Author Interview: Jessica Bell, author of STRING BRIDGE

Interview with Jessica Bell, author of String Bridge

String Bridge: Greek cuisine, smog and domestic drudgery was not the life Australian musician, Melody, was expecting when she married a Greek music promoter and settled in Athens, Greece. Keen to play in her new shoes, though, Melody trades her guitar for a 'proper' career and her music for motherhood. That is, until she can bear it no longer and plots a return to the stage--and the person she used to be. However, the obstacles she faces along the way are nothing compared to the tragedy that awaits 

Add on goodreads

And now for our super deep interview!

Katrina: Your book trailer made me cry. Tell me the story of the book trailer for String Bridge. Was it solely your creation, and when was the song written?

Jessica: Well the trailer was solely my creation but the music for it wasn’t. I fell in love with one of my mother’s songs, which I thought a perfect fit for the character arc of my MC (Melody). I tweaked some of the lyrics to fit with the story, rerecorded it with my voice, added an instrument (bass) and shortened the song so that it wasn’t too long for the trailer. Having said that though, the rest of the songs in the soundtrack I’m releasing with the book, are written and performed by me. Oh, and if you’re interested, here’s a video of the original song before fixing it for the trailer:

Katrina: Is there a parallel to the height of your musical career and the height of Melody's? What do you see as the primary difference between your respective journeys?

Jessica: Despite being a musician myself, that is not where my passion lies. I want to write. I’m fulfilled when I write. I will do anything to write. Sometimes I even forget to eat. I don’t feel the same intensity with music. I do go through phases, though, where I become obsessed and all I want to do is sing and play guitar, but this never lasts more than a few days at a time. Also, when I write music, I just feel emptier and emptier rather than fulfilled. It invokes a really strong melancholy within me, and I think I’ve subconsciously pushed music to the sidelines because of that.

Katrina: I love the musical poetry in your title, String Bridge, and the line in the book trailer about the fraying bridge to our dreams. It's such a human truth, the choice between individual dreams and family life. Did you come to any epiphanies of your own while writing String Bridge?

Jessica: What a fantastic question. Yes, I certainly did. But not in the way that one would think. I don’t have kids. But I love and adore kids. I especially love the expression of pure self-satisfaction when they learn something new and it connects to something they can relate to. I can’t imagine never having the chance to bring a child into this world. But ever since discovering that I wanted to write, and doing so consistently, I haven’t thought about children so often. So my epiphany isn’t really an epiphany, it’s a question to myself. Do I really want to bring a child into the world if I can’t see myself sacrificing time for it? I haven’t answered that question yet. I know women think they can have it all. And I’m sure we can to some degree if we really put their mind to it. But there are only a certain amount of hours in a day and there’s always going to be something that doesn’t get the attention it deserves. I’m not sure I’m willing to struggle with that. Not yet anyway. Let’s hope my biological clock keeps ticking until I can finally take the plunge.

Katrina: What's been your favorite thing about working with Lucky Press to bring String Bridge to your fans? And do you have any advice for other debut authors?

Jessica: Most definitely the friendship that has developed between Janice, the publisher, and I. She has been one of the most supportive people in this whole journey. She has boosted my confidence in ways I can’t even describe. I could not have asked for a better person to bring my debut to life. My advice for debut authors: Learn the rules until you can recite them by heart. Then learn how to break them without people noticing. And ultimately, trust your instincts. I learned that one the hard way. I spent five years trying to write like other people were telling me to write until Janice came along. She encouraged me to be true to myself. Being true to myself is what got me published.


Thank you so much for the interview, Jessica, and congratulations on a great debut!

To purchase the paperback:

Amazon USA

To purchase the eBook:

Amazon USA

Amazon UK

To listen to samples of the soundtrack, visit iTunes.




Connect with Jessica:

String Bridge: http://www.stringbridge.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/jessica_bell

Website: http://www.jessicacbell.com/

Blog: http://thealliterativeallomorph.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/author.jessica.bell

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MsBessieBell

Publisher: http://www.luckypress.com

Interview with children's author Michelle Raynor: A Magical World

Michelle McLean writes children's books under the name Michelle Raynor, and her first one came out this summer! A Magical World, illustrated by Toni Wilson.

