tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32608597726875150622024-03-13T19:08:23.353+13:00Kura Carpenter - Sharing my Love of NZ Books BlogNew Zealand Books, Authors Interviews, Tips and Tricks for WritersKura Carpenterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05958865645698396775noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260859772687515062.post-87088673414669110092021-10-22T14:16:00.002+13:002021-10-26T12:05:34.384+13:00Author Interview: Paul W. Feenstra - NZ Historical Writer<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Today I’m chatting with New Zealand historical writer Paul W. Feenstra.</b> Paul wrote his first historical, For <i>Want of a Shilling</i>, in 2013 and as of 2021 has written 6 novels and 1 book of short-stories, <i><b>Gunpowder Green</b></i>, which I'll be discussing today.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYiQCjkruLQ-ZsCDr3DFWl6vU7oZpzex-xBOm-YMvtLA7jB8_uhUYede7iVCS8eDTqCtCTMkBnBHBIrZD0hjyZgXIw0wJG1kZWSYAt43UNQSTO0lXD2k-pgs1stHbLkU-c44lluBm442E/s2048/Gunpowder-Green-Cover-small.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Gunpowder Green – historical fiction – story stories by Paul W. Feenstra" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1327" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYiQCjkruLQ-ZsCDr3DFWl6vU7oZpzex-xBOm-YMvtLA7jB8_uhUYede7iVCS8eDTqCtCTMkBnBHBIrZD0hjyZgXIw0wJG1kZWSYAt43UNQSTO0lXD2k-pgs1stHbLkU-c44lluBm442E/w207-h320/Gunpowder-Green-Cover-small.jpg" title="Gunpowder Green – historical fiction – story stories by Paul W. Feenstra" width="207" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /><b>Kura: </b>Welcome, Paul, firstly I have to say I was really captivated by the title of this short story collection. <i>Gunpowder Green</i> has such an appealing ring to me. Obviously it hints at times gone-by, but also it created a question in my mind, <i>‘What can gunpowder green mean?’</i> I thought that a clever hook. <br />Anyway, let’s move on to the topic at hand. Historical fiction is a popular genre in NZ, but what about historicals drove or inspired you to write in that genre? <br /><br /><b>Paul: </b>I love the challenge of research, and then developing a style that captivates the reader that is true to the time period. Some call this 'Faction', where fiction is woven through real historical events. <br /><br /><b>Kura:</b> ‘Faction’, I like that term! I admit while I like the idea of writing historical, I’m a bit intimidated by having to “get things right”, if you know what I mean. That sounds like a lot of extra work on top the writing! What was your favourite and least favourite part in researching for the novel? <br /><br /><b>Paul:</b> Not being able to easily find answers to questions. The internet provides so much, but not a lot about history as it relates to daily living. Most information on the internet is current, (relatively speaking) If I want to know how to treat a cold in 1840, I don't want the answer as it applies to the year 2021, I want to know what people did back then. That type of research is challenging. <br /><br /><b>Kura:</b> That’s a good point. And, yeah, I suspected as much – it all means extra work! You mentioned developing a style that captivates. Can you elaborate? How would you describe your writing style within historical fiction? <br /><br /><b>Paul:</b> My novels are written with commercial success in mind. That means, they move quickly, they are descriptive, and character driven.<br /><br /><b>Kura:</b> I like the sound of that. Fast moving plots and character driven stories are just my cup of tea. And what are the stories collected within <i>Gunpowder Green</i> about?<br /><br /><b>Paul:</b> In the tradition of iconic Kiwi short-stories, <i>Gunpowder Green</i> is a nostalgic look into New Zealand’s unique and colourful past. Light-hearted, humorous and even thought provoking, each story is varied and highlights New Zealand rural living, a diverse culture and a forgotten yet very familiar lifestyle. The stories are varied and best suited for a general audience.<br /><br /><b>Kura:</b> That sounds really entertaining. Another one for my ever-increasing to be read pile, for sure.<br />Now, while I know you didn’t exactly set out to become a writer, however, <b>what Top 3 Tips would you give to others starting the self-publishing journey</b> that you wished you knew when you started? <br /><br /><b>Paul: </b></span><p></p><p style="margin-left: 80px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>1.</b> Learn about marketing </span></p><p style="margin-left: 80px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>2.</b> Shelve your ego and listen </span></p><p style="margin-left: 80px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>3.</b> Be objective. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><b>Kura:</b> That is some very solid advice, Paul. <i><b>Thank you for sharing your insights, and Thanks to everyone for joining us by reading this interview.