An Interview with Joe Benjamin, Author of the Book "Silly Billy & Ducky Dee"

Author Joe Benjamin

You have a new book (your first) out; what’s it about? 

It's Silly Billy & Ducky Dee, a book about friendship...with a twist. It's 2016 and it's about time someone came up with a children's book that had a rapping duck in it, and since no one else had thought about it I decided to write it myself!

Why write about that? 

It's something new and hip. Hip Hop is everywhere from radio, newspapers, tabloids, word of mouth and TV. Might as well put a friendly spin on it!

Why did you chose a rap format?

To be different. I don't want to be the average Joe [lol]. I want to be Joe Benjamin, the author who revolutionized children's books!

What inspired you to write a book?

My dad [that would be this blog's author] always told me do what you love to do. I never really thought about it until last year. I like to write raps/poems and I never did anything with my talents. 

My mom and dad both have degrees in writing and they both do it for a living, I figured it must be in my blood, so I just let fate take over and determine whether or not I'm going to be a success. We shall see.

How did you find the process? Was it more or less than what you expected?

I tend to think things over. So, I thought it would be way harder than it was. But my dad "held my hand" the whole way and made it simple.

Do you think you might write another? Any ideas floating around in your head? If so, what are they? 

Yes, I plan to at least write two more. The next one may be titled Silly Billy and Ducky Dee Visit the Big City. Keep your eyes peeled and your wallets open!

What are some of your favorite books?

My favorite types of books are adventure stores (but non fiction, too). I like to feel as though this could happen to me. As far as children's books Dr. Seuss, Berenstain Bears, and joke books were my favorite growing up!

Tell us about yourself. 

I come from a family of ten; two sisters, five brothers, my mom and dad. I was raised on a twenty acre farm in Clark County, Washington with just about every farm animal you can think of, for most of my life. I was home-schooled and learned how to farm, garden and work hard.

I also lived in Florida and Colorado and now reside in central California. I like camping, mud races, flipping houses and not having to do farm chores. 

What advice would you give to other would-be authors? 

Don't second-guess yourself.. Like Nike said, "Just do it!"

Silly Billy & Ducky Dee has numerous five star reviews on Amazon. You can buy it there or ask for it wherever books are sold. You can find and follow Joe Benjamin on Facebook.

An Interview with Author-Illustrator April Bullard

I met author/illustrator April Bullard about eight months ago. By serendipitous circumstances I popped into the right place at the right time and saw her work just as she was concluding a launch party for her new book The Sock Thief. The illustrations fascinated me and I asked if she would be interested in illustrating a book for me. She said yes and now, to make a long story short, we have it: "I'm Samson," said Sydney. 

I thought you might like to get to know April a bit, so here's an little Q&A:

Q: Where do we start, April? You write poetry, dark short stories, and you’ve written The Sock Thief—which you also illustrated—a book about where socks go in the dryer. You draw and paint and take photographs. Plus you’re a musician. You seem to be quite the well-rounded artist. How’d that happen?

A: My father is an artist, photographer, filmmaker, actor, director, writer and puppeteer. My mother encouraged practical, musical and performance skills. I grew up drawing, singing, acting and playing the ukelele, violin and bass. I was also exposed to and still enjoy old radio shows, early movies, history, science fiction and classic literature. Mix in a little imagination and love of creating something that engages an audience, and you get my work. I even play bass with the other musicians in the marina [she'll explain] for fun.

Q: I stumbled upon you one day just after I was lamenting with a friend that I didn’t have an
illustrator for “I’m Samson,” said Sydney. You were just concluding your launch for The Sock Thiefand I saw your illustrations on an easel. I loved them and I asked if you’d be interested in illustrating for me. You said maybe and we talked. Next thing we know we’re working together. Eight months later we have a book. How did you find the process?

A: Working with another artist is both exciting and exhilarating. Understanding another artists vision and working to bring those ideas to fruition while pushing my abilities to the limit is challenging and absolutely fun. Looking forward to doing this again and again!

Q: I understand how you feel, I, too, enjoy the collaborative process. What inspires you? What keeps you working?

A: I love to take normal, little moments during the day and imagine, what if? What if that simple act was the event that fulfilled a legendary, fairy tale prophecy? What would happen next? What if that cup of spilled milk shattered the entire balance of the universe? What if the ordinary suddenly became the bizarre? What would a hero do now? My mind is full of pictures and stories that want to be shared and enjoyed. I just have to write, paint and share!

Q: Cool. You're a thinker. So, how long have you been writing—at least on a semi-professional level? What kinds of things do you like to write most?

A: I started writing seriously around 1999, when my husband and I bought a small, rundown floating home and began spending weekends on the Columbia River. We moved to the river full time in 2007. I began reading my work at the Ghost Town Poetry Open Mic in 2009 and started submitting to independent small presses. 

My first published poem was "The Guardian of Forgotten Souls" in ParABnormal Digest #2, September 2011 and my first cover art appeared on Cover of Darkness #7 May 2011 both from Sam's Dot Publishing. I actually got paid $3 for the poem, $20 for the art and decided this was what I wanted to do. I like exploring horror and the dark side in much of my writing and art. Consequences and personal, inner terror fascinate me.

Q: Reminds me of Stephen King. (LOL) What other projects have you worked on or have lined up?

A: I have published cover art on small press anthologies and a friend's poetry collection. [I'm] always looking for a new collaboration and I have three books in the works. 

Sometimes I have a scene or idea, not connected with a particular story, that I just have to paint on canvas. Right now, there's a Clearance 1/2 Price Sale on all my paintings at Cover to Cover Books & Espresso in Vancouver, Wash. including a couple originals that have been published as cover art.

Q: That's neat! I've seen them. I encourage anyone in the area to check them out. Okay, April, you see things in photographs and nature that others don’t see. Where does this unique “eye” come from?