Alex and his sister Izzy are stuck inside during one stormy, rainy week. But, they still manage to have the most spectacular adventures. They sail the seven seas on a pirate ship, swing on jungle vines, swim through the ocean, roam with the dinosaurs, and visit many other fantastic places! Just how, they never tell a soul. They simply smile and wink and zip their lips, and then disappear into their room. Into a wonderful, magical world.

I got the opportunity to ask her some questions about her writing and specifically about this wonderful book and what it's like writing in vastly different genres, from picture books to regency fiction to humorous how-to's. I hope you enjoy reading her answers as much as I did! Here's Michelle!

Michelle McLean

Katrina:      How pivotal were your own children in the inspiration of A Magical World?

Michelle: Extremely J In fact, they were my little co-authors for this book. The power went out one stormy afternoon and the kids were bored and a little scared by the thunder. I often make up bedtime stories for my kids, so we sat down and I started telling them a story. Every time the kids in the story would disappear into their magic world, I let the kids tell me where they’d like to go. We ended up on a pirate ship, in the jungle, as dinosaurs and race cars. And it all ended up in the book J I also let the kids choose the names of the characters in the book.

Katrina:      There’s a misconception that children’s books are somehow easier to write because they’re shorter. How long did it take you to get A Magical World ready for press?

Michelle: I can actually get the first draft out pretty quickly. Revisions take longer, though not nearly as long as a novel, of course J To be honest, I’m not sure how long it took me to get A Magical World done…I wrote it several years ago and it languished in a file until recently. LOL. If I’m not working on any other projects at the same time, with all focus on the picture book, I can get one done in a couple weeks. Not counting the illustrations, of course, though Toni Wilson, my illustrator for this book, is INCREDIBLE. She can get a final copy picture done in 2 or 3 days.

Katrina:      I love a good subplot in a picture book. Whose idea was the rubber ducky on each page?

Michelle: That was my illustrator’s idea. Actually, I think her son came up with it. We added a couple in just to see how it would look and we just fell in love with the cute little guy :D

Katrina:     How many books in this series have you already written, or plan to write?

Michelle: This particular book is a stand alone, but my next book is the first in the My Favorites series. The first book will be My Favorite Kind of Toot and will hopefully be out by the end of the summer. I have three other books in this series done so far (manuscripts, not with pictures yet), including My Favorite Kind of Kiss, My Favorite Kind of Cuddle, and My Favorite Kind of Sneeze. I have a few others ready to work on – there are endless possibilities for this series J

I am also working on another book in a totally different style, with a good friend of mine, writer and artist Lisa Amowitz. Our book is called Lyria’s Extraordinary Wish and is much more lyrical/poetic with just stunning pictures. My books with Toni are much more cutely humorous J

Katrina:      Do you listen to any different kind of music when you write for children as opposed to when you write for teens and adults?

Michelle: I don’t generally listen to music when I write, period, though I will sometimes listen to the Film Scores station on Pandora or classical music when writing for teens/adults. (Editing is a different matter, as is “getting in the mood” – I have playlists for that). For my kids’ books, I don’t listen to music. I get that first draft out very quickly, usually just a day. And then I have to go back through and clean everything up J When I do my kids’ books I tend to go into short periods of extreme concentration that music just doesn’t help J

Katrina:      You’re one of those rare cross-genre authors! Tell us a little about what you’ve published in the past and what you plan to publish in the future?

Michelle: You know, one thing I love about what I do is the variety. Writing different genres allows me to explore several different sides of my creativity and it’s just a blast. Plus, since my NF books and novels are (or will be) published traditionally, and my picture books are self-published, I get to experience both sides of the industry. It really is incredibly interesting being involved in both worlds.

