Interview: David Burnett

What have you had published?

My first book, The Reunion, was published last year. My second, The Handfasting, will be out this summer.

What genre(s) of book do you write?

Both books are romance novels.

What inspired you to write your first book?

I was listening to a sermon in church. The sermon dealt with the feeling that we have all had at one time or another that we would like “go back” and do something in our lives over.

     The Reunion is about a middle-aged attorney who attends his high school class reunion and decides he would like to “crawl through a worm hole” and return to the time when he was seventeen years old. He cannot do it, literally, of course, but his behaviour does change so that he behaves as he did when he was seventeen, and he enjoys doing the things he enjoyed when he was that age. Things do not work out well!

How long did it take you to write “The Handfasting”?

I wrote the first draft in two months, writing long-hand in a set of spiral notebooks. I would write at least five pages ─ about a thousand words ─ each day. Since I do not keyboard well, writing by hand is faster. In addition, I am not as tempted to revise the text as I go. The point was simply to tell the story.

     The second draft took another two months, as I transcribed the manuscript. After further revisions, I worked with an editor for about two months. I suppose I spent a total of seven to eight months working on The Handfasting.

What is the working title of your next book(s)?

To Love Again. The spouses of the main characters, Drew and Amy, died during the prior year. Neither is sure that they can fall in love again, but they meet, quite by accident.

     Masquerade is a sequel to The Reunion.

When and why did you begin writing?

I’ve always thought that I would enjoy writing.

Do you self publish your books or go through an agency?

I self-publish.

What part of writing books do you find the hardest?

Revisions are horrible! Especially the fifth time that you read the manuscript. And proof reading─ I despise it!

What do you do in your spare time?

I enjoy photography, particularly nature photography. I love to travel. My wife and I have travelled throughout Great Britain, in Europe, and in the United States. This summer, we will be in Asia.

Who is your favourite author?

Deborah Harkness and Susanna Kearsley write excellent time-travel romances. I like romance novels by Michael Baron and Nicholas Sparks.

What’s your favourite genre to read?

I enjoy time-travel. I read romance, the same type of material that I write. I can really get into a good mystery story. Depending on the time period, I enjoy historical fiction.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

I like stories with happy endings. I hate being led to care about a character, only to have something horrible occur at the end of the story.

     A book should be complete unto itself. Sequels are fine, series are fine, but each book should present a complete story. I should not have to read a second book (or third, fourth, or fifth book) in order to have a complete, satisfactory story. A sequel should contain an additional story about the same characters.

Interview: Kiki Terrell

What have you had published?

I’ve had short stories published before this - in a completely different genre.

What genre(s) of book do you write?

I write women’s fiction, both so-called ‘literary’ fiction as well as more popular efforts.

What inspired you to write your first book?

I wanted to write the type of book I wanted to read. Around the time I wrote this book, I was fascinated by some of the relationship dramas being experienced by some of my friends and the fact that it seemed like the women who were at the top of their game professionally, often had challenges in their romantic lives. I think that interest featured a lot in the book.

How long did it take you to write “Getting Some”?

Wow! It took me about four (4) years, between the day-job and taking care of my kids. I had a lot of interest from the first three agents I queried, one of whom was really helpful in suggesting edits. The last revision took about a year to complete.

What is the working title of your next book(s)?

My next book is called ‘Itch’. It’s part 2 in the Coco Devine series and features Coco, happily remarried, dealing with a wayward husband, a stepson and a baby of her own, and wondering if she’s experiencing the seven-year itch all married couples supposedly go through. Of course, Crash re-appears as well.

When and why did you begin writing?

I’ve been writing as long as I can remember, but I started sharing my short stories with other people when I was at university in the 90(s). Writing is a compulsion that has always been with me and is hard to explain, but I think that it’s one of the ways I process life, my experiences and those of people I know. That said, I also have a very active imagination, and the people living in my mind don’t leave me alone unless I write about them! Lol!

Do you self publish your books or go through an agency?

I decided to self-publish ‘Getting Some’ after a period of time corresponding with an agent who was very complimentary about the novel, helped with revisions and touted my best-selling potential – but never actually offered to represent me. I’d been reading a lot about self-publishing and the options open to writers today. I decided to self-publish the book and continue working on the series.

What part of writing books do you find the hardest?

Without a doubt – revisions/editing!!! The initial planning is great, the writing is fine, but going back over everything with a red pen and an editor’s eye is a really tough process!

What do you do in your spare time?

I love to read, bake and spend time with my kids. I also love movies. I hardly have any spare time, though.

Who is your favourite author?

