Kasper's Ramblings from Kasper Beaumont

Cassandra Fear is delightful in this Fae Princess interview

2/3/2020

Introducing urban fantasy author:
Cassandra Fear

Cassandra Fear lives in the only state one can experience all four seasons in one day: Ohio. She has two beautiful children she spends her days with, along with two dogs she adores.
Ever since she was a kid, she knew she’d be a writer. She just didn’t know when it would happen. Breaking down, she finally bought her first laptop and never looked back. Now, she writes well into the night—while her kids are asleep—because it’s the only quiet time she can find.

Cassandra's featured book today is:

· Book title: Fae Princess
· Genre: Urban Fantasy

· Synopsis:
A war fueled by hatred. A girl pushed in the middle. Humans and Fae are at war—a war Brinna Rogers wants nothing to do with. She is content living with her parents, going to school, and pretending the streets aren’t filled with fighting. Until she has no choice but to face it. On her way home one damp night, danger strikes, thrusting Brinna down a rabbit hole of change. A binding spell snaps, and she finds out she has been lied to her whole life. She isn’t a human like she thought. Instead, she is Fae, and not just any. Her name is Brinna Blackshadow and she is a Fae Princess. Within moments, she is shoved over the edge of reality, plummeting straight down until she crashes head first into the war. In order to break free, she must strike a deal with the leader of the human army—one that makes guilt rise to the forefront. Because when you strike a deal with the devil, you might pay with more than your soul. Fae Princess is the first installment of The Blackshadow Chronicles. It will appeal to fans of Sarah J Maas’s ACOTAR series and Julie Kagawa’s The Iron Fey Series.

· Publish date: November 23,2018
· Publisher: self
·https://www.amazon.com/Fae-Princess-Blackshadow-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B07JYM9F2W

Author interview with Cassandra Fear:

Kasper: Hi Cassandra, welcome to the Readers Lounge. We're excited to learn more about you and your writing.
Cassandra: Thank you. Looking forward to it.

* What other writing have you done?
The sequel to Fae Princess, Fae Queen, and The Secrets of Orendor Series Books 1 and 2 are all out, along with some of my first books available on Amazon through Limitless Publishing. I have a lot more planned, though, it’s just finding the time to get them done.

* Do you have another job outside of writing?
I work as a freelance editor and book cover designer, as well.
Oh wow. That is such a cool job for an author.

* What advice would you give to someone wanting to write a book?
Just write. Don’t go over it and over it and nitpick everything until it’s written and your either write “The End” or “To be continued.” Also, never let anyone tell you that you aren’t good enough. You are. You can be. Put the work in. Find out what works for you and what doesn’t. Read a lot and learn from those authors. And write another book, and another, and another. Eventually, you will be a pro.
Great advice.

* How did you go about developing your cover artwork?
Most of my cover art I create myself. For Fae Princess and my self published books I have done all the covers, and for my Limitless Publishing books Deranged Doctor Design has done those covers.
Sure is a great cover. Deranged Doctors make some of the best in the business.

* How do you handle marketing on social media?
Write a good book first and foremost, and then promote it. I have a reader’s group, and use my personal page and author page to promote things also. I also have a friend that shares my books often, too.

* If you could only take three books with you through an interstellar portal, what would they be?
Pride and Prejudice, anything by Karen Marie Moning, and probably any of the Sookie Stackhouse books. IT’s really hard to pick three, though. I’d probably be the one trying to like stuff books in her pants to take more haha.

* Who’s your favourite indie author and why?
Maya Daniels because her books are amazing! She is such a good storyteller and keeps me hooked the entire time.
Great tip, thank you.

* What are your writing plans for this year?
Planning to start two new series and finish off The Secrets of Orendor series. Hoping it all falls into place.
Awesome. We hope so too. You're books look wonderful.

* Do you prefer ebook or hardcopy?
Ebook first, but if I love the book I’ll buy the hardcopy as well.

* Are there any writing styles or genres you dislike?
I’m not a huge fan of first person present tense. There are exceptions to this rule for me, but most of the time I’m not a fan. And I also don’t like a lot of Science Fiction.

* What’s your experience of the Fantasy Sci-Fi Readers’ Lounge?
It’s a pleasant, helpful environment for authors and for readers.
Great to hear.

Quick quiz:

Favourite thing to cook:
homemade macaroni and cheese

Best holiday spot: Mom’s house

Most played song: Don’t Stop Believin’

With writing, are you a plotter or (seat-of-your) pantser? A little of both

Do you prefer to read SciFi or fantasy: fantasy

Best superpower: X-Ray vision because, well, wouldn’t it be hilarious to see right through people?
Number one thing to do on your bucket list: See the English Countryside.

Kasper; Thanks Cassandra. I do hope all those dreams come through for you. Especially the X ray vision LOL. It's been a lot of fun picking your brain today. Thanks for sharing with us.

Cassandra: My pleasure.

Readers, before you go, please check out Cassandra's Links and her books:

Website: www.cassandafear.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CassandraFearAuthor/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14953008.Cassandra_Fear
Instagram: @cfear_27
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Cassandra-Fear/e/B01DR0T4FQ

This is a group for the readers, by the readers, and all about the readers! We are excited you’re joining us and look forward to getting to know you. The Lounge welcomes all readers and wants each and every one to find a comfortable reading nook here.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/FantasySciFiReadersLounge/

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First interview of the year. Aaron DeMott for the Readers Lounge

1/5/2020

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You can learn more about Aaron and his books at aarondemott.com

Hi readers, you may be thinking I have scored an interview with Obi Wan Kenobi today, but I have someone even better. A fun author named Aaron DeMott.

Aaron's bio:
Aaron is the author of the Psygens and Space Cats series, and the Onicranium Dragons series. Aaron is a certified Linux nerd who’s been a fan of both Star Trek and Star Wars as long as long as he can remember. Naturally he writes space-opera. He lives in rural Michigan with his wife, four kids, and at least two cats.

Today Aaron would like to share with us, his latest release.

Book title: Etherno: Rise of the Dragongirl
Genre: Science-Fiction (anime-inspired sci-fi/comedy with an urban-fantasy feel)
Synopsis:
Onin’s life is changed when he meets a mysterious new student with a fiery dual dragon nature. Then the secretive alien Matari recruit him and his friends to track down the body-snatching Natas. Between the aliens, the cute new girl, and his idiot roommate, can Onin manage to graduate college?
Scholarship student Onin thought magical school would be easy.
Sure, his roomie’s a little flakey and one of his classmates tends to sneeze herself into the wall, but that’s par for the course. Onin’s even made a connection with cute (and oddly warm) newcomer, Kasai.
Then the alien Natas start possessing humans and targeting the magically-gifted. Now it will take all of Onin’s wits and his magical classmates’ help to stop the invasion and discover the true endgame of the Natas.
Thankfully, they have a fiery half-dragon ally. One who seems curiously connected to quiet Kasai…

Publish date: January 31, 2019
Publisher: Independently Published

Kasper interviews Aaron DeMott

Hi Aaron, come down off your dragon there and join us on the Fantasy Sci-Fi Readers Long.
Aaron: Do you mind if I ride along-side it?
K: No worries at all. Great to have you here.

So, let's kick into some questions. What other writing have you done?

I’ve also written Psygens and Space Cats: A New Threat. It’s a space opera about humans with PSI abilities who meet tiger-like aliens...

Woah. Alien tigers, that's different...and possibly a bit scary. (Kasper covers her face with a cushion).

What makes your writing unique compared to others in the genre?

I’ve always loved sci-fi, but most of it starts to feel sort of Star Trek inspired, after a while.

I wanted to have something with a bunch of fun technology, alien planets, races, and cultures, but do it in a more anime-inspired genre-blending type of style. And I wanted it to be funny.

So Etherno is science-fiction/comedy with an urban-fantasy feel to it, but more in the style of a Japanese light-novel.
I love these ideas. You're so creative.

What made you choose this genre?

When I was a little kid, we’d watch Star Trek (The Original Series) re-runs on Sunday afternoon. I liked the characters, the adventure, and the fun technology.
I’ve also watched too much anime, and fell in love with the way the stories are told. In Etherno, I get to play with both fun tech, and crazy characters (…and poke some good-natured fun at various tropes along the way.)

I don't think 'too much anime' is a thing. Right?

Which is your favourite character and why?

That’s like asking a parent to pick a favourite child. I’ve always liked stories with an ensemble cast, so I like all the characters. I try to come up with several different characters, and have fun with the way their personalities interact.

If I had to pick a least favourite character, it’d be Cerina. She’s always cranky (as the story progresses, we find out why, but still…)

If forced to pick one, I’d probably go with Amaryllis. She’s half Nekotian (catgirl), slightly eccentric, and really sweet.

How do you develop your characters?

Some of them just come to me. The idea will pop in, and I’ll daydream (uh, I mean, research) more about them, pop them into various scenarios, and see how they react.

Others I have to work on a little more. In Etherno, for example, Onin and Kasai just came to me (a scene where they wake up on a couch together and have no idea how they got there.) They’re both kinda shy introverts, though, so I wanted to have an extrovert to kinda push them a bit. That’s where the idea for Tannin came from. I also thought it’d be kinda fun if Tannin was Onin’s room-mate, ‘cause they’d drive each other crazy :)

Do you have another job outside of writing?

By day, I’m a Linux Systems Administrator. So I’m literally a certified nerd. ;)
So jelly. That sounds like a good one.

What are you working on now?

I’ve working on sequels for both Etherno, and Psygens and Space Cats. The sequel for Etherno is about ¾ of the way done. In that, Onin and the gang to to Nekotia, the home planet of the catgirls… what could possibly go wrong?
Hopefully this should be out in a few months.

The sequel for Psygens and Spacecats is technically done, and I’m happy with the good-guy’s stuff, but the antagonists arc… well, it needs work...

How did you go about developing your cover artwork?

I’ve love to say I did it myself… but, uh, I can’t art :(

Fortunately, I’m friends with another author who can art, and she’s got her own cover design business at bsquirreldesign.com. I wasn’t really sure what concept I wanted for the cover, but they’re great at working with me to come up with something I love. I wanted something with dragons, the main character, and a sci-fi feel to it, and I think they nailed it.

They also did the cover for my other book, Psygens and Spacecats. That one was a little more tricky to get the space opera with cats feel to it.

Your friends sure are clever.

What’s your favourite pet?

Cats! (I have three American shorthairs at the moment: a ginger tabby, gray tabby, and a calico.)

I think this one’s kinda obvious if you’ve read anything I’ve written ;) Psygens and Space Cats has, well, alien cats, and Etherno has catgirls. That wasn’t on accident. :)

I kinda like you didn't play favourites and say just one :)

The Etherno crew

Do you prefer ebook or hardcopy?
Yes. :)

I like both. E-book is more convenient, and easier to read on for me (if you think it’s harder to read, try a device with an e-ink screen!), but paper is nicer if I want to flip back and forth and take notes and stuff, so I’d summarize: e-book for pleasure reading; paper for study and research

Are there any writing styles or genres you dislike?
I’m not that big a fan of horror, ‘cause I’m a wimp :)

Quick quiz:
Favourite thing to cook: fried rice. It’s easy, fairly quick, and delicious
Best holiday spot: Camping at Lake Michigan
Most played song: Hard to say. I like a lot of stuff, but probably something by Daft Punk
With writing, are you a plotter or (seat-of-your) pantser? Pantser, leaning toward very loose outliner
Do you prefer to read SciFi or fantasy: Sci-fi. (I like fantasy too, but tech!)
Best superpower: So many to choose from… I’d pick: The ability to bring characters out of a book/go into a book
Number one thing to do on your bucket list: I don’t really have one, exactly… but right now, get the next Etherno book out.

Thanks so much, Aaron. We've learned so many interesting things about you. I hope you and your dragon fly in again soon.
Aaron: Thanks for having me (rides off into the sunset on his dragon).

Let's check out Aaron DeMott's links:
Website: aarondemott.com
Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorAaronDemott/
Goodreads: goodreads.com/yoda47
Twitter: @AaronJDeMott
Amazon: amazon.com/Aaron-DeMott/e/B00VS13G2Y

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An author interview from Germany. The exciting Nadja Losbohm #fantasy #FSFRL #darkfantasy

12/7/2019

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Author bio: Nadja Losbohm was born on December 14th, 1982 and lives in Berlin, Germany. Her first fantasy adventure novel was published in 2012. Since then she has published the popular series of fantasy romance books "The Huntress". In German there are parts 1-6 available. "The Huntress - The Beginnings" is the first part of the series and the first English book Nadja Losbohm has published. The 2nd part of the series can be found as a free read on Inkitt.

Nadja also published a German children's book with short stories and poems for kids. Her collection of fairy tales about the magic of books for readers of all age earned her a nomination for the “Deutsche Phantastik Preis 2017” in the category “Best German Anthology”. “The Magical Mirrors” and “The Lord of Books”, both stories from that book, can be found in English on Inkitt. Nadja also published a historic dark fantasy series and is currently working on the 2nd part of it. “Chwedlau Tywyll – Dunkle Maerchen (Dark Tales)” is Nadja’s 13th publication.

· Book title: Chwedlau Tywyll – Dunkle Maerchen (Dark Tales)
· Genre: Dark Urban Fantasy

· Synopsis: Emotions - they are versatile, complex and unsteady like the weather. Laughter and cheerfulness do not always prevail, but nobody admits it. More people than you can imagine have to struggle with dark thoughts and dark feelings. That is why the collection of dark fairy tales deals with these. With a touch of Celtic mythology, set in a bygone era but more relevant than ever, the varied short stories shine a light on many aspects of life that not many dare to talk about, not forgetting that in the end a little bit of humor do good. The anthology closes with the author's comments on the motivations for the book, the making of the stories, the inspiration for the subjects and honest words.

· Publish date: October 16th, 2019
· Publisher: selfpublishing

Author Interview with Nadja Losbohm

Regular visitors to Kasper's Ramblings may remember Nadja stopping by a few years ago when her first novel was translated into English. I'm pleased to welcome her back and celebrate her now 13-book catalogue. Welcome Nadja.

What was the defining event that made you start writing?
I started to write my first fantasy adventure novel when I was nineteen. I always liked to be creative; I painted and drew a lot as a kid thanks to my parents who both were painters themselves when they were young. It was because of an artist/actor who did so many different things - painting, acting, music, photography – why I wanted to try something new. And for me that was writing.
Great work. You obviously have the talented and passion for it.

What other writing have you done?
So far I wrote thirteen books, most of them in German as it is my mother tongue. The list of my writing includes a fantasy adventure, a young adult fantasy romance series, a children’s book, an anthology with fairy tales for readers of all age, a historical dark fantasy series and an anthology with dark urban fantasy tales for adults. But I also published the first part of my fantasy romance series in English (available on Amazon) and the second part can be found as a free read on Inkitt, where you can also find a couple of English short stories I translated with the help of wonderful and generous people such as Kris Holt and Marc Remus.

What makes your writing unique compared to others in the genre?
I think what makes it unique is that I write about things other people avoid. My writing is very honest, sincere, emotionally. I write about putting an end to your life, despair, fear, depression, hopelessness. I experienced all of that about three, four years ago and am still suffering from lack of energy and an anxiety disorder because of a traumatic event. I know what it’s like when no one is there to help you. Instead people sneer at you, saying: “Pull yourself together. It’s not that bad.” Our society only wants to see, hear and read happy things. It’s not allowed to cry in public. And no one dares to admit: “I feel miserable. I have problems and sorrows.” But that’s just wrong and can lead to a very bad end. I hope to encourage people to reflect and to maybe change their way of thinking.
That's very brave of you to share those feelings in your writing. Congratulations.

What’s the story behind your book title?
My book “Chwedlau Tywyll – Dunkle Maerchen (Dark Tales)” includes seven short stories with a touch of Celtic mythology. The settings are all in Wales. I use quite a few Welsh names in the stories and I began to really like the language. So, I thought a Welsh title would be nice. There’s also something mysterious and enigmatic about it. And maybe it also reflects my deep wish to travel to that country.

Have you used any real events or places as inspiration for your writing?
Absolutely. There are a couple of real places I mention such as “Pen y Fan”, “Arthog Bog” or “Carew” in Wales.
Wow, those names are fascinating. You must have spent much time there.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to write a book?
Read. Read a lot. Because when you do, you get a feel for how to use words. I also recommend to write whatever YOU want and not what others want you to write. I was often told to write other stories, as mine are too special. But I cannot do that as my writing wouldn’t be authentic anymore.

What music do you listen to when writing?
At the moment, I often listen to the album by “Skáld”, a band from France, who revives the old Nordic mythology.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on the second part of my historic fantasy series. But I’m very, very slow – unfortunately.

What do you do when you have writers’ block?
I had a huge writers’ block about two years ago. My life was turned upside down; I had lost all of my energy and joie de vivre. I wanted to write, but I couldn’t. Then someone told me it’s not the right time to write but to recover. I was told I should wait and that’s what I did: I waited and then the joy came back – at the right time – and I could write again. I’m not fully recovered, but at least I write every now and then, trying my best to fight for what I love to do.

How did you go about developing your stunning cover artwork?
The cover for “Chwedlau Tywyll – Dunkle Maerchen (Dark Tales)” was designed by Kathy from Epic Moon Coverdesign. Usually I have an idea what the cover should look like. This time it was different. I didn’t know from the beginning what I wanted. All I knew was I didn’t want any clichéd Welsh or Celtic things and that the cover didn’t need to be dark. So, Kathy had full rein basically. Without knowing the book she used little elements that represent small things from the stories. I really love that and it’s like magic.
Sounds like she understood the story well, which is great. I love it.

List some great books you have recently read:
“Amy Snow” by Tracy Rees, “The Toymakers” by Robert Dinsdale, the “Harry Potter”-series. ;-)

What’s your dream job and do you think you’ll do it one day?
I wished I could make a living from writing, but I think that won’t happen.
You just never know.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing?
I‘m a huge book lover. I also like to go for walks, just enjoying nature, or to watch “The Vampire Diaries” on DVD.

What’s your experience of the Fantasy Sci-Fi Readers’ Lounge?
The Fantasy Sci-Fi Readers’ Lounge is a wonderful place for all who love books. It’s fantastic to see the reader-author-interaction and what they can achieve together.

Quick quiz:
Favourite thing to cook: Asian cuisine
Silliest saying: “If you’d love me, you would do that for me” – me trying to get my will. ;-)
Best holiday spot: Great Britain
Most played song: At the moment, it’s “Hross” by Skáld. Very inspiring.
With writing, are you a plotter or (seat-of-your) pantser? A pantser
Do you prefer to read SciFi or fantasy: Fantasy
Best superpower: “painting pictures” with words
Number one thing to do on your bucket list: To travel to Wales, New Zealand or Maine

Well, we've come to an end, Nadja. Thanks so much for sharing your story.
Readers, please take at look at Nadja's information below and visit one of her sites.

Links
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nadlo82
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Nadja-Losbohm/e/B009SIDWIW
Amazon new release: https://amzn.to/2Rw6sB7
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nadjalosbohm

List of books by Nadja Losbohm

German fantasy books
Alaspis – Die Suche nach der Ewigkeit
Die Jägerin – Die Anfänge
Die Jägerin – Blutrausch
Die Jägerin – Vergangenheit und Gegenwart
Die Jägerin – Unter der Erde
Die Jägerin – Die Wiege des Bösen
Die Jägerin – In Alle Ewigkeit
Die Tagebücher des Michael Iain Ryan (Band 1)
Chwedlau Tywyll – Dunkle Märchen (Anthology)

German children books
Hamster Stopfdichvoll & seine Freunde
Die Magie der Bücher (Anthology)

English fantasy books
The Huntress (pt 1) – The Beginnings (Kindle read only)
The Huntress (pt 2) – Bloodlust (free read on Inkitt)

Other publications
The Magical Mirrors (fairy tale, short story, free read on Inkitt)
The Lord of Books (fairy tale, short story, free read on Inkitt)

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The next big thing: Brian D Howard travels through a rift for this author interview #scifi #FSFRL #RPG #VR

10/30/2019

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Author bio by Brian D Howard: In my day job, I process paperwork at a cubicle in Corporate America. By night I make up stories I hope people like enough to buy. I’m driven by “what if” questions, and often those lead to story or book ideas.
I’ve lived in a motorhome traveling the country, and oh, there are some stories I could tell. I was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs and I’m happily living in Denver, CO now, with no intention of moving anywhere else.

Writing has been a passion for most of my life. I've had to set it aside in the past, but so many circumstances have changed, and now I can focus on it more and more. Someday I'll make my living doing this.

Book title: RiftWorlds Online: Book 1 - Space Opera Insertion
Genre: LitRPG/Space Opera
Synopsis: Gamer Rick Danberg has been in prison for real-world currency manipulation in a previous game. A Secret Service agent takes him to an undisclosed location where the US president explains the problem: Millions of people are trapped a game. They can’t log out, and if they die in game they die in real life. The president’s daughter is trapped inside.
With all the cards stacked against him, he’ll have to create a new him/avatar and learn the game. Obstacles and enemies will stand in his way while he tracks her down. And then they’ll have to escape. Somehow.

Publish date: October, 2018
Publisher: self-published

Space Opera Insertion
In 2028 RiftWorlds Online is the most popular virtual reality MMORPG game ever. A week after its release, millions are playing in a game that spans seven unique universes. But now people can't log out. And when they die in the game, they die in real life.

In prison for manipulating real-world currency through VR-MMORPGs, gamer Rick Danberg just wants to serve out his sentence in peace. But the President's daughter is trapped in the game. Secret Service agents drag Rick before the President who offers him a deal: a full pardon for finding her and keeping her alive until people on the outside get RiftWorlds back under control.

That will be much harder than he is prepared for.

Author Interview with Brian D Howard:

Kasper: Hi Brian, welcome to our Fantasy & Sci-Fi levitating lounge. Are you ready to take off and meet some readers?
Brian: Hi Kasper, great to be here. Yes, this will be fun. Let's go.

What made you choose this genre?
I was in a writing/critiquing group with James A Hunter, and we beta read the first book to his Viridian Gate Online litRPG series. That was my introduction to the genre. He got me thinking about it, but I didn’t want to be just another throwing my hat in, I wanted a solid premise. When it came to me I jumped on it.
Awesome. It sounds like a great concept, and so relate-able with today's gamers.

What’s the story behind your book title?
Many LitRPG titles are [Something] Online. Since the setting of mine is an MMORPG where characters can jump through rifts/portals to other game settings RiftWorlds fit well.

What’s the basic plot of your series?
RiftWorlds Online is a multi-genre online roleplaying game. Rather than using VR equipment, the hat worn by players reads their minds and everything happens through a brain-machine interface. Something goes wrong and nobody can log out, and death in the game is death in real life. Our main character is sent in to rescue the president’s daughter and protect her until the game is fixed.
Each book takes place in one of the game’s seven Worlds (Space Opera, Fantasy, Western, Steampunk, Post Apocalypse, Cyberpunk, and Superhero). Each world has a central plot arc that gets resolved in that book. Along the way they’ll uncover more of the overall series plot and the horrific implications it will have if they can't stop it.
I totally love this concept and can't wait to play, oops, I mean read it myself. I may never come back either ;)

Speaking of which, have you looked into creating the game from your series?
I haven't yet. I'd be happy to do so.
I have been developing a tool people could use to create their character's stats and description. Ideally, it would let them send me the results and some of them would get included in the books. I started setting up on Google Sheets, but there are some parts that won't work right (button's don't stay anchored into place and sometimes move.) Porting it into Excel involves a lot of rebuilding. If someone could build some kind of software app to do it that would be awesome.
That would be so exciting! You heard it here first, readers. Contact Brian if you know any game design companies or techie folks who'd be interested.

Which scene from your book do you like best and why?
There’s a character death in RiftWorlds Online 2 that made me cry to write. It felt like a perfect tribute to that character, and I think that makes the scene especially poignant.

Which is your favourite character and why?
A starship captain from a series I’m probably five years or more away from writing. I’ve spent years gathering notes for it, though. Some 200 years in the future he’s a marine commander forced to lead a expedition of exploration and diplomacy. He doesn’t want the job but can’t back away from it. I think he really explores the idea of the reluctant hero and will be a fun exploration of duty and honor. How do we approach the things we do out of obligation, and what does that say about who we are?

Have you used any real events or places as inspiration for your writing?
My second book, Rectifier – The Electric Man, is about a homeless man abducted as expendable and experimented on. Halfway through writing it I spent almost two weeks at the periphery of homelessness. I never had to sleep outside, but I had all my possessions with me (in two large bags I tied to my bicycle) and barely ate. Most of the supporting characters in the book are inspired by people I met those two weeks. Except for being abducted for secret experiments, everything that happens to the homeless character in that book happened to real, living people in Denver. Last year I made the decision that as long as it sells I’ll donate half that book’s profits to charities supporting the homeless or helping people avoid homelessness.
Oh wow, that is some intense research. I love that you want to give back to the people who inspired you.

Do you have another job outside of writing?
I have an office desk job until I don’t need it anymore.

What music do you listen to when writing?
Mostly genre-related soundtracks. Sometimes I’ll find ambient noise tracks. As an example, writing a tavern scene with the murmur of conversations, the clanking of mugs, something minstrel-like in the background, really helps get me in the headspace to make that scene come alive.
Writing in a pub does have a certain appeal.

What are you working on now?
I’m finishing editing book two for RiftWorlds Online. The next one takes place in the game’s Old West world. I’ve been reading and watching a lot of them and putting together a playlist for it. That one will be an interesting challenge, but I’m looking forward to it.
Sounds fun. Saddle up, partner.

What do you do when you have writers’ block?
I can’t remember ever having that problem. I think some of that is from the outlining I do. It’s structured enough I know what each scene needs to accomplish and the major events in it. Getting the character through the scene usually isn’t an issue. Time and energy, those are the issues.

How did you go about developing your cover artwork?
I have a cover artist/designer. I come up with the general idea, and she does the magic of making it happen.
For Rectifier I had the character description. It’s a book that happens on side streets and back alleys, contrasting the new construction around a crashed space ship. Some of the ship wreckage is visible in the background. I like the way she has the foreground dark and the background captures the right gritty feel. This is not a feel-good four-color comic. It’s gritty and dark and it might make you confront some uncomfortable ideas.
The RiftWorlds covers have the same basic process. We talked about the character and what he looked like, and themes for the covers. I wanted it to feel like the kind of cover you might see for a game expansion. Given the breadth of the series I needed series banding elements which could fit Space and Fantasy as well as Westerns and Superheroes.

What’s your dream job and do you think you’ll do it one day?
Writing, hands down. The main goal is getting to where I don’t need to give time to a “day job” to support it.

Are there any writing styles or genres you dislike?
I usually can’t stand present-tense writing. I think there was one I liked, but I can’t recall which. It doesn’t sound like storytelling to me.
I know the feeling, but some really good authors are using it these days.

Quick quiz:
Favourite thing to cook: Bananas Foster Crepes

Most played song: I create a play list for each genre and one or two for each character. Sometimes it’s the character’s soundtrack, others it’s the music they’d listen to.

With writing, are you a plotter or (seat-of-your) pantser? Definitely plotter. It helps me make sure I have a solid path from start to the end. It helps me keep track of which elements needed to be foreshadowed when. It helps me make sure every scene has a purpose and they’re in the right order. Plotting has done a lot to decrease the amount of editing I need to do.

Do you prefer to read SciFi or fantasy: I grew up on classic fantasy, and I loved those. Now and then I can get into a really good one. But Sci-Fi is what I always come back to. Sci-fi can speak to what we’re like as a society. It can warn us about possible futures, or it can show us what we can be.

Best superpower: A lot of people go for telepathy or mind control. I have too many ethical issues with that. I enjoyed exploring what telekinesis can do in my first book, Simon Rising. But if I could have one I’d go with teleportation.

Thanks so much for sharing with us today, Brian. It has been a lot of fun learning how passionate you are about your craft. Readers, please check out Brian's links below.

Briand D Howard's Links (click to follow)

Website: https://briandhowardauthor.wordpress.com/
Blog: https://briandhowardauthor.wordpress.com/blog/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BrianDHowardAuthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16346433.Brian_D_Howard
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Brian-Howard/e/B06WVCM1CR

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Fun times in the Readers Lounge with Marie Andreas @MarieAndreas1 #FSFRL #fantasy #humor

10/3/2019

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Author bio: Marie is a multi-award winning fantasy and science fiction writer with a serious reading addiction. If she wasn't writing about all the people in her head, she'd be lurking about coffee shops annoying total strangers with her stories. So really, writing is a way of saving the masses.
She has a completed space opera trilogy, The Asarlaí Wars, a completed six-book fantasy series, The Lost Ancients, and a steampunk series, The Adventures of Smith & Jones which will be continued in late 2019 with The Mayhem of Mermaids..
When not saving the masses from coffee shop shenanigans, Marie likes to visit the UK and keeps hoping someone will give her a nice summer home in the Forest of Dean or in northern Wales. Marie is also a member of SFWA (Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America) and RWA (Romance Writers of America).

· Book title: The Diamond Sphinx- Book Six of The Lost Ancients
· Genre: Humorous fantasy
· Synopsis: Magic, mayhem, murder, relics, true love, and drunken faeries. Taryn St. Giles has had a very eventful year. And the troubles are just beginning. Taryn has been through a year of changes—to her and her world. As a digger, she’d searched through the past to find out who the missing elves and Ancients had been. Now she knows the elves and they are helping her uncover the secrets of the Ancients. Secrets she’s not sure she wants to know. A few too many up close and personal encounters with the relics that were left behind leaves her shaken and on the run. Even from the people she loves. The relics were part of a weapon that led to the destruction of the Ancients. Now Taryn and Alric, must get a goddess, hundreds of faeries, and the rest of their friends to work together to destroy the weapon before anyone can use it again. But when her world comes crashing down around her, will Taryn have the strength to do what needs to be done?
· Publish date: April 2019
· Publisher: Marie Andreas

Author Interview Questions:

Kasper: Welcome to the Readers Lounge, Marie. I'm so looking forward to getting to know you..and your drunken faeries.
Marie: Thanks Kasper. I'm glad to be here.

I notice your fairies seem rather merry. Can I ask why they're drunk?
That's a great question. The honest answer? They really like the taste of ale!!
LOL, too funny. OK, now for some serious questions...

What makes your writing unique compared to others in the genre?
I like to have humor in my writing. I’m not a heavy or dark writer and my angst level is extremely low ;). I like to read about characters that I’d like to be friends with on some level, and that’s who I write (not the bag guys and gals though ;)).
It takes talent to write the light and humorous themes too. Good for you.

How do you develop your characters?
My characters develop as the plots do—organically. I have an idea of who the two leads are, sometimes more general than others. I just run with it. They show me who they are by reactions they give. (Yes, I know I’m creating them, but it works-LOL).

Do you have another job outside of writing?
Yes, a very soul sucking job dealing with financial aid. It does keep me focused on my writing though—and my boss and co-workers have been very supportive of my books.
So lovely to hear they support you. Sounds like you all need some lightheartedness.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to write a book?
Do it. Learn everything you can. Take writing workshops, go to conferences, join writing groups, READ everything to see how it’s done. And don’t let anyone stop you.
I love this!

What music do you listen to when writing? Movie trailer music—but it’s all background music, not trailers that you’d go, “OH! That’s from Jaws!” It picks up my writing pace and is amazing for fight scenes.

What are you working on now?
Finishing the second steampunk, The Mayhem of Mermaids, finishing the first book in a new fae driven urban fantasy, The Girl with the Iron Wing, editing and expanding a novella unrelated to any other series. WAY too many books in my head, but I have found recently that multiple projects keeps the words flowing.

What’s your writing routine? Mon- Fri: Wake up at 4:30 am, start writing by 5am, write for an hour and a half, get ready for day-job. Home from day job about 5pm, start writing by 6:30-7pm. Weekends it’s less structured.

Wow. You have great discipline. I'm impressed.

Describe your road to publishing your book:
After years of looking for an agent, and finally getting tired of people loving my books, but them not fitting what NY was looking for I went self-published. I gave myself a year to research, hunt down editors, cover artists, etc. The Glass Gargoyle came out in March 2015. I have ten novels and a novella in print right now.

Who are your four favourite authors?
It all depends on what I’m in the mood for, but some ones I always love: Mercedes Lackey, David Eddings, Anne McCaffery, Elizabeth Peters.

Quick quiz:

Favourite thing to cook: Pasta salad—mostly because I love to eat the type I make. Or cookies—same reason ;).
Silliest saying: Not my circus, not my monkeys
Best holiday spot: US: Santa Cruz; outside of US: Conwy, Wales
Most played song: Could have been me by The Struts
With writing, are you a plotter or (seat-of-your) pantser? PANTSER ;)
Do you prefer to read SciFi or fantasy: Love both, but tend to lean a bit more toward fantasy
Best superpower: Freezing time
Number one thing to do on your bucket list: Buy a cottage in a village in the UK

And lucky last....You have multiple series out now, and more on the way. How do you keep so many people in your head?
It’s weird, but all of my characters are very real to me, so of course I wouldn’t confuse Vas with Taryn, or either with Nettie. The pacing for my series are all different as well, so that helps keep them separate. And, I’ve found having multiple books/series actually seems to help me be more productive! I get easily distracted, so by having other book options to work on, I’m less likely to have a completely useless writing session. One book isn’t working, I can hop to another.

Thanks Marie, it really has been a great insight into what makes you tick. I hope the readers will check out the links below. Thanks again for joining us on the Readers Lounge.

Marie's Links

Website: www.marieandreas.com/
Blog: http://faeriesdragonsspaceships.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marieandreaswriter
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarieAndreas1
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Marie-Andreas/e/B00SX81KIM

To find out more about the books, and future series, please visit her website at www.marieandreas.com--especially if you happen to have a small cottage to give her.

The Lost Ancients series:

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Having a fan girl moment with AF Stewart on the Readers Lounge #FSFRL #epicfantasy #authorinterview @scribe77

9/5/2019

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Hey folks: I'm pleased to have AF Stewart here for an interview today. She is an author I have admired for quite some time, both for her published work and also her online presence of being both entertaining and helpful .

Author bio:
A steadfast and proud sci-fi and fantasy geek, A. F. Stewart was born and raised in Nova Scotia, Canada and still calls it home. The youngest in a family of seven children, she always had an overly creative mind and an active imagination. She favours the dark and deadly when writing—her genres of choice being fantasy and horror—but she has been known to venture into the light on occasion. As an indie author she’s published novellas and story collections, with a few side trips into poetry.

Today's featured book:

● Book title:Ghosts of the Sea Moon (Saga of the Outer Islands Book 1)
● Genre: Dark Epic Fantasy
● Synopsis: In the Outer Islands, gods and magic rule the ocean. Under the command of Captain Rafe Morrow, the crew of the Celestial Jewel ferry souls to the After World and defend the seas from monsters. Rafe has dedicated his life to protecting the lost, but the tides have shifted and times have changed. His sister, the Goddess of the Moon, is on a rampage and her creatures are terrorizing the islands. The survival of the living and dead hinge on the courage and cunning of a beleaguered captain and his motley crew of men and ghosts. What he doesn’t know is that her threat is part of a larger game. That an ancient, black-winged malevolence is using them all as pawns… Come set sail with ghosts, gods and sea monsters.
● Publish date: January 13, 2018
● Publisher: Independently Published

Excerpt:
Chapter One
The Captain

Captain Rafe Morrow paced the quarterdeck of his ship, Celestial Jewel, the signs of an oncoming squall setting him on edge. Blustering wind rattled the sails and the crew’s nerves, their usual jaunty hubbub reduced to grumbling and snipes. Trouble travelled on that wind.
Rafe could smell it woven in the air, and his blood prickled with a sense of worry. The ship trembled as if with warning. He glared at the sky and its darkening clouds painted amber and crimson from the setting sun. A storm sky coming ahead of a full moon meant dark magic and sea monsters would prowl the waves this night.
The Moon Goddess will hold sway tonight.
A trickle of blue energy raced across the back of his hand at the thought.
Damn her…and her beasts.
On the breath of a sigh, he whirled to face his crew. “Storm’s coming, boys. Doesn’t bode well, not with the moonrise tonight.”
“How long, Captain? Will we be in the thick of the weather or just what comes after?” A rough-edged sailor, Pinky Jasper, spoke up, but all ears of the deck crew listened for an answer.
“It’s coming within an hour or two, out from Raven Rock, by my reckoning. After nightfall by certain. We’re heading in, boys, but we’ll likely hit the edge of it.” He heaved a breath, exhaling. “It’ll be a bad one even for this crew so expect trouble.”

A shiver of tension settled over the deck. Some of the crew cast worried glances at the sea and each other. Others shivered, and a few more whispered prayers. Storms brought bad memories and nervous anticipation to the sailors of this ship.
“Which port then, Captain?” The mariner at the ship’s wheel chimed in. “Might make Abersythe if we head north.”
“We might, Anders. But we head east. We’ll race the edge of the tempest, but it’s closer and the ship will find better shelter anchored at Crickwell Island.”
“Aye, sir. Laying in course to Crickwell Island.” One-Eyed Anders turned the wheel and the ship’s bones groaned. Others of the crew adjusted the sails, and the Celestial Jewel leaned into her new bearing headed east.

Author Interview with AF Stewart

Kasper: Hi AF, welcome to the Readers Lounge, I'm so excited to have you here.
AF: It's a pleasure to climb aboard. I'm looking forward to it.
Kasper: Hang on tight, we're ready for takeoff.

Do you have a pen name and why?
I write under my initials, as A. F. Stewart, mostly because there is a cookbook author, Anita Stewart, here in Canada. Also, In the beginning, I wanted a bit of anonymity in case things didn’t work out and to avoid any preconceptions.
Cool, I had wondered if it was a secret, but then I know you as both, so I'm glad you clarified it.

What’s the basic plot of your book or series?
Basically my Saga of the Outer Islands series is about a family of dysfunctional gods, menacing sea monsters and other creepy creatures, a few ghosts and pirates, all wrapped up in a sea-faring adventure.

Which one of your characters would you like to be?
If I could be one of my characters, I’d choose, Nimue, from my Camelot Immortals short stories and the WIP series. I think she’s the most like me to begin with, plus she’s an immortal witch who currently possesses Excalibur. She also independent, a bit impatient, doesn’t like fools or bullies, and a bit snarky.
Great description. I like the picture you have sent in of Nimue below. Nice artwork.

Have you used any real events or places as inspiration for your writing?
I write a lot of history based stories, so yes. Much of Ghosts of the Sea Moon is inspired by Nova Scotia and also the 17th century British navy. And my new WIP fantasy book is set in and heavily inspired by Renaissance Venice.
Ooh...Venice and Renaissance. I'm in!

Tell me more about this work in progress.
As I mentioned, I’m currently writing the first book in my historical fantasy series, set in 15th century Venice. The premise is a paranormal assassin working for the rulers of the city; his first adventure is tracking down a shadowy sorcerer trying to corrupt the government. Book one is called Masks and Shadows and the series is The Obsidian Blade.

How did you go about developing your cover artwork?
I’m sure this answer will get some gasps, but I do my own cover artwork. It isn’t as bad as it seems, as I do have some artistic background and know things like perspective and layout. I work with stock photos, combining them to make a representational image for the book and its genre. I think many indie writers think too literally when dealing with cover art and get confused as to what their covers should be. I try to design an overall theme for each book cover.
Mind you some of my earliest covers were horrendous, but I started back in the beginning of independent publishing where everyone was flying by the seat of their pants.
Wow, I have long admired your covers. Congratulations.

Nimue

If you could only take three books with you through an interstellar portal, what would they be?
Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
1916: A Novel of the Irish Rebellion by Morgan Llywelyn

Who are your five favourite authors?
Guy Gavriel Kay, Neil Gaiman, Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury, Andy Peloquin. They are all brilliant in their own way and tend to write memorable characters.

Who would you choose to read your audiobook?
If I could have gotten one of them, I would have gone with actors Hugh Jackman or Ioan Gruffudd (who was the inspiration for Blackthorne). But I think Alyson Grauer who narrated the actual audiobook did an excellent job and it turned out great.
Ah...Horatio Hornblower. Yes, I'm a fan of his seafaring adventures too, plus he has a nice accent.

What’s your favourite pet?
I’m a cat person, although I currently don’t have a pet because of where I live (no pets allowed).

You can be any fictional character for one day. Who would you be?
I’d be Batman. You get a cool car, a cool cape and fight crime. Plus, you’re a millionaire. As long as I could avoid getting killed by the Joker I’d love it.

What’s your experience of the Fantasy Sci-Fi Readers’ Lounge?
It’s a terrific group, and it’s been a wonderful experience as a member. I’ve been a bit quiet lately due to a busy schedule, but I try to lurk in the shadows when I can.

Quick quiz:
Favourite thing to cook: Soup
Silliest saying: Geez Louise and Aunt Matilda (don’t ask, it’s just something I say sometimes).
Best holiday spot: The seaside
Most played song: Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls
With writing, are you a plotter or (seat-of-your) pantser? Plotter, mostly.
Do you prefer to read SciFi or fantasy: I like them both, but fantasy has the edge.
Best superpower: Flight
Number one thing to do on your bucket list: Travel to Ireland

Kasper: Well, it has been a real pleasure to learn more about you today, AF. Thanks so much for taking a ride on our Readers Lounge.
AF: Thanks for having me here.

Links for AF Stewart
Website: https://afallonblog.wordpress.com/
Blog: http://afstewartblog.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afstewartauthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1175681.A_F_Stewart
Youtube book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cr7tSCeI0A&t=3s
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afstewartauthor/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/a-f-stewart
Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/afstewart
Twitter: https://twitter.com/scribe77

Fantasy SciFi Readers Lounge

This is a group for the readers, by the readers, and all about the readers! We are excited you’re joining us and look forward to getting to know you. The Lounge welcomes all readers and wants each and everyone to find a comfortable reading nook here.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/FantasySciFiReadersLounge

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Upping the ante with Aces High authors O.E. Tearmann. A #FSFRL #author #interview @ETearmann

8/8/2019

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Author bio:
O.E. Tearmann lives in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains, in what may become the Co-Wy Grid. They share the house with a brat in fur, a husband and a great many books. Their search engine history may garner them a call from the FBI one day. When they're not living on base 1407 they advocate for a more equitable society and more sustainable agricultural practices, participate in sundry geekdom and do their best to walk their characters' talk.

● The Aces High, Jokers Wild book series:
●  The Hands We're Given ( Book 1)
●  Call the Bluff ( Book 2)
●  Raise the Stakes ( Book 3)

●  Genre: hopeful queer cyberpunk
● Synopsis: Aidan Headly never wanted to be the man giving orders. That's fine with the Democratic State Force base he's been assigned to command: they don't like to take orders. Nicknamed the Wildcards, they used to be the most effective base against the seven Corporations owning the former United States in a war that has lasted over half a century. Now the Wildcards are known for creative insubordination, chaos, and commanders begging to be reassigned. Aidan is their last chance. If he can pull off his assignment as Commander and yank his ragtag crew of dreamers and fighters together, maybe they can get back to doing what they came to do: fighting for a country worth living in. Life's a bitch. She deals off the bottom of the deck. But you play the hands you're given.

● Publish date: 8/14/2018
● Publisher: Amphibian Press
● Publish date: 12/24/2018
● Publisher: Amphibian Press

● You can read a free excerpt at http://aceshighjokerswild.com/read-for-free/

Author Interview with O.E. Tearmann

Kasper: Welcome O.E. Tearmann. I must say that I was surprised to be joined by two authors today. (Yes, readers, you read that correctly. Two authors!) Even the mysterious pic (above) you sent when I asked for an author pic hadn't clued me in. Well, double the authors sounds like double the fun. Let's strap on into this levitating Readers Lounge and fire off some questions.

1. Do you have a pen name and why?
OW: We do! In fact, O.E. Tearmann is actually two authors in a trench coat. Olivia Wylie and Nonir Amicitia write together, but we decided on a singular pen name for three reasons:
1) there’s an unpleasant cachet about co-authoring we wanted to avoid
2) we write very queer positive works, and there are elements of society who don’t like that. We prefer not to get hate mail in our personal accounts
3) The name itself is meaningful for us. The name’s comprised of part of each of our names, and the word Tearmann is the Irish word for a safe place in a storm. Since we met when studying the Irish language, this was a perfect symbol for us. Below you’ll see answers from us both.
Oh wow, I hadn't realised there was a prejudice against co-authors. I applaud you two for making the collaboration work.

2. What was the defining event that made you start writing?
OW: Well, bloody 2016 made me decide to start bugging Nonir about getting serious on this series. Both of us felt like we needed to do something meaningful in the face of all the despair during that year, but neither one of us is a political animal. So we decided to really get to work on a piece set in the version of America we thought this mess could lead to. And then we decided to showcase a multi-ethnic, diverse, inclusive found family that was still finding hope and joy in that terrible setting. We took everything to the darkest place we could. And then we got to work showcasing that you can still make it better.
NA: Writing in general? I was bored in class in middle school and my friend at the time encouraged me to write down the ideas in my head. I’ve actually been writing since then, but Liv’s got the gist of why we started Aces High, Jokers Wild.
I do love the title, by the way. Looking forward to hearing more about writing the darkest place you could. Most intriguing.

. What other writing have you done?
OW: I write illustrated books on the intersection between folklore and plants under my own name. I currently have two out; Roots is an illustrated exploration of plants in Old Irish myth and law, and Smoke and Roses is an illustrated guide to the history of the Victorian Language of Flowers and how many of the exotic plants in our gardens came to be there. Nonir and I learned to write together by working on the free webcomic Parmeshen, where I act as the artist. It’s still our weird queer fantasy-steampunk baby.
I also write some short stories and may(!) one day get an urban fantasy book together based on a young lady who’s been kicking around my head for a while.
NA: I write all the things. I have three published short stories under the name Emily Kay Singer, a book of prose and poetry about the Norse god Loki, and a ton of fanfiction. At the moment, I’m working on a solo novel set in the same world as our webcomic.
My goodness, you two sound like you can write anything!

4. What makes your writing unique compared to others in the genre?
OW: I’d say what makes our work unique is the hope. You don’t see a lot of quiet, clear eyed hope out there. That’s what we write: the kind of quiet hope that says ‘okay, I’ll try again tomorrow’. We also stress compassion in our work, and creating characters who still reach for their better nature in spite of difficult surroundings has been something we’ve tried hard to do. NA: Oh, definitely. We also strive really hard to represent diversity and write a variety of characters without making our story about diversity. It’s a hard balance to maintain, but I like to think we do it pretty well.
That's really awesome. Something much needed in today's harsh times.

5. What’s the basic plot of your book or series?
The arc of the series follows a unit in the resistance force of 2155 America as they fight to build a better life and dismantle the Corporations that own the country. Currently two books are published with the third due on August 6. Book 1 revolves around the way young Commander Aidan Headly pulls one of the best units in the Force back together after a disaster. Book 2 explores the way they pull together to manage the first big win of the war, and the third book is going to explore another big mission, and what it costs.

6. Have you used any real events or places as inspiration for your writing?
OW: Oh yes! The Aces High, Jokers Wild series is set in Colorado, and we take liberally from our home town setting. We have a lot of fun imagining what places in the area could evolve into in our universe. And Denver offers a lot of great cyberpunk names already: Commerce City, the Tech Center, and the Colosseum, for instance.

7. Do you have another job outside of writing?
OW: I own a small landscaping business here in Denver, and sell my garden-related art and writing through that.
NA: I do social media marketing for a cancer awareness campaign and run my own business, Wandering Jotun Crafts, which is dedicated to uplifting marginalized communities through art and spiritual services.

8. What song would you choose as the theme song of your book?
OW: The theme song is Bon Jovi’s ‘No Apologies’, which tells you an awful lot about our characters and us!

9. What music do you listen to when writing?
OW: it really depends on the project. For this one it’s a blend of Bon Jovi, Flobots, Mischief Brew, Social Distortion, Billie Joel and general fierce classic rock intersecting with 90s punk. For my artwork, it’s usually audiobooks intermixed with Irish folk. For the comic, audiobooks with a lot of middle eastern folk, some Irish folk and Romani music.
NA: I’m a huge fan of listening to movie or game soundtracks. I have a playlist that’s a bunch of my favorites (How to Train Your Dragon, Howl’s Moving Castle, Spirited Away, etc), but most recently I’ve been listening to the Final Fantasy XV soundtrack because it gives me Feels.

10.What are you working on now?
OW: AHHAHAHHAHA quiets my own hysterical laughter we’re working on the next book release in the series. We’ve got a book signing and a convention coming up, and that’s about all we have brain power for...though Book 4 is in drafting as we speak. On my own account I'm planting gardens, drawing Parmeshen, writing a book on ancient Irish poetry and another one on garden plans with step-by-step planting plans. Oh, and writing reviews for books and comics. Whew...
NA: Yep. Working on more Aces High, but I’m also working on a solo novel set in the Parmeshen world, as I mentioned before, and I’m writing for a visual novel/dating sim project a friend is running. I’d like to get some short stories out soon, too!
Wow. You both sound so immersed in Parmeshen. I love it!

11.List some great books you have recently read:
OW: I’ve been on a reading kick lately, so I’ll suggest: Fiction River’s How To Save The World Last Tango In Cyberspace Juniper Girls by Aaron Michael Ritchie The Secret Life of Trees and, always and forever, all of Terry Pratchett’s stuff
NA: And me, on the opposite end of the spectrum, has been reading only really dull business books lately. But some of my favorites include: Good Omens by Gaiman and Pratchett Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine (yes, I have Middle Grade faves because nostalgia)

Quick quiz:

Favourite thing to cook:
OW: Quesadillas!
NA: I hate cooking, but I’ll go with onigiri (rice balls) because I make them a lot and they’re so versatile.

Silliest saying:
OW: I stole my favorite cranky saying from Emma Bull’s War For The Oaks: ‘Well this sucks dead rat through a straw!’
NA: My entire life is one silly saying so I’m not sure how to pick!

Best holiday spot:
OW: My good friend Pink’s back yard on Beltane night
NA: Donegal County, Ireland

Most played song:
OW: Frenchy and the Punk’s ‘La Vie Boheme’
NA: F*cking Perfect by P!nk

With writing, are you a plotter or (seat-of-your) pantser?
OW: I’m a plotter. Our characters are not.
NA: I’m a pantser. Which made the beginning of our collaboration a little interesting.
OHH!

Do you prefer to read SciFi or fantasy:
OW: I prefer to read. Period.
NA: I lean toward fantasy, but now and then I’ll crave a good scifi.

Best superpower:
OW: A redo button: let me go back 20 minutes in time and fix mistakes please. Second in line is uncanny empathy. Please let me understand people and their actual motivations!
NA: Shapeshifting for me.

Number one thing to do on your bucket list:
OW: Go to the little town in Ireland my great grandfather came from.
NA: Dismantling the capitalistic patriarchal system. Short of that, finishing my half-sleeve tattoo, probably. If there’s anything else you’d like to talk about, feel free to make up one question of your own.

Kasper: Thanks to the both of you for dropping by the Readers Lounge today to share your work and thoughts with us. I feel like I know heaps more about you now. I bet the readers are keen to check out your books too. Links below.

Links for O.E. Tearmann

Website: http://aceshighjokerswild.com
Blog: http://aceshighjokerswild.com/category/traveldocumentsreviews/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wildcards1407/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18359444.O_E_Tearmann
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ETearmann
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07M6S5JQT
Books2Read: https://books2read.com/ap/nmAOPX/O-E-Tearmann

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Alexes dives into this author interview to talk about The Mermaid's Lament for #FSFRL @lxsraz #UF #UrbanFantasy

7/18/2019

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Today's guest for the Readers' Lounge is one I've been keen to learn more about. The fun-loving author of the Urban Fantasy book, Mermaid's Lament. It's Alexes Razevich.

Author bio: Alexes Razevich was born in New York and grew up in Orange County, California. She attended California State University San Francisco where she earned a degree in Creative Writing. After a successful career on the fringe of the electronics industry, including stints as Director of Marketing for a major trade show management company and as an editor for Electronic Engineering Times, she returned to her first love--fiction. She lives in Southern California with her husband. When she isn't writing, she can usually be found on a hockey rink or traveling someplace she hasn't been before.

Today's featured book: The Mermaid’s Lament

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Synopsis:
When a goddess gives you a job, failure is not an option.
Shay Greene’s specialty is rescue and recovery, and she’s damn good at it.
But she might just be over her head when the country’s wealthiest woman hires her to find a stolen necklace known as The Mermaid’s Lament, plunging Shay into a world of jealous goddesses, their half-human demigod offspring, and long-standing feuds.
Petty rivalries have a nasty way of escalating in that world. The dangerous lengths the goddesses take to one-up each other leave Shay wondering if they are completely sane. Even the demigods have more power—and more hidden agendas—than she’s used to dealing with.
Shay doesn’t have much time to learn how to beat them, though. If she doesn’t recover the Mermaid’s Lament by the looming deadline, it will cost her everything she loves.
·
Publish date: May 29, 2019
Publisher: Razor Street Publishing

Author Interview with Alexes Razevich

Kasper: Hi Alexes, welcome to the Readers Lounge.

Alexes: Thanks Kasper, I'm keen to take off on this levitating lounge ride.

Kasper: Hold tight, here we goooooooooooooo......

So Alexes, what made you choose this genre?

I’ve been in love with fantasy and the idea of magic ever since I read The Arabian Nights as a little girl. Urban Fantasy takes magic and brings it into our modern everyday world. I adore the possibility that the lady next door might be a goddess, the cranky bus driver might be an orc, or you could discover your parents were wizards. Or you could discover you had magic yourself.

Cool. I really admire how you can do that.
How do you develop your characters?

Characters are funny beasts. Sometimes they show up and demand that their stories be told. Those characters usually come fully formed in my mind. For characters who don’t show up fully formed, I have to figure out their true name. I can’t just pick one and stick it on the character. It has to be the right name. Once I have the name then I develop how they look and their backstory. It’s important for me to know why the characters do what they do, what made them who they are. No one is all good or all bad, and everyone has reasons why they see the world they way they do.

Makes me laugh when authors say, 'The characters made me do it.'

Have you used any real events or places as inspiration for your writing?

My urban fantasy stories are set where I live. For me, there’s a richness that comes with knowing what real stores the characters shop at, where they fill up their tank, what route they take to work. In my Oona Goodlight series, Oona is attacked in the parking lot at a specific Trader Joe’s. With The Mermaid’s Lament, the main character, Shay Greene, lives in a house loosely based on one a friend lives in, with landladies loosely based on the real ones my friend has. For me, the more reality I build in, the more believable the unreality of magic is.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to write a book?

Read. And write. And read some more. And write some more. Find people who know what they’re talking about to give you feedback on your work. Take criticism gracefully. Write the story you want to read.

Very good advice.
What are you working on now?

I’m working on two books now—a young adult magic school story and book two in the Shay Greene series. Both should be out this summer/fall.

What’s your writing routine?

I’m an early riser and early writer. My routine is wake up, have a cup of coffee (or three) and spend the next several hours at the keyboard. I write six days a week.

Wow, that's a lot of writing time. Excellent.
What do you do when you have writers’ block?

I don’t really get writer’s block, though I do get stuck from time to time. Usually if I’m stuck it’s because my brain needs a rest. Sometimes I’ll read for a while, but usually I play solitaire or some other easy computer game. Sometimes I do the dishes or walk the dog. For me, the trick is to not write until I’m ready to tackle the story again.

How did you go about developing your cover artwork?

The main character’s look is already established by the time I’m ready for cover art, so often it’s a matter of finding a model with the look and feel of the character. Then I decide what sort of background I want. I work with the fabulous designers at Deranged Doctor Designs. We’ve done enough covers together now that they know the look and feel I’m after.

Looking at your catalogue, I'd say it's a author / artist match made in Heaven.
List some great books you have recently read:

I just finished Rebecca Roanhorse’s Trail of Lightning and Storm of Locusts. Both were very good.

Who’s your favourite indie author and why?

Gosh, I couldn’t choose just one. Amir Lane, who is brilliant and not read nearly enough. E.A. Copen, who writes compelling characters entangled in great plots. Orlando Sanchez, because I love Montague and Strong. So many more.

What is your favourite quote?

From Dune: Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear.

What’s your experience of the Fantasy Sci-Fi Readers’ Lounge?

I love the lounge! I stop by regularly to see what’s going on and find new books to read.

Quick quiz:

Favourite thing to cook: pasta (I’m not much of a cook.)

Best holiday spot: The beach. Always the beach. Any beach.

With writing, are you a plotter or (seat-of-your) pantser? I’m definitely a plotter. Not that my carefully crafted plots don’t go off the rails because the dang characters have minds of their own, but I do plot everything in advance.

Do you prefer to read SciFi or fantasy: Fantasy.

Best superpower: Tough question. I’ll go with invisibility. There’s something appealing about the ability to be the fly on the wall.

Number one thing to do on your bucket list: To see the aurora borealis.

Kasper: Great answers. I'd love to see the aurora too. Thanks so much for stopping by today, Alexes and flying on the Readers Lounge with us. Let's check out your links.

Alexes Razvich's Links:

Website: https://www.alexesrazevich.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlexesRazevichAuthor/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6543739.Alexes_Razevich
Twitter: @lxsraz
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Alexes-Razevich/e/B009M8XMEC

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Probing the depths with dark fantasy author Ross Ellison #author #interview for the Fantasy SciFi Readers' Lounge #FSFRL

6/16/2019

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Today's spotlight author is Ross Ellison

Author bio: Ross Ellison is an Author, Entertainer, Video Game Streamer, and All-Around Menace to Society. Living in Orlando, Florida he currently is working on the next two novels in his Search for Eden Series which the End of Utopia Anthology serves as an introduction for.
He also is working on a Post-Apocalyptic Series with the working title of “Earth Everafter” If that was not enough, he is also working on two new series’s based on Dungeons and Dragons Campaigns of his own design.

One is titled “Cycle of Millennia” and the other is titled “Centrum Glacies” The first and second Novellas of Cycle of Millenia are published digitally.

Book title: Cult of Orabaras
Genre: High Fantasy/Dark Fantasy
Synopsis: After making their way to Iron City of Blacksmiths Grez the mysterious Monk and his companions are forced into a tournament. But while Hadron the Barbarian fights for glory, and Sneak Peak the Rogue seeks to make as much money as he can, something stirs in the shadows. Belwyn the Paladin senses trouble from afar. Velros the Knight is on guard for danger. However, it is Kal the enigmatic Psionic who discovers a new foe. Despite remembering a warning granted by Fairy Dragons about Magic Users, the group is unable to avoid the webs of the deadly Cult of Orabaras. But what could their malevolent purpose be? And why is this group of misfit adventurers attracting their interest?
Publish date: April 20th, 2019
Publisher: Timelost Storyteller

Author Interview:

Hi Ross, welcome to the Readers' Lounge levitating interview couch. Buckle up and we'll take off
Hi Kasper: Glad to be here. Let's go....oooooooooo. Wow, this Lounge is fast!

It is indeed. So Ross, what makes your writing unique compared to others in the dark fantasy genre?
Dark Fantasy is a genre that is constantly pushing boundaries, taking names, and crushing tropes left and right. I go out of my way to lump suffering from physical and metaphysical sources upon my characters while ensuring that my readers are emotionally invested in the worlds I weave. By daring to deconstruct even the tropes of Dark Fantasy itself, I create new stories from the corpses of those before.

Awesome answer. You sound like a pioneer in the genre. What made you choose this dark fantasy books?
I chose Dark Fantasy as I normally do for my stories because unlike the other variations of fantasy, the shackles are gone, and the restraining bolts destroyed. Anything goes in Dark Fantasy. I can raise the horror levels to numbers unprecedented in any other genre. Not to mention I can deal with themes such as abuse, human trafficking, brainwashing, wicked Gods, genocide, and extreme racism and give them their due under the Dark Fantasy genre.

What’s the basic plot of your series?
Cult of Orabaras is the second story in a much longer series called Cycle of Millennia. The tale begins as a group of adventurers each with emotional baggage is pulled into a Stone Giant’s highly convoluted schemes. As they try to escape this annoying pest, their adventures slowly trend towards the odd. Eventually these trends expose the heart of the world they live in. Funny enough, the entire premise of this series was born out of a Dungeons and Dragons Campaign I have been running for over two years-and counting.

Sounds like you're a dedicated Dungeon Master.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to write a book?
The most important piece of advice I give to anyone writing is to write first and edit later. Getting bogged down in cleaning up a story is the most common cause of writers block. As a bonus, I believe the best way to learn how to shake this habit is to participate in Nanowrimo in November. Once you learn to vomit words on the page and realize that no matter what, a first draft will always be terrible, you are on the way to becoming a talented storyteller.

What are you working on now? I am working on many projects simultaneously. Currently, I am editing a Dark Fantasy Novel titled The End of Utopia as well as writing the first draft of that one’s sequel novel The Messiah of Nightmares.

This second novel in The Search for Eden Series is without a doubt one of the darkest, most tragic, if not the most tragic book I have ever written. Meanwhile I also am completing the first novel in a post-apocalyptic series titled Earth Everafter. Of course, my current focus is on the third novella in Cycle of Millennia. That is also known as the book I am presenting in this interview.

How did you go about developing your cover artwork?
Admittedly, I am embarrassed by my answer to this question. My current cover is nothing more than a placeholder. Currently, I am essentially broke and cannot afford to properly pay an artist. I simply used free use images and did the best I could to create a cover. Not one I am pleased with by the way. I honestly can’t stand the cover and it is one of the first things I will change when I can afford to.

Hey, everyone has to start somewhere. Hopefully readers will give it a chance when they hear how amazing it is on the inside. Word-of-mouth can be powerful too.
How do you handle marketing on social media?
I am constantly experimenting with my different social media platforms to see what works best. Given that I am not making sales anywhere near needed levels, I consider my social media marketing to be at complete failure level. I’m in need of advice when it comes to doing this more appropriately.

Who are your five favourite authors?
My five favourite authors are Brandon Sanderson, Gen Urobuchi, Kentaro Miura, Robert Jordan, and R. A. Salvatore

What do you write about in your blog?
My blog has gone through many changes. I tend to focus on travel now, but that could always change down the road.

Are there any writing styles or genres you dislike?
I despise Hallmark Style stories that are predictable. Indeed, I mostly hate Romantic Comedy and Cringe Comedy in every form. To me storytelling is there to take light and smother it darkness. Stories exist to showcase people with hope and slowly crush all of it out of them into they go insane. I write so that I can prove that there is no amount of love and light that hatred and darkness cannot smother out of existence.

Quick quiz:
Favourite thing to cook: I don’t really cook. I exist off cereal, pizza, pasta, and smoothies.

Silliest saying: The best way to transform even the most well-meaning person into a terrible one is to convince them that their time is valuable.

Best holiday spot: Tel Aviv, Israel is my favourite city in the world.

Most played song: I listen almost exclusively to video game, anime, and movie soundtracks. I have no idea which song I have listened to the most.

With writing, are you a plotter or (seat-of-your) pantser? I am what is known as a “Planster”. I combine both styles of writing together. Normally, I know how my stories begin and how they end. Then I make the middle up as I go along. Usually, my goal is to traumatize every one of my characters through most of it.

Do you prefer to read SciFi or fantasy? I prefer Dark Fantasy and Grimdark Science Fiction over the other choices for reasons I outlined in earlier questions.

Best superpower: The only correct answer to this question is multi-universal level reality warping. At that stage, you control time, space, entropy, all of reality, and are completely omniscient. Why settle for one power, when you can have all of them, be completely invincible, and have the entire multiverse revolve around you?

Number one thing to do on your bucket list: My number one is to force the Abrahamic God to bleed. Then ensure it is punished for all the sins and atrocities it has committed against humanity.

Wow, you sure have some fascinating ideas. It's been a real pleasure learning more about you today, Ross. Our Readers' Lounge is coming in for landing now. Best of luck with your Cult of Orabaras novel and the series to follow.

Readers: let's check out some of Ross's writing and his links.

Ross Ellison's links:

Website: http://t imeloststoryteller.com/

Blog: http://timeloststoryteller.com/blog/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetimeloststoryteller/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TLStoryteller

Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Cult-Orabaras-Cycle-Millennia-Novella-ebook/dp/B07QZNTV4S/

Excerpt from:Cult of Orabaras
Prologue: Public Nudity

Kal looked in wonder at Iron. The massive city had walls that created a mazelike barrier. The many alleys that veered every which way made his head spin. Worse than the physical barriers stood the mental ones. He had to intentionally shut off his telepathy or risk madness.
The sheer number of people living in the city was the cause. Going against his natural instincts was quite the difficult affair. However, there was a second issue to attend to. Unfortunately, his armor posed to create a new problem. And if Kal did not make his next move perfectly, his newfound friends would be forced to take a fall.
Looking quickly at his fellow adventurers, he tried to figure out the best one to relay his message to. Should he tell the Monk? Grez was a rather impulsive individual and would try to argue. Not to mention his strange monkey tail might lead to related trouble. That route was no good.
Next, he looked at Sneak Peak. The Giant Rogue was the only reason he was not dealing with trouble already. This was his last choice of confidence. He had a large list of crimes from what the rest of the group had informed the “Psionic”. That word reflected on Kal’s mysterious powers.
Hadron, the Barbarian was like the Monk, too impulsive to be of much help. That left both the Knight Velros, and Paladin Belwyn. These two were by far the most dependable. Thus, he warned them both as the guards finally noticed the second unusual person beside the Giant.
{I’m gonna run away and have the guards chase. Pretend not to know me.}
He dashed away from the front gates before any had a chance to voice a complaint. Footsteps from behind told that he was being followed. Just as expected of course. Kal had been worried that the moment he stepped into Iron, that none would be able to see his armor.
A long time back, a Wizard had given him a magical set of armor. What the whimsical caster had not told him was the second magical property of his clothing. Unless those looking at him had the aptitude for Magic, they would see nothing but his birthday suit.
But being naked in a major city was only the first of his two problems. His race was the second. Kal was not a Human like most who lived in Iron. Nor was he an Elf or Dwarf. Both these races had a couple members scattered nearby. He was not an Orc or Giant, which would have been met with hostility. Said hostility was already a problem for Sneak Peak.
No, Kal was a Tiefling. His mixed blood involved Infernal origins. And considering his nudity, at least to the nearby guards, that spelled double trouble.
Even as he ran down a relatively empty alley, one that probably had crime at night, from the looks of it, he still got a few shrieks.
“It... its naked!” A Human cried. A merchant based on the wares he was holding. Kal wanted to protest that this was false, but he had no time. The guards reacted to the noise and were following.
He foolishly turned around to inspect what chased him. This forced his defenses down. An unfortunate thing when he collided with another person. They wore heavy armor based on the pain his body felt on impact. That could only mean one thing.
“Stop right there!” The Guard commanded. “You are under arrest for public nudity and…” The tall soldier looked the Tiefling up and down. “And… for being a Monster! Yes, that is right!”
“I am not a Monster!” Kal declared. He would not bother denying the nudity.
“Is that an admission of guilt for nakedness?” One of the Guards from behind demanded and grabbed him. He could not get thrown in prison. Especially if it would reflect badly on the rest of his friends.
Kal also would not fight them. Escalating this attempted arrest would only lead to worse things. The Tiefling did the only reasonable thing in this situation. He flew into the air and demonstrated that the wings on his back were not just for show.
“Not so fast!” One of the Guards yelled from below. “You will not get away lawbreaker!” Kal intended to do just that. Admittedly, his plan was not so great since eventually he would need to return.
But for now, he needed to get away from this alley. While he was in the air, the buildings around him all rose to a considerable height. He was still an easy target to hit with projectiles.
From the corner of his eye, he saw an object flash as it flew to his position. Kal had little room to maneuver, but the Tiefling had been in worse situations than this. Whether that remained true was debatable when the truth of the attack made itself known.
It was no arrow that Kal had failed to dodge. It was a net! The heavy contraption was pulling him towards the ground. And if he used any of his spells, there was too much risk of harming innocents.
What sort of City has Guards that carry nets?
“Get the Captain!” one of the Guards commanded to the rest. “I’ll watch him.” Kal groaned realizing he could be trapped here for quite a while.
However, his terrible luck ran out almost immediately. A new Guard entered the alley and his armor indicated that he was far more important than the others.
The Captain wasted no time asking the important questions and pulled out a long blade. The look on the Human’s face warned Kal that if he answered wrong, his throat and head would be separated.
“Why are you here monster?”
“I am not a monster!” The Tiefling responded with once again. Yet as far as appearances were concerned, this was false. “Er… I may look like one, but I promise I’m not.”
“Even if you are no monster, you are still naked in this City. That is against the law in most of Spatia!” A quick reading of the Captains mind showed Kal how he was to get out of this situation.
“I am here for the festival!” Kal had no idea what this event was, but it was the only way to avoid falling behind bars.
“Is that so?” The Captain did not look convinced. This gave the Psionic a second idea. Please work. Casting a telepathic command, the Tiefling forced the idea that he and the Captain were friends.
“Very well.” The Captain’s face softened. “You there, take him to proper lodgings. And get some cloths sir!” Kal was unable to do so. It was one of the side effects of his armor.
Whatever this festival was, he could not be arrested for all but the most serious of crimes. Now he just had to attend. Whatever that meant.

(C) 2019 Ross Ellison

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VS Holmes brings a unique perspective to this Fantasy / Sci-Fi interview #FSFRL #scifi #interview @VS_Holmes

5/15/2019

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Author bio:
V. S. Holmes is an award-winning science fiction and fantasy author. She created the epic fantasy REFORGED series and an archaeological sci-fi series the NEL BENTLY BOOKS. In addition, she runs Amphibian Press, dedicated to helping hybrid authors with publishing and has a blogging residency at Aspiring Authors focused on writing disability and mental illness.
When not writing, she is a contract archaeologist and, as a disabled, gender-queer person, an activist for equal rights and climate change.

Book title: Travelers
Genre: Sci-fi
Publish date: 2/27/2016
Publisher: Amphibian Press

Synopsis:
Archaeologist Nel Bently has her own crew, her own research, and a private patron to fund her passion for dirt. With her trowel barely into the dry earth of Chile’s coast, however, Nel learns she and her crew are being watched.

Los Pobladores, known to Nel only as vandals and looters, take issue with any archaeologist brave or stubborn enough to set boots on their land. Nel is both and far from willing to give up the site that will make her career. She must keep her crew, her friends, and her life’s work safe, but with a benefactor playing chess with their lives, and angry militants who may actually have a point, Nel is ready to fight dirty.

X-FILES meets LARA CROFT in this snarky sci-fi about where we came from, and where we’re going

Author Interview:

Welcome to the Readers' Lounge, VS Holmes, I'm looking forward to hearing about your unique perspective on fantasy writing. Strap yourself in as this levitating lounge takes off.

VS Holmes: Thanks Kasper. Looking forward to it.

What makes your writing unique compared to others in the genre?
I focus on the broody, atmospheric aspects of mental illness and disability with my characters, which isn't often done in class fantasy and sci-fi. My characters go through a lot of introspection and dark moments!

It's great that you give a voice to folks with disabilities and make it relateable.

What’s the basic plot of your book or series?
My fantasy series (Reforged) explores what happens when the heroes are as broken as the world they must reforge, and my sci-fi series (The Nel Bently Books) is essentially lesbian archaeologists in space. The Nel books take place in the Starsedge universe, a contemporary/near future universe I share with Cameron J. Quinn--complete with crossover characters!

Which scene from your book do you like best and why?
I'm a wicked sucker for reunion scenes. The more complex the relationship or reason for parting, the better. I think it's left over from reading copious amounts of Harry/Draco and Watson/Sherlock fan fiction a decade ago. There's a scene in Blood and Mercy, the final book in my fantasy series, when a brother and sister reunite after 20 years, throughout which he's been searching for her, and she's been avoiding being found. It's awkward and disappointing and touching all at once and I love it.

Aw..that sounds sweet, maybe bitter-sweet.

Have you used any real events or places as inspiration for your writing?
In my sci-fi I've drawn a lot from my day job as an archaeologist, not just locations, projects, and science, but the folk legends we all have, and the ridiculous stories we tell.

Archaeology sounds like such an interesting career.

What are you working on now?
I'm currently drafting Blood and Mercy, which is the final book in my fantasy series (eek!) and mentioned above, and Heretics, the fourth Nel Bently Book. I’m also developing the first season of an email/audio serial set in the same universe as the Nel Bently Books.

What’s your writing routine?
I'm a morning person. Well, I'm not a sleep person, really. I get up between 5:30 and 6:00 every morning and if I'm in the field I'll write until about 10 minutes before we roll out. If it's the off season or a weekend, though I'll write until about 10, visit my parents who live next door for a bit, then continue writing for the afternoon, with a break to take the dog for a walk.

How did you go about developing your cover artwork?
I made the covers for the Nel Bently and my other novels in the Starsedge universe myself. I use Krita and stock photos, as well as custom photoshoots for the figures. My fantasy books are commisioned pieces of art (the Reforged art is by Ben Donahue and Awakened is by Aaron Bolduc). The layout and designs I did myself.

Oh wow, that is so cool. It must be so rewarding to see your visions come to fruition.

If you could only take three books with you through an interstellar portal, what would they
be?
One would be blank, of course. The next would be Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith and the third would be Cosmos by Carl Sagan.

Awesome! I think you're the first person to answer with a blank book for writing.

Do you have a blog?
I don't have a personal blog, but I do have a blogging residency at Aspiring Authors Blog, where I share a monthly article concerning disability in SFF worlds.

What’s your dream job and do you think you’ll do it one day?
I'm lucky--I'm already doing both my dream jobs. Archaeology and writing are my passions, and not too different from one another--both are the search for a story and truth.

Where do you like to travel to?
ANYWHERE. I get to travel around the states for work, but I've also dug in Greece. I like to get off the beaten path to really get to know a place and its culture. I'm also a huge fan of stark landscapes. I just returned from the Iceland Writers Retreat and it was incredible there!

Quick quiz:

Favourite thing to cook: Roast duck (go big or go home)
Silliest saying: "Shitbird" or "Job-er-doo"
Best holiday spot: Somewhere new--though we spend a lot of time in rural OH with my in-laws and it's quite lovely as long as I ignore the politics.

Most played song: Hmm, currently Spiritual Machine's cover of "Don't Fear the Reaper," or anything by The Midnight.
With writing, are you a plotter or (seat-of-your) pantser? Plotter once I have the first scene
Do you prefer to read SciFi or fantasy: I enjoy reading fantasy more and writing sci-fi more.
Best superpower: Healing or Flight.
Number one thing to do on your bucket list: Run a writers’ retreat!

Thanks VS. It has been good fun learning about you and your work. We have the links here as well as a sample of VS's writing below.

Links
Website: https://www.vsholmes.com
Blog: https://aspiringauthorblog.blogspot.com/2019/04/you-cant-miss-library-making-fantasy.html
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorvsholmes/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/vs-holmes
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VS_Holmes
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/V.-S.-Holmes/e/B014B55FJ0/
Newsletter sign up: bit.ly/nelbentlybooks
Youtube book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Shk0IbaSQU&t=10s
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vs_holmes/

V. S. Holmes
Award-winning Sci-fi and Fantasy Author
www.vsholmes.com

Excerpt from Travelers:

Vandalism across a perfect site was the best recipe for an archaeologist’s worst day. Apparently, it wasn’t enough that Nel Bently’s visa had met with "authenticity issues" twice on her way into Chile. She ducked under the rope that had served as a barrier. A poor one, she mentally snarled. The site was a disaster. Great gouges carved the formerly pristine soil. The tools stacked under a tarp by the bushes were now scattered, bent and broken. What pits her crew had dug the week before were filled with rotting leaves and back dirt, the perfect, square walls of the trenches ruined and crushed in.
Nel stepped carefully through the mess. This has Founders written all over it. As a rule, Nel was a patron of locals and the people she studied. Coming onto culturally significant land, not matter how old the site, was always tricky and she respected that. The Founders were her exception. They took issue with any archaeologist that set boots near their land, despite admitting there was no spiritual or cultural significance to the sites Nel chose.
"Well, fuck." Her tanned hand raked sweat and sunscreen through her sandy hair. She had permits and this was blatant vandalism. She turned back to her colleague and the two grad students who had arrived early to help. They waited, uncertain, at the rope, tools and packs still held with earnest dedication. "Alright, Mikey, grab pictures of this mess. You two, packs and tools go there, and set up a tent over them. Once Mikey has his pictures, clean it up. Wear gloves, it's gross and smells like a sewer."
She watched as they moved to do her bidding, eyes wide as they got their first good look at the vandalism. "If you need anything, talk to Mikey. I'll be on the phone." She trudged up the rise, dry soil crunching under her battered boots as she tugged the satellite phone from its case in her pack. She dialed, listening to the clicks as the call connected and surveying the land below her. It was perfect, really. The site was nestled between a stream and the rise she stood on now. The water had carved deep enough to have been there when it was inhabited, but small enough to be on only the local maps. The rise, curving from the north to the west, was covered with artifacts. It was the first place they surveyed, and it provided natural protection from the wind that whipped off the Pacific, just a few hundred feet away.
"You've reached the machine of Dr. Martin de Santos. Leave your name and number and how I can help you, and I'll return your call at the earliest convenience."
"Martos, it's Nel. Site was vandalized, looks like Founders. We could use some extra help -- I don't know if my greens can handle this. Give my cell a call tonight, I'll be in town." As she hung up, she caught site of the rotted mess Mikey was about to shovel out. It was a rough shape of a symbol. “Oi! Mikey wait!" She snapped a few pictures with her handheld, before waving for him to continue and stamping down the rise. She had been unable to see it from the ground. It was the angled symbol with which the Founders signed their papers, websites and protests. As she watched the clean up, she noted two figures on the rise across the stream. Both wore telltale woven bands around their forearms. A cold mix of dread and defiance crawled down her spine. It wasn’t like them to watch. I'll be damned if I'm going to be cowed by radicals. "C'mon," she called to the students, brown eyes fixed on the figures above. "I wanna see you moving dirt by ten!"
She returned to the site and sat on a rock, flipping through her field book. She had been digging since she was an undergrad. She had started with a history major, then steadily worked backwards in the time line, learning about anthropology, prehistorics, and paleolithics. She fell in love with her first dig. Now, with her doctorate defended, she had her own crew, her own research. Not to mention funding from a generous private patron to continue her passion for sweat, dirt, and work that made her body ache. She was staring at the page where she had sketched the site last summer when Mikey sauntered over.
He was a blocky man -- square head, square hands, square shoulders -- with only a slight paunch to round out the edges. "Sucks, eh? Think it was the Flounders?"
Nel smiled at his nickname for their adversaries. "More than likely. I tried to keep this site under wraps, but when you've grown up here, I think nothing escapes notice. They were watching us clean up this morning. Creeps me out a bit."
Mikey glanced at her, a frown crinkling his sun-weathered skin. Mikey was the resident prehistoric ceremonial specialist from their department, but more than that he was her best friend. "Everything OK?”
She shrugged. "I don't know." Her gaze was fixed on stain from rotted debris.
He rose with a groan. "I bet you a beer you pick up a shovel before tomorrow's over."
It was an old tradition. Nel could not keep her hands out the dirt, and even as site supervisor, she often found herself in a pit before long. She laughed. "
You're on."

... the story continues in Travelers

VS came in for an interview on the Fantasy / Sci-Fi Readers' Lounge
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