My very first published book was the NF Homework Helpers: Essays and Term Papers. I have two new NF books currently on submission – Poetry Pointers, and How to Put the Analysis in Your Literary Essay. I am working on revisions on a historical novel with my agent right now and will hopefully be submitting that soon.

And as I said above, My Favorite Kind of Toot should be out by the end of the summer. I’ll probably release one more picture book by the end of the year, though I haven’t decided which one just yet J Lisa and I are going to go the traditional route with Lyria’s Extraordinary Wish and will be subbing that out in the next few months.

Katrina:      Those sound so cute! What’s your advice to children who want to write books for publication?

Michelle: Write what you love and what you’d want to read. And don’t give up no matter how hard it is. There are a lot of setbacks, a lot of disappointment, and it can take a very long time. But if this is what you really want to do, then do it, no matter what J

Katrina: Make up your own question here. What do you wish someone would ask you?

Michelle: A lot of people ask me about why I chose to write under a pen name – first off, my agent suggested it J Though I originally was opposed to the idea (I really wanted to see MY name on the shelves), I ended up agreeing. Since I write in multiple genres that are so vastly different, I thought it would be a good idea to use different names to help keep my audiences separate. If I just wrote YA and adult novels, I probably would have stuck with one name.

But I want my picture book readers to be able to easily find more picture books, my non-fiction readers to easily find more NF books, and my novel readers to easily find more novels. If I wrote everything under one name then a novel reader might do a search and find NF books or picture books and assume I didn’t have any other novels, etc. Writing under different names helps me avoid any confusion.

So, my NF books are under my own name, Michelle McLean. My picture books are under Michelle Raynor (the last name is a mixture of my children’s names), and my novels are under MacKenna Marquis (my niece’s name and my maiden name – my full maiden name is already in use by another writer) J

Thank you!

Where to find A Magical World:

Smashwords – (epub version for any ereader available here) 

Barnes & Noble

Apple (via the iBookstore)

Amazon Kindle

Amazon Paperback

Diesel

Lulu (paperback version)

Goodreads

Coming soon to Borders for Kobo, Sony, and Scrollmotion

Author Interview: Angela J. Townsend of FROZEN FURY

Kidnapped by a band of deranged mountain men in the Alaskan wilderness, Amber Hatchet is driven by one harrowing thought: these monsters might have her eleven-year-old son. But her attempts to escape lead to the unearthing of deadly secrets, ones better left buried. Amber's only hope lies with her husband, Jack Hatchet, confident Manhattan attorney and swindler extraordinaire. Problem is, Jack cares more about protecting his shady backroom deals than the life of his wife. In fact, he'd prefer her dead, rather than alive.

Introducing Angela J. Townsend, author of FROZEN FURY!

Katrina: What was it about FROZEN FURY’s story that made you just have to write it?

Angela: I love fast paced seat-of-your pants type of action. I’ve been accused of being episodic but really it is just my writing style.

Katrina: The rawness with which you write about the frozen wild suggests real life experience to me. Are you a wild mountain woman? How did you write so realistically about such an inhabitable place?

Angela: Living and growing up in the mountains my entire life made writing Frozen Fury effortless. I am more at home in the woods than in any city. There is something mysterious about a forest. Something magical draws me to them. Even though they can be quite spooky, I feel very much at home in their protective folds.

Katrina: How many books have you written? 

Angela: I’ve written over twenty novels total. My friend Angela Ackerman of The Bookshelf Muse said, “Angie, you are such a prolific writer.” I had to laugh because suddenly I realized that I really was. I mean it never occurred to me that someone else wouldn't have that many completed novels. Two of my manuscripts are in submission with my agent.

Katrina: What’s your advice to writers who are just starting out?

Angela: Don’t give up. Remember writing is a subjective art. But try to listen. I mean really listen to criticism you are receiving. My agent, Jill Corcoran, gave me the best advice of my career. When I was adamant about not revising a certain part of my story. She said, “Kill your baby Angie.” As terrible as it sounds, sometimes you have to “kill your baby” in order to move forward. My story was much stronger afterwards. I never hesitate to make changes now.

