An Interview on Author S. F. Benson's Blog

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Wow, yesterday was nuts with the posts, huh? Three in one day? Unheard of. Anywhoooooo, today, I'm highlighting an amazing interview I had the pleasure of doing over on author S. F. Benson's blog. Get your clicking fingers ready, and let's get going!

Mason Cooley said, “Reading gives us some place to go when we have to stay where we are.”

A Center Stage Moment shines a spotlight on writers who give us great places to visit with the characters we love and want to call friends.

Today, I have the pleasure of introducing to you Jo Michaels!


Jo Michaels is…

Hi, I’m Jo. Let’s forget all the “Jo Michaels is blah, blah, blah” stuff and just go with it. I’m a voracious reader (often reading more than one book at a time), a writer, a book reviewer, a mom, a wife, and one of the EICs at INDIE Books Gone Wild. I have an almost photographic memory and tend to make people cringe at the number of details I can recall about them and/or their book(s). My imagination follows me around like a conjoined twin and causes me to space out pretty often or laugh out loud randomly in completely inappropriate situations.

One of my favorite things is hearing from fans! You can find me on social media most any day of the week. Connect! I’d love to hear from you.

Without further ado, here’s her interview.

I love reading the bios of authors. Many of them did not start out as writers. Sometimes people stumble upon the craft. Did you always want to be a writer? I’ve been writing since I can remember, and I’ve always been drawn to the written word. Can I say I always wanted to be a writer? Well, no. There was a time when I wanted to teach literature, and I got my graphic design degree in the hopes of becoming a book cover designer, but I didn’t think back then I could write a whole book (or that anyone would give two nickels worth of a crap to read anything I wrote). When self-publishing started to grow, I looked a little more seriously at my ability to write. I never...

Head on over to author S. F. Benson's blog to read the rest!!

What did you think?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Meet the Utopia 2016 Bloggers - Jo Michaels

Happy Monday, everyone! Wow. I totally blanked on this post last week. Why? Because I was in the throes of interviewing all the awesome people like Stacey Rourke, Christina Benjamin, and BJ Sheldon over on the radio show. *squeals* But here I am, and I've got a bunch of awesome Q&A for you. If you're ready, grab a cup of Jo, sit back, relax, and let's get our interview on!

Get tickets for the event here!

What you do for work outside of blogging?
Wow. I do so many things! I'm a wife, a mother, an author (of course), the Utopia con blogger coordinator, a radio show host, and I own INDIE Books Gone Wild (an editing company that caters to Indie authors).

I find, in each of those roles, I learn a different facet of the book world. Being a wife, I understand what it's like to want to do all the bookish things while also wanting to spend more time with my husband. It's the same with being a mom. So, I can identify with all those authors who feel like they're being pulled in two different directions by life.

Being an author, I feel the struggle other authors go through to produce a great book, get it out there in the world, and market. That's why I'm a blogger, and it's why I hold my big blog event each year. We all need help, and I try to pay it forward as much as I can.

As the Utopia con blogger coordinator, I get a look at what all people have to balance in order to make things happen in their worlds and help where I can/when I can. Because I understand how life can get in the way, I try to make a schedule and give information way before it's needed/due.

A Daily Cup of Jo forces me to relax for half an hour or so each week and just talk with my peers. I've learned so many things from them!

Owning IBGW, editing, and formatting novels has given me a whole new perspective when reading and a great appreciation for a well edited novel.

What you do besides blogging in the literary world (editing, book reviewing, etc…)?
I'm a book reviewer, formatter, and editor.

What's the one thing you feel you've gained by doing the above?
I didn't gain one thing; I gained all the things. Most importantly, the people I've added to my tribe that have changed my life in profound and interesting ways. I've created bonds with other authors that (I feel) are unbreakable unless I choose to break them. That alone is worth more than gold.

How did you find Utopia?
Interestingly enough, it was my best friend, Tia Silverthorne Bach, who introduced me to the conference. She asked, "Hey, Jo! Whaddya think about this? Wanna do it with me?" I looked over the website, read all the pertinent information, and agreed to take this leap off the Cliffs of Terror with her. I dove right in and started interviewing authors so I wouldn't feel so dang out of place when I arrived. I haven't looked back.

What did you learn or gain at Utopia that you don't feel you would've gotten anywhere else?
I gained my people. That first year, I sat down with these four amaaaazing women, and made lifelong friends as we brainstormed Fractured Glass. Without Utopia, it would've been an online relationship where I knew them by name and face, but not by the grip of their arms when we hugged, or the way they each light up a room when they enter it. No stories of our lives would've been shared, and we may not have gotten together the second year we were there to create our new novel, 7. It was the energy at this particular conference that fueled our imaginations, and I know it wouldn't have been the same had we been anywhere else. Plus, we did karaoke together that first year, which broke the ice in unbelievable ways. *grin*

What's one thing you’d like to see folks in the literary world do (together or separately)?
I'd like to see more of them get together and help one another. Not just by sharing advice, but by sharing things socially, meeting face to face and sharing ideas, and finding a way to pay it forward more. There's a lot of that going around, but I feel there could be more.

How do you feel you contribute to the writer world at large?
I hold my big 12 Days of Review Requests event on my blog each year to help Indie authors get sales and reviews for their books. I'm also going to start soliciting other authors for backmatter material in the way of previews and buy links for their books in the ones I have that are along the same lines (zombies, fantasy, historical fiction, etc...) so I can (hopefully) help even more.

