different reason and no one more than the other.  I believe every writer has one great book inside of them, waiting to come out.  Have I written mine yet? I don't think so.

   

7. What is your opinion of the art of writing?

I think it's one of God's greatest gifts. To be able to create a world that gives people a break from the reality of life is a super power as great as, say, invisibility or flight.  I suppose we can't all be Superman, and somebody has to be The Riddler, but in the end most just want to be remembered for their effort. Good thing books last a forever.

8. What advice would you give someone who is just beginning their own novel?

Practice patience. Read up on the craft and the business. There is an over abundant amount of information out there and so much of the advice is simple.  We just have to believe we can do it!

9. Do you have any funny and / or interesting stories about how you’ve come up with plots or characters?

When I created Heather, the best friend to my heroine, much of her personality traits resembled my own girlfriends.  See, I took the name of one, used the personality traits of another, the oddities of yet another, and had me a pretty darn good character. The best part, for me, is listening while they attempt to dissect which parts belong to whom. Its countless hours of entertainment!  Of course nobody wants to own up to the obnoxious or more dysfunctional side of the character, and everybody can see her charm within themselves. It's a complete riot! And explains why most writers don't have any friends. (Not true)

10. Coke or Pepsi?

Coke with a splash of Jack.

You can find Patricia's books here, like "Eternal Flame" here, visit her website, and follow her on Twitter. 

"Twin-Bred" by Karen Wyle

[Context: The human colony on Tofarn and the indigenous Tofa have great difficulty
communicating with and basically comprehending each other. Scientist Mara Cadell
is running a project where host mothers carry twins, one human and one Tofa, in the
hope that the bond between twins can bridge the gap between species. Alan Kimball, a
member of the governing human Council, is hostile to the Tofa and has inserted agents
into the project.]


Tilda looked at her twins, cuddled close together in the crib. Mat-set had all four
arms wrapped around Suzie. They seemed to cuddle any chance they got. Maybe they
were glad to be free of separate amniotic sacs.
She looked down at Mat-set and remembered the rumors of Tofa with five arms
instead of four. She had even seen pictures, but who knew whether they were authentic.
Certainly none of the Tofa Twin-Bred babies had been born with extra limbs.
Tilda glanced over at the big dormitory clock and then back down at the babies. She
gasped and staggered a step back. Mat-set was still holding Suzie with four arms. So how
was he scratching his head with another one?
Tilda looked around wildly for a chair, found one blessedly nearby, and sank down
on it. She pinched herself. Nothing changed. Well, who said you couldn’t pinch yourself
in a dream and keep on dreaming?
She got up and walked, a bit unsteadily, to the intercom and buzzed for a nurse. Then
she went back to the crib. Of course. Four arms, only four, and what was she going to do
now?
She decided to be brave and sensible. If she had really seen it, the staff had to know.
And if she hadn’t, and she didn’t wake up, then she was ill, and she should get the help
she needed.


The chief nurse tucked Tilda in and watched her drift off to sleep, sedative patch in
place. Then she went back to her station and called up the monitor footage on Tilda’s
twins.
Well, well.


* CONFIDENTIAL *
CLEARANCE CLASS 3 AND ABOVE


LEVI Status Report, 12-15-71
Executive Summary


Anatomical Developments


Observation of the Tofa infants has shed some light on the longstanding question of
whether the number of Tofa upper appendages is variable among the Tofa population.


The thickest of the four armlike appendages is apparently capable of dividing when an
additional upper appendage is desired. . . .


Councilman Kimball bookmarked the spot in his agent's report and opened his mail
program. He owed an apology to the young man who had claimed his poor showing
against a Tofa undesirable was due to the sudden appearance of an extra appendage.
Apparently the man had been neither dishonest nor drunk.
After discharging that obligation, Kimball made a note to seek further details as
to the divided arms' placement, reach, and muscular potential. His people needed
adequate information to prepare them for future confrontations. After all, forewarned —
he laughed out loud at the thought — was forearmed.


You can visit Karen's website, like her book on Facebook, follow her on Twitter, find her book on Amazon (for both Kindle and paperback), and find out more on her blog.

