Thank you Nat for taking time to answer my questions and congratulations on becoming the newest member of the Renaissance Romance Publishing family.
1: Favourite childhood book?
Nat; I didn’t read it as a book until I was in my late teens, but as a child I collected the magazines and it had a little of
the story each fortnight so it was like reading the book. (See, I didn’t cheat :p ) and that book is The Animals of Farthing Wood by Colin Dann.
2: If you could choose to have lunch with 2 people alive or dead, who would it be and why?
Nat; Well first of all Jackson Rathbone, because let’s face it the guy is drop dead sexy and a southern gent. I think he’d pull out my chair for me and tuck me
in, pour my drink…mmmm…and if he says ‘ma’am’it’ll be a bonus. For the second I think I’d choose Frank McCourt, because Angela’s Ashes is one of my most
favourite books, his writing style was so different and his life story very interesting. I would leave to hear it from his mouth if he was alive.
3: Where do you see yourself in five years?
Nat; Hopefully behind a desk in my own home with a sea view and no disturbances so I can continue to write my stories for everyone’s enjoyment.
4: Do you have a genre of story you haven’t yet attempted?
Nat; There’s many genres I haven’t attempted yet and some I probably never will…BDSM for example. Though it’s become highly popular very recently, I find the genre difficult to read and certainly could never write it…nor sci-fi either.
5: Favourite place on earth?
Nat; I’m rather fond of Scotland and I also like Finland, the language and their cultures.
6: If you could get in your car today with a full tank of fuel and go anywhere, where would you go and why?
Nat; (keep in mind if I had the confidence and experience to drive on the motorway) I would go to Glasgow to see my best friend and spend a week or so with her, but on my way I’d return to my home town and visit my nan’s grave as I haven’t been since before I relocated to Cornwall.
7: Priority in a new home…library or pool?
Nat; Definitely a pool because I enjoy swimming, it’s great exercise and I’d rather write a book than read one.
8: Simpsons or Family Guy?
Nat; The Simpsons, definitely. My boyfriend watches Family Guy and it irritates the hell out of me.
Excerpt from Unspoken Heart – The Sound Of Silence
Well this was it, the first day at a new college. Time to be stared at, pushed around; prejudged.
With a barely audible sigh I lowered my feet from the dashboard as I kept my eyes fixed to the rivers of rain on the windshield. Beyond that the building loomed over the parking lot like a threatening monster. I tugged a hand through my hair, watching the other students as they ran from their cars and inside to avoid getting too wet.
“Are you going to be okay, Alex? If you’re not ready son, you don’t have to start today.”
I turned my attention to my dad. He was sitting in the driver’s seat of his old truck leaning against the window and watching me. I could tell from the expression in his eyes he was worrying about how today would go. He always tended to sit a bit slumped in his seat, the weight of the world on his shoulders. My dad had been through much, but what grieved me the most was that I was responsible for every wrinkle on his too soon aged face. I was to blame for the slight glaze of pain in his eyes and for the fact we only had each other left in the world.
With a sullen nod I turned my gaze back to the students fleeing the rain. A flash of lightning brightened the sky and for a moment the college appeared more threatening than ever, making me want to remain in the truck, but I was aware Dad had his new job to start today. He’d managed to secure work on a boat building team in the dockyard of a town an hour drive away. Dad had always worked well with his hands and carpentry seemed to be his favored profession. I wasn’t going to burden him more by wimping out and begging to just stay home rather than face a new college.
“Okay, if you’re sure.” I jumped as he rested his hand on my shoulder. Looking back to him, I noticed just the briefest of smiles gracing his lips and then it was gone. “If it becomes too much or too overwhelming, have them call me to come and get you, they already have my contact details.” When I gave a nod, he copied and raised his hand from my shoulder to my hair, giving it a ruffle.“Alright, son. You’d better get on inside, you don’t want to be late - have a good first day.”
N. Wood on Amazon
Sunday, August 10, 2014
Interview with Nikita Bardock
Thank you so much for agreeing to answer my questions and I wish you the best of luck with your future projects. Please keep me updated on them.
Nikita isn't yet a published author, but watch this space!
Me: Did you make a conscious decision to become a writer, or did it just happen?
Nikita: I have been writing various small things since I was a child, it started off with poems, and then grew into stories which eventually led to FanFiction and now here I am.
Me: Who would you say is your biggest influence in your life?
Nikita: My Aunt, she has been with through everything that has happened, and no matter some of the decisions I have made, she has supported me and never let me go through anything on my own.
Me: What takes you out of your comfort zone?
Nikita:Things that I know nothing about and require research, simply because I am not always sure if the pieces of research
I put together are even true or make sense! The last thing I want is to sound like an idiot.
Me:Converse or heels?
Nikita: Converse baby!!!
Me: If you could get in your car today with a full tank and go anywhere, where would you go and why?
Nikita: Well, if I drove, to the airport where I could grab a plane to Canada to see my Aunt :)
Me: Priority in a new home..Library or Pool?
Nikita: Pool!!!!
Me: Simpsons or Family Guy?
Nikita: Ooooh, tough one, I'd have to say Family Guy, because it appeals to my filthy mind and anything they say can be twisted into something rude and naughty!!!
Me: First piece you ever wrote (any age)?
Nikita: A poem. I wrote it during a very hard time, it had just come about my step father abusing me and I wrote a poem that
depicted everything that I was feeling at that time.
A girl sat by a window,
A glint was in her eyes.
She sat there angrily thinking,
Of all their stupid lies.
She thought of all those bullies,
And was always full of fear.
No one can see her now,
And soon, she'll disappear.
A distant memory, long since past,
No one recalled her name.
It was as she thought of those bullies,
That she finally had her fame.
They found her at the school one day,
Her wrists were slashed and cut.
And all they could think of,
Was that she was a slut.
Nikita isn't yet a published author, but watch this space!
Me: Did you make a conscious decision to become a writer, or did it just happen?
Nikita: I have been writing various small things since I was a child, it started off with poems, and then grew into stories which eventually led to FanFiction and now here I am.
Me: Who would you say is your biggest influence in your life?
Nikita: My Aunt, she has been with through everything that has happened, and no matter some of the decisions I have made, she has supported me and never let me go through anything on my own.
Me: What takes you out of your comfort zone?
Nikita:Things that I know nothing about and require research, simply because I am not always sure if the pieces of research
I put together are even true or make sense! The last thing I want is to sound like an idiot.
Me:Converse or heels?
Nikita: Converse baby!!!
Me: If you could get in your car today with a full tank and go anywhere, where would you go and why?
Nikita: Well, if I drove, to the airport where I could grab a plane to Canada to see my Aunt :)
Me: Priority in a new home..Library or Pool?
Nikita: Pool!!!!
Me: Simpsons or Family Guy?
Nikita: Ooooh, tough one, I'd have to say Family Guy, because it appeals to my filthy mind and anything they say can be twisted into something rude and naughty!!!
Me: First piece you ever wrote (any age)?
Nikita: A poem. I wrote it during a very hard time, it had just come about my step father abusing me and I wrote a poem that
depicted everything that I was feeling at that time.
A girl sat by a window,
A glint was in her eyes.
She sat there angrily thinking,
Of all their stupid lies.
She thought of all those bullies,
And was always full of fear.
No one can see her now,
And soon, she'll disappear.
A distant memory, long since past,
No one recalled her name.
It was as she thought of those bullies,
That she finally had her fame.
They found her at the school one day,
Her wrists were slashed and cut.
And all they could think of,
Was that she was a slut.
Interview with Theo Fenraven
Theo is joint Admin of the M/M Romance Authors pge on facebook wirh AJ Rose.
Thank you Theo for taking time to answer question for me.
Me: If you could have a T shirt with a slogan on it that describes you / your life what would it be?
Theo: I am male female gay straight bisexual trans asexual human.
Me: If you were stranded on a desert island, what are the four things that you would want to have with you?
Theo: Glasses (to start a fire), a bag of rice, a bag of beans, and the complete works of Shakespeare. That would give me reading material for a long time. :)
Me: Did you make a conscious decision to become a writer, or did it just happen?