What's your ultimate blogging goal?
I've already met it. *grin* It was to have that one person who learned something here message me in some way and say, "Your post was exactly what I needed. It saved my forehead from the red mark of shame." I've now heard that numerous times, and it never fails to make me smile. I remember starting out and struggling to find my own footing. All the content on this blog is here to help others navigate the twisty roads of publishing without getting too lost.

If you don't have tickets to this event yet, you need to get them right now!

Go here! Go, go, go!

Be sure and visit the other bloggers this month!
Week 1: Jo Michaels (who actually posted on week two) and Maria Pease Week 2: Shana Benedict and Delphina Miyares Week 3: Toni Lesatz and Ren Reidy Week 4: Ashley Bodette and Kathryn Grimes

Have you found your happy here on the blog? Ever run across a piece of information that made you have an ah-ha moment? Tell me about it below!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Fight for Your Write - #UTOPiAcon 2016 - Why You Should Attend

Happy Thursday, everyone! This is my official blog post for Utopia for the month of September. I get the honor of posting about the GoFundMe campaign organized by Amy Evans and Heather Hildenbrand. SO EXCITING! Ready? Grab a cup of coffee and let's get going!

I know you all saw the blog hop I posted yesterday with the amazing prizes. If you happened to miss it, you can check it out here. But let me tell you a little more about this fundraiser and why it means so very much to the people who organized it.

I had an interview with Amy on Tuesday (listen here). She talked about visiting Utopia for the first time, and she had a few inspiring things to say about it. Here's one quote that struck a serious chord with me:

"I wanted to be on the side of the fence with people who were psyched and passionate—not ones who were afraid to make mistakes."

And that's what Utopia gives each and every attendee. It's not a place; it's a mindset. That's why so many folks throw themselves into the conference headlong.

Another one of the attendees said:

"I always wondered why I didn't fit in with the other horses in the world. Then, I went to Utopia and realized I'm not a horse; I'm a unicorn, and this is my herd."

That resonates with me, too, because I felt the exact same way when I attended the first year.

Here were these people who understood me and my quirks. There was no judgment. I was embraced from day one because of my differences, not in spite of them.

There are three words to describe the con:

Education - Inspiration - Collaboration

Everyone who visits absorbs that drive and knowledge to make a change, do more, be more, and jump off the cliff with their eyes closed, trusting the others to give them wings.

It's because of everything you see above that Amy and Heather created the GoFundMe campaign. You can help someone change their stars by showing support for the conference.

Plus, there are prizes! Here's what you get with a $10-$49 donation (copied from the site):

"For a $10-$49 donation you will get five free ebooks. Authors include Tammy Blackwell,Stacie Marie Brown, SM Boyce,M. Clark/Mary Ting,  Amy Evans, Lila Felix, Heather Hildenbrand, Nikki Jefford, Katie M. John, Elizabeth Kirke, Patti Larson, Carlyle Labuschagne, Jo Michaels, Casey Peeler, Bella Roccaforte, Kallie Ross. MORE DONATIONS ARE COMING EACH DAY."

Yes, that says FIVE free e-books! What are you waiting for? $10 for five books? Go already!

In addition to the GoFundMe campaign, there are limited edition tees on sale. This is an effort by Indie-Visible and Whit & Ware. See the post about why they were created here. All proceeds go directly to the conference so it can be the most epic ever. These shirts are only available for a limited time, so you need to get your hands each one as they're released. The one right now has just SEVEN days left!

Here's the link to the current one "Lift as You Climb."

If you don't have tickets to the conference yet, you should get yours today. It will change your life.

Get tickets here!

Be sure and visit the other official bloggers this month to find out more about the tees, campaign, and see how the founder of Utopia, Janet Wallace, reacted to the news of this campaign creation.

Here's the schedule:
Week 1: Jo Michaels and Maria Pease
Week 2: Shana Benedict and Delphina Miyares
Week 3: Toni Lesatz and Ren Reidy
Week 4: Ashley Bodette and Kathryn Grimes
Somewhere during the month, we have our amazing book tuber, Christina Marie, who'll be hosting an AWESOME giveaway! Keep an eye on her channel for that!

What do you think? Are you coming to hang out with the rest of the unicorns, or do you prefer to be a horse?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Roanoke Author Invasion

Happy Thursday, everyone! Today, I'm going to be talking about an author signing event happening in Roanoke, Virginia, on April 2, 2016. Ready? Grab a cup of Jo and let's get going!

If you missed it, I did a radio interview with one of the wonderful ladies behind RAI, Liz C. Long, that you can catch up on here. It's about forty-five minutes, but we cover a ton of information about the event and surrounding area. Plus, Liz drops some information about next year that hasn't been revealed yet!

So, what is Roanoke Author Invasion?

From the website:

Join 30+ bestselling authors of contemporary and paranormal fiction and more at the Holiday Inn Tanglewood in Roanoke, Virginia, on April 2, 2016 from 12pm-4pm. Enjoy an afternoon of books, giveaways, and more as you get the latest releases from your favorite authors and discover new voices!

It's a mashup of authors and fans from all over who get together and share a love of books.

Here's the official Facebook page:

Roanoke Author Invasion

If you're a book blogger and would like to help promote the event, or if you'd just like to help out, you can volunteer here.