Katrina: What’s the one thing you simply can’t write without? Pen? Laptop? Juju beans?

Angela: I write in distraction. By that I mean I love noise, crowded restaurants. I cannot write without my Celtic music blaring away in my headphones and a candle burning on my desk.

Katrina: What motivates you to write on days you just don’t feel like writing?

Angela: I never really have days I don’t want to write. To me writing is a gift I don’t take for granted. With the economy being in such sad shape, most of us have full time jobs or other things that pull us away. Writing is like breathing to me—I have to do it.

Katrina: Favorite movie or TV show of all time?

Angela: I love movies, especially with popcorn--my favorite food ;) I love Out of Africa, Braveheart, Titanic, Michael Collins, Harry Potter, Riverdance, Lord of the dance and anything Bruce Lee. I can’t name just one!

Katrina: Goodreads shows FROZEN FURY was previously published by a small press. What’s different in the new incarnation? What made you decide to reincarnate it?

Angela: As with anyone who is steady in their craft, my writing improves with each novel. I wanted to polish my old version to make it stronger and publish it again.

Katrina: Who did the spectacular cover art for FROZEN FURY?

Angela: LFD Designs--affordable and awesome. 

Ooh, thank you for the recommendation!

Katrina: Make up your own question here. What do you wish someone would ask you?

Angela: On getting an agent. You have to do the work it takes before you can agent shop. I have so many authors who send me samples of their work wanting to know why they were rejected. I often tell people, you have to have a polished project. Don’t rush it. Because I’m a country girl, I will relate it to horses. When trading horses it’s much harder to sell an unbroke horse than one that’s had lots of time under the saddle. You wrote the book now take the time to polish before submitting it. Don’t try to sell something that is half-finished.            

Thank you so much, Angie! I love your advice to new writers and your analogy about selling an unbroken horse. I'm still a newbie when it comes to queries and have definitely jumped the gun in the past. Thanks for sharing your wisdom! 

Everybody who hasn't yet, check out FROZEN FURY on Amazon Kindle.

Kidnapped by a band of deranged mountain men in the Alaskan wilderness, Amber Hatchet is driven by one harrowing thought: these monsters might have her eleven-year-old son. But her attempts to escape lead to the unearthing of deadly secrets, ones better left buried. Amber's only hope lies with her husband, Jack Hatchet, confident Manhattan attorney and swindler extraordinaire. Problem is, Jack cares more about protecting his shady backroom deals than the life of his wife. In fact, he'd prefer her dead, rather than alive.

Find Angela Online at: 
Her writing website
Her art website
Operation Awesome

Find FROZEN FURY on:
Goodreads
Smashwords
Amazon Kindle
Facebook

Theme and Structure (Part 4 Larry Brooks notes)

You've read 

Part 1: Developing Story Concept
Part 2: Continuity in Story
Part 3: Never Rescue Your Character


Finally, I can give you Part 4 of my Larry Brooks notes, the final part. 


Part 4: Theme and Structure

Ring Lock Scaffolding picture from this site

Theme: How a reader relates the story you've told to their world view


This includes lessons or morals in children's books, and also universal truths in all books. 


Themes naturally appear with the consequences to your characters' choices.


I think that's all that needs to be said about theme. It's something we inherently understand, and the best advice I've heard about it is not to put a spotlight on it. Readers don't want to be hit over the head with the lesson, but if it happens naturally (like Dumbledore asking Harry not to go looking again for the Mirror of Erised, for "It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.") well then, that's just perfect. But themes don't need to be stated in witty adages, either. They can be implied by what is not said. 


Story Structure:


(Happy/sad story: I had to leave the 2-hour presentation at this point to go to my pitch session with the phenomenal Kirk Shaw, an editor at Covenant Communications. Larry had been nice enough to help me with my pitch a bit during the snack break so he knew when I stood up to leave that I wasn't ditching his class for fun. He called out, "Good luck!" and told everyone I was going to pitch. I walked out of the room to the applause of my peers. It was a very nice send off and I was appropriately pumped for my pitch session [which went AWESOME, by the way. If you ever have the chance to talk to Kirk Shaw, I highly recommend it]. I tell this story to point out that these are not my notes, but borrowed notes taken by my lovely friends, Angie and Beckie. Here I go...)


