Tag Archives: author interview

Sep1

Back To School 2014 Blog Tour: Featured Author Becca Price

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b2schblogtour2014Welcome to the first day of the Back to School Blog Tour for 2014. It’s part of my give back to the Indie Children’s Author community. I am featuring some unique and fabulous books this week from picture books to YA. With the new Common Core being adopted in many schools throughout the US, this is a great time to learn about new authors and possible new books for guided reading and novel studies. Plus, if you just want to find a great new book to read at the start of school, please check back each day for our new featured author.

This year, we have a Back To School Book Bundle Giveaway featuring books donated by the featured authors. Enter to win by joining featured authors’ social media links. It’s a great way to stay in touch with what the featured authors will be doing in the Fall and months to come. Plus, your welcomed to share what you learned by reposting any of the featured posts. The giveaway will run through the end of the weekend, Sept. 7, 2014. Winners will be announced on the blog 48 hours after the end of the giveaway. All the authors featured for this week have donated books for the giveaway. Here is your chance to support Indie authors and win something too! Here is what you can win:

Grand Prize Book Bundle:

Becca Price: Fairies and Fireflies

imgresRachel Cole: The Rabbit Ate My Homework

Clare K.R. Miller: A Star to Guide Her Trilogy (YA) Ebook Trilogy

D.R. Martin: Johnny Graphic Adventure Series (Middle Grade) Paperback or Ebook edition

Garrett Carter: I Want To Be An Athlete and a Teacher (Picture Book) Paperback signed edition

 

Runner Up: One runner-up winner will receive The Lost Secret of Fairies Ebook or Paperback edition and a $10 Starbucks Gift Card

 

Back to School Book Bundle Giveaway 2014: LINK HERE!

(***Note: Giveaway set to Pacific Daylight Time)

 

Becca Price: First Featured Author Sept. 1

 

Our first featured author is Becca Price. She first joined the blog tour last year, and has been up to writing many more books since she was last featured. She is almost done with her Fairies and Fey series, and is adding a bit more spice by working on a YA. It has been a wonderful experience to see her list of books grow over the last year. I had a chance to ask Becca about her current and future projects, and what she remembers about her favorite memories of her most inspiring teacher.

1) What is your favorite memory from the beginning of a school year?

Becca Price: The first day of school often coincided with my birthday (this was back when schools started in early September) so I’d get a lot of fancy school stuff and clothes for birthday gifts. And books! I’d usually get lots of books for my birthday — so I had the triple excitement of a new school year, a birthday, and new books to read in boring classes. (did I actually say that?)

2) Who was your most inspiring teacher? Why?

Becca Price: I had two very inspiring teachers in junior high and high school, and it is to my deepest shame that I don’t recall their names. In Junior High, I had a history teacher who recognized that I could write my stories and poems in class, and still keep up good grades in her class. She let me write whatever I wanted to, as long as I showed it to her when I was done. She was very encouraging, even though my poetry was mostly doggerel at that point.  My stories were typical early teen self-indulgence, but she’d often underline a sentence or paragraph that was particularly good.

In high school, I took a creative writing class. My teacher there, too, was very encouraging about my way with words, but warned me that the path of a professional fiction writer was hard, and not very well paid.

3) What is the advice you would give children authors to get started?

Becca Price: Read all the children’s books you can. Read Neil Gaiman for sheer brilliance, Charles de Lint for his way of making every word and scene count, read the classic children’s literature because they’re fun. But read, read, read everything you can get your hands on. You never know what will spark inspiration.

4) Who is your favorite character from a children’s book?

Becca Price: Oddly, the little engine from The Little Engine That Could. “I think I can, I think I can.” Words that should be engraved in every child’s heart.

5) How could you sum up what writing means to you?

Becca Price: Writing is life, writing is breath. Writing is emotion, both joy and sorrow. I’ve always written, I can’t imagine not writing. There was a long period where I was on medication that decreased creativity (was known for that, in fact) and it was horrible.  The week I got off that was the week I first published Dragons and Dreams.

6) What are your current writing projects?