What do you think? Will you be checking it out?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Evanescent - Carlyle Labuschagne

A darker offering from award winning YA author 

Carlyle Labuschagne 

In a recent TV interview Carlyle was given the opportunity to answer some tough questions about why she felt she needed to go darker in this novel and what will the reader take away from that. Then  she gets emotional on the mention of her recent UtopYAcon nominations where the awards will be celebrated in Nashville June 20 2015

Title: Evanescent

Author: Carlyle Labuschagne

Series: The Broken Series #2

Publisher: Fire Quill Publishing

Release Date: 19th May 2015

ISBN: 978-0-9922446-4-4  

Back Blurb:

Her fall has just begun. Only his touch can save her from the shift that could destroy it all. 

Within my blood runs a thing our kind calls the Shadowing Disease. It shadows over, and bends everything to its will. 

When the first blood-shift came, it tore through flesh and blood, threatening to bend me, break bone, shatter my mind and entrap my heart with its honeyed, seductive poison. It came with vicious intent, moving my thoughts and altering me forever. 

The shift has caused a rift within me. No one was safe when it entrapped me in its claws of foul lust. But I have the only antidote against the evil that becomes me - his touch alone has the power to release the spurs of sweet darkness that clung on for deal life. 

I knew what I had to do; the desperation pulled my mind with the deep determination of a hungry predator. 

By the time the revelation raised me from the dark dungeon of my bounds - it might have been too late.

PURCHASE THE NOVEL

AMAZON

BARNES$NOBLE

KOBO

SMASHWORDS

CREATE SPACE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carlyle is an South African award winning author, with a flair for mixing genres and adding loads of drama to every story she creates. For now she is happy to take over the world and convert non Sci-fi believers.

Her goal as an author is to touch people's lives, and help others love their differences and one another by delivering strong messages of faith, love and hope within every outrageous world she writes about.

"I love to swim, fight for the trees, and am a food lover who is driven by my passion for life. I dream that one day my stories will change the lives of countless teenagers and have them obsess over the world literacy can offer them instead of worrying about fitting in. Never sacrifice who you are, it’s in the dark times that the light comes to life."

Carlyle used writing as a healing tool and that is why she started her very own writers support event - SAIR bookfestival.

 "To be a helping hand for those who strive to become full times writers, editors, bloggers, readers and cover artists - it’s a crazy world out there you don’t have to go it alone!"

AUTHOR LINKS

Blog
Facebook Page
LinkedIn
Twitter
Website
Google +
Fire Quill Publishing

Pretty cool, huh? Carlyle rocks!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Author Interview - Jo Michaels

Happy Monday, everyone! I know I said I was done with the author interviews, but I figured I'd put one up with myself. *grin* This is so you get to know a little about ME before utopYA Con. It's just three days away now, and I want you to be able to recognize me if you happen upon a lady in a hat like mine. I also took questions from friends and fans on Facebook, so I'll be dropping those in as we go along with the name of the person asking.

Ready? Grab a cup of coffee and let's get going!

JoQ: Hi there, you! Rather than give you a long introduction, I'm jumping right into the questions. Here we go! Where might someone be able to find you at utopYA Con this week?

JoA: Hello, yourself! Thanks for not letting everyone know all about me! Rude. I'm sure we'll be getting to that soon, right? To answer your question, folks will be able to find me at GB3: Jo Michaels & Tia Bach/Indie Books Gone Wild. That means Tia and I will be in the Grand Ballroom Thursday and Friday at the IBGW table (#3). I'll also be there Saturday for the Authors Are My Idols book signing. Look for me in my new, black hat!

JoQ: That's great! Yeah, we'll get to the stuff about you here in a bit. Please, try to be patient. So, I hear you're releasing a book at utopYA. Care to share the deets with us?

JoA: *drums fingers on table impatiently* Deets! Yes! The novel is titled M, and it's about a mutating drug by the same name and the human desire to fit in. My main character is named Griffin, and he's so blinded by revenge, he often loses sight of what really matters: love, friends, family, etc... You just have to read it. I've already sold a number of copies via pre-order, so it seems like it'll be well received. It's also the featured book this week here on the blog. Yay!

JoQ: That's amazing news! So, tell me a little about you. Why do you write in the genres that you do?

JoA: I write whatever I get a story idea for. Mostly, my books revolve around strong women and/or lessons on being a better human being. I write to inspire, empower, and educate.

JoQ: Sounds like a big task! Now, I've taken the liberty of asking other people what they'd ask you in an interview. So, I'm gonna open the floor up to them. First up, we have B. J. Sheldon. B. J. asks, "Where'd you get those sick dance moves?"

JoA: She must be referring to the 80s dance off we had last year after the awards. Ah, fond memories! Well, I've taken dance classes my whole life, and I used to go to clubs and dance like there was no tomorrow. I learned by watching and repeating what I saw. Practice is a Godsend.

JoQ: Hopefully, you'll win this year! Ms. Liz Long wants to know: "What inspires you?"

JoA: Yeah, not likely. B. J. has the 80s down pat. *grins* Hmmm, what inspires me... I'd have to say my inspiration comes from the world and people around me. I'm blessed to be surrounded by so much love and positive reinforcement. I've also always been overly intrigued by the human condition. I wonder why people do the things they do, and what would happen if. When I see something I may be able to change with a pen, I try my very best to make it happen.