I love Sophie Kinsella, Terry McMillan, Octavia Butler, Leanne Shapton, Toni Morrison, Zadie Smith, Joanna Harris, Fay Weldon and others too numerous to mention!

What’s your favourite genre to read?

I love contemporary fiction, so-called ‘women’s fiction’ and literary fiction – especially when all three genres appear in one novel!

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Read. Read. Read some more. Believe in what you’re writing and be ruthless with your editing.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Just a big thank-you to everyone who’s bought the book so far and contacted me to say they loved it. I’m happy to talk to my readers, other authors and book-lovers via email on tamarindtreepublishing@gmail.com, on Wattapad @KikiTerrell2013 and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/KikiTerrell .

Review: "Dream Lover" by Lynn Davis

“Dream Lover” is a short book of about twenty-six pages, perfect for a quick afternoons read. Unlike many erotic books that I have read in the past this book has a background story which adds substance to the book and allows you to connect to the characters. I think there are many ladies who, at one point in there lives, have felt just like Kayla.

I really want to give this book five stars but there are several errors which prevent me from being able to do this. Other than the occasional mistake this book is well written, flows well and contains everything that I think a good book should.

Lynn Davis has talent, there’s no doubt about that. I look forward to reading more of Lynn’s work in the future and I would highly recommend this book.

(4/5 Stars)

Interview: Lynn Davis

What have you had published?

I am publishing 4 new ebooks at this time. I am a first time publisher. The 4 new Ebooks include Dream Lover, In my Dreams, Enticed and Educating Mia.

What genre(s) of book do you write? 

Erotica Romance

What inspired you to write your first book?

I am a reader and one day I was reading 50 shades of grey and thought I have stories inside of me that I could write and other would enjoy.

How long did it take you to write “Dream Lover”?

It took me seven days to write Dream Lover.

What is the working title of your next book(s)?

Adventures in My Dreams

When and why did you begin writing?

I began writing in August of 2012. So I’m very new to the process. As stated before I was reading 50 shades of grey and thought I could do that. So I signed up with Literotica and a few weeks later posted my first story. I was shocked at how many read my story and that inspired me to keep going. I have written seven different stories with four of them having several chapters to them.

Do you self publish your books or go through an agency?

I self-publish and taking steps to start my own publishing house to help other authors.

What part of writing books do you find the hardest?

Well, I don’t use an outline. I find it hard to do the prep work of writing. Once I get started it flows from me and I never know just how it’s going to turn out until I get there. However, I love the research for my work.

What do you do in your spare time?

Read, play angry birds and chat on twitter and Facebook. I am a bit addicted to Coasterville, Chefville and Farmville 2 J

Who is your favourite author?

Mary Higgins Clark and Stephenie Meyers are tied at this point.

What’s your favourite genre to read?

Suspense Thrillers

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Practice your craft and believe in your authentic voice. Study the greats but stay true to who you are and what you have to say.

Interview: Genie Davis

What have you had published?  

I've had four books published previously to Executive Impulse including Dreamtown, which is literary fiction with a noir feel, Five O'Clock Shadow, and The Model Man, both of which are romantic suspense, and Rodeo Man which is a novella and part of an anthology of erotica, The Cowboy. Later this year, I'll have a mystery, Marathon, released in November in hard cover, and another fun romantic suspense title, Under Covers, in October.

What genre(s) of book do you write? 

Frankly, whatever people want to buy, :) I write romantic suspense, mysteries, thrillers, supernatural thrillers, and literary fiction.

What inspired you to write your first book?

Dreamtown was my first novel. It was based on a screenplay of mine which went to option but ultimately didn't get actually produced, and I was attached to the story.

How long did it take you to write “Executive Impulse”? 

About four months.

What is the working title of your next book(s)? 

Bliss

When and why did you begin writing? 

I wrote poetry as a teen, wrote corporate media and non-fiction articles, wrote for television, wrote for film...began writing novels because I had more control over the story; began writing creatively honestly as a legacy of sorts. I would like to be remembered as a fun read.

Do you self publish your books or go through an agency?

While I am presently unagented (I have had a number of reps over the years), I am not indie published. The three books, including the current title which is published by Crimson, I sold to publishers who did not require an agent as gate keeper. Will I indie publish? Yes, at some point, probably sooner rather than later.

What part of writing books do you find the hardest?

At this point in my life, finding the focus to rewrite projects when I am also working as  a ghostwriter on other people's projects or writing non-fiction.

What do you do in your spare time?

Go to movies! Lots and lots of movies! Go to the beach, take walks along the ocean with friends and family, pet my cats.

Who is your favourite author?

I have several: my dear friend Pauline Baird Jones, Kate Douglas, Sebastian Faulks, Kem Nunn, Nick Hornsby.

