I think the names say it all. These are the results of filling out the form on . . .
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“Okay, where do I start? This quick read was not what I expected. When asked to review the book, I had expected some kind of romance novel. One featuring religious themes for sure, but a romance novel nonetheless. But what I got instead was a fascinating young adult novel all about hypocrisy, being human, and the cost of living a lie.”-Amazon Review
“There is something that draws someone to such a taboo matter, but beyond the tense/angst amongst the characters there is a seriousness that can not be ignored. That choices we make, individually or together, can change the lives of many. To write about such matters with religion mixed into the storyline takes guts and walks a fine line that I enjoyed reading about.”-Book Flirts
“I write to entertain, but also to make people think, which is why I turned to self-publishing: certain stigmas and taboos are not always marketable or easy to categorize. So I write the kind of stories I like to read, and wish I could read more of (I guess I just have weird taste?).”-From her website.
RW: You write young adult fiction that appeals to older adults as well, how did you come to choose this particular genre?
SARABETH: I grew up on young adult fiction. It may sound lame, but some of my best friends and role models are found in fiction. I like to think I have the spunk of Anne Shirley, the independence of Jane Eyre, and the bravery of Katniss Everdeen. It’s safe to say that books helped shape my identity and made me feel less alone during the lonely years of middle school.
RW: Why is your most recent novella called Where There’s Smoke?
SARABETH: The story centers around a fire that not only causes physical destruction, but threatens to expose lies and secrets as well. I like the title because it sounds ominous.
RW: Your book touches on some themes that are somewhat timely today. Some of those being Christianity and how certain elements of it can take things a bit to the extreme, such as people being outcasts for their sexuality. What was the inspiration for Where There’s Smoke?
SARABETH: I had a brief stint in seminary a year after undergrad. I saw the worst stereotypes of what Christians could be, and found more encouragement with my atheist friends than I did with many of the students I met there. That angered me.
RW: Who is the main character?
SARABETH: A teenage girl named Hannah who belongs to a very conservative Christian community, where the “Cool Crowd” consists of wannabe missionaries who believe they hold a monopoly on the truth.
RW: Is Hannah the “perfect” Christian?
SARABETH: Hannah isn’t always likeable, and she doesn’t make the best decisions, but she’s real. How many of us survived high school without saying, doing, or believing things we weren’t sure about just to fit in? That’s human nature. Flawed, yet empathic characters are my favorite to write.
RW: I’ve experienced the adult version “Cool Crowds” in churches. What reality does Hannah find out about this “Cool Crowd”?
SARABETH: They use their faith to manipulate and alienate people, which Hannah doesn’t realize until she befriends a lesbian student, Lia, whose coming out made her an outcast. It’s through Lia that Hannah experiences genuine respect and friendship, and is confronted about her own hypocritical tendencies.
RW: What message do you think your book delivers to the reader?
SARABETH: That authenticity is always worth it, despite the personal costs to your popularity or reputation. That people who don’t always agree with you can still teach you valuable lessons.
RW: What did you learn about yourself from writing this book?
Sarabeth: That I am by no means as pure in my motives and as sincere as I’d like to be, since I too am a Christian.
RW: Describe your book in one word.
Sarabeth: Gutsy.
Confessions of a Prodigal Daughter: my memoir about growing up Jewish and becoming a Christian as an adult.
Someone You Already Know: My first YA novel about two teenage rape victims struggling to understand what the other went through, and how societal views and stereotypes about rape affect them both.
Public Displays of Convention: Another YA novel about a modern-day Elizabeth Bennet kind of woman trying to figure out how best to live as a single woman after her college boyfriend unexpectedly dumps her.
Sorting Myself: a short collection of poetry, with mainly religious and feminist themes.
Twitter: @SbethCaplin
Facebook: Author Sarabeth Caplin
RW: Tell us about your early journals?
SARABETH: I’ve been making up stories as long as I can remember, and have always had a habit of narrating my life as it happens. Because my first love was fiction, my journals read like first-person young adult novels.
RW: And how did you come to self-publishing
SARABETH: It wasn’t until 2012, after graduating college, that I figured out self-publishing. But one need not be published to call themselves a writer.
RW: What is your biggest tip for someone to getting published?
SARABETH: Always have beta readers who are willing to be honest with you about what needs improvement in your story. Even if you think you’re ready to publish, it’s always better to wait. The first versions of my first two books were published before they were ready, and it was such a pain to redo them.
RW: Are you opposed to having an agent and doing what is called ‘traditional’ publishing?
SARABETH: I like being my own boss for now, but I’m not ruling out the possibility. It’s important for me to find an agent who is okay with self-publishing on the side.
RW: What are you working on right now?
SARABETH: My first attempt at a New Adult novel about a young woman whose boyfriend is accused of rape by an ex girlfriend, and he challenges her to interview all his previous exes to prove he’s innocent.
RW: What book are you reading at this time?
SARABETH: I’m rereading Mockingjay in preparation for the movie, as well as The Hardest Peace by Kara Tippetts.
RW: If you could have written any book that exists, other than your own, what would it be and why?
SARABETH: I admire the deviousness of Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl. I wish I were capable of that level of intrigue, suspense, and psychological mind-bending. Also Lauren Winner’s Girl Meets God, because it’s basically a far more articulate version of my life story.
Sarabeth writes about real topics and not just what ifs. I’ve personally started a number of what Christian communities can really be like books but never finished them. I think perhaps in part I’m just old. I need some of Sarabeth’s youth and energy. To take this topic head on is admirable, especially being a Christian. I think people might find it surprising that one Christian author finds another Christian author writing about the realities of some communities as being admirable. Don’t be. We know there are the bad communities out there. Connect with Sarabeth and support her through the purchase of her books. Young indie authors, old indie authors, all authors need our support. And as always, remember . . .
Much Respect
Ronovan
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Do you want to host an author’s book launch/tour?
Do you need someone to host your book launch/tour?
LitWorldInterviews wants to help you out.
We are providing a page where we will list your needs as an author
and
Your willingness to be a host.
What’s a host?
A host posts something for the author on their blog/site. For example: I will be a host on my personal blog RonovanWrites.WordPress.com for my friend and fellow LWI team member Jo Robinson. She will send me something to copy and paste into my post editor and an image and very likely a date for it to be published. It’s that simple. I help a friend and author out, I get an easy blog post for the day and possibly more people visiting my site but don’t tell Jo that that’s what I’m doing. Okay, so I’m not really doing it for those last two reasons . . . maybe.
Click here to go to the page to fill out the simple form. Directions are included. Or if you are not a link clicker then check out the page in the menu at the top titled ‘need a book tour host/want to be a host?’.
We want LWI to become a useful place for authors to turn to and a place for readers to get involved in a fun way in the careers of authors. Trust me, I did it and then created this site. Now I review, interview, and beta read and some other things I never thought I would do. And it’s a BLAST!
Much Respect
Ronovan
© Copyright-All rights reserved by litworldinterviews.wordpress.com 2014
by
@K_A_CastilloRead the interview here.
Book Description
“It doesn’t matter if it’s right or wrong. All that matters is if you can. If you can do something, what difference does it make?”
