Stephen Leather, Nightshade

AUTHOR:  Stephen Leather

BOOK TITLE:  Nightshade

PUBLISHER: Hodder and Stoughton

BUY LINK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nightshade-Fourth-Nightingale-Supernatural-Thriller/dp/1444740679/

Tell me a little about your book. 

It’s the fourth in the Jack Nightingale supernatural detective series. Nightingale is a former Metropolitan Police detective who now works for himself as a private eye, specialising in cases involving the occult.  Jack has two cases to deal with in Nightshade.  In one he is investigating a spree killing where a farmer guns down a group of schoolchildren. In the other, a child is abducted and killed – but then comes back to life. 

What gave you the idea for this particular story?

There was a farmer who killed a group of schoolchildren in Scotland in 1996, and the case was never really fully explained. I always wanted to so a story based on a similar spree killing, and then I had the idea for an occult link, and I knew I had a thrilling story.

Are you a full-time writer or part-time, and how do you organize your writing time?

I’ve been a full-time writer of fiction for more than twenty years, and I was a journalist for ten years before that.  I try to write every day and generally manage it. On a good day, I write 2,000 words; on a very good day, I write 3,000. On a bad day, I don’t write anything. Generally I have five good days a week, one very good day, and one bad day.

When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

Since I was a teenager. I tried to write at university but wasn’t able to write anything of any worth until after I had been trained as a journalist. I worked for some of the best newspapers in the world including the Glasgow Herald, the Daily Mail, The Times in London and the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong, and it was while I was working as a journalist I honed my writing skills. I wrote my first book, Pay Off, while I was working on the Daily Mirror and my break-out book, The Chinaman, while I was working on The Times.

What do you hope readers will take from your writing?

I want them to be entertained. I want them to enjoy themselves while they are reading my book, and when they put it down I want them clamoring for the next.  Which I have yet to write, of course!

  

Which genres do you write, which do you prefer, and why?

I specialize in thrillers.  My Dan “Spider” Shepherd series – now up to number ten – is about a former special forces soldier who becomes an undercover cop and then an MI5 agent. But my latest book – Nightshade – is an occult thriller. I have also written a vampire book (Once Bitten) and a science fiction novel (Dreamer’s Cat) and am working on a cowboy story. I also have self-published a series of semi-erotic short stories as eBooks and a series of locked room mysteries featuring Singaporean detective Inspector Zhang. I guess I prefer thrillers as they are the books I enjoy reading.

What is the toughest part about being a writer and how do you get past it?

Typing. It hurts. I have just finished writing 120,000 words in sixty days, and I am now seeing a physiotherapist as my right arm and shoulder is in agonising pain. Five years ago I was crippled with severe pains in my left arm.  It is true that writers suffer for their art. My arm is throbbing as I type this.

Is there anything in your story based upon a real life event? If so, tell me about it.

The premise of a farmer shooting schoolchildren is based on a real life massacre in Scotland in 1996 when 43-year-old Thomas Hamilton went into a primary school in Dunblane and killed sixteen children and one adult before committing suicide. The massacre led directly to a complete ban on handgun ownership in the UK.  I have heard various stories over the years as to what was behind the shootings, and I used one of the theories as the basis for the massacre plot line in Nightshade.

How much is your protagonist like you? How different?

Very like me, although younger and better looking!  Nightingale is a smoker, and I never have been, but whenever I write about him, I always feel like a cigarette. He does tend to speak with my voice and have my sense of humour, though he isn’t especially smart. He does drink Corona bee (from Mexico) which I am a big fan of!

What kind of research did you do for this type of story?

Not much, actually.  When I write one of my Spider Shepherd thrillers, there is usually a huge amount of research to be done, but with the Jack Nightingale books it’s much more a matter of using my imagination!

Do writing violent or highly sexual scenes bother you? Why or why not?