A: When it comes to my imagination, I've never grown up. I still look for dragons, monsters and angels in clouds, trees, bushes and water reflections. I can find "eyes" anywhere and everywhere! Whenever I take a walk, it's like I'm seven years old, exploring a fantasy kingdom with new and ancient creatures, great and small. I imagine stumbling into adventures with these new villains and heroes.

Q: I like that. You have been so easy to work with—you’re professional and fast, you listen well and aim to please, and your work is so detailed and beautiful. Does that come easy for you?

A: Thank you! Illustrating someone else's story is a great trust. Keeping it true to another's vision and using all my skills to make it grab and hold the reader's attention, is personally satisfying and fun. I'm so glad you're happy with the results.

Q: I am. What is your process like? When and where do you like to write? What about painting?

A: My houseboat is the perfect place to write. From my chair on the front deck I watch the changing skies reflected in river currents in the channel and the woods off the banks of Caterpillar Island. My glider rocker inside the houseboat has nearly the same view, just safe and dry behind glass. Being away from the hustle and bustle of city and suburbs helps quite a bit. 

I have notebooks with snatches of poems, scenes from different stories, ramblings inspired by movies or TV shows, and pieces of daydreams. I also have sketchbooks with the same array of flotsam and clothing, craft or set designs. I play with prompts, or storyboard scenes. Sometimes a story just insists on being written, immediately. The same goes for some paintings. Many times a deadline makes me push through and take the inspiration to completion.

Q: That sounds enchanting. that's one of the things I am blessed with, too: a serene and inspiring writing environment. It really makes a difference. Your bio says that you’re a Navy vet and that you live on a houseboat. You must like the water? How’d that happen? And how do you paint on a houseboat?

A: When my children hit high school, my husband and I began looking for what kind of life we wanted sans kids. The first floating home was so much fun, we knew we wanted to live on the river. We decided on our houseboat for the ability to cruise around the river and the cabin-like comfort of the house. In my genealogy research I discovered my great-great-grandfather had a small riverboat in Iowa, on the Cedar River to the Mississippi River near Rock Island, Illinois. He and his wife had six children while living on the boat. Guess it's in the blood for me. As for painting on the gently rocking water, what could be more fun?

Q: Fascinating! What else do you want to tell us about? Your forest foraging? The Daughters of the American Revolution?

A: I am a member of Beaver Chapter Daughters of American Revolution and my application is pending for Colonial Dames of the 17th Century. Both lineage societies are based on tracing your bloodline back to a certain time period and place. Finding records of these ancestors and fleshing out their lives, struggles, failures and successes becomes a marvelous source of plot twists and story fodder. 

Walking the river islands, imagining I'm stranded there forever, helps me learn about all the wildlife, plants and weeds, adding more textures and layers into my work. Having the time to exchange stories with others adds more possibilities and details for future work.

Q: What are you working on next? And where can we find your books?

A: [I have] three books in the works: first, a collection of short stories geared more to an adult/YA audience; second, Goody Hepzibah's Harvest Tales, a selection of fun to read aloud original poems, stories and reworked nursery rhymes and tales that put the consequences of behavior back in focus, aimed at middle readers ages 7-11; and Goody Hepzibah's Journals, a companion book of craft projects, skills, household chores and etiquette from earlier times. For access to all my work you can check my website: www.aprilbullard.com

The Sock Thief is available at Cover To Cover Books & Espresso and Paper Tiger Coffee Roasters in Vancouver, Wash., also Jacobsen's Books in Hillsboro, St. Johns Booksellers, and Another Read Through in Portland, Ore., and amazon.com.

When do we start working on the next in the Sydney Said book?

Q: You mean "I'm Solomon," Said Sydney? We'll see how this one does (LOL). Thank you, April.

April and I launch our new book this coming weekend (Nov. 15) at the Early Bird Holiday Bazaar in Astoria, Ore. Come on out and have your book signed by both of us. It will make a great Christmas gift for a 3 to 6 year-old you know.

Thereafter it will be available in bookstores along the north coast of Oregon (and SW Washington), and in the Vancouver-Portland metro area. You can ask for it to be ordered in for you at any bookstore or purchase it here at amazon.com.

An Interview with Author Andy R. Bunch

The following is mostly a "reprint" from an interview I did with author Andy R. Bunch in August of 2013. Since I've known Andy for more than a year now, we've become good friends. Thus, I've updated and embellished the material to bring it up-to-date. Andy will be joining me, April Bullard and G.S. Coltman at the Early Bird Holiday Bazaar in Astoria on November 15.

Q: So, Andy, your blog lists a wild ride of crazy experiences. I think it goes something like this: "In the footsteps of Hemingway, Conan Doyle and London, Andy Bunch is an adventure writer. He has traveled extensively along the West Coast, built a church in Mexico, sung for his supper in Canada, and taught Archery in Alaska. He’s trained in CPR/First Aid, Shao Lin Kung Fu, Kajakenbo, and Vin Tsun martial arts. He’s sky dived, rafted class 4 rapids, drank moonshine with felons, dined with royalty, spent a week in the woods with only a knife, flint, black-plastic and some TP, and studied British history in Great Britain."

Author Garrison Keillor says that “Nothing bad ever happens to a writer; everything is material.” Tell us about your adventures.

A: Yep, I’d agree with Keillor. I think it morphs into something other than the original incident though. Kipling said, “A good writer should be able to watch an alley cat slink across a park and be able to write what it feels like to be stalked by a bangle tiger.”

That’s the goal in my mind. Experience reality from a number of angles and then stir enough of that into your writing to reach people with a deeper truth. I believe that in order to entertain others you must be entertained yourself so I try to find the humor in most situations, but life isn’t all about fun and laughing. Still, in order to inspire life in others you must first come alive yourself. So whatever is happening in your life, learn to put it in perspective and find a way to profit from it.