What’s your favourite genre to read?

Depends on my mood. Literary fiction, mysteries, thrillers, romances.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Just sit down and write, seriously. The rest will take care of itself. Or not. The point is you can only succeed on your own terms. Put the words on the screen.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Executive Impulse is a fun read, a kind of cross between Elmore Leonard and Janet Evanovich. Only sexy. Hope y'all will enjoy the read.

Review: "The Cliff" by Christie A. C. Gucker

I enjoyed this book by Christie A. C. Gucker and would definitely read more of this authors work. Each chapter ends with a sort of cliff hanger which rolls one chapter into the next and makes it impossible to put the book down.

There are many great ideas in this novel, maybe a few too many. I felt like the story was a bit pieced together and that one idea didn’t flow as smoothly into the next idea as I would have liked. Although the story itself was quite good I felt that the writing wasn’t as good as it could have been. It was an easy read but the writing didn’t flow too well and I felt that the story could’ve easily been written in half the amount of words because it was repetitive and a lot of the scenes were drawn out more than was necessary.

I found the characters easy to relate to and enjoyed reading about the lives of Lanie and Grant. Although most of the story line was rather predictable there were some unexpected turns which added a kick to the story. I believe that Christie A. C. Gucker has great potential as a writer and I would like to check out some of her other work.

(3.5 Stars)

Giveaway: "The Georgia Corbins" by Kara Leigh Miller

The Georgia Corbins Giveaway

Blurb

Ali Philips never thought anything could be more devastating than the day Levi and Tucker Corbin, her two best friends—her only friends—moved away. Three years passed without a single phone call, text message, or email from them and she’s resolved to the fact that she will probably never see them again. Until one morning when she comes face-to-face with Levi Corbin in physics class. 

Little does she know, the Corbins have returned to Haldeen with only one thing on their minds: winning Ali’s heart. Ali soon finds herself in the middle of a love triangle she doesn’t want any part of. As she tries to reclaim the friendships she’s lost and to adjust to the unfamiliar feelings she’s having, she struggles with making the one decision that will forever change their lives: Levi or Tucker Corbin? 

She’s always had a special bond with Tucker and feels most comfortable when she’s with him. But Levi brings her to life in a way she didn’t think was possible and makes her feel things she didn’t think she would ever feel. Torn between the two, Ali is certain of only one thing–by the time it’s over, she’ll lose one of her best friends.

About the Author

Born and raised in the small town of Mexico, New York, Kara was an only child who was forced to find ways to entertain herself. Playing make believe with her Barbie dolls and stuffed animals was her first real taste of storytelling before she became old enough to develop a love affair with the written word.

In early 2010, Kara picked up her very first erotic romance novel, and she was instantly hooked. She loves to write contemporary romance, erotica, and young adult romance. Currently she has several full-length novels in the works, a series of novellas, and a handful of short stories. Kara is an active member of the CNY Creative Writers Café and the CNY Romance Writers.

Today, Kara resides in New Haven, New York with her husband, five kids, and three cats. When she's not reading or writing, she's thinking about reading and writing. And when she's not doing that, she's spending time with her family and friends.

Website

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Giveaway – Open Internationally

Add The Georgia Corbins to your Goodreads shelf for your chance to win an eCopy. The winner will be announced on Kara’s blog 06/10/13. Good luck!

Giveaway link

Interview: Steve DiGioia

What have you had published?

Just this, my first book: Earn More Tips On Your Very Next Shift...Even If You’re a Bad Waiter

What genre(s) of book do you write?

This should fall into the “Self Help” or “Business/Careers” categories I believe. 

What inspired you to write your first book?

This book came very unexpected.  As part of my usual duties as a Director of Banquets for 4-season resort property , I am also responsible for developing all resort-wide standards and practices for the Banquet Departments of our other 5 resorts. Back in December 2012, I was asked to train a group of newly hired waiters for one of our sister properties. 

This training was to be different since it was geared toward the restaurant a la cart servers & bartenders as opposed to my usual banquet servers.  I wanted them to understand what it takes to provide a lasting memory of service for all the guests that enter the building.  They needed to see what makes a guest really enjoy their stay with us, what makes them want to come back again and again.  Good food and atmosphere can only go so far if the service is terrible and your needs are not taken care of.

The training was so well received that I expanded on these tactics and started to retrain my own staff of over 50 employees, based on them.  I then put these tips into a monthly newsletter that I issued in January of this year.  I had so much information that I wrote the next 5 issues as well, right away.  Then at least 3-4 days each week we discussed these service tips prior to the start of their shifts.