JoQ: There you go again with the empower and educate stuff. Well, this next question will be right up your alley. Natasha Hanova asked, "How do you stay so motivated?"

JoA: Oh, Natasha! I have my days like everyone else, when I just want to say, "To Hell with it!" But every time a reader of my blog tells me they learned something or how finding my corner of the blogosphere helped them through their Indie struggles, it pushes me to hit the keys once more. Every time a reader of my books tells me how they connected with one of my characters, it makes me want to write another word. It's all about the positive impact I hope I'm having. That's what keeps me motivated. I love paying it forward.

JoQ: Nice! Your next question is from Layla Renee. She asks, "What do you do when you get stuck on a project?"

JoA: Stuck? If you mean writer's block, I don't really have it. There's a point sometimes where I don't know where a story is going next, and I have to step away from it for a minute to work that out, but I usually draw up a beginning and an end and go from there. If I still can't work it out, I write on something else for a while. I firmly believe this is because I write at the same time each day, with a warm up here on the blog to kick it off. Once words are flowing, it makes it easier to craft a novel.

JoQ: It's good to be in the zone. Your next question is from Shawn McGuire: "How do you balance blogging with writing and the rest of your life?"

JoA: I'm a meticulous planner, and I schedule my weeks accordingly. I don't work after 5pm or on weekends; that time is reserved strictly for my family and house stuff. My blog is actually a warm-up and works well to motivate me to write. But, when something's gotta give, it's my blog that does so. There are times I have life stuff get in the way, and there are those times when I'm on a deadline with an edit. My clients trump all else. I meet my deadlines. Period. *grin*

JoQ: It's true. Schedules make the world go 'round! Next up is two questions from Ms. Heidi Lea: "When did you decide to become a writer? What's your method of writing?"

JoA: Great questions, Heidi! Love them. I decided to become a writer in college. It was a World History class, actually. I did this great research paper on Genghis Khan, and I found out so many interesting details I just had to write the story (with a fictional twist, of course). A year after graduation, Yassa was born. Since then, it's been a whirlwind of fun.

My methods vary as widely as my subject matter. Some books I write off the cuff, and some I write one or two chapters of and let them simmer on my brain until I dream the story out. Once I have it, I sit down and write until I'm done. I, Zombie was started way back before it was written (NaNo novel), and I finished it in just seven days. I'm a total pantser. No way can I outline and keep my novels as organic as I want to. Then, of course, you have the characters who are pushy and tell you what they want you to write. I can't deny them!

JoQ: You're such a softy! Your next question comes from Jolene Buchheit. She wants to know: "What's one thing you would tell new authors about sales expectations?"

JoA: Jolene, bless you! There's no such thing. My best advice on this is write the best book you can, use an editor, give it a beautiful cover, have a kick ass marketing plan, and cross your fingers. Do not expect anything. If it happens, and you sell thousands of copies, that's awesome. Let it shock you. If you don't, you're more likely than not to be disappointed. But never, ever give up.

JoQ: Never giving up is a must. Truly. Too many authors throw in the towel too soon. Okay, onward! Your next question is from Stormy Smith. "Why did you decide to share so much advice and information on your blog? That takes time away from your writing, so how do you find balance between the two?"

JoA: For the answer to the second part, see Shawn's question above. For the first, oh my. You may love my answer; you may hate it. Nonetheless, here it is: My blog is my baby. It's kept me going through the darkest and lightest times of my life. Through it, I've met some of my best friends. I don't just share advice with others, I share it with myself. It's a constant reminder of things I should be doing, how to get to where I want to be, and one tiny, itty bitty way I can pay it forward. There have been a ton of people who've helped me get to where I am today, and my blog is one way I can educate and promote others in an effort to help spread the word/share the love. It's a huge part of my writing life, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

JoQ: Truth. The blog is the baby! The lovely Kelly Martin asked your next question. She said, "Some writers focus on readers, some on other writers. Do you have a mailing list/fb page/ anything that is reader only or do you focus just on authors?"

JoA: Kelly, you're outing me here! *grin* I have my author page on Facebook, of course, and that's geared toward readers, but IBGW also has a super secret weapon we unveil for clients: A reader only subscription where we give away books. Every IBGW client gets a giveaway (we buy and gift the books), and their release goes out to our massive subscriber list made up of readers. It's really quite something. We started it because we wanted to go the extra mile for our clients--do the thing no one else was doing: help them promote their book once it's published. Sign up here.

As a bonus, those readers are getting well-edited books in the giveaways they enter. It's win/win.

Plus, the blog has reviews (used to be once a week until deadlines started piling up and reading went the way of the wind), and those are geared toward readers. This is a rare kind of blog. It's really about all things books.

I also curate a Flipboard magazine with book reviews for readers. I harvest all reviews from my Time for Books 2015 Review Team. They're an amazing group of readers, and write wonderful reviews.

There! I'm out of the closet. Thanks a lot. haha!

JoQ: Blog baby! *grin* Your final two questions are from Ms. Snowa Fox. They are: "Where do you get inspiration from for books and for blog posts? What advice would you give your pre-published self if you could go back in time?"