</b></i><br /><br />And to let everyone know, you can find <i><b>Gunpowder Green</b></i> in all the usual places, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gunpowder-Green-Paul-W-Feenstra-ebook/dp/B093B1BT71/" target="_blank">ebook online at Amazon</a>, and available throughout NZ in many independent book stores, including <a href="https://www.paperplus.co.nz/" target="_blank">PaperPlus</a> <br /><br />But a wee tip from Paul is: <b>if you want a print edition then he recommends</b> <a href="https://www.mightyape.co.nz/product/gunpowder-green/34847680" target="_blank">purchase Gunpowder Green from MightyApe</a> because it’s faster and cheaper.</span></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXzWz36G7KGr7MBm2LPMq5DPT8KzL4N2QOMQfJyl4Ufi6vxhcIuFHpgJeC7PxiUzXMwTrQOFvbWf-cpViL_PXOCO5xkR84GeCqqE3vUd8_xC2WmNJEeN-sMumdIqR64tOEhSOtsN_6zYs/s1024/Paul-W.-Feenstra-NZ+historical+author.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="New Zealand historical writer Paul W. Feenstra" border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXzWz36G7KGr7MBm2LPMq5DPT8KzL4N2QOMQfJyl4Ufi6vxhcIuFHpgJeC7PxiUzXMwTrQOFvbWf-cpViL_PXOCO5xkR84GeCqqE3vUd8_xC2WmNJEeN-sMumdIqR64tOEhSOtsN_6zYs/w213-h320/Paul-W.-Feenstra-NZ+historical+author.jpg" title="New Zealand historical writer Paul W. Feenstra" width="213" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><b>About the author:</b> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Paul W. Feenstra</b> credits a freak tennis accident resulting in his Achilles tendon snapping with him discovering a passion for writing. During the 7 month recovery Paul found himself questioning, <i>“Did I want to continue to commute to, and work in Hollywood? Or was I destined for better things, here in New Zealand?”</i> Paul decided to write a book and walking around Wellington's bays, he encountered a peculiar and very old, pre-WWII structure. That discovery would ultimately lead to his first historical fiction novel, For Want of a Shilling. To learn more about Paul and his books, <a href="https://paulwfeenstra.com/" target="_blank">please visit Paul W. Feenstra’s website. </a><br /><br /><b> </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLFSMyFNPhvdsq7b3vNehcmUjc3z5xYuWXOEdgd4i4prGl29XXW9iTrvzjYIPT_YTzZ9vSOFJIv4omynaTKk4vGEnFXVsVfmbiHIboS8yyd7LWKSXTmDygNPBhaQ8YfG8aqbvrSlcPUA/s2048/Gunpowder-Green-Cover-small.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Gunpowder Green, Short story collection by New Zealand historical writer Paul W. Feenstra" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1327" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLFSMyFNPhvdsq7b3vNehcmUjc3z5xYuWXOEdgd4i4prGl29XXW9iTrvzjYIPT_YTzZ9vSOFJIv4omynaTKk4vGEnFXVsVfmbiHIboS8yyd7LWKSXTmDygNPBhaQ8YfG8aqbvrSlcPUA/w259-h400/Gunpowder-Green-Cover-small.jpg" title="Gunpowder Green, Short story collection by New Zealand historical writer Paul W. Feenstra" width="259" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><b></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>About the Interviewer:</b><br />Kura Carpenter is an award-winning writer based in Dunedin. She is currently working on a Cosy Mystery series with a paranormal twist. Kura is also a professional graphic designer and at her website <a href="https://thebookcarpenter.co.nz/" target="_blank">The Book Carpenter</a> provides NZ writers with Independent Publishing services and advice. <br /></span></p>Kura Carpenterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05958865645698396775noreply@blogger.comDunedin, New Zealand-45.8795455 170.5005957-71.995721500913334 135.3443457 -19.763369499086668 -154.34315430000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260859772687515062.post-64207830220326817412018-12-21T15:55:00.002+13:002018-12-21T15:55:46.088+13:00Top Three Ways to Support Local Writers for FREE
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I get it, books are
expensive. As much as you want to buy books, there’s bills to pay, kids to be feed, and you’d
really like a pair of sneakers without holes so you can walk your dog
through puddles without having squelchy socks afterwards – or is
that just me?</div>
<h4 style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
So you might have
found yourself asking:<b> </b></h4>
<h4 style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>How can I support local authors for free?</b> </h4>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Good
news, there is a number of easy ways that you can help your favourite
local authors without spending cold hard cash. </div>
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<br /></div>
<h2 style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Here's my Top 3 Ways to Support Local Writers for FREE </h2>
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</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDAAbVw9k2sGGVOntD-XynqzdApKvW_IZuXhf2HG8g1kUalUVf_Pr7No40dPQ9vB5bG43F2LbyyDqv_DSLolJf7gUPm98g0HGDxuvsj8VZPbLVfJPR82bX6IFdJe_RJcgL_W_62DU78G4/s1600/Top-3-Ways-to-Support-Local-Writers-for-FREE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="648" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDAAbVw9k2sGGVOntD-XynqzdApKvW_IZuXhf2HG8g1kUalUVf_Pr7No40dPQ9vB5bG43F2LbyyDqv_DSLolJf7gUPm98g0HGDxuvsj8VZPbLVfJPR82bX6IFdJe_RJcgL_W_62DU78G4/s400/Top-3-Ways-to-Support-Local-Writers-for-FREE.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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</h2>
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<b>Number 1: Visit
Your Local </b><b>Library</b>.