As far as specific adventures in my past ending up in my books, the truth is always stranger than fiction but seldom as entertaining. I’ve fallen in the ocean in Alaska, capsized a canoe. I ended up fighting for my life from pneumonia. That joined with some of my childhood bouts of strep throat in my description of the disease my hero and his friends face early on in my Fantasy novel, Suffering Rancor.

I try to let life invade my stories, but you’d almost never be able to draw a connection between the real life event and the ones in the book. One exception would be when my father died in 2003. I went back through my novel and rewrote the impact a father’s death has on a character. It hurt to write that, but if that was going to be in my book then it had to be accurate.

Q: Wow! Interesting. But your writing experiences are equally so. You have College coursework in technical, essay, short story, and novel writing which led to a Penguin Award for student leadership, and later a degree in business management. You've worked as a technical writer and a document control specialist, been a contributing editor on the “Salmon Creek Journal,” and the fiction editor of “The Phoenix” Magazine. Your fiction and nonfiction appear all over the web.You have some independent publishing experiences as well. You’re a contributor to the Northwest Independent Writers Association anthology as well as having published two books on your own. And you've co-written a couple of books as well as written two of your own, not to mention the contributions to anthologies. What are the joys and pitfalls you’ve experienced in these ventures?

A: I struggled a lot with short fiction, but I felt it was important to grasp that before moving onto longer works. Short stories really are a different animal, but there are some obvious cross-over skills.

I hadn’t written much short fiction since I switched to novels, so I confess to dusting off a story I’d begun already for the first NIWA anthology. I thought I could tack a fast conclusion on it and be done, but I was actually only halfway through it. That’s become a favorite story of mine. I wanted to turn things upside down a bit and create a sympathetic monster, inept bad guys and a heroine who’s willing to do anything for power including screw over a simple creature that tries to help her. Unfortunately the characters had other ideas so it went where it wanted to and became a great story despite me.

The story in this year’s NIWA Anthology came from a NIWA writing challenge. One of the skill building exercises we took on was to come up with a difficult challenge and post it to our forum. Then we all wrote a short story to fit the challenge. We used a picture of a sink hole that formed in someone’s bedroom overnight—under their bed. It was a very evocative picture. I’m really proud of that story. From a publishing standpoint, the anthologies sell real well. So I’m hoping to garner some fans out of those.

Q: Your book Suffering Rancor has been described as “like Pirates of the Caribbean meets Conan the Barbarian.” I really enjoyed the work. Tell us about why you wrote it and what the experience has taught you.

A: Rancor was the book I learned to write on. I had a few abortive attempts at other novels early on, but Rancor was the one I had to write because I couldn’t get it out of my head any other way. I struggled with dyslexia growing up and reading was an enormous challenge, but I loved words. I loved how the felt when you said them and I loved reading the dictionary to finding new words. My favorite two things about words is the way they represent entire concepts so that you can make a sentence that conveys pages of information, and secondly how words can be pieces to a puzzle and you need the exact right one for the job.

I was a horrible speller, K to 12th grade, and everyone actively discouraged me from writing. In fact, my dad pretty much paid for me to go to community college and my car insurance, so long as I pursued a degree other than writing. I took writing classes on the side and wrote in the library or coffee shops where I wouldn’t get caught.

My last year at Clark (of 6), I went on a study abroad trip to the UK and I remember standing in Rudyard Kipling’s house and thinking, “Maybe not everyone makes it as a writer but some people do. Why not me?” I came home and told my parents that I didn’t care if it made me homeless, I’d pan-handle for money to buy chalk and I’d write my novel on the sidewalk even though the next rainfall washed it away. After that they stopped opposing it so much.

So Suffering Rancor and I journeyed quite far together. No one in college really taught me how to write a book, but they did teach me how to peer edit, so I joined a writers group and started working the fundamentals. 16 years and 7 rewrites later I had a bouncing baby novel on my hands. My illustrator, Corey Pennington, came into some money and paid the initial publishing costs so we could get the project out there. That’s back when you had to pay a lot to companies for each little thing, it’s practically free now. Anyway, Corey is a good friend and we got the book out with only a few dozen typos and some embarrassing homophone issues. I’ve since revised it one more time and freshened up the cover.

Q: You are a founder of NIWA. How’d it get started and would you like people to know about it?

A: I’m one of six original founding members of Northwest Independent Writers Association. Initially we wanted to band together for support and sharing ideas about the industry, but we quickly realized that the biggest challenge facing Indie Authors is the public’s belief that traditionally published books are better quality. In reality, the entire market has shifted due to technology changes. The only thing you can be sure of in a traditionally published book is that someone in New York thought it would have a wide market appeal.

I don’t really care if a million people like the book I’m reading, I feel comfortable judging a book for myself. Between ebooks and Indies, the traditional market is hurting for cash and less likely than ever to spend money on an unknown writer. Not to mention that they’ve stopped spending money on editors and promotions, so the writer is pretty much on their own anyway. I’ll get off my soap box. Ultimately, NIWA realized that its primary function was to promote professionalism and quality among Indie authors and to increase consumer confidence in their work. So that’s what we do.

Q: What words would you share with new writers hoping to venture into independent publishing?

A: Oh, boy! There’s a lot of things they need to know. I encourage everyone who feels that they have a book inside them to write it. It’s hard work but good therapy. Actually publishing that work with the technology we have now is relatively easy. Promoting and selling that book is a ton of work, and being commercially successful is exponentially more so.

If I could offer only one piece of advice it would be “don’t think that Indie publishing your work is a way to mitigate the heartache of rejection. Nothing about writing, revising, editing, publishing, or selling your book will be free from rejection.”