Becca Price: Right now I’ve got several irons in the fire. The most pressing is re-releasing all my books with illustrations, and getting them professionally laid out. I’ve found the most wonderful artist, Sara Anderson, who really captures the story themes and my writing style, and I adore her.  She also has several unpublished stories to illustrate for me, so that they’ll come out as a first edition with illustrations.  I hope to have all those done by the end of 2014.

In the mean time, I’ve started a fairly major project, The Woods Between. It’s hard to describe. It’s for a YA/Adult audience, still a fairy tale, but a multi-generation saga of one family’s interactions with fairyland for good and ill. It will be composed of three separate stories for 3 distinct generations, showing how the actions of each previous generation affects the next generation.  It started out as a simple quest fairy tale, and my husband asked a simple question, and the rest cascaded from there. I have no idea how long it will be, but don’t look for publication until early 2015.

I’m also about 2/3 done with my next collection, Quests and Fairy Queens — I’m hoping to work on the two or three missing stories when I’m not working on The Woods Between.

Thank you Becca for kicking off the Back To School Blog Tour this year. I can’t wait to see where this next year takes you. For more information or connect with Becca Price:

Featured Book:

Fairies and Fireflies

Available at:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Fairies-Fireflies-Bedtime-Becca-Price-ebook/dp/B00MDN9YCW

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fairies-and-fireflies-becca-price/1118113275

For more information on Becca Price:

email: WyrmTalesPress@gmail.com

blog: http://www.wyrmtalespress.com/

her mailing list at:   http://eepurl.com/JA5e1

 

Sep2

Back to School Blog Tour 2013: Featured Author Sibel Hodge

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Back to School Blog Tour Sept. 2-6 Featured Authors: Sibel Hodge

Back to School Blog Tour Sept. 2-6 Featured Author: Sibel Hodge


Welcome to the first day of the Back to School Blog Tour 2013! Every day this week, I will be posting interviews with the featured authors participating in the blog tour. I’ve learned so much and made new connections in setting up this blog tour. I’m happy to share with you some of these fabulous authors.
For a list and link to all the authors participating and tour giveaway, link to the Back To School Blog Tour Page here.

Sibel Hodge is an award winning author that has written books in genres that include romance, cook books, and mysteries. She features her wacky humor and characters with a touch of self-confidence in her books.

Sibel Hodge is the author of -------.

Sibel Hodge is the author of It’s a Catastrophe.

1) Who was your favorite teacher, and how did they influence your writing?
None of my teachers really stand out in my mind as influencing me, although my favourite subjects were English Language and History. I think when you leave school, you don’t remember a lot of what the teachers taught you, but you do remember what they were. Schools need to educate the mind and the heart.

2) What advice would you give children for the beginning of school?
Try to enjoy every minute you can. Education is the most powerful way to make the world a better place to live in. Knowledge is power, and you have the power to do anything you set your mind to.

3) Did you have any role models growing up? Who were they? Why did you admire them?
Most of my role models were people who stood up for injustice in the world. Nelson Mandela would have to be a biggie for me.

4) Do you do anything to help organize your writing or inspire a story?
Inspiration is everywhere – from a book I’ve read, a film I’ve seen, a snippet of conversation, subjects I’m passionate about. Plus, I have a crazy imagination. Most of the time, I don’t really plan out what I’m going to write before I start. I have a rough idea of the beginning and end, but I don’t know how I’m going to get there until the words tumble out of my head.

5) What is the kernel of wisdom you have learned about writing?
Read, read, read! When I was a child, my mum always said if you read books, you’ll never be bored, and it’s so true. Plus, to write good books, you need to recognize good writing and what works, so the more books you read, the easier writing will be.

6) What other projects or books are you working on right now?
I’ve just finished a Young Adult coming of age novel called The See-Through Leopard, which will be released
soon.

It's A Catastrophe by Sibel Hodge

It’s A Catastrophe by Sibel Hodge

***Sibel Hodge’s book, It’s A Catastrophe, is available at Amazon.com as an ebook edition.

**For more information on Sibel Hodge, please visit her website at: http://www.sibelhodge.com/
or visit her at her Facebook page.

***For all of the featured author blog links and blog tour giveaway information, link to the Back to School Blog Tour 2013 Page.