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<br />
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Libraries <i>want</i>
to provide books that their members – <i>that’s You</i> – want
to read.
</div>
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And speaking from
personal experience Libraries are extremely supportive of local
authors.
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<br /></div>
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[I am certainly <i>Thankful</i> to my local library the <a href="https://www.dunedinlibraries.govt.nz/" target="_blank"><b>Dunedin Public Library</b></a> for all the support
they’ve given me and my fellow <a href="https://dunedinspeculativefiction.co.nz/" target="_blank"><b>Dunedin Speculative Fiction Writers</b></a>
as pictured below]</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaCz5dTzo9sA0ordZbqw3wdl2XFkAN-7oFe-8OqfCpgrNIsHDdZlSV8cc6fU1ypVcPMML-YjRn1qbq3hCToKcCa0LFDNpxOedYzEZYHvglwwWu13KaicuDiUG4kTg4rHhClZuFMSysYmY/s1600/DUnedin-Public-Library.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="538" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaCz5dTzo9sA0ordZbqw3wdl2XFkAN-7oFe-8OqfCpgrNIsHDdZlSV8cc6fU1ypVcPMML-YjRn1qbq3hCToKcCa0LFDNpxOedYzEZYHvglwwWu13KaicuDiUG4kTg4rHhClZuFMSysYmY/s400/DUnedin-Public-Library.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The DPL Hosts Dunedin Speculative Fiction Writers' Panel "Genre8: Flights of Fantasy"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
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So go in and <b>find
out if your local library stocks the books of your local author</b> –
if not, find out how you go about recommending a book. Yes, that’s
right, <b>You can recommend books to libraries!</b>
</div>
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<br />
</div>
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And when they get
the book in, or if they all ready have the book on the shelf <b>BORROW</b>
it. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZn9NcFakWP0ADG8ej11RXYPotTVjjGJvj8bLH9_7h0D4ZkMEKR-3TveRiBfLxzDU1EKCD0xDwRr9ExlT1hnNFvKTiplB9s3F9oPKxyZL6kPqoO2wUgHRAcZQkj7UqBo5pLVKi6d4vOI/s1600/borrow-books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="571" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZn9NcFakWP0ADG8ej11RXYPotTVjjGJvj8bLH9_7h0D4ZkMEKR-3TveRiBfLxzDU1EKCD0xDwRr9ExlT1hnNFvKTiplB9s3F9oPKxyZL6kPqoO2wUgHRAcZQkj7UqBo5pLVKi6d4vOI/s400/borrow-books.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Dunedin Public Libraries display a Collection of Local Authors books acquired during 2018</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
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This may seem
obvious, but <b>actually borrowing a book from a library helps your
favourite local author</b> because here’s the thing, libraries keep
stats on how many times books are read and authors get paid via a
library fund system if their book reaches a certain threshold.</div>
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<br />
</div>
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So if you feel badly
that you can’t afford to buy a book, by actively borrowing those
books from libraries you are still helping your local author.
Win-win.</div>
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<br />
</div>
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And you know what?
<b>Even though you don’t own the book, You can still write a review
for the book</b> on Goodreads. </div>
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<br /></div>
<h3 style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Number 2: Join
Goodreads.</b></h3>
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<br />
</div>
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What’s Goodreads? I’m glad you
asked...