Know Your Story's Core Essence

That's the little plan I copied down from their notes and below is a more detailed explanation for what it means. 400 pages/60 scenes is just something to shoot for, to help you break things up. In between the parts are plot points also described below. 


Part I- Set up: introduce your hero, state what's at stake, evoke empathy from your reader. Why should they keep reading?


Plot Point 1: inciting incident, first exposure to the stakes. The true nature of the journey unfolds.


Part II- Response to Plot Point 1: after the inciting incident and first exposure to the stakes, what does the character want or need? This response shouldn't be heroic yet because the character hasn't had a chance to grow past her initial flaws. About midway through this response, add even more conflict. 


Midpoint: changes the context of the story. Reader or hero learns something (maybe makes a decision) that changes the stakes.


Part III- Attack the problem: by implementing whatever decision was made during the midpoint. 


Plot Point 2: final piece of the puzzle falls into place. Your hero has learned everything she needs to know. Don't introduce new characters past this point. Internal conflict may be resolved around this time.


Part IV- Resolution: External conflict is conquered or resolved. Wrap up loose ends.


***
Scene Execution


Every scene must be mission driven, must move along the story in at least three ways (i.e. move plot, character development, reveal something, conflict or resolution).


Enter a scene at the last possible moment and leave as early as you can. No going to the bathroom, picking up the floss play-by-play.

That's it for Part 4 of my notes! If the little chart I made doesn't do it for you, you can always go straight to the source and check out Larry Brooks' blog, storyfix.com. I highly recommend it. 


He also has a new book out called Story Engineering which I'm told is story plotting GOLD. 


P.S.es


Funny and delightful interview with Lindsey Leavitt on Operation Awesome today. It's a group interview, which are my favorites because we each got a chance to ask her our itching questions about Princess for Hire and Sean Griswold's Head. She's a phenomenal author who writes in a voice teens understand about topics of import, like how to have an impact on your world. Check out that interview here.


Anne Riley reviews Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini! I love the idea of a girl getting the bizarre urge to kill someone she's just met only to find out they're children of feuding gods. Awesome!


Afterglow contributors Angie Cothran and Beckie Caverhill have a new writing blog with their critique group called Live to Write... Edit When Necessary! They're brand new and already we've got some riveting conversation about adverbs and -ing verbs going on. :) Come join.


Blogger has been haywire, as I'm sure you've noticed. I hope being able to publish this blog is a good sign and that things that appear to be lost will return someday. :) 


If you're able to comment, let me know: what did Blogger eat at your place?

Paul McCartney, Prancing Poodles, and Girls Who Play Football: Ask Miranda

My first author interview of the new year is up on Operation Awesome today and it's one you won't want to miss!

Miranda Kenneally, author of the debut YA novel SCORE, has infused the interview with her awesome personality and even included some free verse from her upcoming novel. Here's the blurb:

What girl doesn’t want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn’t just surrounded by hot guys, though—she leads them as the captain and quarterback on her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that’s just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there’s a new guy in town who threatens her starring position on the team…and has her suddenly wishing to be seen as more than just a teammate.

SCORE, my debut YA novel, will be released by Sourcebooks Fire in December 2011!

Add SCORE on Goodreads!   

Read an excerpt from SCORE

You read that right. A girl is the captain of the football team. I can't wait to read how the new guy is taking it!

The cover has been chosen, but we're not allowed to know which one it is yet. How's this for reader eye candy?



Now go check out the interview and ask her some questions of your own in the comments. Miranda will be around to answer questions today (Friday).

And please visit The Best Damn Creative Writing Blog to read my latest contribution: Memorable Query? Wrong Kind of Memorable and show some comment love. Thanks, guys! And...


HAPPY FRIDAY!!