Vonnegut once said, “Don’t write because you want to: write because you have to.” I’m not that cynical, but I see his point. Being a writer is like being that naked cowboy singer in time square. You don’t have anything to hide behind but the instrument of your talent, so you’d better not suck, and it doesn’t matter if the crowd gathered to gawk at you as long as they throw you a buck and leave thinking, “that guy’s actually pretty good.” 

Q: You've got a new book out now called Diner Tales. I've read it and I liked it very much. Lay that subtitle on us and tell us what it means. And what led you to write this?

A: The subtitle is: A Contemporary Canterbury Anthology. I have always loved the Canterbury Tales by Chaucer. I love the idea of writing very different stories that would be told by very different people who represent typical people you'd run into in life.

I used to hang out at a coffee shop all night when I was in college--it's the only place that life would slow down enough to let me focus on my homework. I'm glad I had that experience and I'm glad to be beyond it now, with a wife and baby. Now I'm in bed by 8 p.m. most nights so I can get up at 4 a.m. to write.

Q: Four in the morning, Andy! You're insane!

What I like about the book is that it's a collection of short stories all tied together. Some of the stories are funny, some are dramatic, some are touching and some are contemplative. In your book we meet people we see everyday and judge, but through your book we get to know them as human beings.

I also like the fact that it can be used as serial reading--something you can carry with you throughout the day and read quick chapters and have a whole story to think about before going on to another. It's just a fun book.

Anyway, where can readers pick up your books?

A: My books can be found by searching Amazon or Barnes and Noble.com. My fantasy YA novel, Suffering Rancor, is also on Smashwords, kobo, the iStore etc. and the audiobook is available through Amazon or Audible. This smart link is supposed to get you to the right book no matter what country you’re in http://www.smarturl.it/Rancor and this one’s for the ebook http://smarturl.it/eRancor. My second book, On Becoming a Man, is a Christian inspirational I co-authored with Janice Seeney. Amazon is probably the best place to find that, here’s a link http://goo.gl/kK13W. And here's the link to Diner Tales.

Thank you, Andy. Excellent stuff. You can find out more about Andy at:http://andyrbunch.weebly.com/index.html

An Interview with Author G. S. (Scott) Coltman

G. S. Coltman, author

G.S. (Scott) Coltman is one of three authors joining me in the Local Indie Author Book Booth at the Early Bird Holiday Bazaar in the Astoria Armory on November 15. I just met him a couple of weeks ago, but I was immediately taken by him and his new book, 'Max's Great Sea Adventure.' I asked him to join me at the bazaar, and I also asked that he tell us a bit more about his work. 

Here's what we had to talk about:

Q: Hi Scott, thanks for answering a few questions for us. Tell me, what prompted you to write?

A: I moved to Seaside after being diagnosed with cancer in March 2013. A slower life. less stress, and clean beach air appealed to me and fired up my creative juices. I had written some short stories and poetry previously, but never published. Why not now!

Q: Your book, what's it about? Give us your elevator pitch.

A: Max, a young Sandpiper, gets the attention of the bullies in his flock. From taking their unwise dare, he finds himself violently washed out to sea where he meets a new group of friends, led by Pete the Puffin on Sea Bird Rock. Overcoming his fears through the encouragement of his new friends and remembering the mantras of his father to be self confident, Max grows both literally and figuratively.

Q: Cool. Sounds like a great message.What was your inspiration?

A: My own children and the memories of when I taught elementary age children to read and the joy of self discovery as they used there imagination to 'enhance' the story.

Q: Who did your illustrations?

A: Hilbert Bermejo; he was selected by my publisher.

Q: So, who should read your book?

A: Everybody!

Q: Of course (lol). What is/was your writing process?

A: Start with a single screen shot, and build. Mine started while I was walking on the beach and observing nature. I picked up some shells, saw the flock of sandpipers, and saw a sneaker wave wash in and catch the flock on the beach.

Q: Are you working on other books" What might they be?

A: Currently I'm working on 'Princess Viola and the Amazing Journey'. It's a story for young girls to read and absorb themselves into.

Q: Okay, Scott, where can people buy 'Max's Great Sea Adventure'?

A: From me! Just give me a call at 503-960-1040, or pick it up in Seaside at Beach Books, in Gearhart at Romancing the Home, or online at Amazon or Barnes/Noble.

Here's an Interview with Me by Author Andy Bunch

Check out my recent conversation with fellow author Andy Bunch. You might just learn something about me and my writing.

http://funamazingetc.blogspot.com/2013/08/greggory-e-zschomler-interview.html

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: James L. Rubart, Christy Award Winner for "Soul's Gate"

James L. Rubart, author

I first picked up a copy of BOOK OF DAYS by James L. Rubart on a discount table at Barnes and Noble. I loved it and immediately went back for ROOMS which I loved even more. To date it's still my favorite book. I have poured through everything he's written since. I was fortunate to meet Jim at a conference and he was not only inspirational in his presentations, he was gracious and friendly in person. We've been Facebook friends ever since and he quickly agreed to an interview when I asked him. You're going to enjoy this one.

Q: Why thrillers, Jim?

A: Are my novels thrillers? I’ll take that as compliment because I get bored easily when reading and you seem to be saying my books move fast and are hard to put down. The truth is my novels don’t fit neatly into any one genre. There’s definitely a strong flavoring of the supernatural, adventure, a splash of romance, soul issues … but truly, I’ve never thought about genre, I’m just writing the kind of stories I would want to read.

Q: I recently blogged about “writing what you know” and commented on how well you know the Pacific Northwest. I also noted you seem to have quite an imagination when it comes to spiritual things. How do you come up with these things? Are you involved in some deep spiritual mentoring group like the characters in your Well Springs series?

A: I’m not involved in a specific group, but I’ve always wanted to go beyond the norm that I see in much of Christianity. I think there’s so much more to God than we allow; certainly in the westernized culture we live in. Many of us take the most speculative, supernatural, fantastical book ever written—the Bible—and turn it into a list of rules, dos and don’ts, and principles.