JoA: For books, see the answer to my own question up near the top. For blog posts, well, that's another matter entirely! I write about things I learn as I learn them. If I'm editing a book and see the same mistake being made over and over, I'll write a blog post with a tip to keep others out of the hot seat with that error. If I come upon some awesome digital tool, I check it out and recommend it. If I have a marketing idea, I share. When I see someone struggling with something, I find the answer and post it here on the blog. So, everywhere, I guess. haha!

What advice would I give myself? Find a book like The Indie Author's Guide and read it before you do anything else! Seriously. I wrote that pocket guide out of my own frustrations so other authors wouldn't have to struggle like I did with finding stuff. I priced it low so it would be affordable for authors to learn from. It's a newbie's best friend.

JoQ: Yeah... Struggles... *wipes brow* I did a lot of that in the beginning, huh? Well, it's time to wrap this up! Be sure and look for me at utopYA in two days! I'll be the one in the hat! This was me last year!

Time to tell you about the featured book of the week!

Title: M
Author: Jo Michaels
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Length (print): xxx pages
Buy Links: Amazon Kindle $3.99 Paperback $14.99

Blurb:
In 2026, it finally arrives, the drug promising to make life easier for the masses. One dose of M and anyone can gain an ability. There are no promises made as to what the power could manifest as, but people are crawling over one another to take a chance.

There's a problem: One pill costs a million dollars. Only those with extraordinary wealth are afforded the luxury of cleaning house with a click of their diamond-adorned fingers or solving a puzzle by talking to it.

A knockoff begins circulating in 2038 that does the same thing as M. Hundreds of thousands of people have mutated for a mere one hundred dollars.

Enter the year 2042.

Seventeen-year-old Griffin is a normal kid, who has a regular job, and dreams of going to college someday. When his girlfriend of three years succumbs to peer pressure, they break up. He believes the body is a temple not to be messed with outside of nature, and she wants to fit in. Once he meets the supplier, things take a turn for the worse.

He's left with nothing but pain in his heart and the desire to make them suffer when his plans for payback blow up in his face.

Thirst for revenge consumes him, and he finds himself locked in a battle he never anticipated with a merciless kingpin as they struggle to gain the advantage.

How far is too far?

Want to follow me on social media? Here ya go!

Twitter: @WriteJoMichaels
Facebook: WriteJoMichaels
Website: WriteJoMichaels
Pinterest: WriteJoMichaels
Blog: Jo Michaels Blog

How fun was this?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Author Interview - C. Marie Mosley

Happy Monday, everyone! Wow. Today, I have another unofficial utopYA author interview for you. I know you're all super duper excited (I am!). After the lovely C. Marie, we only have two more authors in the lineup. Then, it's time for utopYA Con 2015 where you'll get to meet them! If you don't have tickets, you need to get them NOW. We're almost sold out! There is NO more room in the hotel where the con is, and people are scrambling for their tickets. Don't be one of them! Get yours here.

Grab a cup of coffee and let's get rolling on the interview with C. Marie Mosley.

Jo: Welcome to the blog, C. Marie! You’re a difficult lady to stalk online, but I managed to find you in the dark recesses of cyberspace! *grin* Are you ready to get going?

C. Marie: Sorry about that…*eeek* But absolutely! Let’s do this!

Jo: All good. It is useless to resist us. You will be assimilated. *grin* Let’s get to it! So, you write under two names: Christal M. Mosley and C. Marie Mosley. Is there a reason you decided to change your author name? What pros/cons have you faced?

C. Marie: I started out writing under Christal M. Mosley – I thought the initial added a flare…*shrugs* Then, I got picked up by a small press publishing company and they had concerns with the spelling of my first name, that it might be too hard to find me with an oddity spelling. I didn’t really want to change it, so I decided against it. My first book was a young adult urban fantasy novel which I had planned to spin-off into a series. While awaiting the publishing timeline, I started writing a young adult contemporary romance novel – which I also planned to spin-off into a series – but the small press I had signed with wasn’t up for that genre. And because I was super excited, I decided to go the indie route and publish under a different name – mostly, this was to differentiate. C. Marie Mosley took the stage…and it just kind of stuck.

Jo: That's so interesting. It's like fate guided you to make the change. haha! I noticed your Empyreal series has been unpublished. What prompted that move, and do you plan to re-release them at some point?

C. Marie: Yes. The Empyreal series is currently unpublished. I do plan to re-release at some point, though I am not exactly sure when that will be. I have a lot going on in my head right now – different stories, spin-offs, continuations, and revisiting plans for current ones. I plan to revamp Empyreal to its most awesome glory, and one day in the future re-release the first book along with the planned stories that follow. Empyreal is a great series, and I can’t wait to share it in its completion to the world.

Jo: It sounds like an intriguing storyline already. I'm sure it'll only get better. Your Amazon author page only has one of your books on it (not sure if you were aware). But I’ve been reading your Twitter feed and notice you have a new release coming up (I can’t view your website *frown*)! Would you like to share the title (maybe a blurb) and projected release date with my adorable readers?

C. Marie: Yes...and no :/ There are reasons for that vast void, I assure you. The majority of my work is on a temporary hiatus right now. I have a few other projects going on, as well as re-working both series under my belt (Empyreal and Harden Fields). I am hard at work finalizing my current project, and I really wish that I could spare some awesomeness (Because…It. Is. Awesome.) But, I can’t right now due to some finality in the works. As for my website, it is in the process of getting a complete overhaul – something I’m super excited about! But I’m pretty active on Twitter (way more than other social sites), and I post a great deal on there. Also, I post and pin a lot of my current project inspirations on my Pinterest wall – so, everyone can be sure to check those out for updates.