Jul17

Interview with William L. Stuart, author of the Gemstone Chronicles

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William L. Stuart, author of the Gemstone Chronicles Book 1: The Carnelian

William L. Stuart, author of the Gemstone Chronicles Book 1: The Carnelian

I’m proud to start off day 3 of the Magik and Mayhem Blog tour with an interview with author William L. Stuart. Mr. Stuart is a veteran and proud grandfather that lives near Atlanta. He’s woven his love of rock hunting and adventure into the Gemstone Chronicles, a children’s middle grade fantasy adventure series. Below are the answers to my questions that focused on his writing wisdom, interests, and most of all, creative ideas surrounding elves.

1) Why did you choose to write about elves?

The elves were actually my grandson’s idea. We were out gem hunting last year and we were discussing the “magical” properties of gemstones. He suggested I write a book with elves and gemstones and The Gemstone Chronicles series was born.

2) What kind of books did you enjoy reading while growing up?

Growing up I read pretty much everything. I read Tolkien, Ursula K. LeGuin, Stephen Donaldson, Robert Ludlam, and even some of the Read’s Digest Condensed Books!

3) There is lots of rocks and mineral information in your book, and references to being a rock hound. Could you share some of your experience collecting rocks?

I discovered the pleasure of rock hunting when we moved to the north Georgia mountains. In fact, it was a gem hunting trip that got me hooked. My brother and I were looking for something different for my grandson and his two girls to do one day and we happened upon a place that allowed us to dig through a dirt pile and find gems. We had a pile of dirt, a creek, and shiny rocks! It was a great day and got both my brother and I hooked. We now are members of the local mineral society as well as a weekend gold miners club!

4) Could you summarize what writing means to you in one sentence?

Writing is a way to give to my grandchildren a legacy that they can pass on to many more generations.

5) What advice would you give for writing fantasy books, especially about elves as a character?

My advice for writing fantasy is to find a storyline that appeals to you, and make it a tale you could tell your children or grandchildren!

6) What other projects or books are you working on right now?

I am currently working on the last book of the series. I am working on the edits/rewrites/revisions and plan to have it in my editor’s hands by August. The plan is to release it at the end of November 2013!

The Gemstone Chronicles Book 1: The Carnelian by William L. Stuart

The Gemstone Chronicles Book 1: The Carnelian by William L. Stuart

For a review of the first book in the Gemstone Chronicles: The Carnelian, link here.

The Gemstone Chronicles: The Carnelian is available at Amazon.com in paperback and ebook editions. Also available at Smashwords.com as an ebook edition.

Starts July 15 and runs through July 19

Starts July 15 and runs through July 19

Thank you to William L. Stuart for sharing some information on the world of being an Indie Children’s author. For more amazing information on elves, the fey, and the authors that write about them, here is the Magik and Mayhem Main Blog Hub.

Chance to win a bundle of prizes:

Ebook Yseult by Ruth Nestvold
Ebook bundle Season 1 Boreal and John Grey by Chrystalla Thoma
Ebook bundle Dark Elf by Willo Nonea Rea
Ebook Caitlin’s Book of Shadows by Juli D. Revezzo
Print book Raingun by John Blackport
Ebook Aundes Aura by Ryan Sullivan
Ebook Seeking a Scribe by Marsha A. Moore
Ebook Her Master’s Madness by J.E. & M. Keep
Ebook Wings of Shadow by Anna Kyss
Ebook Rune Breaker by Landon Porter
Ebook Judgement Rising by Tracy Falbe
Ebook The Chosen by Annette Gisby
Ebook New Zealand with a Hobbit Botherer by John & Annette Gisby
Gift certificate

Entry form below. Good luck!
Magik and Mayhem Grand Prize Giveaway

The Magik and Mayhem Blog Tour will continue until Friday, July 19.

Jul31

Interview with Katie W. Stewart, Author of The Dragon Box

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Katie W. Stewart, author of The Dragon Box

I had the honor of interviewing Katie W. Stewart, author of The Dragon Box. Katie lives in Western Australia, and is currently a librarian for a local private school. Katie has shared insight for her ideas on her book, what it’s like to be a writer, and her interests besides writing.