I was so happy to hear that on the very first day of this “pre-shift training”, one of my waiters got one of the largest tips he ever received.  And this was just because he properly introduced himself to his guests at the start of the evening & let them know that it was his job to take care of them.  He got such a kick out of his guests as they continually called him by name and joked with him all night.  It made for an enjoyable evening for all.

Well that was the spark that started my idea for this book.  The only difference is that I decided to take the route of “WIIFM”, “what’s in it for me”. 

You see, if the waiters see that they can benefit from my training tips by making bigger tips, then they are more likely to follow them and actually put them to work.  Ultimately the guest will benefit as well.  They must realize that only by making your guests feel special, feel as if THEIR enjoyment is YOUR primary concern, will they make the big tips.   All else is not important.

How long did it take you to write “Earn More Tips On Your Very Next Shift...Even If You're a Bad Waiter”?

Three (3) weeks, starting the second week of January 2013.

What is the working title of your next book(s)?

Well, I wrote a blog for three (3) years called “So You Want To Be a Banquet Manager”.  It was about telling the world what it was really like to be a banquet manager.  Many times when a guest goes to a wedding or a private event at a hotel or conference center, they may think that the person responsible for the event has a glamorous job...but that’s far from the truth.

I’m thinking of taking the almost 400 posts from that blog and turning it into a book.

When and why did you begin writing?

I started five (5) years ago with So You Want To Be a Banquet Manager.

Do you self publish your books or go through an agency?

I didn’t have any start-up capital so I decided to self publish my book, and will do so in the future.  I spent the next 3 weeks on the computer learning all I can about self publishing and print of demand companies. 

What part of writing books do you find the hardest?

I’m not sure since this book came so easy for me. I guess when you write about something you know about and love the ideas come easy.

What do you do in your spare time?

I work long hours so my spare time is limited.  I try to spend all my time with my wife and 2 teenage daughters.  They are my world and this is where I want to be.

Who is your favourite author?

I read many books from Dean Koontz years ago and loved them.  Recently I’ve read a few by Malcolm Gladwell and the customer service books by Jeffrey Gitomer are the best.

What’s your favourite genre to read?

Business & customer service books where I can get ideas and anything that I can learn from.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

I would say just do it, why not?  I did, so can you.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I’d like to leave with my favourite quote:

The excellence reflex is a natural reaction to fix something that isn’t right, or to improve something that could be better.  The excellence reflex is rooted in instinct and upbringing, and then constantly honed through awareness, caring, and practice.

The overarching concern to do the right thing well is something we can’t train for.  Either it’s there or it isn’t.

From: Setting the Table, written by award winning NY restaurateur Danny Meyer.

WOW, it doesn’t get any better than that!  I try living based on that quote.

Thank you Katie for this opportunity, I wish you and your readers all the best.

Interview: Steve Brandsdorfer

What have you had published?

Last year, I released my first novel The Never Fable. Drive-Thru Shoes is my second work.

What genre(s) of book do you write?

My first novel I think can be considered a psychological thriller, but with a touch of magical realism and alternative history. Drive-Thru Shoes is a romance at its core. The two works couldn’t be more different, and that variety is something I strive for.

What inspired you to write your first book?

The process actually began with the intention of a fantasy trilogy, an ambitious retelling of world history that just struck me one day. Overtime as the characters became more real to me, they grew more realistic and the focus narrowed. I was 22 when I began that and I don’t think I realized at the time that I was beginning a 6 year project that would teach me how to truly write and edit. If I had, who knows.

How long did it take you to write “Drive-Thru Shoes”?

Not long. I wrote the first draft in a few weeks. It was the editing and the website design and programming that dragged on for months afterward.

What is the working title of your next book(s)?

Not sure. A Depravity of Revenants, maybe.

When and why did you begin writing?

My sister was working in publishing at the time, and I actually think the first suggestion was hers. We were living together in Brooklyn and when she told me that I should write a novel I knew it was true. I think I began a few years of research that same week.

Do you self publish your books or go through an agency?

I have self-published both of my works. Not sure if I will do that again.

What part of writing books do you find the hardest?

Finding the time when motivation and readiness are up for each other.

What do you do in your spare time?

My wife and I travel fairly often these days. When we are home, I like to watch movies, cook and read mostly.

Who is your favourite author?

I’ve never had one. Right now, I’m reading Bukowski short stories.

What’s your favourite genre to read?

The genre that sucks me in most is Fantasy. For me nothing can make an hour or entire night blink by faster than good Fantasy.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

I’m not sure if I’m qualified for that, but if I am, I’d say that honesty is the key.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

That’s the toughest question of the bunch.