Author Interview with Karen Wyle

1. Why do you write?

From early childhood, I considered myself a writer. I had a poem (not a very good one) published in the local paper when I was in 3rd grade. When I was ten years old, it was my ambition to be the youngest published author ever, and I was somewhat crestfallen to learn that a nine-year-old girl had claimed that honor. For the next ten years, I tried to find the right form for my writing: novels? poetry? short stories? Nothing seemed right, and I gave up for a long time.
When I started having children in my mid-thirties, I also started writing picture book manuscripts. My older daughter is a gifted artist; when she was eight or so, she would do drawings and I would write silly poems to accompany them. Ten years later, she took part in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo or NaNo) for the first time. Her second year in NaNo, I joined her – and produced the rough draft of my first novel, Twin-Bred.

I love to imagine characters and situations, and to find out from my characters what they will do with the situations. I love the art and craft of working with words. And I am glad to keep faith, finally, with that ten-year-old girl I used to be.

2. How many books have you written?

I’ve published one novel, Twin-Bred. I am editing rough drafts of two others, one (general fiction) tentatively titled Reflections, and a still-unnamed sequel to Twin-Bred. I’ve self-published one science fiction story, “The Baby.” Finally, I have a small pile of picture book manuscripts, four of which an agent is shopping around.

3. What inspired you to write your (latest) book?

I’ll answer about Twin-Bred, as it’s my latest published book and the one whose origin I remember most clearly.

When I decided – at the end of October 2010 -- to take part in NaNoWriMo that November, I needed a story to tell. As I sat down to come up with some book ideas, science fiction kept happening. At about the same time, I read an article about amazing interactions between twins in utero, captured on video. The researchers had found synchronized movement, touching, even kissing. Either the article or a comment on the article mentioned the traumatic, often devastating, impact on those whose twin -- identical or fraternal -- had died in utero or shortly after birth.
Straining this information through the science fiction filter in my mind, I imagined a scientist seeking to overcome the comprehension gap between two intelligent species by way of the bond between twins. It would be natural for the scientist who conceived this idea to be a twin. It would add emotional depth to the story if she were a twin survivor. And for added strangeness and interest, what if she had somehow kept her lost twin alive as a companion, who could be a character in the story . . . ?
I have always been fascinated by communication issues and the struggle to understand what is different. I also find myself returning constantly to the themes of family relationships, unintended consequences, and unfinished business. All these threads wove together to form the story of Twin-Bred.

4. What is your favorite genre to read?

It’d be either science fiction or historical fiction. (I am not good at picking a single favorite in any category.)

5. Is your writing style at all influenced by those of your favorite authors?

Probably. I would imagine that my “voice” is the product of many years of reading both literary and genre fiction. It is no doubt also influenced, though I hope not fatally tainted, by my years as an appellate attorney, writing persuasive prose.

6. Which is your favorite book that you’ve written?

Here we go with the “favorite” question again! J . . . . This is hard to answer when two of my three novels are still in the editing stage. I believe that the sequel to Twin-Bred may turn out to be the best crafted of the three.

7. What is your opinion of the art of writing?

I view writing as an art and a craft. The artistic side is more mysterious, taking place at a largely subconscious level. Stephen King’s observation, that an author’s role is akin to that of a paleontologist uncovering a fossil, comes to mind. But a paleontologist has to figure out which bone goes where – and a writer has to arrange the elements of a story. . . .

8. What advice would you give someone who is just beginning their own novel?

• Keep pen and paper, or some other means of taking notes, with you at all times. Don't assume you'll remember your great idea five minutes from now -- write it down immediately! Get or jury-rig a lighted note pad for your bedside table. (A clip-on book light attached to a cheap note pad will work.) If you get ideas in the shower, mutter them over and over to yourself until you reach dry land.

• Become compulsive about multiple backups of your idea notes, works in progress, rough drafts, subsequent drafts, etc. Use "the cloud" (Web-based storage), e.g., Dropbox or Evernote. (I use Dropbox. Once it's running on your computer, it will back up a document stored in your Dropbox folder every time you save. But check periodically to make sure it's still running!) Email attachments to yourself (and then check whether your email host is periodically deleting them). Put files on a separate hard drive and on flash drives.

• This one is YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary). That said, I and many other authors find it essential to keep the inner editor gagged and stuffed in a closet when we're working on a rough draft. Don't be afraid to leave blanks or bracketed notes as you go. (My second-to-latest rough draft had one that read "[insert appropriate South American country here].") National Novel Writing Month, in which participants aim to write a novel of at least 50,000 words within the month of November, is a great way to accomplish this. There'll be time enough later for lots and lots of rewriting.

• A related point: find the process that works for you. Some authors outline in detail. Others find too specific an outline stifling, and work from less organized notes of possible scenes, or with no notes at all. Some have a fixed time of day for writing, and allow nothing to disrupt it; others flit back and forth all day between writing and other tasks. Some use computers; some still write longhand, and a few swear by typewriters.