Theo: It just happened. I was young, around seven or eight, when I started writing stories about ranches and cowboys. When I got old enough, I got a part time job in the local library. Reading and writing have always played a major role in my life.
Me: Favorite childhood book?
Theo: The Black Stallion
Me: Favorite book now?
Theo: Oh, no! I’m not going there. My favorite book is always the one I’m currently reading. Unless it’s badly written/edited, in which case I throw it away and try another.
Me: What 3 pieces of advice could you give to writers who are embarking on publishing their work?
Theo: I’m going to assume you mean self-publication:
Write the best story you can;
Hire someone to edit it before you publish;
Make sure you have plenty of liquor on hand to help ride the ups and
downs of putting yourself out there. ;/
Me: if you could
choose to have lunch with any 2 people alive or dead who would it be and why?
Theo:I’d love to have lunch with Ben Franklin and Mark Twain. That would be one hell of a conversation! Even thinking about it gives me a pleasurable thrill.
Me: Who would you say is your biggest influence in your life?
Theo: Everyone I’ve met has influenced me in one way or another, and to only
choose one wouldn’t be right.
Me: Favorite flavour
of Ice cream?
Theo: Chocolate
Me: Satin or Silk
(sheets).
Theo: Flannel. I slip and slide too much on silk/satin.
Me: What media is your motivation when writing...music/photography/poetry?
Theo: I listen to soundtracks when I write. Photography is the media I turn
to when I need a break from writing.
Me: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Theo: Making enough off sales of my titles to quit the day job. I don’t want
to be famous, but I would like to live comfortably in a warm place and be able
to write for the greater part of the day.
Me: Favorite film?
Theo: I love movies. They’re the only things I watch anymore. I enjoy too many to choose just one.
Me: Do you have a genre of story you haven’t yet attempted?
Theo: Considering I started out writing cowboy stories, it’s interesting I haven’t yet written a western. There aren’t any in my unpublished stories, either. Hm, I may have to rectify that.
Me: What takes you out of your comfort zone?
Theo: Being broke.
Me: Greatest achievement to date?
Theo: There have been many, but in recent history, I’d say being published
the first time. That opened up all kinds of possibilities to me that I’m only
now starting to take advantage of.
Me: Three characteristics you like about yourself?
Theo: I’m generous with those I love, I’m loyal, and I’m honest.
Me: Three characteristics you do not like about yourself?
Theo: I’m often impatient, I swear too much, I sometimes jump to unwarranted conclusions.
Me: Favorite place on earth?
Theo: Anywhere I can go and not see people. More specifically, either the back roads of western Wisconsin (gets second place as prettiest I’ve seen) or the mountains near Asheville, NC (first place for beauty).
Me: If you could get in your car today with a full tank and go anywhere, where would you go and why?
Theo: My answer depends on the season. If it’s summer, I’d drive north to Lake Superior, find a cabin on a lake, and settle in to write and enjoy the quiet. If it’s winter, I’d drive as far south as I could on the Great River Road. There is much to see and enjoy on the byway.
Me: Best excuse you have used for NOT writing (lol)
Theo: “My dog ate my laptop.”
Me: Priority in a new home..Library or Pool?
Theo: Since the advent of Kindle, I’m able to carry my books with me so I’ll
go with pool. When I write, I make a point to get up every hour or so and do Tai
Chi or yoga to stretch out the muscles. If I had a pool, I’d do laps to get the
blood moving.
Me: Simpsons or Family Guy?
Theo: I grew up with the Simpsons, so I’ll go with them. :)
Me: If you could have written or could write a script for a famous actor or actress who would it be, what would it be about and why?
Theo: I would write a gay love story, hopefully something that might be a breakthrough (just about anything ‘gay’ would in Hollywood, even now). I’d give it to Zachary Quinto and hope his production company, Before the Door, would film it. And I’d want Zach to star in it.
_________
On Friday, March 1, A Silence Kept is being released. It’s a ghost story, and was originally published almost two years ago.
I’ve since gotten the rights back. It’s been revised, expanded, and given a new cover. I’m very pleased with its current iteration.
Mikal rents a haunted house and begins to experience unexplained phenomenon right away. Here’s an excerpt from the first
chapter.
I dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, made myself an herb omelet with sourdough toast and juice, and took the tray out to the front porch
in time to see a battered old red Chevy truck pull up and park. Attached to it was a trailer, upon which was chained a riding mower.
An elderly man with a shock of iron-gray hair climbed out of the cab. He wore faded coveralls and boots. “’Morning. You the new
tenant?”
I nodded. “Name’s Mikal.” I never bothered spelling it for people anymore, which saved me the trouble of explaining my mother hoped I’d be famous one day and a distinctive name would help.
He walked to the back of the trailer, his stride somewhat bowlegged, and let down the ramp. “I’m Emmet. Meet the ghost
yet?”
“There’s a ghost?” Pretended innocence is a great way to gather information. Most people can’t wait to tell you things.
He snorted and spit. “’Course there’s a ghost. Didn’t the realtor lady tell you?”
“Who is it?” I bit into my toast and chewed.
“They think it might be the original owner of the place, but no one’s ever nailed it down.” He loosened the chains and started the mower, backing it down the ramp. Once in the yard, he steered toward me, raising his voice to be heard over the engine. “It’s a young man, ‘cause I’ve seen him. I come out every week or two and mow and do some weeding, but I never stay past
dark and I don’t go in the house. If I have to pee, I do it in the woods. Good day to you now." That little conversation did wonders for my appetite. I got down about half the omelet before giving up. Sipping my juice, I watched Emmet move back and forth across the lawn, his face shaded by a blue ball cap. The wonderful smell of freshly-cut grass filled the air.
The phone inside was on a long line. I took it back to my chair on the porch and called Alice. I knew she was en route but I couldn’t
wait.
“I said I’d be there this morning. I’m on the fucking way.” She sounded distracted.
“Where are you?”
“About halfway. Slept in.”
“The house is haunted.”
“What?”
“There’s a ghost in my rented house. I heard him last night.”
"How do you know it’s a him?”
“The guy who cuts the grass told me.”
Her voice became lively. “That’s incredible! I’ve never met a ghost before. Think he’ll be there when I arrive?”
"Honey, it’s not like you can sit and talk to him.” Emmet motored around the back of the house, taking the noise with him. Near-silence fell. “I’m having second thoughts about staying here. What if he’s dangerous?”
“Did he throw a lamp at your head? Did knives jump out of the drawer and fly into the wall? Did blood come out of the faucets instead of water?”
"He cried.”
“He... what?”
“Cried. Wept huge salty tears. Flooded the house with his anguish.”
While she considered that, I listened to the sound of her car engine as she drove along the highway. “I know someone who might be able to help,” she said at last.
Theo's Wordpress
Watch for it at Amazon, B&N, and All Romance ebooks.. Follow my blog for the latest news on my releases: theofenraven.wordpress.com. You can also find me on Twitter, Google+, and Facebook; search on ‘fenraven’.
Thank you Theo for taking time to answer question for me.
Me: If you could have a T shirt with a slogan on it that describes you / your life what would it be?
Theo: I am male female gay straight bisexual trans asexual human.
Me: If you were stranded on a desert island, what are the four things that you would want to have with you?
Theo: Glasses (to start a fire), a bag of rice, a bag of beans, and the complete works of Shakespeare. That would give me reading material for a long time. :)
Me: Did you make a conscious decision to become a writer, or did it just happen?
Theo: It just happened. I was young, around seven or eight, when I started writing stories about ranches and cowboys. When I got old enough, I got a part time job in the local library. Reading and writing have always played a major role in my life.
Me: Favorite childhood book?
Theo: The Black Stallion
Me: Favorite book now?
Theo: Oh, no! I’m not going there. My favorite book is always the one I’m currently reading. Unless it’s badly written/edited, in which case I throw it away and try another.
Me: What 3 pieces of advice could you give to writers who are embarking on publishing their work?