Jo: AAArgh! The secretsees burn us! hehe Seriously, I'm excited to find out what you're working on. You have my interest piqued. What prompted you to start writing Contemporary Romance? What’s your favorite title in that genre so far?

C. Marie: Well, really…I wanted a break from the urban fantasy series I was tangled up in. Every writer feels that sense of, “Oh my gosh…where do I go from here?” And I was there…and quite stuck. I just wanted to do something different and fun, to break away for a while, so I did. I had an idea and I wrote a novel in like seven days (Yes, SEVEN). It wasn’t pretty, but it was ready for a second set of eyes… and soon, it was ready for a third, and so on. After just three weeks, I had a polished novel, This Side of Forever – and I was super proud of it. Like I’d mentioned earlier, I decided to go the indie route with this one. Soon, after its release I began working on a spin-off, Never Say Never. It was released a few months later. I enjoyed writing both stories, and I have been planning more stories to follow along in that series. Again, this series is on a break, but will soon return.

Jo: Wow. Seven days is fast! I'm a quick writer when I'm feeling it, but I think my fastest was eleven days. *bows to C. Marie* That's awesome. Kudos to you, lady! Now, I read that your books got picked up by a publishing agency. Are the novels still with that company? How’s it going/Why not?

C. Marie: Yes, I was picked up by a small press with Empyreal in 2012. But no, I am no longer with that press. Truth be told, I was really green around the gills when it came to the ins and outs of this world – publishing, that is. It happened really quickly. And I was so excited to sign with a publishing press that I didn’t take the time to do my homework or to make sure that we were a fit for each other. I had a lot of offers come in right after I signed with said company, and with many lessons learned, I realized that I jumped a little too quickly into the fire. With a lot of uncertain fates and unparalleled expectancies, we parted ways. All rights have reverted back to me, and I have since decided that I would eventually re-release them in some form or fashion. I still plan to do so, but the time table is still out as to when.

Jo: These answers always interest me. I'd say, out of ten authors who signed with a small press (that I've spoken with), nine have backed out within a year. *shrugs* Perhaps I'll do a piece on that. Anyway! Rapid-fire question time! Peanuts or popcorn?

C. Marie: Both. *thinks about Cracker Jacks*

Jo: Blue or Green?

C. Marie: Both. Blue-green.

Jo: Romance or Sci-Fi?

C. Marie: Both. More Nicholas Sparks, than Alien. But I love Star Wars! *grins*

Jo: You may be the most indecisive person ever! hehe! Never bad to love all the things! *winks* Now, we move into the time travel question of the interview. *grins* This one is from stuff I’ve gathered through my research, so brace yourself. Haha! If you could go back in time and inhabit a persona for one week, would it be Jane Austen or Audrey Hepburn? What would you hope to learn from your time? Is there anything you’d do/change?

C. Marie: Wow. Tough one. I love Jane Austen and her works. Her wit and literary genius astounds me. (Can you tell I’m a fan?) And Audrey Hepburn is…just amazing. A humanitarian, a talented actress, a fashion icon…beauty, brains, and personality to match. (Also, a fan.) Both are incredible icons, each equally as talented and remarkable in their own light. So…with all of that said, I can’t choose. I just can’t – in fact, I won’t. I’ll just have to split the trip in half. Besides, I like to travel.

Jo: I'm rolling on the floor laughing. I made that question difficult on purpose. haha! You’re an avid reader in addition to being a writer (aren’t we all?). I saw that you’re reading something like seven books at once right now. Which one do you think you’ll finish first and why?

C. Marie: Actually, that’s just what I have listed on my Goodreads. I’m actually in the middle of like ten. I’ve always got a book in my hand – whether it’s tangible or electronic. Why do I jump around to different books? I don’t know; I’ve always done that. My ADHD kicks in, I guess. Though I read all of the time, there have only been a number of books to really consume me enough to hold me to one at a given time. It takes a super strong tag and unbelievable pull for me to get so engrossed in a book that I’m there for the duration (a couple of hours). The Fault in Our Stars was that for me – two hours and a box of tissues later, I was like, “That was the best book EVER.”

Jo: Yup. Same here. Must read more than one at a time. I hear you’re a huge Austen fan and you have your own Mr. Darcy. Tell us what prompted the comparison?

C. Marie: I do, I do. If you met him, you’d see it the comparison is spot on. Confident, proud, honest, quite easy on the eyes, keeps his heart in check…but only one love (me, of course) was ever able to reach the side of him that no one else gets to see. We complement each other perfectly. Again, when spending time with the two of us, you can totally see this. Pride and Prejudice, Darcy and Lizzie, me and mine…the comparison is quite similar, if not completely parallel. I did, in fact, find my own Mr. Darcy…and I love, I love, I love him.

“In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.” – Jane Austen (Yeah, he said something quite like this…but it was more like the Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen version.)



Jo: Awwwwwww! That's so sweet. What a lucky couple you two are! Well, that’s all the time I have for today! Is there anything I didn’t ask that you wish I had?

C. Marie: I love my readers, and I love what I do! You guys are so awesome…and patient. Wonderful and new adventures are coming soon, so be on the lookout – great things, lovable characters and page-turning scenarios are on their way! Jo, thank you so much for having me!