Based on a true story, The Convenience of Lies is a novel that keeps readers up past midnight with its story of friendship, mystery, crime, sex, and betrayal. Set in a suburban town, this story is told through the eyes of a high school junior, Mackenzie, who describes her crush on a “bad boy,” Ramon and her relationship with her best friend, Kira. During the course of the story, Mackenzie does her best to attract the affections of Ramon while her friendship with Kira evolves. Eventually, the different characters’ property starts getting vandalized and a mystery develops as Mackenzie and Kira try to get to the bottom of who is behind the vandalism.
Much Respect
Ronovan
2014 © Copyright-All rights reserved by litworldinterviews.wordpress.com
Who knew an Ape could use a computer AND create book covers?
Lit World Interviews very own Jo Robinson did.
The surprising thing is how many people don’t, even with the information right there on his VERY POPULAR site The Story Reading Ape Blog.
http://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/authors-resources-central/tsra-doings/
Blog: TheStoryReadingApeBlog.com
Twitter: @StoryReadingApe
Facebook Timeline
Facebook Promotion of New Authors and Books Page
Google+: Chris Graham (The Story Reading Ape)
LinkedIn: The Story Reading Ape
Pinterest: Graham Christopher
Goodreads: Chris The Story Reading Ape
Am I saying you should give Chris Graham a look at for creating you a book cover? I’ll say this, he’ll be creating one for me. Interview here.
“What better holiday gift for the writer in your life than a professional book cover? Hugs!”–Teagan Geneviene Author of Atonement, Tennessee review here.
Much Respect
Ronovan
© Copyright-All rights reserved by litworldinterviews.wordpress.com 2014
LitWorldInterviews Very Own
ON
“Even if you are not a fan of English history and know nothing of the metaphors and references the author has slyly inserted into the story, this book will draw you in as contemporary fiction, demonstrating that the human foibles are ageless and that a historical family drama can repeat itself.
This is a great read, and I’m looking forward to a sequel featuring the Lanchester children, especially the son Harry wanted so much he was willing to marry again and again to get: the spoiled and entitled Jasper.
Kings and Queens is rich in the sins and peccadillos of the wealthy and entitled, those that captivate readers across the board. Bravo to Terry Tyler for giving us such a sumptuous read with a grand historical twist.”~Rosie Amber ofRosieAmber.WordPress.com
“This novel promises to be uniquely different in its concept and delivery. And actually, that promise is fulfilled…in spades. The storyline and characters very artfully parallel the life and times of Henry VIII in a modern day setting.
Handsome and charming, Harry Lanchester makes his first appearance as a sixteen year old wannabe rock star and his story is told initially from the viewpoint of Harry’s best friend, Will. Thereafter we see Harry through the eyes of each of his wives in turn, combined with short chapters from Will, who acts almost as an impartial onlooker and supporter. Even when he disagrees with Harry and suspects him of a terrible act, Will feels unwilling and, possibly, unable to confront his friend. “~Cathy of Between the Lines Book Blog
I’m not going to say a whole lot about today’s guest as the answers will tell you more than I ever could. Full of personality and energy just from the words alone must make for a novel length full of my guests thoughts an amazingly good time. Meet . . .
RW: Where are you from?
TERRY: I live in the north east of England, but come from the Midlands/East Anglia.
RW: I so love the British. And no, before anyone ask I do not have a contract with the Queen to promote her favorite authors. Although it is possible Terry is on the night stand of a certain young main with hair colored similar to mine. Now that we have that out of the way, what allows us to call you an Author instead of someone throwing wrods about?
TERRY: I seem to remember that I used to write stories when I was a child. I wrote a load of astrology based short stories in my 20s. I bet they were dreadful, I’m glad I haven’t still got them! I wrote 9 or 10 novels in the 1990s, then nothing much for about 10 years, until I wrote You Wish in 2010. Happily, that coincided with the rise in popularity of the Amazon Kindle.
RW: What genre does your book Kings and Queens fall into?
TERRY: I suppose contemporary family drama, crossed with romantic suspense, with appeal to the readers of Tudor historical fiction, too.
RW: Okay with that bit of mix and cross over tell us a little about the book and the main characters.
TERRY: I was watching The Tudors on Netflix and suddenly thought “hang on, this is a marvellous story”; it’s always been one that interests me, anyway. I began to think how I could translate it into the present….
The story of property developer Harry Lanchester is told through the eyes of the six women with whom he becomes involved (only five of them become his wives). Their chapters are separated by the man’s eye view, that of Harry’s lifelong best friend, Will Brandon. The story spans the years 1971 – 2007.
Each of the six wives is so different, with all sorts of experiences; many of the people who’ve read the book have named their favourites. The most popular one is Hannah Cleveley, my modern day Anne of Cleves. Then there’s fiery Annette (Anne Boleyn), former lap dancer Keira (Catherine Howard) and dutiful Kate (Catherine Parr)… as far as Harry himself is concerned, most people have found him arrogant and selfish, but not without endearing qualities.
RW: Based on that answer and my obviously amazing Historian mind I think I know the answer, but why Kings and Queens?
TERRY: All my book titles (except for You Wish) are named after Aerosmith songs, for no reason other than that they’re my favourite band and it amuses me to do so. I wouldn’t have chosen any of them if they weren’t totally appropriate, but so far the perfect one has always been there, waiting for me! Kings and Queens is a modern day re-telling of the story of Henry VIII and his six wives; although my novel is one about the king of a property developing company, it’s still very apt.
RW: What age group is your basic target group?
TERRY: Probably 18 – 65!!!! I’d say 25-55.
**Normally I don’t include this answer but I just love how Terry answered it.**
RW: Who would play your main character(s) in a movie?
TERRY: Australian actor Chris Hemsworth would make the perfect Harry. Maybe Evangeline Lily for Annette. I haven’t really thought about it – I am not one of those writers who has book-into-film fantasies; though now you come to mention it…. hmmm…!
RW: What message do you think your book delivers to the reader?
TERRY: I don’t know. Maybe “don’t cheat on your spouse or you might end up dead”???
RW: Describe your book in one word.
TERRY: Compulsive!
RW: What did you learn about yourself from writing this book?
TERRY: That I like writing more than I like doing virtually anything. Yes, I even worked on it on Christmas Day.
Visit the following to Purchase Terry’s Kings and Queens
Goodreads: Terry Tyler
Terry’s Blog on UK Arts Directory:
RW: Who are your favorite authors?
TERRY: (Deep breath… ) Douglas Kennedy, John Boyne, Deborah Moggach, Kate Atkinson, Emily Barr, Dorothy Parker, Susan Howatch, Elizabeth Jane Howard, Norah Lofts, Jack Kerouac, Phillipa Gregory, Jackie Collins, Bill Bryson, P J O’Rourke, Evelyn Waugh…. I’ll stop now!
RW: What is your favorite beverage to drink, any kind?
TERRY: Can I be really boring and say coffee? It’s the only one I can’t imagine a day without, so I suppose it must be my favourite! Has to be the real stuff, preferably freshly ground, and very strong.
RW: What is your escape from writing when you are at that about to explode point?