Theo: I’m going to assume you mean self-publication:
Write the best story you can;
Hire someone to edit it before you publish;
Make sure you have plenty of liquor on hand to help ride the ups and
downs of putting yourself out there. ;/
Me: if you could
choose to have lunch with any 2 people alive or dead who would it be and why?
Theo:I’d love to have lunch with Ben Franklin and Mark Twain. That would be one hell of a conversation! Even thinking about it gives me a pleasurable thrill.
Me: Who would you say is your biggest influence in your life?
Theo: Everyone I’ve met has influenced me in one way or another, and to only
choose one wouldn’t be right.
Me: Favorite flavour
of Ice cream?
Theo: Chocolate
Me: Satin or Silk
(sheets).
Theo: Flannel. I slip and slide too much on silk/satin.
Me: What media is your motivation when writing...music/photography/poetry?
Theo: I listen to soundtracks when I write. Photography is the media I turn
to when I need a break from writing.
Me: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Theo: Making enough off sales of my titles to quit the day job. I don’t want
to be famous, but I would like to live comfortably in a warm place and be able
to write for the greater part of the day.
Me: Favorite film?
Theo: I love movies. They’re the only things I watch anymore. I enjoy too many to choose just one.
Me: Do you have a genre of story you haven’t yet attempted?
Theo: Considering I started out writing cowboy stories, it’s interesting I haven’t yet written a western. There aren’t any in my unpublished stories, either. Hm, I may have to rectify that.
Me: What takes you out of your comfort zone?
Theo: Being broke.
Me: Greatest achievement to date?
Theo: There have been many, but in recent history, I’d say being published
the first time. That opened up all kinds of possibilities to me that I’m only
now starting to take advantage of.
Me: Three characteristics you like about yourself?
Theo: I’m generous with those I love, I’m loyal, and I’m honest.
Me: Three characteristics you do not like about yourself?
Theo: I’m often impatient, I swear too much, I sometimes jump to unwarranted conclusions.
Me: Favorite place on earth?
Theo: Anywhere I can go and not see people. More specifically, either the back roads of western Wisconsin (gets second place as prettiest I’ve seen) or the mountains near Asheville, NC (first place for beauty).
Me: If you could get in your car today with a full tank and go anywhere, where would you go and why?
Theo: My answer depends on the season. If it’s summer, I’d drive north to Lake Superior, find a cabin on a lake, and settle in to write and enjoy the quiet. If it’s winter, I’d drive as far south as I could on the Great River Road. There is much to see and enjoy on the byway.
Me: Best excuse you have used for NOT writing (lol)
Theo: “My dog ate my laptop.”
Me: Priority in a new home..Library or Pool?
Theo: Since the advent of Kindle, I’m able to carry my books with me so I’ll
go with pool. When I write, I make a point to get up every hour or so and do Tai
Chi or yoga to stretch out the muscles. If I had a pool, I’d do laps to get the
blood moving.
Me: Simpsons or Family Guy?
Theo: I grew up with the Simpsons, so I’ll go with them. :)
Me: If you could have written or could write a script for a famous actor or actress who would it be, what would it be about and why?
Theo: I would write a gay love story, hopefully something that might be a breakthrough (just about anything ‘gay’ would in Hollywood, even now). I’d give it to Zachary Quinto and hope his production company, Before the Door, would film it. And I’d want Zach to star in it.
_________
On Friday, March 1, A Silence Kept is being released. It’s a ghost story, and was originally published almost two years ago.
I’ve since gotten the rights back. It’s been revised, expanded, and given a new cover. I’m very pleased with its current iteration.
Mikal rents a haunted house and begins to experience unexplained phenomenon right away. Here’s an excerpt from the first
chapter.
I dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, made myself an herb omelet with sourdough toast and juice, and took the tray out to the front porch
in time to see a battered old red Chevy truck pull up and park. Attached to it was a trailer, upon which was chained a riding mower.
An elderly man with a shock of iron-gray hair climbed out of the cab. He wore faded coveralls and boots. “’Morning. You the new
tenant?”
I nodded. “Name’s Mikal.” I never bothered spelling it for people anymore, which saved me the trouble of explaining my mother hoped I’d be famous one day and a distinctive name would help.
He walked to the back of the trailer, his stride somewhat bowlegged, and let down the ramp. “I’m Emmet. Meet the ghost
yet?”
“There’s a ghost?” Pretended innocence is a great way to gather information. Most people can’t wait to tell you things.
He snorted and spit. “’Course there’s a ghost. Didn’t the realtor lady tell you?”
“Who is it?” I bit into my toast and chewed.
“They think it might be the original owner of the place, but no one’s ever nailed it down.” He loosened the chains and started the mower, backing it down the ramp. Once in the yard, he steered toward me, raising his voice to be heard over the engine. “It’s a young man, ‘cause I’ve seen him. I come out every week or two and mow and do some weeding, but I never stay past
dark and I don’t go in the house. If I have to pee, I do it in the woods. Good day to you now." That little conversation did wonders for my appetite. I got down about half the omelet before giving up. Sipping my juice, I watched Emmet move back and forth across the lawn, his face shaded by a blue ball cap. The wonderful smell of freshly-cut grass filled the air.
The phone inside was on a long line. I took it back to my chair on the porch and called Alice. I knew she was en route but I couldn’t
wait.
“I said I’d be there this morning. I’m on the fucking way.” She sounded distracted.
“Where are you?”
“About halfway. Slept in.”
“The house is haunted.”
“What?”
“There’s a ghost in my rented house. I heard him last night.”
"How do you know it’s a him?”
“The guy who cuts the grass told me.”
Her voice became lively. “That’s incredible! I’ve never met a ghost before. Think he’ll be there when I arrive?”
"Honey, it’s not like you can sit and talk to him.” Emmet motored around the back of the house, taking the noise with him. Near-silence fell. “I’m having second thoughts about staying here. What if he’s dangerous?”
“Did he throw a lamp at your head? Did knives jump out of the drawer and fly into the wall? Did blood come out of the faucets instead of water?”
"He cried.”
“He... what?”
“Cried. Wept huge salty tears. Flooded the house with his anguish.”
While she considered that, I listened to the sound of her car engine as she drove along the highway. “I know someone who might be able to help,” she said at last.
Theo's Wordpress
Watch for it at Amazon, B&N, and All Romance ebooks.. Follow my blog for the latest news on my releases: theofenraven.wordpress.com. You can also find me on Twitter, Google+, and Facebook; search on ‘fenraven’.
Interview With M.B. Feeney
Thank you so much to M. B. Feeney for taking time out of her very busy life to answer my questions.
Favourite childhood book?
I have 2. When I was about 9 or 10, I was sat in school which had FREE READING
time every Friday afternoon during which we could pick a book and literally sit and read. The only problem was, i’d read all the ones in our classroom. My teacher sent me up to the next class to pick one. I picked up 2.
The first was The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien which started me on my journey into fantasy books, which I still enjoy today. (I actually prefer The Hobbit to the Lord of the Rings trilogy) and is still a favourite today.
The second book also remains a firm favourite as an adult was Goodnight Mr. Tom by Michelle Magorian. I actually made my mum and my dad read it over the weekend I was allowed to borrow it for from school.
Favourite book now?
Not including the 2 above which I have continued to love as an adult, I have so many books that I love and will read over and over again, but if I was to pick a favourite, I’m going to cheat a little.
I can’t pick just 1 book, so I am going to pick a series. (even though there are many). Whenever I feel I have nothing to read, or don’t particularly want to start something new, I have books that I know I can pick up and just escape into. The Belgariad series by David Eddings are set of books in which the characters feel like old friends. I know them so well, but they still manage to surprise me on occasion (I’d also like to mention The Mallorean which is the follow up series by the same author)
If you could have a T shirt with a slogan on it that describes you
/ your life what would it be?