Jo: It was a pleasure! I can’t wait to see you at utopYA! We’re gonna have so much fun!

While your fingers are in the clicking mode, why not give Ms. Mosley a follow on every social media platform I could think of when writing up the template for these interviews (plus some)?

Pinterest: C. Marie Mosley
Blog: C. Marie Mosley
Twitter: @CMarieMosley
Goodreads: C. Mosley
Website: www.cmariemosley.com

If you have any questions, pop them into the comments below. C. Marie will be around to answer and/or respond!

Well, that’s all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Author Interview - Natasha Hanova

Happy Monday, good people of the blogosphere! Today I have a super special interview with Natasha Hanova for your reading pleasure. I met Natasha at utopYA Con 2014, and I did an "ask Jo anything" spot on her blog last year. You can see the questions asked and my answers here. Now, if you don't have tickets to the con yet, you need to get them while the getting is good. We're almost sold out! Go. Now. Here. You don't wanna be the one left out of the fun, do you? Okay, enough of my rambling! Grab a cup of coffee and let's get going.

Jo: Yay! I have Natasha on the blog! I’m so stoked about this interview. Thank you for agreeing to have a chat with me. Are you ready to get going?

Natasha: Hello Jo! Thanks for having me. This is my first official interview. Hope you’ll go easy on me. :)

Jo: Never! *evil grin* Let’s jump right in here. Tell me about the OWFI conference you’re attending in May 2015. What made you decide to go, and what are you hoping to get out of it?

Natasha: I first attended this mid-west based writer’s conference in May 2010 and have been back almost every year since. It’s a welcoming crowd of talented authors. My Top Three reasons for attending OWFI:

1. An opportunity to pitch to big name agents, editors, and/or publishers for FREE. You heard me right, free one on one time with an agent/editor/publisher of your choice. For those not brave enough or ready to pitch, there are also opportunities to snag a seat next to an agent/editor/publisher or even a famous author at one of the banquets. This year’s pitch session line up and guidelines can be found here.
2. Elbow room and accessibility. I’ve attended conferences where they pack attendees in a room like sardines, usher in speakers through a side door for the presentation, and then rush them out before anyone knows what’s going on. At the OWFI conference, there’s usually a place to set your laptop and plenty of opportunities to mingle with presenters through out the conference.
3. This year, I’m OWFI Conference Chair, so I kinda have to go. I’ve worked closely with the OWFI President Dawn Allen, who also happens to be one of my critique partners. We’ve pulled together a wide array of talented speakers for this conference, whose theme is Writing Zone: Craft from the Ground Up. Though, I must admit if I wasn’t on the Board, I’d still go this year. Check out the outstanding faculty, including keynote speaker Les Edgerton, author of Hooked.

Jo: That sounds like an amazing conference. Congrats on being a Conference Chair. How exciting! So, talk to me about writing Edge of Truth. How long did it take you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Natasha: EDGE OF TRUTH, my first book baby. <3 It’s a dystopian romance with paranormal elements. I’d say the first draft took about a year. My twins were three at the time. When I had time to write, I allowed myself to put the words down on the page without judgment (aka I told my inner editor to shut up so I could work). It took me a while to get it published because I was (still am) struggling with grief. When my mama passed away, I almost gave up writing, but in the end pushed through. Mama never got to see the book in print, but she knew I was close. EDGE OF TRUTH is dedicated to her. This experience taught me never to give up on my dreams.


Jo: Okay, that's super sweet. I'm glad you didn't give up! I see the book has been through a couple of changes. What brought those on, and what did the changes end up doing for the novel?

Natasha: The book was originally published through a small press. I decided to get my rights back and go at it on my own. Hence, the fun new cover [shout out to Carrie Butler at Forward Authority for an awesome job!] and bonus epilogue.

Jo: That's always scary, huh? Awesome that you gave it a go. Brave. Now, I see your bio says you’ve won some awards. Care to tell us about them? What were they for, and how did you feel when you won them?

Natasha: I’ve won writing awards through OWFI and other conferences. It takes massive amounts of courage to enter contest, so when I place, I feel a strong sense of pride and accomplishment.

Jo: Whatcha workin’ on? When can we expect to see it on shelves?

Natasha: I recently finished MARKED, YA paranormal fantasy. My other critique partner L.L. McKinney is brilliant at coming up with Twitter pitches. Here’s how she helped me summarize MARKED, “For the first female warrior in the Brotherhood, lines between enemy and ally are blurred and Lexi can’t see who’s coming for her.” This manuscript is currently out on query submission.

I’m also working on a New Adult apocalypse set in St. Louis, MO. We should have a zombie chat sometime. ;)

Jo: Congrats on landing those queries! Oooooh! Zombies! Yes we should. Hunt me down, woman! You took part in #PitMad on Twitter a couple weeks ago. What book were you pitching, and did you have any luck?

Natasha: I pitched MARKED and got a few nibbles. :)

Jo: That was a great pitch! I'm not surprised you got nibbles. You’re in several anthologies. How did you find them, and what do you feel they’ve done for your writing career?

Natasha: I sought out the anthologies and made it through the slush piles to publication. Personally, I think writing short stories is harder than writing books. The page real estate is so limited, but it’s excellent practice at making every word count.