TERRY: I don’t ever get to a point like that. I love writing, always. I stop and do something else because I’m tired, or need some exercise, or because that bathroom won’t clean itself, not because it makes me want to explode. I never feel the need to escape from it. If I did, I wouldn’t do it.
RW: Why do you write in the genre that you do?
TERRY: I don’t choose a genre, I just write the story I want to write. I work out what genre it is when it comes to publishing and marketing it. That’s probably the wrong way to go about it, but never mind. They’re all roughly the same non-specific genre, anyway.
RW: What other books do you have to share with us and can you tell us a little about them?
TERRY: I’ve published 9 books on Amazon – 7 full length novels, I novella and a collection of short stories. They’re all contemporary drama/romantic suspense, though some are lighter than others. For instance, Nobody’s Fault is a fairly heavy family drama, whereas Dream On and Full Circle incorporate rock fiction and are quite funny. Essentially, though, I write about real life relationships (not just romance).
RW: Do you currently have representation? If so who, and if not describe what qualities you would like in an agent and what you would bring to the relationship. Also how did you come to get signed.
TERRY: No, I don’t have representation. I made a decision not to seek it anymore; I hadn’t sent my work to an agent since You Wish, but thought I would try again with Kings and Queens. The first agent I sent it to asked for the full MS as soon as she’d read the synopsis and sample chapters, but wrote back with suggestions for change that it would have made it a different book. I’m not closed to the idea of having an agent, and am open to ideas for improvement, but not so much that a book is no longer the one I want it to be.
RW: What are you working on right now?
TERRY: The sequel to Kings and Queens, LAST CHILD, is almost ready to go to the proofreader….
RW: What book are you reading at this time?
TERRY: I am about to finish Sheer Fear by Geoff West, after which I will read The Gilded Lily by Deborah Swift.
RW: What is your biggest tip for someone to getting published?
TERRY: If it’s your first time, don’t publish yourself or send to an agent/publisher without having a few people read it first, preferably ones who will tell you, honestly, if you have any talent for writing.
RW: If you could have written any book that exists, other than your own, what would it be and why?
TERRY: The complete works of Shakespeare. I’d never have to worry about paying the phone bill again! That’s kind of a joke, by the way. I don’t know. Possibly The Beach by Alex Garland, Cashelmara by Susan Howatch, or Norah Lofts’ The House At Old Vine trilogy – oh, I can’t make up my mind!
RW: What is your favorite word?
TERRY: Haven’t really got one. I quite like ersatz and zeitgeist. I like words with zeds in them.
Many thanks for inviting me onto your site, Ron, and I hope this has been of some interest to your readers.
You now know why Terry was a guest today. Didn’t you have fun? I mean seriously, I never thought some of those answers were coming my way, and I actually laughed at times and smiled the entire way through. I want to thank Terry for giving in to my begging and agreeing to the interview. Now if she will please lift the restraining order, I will promise not to step foot in England again. Follow her everywhere, purchase her book, and always remember . . .
Much Respect
Ronovan
© Copyright-All rights reserved by litworldinterviews.wordpress.com 2014
“Julia has written a delightful story that touches on all the themes we were told were important when we were growing up- rising to the occasion in times of crisis, trusting yourself in times of peril, the things that make us unique are often the things that lead us to succeed, and that there is the possibility of greatness in everyone, even those that others think are hopeless.”-Brian Switzer-Amazon Review
“I have enjoyed reading this book for myself, I know my daughters will certainly enjoy it in a couple of years and until then, I can quite happily read it for them, knowing that there are no unexpected plot twists that will confuse them.”-Merissa (Archaeolibrarian) (Excellent reviewer ranking)
“This is a captivating tale for young readers, and interesting enough to feed the imagination of older fantasy readers as well.
It starts out rather slow, but once the little dragon starts training, the adventure and excitement continue through the rest of the book.
Entertaining and well written!
I look forward to the sequels.”-Amazon Review.
Why today’s guest? Why not, right? The book subject is just right. I can’t wait for my son to read it, hopefully over the holidays. British. Well, I do seem to be that British magnet. Serious about work and getting an author career off in the right direction. Well I can’t say much more without revealing . . .
@JuliaSuzuki_ukRW: You told me about two other famous authors, other than yourself, that come from the place in which you live. Share with my friends who they are and where that is.
JULIA: Erasmus Darwin; the philosopher, and Samuel Johnson; who invented the dictionary. I live in Lichfield in Staffordshire, England. Lichfield is in fact the smallest city in Europe but has many enchanting places to visit including a stunning Cathedral.
RW: And yes, the Historian in me just geeked a little bit there. Now what is your background in writing, what makes you a writer?
JULIA: I studied Creative Writing in my degree at University, and also took exams with The London School of Music in ‘Speech and Drama’, which included a lot of literature recital.
RW: Why do you write in the fantasy/adventure genre, what is appealing about it to you?
JULIA: I am really comfortable writing in a fairly simplistic tone and I find I engage with children easily. I absolutely adore fairy tales and adventure and feel at home in this genre.
RW: Why did you pick The Gift of Charms as the title of your book?
JULIA: The Gift of Charms is the first release in the series ‘The Land of Dragor’. This title just came to me — suddenly — and I felt it sounded magical and mystical which is exactly fitting for Dragor.
RW: Tell us a little about your your first adventure into ‘The Land of Dragor’.
JULIA: ‘The Gift of Charms’ is the introduction to the Land of Dragor series. Dragor is an epic place where the world’s remaining dragons are hiding from us humans and the dragsaur beasts. The novel is based around the main character Yoshiko, who undergoes many challenges at Fire School, and then discovers a hidden talent that leads him on a great mission and a new destiny…
RW: Tell us about Yoshiko and what you think will make him connect with readers.
JULIA: Yoshiko is tormented for being different and I believe many of us can relate to a time like this in our lives, when we may have felt we do not fit into a situation. Yoshiko is kind and has a huge heart, but because he is so sensitive he takes everything personally. However, underneath this soft exterior he has deep determination and grit. This zeal helps him to overcome obstacles and go from zero to hero. Many readers have stated that they enjoy sharing Yoshiko’s journey of development — that it is empowering when good wins through and to witness his hard work paying off…
RW: You said that relationships and personal challenges were the main catalyst for your The Gift of Charms, what other things were involved? And please don’t tell me it was because you mentioned that Tom Cruise would make a fab voice Yoshiko.
JULIA: I had been thinking back to the wonderful vintage books I had read and wishing there were more like this — but with unique and modern edge and interactive web presence. I knew first hand what parents were looking for when purchasing a book for their children, yet more than that, I knew also what they sought themselves. They wanted gripping action, loads of adventure — all the classic aspects of heroes and villains, mystery and magic, quests and suspense, and the hope of happy endings.
My desire was to create books with universal appeal, that were fantastical and ‘out there’ and yet still felt somehow real; to fulfill the expectations of book lovers and also hook non-readers back into reading. For me this had to be in the form of a series set in a place we would all be excited to visit and so the Land of Dragor came to be.