I find writing violence fairly easy and am fairly graphic.  But I’m never at ease writing sex scenes and tend to shy away from them. Generally I describe a scene up to the point that sex starts, and then I back away. I’m not sure why that is.  Partly, I suppose, because I personally don’t enjoy reading sex scenes in thrillers.

What about your book makes it special?

The mix of police procedural and the supernatural is an unusual mix. There aren’t many novels that mix the two.

What is your marketing plan?

For Nightshade I have no marketing plan.  It is being published by Hodder and Stoughton, and the marketing is down to them.  I will of course plug it on my blog, my website, my Facebook page and on Twitter. And here, of course!

Where can people learn more about you and your work?

I have a website at www.stephenleather.com and another at www.stephenleatherbooks.com  Jack Nightingale has his own website at www.jacknightingale.com. It’s in the form of a spooky house. If you can find the safe, there is free stuff in it, and there’s a zombie in the attic.

  

Any tips for new writers hoping to write in the genre of your book?

I think that no matter what your genre, the key to success is to write every day. And to read as much as you can. Learn from successful writers and adopt their methods and techniques.  When you start off, your writing won’t be good. It is a craft that has to be learned. But the more you do it, the better you will get.  I think that you need to write for something like ten thousand hours before you have the necessary skills to write a bestseller. That’s a lot of hours so the sooner you start, the better!

What’s in the future for you?

More books. More pain.  And hopefully more readers!  I have just finished the tenth book in my undercover cop Dan “Spider” Shepherd series (True Colours) and am about to start the fifth Jack Nightingale book. It will probably be called Lastnight.  I also have a few eBook short stories planned.

SYNOPSIS –

In Jack Nightingale's world - where reality and the occult collide - sometimes the only way to fight evil is with evil. A farmer walks into a school and shoots eight children dead before turning the gun on himself. It's a harrowing but straightforward case - until police search the man's farm and unearth evidence of dark Satanic practices. When the perpetrator's brother approaches Nightingale, adamant that his brother was set up, it's clear that something even more sinister lurks at the heart of the case. And there are dark forces elsewhere. A young girl miraculously returns to life, claiming she's spoken to those from beyond the grave. Those in contact with her are dying hideous deaths . . . forcing Jack Nightingale to make the hardest decision he's ever faced.

Conrad Johnson, Till The Moon Falls

AUTHOR: Conrad Johnson

BOOK TITLE: Till The Moon Falls

PUBLISHER: John H. Byk

BUY LINK: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004JHYSO4

Why don't you start with telling us a little about yourself? What genre do you write in and why?

I was born and raised in the city of Detroit, Michigan. Not the suburbs. Crime was everywhere, and although I managed to escape alive, it has created a lasting impression that compels me to write in that genre.

Tell me about your current book which you are promoting.

Till The Moon Falls  is about John Oxman, a crusty ex merchant seaman, who comes to the aid of a beautiful woman who has been drugged, violated and on the run after having bio engineered, nanotechnology implanted into her body against her will. Little does he know that his attempts to help her leads him into a web of international and corporate intrigue.

How long have you been writing?

Since as long as I can remember.

What got you interested in writing, and what inspired you to write your first book?

Although I wrote a lot professionally and academically, I always wanted to write a novel. An old friend told me that, now that I'm living alone, just go ahead and do it so I did.

Do you outline before you write? If not, what’s your initial process?

I never outline. Never have and probably never will. I just think of a premise and start writing.

What comes first: the plot or the characters?

Characters always drive the plot for me. I base them on my own experiences or on other people I've known in my life.

Which of your characters do you love/hate/fear/pity the most and why?

John Oxman is the perfectly flawed character. He has a heart of gold but the bad luck of a blind beggar man born in Bombay.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

Proofreading. I hate proofreading.

Did your book require a lot of research? How long does it take to write a book for you?

I only look up geographical facts or statistics needed for my plot. I like research but not so much in novel writing.

What are some of the challenges in your writing process?

Learning to believe that what I'm doing doesn't totally stink.