“It’s about bloody time” Those people who know me know that although I’m outgoing (read as mouthy) and a little sarcastic, I have little confidence in my so called “talents”.I can make snap decisions in all aspects of my life, but when it comes to anything creative, especially my writing; I talk myself into things, then out again. I worry that no one will like it, or there’s already something out there similar but better written. I think it was my cousin who is bias) that said to me “It’s about bloody time you did something with your writing”.
Satin or Silk (sheets).
Neither. I have lovely and soft cotton sheets
Greatest achievement to date?
Not including my children because let’s face it, they trump anything, I would have to say making the choice to go back to school and train to be a teacher. It was risky as it leaves us on minimal money for a while, but at the end of the day, it’ll be worth the worry and stress. Even though we aren’t the most flush of families, we are happy and manage to have fun.
Converse or heels?
This is a bit of a loaded question... I LOVE my converse and wear them a lot, but as many people know, I have a thing for cowboy boots. I wear mine pretty much all the time (apart from when I wear my converse) and they have a smallish heel on them.
Apart from these, I love wearing heels when I go out, but they don’t tend to last very long on my feet.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I have my 5 year plan. I will have graduated with a degree, I will be working in a school that I love which will then make me a little more financially secure.
Also, I will still be writing and publishing books. know it will never be a full time career for me, but writing is, and always will be, my
escape and as long as people still want to read what I write, I will continue to publish.
Thanks for having me :)
Excerpt from what I am working on now for submission to the Renaissance Romance Beach Reads Open call:
“Come on Ava,” my best friend Erica called out, trying to hurry me along as I made sure the dogs had enough food and water for the evening. “We’ll lose our reservation.” I didn’t know why she bothered doing this every time we went out, we were always late.
“You do realise that it’s a pub don’t you Davidson? They don’t tend to honour reservations, and anyway, we’ve been going there every Wednesday for nigh on five years. Not only will they keep a table for us, they’ll expect us to be late.”
”Well, maybe we can surprise them by turning up when we said we would.” She huffed as I locked the door behind me. I linked arms with her as we began to walk the short distance to The Goose for our regular steak date whilst Marcus was at football training.
For as long as I’d known him, Marcus had played Sunday League football which was followed by a Sunday afternoon of celebrating (or the drowning of sorrows) with his team mates at the very pub I was walking towards. Coupled with training one evening a week, his being out gave me more than enough time to spend with Erica or at home with the dogs.
“Have you thought any more about that holiday I mentioned?” Erica asked as we claimed our usual table accompanied by the staple bottle of red.
“I have...” my words drifted away as I thought back to her idea of a girlie getaway on the Isle of Wight. The top class Lakeside hotel with attached spa located right next to, as the name suggested, a beautiful lake.
Bliss.
“And? Why the hesitation?” She pushed, as she always did, her eyes flashing.
“I don’t know. It sounds amazing, and Lord knows I could do with some time away.”
“Do it then.” I knew I had enough holiday time available at work.
Screw it.
“Let’s do it.”
Buy Her Book on Kindle!
MB Feeney's Facebook
Favourite childhood book?
I have 2. When I was about 9 or 10, I was sat in school which had FREE READING
time every Friday afternoon during which we could pick a book and literally sit and read. The only problem was, i’d read all the ones in our classroom. My teacher sent me up to the next class to pick one. I picked up 2.The first was The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien which started me on my journey into fantasy books, which I still enjoy today. (I actually prefer The Hobbit to the Lord of the Rings trilogy) and is still a favourite today.
The second book also remains a firm favourite as an adult was Goodnight Mr. Tom by Michelle Magorian. I actually made my mum and my dad read it over the weekend I was allowed to borrow it for from school.
Favourite book now?
Not including the 2 above which I have continued to love as an adult, I have so many books that I love and will read over and over again, but if I was to pick a favourite, I’m going to cheat a little.
I can’t pick just 1 book, so I am going to pick a series. (even though there are many). Whenever I feel I have nothing to read, or don’t particularly want to start something new, I have books that I know I can pick up and just escape into. The Belgariad series by David Eddings are set of books in which the characters feel like old friends. I know them so well, but they still manage to surprise me on occasion (I’d also like to mention The Mallorean which is the follow up series by the same author)
If you could have a T shirt with a slogan on it that describes you
/ your life what would it be?
“It’s about bloody time” Those people who know me know that although I’m outgoing (read as mouthy) and a little sarcastic, I have little confidence in my so called “talents”.I can make snap decisions in all aspects of my life, but when it comes to anything creative, especially my writing; I talk myself into things, then out again. I worry that no one will like it, or there’s already something out there similar but better written. I think it was my cousin who is bias) that said to me “It’s about bloody time you did something with your writing”.
Satin or Silk (sheets).
Neither. I have lovely and soft cotton sheets
Greatest achievement to date?
Not including my children because let’s face it, they trump anything, I would have to say making the choice to go back to school and train to be a teacher. It was risky as it leaves us on minimal money for a while, but at the end of the day, it’ll be worth the worry and stress. Even though we aren’t the most flush of families, we are happy and manage to have fun.
Converse or heels?
This is a bit of a loaded question... I LOVE my converse and wear them a lot, but as many people know, I have a thing for cowboy boots. I wear mine pretty much all the time (apart from when I wear my converse) and they have a smallish heel on them.
Apart from these, I love wearing heels when I go out, but they don’t tend to last very long on my feet.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I have my 5 year plan. I will have graduated with a degree, I will be working in a school that I love which will then make me a little more financially secure.
Also, I will still be writing and publishing books. know it will never be a full time career for me, but writing is, and always will be, my
escape and as long as people still want to read what I write, I will continue to publish.
Thanks for having me :)
Excerpt from what I am working on now for submission to the Renaissance Romance Beach Reads Open call:
“Come on Ava,” my best friend Erica called out, trying to hurry me along as I made sure the dogs had enough food and water for the evening. “We’ll lose our reservation.” I didn’t know why she bothered doing this every time we went out, we were always late.
“You do realise that it’s a pub don’t you Davidson? They don’t tend to honour reservations, and anyway, we’ve been going there every Wednesday for nigh on five years. Not only will they keep a table for us, they’ll expect us to be late.”
”Well, maybe we can surprise them by turning up when we said we would.” She huffed as I locked the door behind me. I linked arms with her as we began to walk the short distance to The Goose for our regular steak date whilst Marcus was at football training.
For as long as I’d known him, Marcus had played Sunday League football which was followed by a Sunday afternoon of celebrating (or the drowning of sorrows) with his team mates at the very pub I was walking towards. Coupled with training one evening a week, his being out gave me more than enough time to spend with Erica or at home with the dogs.
“Have you thought any more about that holiday I mentioned?” Erica asked as we claimed our usual table accompanied by the staple bottle of red.
“I have...” my words drifted away as I thought back to her idea of a girlie getaway on the Isle of Wight. The top class Lakeside hotel with attached spa located right next to, as the name suggested, a beautiful lake.
Bliss.
“And? Why the hesitation?” She pushed, as she always did, her eyes flashing.
“I don’t know. It sounds amazing, and Lord knows I could do with some time away.”
“Do it then.” I knew I had enough holiday time available at work.
Screw it.
“Let’s do it.”
Buy Her Book on Kindle!
MB Feeney's Facebook
Interview with AJ Rose
Thank you to AJ Rose for answering my questions, I am reading The
Yearning atm hope to read more of your work soon, AJ along with Theo are the
admin of the M/M Romance Authors group here on fb.
Me: If you were stranded on a desert island, what are the four things
that you would want to have with you?
AJ: Duct tape, unlimited fresh water, unlimited access to the Kindle store
for my Kindle, and lube. (You said things, so I didn’t pick people.)
Me: Did you make a conscious decision to become a writer, or did it just
happen?
AJ: Sort of both. When I was a kid, it was all I ever wanted to be, and the
stories just came out. But when I got older, I met someone in college who didn’t
put much value on that use of my time, so I quit writing. For ten years, I
wasn’t in the habit. One day, I got snagged by an internet roleplay group and
the writing bug bit me again. When that group fell apart, I decided to try my
hand at getting published. I’ve been doing it now for going on two years.
Me: Favorite childhood book?
