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Author interview – Venessa Kimball

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1)  Your novel, ‘Piercing the Fold’ has been defined by some of your readers as new age, YA and adult. Where would you place it?  First, I love that my novel is covering so much ground with respect to genre. This novel definitely has the interest of both YA and adult readers.  I would define it as a cross over novel, bordering between YA and New Adult.  It has a very heavy Science Fiction component.  However, the supernatural, romance, drama, and adventure in this series are very strong as well. 

2)  Are you interested in astrophysics, quantum physics and cosmology, or did you just research them for your novel? Great question.  I knew nothing about quantum physics and astrophysics before writing this series. When I sat down to begin my outline for Piercing the Fold, I realized that I needed to teach myself all I could about a subject I knew almost nothing about.   I spent many hours on the internet learning the ins and outs of the theoretical engineering of wormholes.  I felt that in order to do this story justice, I had to know the basics about quantum physics and astrophysics and then add my twist.  

3)  What is your favourite time of day to write?  late morning.  I am getting into a pattern, which is a good thing.  I long-hand in composition in the morning and type what I have written in the afternoon.  Somedays, the long-hand takes over and I wind up having 5k words to type the next morning to get caught back up in my routine.

4)  How do you combat writer’s block? I can’t say that I have suffered from writer’s block.  Now, “writer’s distraction”, that is one I have to combat.  Most of the time, stepping away from my project or changing my method of writing (even just the color of pen or pencil I use) does the trick and I’m back on track. 

5)  What piece of advice would you give to debut authors? Make sure you have a professional editor have at your book before you release it.  And, Pre-market your book. Start building your fan base before your release.  Set up a pre-marketing plan in a blank calendar.  Fill it with book trailer releases, Excerpt teaser releases, ARC giveaways leading up to your release. 

6)  What three words would you use to describe yourself? Observant.  Persistent.  Down-to-Earth.

7)  ‘Piercing the Fold’ is part of a series. Are they written yet?  Book 2, Surfacing the Rim, is almost complete and will be release in March of 2013.  Book 3, (Title pending) will be complete Summer of 2013.  Many have asked if the series will go beyond three books.  Jesca’s story has spawned storylines for other characters in this series.  I can not say for certain that this series will stop at three books. 

8)  Is there a Piercing the Fold: Book 1 audio book in the works? There is an audio book of Piercing the Fold: Book 1. It is in final stages of production and will release before the Holidays 2012.  The audio book will be different from a typical listen.  This book will be read by multiple voice talents to give the listener a more character interactive experience.  “A movie in the mind experience” would be a good way to put it.  It has been intriguing  in terms of collaborating with the sound studio with regards to directing the voice talents. When I started writing Piercing the Fold on November 23, 2010, I never thought I would be hearing the voices of these characters outside of my mind.  It is very surreal. 

Website: http://www.venessakimball.net

Blog: http://www.venessakimballink.blogspot.com

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15753910-piercing-the-fold

 
 
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Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Piercing-Fold-Book-1-ebook/dp/B008H772VI/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_1_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1353346986&sr=8-1&keywords=piercing+the+fold


Small Kindnesses Blogsplash

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                                                               www.freeimages.co.uk
I am joining many bloggers today to talk about small kindnesses that have happened in my own life. This is the idea of the wonderful Fiona Robyn of  http//writingourwayhome.com, a site I recommend you visit.
I had a hard time thinking of what to write. Life doesn’t often offer small kindnesses, or am I not that receptive?
A few years ago, I was in a car accident – through no fault of my own. My car was a write-off and I was completely shaken-up. 
A few days later, I was then struggling home with some food shopping bags, realising too late that I bought too much heavy stuff. A council gardener was working on the hedges when he saw me. He stopped working and carried my bags for me all the way home. He had no need to, we didn’t know each other. His gesture was much appreciated and I thanked him profusely, even though that didn’t seem enough. He helped me out of the kindness of his heart. I haven’t seen him since, but if I did, I would certainly remember him ad give him a warm smile of recognition.
I hope that small kindnesses come your way and that you in turn can offer some kindness back. I am mindful of others in need as I go about my daily life. One never knows how good one can make someone feel, even with just a smile.