Describe your writing space.

Comfortably messy with a window view and a coffee pot and cookies within arm's reach.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Read, fish, hike, sail, watch movies or sleep, not necessarily in that order.

What advice would you give a new writer just starting out?

If you're in it for the money, study to become an auto mechanic or a plumber instead.

Where can people learn more about you and your work?

http://writersalive.com

EXCERPT:

            "First time to a full moon party?

            "Yep. First time."

            "Well, relax and enjoy yourselves," said Brittany. "There's never any

trouble here. Did you see our yacht anchored in the bay when you came

in?"

            "No, we didn't."

            "We're on an extended holiday cruising the South Seas. Thailand is

one of our most favorite places, especially Ko Phangan."

            "It's so exotic," said Betty. "I've traveled a lot but I've never been

anywhere like this."

            "Why don't you take come clothes off, dear?" asked Brittany. "It's a

hot night."

            Oxman didn't have a problem removing his shirt but he wasn't in the

mood to bare his ass. He saw Betty sweating and wondered what she

would do, considering her recent mutilation.

            "I just had an operation" she said to Brittany. "I don't care to show

my scars at the moment."

            "That's all right, honey. I understand. Do whatever makes you feel

comfortable. No pressure here, right Jake?"

            "None whatsoever," he said and took a big hit from a bong that was

passed to him. He held it for awhile and then exhaled a plume of white

smoke into the night air and gulped from his beer. Then he passed the

bong to Brittany who did the same and handed it to Betty and said, "This

is some awesome shit. Thai weed is killer."

            "Killer," said Jake in a strange, drug induced tone of voice.

            Betty held the bong in her hands, unsure of what to do.

            "Here, let me help you, hon," said Brittany and she lifted the

instrument to Betty's mouth and told her to suck in real hard as she lit the

bowl with an ember from the fire. Oxman watched Betty inhale deeply,

her cheeks collapsing at the effort.

            "Now hold it in for as long as you can," advised Brittany.

            Betty tried but started coughing up smoke after a couple of seconds

and a ripple of laughter spread through the group.

            "Wow!" said Betty, handing the bong to Oxman. "What a rush!"

            Oxman didn't want to be a dud but he didn't want to get stoned either,

so he pretended to inhale, lighting the bowl by himself and then put his

head down between his knees, letting the smoke escape so nobody could

see. He passed the bong to the next person beside him, a skinny hipster

with a full beard and braided locks, who grabbed it like it was the last

drink of water on earth.

M. B. Tosi, The Crimson Path of Honor

AUTHOR: M.B. Tosi

BOOK TITLE: The Crimson Path of Honor, Book Three of The Indian Path Series

PUBLISHER: WestBow Press, a division of Thomas Nelson

BUY LINK: Amazon link http://dld.bz/ceRDn

GIVEAWAY? 

I’m currently running a giveaway promotion at http://bit.ly/CrPath   If anyone buys The Crimson Path of Honor, they can download a free copy of my second book, The Secret Path of Destiny as well as download other free gifts.

Why don't you start with telling us a little about yourself?

I am a bestselling author of The Indian Path Series. I’ve also been an editor of non-fiction books and a weekly newspaper. I teach piano and have a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in education. After my birth in Pierre, South Dakota, I lived in Alexandria, Virginia; Bucks County, Pennsylvania; and Toledo, Ohio. I have three children and five grandchildren and a spunky Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Ava.

What genre do you write in and why?

I write historical romance fiction about Native America in the late 1800s. From my journalism background, I love to do research, and I’ve always been interested in the Old West and Native America, perhaps from my memories of South Dakota.

Tell me about your current book which you are promoting.

My current book is The Crimson Path of Honor, which is Book Three of The Indian Path Series.