Jo: Agreed 100%. It's so difficult to write short stories! I notice you do a lot of author interviews on your blog, but I had a dilly of a time finding very many with you as the interviewee. Is there a reason for this?

Natasha: Yes…**hides behind hands** I lean toward the shy side. I’m a behind the camera, type of person. Yours is my first official interview. Thanks for being gentle with me.

Jo: Wow. You call this gentle? LOL! I'm pretty brutal. *wink* Rapid fire question time! Plain or peanut M&Ms?

Natasha: Peanut. No question. And as often as possible.

Jo: I totally knew the answer before I asked. haha! Female or male lead?

Natasha: Depends on what it is…book or movie and what genre it is. In books, I often read ones with alternating female/male leads. I tend to like Sci-fi and action packed movies, which tend to have male leads.

Jo: Sky or ground?

Natasha: Ground. Can’t fly. Too scared. But I can be tempted onto a plane with chocolate when traveling to Nashville for UTopYA!

Jo: YEAH! *happy dances* Time travel question! Come on, you knew this was coming, right? Haha! So, if given a choice, would you go back in time or forward in time, and what would you change or hope to learn from the trip?

Natasha: This used to be a hard question for me, but not any more. I’d go back and spend time with my mama, not to change anything or learn anything. Just to hear her voice, see her smile, and maybe have her cook me something tasty. :)


Jo: I can see how much you miss her. Dang, now I wanna give you a hug. But, instead, talk to me about writer retreats. When was the last one you went on, and what do you get out of the experience?

Natasha: My writer’s group used to do annual writing retreats. We are officially over due. Hint, hint ladies! I LOVE retreats and recommend them to all writers. There are few things better than knowing your only responsibility for the day is to get words on the page or edit/revise material. We usually spend most of the time writing, but also take breaks to stretch our legs (aka people watch) and end the day with chocolate and a good movie.

Jo: That does sound fun. Mayhap one day I'll find the time. *grin* Ever get that gooseberry pie recipe down? How long did it take you?

Natasha: I wouldn’t say I’ve mastered it. My gooseberry pies might be a gooey mess, but they are de-lish!

Jo: I've never had one, but to hear you talk, I should! I’m gonna go a little deeper here. You answered somewhere about feeling strongly about using mixed race characters in your novels. Tell me what you’re trying to bring to light with your choices, and how do you think it will fill the current gap in YA?

Natasha: I’m bi-racial. When I was growing up, I didn’t see many books with girls like me as main characters. As an adult, I read a book called OPPOSITE OF LOVE by Helen Benedict and it resonated with me. I kept thinking it would’ve been nice to see such a resilient character in my young adult years. Now, I’m sure to include diversity in all of my books.

Jo: That's so awesome. I love people who are passionate about their characters. Sadly, we’re out of space! *frowns* Is there anything you’d like to add that I didn’t ask you about?

Natasha: Let’s see… Link is my favorite character on Mario Kart 8. I have a love/love relationship with all things chocolate. I would totally run away with the Doctor.

Jo: Nice! I can’t wait to see you again at UtopYA 2015! Not long now. Maybe we’ll luck out and have a table across from one another again. *grin* Because you know that’s the only way I’m guaranteed to see you. Thank you again for giving me your time, Natasha!

Natasha: I appreciate you having me on your blog. Such a wonderful opportunity to reach beyond my social network!

Now, it’s time to tell you all about the featured book of the week!

Title: Edge of Truth
Author: Natasha Hanova
Genre: YA Dystopian/Paranormal
Length (print): 302 pages
Buy links: Amazon Kindle $2.99  ~ Amazon Paperback $9.99 or FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Synopsis:
Citizens who report to work on time, obey the Overlord’s laws, and stay off the Synbot’s radar, live long lives. Long, dull, monotonous lives.

It’s not a bad plan for someone with a hidden, emotion-based ability to trigger earthquakes. In a world pitted against her, sixteen-year-old Rena Moon strives for a life beyond working herself to death at the factory. Seeing an alternative, she risks selling relics from the forbidden lands at Market. It becomes the worst decision she ever made. Someone kidnaps her best friend in exchange for the one thing that would end her oppression.

Driven by loyalty, Rena and seventeen-year-old Nevan Jelani, soulful composer, green thumb extraordinaire, and the secret love of her life, plot to rescue her friend and reclaim her salvage. Still, the thought lingers whether Nevan is a true hero or another thief waiting for his chance at her loot. Events spin wildly, deepening Rena’s suspicions and pushing her limit of control. With more than her chance for freedom at stake, she must decide if she’s willing to kill to protect what’s precious to her. For once, the Overlord isn’t holding all the power, but can Rena live with being reduced to what she’s trying so hard to escape?

While your fingers are in the clicking mode, why not give Natasha a follow on every social media platform I could think of when writing up the template for these interviews (plus some)?

Pinterest: natasha411
Blog: natashahanova.com
Facebook: Author Natasha Hanova
Twitter: @NatashaHanova
Goodreads: Natasha Hanova
Website: natashahanova.com
Amazon Author Page: Natasha Hanova

Win a signed paper copy of EDGE OF TRUTH, an eBook, or $10 Amazon gift card with this Rafflecopter giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you have any questions, pop them into the comments below. Mrs. Hanova will be around to answer and/or respond!

Well, that’s all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo