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.

"Paraglide" by Peter Kelley

Genevieve Winters was gone. 
Vanished! 
Jim and Erica raced through the gift shop and around the ticket windows, searching up and down the long curving lines of sightseers, ignoring irritated cries about budging and queue jumping. Jim clutched his sister’s hand and ran to the visitor’s plaza. He examined every face, chasing after turned heads and hunched shoulders, whipping a hoodie off a startled skater boy. 
Nothing. 
Their mother was gone.


You can download "Paraglide" on Amazon or Smashwords.

Author Interview with Peter Kelley

1. Why do you write?

The writing books and experts tell you to write for yourself. Do it because the words have to come out, the story must be told. But to be perfectly honest I love the reactions. Hearing that someone stayed up all night to finish your book is priceless. Learning that three generations of the same family all enjoyed your work is pretty cool. Of course, that only comes at the end of the process and is balanced out by piles of rejection letters and less than stellar reviews, but the buzz you get when someone tells you they loved your book makes it all worthwhile.

2. How many books have you written?

One published (Paraglide), one that I’m working on, and one in the bottom of a box in the basement that no one will ever see.

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

My daughter’s admonition to “write faster.”

4. What is your favorite genre to read?

I try to read everything: fiction, non-fiction, magazines, newspapers(yes they still exist), cereal boxes, everything I can get my hands on. As a kid I loved science fiction and read it to the exclusion of everything else.  Now I seek out mysteries, travel writing and the literary classics I missed the first time around. And being a writer of young-adult provides a wonderful excuse to sample some of the fabulous work being done in that genre.

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

Of course. My style is influenced by all my experiences: the people I talk to, the TV shows I watch and most definitely the books I read.  I’ve heard of authors who refuse to read anything while they’re in the middle of a project for fear of corrupting their own style, but I can’t imagine locking myself in a closet for the sake of purity. I learn so much from writers at the top of their craft. They provide fantastic lessons I wouldn’t want to miss.

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

Usually whatever I’m working on at the moment. If it’s not, you know there is a problem.

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

It’s a learning process that comes from doing, from sitting down and writing. Every time I finish something I gain new insights, new aha moments. That’s happened enough times now that I realize I’ll never be complete as a writer. There’s always something new to be learned.

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

Sit your butt down and start writing. And then keep writing. Everyday if you can. Set goals for yourself—xx number of words per week, xx number of hours per day. The hardest thing about writing a novel is that you won’t finish in a day or a week, or probably even a month. It takes persistence and patience.

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

I love to incorporate places I’ve lived or traveled to. While fiction is by definition make believe, visualizing my characters walking down a real street helps me ground them and see them as more complete, genuine individuals. A strong location can also influence or guide your plot in unexpected ways. In Paraglide, the main characters travel from London to Tuscany to Switzerland. I’ve been lucky enough to visit to all of those destinations and they molded the events in the story and ultimately provided the title of the book.

10. Coke or Pepsi?

Iced Tea!

You can follow Peter on his blog, become a fan of his work on Facebook, and buy "Paraglide" here.

"Revelations: The Eyes of God" by Taj Thompson

Here I was. Surrounded by whiteness once again. No longer in deaths’ arms. 

I didn’t feel his warmth against my tarnished skin. I didn’t feel his heart beat against my head. Beating as if it had no care in the world. 

Here I was surrounded by this white.  And a lonely cool breeze hitting my face. A cool breeze competing with the warmth this soft fabric covering my body provided. A rich white blanket.  Thick enough for one to drown in. Soft enough to erase all your worries. 

The cool breeze ran across my skin like the summer wind my imagination had shown me. The laughter of curious children was all I needed now to assure this was a dream. 

So I remained in my position. Reluctant to discover the truth. My eyes focused on the white ceiling above me. My ears focused on the sounds of birds chirping. Had this been a dream, I didn’t want it to end so soon. 

Death heard my prayers. And it had a face. It had a name. Trowa. He was the man I owed. The one who faced the Gods with no mercy.

This breeze felt too familiar. Still, no memory fought for my attention. It was a gust that remained foreign to my mind, but familiar to my skin. So I turn over. Attempting to locate its source. 

From a white metal fan it came. Pointed toward my head. A fan resting on a black night stand while I rested in these white sheets. Sheets that touched my skin the way I dreamt of being touched. Tender. Softer than a mothers touch. 

My body remained lost in fantasy, yet my eyes were still cautious. They focused on a black metal gun next to the fan. Perched as if it was watching me. Pointing in my direction with its silent threats. It wasn’t the same gun from my dreams. The very gun that I felt so many times pressed against my head. The man and his gun were no more.

I felt the gun call out to me. No memory to call my own, but I could almost feel the cold metal in my hand. So I had to grab it. I had to be safe.  

Metal chimes suddenly clattered in the distance. A duet with the birds. The sounds of a summer day. The very days I dreamed of as I begged death to come for me. And death came. And he brought my dreams to life. 

Together the chimes and the chirps formed a mystical tune. I could envision the angels as they danced in glory. No longer was I in pain. My agony had risen to the heavens in revenge. I hoped to never see it again. 

Here I was. Laying in a bed soft enough to make me think I was floating on water.  Gun clenched in my grip. Eyes beaming at the white ceiling. Death had brought me to heaven.

If you enjoyed this excerpt, download the whole book here.