Interview with Missy Fleming Author of Happily Never After

Hi guys! I got a chance to interview a Missy Fleming, and even though I am not interested in her novel, I'm sure some of you are.





Happily Never After


There's no such thing as happy endings.

Savannah, Georgia is rumored to be the most haunted place in America. Quinn Roberts knows it is. She's felt the presence of spirits her entire life, investigating and photographing them with her best friend. Only none of those encounters ever turned violent, until now. The menacing darkness feeding off her stepmother has promised she won't live to see her eighteenth birthday.

After a chance meeting Quinn reluctantly allows actor Jason Preston into her life, which has complications of its own. She's not used to letting people get close. Falling for him while fighting for her life, and her family's legacy, only complicates things more. Jason shows her exactly what she stands to lose, especially when she's being attacked by the mysterious entity. Each attack is more violent and terrifying than the last.

With Jason's help, she dives into the Roberts' family history, searching for a link between a woman who went missing a hundred and fifty years ago and what's happening now. What they find is a brutal murder and that the ghost doesn't just want to hurt Quinn, it wants revenge.

It wants her life.

from goodreads


Did you always want to become an author?

Yes. I started with poetry pretty young, then it morphed into ideas for stories. I have to say it probably took me like five years to finish that first book. Happily Never After is the second novel I ever finished. I began writing thinking I’d do adult romance because it’s what I enjoyed reading. Once I ventured into YA and paranormal, then fantasy, things took off from there. For some reason, it’s easier making worlds up then setting something in reality. Don’t know why that is!

How did Happily Never After start as an idea?

I’m a huge fan of shows like Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures. I had in my head I wanted to do a ghost story, set in a great historic city like Savannah, and it grew from there. Quinn is an amateur ghost hunter who’s always sensed the presence of spirits, so when building her backstory it somehow picked up more and more aspects of Cinderella. So, I figured, why not? I imagined a southern, gothic Cinderella and I really think I’ve accomplished it. Happily Never After is a special story to me. I have the characters cast, a soundtrack fitting the mood and setting, and launching into the sequel I’m exploring a new frontier.

Advice for inspiring young authors?

That’s easy. Do not give up. And find a critique partner, a fellow writer who is similar to you and who understands your style. So much has changed in the publishing world, making it more important than ever to understand who you are as an author. Are you happy self-publishing? Is it the best you can offer? Don’t write for the market, for what you see selling. Write for yourself. I always said if no one sees my writing, I won’t feel like I’ve failed. I’ll have these stories which mean so much to me and finishing them is one of the greatest feelings in the world. I’d be completely happy with that.

What was the hardest part in writing Happily Never After? Easiest?

I’d say the hardest was capturing the essence of Savannah, Georgia because…wait for it…I’ve never been there. I studied maps and history, immersing myself in it. I’ve been to Georgia, was born there, but never to this fascinating city. It’s hard to bring a place to life when you’ve never walked its streets. I also struggled with mixing in the Cinderella elements. Was there too much similarity? Was there not enough?

The easiest part was Quinn, the main character. Her struggles and her abilities were the center of the story, the part I had in my head from the beginning. I knew where I wanted her to go, the girl I hoped she evolved into. And she’s still evolving. There are big tests coming up for her.



Favorites:

Color?   Black, purple. I also love earthy tones like browns and greens.

Sport?  Football, hands down. LOVE the NFL. Also having roots in the south, NASCAR has always been popular in my house.

TV Show?  I am a huge, huge fan of Lost. Still watch the seasons over. Once Upon a Time has really got me hooked as well, obviously. Others include Big Bang Theory, Scandal, Game of Thrones. And of course Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures.

Movie?  It’s always impossible to pick one. I’m a proud geek so I love stuff like Avengers, Dark Knight, Star Trek, The Hobbit. To be honest, my favorite movie of the last couple years, the one I can watch over and over is the reboot of Star Trek. Gone With the Wind is up there as well. Basically anything J

Book?  Another impossible pick. I reread a lot of books, but the one I read the most is The Host by Stephanie Meyer. Which is strange because I’m not the biggest fan of Twilight. It just pulls an emotional response from me every time. Of course, Pride and Prejudice is another. I LOVED all the Game of Thrones books. The new Bloodlines series by Richelle Read. City of Ashes. There are just too many to list.

Author?  For YA: Richelle Read, Cassandra Clare, Suzanne Collins   For Adult: Nora Roberts, Kristin Higgins, Sherryl Woods, JRR Martin. There is never enough room for me to mention favorite books or authors. I read A LOT.

Where can we find you online?