The most beautiful places that I had seen on my international travels were integrated into the setting of Dragor: the amazing mountains of Colorado, the great deserts of Palm Springs, California, the vast waters in the Lake District, and the seaside caves of Cornwall — not forgetting the enchanting wilderness of Scotland. Dragor would be my ideal place to live — full of magnificent scenery, bursting with animals and nature’s magical trees, flowers and plants. Dragor is a place full of adventure, excitement and promise.
RW: Describe your book in one word.
JULIA: Enchanting.
To connect with Julia:
Julia Suziuki-Author on Facebook
Register for the newsletter at www.juliasuzuki.com
Visit the dragor interactive cave www.thelandofdragor.com
RW: Who are your favorite authors?
JULIA: CS Lewis, Charlotte Bronte, Enid Blyton.
RW: What is your favorite beverage to drink, any kind?
JULIA: That has to be coffee — from Starbucks!!!
RW: What is your escape from writing when you are at that about to explode point?
JULIA: Movies — I love the cinema!
RW: What book are you reading at this time?
JULIA: I am reading Martina Cole’s latest thriller, which is about a guy who takes revenge on a man who upset his daughter. It is actually titled ‘Revenge’. Martina is one of my favourite authors. Her work is very hard-hitting; this is definitely not a book you would find put you to sleep!
RW: What is your biggest tip for someone to getting published?
JULIA: Be professional and follow guidance of the top people. Read books and articles that other have printed about getting published. Always stay true to your overall vision. Shut your ears to the nay-sayers.
RW: If you could have written any book that exists, other than your own, what would it be and why?
JULIA: ‘The Secret’ by Rhonda Byrne, because it has positive impact on millions of people’s lives — helping to eliminate negative thinking patterns can only be a good thing
RW: What is your favorite word?
JULIA: Eloquent!
Now you see why I asked Julia for an interview. She is really in to her story. We all write with some inspiration but some go that bit beyond and Julia has done that. I’ve checked out her sites and followed her everywhere. The idea of an interactive site is just, pardon this, awesome! Some very good ideas there. I can’t wait for her next book to come out. If you want a sneak peek, check out her newest Author photo. That isn’t The Gift of Charms cover from above and that’s not the same hair style we saw from Julia from above. Whichever book and whichever look she brings us, always remember . . .
To Order The Gift of Charms
Much Respect
Ronovan
© Copyright-All rights reserved by litworldinterviews.wordpress.com 2014
This is a great read, and I’m looking forward to a sequel featuring the Lanchester children, especially the son Harry wanted so much he was willing to marry again and again to get: the spoiled and entitled Jasper.
Kings and Queens is rich in the sins and peccadillos of the wealthy and entitled, those that captivate readers across the board. Bravo to Terry Tyler for giving us such a sumptuous read with a grand historical twist.”~Rosie Amber ofRosieAmber.WordPress.com
“This novel promises to be uniquely different in its concept and delivery. And actually, that promise is fulfilled…in spades. The storyline and characters very artfully parallel the life and times of Henry VIII in a modern day setting.
Handsome and charming, Harry Lanchester makes his first appearance as a sixteen year old wannabe rock star and his story is told initially from the viewpoint of Harry’s best friend, Will. Thereafter we see Harry through the eyes of each of his wives in turn, combined with short chapters from Will, who acts almost as an impartial onlooker and supporter. Even when he disagrees with Harry and suspects him of a terrible act, Will feels unwilling and, possibly, unable to confront his friend. “~Cathy of Between the Lines Book Blog
I’m not going to say a whole lot about today’s guest as the answers will tell you more than I ever could. Full of personality and energy just from the words alone must make for a novel length full of my guests thoughts an amazingly good time. Meet . . .
RW: Where are you from?
TERRY: I live in the north east of England, but come from the Midlands/East Anglia.
RW: I so love the British. And no, before anyone ask I do not have a contract with the Queen to promote her favorite authors. Although it is possible Terry is on the night stand of a certain young main with hair colored similar to mine. Now that we have that out of the way, what allows us to call you an Author instead of someone throwing wrods about?
TERRY: I seem to remember that I used to write stories when I was a child. I wrote a load of astrology based short stories in my 20s. I bet they were dreadful, I’m glad I haven’t still got them! I wrote 9 or 10 novels in the 1990s, then nothing much for about 10 years, until I wrote You Wish in 2010. Happily, that coincided with the rise in popularity of the Amazon Kindle.
RW: What genre does your book Kings and Queens fall into?
TERRY: I suppose contemporary family drama, crossed with romantic suspense, with appeal to the readers of Tudor historical fiction, too.
RW: Okay with that bit of mix and cross over tell us a little about the book and the main characters.
TERRY: I was watching The Tudors on Netflix and suddenly thought “hang on, this is a marvellous story”; it’s always been one that interests me, anyway. I began to think how I could translate it into the present….
The story of property developer Harry Lanchester is told through the eyes of the six women with whom he becomes involved (only five of them become his wives). Their chapters are separated by the man’s eye view, that of Harry’s lifelong best friend, Will Brandon. The story spans the years 1971 – 2007.
Each of the six wives is so different, with all sorts of experiences; many of the people who’ve read the book have named their favourites. The most popular one is Hannah Cleveley, my modern day Anne of Cleves. Then there’s fiery Annette (Anne Boleyn), former lap dancer Keira (Catherine Howard) and dutiful Kate (Catherine Parr)… as far as Harry himself is concerned, most people have found him arrogant and selfish, but not without endearing qualities.
RW: Based on that answer and my obviously amazing Historian mind I think I know the answer, but why Kings and Queens?
TERRY: All my book titles (except for You Wish) are named after Aerosmith songs, for no reason other than that they’re my favourite band and it amuses me to do so. I wouldn’t have chosen any of them if they weren’t totally appropriate, but so far the perfect one has always been there, waiting for me! Kings and Queens is a modern day re-telling of the story of Henry VIII and his six wives; although my novel is one about the king of a property developing company, it’s still very apt.
RW: What age group is your basic target group?
TERRY: Probably 18 – 65!!!! I’d say 25-55.
**Normally I don’t include this answer but I just love how Terry answered it.**
RW: Who would play your main character(s) in a movie?
TERRY: Australian actor Chris Hemsworth would make the perfect Harry. Maybe Evangeline Lily for Annette. I haven’t really thought about it – I am not one of those writers who has book-into-film fantasies; though now you come to mention it…. hmmm…!
RW: What message do you think your book delivers to the reader?
TERRY: I don’t know. Maybe “don’t cheat on your spouse or you might end up dead”???
RW: Describe your book in one word.
TERRY: Compulsive!
RW: What did you learn about yourself from writing this book?
TERRY: That I like writing more than I like doing virtually anything. Yes, I even worked on it on Christmas Day.
Visit the following to Purchase Terry’s Kings and Queens
Goodreads: Terry Tyler
Terry’s Blog on UK Arts Directory:
RW: Who are your favorite authors?
TERRY: (Deep breath… ) Douglas Kennedy, John Boyne, Deborah Moggach, Kate Atkinson, Emily Barr, Dorothy Parker, Susan Howatch, Elizabeth Jane Howard, Norah Lofts, Jack Kerouac, Phillipa Gregory, Jackie Collins, Bill Bryson, P J O’Rourke, Evelyn Waugh…. I’ll stop now!