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/" target="_blank"><b>"Goodreads</b></a> is<span class="st"> the world's largest site for readers and book recommendations. Our mission is to help people find and share books they love."</span></div>
</blockquote>
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</div>
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After joining go
look up your favourite authors and hit the <i><b>Follow</b></i>
Button on their <b>author profile</b> page. As per the example below of local Dunedin writer Deb E Howell:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYF1v98pObY-GBlbiie1GK1joo1XyEhaNyaKV_W13IS0e4wxjak_pdYzfRZwi14QveOFT6JlDSTVFSBKF5Zes9bRF2IL9DDTS4kjvwR9qWRNP_SirF68UQsKg2FQbausLTl4JwRgXHUSw/s1600/Goodreads-Click-Follow-author.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="693" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYF1v98pObY-GBlbiie1GK1joo1XyEhaNyaKV_W13IS0e4wxjak_pdYzfRZwi14QveOFT6JlDSTVFSBKF5Zes9bRF2IL9DDTS4kjvwR9qWRNP_SirF68UQsKg2FQbausLTl4JwRgXHUSw/s400/Goodreads-Click-Follow-author.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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Then go through
their books and add them to your hypothetical To-Be-Read pile by
clicking the <i><b>Want to Read</b></i> button.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jCfrg-rp3To6MKpORnuwUBUKHI6bYYdku79XGsYcEZvdaYaA_K3bKywfXguOOUw7EStpCPq7DW_fuTmpZn1dbbev8VvivWMd-fvAW7hMBju8eeINla1_nakbJQV32y8G7r01M2EZb0k/s1600/want-to-read-click.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="242" data-original-width="1223" height="77" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jCfrg-rp3To6MKpORnuwUBUKHI6bYYdku79XGsYcEZvdaYaA_K3bKywfXguOOUw7EStpCPq7DW_fuTmpZn1dbbev8VvivWMd-fvAW7hMBju8eeINla1_nakbJQV32y8G7r01M2EZb0k/s400/want-to-read-click.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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If you’ve already
read those books even better, Click <i><b>Read, </b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
give a</span></span><i><b> star rating.</b></i></div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJHJnfXlTle9W8PcEh_DeoTJqKlxyT6cZb5Qv74qbySsrFCMDmqlCj0s7Gql80DUC0veAdnl0aYtGC8l9aIWG0-7c2xAAWTNFmWkzyBgITvEq3ow_ogW0mU7gDistNps0ePFd_zOcDzk/s1600/star-rating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="870" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJHJnfXlTle9W8PcEh_DeoTJqKlxyT6cZb5Qv74qbySsrFCMDmqlCj0s7Gql80DUC0veAdnl0aYtGC8l9aIWG0-7c2xAAWTNFmWkzyBgITvEq3ow_ogW0mU7gDistNps0ePFd_zOcDzk/s400/star-rating.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Undoubtedly the best
thing and most supportive is to <i><b>Write A Review</b></i> at this
stage. <b>A star rating is nice, but reviews get <i>noticed</i>, reviews
<i>count</i>, <i>reviews are worth three times their weight in gold</i>.</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Relax though, this
isn’t hard.</div>
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<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Reviews don’t have
to be a grandiose statement of delightful prose discussing the finer
points of theme, whimsy and narrative arc versus narrative drive.
They can be, but they don’t have to be.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A review can be a
comment “I enjoyed this book a lot”. You’re not expected to
write an essay, this isn’t a school report, just say what appealed
to you. Was it funny? Sad? Who was your favourite character? Do you
want to read their next book?</div>
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<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Trust me, Writers
love feedback. Think about it, have you even had a compliment from a
stranger? It makes your day, right? Same for writers. Even a simple
line like, “This book made me see my city in a whole new light”
will make an author’s day. Your single line review might be the
difference between someone giving up or not. Seriously. You have that
power.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9EBApdIUDhXkVejEsL2o1sHTj0PY2CYR_zMylEq8OE9F0kQZN39zM_KzbcNgLzK3J0LHM6pVr-CKqtXnjpQkZN86hdk82uyljWAjQ6ceNO51PGMHMqbr4IrJv80c_7M42xFmQ85hgEA/s1600/steph-review-of-the-Kingfisher%2527s-Debt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="139" data-original-width="883" height="61" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9EBApdIUDhXkVejEsL2o1sHTj0PY2CYR_zMylEq8OE9F0kQZN39zM_KzbcNgLzK3J0LHM6pVr-CKqtXnjpQkZN86hdk82uyljWAjQ6ceNO51PGMHMqbr4IrJv80c_7M42xFmQ85hgEA/s400/steph-review-of-the-Kingfisher%2527s-Debt.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">example of a brief review that made my day :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
[By the way, If you do want to learn how to write reviews, read <a href="http://kuracarpenterdesign.blogspot.com/2018/09/guide-how-to-write-book-review.html" target="_blank">my Guide: How to Write A Book Review</a> ]</div>
</blockquote>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<h3 style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Number 3: Social
Media.</b></h3>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
But maybe you’re
not a member of Goodreads, maybe you don’t read all that much and