1) Where did you get the idea to make a video game come to life?

My eldest son was about ten years old at the time and being teased about his lack of footballing skills. He was (and still is) a keen computer game player, so I thought I’d try to incorporate a computer game into a story that might help him to deal with the bullies. In The Dragon Box, the boys bullying James, the main character, come into the game as ugly little goblins and he uses his problem-solving skills to overcome them. Unfortunately, it took me so long to write the book that my son was too old to want to read it by the time I finished! (He’s a University student now.)

2) What kind of books did you enjoy reading growing up?

I loved all kinds of books. I read everything I could lay my hands on. I especially loved the ones that took me out of my own world, the ones with a touch of magic. One favourite I had when I was six or seven was ‘The Sam Pig Story Book’ by Alison Uttely. The pigs got up to all the same sort of capers that human children do, but in a different context. I also loved books by Elizabeth Goudge and I had a favourite book of English Fairy Tales with scary pictures that I loved to frighten myself with. As I grew older, I moved into the classics. One thing that probably stopped me reading some really good books though, was that I steered clear of anything my mother said I ‘should’ read. I was a bit of a rebel like that.

3) What is it like being an Indie writer?

That depends on how many books I’m selling. If I’m selling lots of books, good reviews are coming in and I’m generally feeling that I’m making some headway, then I love it. On days when nothing is selling, reviews are not so good and I’m tired of trying to market, then it’s just hard work and to be truthful, I wonder why I bother. In general, though, I don’t regret having gone the self-publishing route. I like the control I have over everything, from cover to price. I love the fact that people are reading my stories, which would otherwise be sitting on my hard-drive or on the desk of an agent/publisher for months and I love meeting my readers on the internet, something I might not get to do if I were published traditionally.

4) Do you have a writing routine? If so, what is it?

Er…could you wait a moment while I hunt out a dictionary? R…rou…routine… No, I don’t have one of those. With 3 children and a part-time job, I’m happy to just grab the time where I can. Fortunately, I get school holidays, so that gives me some time to really get down to it every few months, but otherwise it’s just writing when I can. Most of it is in the evenings or on my days off.

4) Do you have any other things you enjoy doing besides writing?

Lots of things! I love reading, of course, and I love drawing and designing – I’m very good at using them to procrastinate when I don’t feel like writing. I also love music. I bought myself a Celtic harp a couple of years ago and spend hours teaching myself to play that. Long walks around the farm where I live are pretty good, too, when the weather’s right, often with my camera so that I can take photos– something else I love doing.

5) What advice would you give to children that want to be a writer?

Read! Read everything. Decide for yourself what makes a good story and learn to write that way. Embrace all those boring English lessons your teachers make you do, because one day all that stuff will come naturally to you and save you lots of time and effort when you’re writing. Learn to study people, their strengths and weaknesses, funny little habits and annoying traits. One day, they’ll become your characters.

6) What upcoming projects or future events do you have coming up?

I’m working on the last chapters of the sequel to my adult’s book, Treespeaker, at the moment, hoping to have it out in the next few months. Then there’s another children’s book I’d like to write and a sequel to my Young Adult fantasy, Mark of the Dragon Queen. That should keep me busy for a while!

For a book review of The Dragon Box, click here.
The Dragon Box is available as a Kindle edition at Amazon.com.

Link to Katie W. Stewart’s website.

Feb12

Interview with Sybil Nelson

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Sybil Nelson

I am pleased to present to you the interview with Sybil Nelson. Sybil is the author of the “Priscilla the Great” series and several other YA books. She lives in Charleston, South Carolina with her husband and two children. She is currently working on her PHD in Biostatistics. She graciously took time out of her busy schedule to answer the following questions.

1) How did you get your idea to write about a preteen super hero?

Do you want the real answer or what I tell everyone? I’ll give you both and let you choose.
Truth: Due to a change in birth control, I ended up having my period for a month straight. I was so annoyed and wished that my period could bring me something besides cramps and chocolate cravings. I thought it would be cool if my period could also bring me superpowers. So I got the idea for a girl who got super powers on her first period. I wrote the entire book in less than 30 days. When HarperCollins showed interest in the book, The Adventures of PMS Girl, they convinced me to get rid of the period concept and to change the book to Priscilla the Great. After eight months of editing with them, they ultimately rejected the book.