RW: What is your favorite beverage to drink, any kind?
TERRY: Can I be really boring and say coffee? It’s the only one I can’t imagine a day without, so I suppose it must be my favourite! Has to be the real stuff, preferably freshly ground, and very strong.
RW: What is your escape from writing when you are at that about to explode point?
TERRY: I don’t ever get to a point like that. I love writing, always. I stop and do something else because I’m tired, or need some exercise, or because that bathroom won’t clean itself, not because it makes me want to explode. I never feel the need to escape from it. If I did, I wouldn’t do it.
RW: Why do you write in the genre that you do?
TERRY: I don’t choose a genre, I just write the story I want to write. I work out what genre it is when it comes to publishing and marketing it. That’s probably the wrong way to go about it, but never mind. They’re all roughly the same non-specific genre, anyway.
RW: What other books do you have to share with us and can you tell us a little about them?
TERRY: I’ve published 9 books on Amazon – 7 full length novels, I novella and a collection of short stories. They’re all contemporary drama/romantic suspense, though some are lighter than others. For instance, Nobody’s Fault is a fairly heavy family drama, whereas Dream On and Full Circle incorporate rock fiction and are quite funny. Essentially, though, I write about real life relationships (not just romance).
RW: Do you currently have representation? If so who, and if not describe what qualities you would like in an agent and what you would bring to the relationship. Also how did you come to get signed.
TERRY: No, I don’t have representation. I made a decision not to seek it anymore; I hadn’t sent my work to an agent since You Wish, but thought I would try again with Kings and Queens. The first agent I sent it to asked for the full MS as soon as she’d read the synopsis and sample chapters, but wrote back with suggestions for change that it would have made it a different book. I’m not closed to the idea of having an agent, and am open to ideas for improvement, but not so much that a book is no longer the one I want it to be.
RW: What are you working on right now?
TERRY: The sequel to Kings and Queens, LAST CHILD, is almost ready to go to the proofreader….
RW: What book are you reading at this time?
TERRY: I am about to finish Sheer Fear by Geoff West, after which I will read The Gilded Lily by Deborah Swift.
RW: What is your biggest tip for someone to getting published?
TERRY: If it’s your first time, don’t publish yourself or send to an agent/publisher without having a few people read it first, preferably ones who will tell you, honestly, if you have any talent for writing.
RW: If you could have written any book that exists, other than your own, what would it be and why?
TERRY: The complete works of Shakespeare. I’d never have to worry about paying the phone bill again! That’s kind of a joke, by the way. I don’t know. Possibly The Beach by Alex Garland, Cashelmara by Susan Howatch, or Norah Lofts’ The House At Old Vine trilogy – oh, I can’t make up my mind!
RW: What is your favorite word?
TERRY: Haven’t really got one. I quite like ersatz and zeitgeist. I like words with zeds in them.
Many thanks for inviting me onto your site, Ron, and I hope this has been of some interest to your readers.
You now know why Terry was a guest today. Didn’t you have fun? I mean seriously, I never thought some of those answers were coming my way, and I actually laughed at times and smiled the entire way through. I want to thank Terry for giving in to my begging and agreeing to the interview. Now if she will please lift the restraining order, I will promise not to step foot in England again. Follow her everywhere, purchase her book, and always remember . . .
Much Respect
Ronovan
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Romance and Erotica best selling e-publishers with some print accepting submissions. They do have sub genres so don’t let the Erotica scare off some of you.
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From Guide to Literary Agents with @ChuckSambuchino: 2 New Agents To Query
“Kimberly is seeking: Kimberly is interested in both commercial and literary fiction, with an emphasis in women’s fiction, contemporary romance, mysteries/thrillers, new adult and young adult, as well as certain areas of non-fiction, including business, diet and fitness.”
“She is seeking: women’s fiction, mystery, suspense/thriller, romance, upmarket fiction at the cross between commercial and literary”
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@ChuckSambuchino does a blog with Writer’s Digest called A Guide To Literary Agents and one of his features is How I Got My Agent and today’s is @vleighwrites. If you see this color, it is a link put in by LWI.
“How I Got My Agent” is a recurring feature on the Guide to Literary Agents Blog, with this installment featuring Vicki Leigh, author of CATCH ME WHEN I FALL. These columns are great ways for you to learn how to find a literary agent. Some tales are of long roads and many setbacks, while others are of good luck and quick signings. If you have a literary agent and would be interested in writing a short guest column for this GLA blog, e-mail me at literaryagent@fwmedia.com and we’ll talk specifics.
My road to finding my agent is a bit different than most, an exciting journey that took me to cloud nine with a terrible bout of whiplash. I took a route that many might not recommend, a risky one that could’ve had catastrophic consequences. But let’s start at the beginning.
ONCE UPON A TIME
In January 2013, the idea sparked for my upcoming Young Adult debut, CATCH ME WHEN I FALL. I’d shelved one story by this point, having received multiple rejections for what I now realize was a horrible manuscript, and was anxious to begin something new. As someone who suffered from vicious nightmares, writing from the point of view of a character who protects the living from them was both exciting and therapeutic. For seven months, I poured my heart and soul into my book, and after multiple rounds of revising via the help of my fantastic critique partners, I sent out my first queries.
Read the rest of the story at WritersDigest.com by clicking here.
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Author Presence: Installing your Header Photo on Your Blog
The last time here you installed your Blog Theme and your About,me Widget. Now we are going to do that thing people think is so cool. We are going to install the Header Photo.
What you need to know:
Size: Header 990 width x 180 height pixels
File Type: jpg or png (yes jpeg and jpg are the same)
If your image is larger than this you will end up cropping it, which means cutting down to the appropriate size. In some Themes you can move the crop area around to get what you want, in some you can’t move it. Also in some the suggested size does not have to be followed but I don’t recommend that your Header Photo be so large it takes up your entire landing page screen.
What should your Header Photo be?
Some choose to include their image with a quote from some famous author. Or perhaps just the quote. If you have books already, you can include them. Some people simply put a nice image of something they like, or something that they feel represents them or captures their personality. As with everything else remember the word, professional. This does not mean professional quality necessarily, but professional in nature and content.
For my example blog I am going to use a peaceful image for now.
We are once more headed to the ‘Dashboard’ of our Blog.
Once in the Dashboard, since we are changing some type of appearance of the theme/blog, we are going to to go:
Appearance
Then Customize
You will not be taken to a very, shall I say ‘funky’ looking page that is nothing like what we have see so far. On the page you see the landing page of your Blog as it appears now. At the bottom you can click the three different little screen options to see how your blog looks in the different types of devices it will be viewed on.
To the right you will find the areas to be used today:
The first thing to do is go to Header. I think that is a bit obvious since we are dealing with the Header Photo. I say this to simply show you the obviousness of what we are doing and how easy it is to actually figure things out on your own if you wish. One piece of advice. Take note of what Theme you are using, by this I mean write it down. You will be tempted to try other Themes for fun and end up deciding you liked your first Theme and will ultimately have no idea what that Theme is after looking at 20 or so different ones. (Yes, I have been there and done that.)
For Coraline after I clicked on Header I have some built in images I may use. Instead I will click Add new image.