AJ: Define childhood. I think my favorite book from before I was 18 would be
The Hobbit, but in those 18 years, I had dozens of favorite books.
Me: Favorite book now?
AJ: King Perry by Edmond Manning. The descriptions soar, and the premise of
the book is fascinating.
Me: What 3 pieces of advice could you give to writers who are embarking
on publishing their work?
AJ: Sit down and do the writing, don’t just talk about writing. Get
a good beta reader who isn’t afraid to tell you what doesn’twork as
much as will praise you for what does. Never stop learning how to write
better.
Me: if you could choose to have lunch with any 2 people alive or dead
who would it be and why?
AJ; Stephen King, because he has written several of my top ten favorite
books, and I would love to get a glimpse of how his mind works. And maybe ask
how he manages to keep so many details of his plots straight in the writing.
Chris Pine, because I’m a total blubbering fannish mess over him and I’m
convinced he’s at least bi, not that I’d have half a chance in hell of getting
his attention.
Me: Who would you say is your biggest influence in your life?
AJ: My sister, who taught me about the balance between going after your
dreams while starving to death, and paying the bills with a soul sucking job.
Mostly I do what I have to so that sometimes I do what I care about.
Me: Favorite flavour of Ice cream?
AJ: Mocha Almond Fudge (Edy’s or the Baskin Robbins version, doesn’t
matter.)
Me: Satin or Silk (sheets).
AJ: Neither! Ugh! Give me those t-shirt cotton sheets any day.
Me:What media is your motivation when writing...music/photography/poetry?
AJ: Music, which I can’t actually listen to while I’m writing, but I will listen
to the rest of the time so I can carry the mood with me when I do open my word
doc.
Me:Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
AJ: Doing nothing much different. Day job, writing in my evenings and weekends,
trying to make a name for myself. Telling stories that I can’t
nottell.
Me: Favorite film?
AJ; Just one? No, I have more than just one. Inception, Harry Potter and
the Deathly Hollows Part 2, Major League, Poltergeist, The Exorcist, Gladiator,
Schindler’s List... The list goes on.
Me: What takes you out of your comfort zone?
AJ: Crowds. I cannot stand crowds. If they get too far into my personal
space, I start throwing elbows. I can’t help it. It’s fight or flight, and I
will fight until I’m free enough of the people for the flight part.
Me: Converse or heels?
AJ; Uh... Converse.
Me: Greatest achievement to date?
AJ: Getting published (which taught me about the drawbacks of traditional
publishing, and now I’m doing just fine with self-publishing).
Me: Three characteristics you like about yourself?
AJ: My fierce loyalty to those I love, my sarcastic wit, and my ability to
sleep anywhere at any time, usually within a few minutes of lying down.
Me: Three characteristics you do not like about yourself?
AJ: I’m a loudmouth and sometimes speak before thinking. I’m easily
distracted, and find it difficult to focus. I’m completely and utterly insecure,
though this is improving with the more control I take over my future.
Me: If you could get in your car today with a full tank and go anywhere,
where would you go and why?
AJ: To visit my sister in San Francisco. The drive out there would be
fantastic, and I haven’t seen her nearly often enough. Not to mention where she
lives is gorgeous and I would love to go again.
Me: Best excuse you have used for NOT writing (lol)
AJ: I have several regular ones, but they’re usually legitimate and piss me
off when they get in the way: migraine, keep having to stop for research, or the
Muse has deserted me.
Me: Priority in a new home..Library or Pool?
AJ: Library. I can’t really swim anyway.
Me: If you could have written or could write a script for a famous actor or
actress who would it be, what would it be about and why?
AJ: Chris Pine, so I could write in an m/m sex scene and then watch it being
filmed.
Excerpt from the Power Exchange sequel, tentatively titled SafewordChapter 1
Three months ago
“We go now live to Jan Aldrich on the scene. Jan?”
“Thank you, Mark. In the three weeks since twelve year old Jeremy Trexall disappeared, police and St. Louis County resident volunteers have been working non-stop in their search for him. That search ended today, in a quiet Chesterfield neighborhood at this house.” The camera panned to the right, showing an innocuous house in Anywhere, Suburbia, only remarkable because of the
bright yellow crime scene tape strung from tree to tree, blocking off what I knew to be hoards of press and curious onlookers lining the once-quiet street. My partner, Myah Hayes, and I continued to watch the wall-mounted television in the briefing room,surrounded by everyone in the building not required to man phones. The unnatural silence in a room full of cops could only speak of the gravity of what we were hearing.
“An anonymous tip brought St. Louis County police to investigate a vehicle potentially matching the one two school children
remembered idling near the convenience store where young Jeremy was last seen. When police questioned the occupants of the home regarding the vehicle, they made an astonishing discovery; not only had they found Trexall alive, but another teen at the residence identified himself as Marshall Schofield, a Colorado boy who went missing in 2009 at the age of thirteen just outside Fort
Collins. The owner of the house, David Strange, has been brought into the St. Louis County police department for questioning. The DA’s office hasn’t determined if Strange will be charged in the disappearance of the two boys, and police will only confirm Strange is a person of interest with information potentially relevant to the case. Meanwhile, the boys have been taken to an area hospital for evaluation and have since been released into the custody of their families.
"The excitement of finding Trexall and Schofield alive is palpable even as crime scene technicians arrive at Strange’s residence to
process the scene.” I noticed a familiar head of blond hair above the emblazoned yellow CSI on the back of one of the techs and watched as my brother slipped into the house on TV. “So far, officials are saying little about Strange or the environment in which the boys were kept. The families of both children could not be reached for comment, and a staff psychologist at the hospital whereTrexall and Schofield were taken assured us that their care was of the utmost concern. Still, there’s new hope in Chesterfield tonight thanks to the potential tragedy averted here. Two children who vanished seemingly without a trace have been
returned to their parents, where they belong. For KSMV News Channel Eight, I’m Jan Aldrich. Mark?”
The news anchor’s voice faded into the background as the room erupted in conversation. Myah turned to me and raised her chin toward the exit, leading the way through the crowd and back to our desks. The October sun touched the tops of the trees, streaking gold through the blinds and painting patterned light across the squad room.
“Looks like another DeGrassi in the limelight again,” she sighed, sitting in her desk chair. It creaked as she twisted from side to side,
loud in a room made eerily quiet by the absence of other investigators. My brother Cole was lead CSI for the St. Louis County police department, and in a case this high profile, that had already splashed across national news websites, there was no doubt in my mind he’d take point on this one. Every tiny sliver of evidence would be scrutinized to the point of absurdity. Cole wouldn’t leave it to just anyone.
I shrugged, my usual response when my fifteen minutes of
fame were brought up anywhere other than privately. “Yeah, looks like your
dinner plans are off.”
AJ Rose's Wordpress
Yearning atm hope to read more of your work soon, AJ along with Theo are the
admin of the M/M Romance Authors group here on fb.
Me: If you were stranded on a desert island, what are the four things
that you would want to have with you?
AJ: Duct tape, unlimited fresh water, unlimited access to the Kindle store
for my Kindle, and lube. (You said things, so I didn’t pick people.)
Me: Did you make a conscious decision to become a writer, or did it just
happen?
AJ: Sort of both. When I was a kid, it was all I ever wanted to be, and the
stories just came out. But when I got older, I met someone in college who didn’t
put much value on that use of my time, so I quit writing. For ten years, I
wasn’t in the habit. One day, I got snagged by an internet roleplay group and
the writing bug bit me again. When that group fell apart, I decided to try my
hand at getting published. I’ve been doing it now for going on two years.
Me: Favorite childhood book?
AJ: Define childhood. I think my favorite book from before I was 18 would be
The Hobbit, but in those 18 years, I had dozens of favorite books.
Me: Favorite book now?
AJ: King Perry by Edmond Manning. The descriptions soar, and the premise of
the book is fascinating.
Me: What 3 pieces of advice could you give to writers who are embarking
on publishing their work?