Right now, only at fireandiceya.com.  I’m still working on getting a website and facebook page. I spent so much time getting the book ready and lost in my others that I’m way behind on the times. I’ll get there, but I can be reached through my publisher’s website for now.

Author Interview: Sahana Epari

Last week, I review Sahana Epari's debut novel, Pure at Heart. I was lucky enough to also have the chance to ask her some questions for an interview:

How did you come up with the concept for Pure at Heart?

I don't really remember. I guess I was just in that phase where I was obsessing over urban fantasy and paranormal novels. I still am :) Anyways, I guess the supernatural being that got to me the most was the werewolf. No matter what book I read, if there was a werewolf in it, the character would automatically be my favorite. As for the plot itself, it took a while to come up with something that I would read myself. Pure at Heart is basically everything I, as a person, would want in a book.


What was the toughest part of writing the novel?

The toughest part would be the conclusion. To be truthful, when I started, I wasn't completely sure I wanted a sequel. I was thinking I could write maybe one of those single novels. Then, I realized that it would be a really big book, because there were so many things I wanted to introduce. The conclusion of Pure at Heart was hard to write because I had to conclude things, but leave a lot of room for questions. I wanted the readers to think, "What happens next?" and want to read the next book.


Is there anything you would want to change about Pure at Heart?

I actually like it the way it is. I elaborated the characters enough, the plot, the setting. Everything is the way I need it to be. If I did have the chance, however, I would want to be a little more descriptive in some scenes.


Who is your favorite author?

Cassandra Clare.

What is your favorite book(s)?

City of Bones, or the Mortal Instruments series.

Many authors tell aspiring young writers to wait until they are older to publish because they haven't lived much and their writing is great for their age, but don't compare to older authors. What do you say about that topic?

I completely disagree. Now that there are self-publishing companies, like CreateSpace, it allows anyone to publish anything they want. Everyone knows that young authors are still growing, and haven't experienced a lot, but that makes it all the better. There's a surprise when you read a really good book, and then discover that it wasn't an adult who wrote it but a young person. Yes, novels written by young authors like myself, shouldn't be compared to books written by older, more experienced, and more educated adults. However, that shouldn't be a restriction to publish something.

What can you tell us about the sequel to Pure at Heart?

It will continue a few days after the end of Pure at Heart. I haven't really decided on the name yet, but it will definitely summarize the novel. I'm hoping to add a big surprise, so hold on. Not sure about the release date as of now.



Where can readers contact you?
  You can go to my blog:

evalineandthepack.blogspot.com

Interview: Claudia Carozza author of The Twenty

A few weeks ago I was introduced to a Claudia Carozza's debut novel The Twenty. I wrote a review of it here, and I love it so much. I can't wait 'till the next installment comes out! In the mean time I asked Claudia Carozza a few questions:


Tell us about yourself and what you like to do besides writing.
I’m 28, married and mother to a very lovable three year old. I have a B.A. in writing and am currently a graduate student. I love to travel and Italy is my favorite travel destination. Growing up, I spent many summers there and attended college in Rome for a while. I also love to bake, spend time with family and friends, and curl up with my kindle to read a great book.
 When did you start writing The Twenty?
I started writing the book about eight months ago. At first it was something I picked up every once in a while to work on. I became really attached to the story and the characters and I found myself wanting to write more and more. Towards the end, I was writing in twelve hour stretches.
 What was the most difficult part about writing The Twenty?
The most difficult part was finding the time to write. Between family and school, it can get a bit hectic.
 Was there something specific ei. idea, scene, character that started the novel?
Random ideas pop into my head all the time so I carry a notepad and pen in my purse with me. I try to write them down and then go back to them later. The idea for The Twenty stuck with me and it was the idea I kept going back to.
 Many authors write what they know and their experiences. What were your own experiences you added to the novel?
I think Hazel feels like she has so much responsibility on her shoulders that she finds it hard to find time for herself to figure out what she wants. I can relate to that feeling of being overwhelmed at times.
 Do you ever get paranoid about someday our world will be like Hazel's?
Not paranoid but there’s always that thought in the back of my head of what if? It’s always helpful to imagine what kind of world we would live in if these things actually happened. I think it adds to the realism of the story.
 If you were in Hazel's shoes, would you work at the Antioch Center or find other ways to make a living?
The job at the Antioch promised so much hope for Hazel so I know I would have done the same and taken the job. When you’re that desperate to take care of your loved ones being picking isn’t an option and Hazel understood that.
 What can you tell us about the second installment?
I’m very excited about it! There are going to be new characters introduced and we’ll see Hazel go through a big transformation. It’s going to be interesting to see how she handles the tug-of-war she’s found herself in and how far she'll push herself and the people around her. A few crazy secrets are uncovered that will reveal more about the characters and their lives before the Antioch.
 Do you have any advice for writers that are currently working on their novel?
Don’t give up! Some days, the words come pouring out while other days I stare at the computer screen and…nothing. Writing is a rollercoaster ride and I think the relationship between an author and a novel is love-hate. Read as much as you can, write as much as you can, and believe you can tell a good story.
Where can we find you online?
www.claudiacarozza.com
https://twitter.com/claudiacarozza
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Claudia-Carozza/109974752471235
http://www.goodreads.com/ccarozza