A TOUCH MORTAL author Leah Clifford Q&A Today!

Death isn't what Eden expected. Where the hell is her release? Her quiet ending? Not that Eden remembers the details of her final hours, but one thing is for sure--becoming a Sider, trapped between life and death, was definitely not part of the plan...

For Eden, nothing seems to be coming easy. Somehow, word's gotten around that her power can kill her own kind. With desperate Siders already camping out on her doorstep, the last thing Eden needs is the rumor to spread. Especially since it's true...

When her ability pulls her into a feud between Fallen and Bound Angels, she'll have to figure out who to trust and get to the truth behind her death, even if the answers will alter heaven, hell and everything in-between.


Michelle's guest of honor on Operation Awesome today is the amazing Leah Clifford. A TOUCH MORTAL is the first in a three-book deal with GreenWillow/HarperCollins, and is slated to come out February 2011. 


Leah's opened up the blog to questions, and she'll be answering in the comments. Want to know how she got her agent? How many drafts of her query she sent out? How she felt when she learned about her three-book sale? If she snacks while she writes (whatever she eats, it's obviously working)? Here's an opportunity to pick the brain of a successful author. 


Her book is marked 'to-read' on goodreads by the likes of Elana Johnson (author of POSSESSION) and Kiersten White (PARANORMALCY author), other awesome, much-buzzed-about authors. 


Don't ask your questions here. Leah won't see them. 


Skip on over to the Q&A Post on Operation Awesome!


See you there. I'll be the one waving my hand around in the air like Hermione (but with questions instead of answers). ;)

This Thursday feels like a Friday

That's how happy I am today. It feels like Friday even though it's Thursday, probably because I am so, so, so looking forward to the Operation Awesome chat tonight with special guest Elana Johnson (aka Query Ninja).

And you guys, she's nervous, so she'll need lots of you to show up with nice things to say about her gorgeous new book, POSSESSION.

In preparation for tonight's chat (9pm EST at the Operation Awesome blog), Marieke has posted a perfectly timed and very helpful interview with Elana Johnson ABOUT...

(you guessed it)

QUERIES!

I'll go now, so you can skip on over and read that awesome interview.

p.s. any non-fiction writers reading this will find my CP Michelle McLean's non-fiction query advice extremely helpful. She writes both fiction and non-fiction, and her new book Homework Helpers: Essays and Term Papers releases in January 2011.

THE DUFF: Amparo's Interview with her Favorite Character

Who are you? The Casanova or the Wing Man? The Beauty or the Designated Ugly Fat Friend?

If you're the latter--or even if you're not, but just think you might have been at one point--you should read... THE DUFF.
















But before you do, you can get to know Bianca, the girl who made DUFF cool, over at Amparo's blog. Author Kody Keplinger answered six of our questions as her awesome character, and some of it gets pretty deep/profound/life-changing. Suffice it to say, you don't want to miss it.

http://amparo-ortiz.blogspot.com/2010/10/character-interview-with-kody-keplinger.html

And later this week, Lindsay (aka Isabella) will have a character interview with Luc from Personal Demons (by Lisa Desrocher). Stay tuned for that swoon-worthiness!

Exciting new book and an awesome interview

My interview with WriteOnCon's Jamie Harrington is up on Operation Awesome this morning, with a fun little convo about her pink hair in the comments. :)

Also, on Jamie's blog, she's reviewing Across the Universe by Beth Revis. She even posts a link to the first chapter!! And now I'm book hungry.
Check out the cover:

Interview: Devin O'Branagan about GLORY

Devin O'Branagan

I have the rare pleasure of introducing you all to a fabulous author and her newest book: Devin O'Branagan's GLORY is out at last! She's graciously agreed to give an interview so we can all get to know a little about her and her writing career.