AJ: Sit down and do the writing, don’t just talk about writing. Get
a good beta reader who isn’t afraid to tell you what doesn’twork as
much as will praise you for what does. Never stop learning how to write
better.
Me: if you could choose to have lunch with any 2 people alive or dead
who would it be and why?
AJ; Stephen King, because he has written several of my top ten favorite
books, and I would love to get a glimpse of how his mind works. And maybe ask
how he manages to keep so many details of his plots straight in the writing.
Chris Pine, because I’m a total blubbering fannish mess over him and I’m
convinced he’s at least bi, not that I’d have half a chance in hell of getting
his attention.
Me: Who would you say is your biggest influence in your life?
AJ: My sister, who taught me about the balance between going after your
dreams while starving to death, and paying the bills with a soul sucking job.
Mostly I do what I have to so that sometimes I do what I care about.
Me: Favorite flavour of Ice cream?
AJ: Mocha Almond Fudge (Edy’s or the Baskin Robbins version, doesn’t
matter.)
Me: Satin or Silk (sheets).
AJ: Neither! Ugh! Give me those t-shirt cotton sheets any day.
Me:What media is your motivation when writing...music/photography/poetry?
AJ: Music, which I can’t actually listen to while I’m writing, but I will listen
to the rest of the time so I can carry the mood with me when I do open my word
doc.
Me:Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
AJ: Doing nothing much different. Day job, writing in my evenings and weekends,
trying to make a name for myself. Telling stories that I can’t
nottell.
Me: Favorite film?
AJ; Just one? No, I have more than just one. Inception, Harry Potter and
the Deathly Hollows Part 2, Major League, Poltergeist, The Exorcist, Gladiator,
Schindler’s List... The list goes on.
Me: What takes you out of your comfort zone?
AJ: Crowds. I cannot stand crowds. If they get too far into my personal
space, I start throwing elbows. I can’t help it. It’s fight or flight, and I
will fight until I’m free enough of the people for the flight part.
Me: Converse or heels?
AJ; Uh... Converse.
Me: Greatest achievement to date?
AJ: Getting published (which taught me about the drawbacks of traditional
publishing, and now I’m doing just fine with self-publishing).
Me: Three characteristics you like about yourself?
AJ: My fierce loyalty to those I love, my sarcastic wit, and my ability to
sleep anywhere at any time, usually within a few minutes of lying down.
Me: Three characteristics you do not like about yourself?
AJ: I’m a loudmouth and sometimes speak before thinking. I’m easily
distracted, and find it difficult to focus. I’m completely and utterly insecure,
though this is improving with the more control I take over my future.
Me: If you could get in your car today with a full tank and go anywhere,
where would you go and why?
AJ: To visit my sister in San Francisco. The drive out there would be
fantastic, and I haven’t seen her nearly often enough. Not to mention where she
lives is gorgeous and I would love to go again.
Me: Best excuse you have used for NOT writing (lol)
AJ: I have several regular ones, but they’re usually legitimate and piss me
off when they get in the way: migraine, keep having to stop for research, or the
Muse has deserted me.
Me: Priority in a new home..Library or Pool?
AJ: Library. I can’t really swim anyway.
Me: If you could have written or could write a script for a famous actor or
actress who would it be, what would it be about and why?
AJ: Chris Pine, so I could write in an m/m sex scene and then watch it being
filmed.
Excerpt from the Power Exchange sequel, tentatively titled SafewordChapter 1
Three months ago
“We go now live to Jan Aldrich on the scene. Jan?”
“Thank you, Mark. In the three weeks since twelve year old Jeremy Trexall disappeared, police and St. Louis County resident volunteers have been working non-stop in their search for him. That search ended today, in a quiet Chesterfield neighborhood at this house.” The camera panned to the right, showing an innocuous house in Anywhere, Suburbia, only remarkable because of the
bright yellow crime scene tape strung from tree to tree, blocking off what I knew to be hoards of press and curious onlookers lining the once-quiet street. My partner, Myah Hayes, and I continued to watch the wall-mounted television in the briefing room,surrounded by everyone in the building not required to man phones. The unnatural silence in a room full of cops could only speak of the gravity of what we were hearing.
“An anonymous tip brought St. Louis County police to investigate a vehicle potentially matching the one two school children
remembered idling near the convenience store where young Jeremy was last seen. When police questioned the occupants of the home regarding the vehicle, they made an astonishing discovery; not only had they found Trexall alive, but another teen at the residence identified himself as Marshall Schofield, a Colorado boy who went missing in 2009 at the age of thirteen just outside Fort
Collins. The owner of the house, David Strange, has been brought into the St. Louis County police department for questioning. The DA’s office hasn’t determined if Strange will be charged in the disappearance of the two boys, and police will only confirm Strange is a person of interest with information potentially relevant to the case. Meanwhile, the boys have been taken to an area hospital for evaluation and have since been released into the custody of their families.
"The excitement of finding Trexall and Schofield alive is palpable even as crime scene technicians arrive at Strange’s residence to
process the scene.” I noticed a familiar head of blond hair above the emblazoned yellow CSI on the back of one of the techs and watched as my brother slipped into the house on TV. “So far, officials are saying little about Strange or the environment in which the boys were kept. The families of both children could not be reached for comment, and a staff psychologist at the hospital whereTrexall and Schofield were taken assured us that their care was of the utmost concern. Still, there’s new hope in Chesterfield tonight thanks to the potential tragedy averted here. Two children who vanished seemingly without a trace have been
returned to their parents, where they belong. For KSMV News Channel Eight, I’m Jan Aldrich. Mark?”
The news anchor’s voice faded into the background as the room erupted in conversation. Myah turned to me and raised her chin toward the exit, leading the way through the crowd and back to our desks. The October sun touched the tops of the trees, streaking gold through the blinds and painting patterned light across the squad room.
“Looks like another DeGrassi in the limelight again,” she sighed, sitting in her desk chair. It creaked as she twisted from side to side,
loud in a room made eerily quiet by the absence of other investigators. My brother Cole was lead CSI for the St. Louis County police department, and in a case this high profile, that had already splashed across national news websites, there was no doubt in my mind he’d take point on this one. Every tiny sliver of evidence would be scrutinized to the point of absurdity. Cole wouldn’t leave it to just anyone.
I shrugged, my usual response when my fifteen minutes of
fame were brought up anywhere other than privately. “Yeah, looks like your
dinner plans are off.”
AJ Rose's Wordpress
Interview with R. E. Hargrave
Thank you so much for answering my questions Rachel, you
have been a great influence in my writing and your constant support and
nurturing of my gift has been priceless.
1.Satin or Silk (sheets).
Neither, give me high thread count
cotton!!
2.What media is your motivation when
writing...music/photography/poetry?
Yes. You never know what will inspire and motivate; I’ve
had plot bunnies pop up out of nowhere because of a song, a picture, a random
thought.
3.Do you have a genre of story you haven’t yet
attempted?
Zombies!
4.Greatest achievement to
date?
Three of them
actually: my kids.
5.Three characteristics you like about
yourself?
Honest, loyal,
and forgiving.
6.Three characteristics you do not like about
yourself?
Impatient, too
worried what other people think, and not active enough.
7.Priority in a new home…Library or
Pool?
Library hands
down… do you know how much work a pool is?!
8.First piece you ever wrote (any age)?
In middle school my best friend
and I did a collaboration about a dragon named Rufus. We would take turns adding
to the story, passing it back and forth. I think I still have it somewhere . .
.
_________________________________________________
Unedited excerpt from my latest manuscript,
Haunted Raine:
The view out of the WINDOW was blurred by the haziness of a
pre-sunrise fog that I knew would burn off as the day warmed up. Despite the
limited visibility I still found my gaze being drawn to a clump of trees off to
the left – and a structure. There had been no mention of any outbuildings when
we’d bought the property. I became DIZZY, and for the briefest moment thought I
heard whispering.
Curious, I hurried back to the bedroom to get my SHOES on,
and then made my way outside, grabbing my purse as an afterthought while I
rushed out the front door. Plotting a course toward the back of the lot, my feet
carried me forward as my hand dipped into my purse to find my smokes. I came
back empty-handed.
Coming to a standstill I dug deeper in my purse, but to no
avail. Just as I began to worry that either Rick had found them or they’d
somehow fallen out when we were out the night before, a loon cried out in the
distance and my head snapped up. Through the haze I could just make out a worn,
yellow shack.
Cigarettes forgotten I resumed walking, but the shack never
got closer. By the time I reached the area where I could’ve sworn I’d seen it, I
was standing in front of a charred foundation. A breeze picked up and the ends
of my short ponytail blew across my neck. Wrapping my arms around my middle I
shivered, and then gasped when my eyes landed on a red box poking up from
between some bricks.
With a shaky hand I leaned over and tugged on it.
Marlboros. At the sound of a cackling laugh I turned and ran back toward the
house, and the car. There had to be an explanation. Something along the lines of
prankster teenagers were using the spot to sneak smokes, and the laugh, well, it
was a bird or some other wildlife. My mind was just conjuring craziness because
I hadn’t slept well, it was early, and I needed coffee. Lots of
coffee.
Hitting the edge of the house, I chanced a glance back over
my shoulder and could make out the faint yellowed edges of the shack once again
– this time a dark-skinned figure shrouded in white stood off to the side of it.
Pain pierced my head.
Once, twice I blinked, and they were
gone.
R.E. Hargrave's Facebook Page
R.E. Hargrave's Blogger Page
R.E. Hargrave's Goodreads
have been a great influence in my writing and your constant support and
nurturing of my gift has been priceless.
1.Satin or Silk (sheets).
Neither, give me high thread count
cotton!!
2.What media is your motivation when
writing...music/photography/poetry?
Yes. You never know what will inspire and motivate; I’ve
had plot bunnies pop up out of nowhere because of a song, a picture, a random
thought.
3.Do you have a genre of story you haven’t yet
attempted?
Zombies!
4.Greatest achievement to
date?
Three of them
actually: my kids.
5.Three characteristics you like about
yourself?
Honest, loyal,
and forgiving.
6.Three characteristics you do not like about
yourself?
Impatient, too
worried what other people think, and not active enough.
7.Priority in a new home…Library or
Pool?
Library hands
down… do you know how much work a pool is?!
8.First piece you ever wrote (any age)?
In middle school my best friend
and I did a collaboration about a dragon named Rufus. We would take turns adding
to the story, passing it back and forth. I think I still have it somewhere . .
.
_________________________________________________
Unedited excerpt from my latest manuscript,
Haunted Raine:
The view out of the WINDOW
was blurred by the haziness of apre-sunrise fog that I knew would burn off as the day warmed up. Despite the
limited visibility I still found my gaze being drawn to a clump of trees off to
the left – and a structure. There had been no mention of any outbuildings when
we’d bought the property. I became DIZZY
, and for the briefest moment thought Iheard whispering.
Curious, I hurried back to the bedroom to get my SHOES
on,and then made my way outside, grabbing my purse as an afterthought while I
rushed out the front door. Plotting a course toward the back of the lot, my feet
carried me forward as my hand dipped into my purse to find my smokes. I came
back empty-handed.
Coming to a standstill I dug deeper in my purse, but to no
avail. Just as I began to worry that either Rick had found them or they’d
somehow fallen out when we were out the night before, a loon cried out in the
distance and my head snapped up. Through the haze I could just make out a worn,
yellow shack.
Cigarettes forgotten I resumed walking, but the shack never
got closer. By the time I reached the area where I could’ve sworn I’d seen it, I
was standing in front of a charred foundation. A breeze picked up and the ends
of my short ponytail blew across my neck. Wrapping my arms around my middle I
shivered, and then gasped when my eyes landed on a red box poking up from
between some bricks.
With a shaky hand I leaned over and tugged on it.
Marlboros. At the sound of a cackling laugh I turned and ran back toward the
house, and the car. There had to be an explanation. Something along the lines of
prankster teenagers were using the spot to sneak smokes, and the laugh, well, it
was a bird or some other wildlife. My mind was just conjuring craziness because
I hadn’t slept well, it was early, and I needed coffee. Lots of
coffee.
Hitting the edge of the house, I chanced a glance back over
my shoulder and could make out the faint yellowed edges of the shack once again
– this time a dark-skinned figure shrouded in white stood off to the side of it.
Pain pierced my head.
Once, twice I blinked, and they were
gone.
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Interview With M.C. Rayne
So funny when I originaly asked Matt to fill in these questions he was hoping to be published. Congratulations on being accepted by a publishing house.
Okay so my first victim..I mean author is M.C.Rayne (Matt), who
I have had the pleasure of knowing and writing with on several occasions. BUT... hmmm now he didn't read the top part of the email. However the answers were so awesome I have decided to post all of them incl a piece from his original story
Flavours Of Our Life
1.If you could have a T shirt with a slogan on it
that describes you / your life what would it be?
Matt: Absolutely Flawless hahaha - I actually
hav...e no idea, anything which doesn't bring too much
attention my way, but it MUST have sparkles on it *nods*
2.If you were stranded on a desert island, what are the four
things that you would want to have with you?
Matt: 1. Music, I would not be able to go on without my music! 2.
My iPad so I can still write, that would actually lead me into three and four,
power and internet. I will assume the island already has food and water???
DAMMIT, I forgot to include Kellan Lutz! I need more options!
3.Did you make a conscious decision to become a writer, or did
it just happen?
Matt: I am still 'to be published' author, just need to complete
what I am on then I can call myself an author. In regards to the actual
question, I never thought about it, I just always played things out in my head.
Just over a year ago my mum died and my good friend Loopy Lou introduced me to
Fan-fiction, and with some encouragement from other authors I penned my first
story and then the addiction started. Now I am moving into original fiction I am
more terrified then I ever was about posting a fan-fiction piece, not that I
look down at FF at all, it just seems a little more scary - somehow
:-)
4. Favorite childhood book?
Matt: The Worst Witch series hehe, I love things about witches
and as a kid this just felt fun and helped me get lost in
stories.
5. Favorite book now?
Matt: I am still proud to say its the Harry Potter series! I will
read anything, but I will read these books again and again because they just
take you on a journey every time. A classic I love is Turn Of The Screw by Henry
James.
6. What 3 pieces of advice could you give to writers who are
embarking on publishing their work?
Matt: Ask me when I am actually published LOL, just give me about
a month (fingers crossed)
7. if you could choose to have lunch with any 2 people alive or
dead who would it be and why?
Matt: Cher! OMG, I know, stereotype, but I adore her and would
love to have a good old bitch with her. Tom Hanks because I have had the hots
for him since I was about 11 LOL
8. Who would you say is your biggest influence in your life?
Matt: I don't have one, its all the friends I have seen get
published, and the ones I can see trying like myself.
9. Favorite flavour of Ice cream?
Matt: All of them in one bowl, yum!
10. Satin or Silk (sheets).
Matt: Neither, I hate silk sheets as
too slippy and no to satin also. Gimmie jersey or cotton :-)
11. What media is your motivation when
writing...music/photography/ poetry?
Matt: Depends on my mood, normally classical music because
lyrics distract me
12. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Matt: Still too terrified to publish HA!
13. Favorite film?
Matt: Anything and everything! I do love superhero movies like
Batman, but then I love classics like The Wizard Of Oz. I also love all horrors
:-)
14. Do you have a genre of story you haven’t yet attempted?
Matt: Once I have finished Flavours Of My Life (my current WIP) I
want to move into fantasy, I feel very comfortable there.
15. What takes you out of your comfort zone?
Matt: Fluffy love crap! Bad word I know, but I can't do the
whole love thing. I prefer to have a reader crying, I find a sad story stays
with you longer.
16. Converse or heels?
Matt: heels of course LOL, joking, but couldn't resist
17. Greatest achievement to date?
Matt: Getting myself through university. Yes I have a very
supportive family, but as we are not cash rich I had to pay for what I needed.
Guess I appreciated it more.
18. Three characteristics you like about
yourself?
Matt: I cannot talk to people I don't like! If someone annoys
me I would just rather tell them and move on. There is only one side to my face.
2. I think I am funny, I make myself laugh! 3. My need to make people happy.
19. Three characteristics you do not like about
yourself?
Matt:. my lack of confidence. 2. My need to make people happy,
its kind of a good/bad thing. 3. my inability to think I have talent even when
people say I do
20. Favorite place on earth?
Matt: England, I love it here hence why I travel very little
(also, I hate flying. Until I can get there by ruby slipper, I am staying HERE)
21. If you could get in your car today with a full tank and go
anywhere, where would you go and why?
Matt: Hospital - I can't drive
22. Best excuse you have used for NOT writing
(lol)
Matt: The TV is on :-) (Yeah Matt heard that a few times lol)
23. Priority in a new home..Library or Pool?
Matt: A dance floor and a pole! who needs anything else?
24. Simpsons or Family Guy?
Matt: Simpsons (American Dad is better than FG)
25. If you could have written or could write a script for a
famous actor or actress who would it be, what would it be about and
why?
Matt: Nicole Kidman. I want to see her play the part she did in
Australia, but when she asks if you would like to hear a story. When she asked
this, I was in the cinema and actually said yes (oh the shame)
26. First piece you ever wrote (any age)?
Matt: The Next Three Days. Was also my first fan-fiction :-)
Excerpt from Flavours of Our Life by M.C.Rayne.
My life is a bitter fabrication to what those outside the four
walls I call home get to see. When our door closes at night, gone to are the
happy, smiling faces people perceive to dwell insi...de, and out come the family
who just can’t disguise how they feel any longer. We don't chose to live within
the consuming darkness, it's just something we have grown accustomed to have
shadowing our days, plaguing our every waking hour. I know I sound miserable,
but happiness is not easily faked when you live a counterfeit life. This is just
something the Wood family have to contend with. Being negative is not the
attitude I wish to have, to bask in my undoing and relish within misery, but how
do you face each second of every day when everything and everyone just wants to
kick you when you're down? Having answers to these questions I ask myself on an
ongoing loop in my head is all I need, for someone to take me by the hand and
lead me towards the oracle who foresees my future and can tell me why; just
why!
MC Rayne's Facebook Page
MC Rayne's Blogger
Okay so my first victim..I mean author is M.C.Rayne (Matt), who
I have had the pleasure of knowing and writing with on several occasions. BUT... hmmm now he didn't read the top part of the email. However the answers were so awesome I have decided to post all of them incl a piece from his original story
Flavours Of Our Life
1.If you could have a T shirt with a slogan on it
that describes you / your life what would it be?
Matt: Absolutely Flawless hahaha - I actually
hav...e no idea, anything which doesn't bring too much
attention my way, but it MUST have sparkles on it *nods*
2.If you were stranded on a desert island, what are the four
things that you would want to have with you?
Matt: 1. Music, I would not be able to go on without my music! 2.
My iPad so I can still write, that would actually lead me into three and four,
power and internet. I will assume the island already has food and water???
DAMMIT, I forgot to include Kellan Lutz! I need more options!
3.Did you make a conscious decision to become a writer, or did
it just happen?
Matt: I am still 'to be published' author, just need to complete
what I am on then I can call myself an author. In regards to the actual
question, I never thought about it, I just always played things out in my head.
Just over a year ago my mum died and my good friend Loopy Lou introduced me to
Fan-fiction, and with some encouragement from other authors I penned my first
story and then the addiction started. Now I am moving into original fiction I am
more terrified then I ever was about posting a fan-fiction piece, not that I
look down at FF at all, it just seems a little more scary - somehow
:-)
4. Favorite childhood book?
Matt: The Worst Witch series hehe, I love things about witches
and as a kid this just felt fun and helped me get lost in
stories.
5. Favorite book now?
Matt: I am still proud to say its the Harry Potter series! I will
read anything, but I will read these books again and again because they just
take you on a journey every time. A classic I love is Turn Of The Screw by Henry
James.
6. What 3 pieces of advice could you give to writers who are
embarking on publishing their work?
Matt: Ask me when I am actually published LOL, just give me about
a month (fingers crossed)
7. if you could choose to have lunch with any 2 people alive or
dead who would it be and why?
Matt: Cher! OMG, I know, stereotype, but I adore her and would
love to have a good old bitch with her. Tom Hanks because I have had the hots
for him since I was about 11 LOL
8. Who would you say is your biggest influence in your life?
Matt: I don't have one, its all the friends I have seen get
published, and the ones I can see trying like myself.
9. Favorite flavour of Ice cream?
Matt: All of them in one bowl, yum!
10. Satin or Silk (sheets).
Matt: Neither, I hate silk sheets as
too slippy and no to satin also. Gimmie jersey or cotton :-)
11. What media is your motivation when
writing...music/photography/ poetry?
Matt: Depends on my mood, normally classical music because
lyrics distract me
12. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Matt: Still too terrified to publish HA!
13. Favorite film?
Matt: Anything and everything! I do love superhero movies like
Batman, but then I love classics like The Wizard Of Oz. I also love all horrors
:-)
14. Do you have a genre of story you haven’t yet attempted?
Matt: Once I have finished Flavours Of My Life (my current WIP) I
want to move into fantasy, I feel very comfortable there.
15. What takes you out of your comfort zone?
Matt: Fluffy love crap! Bad word I know, but I can't do the
whole love thing. I prefer to have a reader crying, I find a sad story stays
with you longer.
16. Converse or heels?
Matt: heels of course LOL, joking, but couldn't resist
17. Greatest achievement to date?
Matt: Getting myself through university. Yes I have a very
supportive family, but as we are not cash rich I had to pay for what I needed.
Guess I appreciated it more.
18. Three characteristics you like about
yourself?
Matt: I cannot talk to people I don't like! If someone annoys
me I would just rather tell them and move on. There is only one side to my face.
2. I think I am funny, I make myself laugh! 3. My need to make people happy.
19. Three characteristics you do not like about
yourself?
Matt:. my lack of confidence. 2. My need to make people happy,
its kind of a good/bad thing. 3. my inability to think I have talent even when
people say I do
20. Favorite place on earth?
Matt: England, I love it here hence why I travel very little
(also, I hate flying. Until I can get there by ruby slipper, I am staying HERE)
21. If you could get in your car today with a full tank and go
anywhere, where would you go and why?
Matt: Hospital - I can't drive
22. Best excuse you have used for NOT writing
(lol)
Matt: The TV is on :-) (Yeah Matt heard that a few times lol)
23. Priority in a new home..Library or Pool?
Matt: A dance floor and a pole! who needs anything else?
24. Simpsons or Family Guy?
Matt: Simpsons (American Dad is better than FG)
25. If you could have written or could write a script for a
famous actor or actress who would it be, what would it be about and
why?
Matt: Nicole Kidman. I want to see her play the part she did in
Australia, but when she asks if you would like to hear a story. When she asked
this, I was in the cinema and actually said yes (oh the shame)
26. First piece you ever wrote (any age)?
Matt: The Next Three Days. Was also my first fan-fiction :-)
Excerpt from Flavours of Our Life by M.C.Rayne.
My life is a bitter fabrication to what those outside the four
walls I call home get to see. When our door closes at night, gone to are the
happy, smiling faces people perceive to dwell insi...de, and out come the family
who just can’t disguise how they feel any longer. We don't chose to live within
the consuming darkness, it's just something we have grown accustomed to have
shadowing our days, plaguing our every waking hour. I know I sound miserable,
but happiness is not easily faked when you live a counterfeit life. This is just
something the Wood family have to contend with. Being negative is not the
attitude I wish to have, to bask in my undoing and relish within misery, but how
do you face each second of every day when everything and everyone just wants to
kick you when you're down? Having answers to these questions I ask myself on an
ongoing loop in my head is all I need, for someone to take me by the hand and
lead me towards the oracle who foresees my future and can tell me why; just
why!
MC Rayne's Facebook Page
MC Rayne's Blogger
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