Reduced for the Holiday Weekend

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Just to let you all know, ‘The Divine Pumpkin’ is only £1.98 on ebook from today -Friday 23rd Nov until Sunday 25th Nov.
All the ebooks published by Winter Goose Publishing are reduced for the Holiday Weekend in the USA.
Take this opportunity and grab a bargain. Happy Shopping!
Happy Word Flow & Reading, One & All

Alex Martin Author Interview

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                                         Alex relaxing.

 I met Alex on Goodreads and we found we had a lot in common, besides being authors and having the same surname! We both have a love of France, which Alex uses as the backdrop for her novel ‘The Twisted Vine’. This interview will help you get to know her better, plus her thoughts on writing. Enjoy!

When is your favourite time of day to write?
I love waking up very early and writing through the break of day.  I don’t always manage it, but I know the writing is flowing when I consistently wake just before dawn, feeling bright and perky and don’t need caffeine to fire my brain up!  This is an erratic and longed-for event.  There is something about the quiet potential of that time of morning that I find very conducive.  I huddle over my laptop, swathed in blankets, either in my shed or conservatory, so I can watch the sun come up before it steals the moment, and the busy day snatches my muse away.

How do you combat writer’s block?
Just wait.  Or talk about the work in progress to someone remotely interested.  Sometimes in persuading them of its dubious merits, I know what to do.

What piece of advice would you give to debut authors?
Being a debut author myself, I wouldn’t dare.

In 3 sentences, describe ‘The Twisted Vine’
This is a novel about running away.  As usual, this doesn’t work, and Roxanne runs into more trouble before meeting true friends and finding her courage.  The backdrop is the vendange (grape harvest) in France in the 1980’s, based on my first-hand experiences, and it provides a colourful, weather-filled canvas full of sensuous pleasures for the twisty-turny plot.

Are you currently writing another book?
Yes, it’s called Daffodils, and is based around the First World War.  I’ve always been drawn to the Edwardian era that preceded it, with its fashion, level of technology (my level!) and the illusion of a halcyon time.  The ‘war to end all wars’ shook up the social order as well as individual lives.  The story is based in a small Wiltshire village, similar to one I lived in when my children were born.  We had a wonderful old neighbour, with a wooden leg, who told me about how the village had changed in the 94 years he had lived there and the book began as a homage to him.  I wrote it before The Twisted Vine, before I understood that I needed just to let the characters dictate to me.  So now I am listening to them, as I radically rewrite their story, and try and do them justice.

What 3 words would you use to describe yourself?
More ambitious than talented, probably delusional about writing abilities.  Older than I care to admit or feel.  A wild rebellious spirit who constantly says the wrong thing at the right time.

How did you feel the first time you saw your novel for sale?
What an interesting question!  Scared, thrilled, satisfied, worried.  Convinced it wasn’t good enough, especially the front cover and the first section of the story.  Pleased I’d persevered in my life-long dream of creating a book.

If you didn’t live in Britain, where would you live, and why?
France, without question.  Preferably Poitou-Charentes in a Charantaise longhouse, with a couple of acres, orchard, pool, local markets and community – a completely indulgent dream!  Why?  For warmth, beautiful scenery, a house I could both love and afford, but mostly because France is the only country in which I feel I belong. On a cellular level whenever I go there, I feel my body go, aah, that’s better, we’re home.  Of course I could just be allowing myself off the hook with a mental escape to paradise and like Roxanne, in the Twisted Vine, be glad to return home if it ever really happened!