In the middle of your screen you will see Select Files. Click it.
I loaded a photo my son helped me take. I was lying on the ground and he blew bubbles above me. Thus my Header Photo is of one of those bubbles.
You now see what your page looks like in the ‘funky page’ window.
If you don’t like it, just try again.
The image is going to be very short in height. For example if you look at the image of the bubbles the only bubble i was able to include was the large one in the middle. That’s fine with me, but just keep that in mind when you are coming up with your images. yes you can, with Coraline, expand the height but it will take away from your landing page visibility. I like to have at least my first post heading and some content showing.
If you are, and once you are happy let’s go ahead and look at the Front option here while we are in the Customize ‘funky page’.
You can either have a Static, meaning the same thing every time someone visits page, or a Your latest posts landing page. This really is up to you. I use the ‘Your latest posts option’. But some of you might wish to have the Static page be for advertising your latest book with their then been being able to click the Blog button on the Menu around your Header Photo . . . the normal location.
I don’t do anything with the Widgets here. And we will discuss them another day.
Site Title includes what your Site is called, regardless of your URL address. And it also include your Tagline. Remember the Tagline can be what you are the author of or just some one line thing like your motto. For now I am leaving mine blank.
You will also see a box to check or uncheck. Display Header Text. On my Ronovan Writes site since my Header Photo includes Ronovan Writes I don’t display the text. But for this blog I will keep it for now.
Now click Save at the bottom right. Then click the X in the bottom right.
You should now be back at your Dashboard. To see how everything looks in full screen, click your Site Title in the Top Left corner.
The next time we will connect our blog to the About.me account. And possibly connect it to Twitter as well.
You may be wondering when will it be time to post something, write a blog post/article. I am of the mind to have the connections to everything set first and then I can devote my time to writing. Sure there will be times you will connect other Social Media to your site along the way, but we’re going to make this right from the beginning.
Here are dimensions to keep in mind for the Coraline images.
Much Respect
Ronovan
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From Cuddle Bug’s review of “Verity” in A Kind of Mad Courage on Amazon.com: The ending of one of my favorite stories, ‘Verity’ by Wendy Janes, about an aging woman in the UK, made me cry from surprise and possibility. I won’t spoil the story but say that the skillful denouement, and the general short story plot included a sort of lovely misdirection (whether intentional or unintentional) which meant I was surprised and truly touching in reading the ending. The prose pacing and ambiance of that story really flowed and gave me a sense of being there.
From Terry Tyler’s review of “Verity” in A Kind of Mad Courage on Amazon.com: …my other joint favourite! So touching, really moving, I loved it.
Joy E’s review of “The Stars They Never Own” in Romantic Heroes on Amazon.co.uk: …my favourite story within the anthology, by far…. The Author managed to draw me into the story so quickly and the twist at the end was absolutely charming. To construct a story like this in so few words is no mean feat and Ms. Janes should be complimented. I hope that she continues to write and look forward to reading more by her in the future.
I met my guest today in some way a time ago. I don’t always remember how I meet people ever since an accident brought about short and long term amnesia. For a History teacher and Author this is a frustrating thing. I tell you this only so you understand that my first meeting with today’s guest was not a case of not being memorable, just a case of me being the current me. A joy of a friend and social media supporter. A very accommodating person. Meet . . .
Author
Proof Reader
Editor
@WendyProofRW: We’ve known each other for a little while, and for some reason I never think of people being in places, I just think of names, faces, and words, but now it’s time to expose you to the world. Where are you from?
WENDY: I’ve always lived in the south of England. I was born and brought up in the leafy Surrey countryside, and I now live in a less leafy suburb of south London. I love being so close to the vibrancy and history of London.
RW: I swear I am like a British magnet. What is it about Britain and me? Is it the Scot in me? With that in mind what is your favorite beverage?
WENDY: Chilled champagne if I’m celebrating. A cup of Earl Grey if it’s afternoon teatime.
RW: You are fully British so let’s see, tell us who your favorite authors are?
WENDY: Oooh, that’s so difficult to answer. I’ll pick two from the past – Graham Greene and E. M. Forster – and two from the present – Maggie O’Farrell and Jon McGregor. Brilliant writers whose stories take me to wonderful places in my head.
RW: And there you go the British package complete Four from the British Isles. Let’s get into why you are here. First, what is the genre you would say your book falls into and why do you write in that genre?
WENDY: Contemporary women’s fiction. They say “write what you know” – so I do. I love to write about the people we meet every day; to delve into their private lives and reveal the depths below. It never ceases to amaze me how ordinary life is so extraordinary.
RW: You told me there is a conflict within you that you are striving to resolve. You must resolve this or never complete your novel. Why can’t you name your novel?
WENDY: Ah, I wish I could give you give you a straightforward answer to this question. You’ve no idea how many hours I’ve spent trying to summon up the perfect title for my novel. I have two front-runners at present – What Jennifer Knows and Take Two. The first captures the central dilemma of my lead character. The second is more subtle and works at a number of different levels. When readers reach a pivotal scene (my favourite) they’ll “get” the full ramifications of the second title. Oooh, which to go for…?
RW: Perhaps a Take Two: What Jennifer Knows? Tell us a little about your book and what inspired it and perhaps that will give as the reason for such a dilemma.
WENDY: Jennifer unwittingly stumbles across some information that she’d really rather not know: two of her friends who don’t know each other have more than Jennifer in common. She has to decide whether to speak out or not, and as the weeks roll by, things become more complicated, making her situation even more difficult.
A similar experience happened to my parents, but with far less drama involved. Many discussions around the family dinner table about what happened, and what might have occurred if things had panned out differently, led to my father suggesting it would make a good story for me to write. I eagerly took up the challenge. Essentially, my story is an exploration of all the tantalising “what ifs” that didn’t happen in the real-life story.
RW: What do you think will make your main characters connect to readers, which is key to a books success?
WENDY: Jennifer is a dance therapist. Her natural empathy for her students and her friends mean she’s excellent at her job and a trusted friend. It’s her kindness and her genuine wish to do the right thing that (I hope) readers will relate to. She also has a wonderfully eccentric husband, Gerald. Their relationship provides a lot of the comic and heartfelt moments in the book.
RW: Describe your book in one word.
WENDY: English. I hope I’m allowed to explain my choice. The setting, characters and feel of the book is very English – mannered and peppered with self-deprecating humor. It’s set during the 2012 Olympics and touches on the incredible wave of positive feeling that swept the country at that time.
RW: What message do you think your book delivers to the reader?
WENDY:
Jennifer would say: “When life gets complicated, do your best.”
Gerald would say: “When life gets complicated, hang on to your sense of humor.”
I’ve connected to Wendy everywhere now it’s your turn. I can tell you that she is a great social media friend. She has really helped with many of the Tweets and Google+ things I put out. Seeing what she does reminds me of techniques I’ve forgotten. (Remember I am the amnesiac author and poet.)
My proofreading website is: http://wendyproof.co.uk/
Twitter: @WendyProof
Facebook: Wendy Janes
Google +: Wendy Janes
Linkedin: Wendy Janes
Goodreads: Wendy Janes
If you’ve visited before you know I have different types of questions, now we move into more shall I call them different types of questions. (Yes, I tried to come up with something funny but failed.)
RW: What is your escape when writing just is driving you a bit mad?
WENDY: Chocolate. It helps soothe so many of life’s problems.
RW: What is your favorite word?
WENDY: Chocolate.
**I see a pattern here.**
RW: What is your background in writing, what makes you a writer?
WENDY: I’ve spent many years writing journal entries (private) and book reviews (public), so I’d say that’s my background in writing. Then, five years ago I was sitting with my friend in her kitchen and our conversation turned to the lack of good books with well-written sex scenes in them, and on the spur of the moment we decided to write our own. We had a fantastic couple of years developing our characters and our story, and it was a good test of our friendship to negotiate how two very different writers could collaborate. Eventually we self-published Living Lives: Living Lies by Ruth Allen. Alas, the book didn’t take the world by storm as we’d imagined while scribbling away at the dining room table. I’m happy to report that we’re still very good friends, although my days of writing erotic fiction are over. The whole experience introduced me to self-publishing and helped me find my own writing voice. I now write short stories and am working on a novel that I’m planning to self-publish in 2015.
RW: What other books do you have to share with us and can you tell us a little about them?
WENDY: My short story “Verity” features in A Kind of Mad Courage, a selection of stories about motherhood, written to raise money for the Guthy-Jackson Charitable Foundation. Another short story, 
“The Stars They Never Own” appears in the anthology, Romantic Heroes. Although they are stories about very different people (a retired woman in her seventies and an actor in his thirties), both have their poignant and their funny moments.
**But Wendy isn’t just about her own fiction writing and anthologies, collections or even her own full length novel. There is a more personal work out there with her name on the cover.**
As a family we self-published my grandfather’s memoir in 2014. The One and Sixpenny Englishman tells of my grandfather’s arrival in England as a baby at the turn of the twentieth century, his experience in the First World War, and his eclectic choice of occupations. It’s a little slice of personal history told in words and family photos.
RW: Do you currently have representation? If so who, and if not describe what qualities you would like in an agent and what you would bring to the relationship.
WENDY: No I don’t currently have representation. My agent would need to be patient, honest, supportive, motivated, professional, and creative. And so would I.
RW: What are you working on right now?
WENDY: In addition to What Jennifer Knows/Take Two, I’m also working on a couple of short stories. One of them is a departure from my usual relationship-based drama, and is an absurd comedy. It’s making me laugh. Let’s hope it will make readers laugh too.
RW: What book are you reading at this time?
WENDY: ‘I’ve just finished reading What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty. I laughed. I cried. I didn’t want it to end.’.
RW: Uh oh, an Australian invades Great Britain’s literary territory! So I have to ask, if you could have written any book that exists, other than your own, what would it be and why?
WENDY: If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things by Jon McGregor. His poetic prose is beautiful.
RW: What is your biggest tip for someone to getting published?
WENDY: I’m a proofreader, so I have to declare that my biggest tip is: “Get your book edited and proofread, please!”
Here’s a lovely little trailer we made for Living Lives: Living Lies
Wendy Janes, more than an Author. Yes, today was about her upcoming full length novel, but what I personally took away was something else. She’s authentic. Wendy, as I said before helps out with the little things at times with some Social Media retweets, Tweets, Google+ shout outs, and the like. Some do that to make connections in the business. Anyone that writes and works so much to put out a book about their grandfather is, to me at least, the real thing. To be honest if I had .99 to spare the book would be in my Kindle library already. Talking with Wendy outside of this interview I have discovered she only does something that she can give her all to. That’s the kind of Author I want to read. Connect with her everywhere, buy anything she is involved with and as always . . .
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RW: You are the Indie Authors best friend. That’s something many people know you as, but there is another aspect of your contribution to the Author world that some are not quite as familiar with. Tell us about how and why you came to create book covers? What was your first one?
CHRIS: My first cover was for the late Steve K. Smy, ‘Shade of Evil’, the first of a new series that Steve intended to publish, this was quickly followed by two more for ‘Evil Under the Circle’ and ‘A Darkness in Amazonia’, unfortunately, Steve died shortly after publishing this last one, however, based on notes left behind by Steve, his son Damien has published one more book of a new Fantasy series (asking me to do the cover and a map) and already has the cover plus maps from me for a second book:
RW: What types of software or online tools do you use in creating the artwork for the book covers?
CHRIS: To create the scenes and characters in 3D, I use Smith Micro’s Poser 10TM and E-ON Software Inc’s VUE Esprit 10TM programmes and render them into exportable Image Formats (usually PNG for best resolution and Hard / Paper back books, plus jpg / jpeg for eBooks).
For working the rendered scenes into covers and add text, I use several Image Editors, the main one being a GIMP-like software called ‘Seashore’ which is compatible with my Mac. The others are mainly to generate any special fonts or effects.
RW: I’ve looked into free programs like Blender, since I was originally planning to be an art major way back in the day, so I am very interested in illustration and that part of the Lit World. Have you tried it and if so what has your experience with free programs similar to that?
CHRIS: I did try Blender and several other programs, but they are way to user unfriendly – you need to take courses on them. Poser and Vue are much easier and intuitive to use.
RW: I have to agree with you. Blender is so complicated, at least for me at the moment, that I just open it and close it again. But it might be I don’t have the time to invest in it. But Poser and Vue sound more user friendly. I saw the prices so I it will be a long time before I could even think about visiting those sites again to make a purchase. How do you do the layering using the different software packages and make them blend together?
CHRIS: Layering in any Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, Gimp and similar programmes are all done the same way.
RW: Chris just showed his professional side there and did a duh answer on me. Okay, do you read the books first or does the Author give you an idea they have, such as a feel they are going for?
CHRIS: I’ve done both – but usually the author has a good general idea of what they’d like and I prefer to work with that – so far I’ve been lucky enough to hit close enough to their marks first or second time to work out the final details quickly.
RW: How long does it take to do a book cover on average?
CHRIS: I really couldn’t say – sometimes I can get something together in a day, but one cover took me over a week to get to the final tweaking part.
RW: What are some of the covers that come to mind that even impress you? I know you will say you love them all but there has to be some that once complete just took you by surprise how good they turned out.
CHRIS: The first one I did for Jo Robinson was a WOW moment for both of us, I did the cover image, Jo sourced and added the title, etc, font:
RW: How does one approach you to have a book cover done?
CHRIS: That’s easy, go to the following link:
http://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/authors-resources-central/tsra-doings/
You’ll also see all the covers and maps I’ve made for authors to date.
RW: Where do you get your inspiration for the artwork for the covers? Do you have an art background?
CHRIS: After reading the information the authors send me, I mull it over for a few days, maybe do a little research if there are any specific objects involved, then I just start pulling bits together until the scenes feel right, render, maybe enhance the image a few different ways and send low resolution copies, plus suggested enhancements, to the authors for them to consider.
I have GCE ‘O’ level and Royal Drawing Society Level 5 Certificates in Art and even had a (not all that good – I was only 16 years old at the time) painting exhibited in a London Museum (probably one of the easily missed back street ones NOT the Famous London Art Gallery lol).