I try to push my readers to think beyond that. I got an e-mail recently from a pastor who asked, “Where did you get your training? Where can my staff and I get more teaching like the things in your book?” I loved it. Loved hearing about people who are pressing into the deeper things of God.

James L. Rubart high-fiving after being awarded a Christy.

Q: You’ve got a new book out called Memory’s Door. It seems like yesterday that Soul’s Gate cameout [which recently was awarded The Christy] and not long before that The Chair. You’ve got a day job, how do you manage to crank out such good work so fast?

A: I consider myself incredibly fortunate that God gave me an ability to write fast with okay results. For the most part, I simply sit back, let the movie screen in my mind start, and I transcribe what I see. And I’m also extremely fortunate to have truly incredible editors who take the first draft and make suggestions that turn the finished product into something far beyond what I could have done on my own.

Q: What’s your writing schedule like?

A: Intensely sporadic. I’ll go weeks without writing anything, then I’ll go on a writing binge where I’ll write 2,500 – 3,000 words a day for three weeks. I’m fortunate to have an amazingly supportive wife.

Q: How many books will there be in the Well Springs series counting Soul’s Gate and Memory’s Door? And how often will they come out?

A: There are three books in the series, Soul’s Gate which came out last November, Memory’s Door (which as you know, just released) and the third, titled, The Spirit Bridge, which releases spring of 2014.

Q: What was your process for ‘breaking in’ [with Rooms and Book of Days] as a writer? How long did it take? Were there rejections?

A: Yes, rejections! Plenty. I went to my first writing conference in the spring of ’06 and was fortunate to meet a number of people that were extremely supportive and encouraging. Through a variety of circumstances I signed with my first agent in the fall of ’06. He shopped Rooms to all the major publishers and they all said, “No.” But one of them, David Webb, said, “If Rooms doesn’t sell in six months, bring it back to me.” A year later (publishing is glacial) I did, and nine months after that I had an offer from B&H Fiction. I ended up doing three books with B&H before moving to Thomas Nelson in the spring of 2011.

Q: The running themes through all your books are forgiveness and restoration. Why?

A: I think everyone has a theme that is at the core of their life—whether they know it or not. When I consult with other authors, I tell them I can figure out the theme of their life (and how they should brand/market themselves) if they’ll tell me what their three favorite movies are. In other words, what they are drawn to—what resonates with them—tells me what is deep inside them.

What resonates most deeply with me is the theme of my life is freedom. I’ve been all about that since I was a kid. I believe most of us have too many chains around our bodies holding us back from our God designed destinies … and if we can find freedom, we can step into the glory God planned for us from before the beginning of time. So that’s what I write about.

Q: Let’s talk about Memory’s Door which I am about to begin. Both the Kindle edition ($9.99) and the paperback ($15.99) came out August 6, 2013. What can reader’s expect?

A: Freedom from regret. I believe we all carry regrets, and Memory’s Door hits that issue head on and I believe it will set people free from the devastation of holding onto the past. Also, if readers liked Soul’s Gate, I think they’ll like Memory’s Door even more. The stakes are higher, the lows are lower and the battles are more epic. There were a number of scenes that brought dust to my eyes as I wrote them, and that’s always a good sign that I’ve captured a few elements that will go to the deep parts of people’s hearts.

Q: What would you wish readers to know about you? Like, what do you do in your (LOL) ‘spare time’?

A: Spare time? Sorry, don’t understand the phrase. Seriously, I love spending time with my wife, I love water skiing, backpacking, playing guitar, golfing, photography, doing the occasional sleight of hand, hanging out with my sons and of course, reading.

Q: My wife wants to know: What else inspires you? And how much are your characters invention and how much is based on people you know?

A: Your wife asks a great question. I believe it’s true that we can’t write what we don’t know about, so most of my characters are expressions of the various sides of my personality—my fears and strengths and weaknesses. But in some cases I’ve simply taken a person from real life and stuck them into my novel. For example, the character, A.C., in The Chair is a based entirely on a close friend of mine. He’s one of those rare, larger than life type people and I simply plopped him into the story exactly as he is in real life.

Q: Some of my blog readers are other writers. I’ve seen you speak at a conference and your message was invaluable. Where can other writers meet you and hear you speak in the near future?

A: Thanks, Greg, I appreciate that. The best way to connect with me is on my Website/blog and Facebook. I just launched a new website and if people sign up for my newsletter they’ll be able to find out where I’m speaking, find out about the occasional freebie I’m giving away, and the release of new books.

Q: I’m sure we all want to know: Who are your favorite authors? What do you read? Do you even have time?

A: I vaguely remember those days—when I read a book for pleasure, when I had time to read. Sounds funny, doesn’t it, that I don’t have? But it’s true. When I used to read a lot, I read Ted Dekker who has become a friend, Karen Hancock, C.S. Lewis, Robert Ludlum, Orson Scott Card, George McDonald and a million others. Most of what I’m reading these days are other author’s manuscripts for possible endorsement—and most of the time I don’t even get a chance to do that.

Q: And finally, what advice would you give a new writer?

A: The best advice (but the most difficult to do) is to think of writing as you would becoming a surgeon. To break in, your writing can’t be great. It has to be exceptional. I find most aspiring writers (and this included me when I was starting out) think their craft is further along than is really is.

I like the story of the woman who came up to one of the world’s most famous violinists after a concert and praised him lavishly. She ended her comments by saying, “You’re so wonderful. I’d give my life to be able to play like you.” He responded by saying, “I did.”

Q: Reminds me of the story about a woman lost in New York city. She sees a man dressed in a tuxedo, carrying a violin case. She asks him, "Pardon me, sir, how do you get to Carnegie Hall." He answers, "Practice, practice, practice." Please continue.