What I tell everyone: I really wanted there to be a book that triumphed the power of being a girl. There are lots of great action books for boys, but not so many for girls. I used to love reading comic books as a kid and I am addicted to the X-Men. I thought there needed to be a superhero book for girls that are like me when I was young.

2) What is your favorite characteristic about Priscilla?
I love her sense of humor. She really tells it as she sees it. She might not always see it correctly, but her way of viewing things is definitely amusing.

3) What kind of books did you enjoy reading while growing up?
I read anything and everything when I was growing up. I even went through a Harlequin romance phase. Hey, maybe that is why Priscilla’s mother’s name is Quinn.

4) What advice would you give to young writers?
Write every day. That is the way to hone your craft. I find that if I skip a few days of writing, it’s harder to get back in the flow of things. But when you write every day, you are sharpening your skills. And you can’t edit an empty page. You have to have something written. So just write. Write anything all the time.

5) What is your writing routine?
I try to write at least 1000 words a day. I keep a journal with me where I jot down ideas all day long and then at night before I go to bed, I type out those ideas.

6) In one sentence, how would you describe what it is to write?
Writing is freedom.

7) Any new projects in the works? Future events?
Ha! I have so many ideas I don’t have time to write them all. Here is what I’m currently working on.

Dark Marco – Spin off of Priscilla the Great
La Cienega’s Smile – Short story prequel to Nothing Else Matters
Somehow Someday – YA romance

I have more projects, but I have to limit it to three at a time.

Sybil Nelson’s books are available on Amazon.com, Smashwords and Barnes and Nobles.com.

*Read the book review of Priscilla the Great.

Jan2

Interview with Charles Markee

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Author Charles Markee

To start off the year, I’ve had the chance to interview the author of the book, Otherworld Tales: Irish the Demon Slayer, Charles Markee. He is a great inspiration if you’re interested in Celtic lore. His story weaves the imagination with traditional Irish legends such as the Tuatha de Danann and Cuchulain. So, enjoy a peek into the world that Charles created and how he got there.

1) Your book includes a lot of Celtic lore and fairy tales. Why did you
choose to use them as a starting point?

My initial starting point was autobiographical. As a pre-teen, I spent summers in a cabin my grandfather built circa 1921 in San Geronimo, a rural community in Marin County, California. My two best friends and I rode bikes and explored the hills, forests and creeks. We had adventures just like the three characters in my book.

In the first two chapters, the boys seek help from an old woman the boys believe is a witch. For her Irish accent, I remembered a 1960s broadcast of an interview with the Irish poet, Ella Young, in which she described communicating with trees, animals and even rocks. I love the outdoors, so it seemed natural for talking trees to become a significant character in my book.

That Irish theme struck a familiar chord. My mother was 100% Irish, we lived in an Irish Catholic neighborhood of San Francisco and I attended a high school with primarily Irish and Italian kids. The school motto was and still is today, the ‘Fightin’ Irish.’

I had grown up surrounded by this Irish population. Curious about my heritage, I spent two years studying Celtic mythology. Most of my research uncovered tales of leprechauns and fairies, not what I wanted. Finally, I discovered a treatise titled, Cuchulain of Muirthemne, by Lady Augusta Gregory, a peer and friend of Yeats. I poured thorough this exhaustively and incorporated many tales of the great Irish hero, Cuchulain, as updated adventures for the boys and one girl in my book.

2) Have you ever been to Ireland?

Funny that you should ask. Half way through the second or third draft, my wife told me that I couldn’t very well write a story about Ireland without going there, so we did. After a few days in Dublin, we rented a car and got completely lost looking for Tara, but eventually found it. It’s a mystical place, the presumed location of the ancient castle of the king of kings. I made it the location of Queen Aine’s castle in my story. We then took a train to Belfast in Ulster and traveled through the countryside where Cuchulain fought his battles. I stood at the window most of the trip taking photos of the landscape. Later I bought contour maps of the area so I could accurately describe those places that the boys visited in their search for Irish’s sister.