However, any drawing and painting talents I ever had have long since vanished and that’s why I resort to using 3D computer programmes 😀
I trained as an Engineering Draughtsman, progressing onto Designer and as a Construction Site Project Director, had occasion to do some “Remedial Re-design” to suit site conditions, because the designers had not attended site to carry out proper surveys before making their designs.
RW: Most book cover makers source stock images online, then cut, paste and modify them to get the final result, but you use 3D programs to create the scenes instead – is there a reason for doing them this way?
CHRIS: Yes, several reasons:
Many of the stock image sites charge small fees, which is not a problem in itself and well worth it in many cases, plus, really great images quickly become popular for using in all sorts of ways, posters, banners, Websites, etc, and so may not be unique to the author’s book cover.
Any costs I incur would need to be passed onto the author whose book cover I’m making (thus adding to the price I quote – which is already nominal and affordable for custom made covers using my own materials), plus, it’s critical for any author who wants their book cover to stand out from the rest, to have a cover that no-one else can ever get, intentionally or unintentionally.
By custom creating the scenes myself for each author and saving those scenes, plus any resulting cover images right up to the final one, under that authors name and never using those scenes for anyone else, I can guarantee each cover will be unique.
RW: Is book cover creating something you would suggest people get into? For example; are there creative headaches involved? Be honest, Authors are very possessive and particular about their books. I have an image in my head for a book cover for one of mine and I can see it almost exactly, does that ever rear its ugly head and you have to rework a cover over and over?
CHRIS: Only one cover needed more than a few tweaks, but it was well worth the effort by both the author and myself.
RW: If someone wanted to become a cover designer how would you suggest they begin? Art classes, computer classes, or maybe just jump in and become familiar with things?
CHRIS: Some people seem to have a natural affinity for composing art (I had a friend once who used to doodle mini masterpieces on scraps of paper, then discard them), but like most things, art is learnable, so if someone is not feeling all that comfortable with their efforts, taking art and/or computer classes may help.
However, why not just jump in and have a go – you’ll have great fun even if you never sell any of it.
RW: Do you ever see a book cover or even a DVD/Blue Ray cover and think “They so got that wrong”?
CHRIS: I can’t think of any.
RW: You’ve recently started practicing Promotional Trailers, will you be offering this as another service?
CHRIS: Yes – but first I have to satisfy myself that I KNOW what I’m doing with the new software I’m teaching myself how to use, then I will definitely offer that service at competitive (and affordable) prices.
One thing I would like to make clear though.
It is NOT my intention to undermine Professional Book Cover and Promo Trailer Makers and steal business away from them – my intention is ONLY to offer Indie Authors an affordable alternative when starting out ,or, when trying to become better established and in a position to be able to afford those professionals.
RW: Lastly, as I ask all the creative people that come through here, what is your favorite word and why?
CHRIS: ‘FUN’ because everyone should enjoy what they do and if you take everything, including yourself, too seriously, you’ll go NUTS.
Blog: TheStoryReadingApeBlog.com
Twitter: @StoryReadingApe
Facebook Timeline
Facebook Promotion of New Authors and Books Page
Google+: Chris Graham (The Story Reading Ape)
LinkedIn: The Story Reading Ape
Pinterest: Graham Christopher
Goodreads: Chris The Story Reading Ape
COVERS REVEALED BUT NOT YET PUBLISHED
Chris Graham is more than a blog host to Indie Authors. I wanted people to find out the talent behind the ape. I think after reading his answers you will all agree that there is a lot more than than the fur shows us. There is an intelligence there that he downplays but you can’t hide it for long. Doing illustrated work has long been one of my biggest dreams. In reality it was perhaps my first dream career. When I found out what Chris does I had to talk to him and share what I found out. I thank Chris for agreeing and sharing. Visit his blog, buy the books he covers, and as always . . .
Much Respect
Ronovan
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Author Presence: Putting your Theme in Place.
Last time we met it was choosing your Theme for your blog. Let’s say you looked at the links I gave you and you picked one out. I’m going with the Coraline Theme for my example Blog. One of the things we might do today is install the About.me Widget, so go ahead and log into your About.me account in another Tab or Window. This isn’t a must today but I am going to cover it.
Now you will see a long list of words on the left side. If you take a moment you will be able to do some common sense figuring out of things. For now, since we are going to actually pick out your Theme and apply it to your blog, we are going to change the Appearance of your Blog.
So guess which of those words we are going to click on?
Yep-Appearance.
Technically you don’t have to click on it, but instead just place the cursor over it and it will show your options, but either way works.
Click Themes
Now you are going to want to Search for your Theme.
On the Right side click Free. Now there is normally a Search field here, if not, you can do the search function on your computer, or simply scroll down until you find your Theme. I am going to choose Coraline.
Once I find it, I will place my cursor over it and click Activate.
I click the x at this point because I don’t want to Customize, which means things like Add a Header Photo.
Right now I want to choose the layout. Each Theme has at least one layout. If it has more than one option, then you will see under Appearance something called Theme Options.
For Coraline click Theme Options.
I’m not worried about that Color Scheme yet that is at the top of the screen. What I want is to take a look at the Default Layout. I can’t tell you which one to go with for certain here as you will want to pick your own flavor.
Now you want to see what it looks like, right?
Look at the top left of your screen and you will see the name of your Blog. Mine says Ronovan Author. Click it. Now if you are in Coraline you will see some things already in your Sidebar. Don’t worry, you will be putting your own things in there but what’s in there at the moment is just fine.
Now you have a choice to make. You can do one of about four things right now:
I think most people go straight for that Header Photo. Yes, that image is important, but I say let’s go with the About.me Widget. After all that time we worked on them, and even put possibly two images in there already, let’s put them to use. You are your image. Period.
Again we are back at the Dashboard and under the Appearance toward the bottom, right where we just left from. In fact you could click the back arrow on your browser to get there.
Once there you want to click on Widget that appears after you click on Appearance or hover over it with your cursor.
The About.me Widget is the easiest to find. Why? Because they are alphabetical. Yes, it’s the first one you come to. In the Coraline Theme on the right side I have Seven Widget Areas. I am only concerned with the Primary Widget Area right now.
Under your Primary Widget Area on the Right your About.me Widget has appeared with a lot of information in it.
Now all of that stuff that was there before is gone. Your image is there along with your bio and your Social Media Apps Buttons. Think about all you’ve done with this one Widget.
Not all of that information has to be shown. Back in that Widget area you can always go in and uncheck the boxes you don’t want to appear. If you keep your Bio up on your About.me Widget then you might not need the About page at the top of your Header Photo. The About page is one of the most popular spots on my personal Blog. Why do I not show my Bio from my About.me account? Because it takes up a lot of Sidebar space I use for other things. But if you are a minimalist in that regards do what you like. I am just going to show you what is possible.
Well that’s all for today.
See y’all next time.
Much Respect
Ronovan
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Special Interview on Monday!
Can you guess who it is?
Just look around the site and you will get an idea.
© Copyright-All rights reserved by litworldinterviews.wordpress.com 2014
2014 © Copyright-All rights reserved by litworldinterviews.wordpress.com
Lit World Interviews 