"Seventeen year old Glory Templeton’s blood holds the cure for a deadly pandemic-plague and she embarks on a quest to save humanity. When evil forces conspire to stop her, three supernatural beings are assigned to be her guardians. Forbidden love, ancient secret societies, mysterious astronomical monuments, vampires, witches, angels and demons all contribute to the high adventure that tests the character of this remarkable young woman. The legend of Glory begins!'Twilight meets The DaVinci Code...' www.GloryLegend.com"

Hi Devin!

Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions about your wonderful work!

Your novel, Glory, has been embraced by libraries and book groups alike. It is clearly a hit among fans. How did you come up with this idea,

Early last year I was just beginning to write the sequel to my comic chick-lit novel RED HOT PROPERTY, and I called my literary agent to ask if she had any suggestions for the book that would make it even more successful than the first one. She laughed and said, "Put a vampire in it." Then she stopped laughing and said, "Seriously, Devin, have you ever considered writing a vampire novel? Why don't you give it a try? " My first two novels published by Simon & Schuster were horror novels and so I had confidence I could handle the genre. Interestingly, a recent review of GLORY stated that it is a blend of both my previous genres: horror and chick-lit. And it is.

and what inspired your naming of Glory and her Australian Shepherd, Hallelujah?

RED HOT LIBERTY, the sequel to RED HOT PROPERTY, has a patriotic theme, and when I shifted gears from writing it to writing GLORY, I carried over that patriotic energy. I had been researching the lyrics to "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" prior to considering names for GLORY's heroine and her dog. ("Glory, glory, hallelujah!") As I developed the plot for GLORY, I became aware of the underlying spiritual theme of the book, and the names worked exceptionally well.

Is there a message in the novel that you hope your readers will take away from reading it?

Life isn't about us, but we are about life.

Glory grew up on a farm. Is that something from your personal experience? Where did you grow up?

I had a bohemian gypsy upbringing and there was never a place I called home. However, my grandparents had a farm in Michigan where my mother and I occasionally spent time between various adventures. I drew from that experience.

What inspired you to begin writing, and when did you realize this was your calling?

I was reading at three years old and wrote my first story at five. I was born to write.

Who is your favorite author? What is it about his or her work that you love? Is there one author you would consider your mentor?

I read anything and everything and everyone. I learn from every book I read, whether it is well-written or not.

What books are you reading now? Any new authors who have caught your interest?

Right now I'm reading non-fiction books related to conspiracy theories as research for RED HOT LIBERTY.

Though there are many fantastic elements in your story, there's also some stunning realism as far as details like the disease that has attacked her father, and almost everybody else. Was it difficult to maintain this balance between fantasy and real life?

No, it was easy. I personally believe that there is much more in heaven and earth than is dreamt of in my philosophy. For me, life is very much a blend of possible realities.

What was your favorite part to write?

The scenes featuring Hallelujah the intrepid demon-fighting Australian shepherd. She rocks!

The cover of Glory is compelling. Who designed it? Did you get to contribute to the decision?

An excellent graphic designer named Sue Campbell created the cover, and she did accept my input.

Can you tell us some of your latest news? Maybe share some of your current work in progress?

I am once again working on RED HOT LIBERTY, a comic chick-lit novel that is the second in the RED HOT series about the misadventures of plucky single mother, Molly O'Malley. Molly is a real estate agent whose newest client is Liberty True, a rebel patriot who invites Molly to a different kind of tea party and drags her, kicking and screaming, into the revolution. The website is www.RedHotLiberty.com

I am also beginning to develop the second installment of the GLORY series.

Did you learn anything from writing Glory and what was it?

I learned that writing in first person is much more difficult than I presumed it was. (GLORY was my first project written in first person.) I really struggled to find Glory's voice. It forced me to grow as a writer.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Read, write, and persist.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

I hope my books touch their hearts. It's why I do what I do!

Thank you for your time! Readers go to www.GloryLegend.com to pick up your copy! (Are signed copies still available? How would readers obtain these?)

Personally autographed copies of GLORY are available via the novel's website at www.GloryLegend.com

Autographed copies of all my available novels may be obtained via my author's website at www.DevinWrites.com

Fabulous!

Readers, enjoy this book trailer for the novel, GLORY.