In The Crimson Path of Honor, the Civil War is over, and a violent period known as the Indian Wars is erupting. Ignoring the danger, a feisty young woman from Boston rebels against her tyrannical father’s plans to marry her off to a family friend, and she seizes an opportunity to go west to teach. On the way to the Oregon Territory, her stagecoach is attacked, and she is captured by a marauding band of Lakota (Sioux) Indians who call the Rocky Mountains home.

Accepting her perilous situation, the young woman courageously confronts the daily hardships inherent in early Native American life. At first treated like an outcast, she eventually adapts to her circumstances and comes to respect the camaraderie of the Indians, even falling in love with her captor. Over time, she begins to challenge her abductor’s traditional views on bloodletting and violence as the path of honor. Torn by her inability to justify her growing feelings for her captor in a culture of violence, she continually wonders why God has abandoned her in such a desolate place.

How long have you been writing?

I began writing in high school when I was on the newspaper staff and editor of a literary magazine. Then I wrote while in journalism school and eventually as the editor of a faculty newspaper. Although I spent most of my time raising my children, teaching piano, doing volunteer work, and being a freelance editor, I always kept a manuscript going in the hopes of one day publishing a book.

What got you interested in writing, and what inspired you to write your first book?

Everyone needs mentors, and I’ve had a few great ones. In high school, a feisty English teacher kept telling me I had talent (and then she’d freely use her red pen on my assignments). In college, a journalism professor, who was as tough as nails, took me under her wing and even found me my first job as an editor. Most recently, the Director Emeritus of University of Notre Dame Press has encouraged my writing and publishing.

Do you outline before you write? If not, what’s your initial process?

Journalists are taught to write on the fly, and I write spontaneously without outlines. It would probably surprise readers to know I begin writing at the Introduction and let the story flow where it wants to go through the Epilog.

My first step before beginning to write is prayer. Usually my mind is a blank slate without a constructive idea. After praying, though, I usually wake up with a general idea for a new book, what Indian tribe, the setting, etc. Then I do some hard work and research the tribe and setting to see if any historical event or odd fact jumps out at me. If it does, I pray about it, and usually I wake up knowing what the entire story of the new book is going to be about.

What comes first: the plot or the characters?

 

I begin writing a book only knowing the general historical event the book is going to be built around. My characters and plot begin to develop in front of my eyes as I start to write; in fact, I sometimes don’t even know a character’s name until he or she shows up. I’m continually surprised by where a book might lead and the villains that might show up. As you might have guessed, I only write after I’ve prayed for it’s important to me that my books are inspirational and go the direction the Lord wants them to go.

Which of your characters do you love/hate/fear/pity the most and why?

I love all of my characters because they represent humanity with good qualities and enormous flaws. In The Crimson Path of Honor, I especially identify with Morning Star and her feisty courage, indomitable spirit, and stubborn faith. I also love Golden Eagle for his unwavering love. Then again, I would like to kick him sometimes for his pigheadedness. Through my books, I’ve truly grown to love Native Americans, and I try to present an unbiased and respectful view of their culture.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

Even though I’ve been an editor my whole life, the hardest part of publishing a book is the final editing. It can be downright tedious. The easiest part for me and most joyous is writing. Unlike some authors, I don’t write “x” number of words/day. In fact, I never count words until the end. I just let the characters take me on their adventures unrestricted by word counts.

Did your book require a lot of research? How long does it take to write a book for you?

Historical books require a great attention to detail and accuracy, but I love to do research. Books can take any amount of time to write. I started one of my books twenty years ago, but put it aside as life became challenging. Another book took three weeks, and another took two months. It varies depending the time you have to devote to writing and what else you are involved in. 

What are some of the challenges in your writing process?

I’ve worked from my home for a long time now, so I basically have developed a workable routine. It’s important to keep regular schedules for writing, marketing on social media, exercising, teaching piano, and being with friends. My children are grown and live out of town, so I can basically determine my own schedule. I usually write in the morning and then again from 10:30-midnight.

Describe your writing space.