3) Are there other adventures planned for Irish and his friends?

Several readers have asked for a sequel and I’m about half way through a first draft. My target release date is the summer of 2012. This time the boys discover another part of the Otherworld that exists inside Mt. Shasta in California. You can download the first chapter here: http://www.charlesmarkee.com/html/irish2.html

4) What inspires you to write?

Everything inspires me to write, especially talking to other writers. People I meet become my characters. Places I see become the environment in the story. Events I witness become portions of the plot. I’m always writing even when I’m not writing. Finally, I confess that I love the god-like ego-trip of creating a fictitious world filled with my characters who take on an existence of their own.

5) What advice would you give young writers?

Read voraciously, especially in the genre you want to write in. Get to know your target audience. Join and participate with your local community of writers. Join or form a critique group. It’ll keep you sane. And above all, keep writing.

6) In one sentence, how would you describe writing?

For me, writing is the process of producing a dream state in readers’ minds that will take them into the world I have created.

7) In closing, what other books are in the works? Events or
appearances for 2012?

In addition to the sequel about Irish and his friends mentioned above, I have a completed manuscript sitting on the shelf. It’s the story based on true events about a Hispanic girl who discovers her best friend is dying of a kidney disease and her parents refuse to allow medical intervention. It’s a story that needs to be told, but my 72 rejects tell me that it won’t succeed with traditional publishers. You can download the first chapter here: http://www.charlesmarkee.com/html/maria_summary.html

A short story titled ‘Hills like Brown Camels,’ a parody on Hemingway’s ‘Hills like White Elephants’ is published in a 2011 anthology, ‘The Sound of a Thousand Leaves.’

Available from Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Vintage-Voices-Sound-Thousand-Leaves/dp/1463740220/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325276789&sr=1-1

I’m working on another short story for the 2012 anthology. It is titled ‘The Bear’ and it’s based on an event in the life of my father-in-law who was a bear guide in the Shasta/Siskiyou County mountains for 30 years.

As the coordinator for the North Bay Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), I plan, provide speakers and host quarterly meetings in the Santa Rosa area for children’s book writers.

***Charles Markee is the author of Otherworld Tales: Irish the Demon Slayer. Link to the book review here. His website is located at www.charlesmarkee.com.

Jul12

Interview with Laura Lond, Author of The Lakeland Knight Series

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The summer interview series continues with an interview with Laura Lond. Her middle reader novel, My Sparkling Misfortune, is told from the perspective of the villain protagonist with lots of twists to keep you guessing. Laura discussed her plans for a sequel, her writing routine, and what to expect from her next.

1) How did you get your ideas for your book, My Sparkling Misfortune?
The overall setting and theme are inspired by traditional fairy tales and I guess Disney classics. I’ve always loved a good adventure with knights, swords, castles, and of course some miraculous happenings. As to the specific idea for the book, they usually come to me in the form of a small seed that plants itself deep inside and starts growing. In this case, it was a villain who had a lot to say, and, I thought, deserved a chance.

2) Why did you pick the villain perspective for My Sparkling Misfortune?
Lord Arkus’s sense of humor had won me over. I heard him “talk” and I knew it would be best to let him tell his story.

3) What other adventures are planned for Lord Arkus and the sparkling, Jarvi?
Lord Arkus is not happy with the situation he finds himself and his sparkling friend in in the end of Book 1. He tries to remedy that, which turns into a whole new quest, more heroic than Arkus would be willing to admit.

4) What is your writing routine?
When I come up with a book idea, which is usually a theme, a character, or a scene, I try to expand it, develop the story as much as I can. I am not a good planner, my stories prefer to write themselves as I go, but it helps to have at least all the major turns mapped out, so I try to do that.

I write in the evening or late at night, when all the other work is done and there are no distractions. Writing is a slow process for me. I often wish I could complete a book sooner, but every writer is different, and I have to accept that I’m a slow one.

5) Could you summarize what writing means to you in one sentence?
Letting out stories I have inside of me.