Where can your novel be purchased?
You can buy The Twisted Vine at www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.com plus www.waterstones.com, www.barnesandnoble.com and www.feedaread.co.uk
Twitter
https://twitter.com/Alexxx8586
Facebook
alex.martin.3532507@facebook.com
Website/blog
alexxx8586@blogspot.com

  Thank you, Alex, for your fun and interesting answers. Good luck with ‘The Twisted Vine’ and your up and coming novel ‘Daffodils’.

Happy Word Flow One & All.                    

Sunshine Award

/ hemmiemartin / 4 Comments
I am delighted and honoured that I have been awarded the Sunshine Award by fellow blogger Dean Pace-Frech  http://deanpacefrech.blogspot.co.uk. He has a wonderful blog, so pop over and check it out.
I now have to answer the fun questions below, and then nominate ten fellow bloggers who will be listed below. Enjoy!
What is your favourite Christmas/festive movie?  Love Actually.
What is your favourite flower? Mexican Orange Blossom (ok, I know it’s a shrub, but it has a beautiful white flower which smells heavily of orange).
What is your favourite non-alcoholic beverage? San Pelligrino water when it’s hot, and a vanilla latte when it’s cold.
What is your passion? Writing. I know that may sound cliched, but I am compelled to write daily, and I feel passionate about my characters and their twisted lives. Reading comes a hot second.
What is your favourite time of year? Hm, difficult one, as each season appeals to me. I don’t like the stress running up to Christmas, but I do enjoy the fairy lights on the houses and in the trees. i love mulled wine and playing games with the family., so I’m plumping for Christmas!
What is your favourite time of day? Early morning, sitting in the garden (weather permitting), drinking a vanilla latte and contemplating the plotline of the current WIP, or reading. 
What is your favourite physical activity?  It used to be rowing in a mixed crew, but now I would say it’s walking.
What is your favourite vacation?  I would have to say my honeymoon in Corfu. The weather was stunning, I felt good in a bikini and I enjoyed many Angel Kiss cocktails during Happy Hour!
And the nominees are:
A.K.Andrew – http://www.akandrew.com
Have a browse around these blogs where you’ll find short stories, flash fiction, poetry and even beautiful prose about fishing and nature.
Happy Word Flow One & All

Creating Speech

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I frequently talk to myself, especially when supermarket shopping. I read the list aloud, encourage myself when I can’t seem to find what I want, and mutter quietly when people block the aisle with their trolleys whilst chatting. I have to admit to occasionally doing that myself – sorry.
Talking aloud whilst writing is something I find invaluable when I’m writing speech. I listen to the construction of the sentence, and whether someone would actually use those words. It’s too easy to fall into the trap of trying to sound clever or literary by using words sourced from the thesaurus. Would your character, or any character use some of those words?  A Stephen Fry  type character would, undoubtedly! 
When I speak aloud, in my head I’m hearing the character’s voice. Hence, if my character is male, I hear a male voice. This doesn’t mean I have to mimic a male voice, you understand, his voice infiltrates my head. Fortunately, I can hear their voices even if I don’t speak aloud, which is useful for times when I’m not alone. How annoying would I be to the rest of the family, otherwise.
One part of speech writing I don’t use is dialect. It is something I don’t like to come across when I’m reading a novel. Personally, I find it jars when I read it. It doesn’t flow well and I find it distracting. I’m not saying you shouldn’t use it if it helps identify your character, I just prefer not to. However, I think it should not be over used as it can upset the reading rhythm.
It shouldn’t be necessary to use ‘he said, she said’ all through the speech, because it should be clear to the reader which character is speaking. If the dialogue is moving the story along and is fairly long, then dropping in a ‘s/he said’ periodically would help the reader keep track. Also remember, that using the other person’s name in a speech can sound unnatural. Think how many times you actually use your spouse’s/partner’s name in a conversation.
I’ve just finished the second edit of ‘Attic of the Mind’. I spent Sunday alone so I could finish the last 100 pages. Needless to say, I spent much of the day conversing with my characters.
I hope whatever you are writing or editing is going well.
Happy Word Flow One & All