A: Most people who want to write, don’t want to pay the price. But if they do, I tell them to start reading excellent writing blogs like Rachelle Gardner’s, to go to writing conferences, buy books on the craft and studying them like they are studying to be a brain surgeon. It takes years of dedication and intense hard work to become a brain surgeon. Same thing for writers.

If it’s your destiny, step into it strong and with belief. Jump off the cliff and build your wings on the way down. It will set you free. 

Q: Thanks, Jim, for sharing with us. Great stuff! We'll close off with posting your new video.


A: Thanks much for having me, Greg!

You can find, friend and follow James L. Rubart at:

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

Twitter: @jameslrubart

Website: http://jameslrubart.com/

Memory's Door Available now!

        

 

James L. Rubart is the best-selling and Christy award winning author of, ROOMS, BOOK OF DAYS, THE CHAIR, SOUL’S GATE, and MEMORY’S DOOR. During the day he runs Barefoot Marketing which helps businesses and authors make more coin of the realm. In his free time he dirt bikes, hikes, golfs, takes photos, and occasionally does sleight of hand. No, he doesn’t sleep much. He lives with his amazing wife and teenage sons in the Pacific Northwest and still thinks he’s young enough to water ski like a madman. More at www.jameslrubart.com

Local Author Writes Girls' Books About Little Dog, Too

During the last month three local authors have shared booth space with me at a couple local events. One of those authors is Susie Slanina, author of the Metro the Little Dog series of books. The colorful covers and whimsical tales about adventures with Metro (based on a rescue dog once owned by Susie) appeal to young girls.

Author Susie Slanina with several of her loves.

Susie was recently interviewed by Couv.com, so rather than interview her for this blog, I include that interview in video form. You can find it at the bottom of this post. Or visit the original story at Couv.com.

Two things are clear: Susie loves animals and Susie loves to write. She is available to share with school groups.

There are several beautiful books in the Metro series and you can preview them all on Susie's website. You can also learn more about her and her (or is it Metro's) illustrators. [Ellen Satra was Metro's FIRST illustrator (for the 'first editions'), but artist Paul Bunch did all the illustrations in the video. And two twins, Shane and Ariel Kwiatkowski did the illustrations for METRO GOES RETRO (Disneyland book).]

And here's an interesting factoid: In Metro's newest adventure the little dog visits Disneyland in 1958; that was when Susie's father worked there at the at the Carnation Company on Main Street (which is no longer there). Her dad started working on opening day 1955 and the family visited the park nearly every weekend.  [Do you think that being a big Disney fan and having been born in 1958 might make this my favorite Metro read?]

Susie's Metro books are available on Amazon.com or can be purchased directly on her website using PayPal.



Stay tuned for an upcoming interview with James L. Rubart, bestselling Christy Award winning author. Subscribe to or otherwise follow this blog by clicking the JOIN THIS SITE button at the right and you could win a copy of his newest book.

Author Interview: Andy R. Bunch, Creator of "Suffering Rancor"

Andy R. Bunch, author.

I recently met Andy Bunch, author of Suffering Rancor. He is both gracious and friendly. As an independent author, he supports and encourages other indies. You'll enjoy what he has to say.

Q: So, Andy, your blog lists a wild ride of crazy experiences. Author Garrison Keillor says that “everything that happens to a writer is material.” Tell us about your adventures.

A: Yep, I’d agree with Keillor. I think it morphs into something other than the original incident though. Kipling said, “A good writer should be able to watch an alley cat slink across a park and be able to write what it feels like to be stalked by a bangle tiger.”

That’s the goal in my mind. Experience reality from a number of angles and then stir enough of that into your writing to reach people with a deeper truth. I believe that in order to entertain others you must be entertained yourself so I try to find the humor in most situations, but life isn’t all about fun and laughing. Still, in order to inspire life in others you must first come alive yourself. So whatever is happening in your life, learn to put it in perspective and find a way to profit from it.

As far as specific adventures in my past ending up in my books, the truth is always stranger than fiction but seldom as entertaining. I’ve fallen in the ocean in Alaska, capsized a canoe. I ended up fighting for my life from pneumonia. That joined with some of my childhood bouts of strep throat in my description of the disease my hero and his friends face early on in my Fantasy novel, Suffering Rancor.

I try to let life invade my stories but you’d almost never be able to draw a connection between the real life event and the ones in the book. One exception would be when my father died in 2003. I went back through my novel and rewrote the impact a father’s death has on a character. It hurt to write that, but if that was going to be in my book then it had to be accurate.

Q: You have some independent publishing experiences as well. You’re a contributor to the Northwest Independent Writers Association anthology as well as having published two books on your own. What are the joys and pitfalls you’ve experienced in these ventures?

A: I was twice the editor of the Phoenix magazine and a contributing editor of the Salmon Creek Journal as well. I struggled a lot with short fiction, but I felt it was important to grasp that before moving onto longer works. Short stories really are a different animal but there are some obvious cross-over skills.

I hadn’t written much short fiction since I switched to novels, so I confess to dusting off a story I’d begun already for the first NIWA anthology. I thought I could tack a fast conclusion on it and be done, but I was actually only halfway through it. That’s become a favorite story of mine. I wanted to turn things upside down a bit and create a sympathetic monster, inept bad guys and a heroine who’s willing to do anything for power including screw over a simple creature that tries to help her. Unfortunately the characters had other ideas so it went where it wanted to and became a great story despite me.

The story in this year’s NIWA Anthology came from a NIWA writing challenge. One of the skill building exercises we took on was to come up with a difficult challenge and post it to our forum. Then we all wrote a short story to fit the challenge. We used a picture of a sink hole that formed in someone’s bedroom overnight—under their bed. It was a very evocative picture. I’m really proud of that story. From a publishing standpoint, the anthologies sell real well. So I’m hoping to garner some fans out of those.