My writing space is cozy, small, and sunny with my dog on one side and lots of files on the other side. I have a laptop computer so I move all around my house. I also have a TempurPedic bed that sits up straight, and I like to write there at night. My best writing actually occurs at night.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I love to see friends, go walking or swimming, go to symphonies, concerts, ballet, and plays. I love to do volunteer work, play piano, and even write music. I also love to visit my children and grandchildren. My alter ego likes to go to basketball and football games. I’m a huge Pittsburgh Steelers fan as well as an Ohio State Buckeye fan.

What books or authors have influenced your writing?

I knew I wanted to write from my love of Nancy Drew books as a child. I can’t think of any specific author that influenced my writing as I tend to read non-fiction books more than fiction.

What so you see for the future of publishing and e-books?

It’s a wide open slate for Indie authors right now, and I see traditional publishing having to adapt to a changing market with independent writers having success.

What are your current books out right now, and what are the books coming up for

release?

I have three books currently out in The Indian Path Series. Book One is The Sacred Path of Tears, and it is about a young Cheyenne woman torn between two men she loves after the Sand Creek Massacre. (http://dld.bz/ceRCr)  Book Two is The Secret Path of Destiny, and it is about a young German-American woman who seeks refuge from her wicked stepfather with the Comanche. (http://dld.bz/ceRCP) Book Three, The Crimson Path of Honor, is about a young Boston debutante who is captured by the Lakota on her way to the Oregon Territory. (http://dld.bz/ceRDn) Promo: (http://bit.ly/CrPath) Book Four, The Thundering Path of Spirit, will be out in 2014. It is about a young woman adopted by the Crow and how she tries to find her Crow brother during the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Book Five, The Solitary Path of Courage, will be out in 2015. It is about a young woman’s career as a newspaper reporter in the Idaho Territory during the Nez Perce’s last battle.

What is The Indian Path Series?

Each book in The Indian Path Series focuses on a different Native American tribe during the Indian Wars in the late 1800s, and the lives of fictional characters are woven into the true events. The theme of the series is how to find life’s purpose and a path of peace, love, courage, and faith in times of trouble. As American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said, “If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man’s life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility.”

What is your marketing plan?

WestBow Press provides many publicity options and promotional materials, such as postcards, bookmarks, etc. I’m doing my second book launch with partners online. These partners provide free gifts to buyers of my book during the promotion. I’ve had several book signings with Barnes and Noble, and I work with local book clubs and make presentations to women’s groups. I’ve also been featured in my sorority’s magazine and various websites. The most important success to any campaign is finding supportive readers who are willing to write reviews. Great reviews sell books!

What advice would you give a new writer just starting out?

Writing is learning your craft through schooling and helpful mentors. It is also practicing your craft in some way every day. The more you write, the better you get.

Where can people learn more about you and your work?

Please visit my website www.mbtosi.com to learn more about The Indian Path Series. You can write to me on my website author@mbtosi.com. I have 4,600 followers on Twitter, and you can follow me @AuthorMBTosi. I also have 550 friends on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AuthorMBTosi. My Indian Path Series Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Indian-Path-Series/142828702473805

Here is an excerpt from the book’s Introduction:

Introduction    

    "No, no . . .," Luci mumbled as her head swayed with the lurching motion of the stagecoach.

     Jolting her awake from a deep sleep, a strong hand frantically grabbed her arm. For a moment, the young woman was disoriented, and then she realized it was Slick, the Oklahoma cowboy. His spurs scraped the narrow planked floor.

     "Get down, ma'am. Quick! We're being attacked by Indians."

     In shock, Luci obediently scrambled onto the stagecoach floor next to Martha Thompson, who was sobbing hysterically. Protectively, Luci put her arm around the ample woman's trembling shoulders.

     "Everything will be all right," she said reassuringly, but she didn't believe a word of it. Fear raced like a runaway train through her chest.