• Think seriously about self-publishing. There's a wealth of info and support out there for indie authors. Conversely, this is a risky time to sign a contract with an agent or publisher. Because of the uncertain and fast-changing conditions in the publishing industry, many agents and publishers are inserting "rights grabs" and other clauses in their contracts that could cripple an author's career. Some of the worst language may be hidden in unexpected places like "warranty" clauses. If you do sign with an agent or publisher, try to find a way to pay a good IP attorney to go through the contract with a microscope. Don't let the allure of "having an agent" or "being published" lead you to grab at an offer of representation or publication without vetting it thoroughly.

9. Do you have any funny and / or interesting stories about how you’ve come up with plots or characters?

See above re where the plot of Twin-Bred came from.

I’ve taken traits from my daughters and given them to characters in Twin-Bred. Mara is an artist and draws cartoons, like my older daughter. Melly has a strong personality from young childhood onward, and is interested in theater – like my younger daughter.

10. Coke or Pepsi?

Rarely either. But I respect Coke’s unique taste and many possible uses (e.g. removing rust).

You can visit Karen's website, like her book on Facebook, follow her on Twitter, find her book on Amazon (for both Kindle and paperback), and find out more on her blog.

"It Takes Two" by Faiyaz Kiddi

The gentle beams of the morning sun sidled through a slit between the thin lilac curtains. A small streak gleamed on to my brow and tenderly called upon my eyes to open. As the morning blur cleared from my eyes, I saw the sparkling eyes of Cai. She was lying beside me, wearing nothing but a winsome smile that could melt any heart. Sharing the scattered bed sheet, our eyes painted a picture of this beautiful moment. 
“You’re here with me.” I whispered in my coarse dawning voice. Cai smiled and shook her head. 
“I can’t explain how hard it was... for me to spend all this time without you,”  I whispered, as I cherished this tranquil moment. 
“We’ll never be apart again.” I spoke these words with all of my faith. “Sometimes it feels like this is a dream.” She reached her comforting hand to the side of my face and whispered into my ear. “It is a dream.” The reflection of her restful face slowly faded away from my eyes and I was lying in my bed once again, all alone.



You can buy Faiyaz's book on Amazon as well as an autographed copy. 

Author Interview with Faiyaz Kiddi

1. Why do you write?
I never liked writing when I was younger. It may sound awkward coming from an author, but that's the truth. I guess it was mostly because I viewed writing as a rigid task in school. Writing essays and reports was all I knew. It wasn't until my teenage years that I got the confidence to write, for myself. Not for school but for me. I used to write to get away from it all. Create a whole new world in which anything, could be. And I still write with that same passion to this day.


2. How many books have you written?
"It Takes Two" is my debut novel. Although I have wrote several stories that are scattered on the hard-drive of my computer, "It Takes Two" is my first ever published novel.


3. What inspired you to write your (latest) book?
Experience. Like many novelists out there, both established and newcomers, it is experience which inspires me to write. For me it was the experiences in my own life that lead to the creation of "It Takes Two".


4. What is your favourite genre to read?
I am a huge bibliophile. I read almost anything and everything that I can get my hands on. But I have always had a soft spot for modern fiction novels.


5. Is your writing style at all influenced by those of your favourite authors?
There are many authors, whose works have contributed to my writing experience. But in my novel I mention one particular author, who is the biggest influence in my writing style. And that's Haruki Murakami. I remember reading his work for the first time and being blown away by his style. At the time I couldn't believe that a novel could be so creatively descriptive. I kept reading one novel after another.


6. Which is your favourite book that you’ve written?
Even though I have only written the one novel so far, I think "It Takes Two" will always be my baby.


7. What is your opinion of the art of writing?
Writing is unlike any other art. You do not need to have any specialist equipment or instruments to do it. You can do it anywhere and everywhere. It is through words that you can bring a smile on someones face, or a tear to their eye.


8. What advice would you give someone who is just beginning their own novel?
When you write, write for yourself. Nobody else but you. Forget the word count, syntax or grammar. Write with conviction and belief. If you just type the words, then it's just a sentence. But if you feel the emotions that carry those words, that's what makes it a statement. Write because of the love of writing. If you're writing for a fast buck, then forget it.