Q: Your book Suffering Rancor has been described as “like Pirates of the Caribbean meets Conan the Barbarian.” I’m really enjoying the work. Tell us about why you wrote it and what the experience has taught you.

A: Rancor was the book I learned to write on. I had a few abortive attempts at other novels early on, but Rancor was the one I had to write because I couldn’t get it out of my head any other way. I struggled with dyslexia growing up and reading was an enormous challenge, but I loved words. I loved how the felt when you said them and I loved reading the dictionary to finding new words. My favorite two things about words is the way they represent entire concepts so that you can make a sentence that conveys pages of information, and secondly how words can be pieces to a puzzle and you need the exact right one for the job.

I was a horrible speller, K to 12th grade, and everyone actively discouraged me from writing. In fact, my dad pretty much paid for me to go to community college and my car insurance, so long as I pursued a degree other than writing. I took writing classes on the side and wrote in the library or coffee shops where I wouldn’t get caught.

My last year at Clark (of 6), I went on a study abroad trip to the UK and I remember standing in Rudyard Kipling’s house and thinking, “Maybe not everyone makes it as a writer but some people do. Why not me?” I came home and told my parents that I didn’t care if it made me homeless, I’d pan-handle for money to buy chalk and I’d write my novel on the sidewalk even though the next rainfall washed it away. After that they stopped opposing it so much.

So Suffering Rancor and I journeyed quite far together. No one in college really taught me how to write a book, but they did teach me how to peer edit, so I joined a writers group and started working the fundamentals. 16 years and 7 rewrites later I had a bouncing baby novel on my hands. My illustrator, Corey Pennington, came into some money and paid the initial publishing costs so we could get the project out there. That’s back when you had to pay a lot to companies for each little thing, it’s practically free now. Anyway, Corey is a good friend and we got the book out with only a few dozen typos and some embarrassing homophone issues. I’ve since revised it one more time and freshened up the cover.

Q: You’re working on a new novel; when will it be out and what’s it about?

A: The working title is “Footless and Fancy Free” It’s book one in a series called the Vancouver Scooter Club Mysteries. It’s with my first readers this month and I hope to have it back at the first of next month so I can begin the revision. I plan to have it out for Christmas.

The book is about a Gulf War vet, Mike Sandburg, who has recovered physically from losing his feet to a mine, but must now figure out what comes next. He takes part in an experimental prosthetics program based out of the VA in his childhood hometown of Vancouver, WA. When Mike’s childhood sweetheart asks him to help her search for her twin sister, Mike takes his first step on a journey through lust, murder, and insanity where everything is eerily familiar but not quite the same.

I’ve always wanted to write a mystery and that’s what I set out to do, but it ended up more of a cozy thriller. It’s a fun read.

Q: It sounds intriguing; I can’t wait to read it. You are the founder of NIWA. How’d it get started and would you like people to know about it?

A: I’m one of six original founding members of Northwest Independent Writers Association. Initially we wanted to band together for support and sharing ideas about the industry, but we quickly realized that the biggest challenge facing Indie Authors is the public’s belief that traditionally published books are better quality. In reality, the entire market has shifted due to technology changes. The only thing you can be sure of in a traditionally published book is that someone in New York thought it would have a wide market appeal.

I don’t really care if a million people like the book I’m reading, I feel comfortable judging a book for myself. Between ebooks and Indies, the traditional market is hurting for cash and less likely than ever to spend money on an unknown writer. Not to mention that they’ve stopped spending money on editors and promotions, so the writer is pretty much on their own anyway. I’ll get off my soap box. Ultimately, NIWA realized that its primary function was to promote professionalism and quality among Indie authors and to increase consumer confidence in their work. So that’s what we do.

Q: What words would you share with new writers hoping to venture into independent publishing?

A: Oh, boy! There’s a lot of things they need to know. I encourage everyone who feels that they have a book inside them to write it. It’s hard work but good therapy. Actually publishing that work with the technology we have now is relatively easy. Promoting and selling that book is a ton of work, and being commercially successful is exponentially more so.

If I could offer only one piece of advice it would be “don’t think that Indie publishing your work is a way to mitigate the heartache of rejection. Nothing about writing, revising, editing, publishing, or selling your book will be free from rejection.”

Vonnegut once said, “Don’t write because you want to: write because you have to.” I’m not that cynical but I see his point. Being a writer is like being that naked cowboy singer in time square. You don’t have anything to hide behind but the instrument of your talent, so you’d better not suck, and it doesn’t matter if the crowd gathered to gawk at you as long as they throw you a buck and leave thinking, “that guy’s actually pretty good.”

Q: Where can readers pick up your books?

A: My books can be found by searching Amazon or Barnes and Noble.com. My fantasy YA novel, Suffering Rancor, is also on Smashwords, kobo, the iStore etc. and the audiobook is available through Amazon or Audible. This smart link is supposed to get you to the right book no matter what country you’re in http://www.smarturl.it/Rancor and this one’s for the ebook http://smarturl.it/eRancor. My second book, On Becoming a Man, is a Christian inspirational I co-authored with Janice Seeney. Amazon is probably the best place to find that, here’s a link http://goo.gl/kK13W.

Thank you, Andy. Excellent stuff. You can find out more about Andy at: http://andyrbunch.weebly.com/index.html

Q and A Interview with Ian Doescher, Author of Shakespeare's Star Wars

Author Ian Doescher

I’d like to introduce local author Ian Doescher, a Portland, Ore. native and Creative Director at Portland’s Pivot Group LLC. He’s a musician, too, with a degree in music from Yale as well as a Master of Divinity from Yale. His new book Shakespeare’s STAR WARS is a delightful mash-up.

Q: Ian, I spent some time this year at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Ore. And saw a couple of the Bard’s plays at the Portland Shakespeare Project (which were wonderful). You’re a huge Shakespeare fan; tell us about it. Do you have a background in theater?