     Captain Packard, a former Union soldier turned bounty hunter, was poised for action with his Winchester rifle protruding out the rickety window frame. There was glee on his weathered face as he relished killing the "blood thirsty varmints." The wind whipped back his silver mane of hair like the vortex of a tornado, and a demoniacal glint filled his wild eyes.

     The captain tossed a spare pistol to Jasper Thompson, who anxiously leaned out the opposite window. Never expecting an ambush on his journey to the rich farmland out west, the shy, gaunt homesteader was stunned into silence.

     Suddenly, Slick, who was propped against a rear window, twisted Luci's arm and forced her to let go of the homesteader's wife. Then he straddled her protectively under his lanky body, anchoring himself half on the tiny blond woman and half on the crackled leather bench seat. His chaps flapped noisily in the turbulent wind. With six-shooters drawn, the cowboy began to volley with the whooping raiding party.

     It was a thundering of jarring, strident sounds. Earsplitting gunshots echoed hollowly, and the tiny wooden enclosure strained and groaned as it tore faster and faster over the brutal terrain. Shrill war whoops pierced the air, and rumbling hoof beats pounded closer. Magnifying her terror, Luci's heartbeat drummed in unison.

     All at once, she heard a muted groan and then a scream. Her horrified eyes spotted the limp body of their guard, Harlan Wright, flailing through the air off the top of the stagecoach to his death on the rocky trail. He had been riddled with at least four feather-tipped arrows.

     Next, Jasper Thompson cried out in anguish. Luci's eyes flew to his slumping body, an arrow bisecting his chest. Martha, ignoring the danger, rushed to her new husband's side, and suddenly an arrow found a bull's-eye in her back. Shock, then peace, filled their stricken eyes, and they died, sinking motionlessly into each other's arms on the blood-spattered floor.

     The driver, Jeb Smith, met a grizzly death next as his cadaver dangled upside down from the roof, then dropped with a sickening thud to the hard ground. Because it was entering a treacherous curve in the trail, the rattling stagecoach careened wildly out of control without a driver.

     In numbing fear, Luci tried to pray, but the words got stuck in her paralyzed throat. She squeezed more tightly into a corner for protection, but the dead bodies of the Thompsons pinned her legs against the splintered floor. Slick's oppressive weight also made it impossible to move any further.

     As he tried to gun down a few more "savages," the captain's outrageous laugh rang out deliriously. A deadly arrow came out of nowhere to nail him between the eyes, and he toppled forcefully onto the corpses of the Thompsons. In shock that he'd survived the Civil War but not an Indian attack, his frantic eyes sought Luci and appealed for help, but it was too late. Blood covered everything, splattering Luci's plain gingham dress and the cowboy's dusty cowhide boots with a melancholic crimson ooze.

     Though nauseated at the carnage, Luci forced herself to face reality and peer around Slick's gangly form. She gasped at the ferocity on the bronzed, war painted faces of the Indians as their lathered horses pounded by the stagecoach.

     "Oh no," Luci screamed silently against the deafening wind. Slick took a well-aimed arrow in his chest and careened from the rear window. He crushed her with his weight. Wanting him to know she had appreciated his protection, she scrambled from beneath with difficulty and gently touched the cowboy's lined face. His pained eyes flung wide open.

     "Ma'am, you're such a pretty little thing. I always said so . . .," he whispered feebly. All eternity was in his voice as death claimed another victim.

     Only Luci remained. She'd never thought a slaughter like this was possible on her journey to teach in the Oregon Territory.

     Sensing victory, the Indians wildly circled the stagecoach, and one leaped to the rooftop to halt the stampeding team of horses. He landed with a frightening thud, which jolted Luci into action. Because of her small size, she was sure they hadn't spotted her.

     With a burst of energy, her survival instinct kicked in. Grabbing the captain's rifle out of his lifeless hands, she hastily crawled across the dead bodies to the rear seat, lifting the bench top to reveal a tiny storage compartment. Deftly, the young woman maneuvered into the suffocating space, and she propped open a half-inch crack for air.

     Skidding across the rocky trail, the stagecoach rumbled to a deafening stop. The ominous silence of death was broken only by the pounding of Luci's heartbeat in her throat.

 ****

Author M.B. Tosi is a bestselling author of The Indian Path Series. Each of the three books in the series focuses on a different Native American tribe during the Indian Wars in the late 1800s, and the lives of fictional characters are woven into the true events. The books can be read in any order as each book stands alone with different characters, tribes, settings, and events in the Indian Wars.

Scott D. Southard, A Jane Austen Daydream

Author:  Scott D. Southard

Book title:  A Jane Austen Daydream

Publisher:  Madison Street Publishing

Buy Link: http://amzn.com/0983671923

Tell me a little about the book.

No one understands Jane Austen, not even her family has an easy time keeping up with her wit and creativity. Yet, all Jane dreams about is having that great romance, just like the ones she loves to write about in her books.

After a fateful meeting with gypsies, Jane believes she now knows the path forward to finding true love. Over the course of A Jane Austen Daydream, we follow Jane from one romance to another, and over the experiences and surprises she begins to emerge as the Jane Austen we all know today.

What gave you the idea for this particular story?

Based on what little information we have on the real life of Jane Austen, it is obvious she did not live the life she dreamt of in her books. It’s sad and can add a little bittersweet flavor in the reading of her classics. It was this point that started the inspiration for A Jane Austen Daydream.

Using her novels as template and inspiration, in the book I imagine a romance for Jane filled with surprises and a lot of humor.

Since I draw a lot from her own books for the plot and characters in the book, it could almost be a fun treasure hunt for the fans. Still, a reader doesn’t need to be an “Austenite” to enjoy it. There is a good chance that even readers unfamiliar might be interested in the novel… especially because of the new literary twist that happens in it (which I won’t ruin here).

Are you a full-time writer or part-time, and how do you organize your writing time?

I would have to say I am part-time, but a very busy part-time writer.

I have a blog (sdsouthard.com) where I write three to sometimes five times a week on subjects ranging from writing, parenting, movies, TV, books, art, writing, news, life, and writing. It’s a lot of fun to do. And I am always working on one book or another.

Most of my writing is done over the evenings (after my kids are asleep). My iPhone is also an amazing tool for creating as well. I’ve written entire chapters in the program Notes!

When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

Books were always a home for me, and I can’t remember a time when I didn’t enjoy reading them, collecting them, discussing them. It wasn’t until I was a teenager that I felt “ready” to start writing. Since then, I’ve been fighting for my characters; the literary boxing gloves are always on.

What do you hope readers will take from your writing?

First and foremost, I like to imagine that each of my books, including A Jane Austen Daydream, will surprise readers. See, that is what I love most in a book, when a plot or character can do something that takes my breath away, be perfectly unexpected. So even when I dip into a genre, or a world like Jane Austen, a reader can’t be expecting something normal from me.  Oh, it’s a Jane Austen story, but with some unique twists and turns.

Which genres do you write, which do you prefer, and why?

I don’t do the genre thing. That’s not to say I frown on writers that decide to stick to a specific genre for their writing; it’s just not how I have ever dreamt of my library of work taking shape. See, as a writer, I want to try everything!

Time travel/scifi (My Problem With Doors), fantasy (Megan), mystery (Maxmilian Standforth and the Case of the Dangerous Dare), regency/historical fiction (A Jane Austen Daydream), etc. The only thing true throughout my body of works is that in each I want to do something new in that field.

As a writer, experimenting like that is a lot of fun. Hopefully, it is as well for my readers.

What is the toughest part about being a writer and how do you get past it?

I think the toughest for most of us is having our books found in today’s over-congested market. A book needs to stand out, to catch the eye of the readers. Sometimes, when I am on Twitter or scanning through GoodReads or Amazon I wonder if there are more writers than readers out there!

So how do you find that hook that draws a reader in to buy your book? That is a great trick, and the hopes which are many times dashed for us can affect our creativity in future works.

My advice is always to write first for yourself. If anything happens after it (success, good reviews, etc.), it is just a nice bonus.

Is there anything in your story based upon a real life event? If so, tell me about it.

Well, Jane is in the story in many, many ways. Dialogue, plots, but also her and her family are characters in it. Granted, I will “change” things to work with the plot I have devised, but there is a seed of truth throughout. This may bother some who study the great lady, but I have always seen this book first and foremost as a tribute.

Give Jane an adventure she might have enjoyed.

How much is your protagonist like you? How different?

I don’t want to say too much here and give away the surprises in this book, but I think most writers can feel a connection to Jane’s struggle to find readers or a publisher for her novels; or simply finding friends and family that will understand the “writing” aspect of her life.

We writers see the world in a way different from everyone else, and that can isolate us. Jane is just like that as well.

What kind of research did you do for this type of story?

For A Jane Austen Daydream, I needed to do more than just read her books, I needed to consume them! I think I read each of her books over seven times, covering my paperback copies with three different colors of highlighters (each color meant something for me).

It was over my readings and re-readings that the plot organically began to emerge.

I also read a few biographies on her, but really I wanted her fiction to influence me more than the actual “facts.”

Do writing violent or highly sexual scenes bother you? Why or why not?

This book really doesn’t have that, but in the past when I had to create such moments in a book, it had to be about truth.

You can’t just do it for the excitement of it. Like everything (from dialogue down to the simplest description) it has to be first and foremost true for the plot and the story. If you are doing it just for the thrill of it, the readers will be able to tell and it will hurt their suspension of disbelief.

Be true to your story in all writing first.

What about your book makes it special?

Yes, there is a lot of research and actual Jane Austen in the book, but what makes it special for me is the heart of it.

See, when I put my hand down on the manuscript, each time, I swear I can feel it beating in there, in between the pages, in between the words. That is what makes the book stand out for me, even compared to my other works. The heart. I don’t know if I will ever be able to create another work like this again. I am very proud of it.  

What is your marketing plan?

My publisher, Madison Street Publishing, is really great. They have devised a wonderful marketing plan.

Where can people learn more about you and your work?

The best way to learn about me is to visit my website “The Musings & Artful Blunders of Scott D. Southard” at SDSouthard.com. On the site, you can learn about all of my books, but I also post a lot. I write on a variety of topics, whatever interests me at the moment. It’s a lot of fun, and I like to imagine it is for my followers as well.  Stop by for a visit!

Any tips for new writers hoping to write in the genre of your book?

My advice for ALL writers is to read everything. So many writers latch on to a style or genre and miss out on everything out there. So read the classics, read things that sound boring, read things in other genres, read whatever you can get your hands on! A writer’s brain is like a sponge, you never know where you will find inspiration. Never stop reading and exploring our great artform.

What’s in the future for you?

Two things actually. I have a book coming out in late May called Maximilian Standforth and the Case of the Dangerous Dare. I really love that book. I hope readers will find it enjoyable as well. 

Also, last year on my site I wrote a novel in “real time” called Permanent Spring Showers. I was creating one chapter a week, figuring it out as I went along. A really fun challenge and a very interesting book emerged from the experiment. My hope is to finally get around to editing it and then locking down a publisher for it.

Synopsis:

All her heroines find love in the end–but is there love waiting for Jane?

Jane Austen spends her days writing and matchmaking in the small countryside village of Steventon, until a ball at Godmersham Park propels her into a new world where she yearns for a romance of her own. But whether her heart will settle on a young lawyer, a clever Reverend, a wealthy childhood friend, or a mysterious stranger is anyone’s guess.

Written in the style of Jane herself, this novel ponders the question faced by many devoted readers over the years–did she ever find love? Weaving fact with fiction, it re-imagines her life, using her own stories to fill in the gaps left by history and showing that all of us–to a greater or lesser degree–are head over heels for Jane.