9. Do you have any funny and / or interesting stories about how you’ve come up with plots or characters?
I have a funny story about how I almost came up with a character. The novel was still in it's research and development stage. I was building the personality of the protagonist of the story (Adam). I took out a sketchpad and started to put a face together. I found it easier to relate to a character if I gave them a face. I was sitting by myself in the university canteen at the time. And after half hour or so, I had drawn a very rough sketch of a face. And out of nowhere, one of the canteen staff walked by and pointed at the sketch while shouting in my ear "If you add a moustache to that face, it would look exactly like my uncle Lionel!" I jumped out of my seat. I didn't know what to say to the man. I just handed him the sketch as a memento and left.


10. Coke or Pepsi?
Bottled coke. Not the cans. I don't know why, but it always tastes better when it comes from a bottle. Or maybe it's just me.


You can buy Faiyaz's book on Amazon as well as an autographed copy. The trailer is available for viewing here.

Intermission

Due to my college assignments and readings, I had to hold off on some of my "extracurriculars".

Fortunately, college is over again, so I'm posting interviews and excerpts again!

Feel free to submit your own!
(See the "Submit" page.)

Author Interview with Randall Morris

1. Why do you write?

I'm a history major so I write a lot of non-fiction papers loaded with primary and secondary sources. I've read since I was a little kid and I've always enjoyed it. It was a dream of mine to write a book and it finally came true Jan. 27 when I published my first ebook, Jehovah and Hades.

2. How many books have you written?

Just one so far. Jehovah and Hades will most likely be the middle book in a trilogy. I'm working on the prequel, which I've tentatively entitled "The Journals of Jacob and Hyde." It traces the father of Jehovah and Hades and goes much more into how they got the Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde curse.

3. What inspired you to write your (latest) book?

I'm a big fan of J.A. Konrath's blog. I stumbled across it by accident one day when doing some research for a history paper I was writing. The idea of getting my books out on the Kindle and other e-readers and tablets sounded really good to me. I've had the idea in my head for a while and all readers and writers know how annoying an idea can be if you don't go somewhere with it. 

4. What is your favorite genre to read?

I love horrors, thrillers, and mysteries. I basically like reading things that make me have some type of reaction. I really enjoy history books too because I enjoy being able to contribute whenever anyone discusses historical topics. It's interesting to know little random bits about history and they come in useful every once in a while. 

5. Is your writing style at all influenced by those of your favorite authors?

I drew heavily from how I've seen Dan Brown and Stephen King write. I don't think I mimic their styles perfectly but there are elements of a lot of their books in my own. 

6. Which is your favorite book that you’ve written?

I only have one. It must be my favorite. I guess, by default, it's also my least favorite. 

7. What is your opinion of the art of writing?

I work for Geek Squad and I deal a lot with computers, home theater systems, and electronics. I have a very nice home theater system myself. Regardless of how often I watch a movie, there's more that's communicated to me through a book. Writers can adapt with technology and continue to bring great literature to the world. The art of writing will stick around as long as it continues to flow with the way our technology does, which it has so far. It's one of the most ancient forms of communication and there's a reason it's stuck around this long. 

8. What advice would you give someone who is just beginning their own novel?

I actually have a blog post about writing a book. Basically, I'd say just keep yourself focused on your goals. Don't get side tracked reading every blog and every little piece of information you can find on how to publish. I could have released my own book sooner if I hadn't been obsessed with figuring all the little intricacies of publishing out way in advance. 

9. Do you have any funny and / or interesting stories about how you’ve come up with plots or characters?

Well a lot of my characters in Jehovah and Hades are based of my work in history and the Geek Squad. Their destination, the Philippines, was where I served as a missionary for two years. I speak Tagalog fluently (or at least well enough to get by). The drunken rantings of Carlos in Jollibees are actually based on drunk guys I met in the Philippines. I met a lot of them. One time a Filipino missionary showed me that if you start to lean to one side and continue to lean gradually more and more in that direction, the drunk will try to compensate for what he thinks is being off balance and will usually fall over. After all my experience with drunks, I thought it would be fun to briefly make Carlos one. There are also a lot of really intelligent leaders I met over there who form the basis of the character Teddy. All the foods and little cultural things I wrote into the book are pretty much true as well. 

10. Coke or Pepsi?

Coke all the way. In all honesty, I'll drink either but I have a Coke clock in my kitchen that I think is awesome. I like saving up Coke points to buy stuff to put around my house. I don't think Pepsi has a similar rewards program, so their loss.

You can follow Randall on his blog, become a fan on Facebook, and buy his book here.