A: In high school (Grant High School in Portland), I did a lot of theater, but my love of Shakespeare really came out studying the plays in English classes and then just reading his works for pleasure on my own. I spent the summer after my sophomore year in high school learning various soliloquies, and then after college I accomplished my goal to finish reading the complete works. So Shakespeare has been a passion for a long time.

Q: But you’re also a Star Wars aficionado, right? How many times have you seen the series? What gave you the idea to re-write the space-western in theatrical iambic pentameter?

A: At a guess, I would say I’ve seen the Star Wars movies fifty or sixty times each. The idea actually came out of watching the trilogy, visiting the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and reading Pride and Prejudice and Zombies all within about a two-month period. So I had Star Wars, Shakespeare and mash-ups swirling around in my subconscious, and the idea for William Shakespeare’s Star Wars came out of that.

Q: How on earth were you able to get permission from Lucas/Disney and sell the odd idea to Quirk Books?

A: Selling the idea to Quirk came first. I looked them up online and emailed one of their editors out of the blue with the idea. He responded and said he would be happy to read something if I actually wrote some of it, which was enough for me to start writing. A few weeks later I had a draft of the first act, sent it to him and he said he wanted to do it. I recognize how lucky I am, because this isn’t the way the publishing industry normally works! Quirk then handled the communication and the contract with Lucasfilm.

Q: Congratulations, by the way, on becoming a new author. Is this something you’ve wanted to do for some time and will you do it again?

A: Thanks. I’ve loved writing for years, but I always thought I would write academic books (I have a background in academia). But now that I’ve published a mainstream book, yes, I hope I’ll do it again!

Q: Many of my readers are other authors or aspiring authors. Tell us about the writing and marketing process. Was Quirk the first publisher you approached? Did you use an agent?

A: Quirk was the first publisher I approached. After it was clear they were interested and they were contacting Lucasfilm, I had several friends urge me to find an agent. If nothing else, they said, it helps to have someone who understands the language in your corner. So through a friend who is also a writer, I found my agent (who is with Wolf Literary Services in New York).

Q: We're all jealous and we hate you (lol). Okay, so tell us about yourself. Oh, and your thing with music.

A: I majored in music in college and still love to write music and sing. I worked for a couple of different symphony orchestras in college (doing administrative work) before going to graduate school in religion. After a Master’s of Divinity and a Ph.D. in theology and ethics, I was a pastor for a while before moving to a marketing agency. I’m now the creative director of a marketing agency with a background in religion and music and a book out on Shakespeare and Star Wars. Yeah, kind of all over the place.

Q: I loved the book. I was attracted to it by the video trailer, which I got such a kick out of. I just HAD to read it, even though I had labored with the archaic language when I studied Shakespeare in college. I found your work most enjoyable (as well as the presentations by PSP); I’m a new fan of the Bard of Avon. Was it your intention to open up Shakespeare to an apprehensive audience?

A: That’s my biggest hope for the book, actually. There’s an aura of elitism around Shakespeare in our culture—when students start to study his plays, there’s a lot of fear alongside an assumption that they won’t be able to understand it. I hope William Shakespeare’s Star Wars might be a bridge that helps students approach Shakespeare. Maybe if they start with my book and are introduced to iambic pentameter and the structure and literary devices Shakespeare used—all within the safe context of Star Wars—they’ll be more likely to find Shakespeare less intimidating once they open up Romeo and Juliet or Hamlet.

Q: In seeing the trailer and reading the book, as a theater designer and director, I was instantly taken with visions of staging the play. It is, in essence, a five act play and cries out to be performed. You’ve already answered this question privately, but for the rest of my readers, can this or when will this be performed? What is your (new) hope on the matter?



A: At this point, Lucasfilm isn’t allowing full performances. But we’re keeping a record of the requests that have come in, because we’re hoping they might change their mind after seeing how much interest there has been. I would love to see it on the stage—that wasn’t my original intention, but what fun!

Q: The book is now widely available at Amazon and bookstores everywhere (list price $14.99). [Readers: This IS the book you are looking for.] Are you appearing at any signing events? Can fans meet you?

A: Right now most of the events are already behind me. But I’m around and I always enjoy meeting readers. I will be at the Wordstock Festival in Portland on October 5th (which is, coincidentally, Star Wars Reads Day).

Q: Will the Jedi Return or the Empire Strike Back?

A: Time will tell. I certainly hope so.

Q: Anything you'd like to add?

A: Nope, thanks for having me on the blog!

Thanks, Ian, it’s been a pleasure. May the Force be with you.

Link Ian's webite

Coming Soon by Christy Award Winner James L. Rubart

Have you read any James L. Rubart? He's my favorite author and his books are very good. How good? Well, he's won the Christy Award. His books are bestsellers. He's the author of:

Book of Days
Rooms (my fave)
The Chair
Soul's Gate and
Memory's Door

All his books take place in the Pacific Northwest (where he resides) so that's always interesting, too. And his books will touch you deeply and make you think even deeper.

The newest book, Memory's Door (the Well Springs sequel to Soul's Gate), will be released in just a few sort days and we'll be having an interview on this blog with Jim very soon. AND we'll be giving away a copy of his book to one of our followers/subscribers.

http://www.jameslrubart.com/

SOUL'S GATE  Christy Award Winner! INSPY Winner!

Publishers Weekly: “Readers with high blood pressure or heart conditions be warned: this is a seriously heart-thumping and satisfying read that goes to the edge, jumps off, and “builds wings on the way down.”

RT Book Reviews Top Pick! with a 4.5-star review:

“Rubart’s novel is enthralling and superlative. Truly a story about freedom from things that we hold onto, this tale will captivate readers and encourage a more active, dynamic spiritual life. The original plot and well-drawn characters elevate this book to “must read” status.”