Interview: Jonathan Marcantoni

Recently I was contacted by the wonderful Jonathan Marcantoni to review his novel Traveler's Rest. I was given the opportunity to also interview him and here are some Q&As about him and his newest novel.


When did you start writing Traveler's Rest?

Traveler's Rest was written between April 2005 and January 2006.

What kind of research did you have to do for the novel?

I did have to do some research on Hurricane Katrina for the hurricane sequence and aftermath. I actually wrote that section during the Katrina catastrophe, which made the research much easier. I also had to research some about Puerto Rican history (though most of it I already knew, it was more a matter of name checking), and the general layout of Denver. The research wasn't especially vital because the story takes place in a sort of alternate universe, so I could play around with facts and history. For instance, the Boriken movement and the terrorist group Dark Horse are completely made up, although they have some basis in real movements. Also, the deaths of General Miles and Jose Celso Barbosa are also fictionalized, although the biographies of those two men are historically accurate.

Did you always know that you wanted to be a writer?

I started writing when I was 8 years old, and always loved it, but I had been doing theatre since I was six and until my late teens I primarily wrote plays and skits. I thought I was going to be an actor until around the time I started writing Traveler's Rest that I decided that writing would be my main focus. But I was always writing, regardless of what type.

Is there any particular character that you relate with the most?

Tony, he is sort of my alter-ego. I wrote the book when I was 20 and 21, and he reflects a lot of the internal struggles I had at the time. I was never a heroin addict, but the bitterness and distance he feels toward his family and some of his unhealthy attitudes toward women I shared at the time. Reading the book now I sort of cringe at his behavior, because its a reflection of some of the worse aspects of myself.

What do you want your readers to get from reading Traveler's Rest?

I hope the book inspires empathy. One thing this country is lacking more and more is empathy for those who can't hide their suffering. We are a nation that shies away from suffering, from admitting weakness. We go out of our way to boost people up to hide pain and failure, and when they can't hide it, we shun them. Whether its depression, addiction, poverty, or even just circumstance. I remember living in Atlanta after Katrina, and half the refugees where there, and the things I'd hear from people about the refugees was terrible and unjust. People would call them free-loaders, or say they got what they deserved for being too stupid to get out of the city. These people had survived a true tragedy, and got nothing but flak in return. The poor in this country are often seen as lazy or welfare cheats, rather than struggling individuals who have made one mistake too many. The same with addicts, instead of being treated as human beings they are seen as burdens. The real problems is that many people don't want to accept that we all struggle, and the ones who struggle most need the most support. I hope my book makes these people appear real, relevant, and worthy of respect and human dignity.

What was the most difficult part of writing Traveler's Rest?

Facing my own fears of expression, particularly with the political material. When I first wrote it I wasn't confident about sharing my passion for Puerto Rican independence, particularly since my family aren't supporters. I talked around the subject a lot in early drafts, and sort of made a situation with the Boriken movement that didn't portray independentistas in the best light, just to make me seem ambivalent toward the movement. But as I got older and more confident in my beliefs, the drafts of the books started bringing out more of that Puerto Rican pride and the message that preserving our culture and taking pride in it is of utmost importance became clearer. With the book out there I'll see how people respond, so far it has been positive and I haven't gotten flak for the political material, but I still have some nervousness about it. The material on depression was also difficult because that has been a problem that has affected myself and my family for several years, and the subject is still rather painful to explore. Exposing my beliefs and my struggles to the extent that I do has given me a love/hate relationship with the book.

Where can we find you online?

My blog www.newerawriters.blogspot.com where you can find essays on Traveler's Rest and tips on writing, freelance editing, and the publishing industry.

You can check out www.aignospublishing.com, a new independent press specializing in experimental literature. I am Editor in Chief at Aignos and I am always looking for authors and editors.

You can also look up the Traveler's Rest group on Facebook.com which has updates and info on the book.

Traveler's Rest is available on amazon.com ( http://www.amazon.com/Travelers-Rest-Jonathan-Marcantoni/dp/0985250615/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341790020&sr=8-1&keywords=jonathan+marcantoni)

And from the publisher Savant Books and Publications (www.savantbooksandpublications.com)