6) What advice could you give to young authors?
Don’t give up, don’t be discouraged, write as much as you can.

7) What are some current projects you are working on now?
I am writing the sequel to My Sparkling Misfortune. When I’m done with that, I plan to return to another unfinished fantasy novel. Other ideas will have to wait.

My Sparkling Misfortune is available in Paperback and Hardback Editions at Amazon.com. Ebook editions available as Kindle and Smashwords editions.
*** For more information on Laura Lond and her other books, please visit her website at: http://laura-lond.tripod.com/.

**For a link to a review of My Sparkling Misfortune, click here.
**Link to her second book’s review, My Royal Pain Quest.
To continue with your INDIEpendence Day Blog tour event, link back to the Indibles Writers Blog.

Jun20

Interview with Lindsay Buroker, Author of Goblin Brothers Adventures

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I was lucky to be able to interview Lindsay Buroker as our first Indie Children’s Author. Lindsay has written Goblin Brothers Adventures, a charming short story collection for kids 7-12 yrs old. She was able to share her inspirations and where she gets her story ideas. Plus, a few surprises of what she has in store for her readers.

1) Tell us a little bit about your current book.

The Goblin Brothers Adventures, a collection of short stories for middle-grade readers, is the first ebook I published. Way back in December! Okay, that was only six months ago, but I’ve done a lot of e-publishing since then, so it seems like it’s been a long time.

I originally wrote the goblin stories to put up on my website (http://www.goblinbrothers.com), and several of them are still free there. I wanted folks to be able to get to know those characters, because I was planning to write some novels featuring them.

I have a rough draft done of the first novel with Malagach and Gortok, and I’m hoping to get back to that later this summer. It’s gotten pushed to the side a little since children’s ebooks don’t sell nearly as well as adult books (not many kids with Kindles yet, I guess!). Those characters are a lot of fun, though, and I enjoy writing about them, so I’m definitely planning to get that first novel out.

As for my adult fiction, my most recent release is Dark Currents, a heroic fantasy adventure and the sequel to The Emperor’s Edge, the first novel I published (also back in December). As you can see, I’ve been busy!

2) How did you get started as a writer?

I learned to read at three and started making up my own stories shortly thereafter. I never thought of writing as something one could do as a career, though, so it was a long time before I “got serious” about it and started finishing short stories and novels.

I’m not making a living doing it yet (hey, it’s only been six months), but I can see the potential. As an indie author publishing ebooks, you earn a much higher cut than you would going through a traditional publisher, so you can actually make decent money without having to be a bestseller.

3) What inspires you to write your stories?

I just like spending time with my characters. Maybe I need to get out more? (Wink.)

4) Where do your ideas come from as a writer?

I get inspiration from a lot of places, but history is a big one. I enjoy reading about everything from pirates to steam engines, and I like watching shows like the History Channel and Discovery (yup, I’m a geek like that). I don’t have the best memory, so don’t ask me any trivia, but if I see an idea I like, I’ll write it down to use in a story at some point.

5) For a young author,(children 6-17) what would you recommend they do to start their dreams of writing?

Write (of course!) and start getting feedback as soon as you can. Writing is just like learning the piano or taking soccer lessons–there’s a limit to how much you can improve by yourself.

Parents like everything you do automatically, because they’re your parents, so they’re not always the best critics, but teachers can help make you better. An English or creative writing teacher might be able to help you find a mentor too (maybe a local author you can talk to).

6) If you could have anything in the world, what would it be?

An earthship. 🙂

7) In closing, what are your next projects? Appearances to mention?

I’m working on Book 3 in my Emperor’s Edge series, and, as I mentioned above, I’m hoping to get back to work on that first Goblin Brothers novel soon.

No appearances, but you can always find me on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/goblinwriter), and you can visit me on my blog too (http://www.lindsayburoker.com). I talk about e-publishing and book promotion there, and you can also see what I’m working on in the news section.

Goblin Brothers Adventures can be found as a Kindle Edition and Smashwords Edition. A review of her book can be found in our Review Section.

For more information on Lindsay Buroker, visit her website at: http://www.lindsayburoker.com.