just want to help your writer friend.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Well, even in this
high-tech-age, it turns out that good old-fashioned ‘Word-of-Mouth’
is still valid and helpful way to support local authors, and Thanks
to Social Media it’s easier than ever.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Take a photo of
their book (which you borrowed from the library, or saw on the shelf
in a bookshop, or perhaps you did buy a copy) and <b>share
</b><b>that photo </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">of the book
cover</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> on </span><b>Your
social media.</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">M</span>aybe
a quick post on Facebook/Instagram with “Here’s a good book I
read recently” or “Here’s a book my friend wrote, you might
like it” – this is something my friends have done and I’m
extremely grateful. </div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKfZy4NWjlMRdLYVbmfuiRffPHb-Pmo0mq7pOPK_rgX0CmsLB3GUsqp7eVSFqLjRaHFMjVvqz9eBUkjMLxoto7OqUfbhCgDjxi7e8DasL_8a2XhKY3E32BXcl0STit6BX9zHx7sR-G7Cs/s1600/Keri-book-share.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Look what just arrived!!! I cant wait to start reading your work of art!!!" border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="414" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKfZy4NWjlMRdLYVbmfuiRffPHb-Pmo0mq7pOPK_rgX0CmsLB3GUsqp7eVSFqLjRaHFMjVvqz9eBUkjMLxoto7OqUfbhCgDjxi7e8DasL_8a2XhKY3E32BXcl0STit6BX9zHx7sR-G7Cs/s400/Keri-book-share.jpg" title="" width="272" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XvbHnyff-3qKjSTAmO9csz5kGYHic8N1OOxlwCSZnl5A1SBoibh0UCYG1YtmQK2PFNh-ipNAo7gMAAHC623AGi2rdl6lAfKkMQv0FleeVm1J7R3_GgOV8fu3qN5q4aKchBASCoETGRI/s1600/meredith-review.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="I have been waiting ages to read this, written by my friend and fellow greyhound owner Kura Carpenter I was definitely not disappointed!! I don't think I've actually read a book so fast, just couldn't put it down. Every page was thoroughly enjoyable. Can't wait to see what comes next, and you don't even have to put a greyhound in it!! 😉😉" border="0" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="412" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XvbHnyff-3qKjSTAmO9csz5kGYHic8N1OOxlwCSZnl5A1SBoibh0UCYG1YtmQK2PFNh-ipNAo7gMAAHC623AGi2rdl6lAfKkMQv0FleeVm1J7R3_GgOV8fu3qN5q4aKchBASCoETGRI/s400/meredith-review.jpg" title="" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Speaking of Social
Media, don’t forget: <b>Find your local author friend on various
</b><b>social</b><b> media </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">platforms:
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest</span><b> </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">etc
etc </span><b>and FOLLOW them</b>, but more than that <b>ACTIVELY
ENGAGE</b> by liking, commenting and sharing their posts.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
So that’s it, my
<i><b>Top Three </b></i><i><b>Ways</b></i><i><b> to Support Local
Writers</b></i> <i><b>for FREE </b></i>and none of that was hard,
right? No money spent but <i>plenty</i> of support given.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
You can do it! And
if You have, as one author, may I say <i><b>Thank You! Thank You,
Readers</b></i> <i><b>everywhere!</b></i>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Because at the end
of the day <b>Writers and Readers are a partnership</b>, and <b>I for
one am grateful to have </b><i><b>You</b></i><b> on </b><i><b>My
team</b></i><b>.</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Now go read
something, I’ve writing to do.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ </div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<b>Kura Carpenter</b> is a Dunedin Fantasy Author </div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
and Founding Member of the </div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://dunedinspeculativefiction.co.nz/" target="_blank"><b>Dunedin Speculative Fiction Writers' Group</b></a>. </div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
Follow her on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kura.carpenter" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13994557.Kura_Carpenter" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kura.carpenter/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.pinterest.nz/kuracarpenter/" target="_blank">Pinterest </a></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Kura Carpenterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05958865645698396775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260859772687515062.post-15056512311268996472018-09-24T08:30:00.000+12:002018-09-24T17:15:23.696+12:00Author Interview: LP Ring<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgfxN9hCSjRCouWU_Ly0reDGJiL2N3Znwsps9p7PuQ8wYQyAi0uUIjItd2UwIhb4a4g8-MWVZW3sHTJP9hcpJeatXfS2xH-h9cDmBjfuOphpvTppRr-AbI3FgllVIraFlbtokJpdItEM/s1600/author+photo.tif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="LP Ring author of Long Snake Moan, a Senior Inspector Choi series" border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgfxN9hCSjRCouWU_Ly0reDGJiL2N3Znwsps9p7PuQ8wYQyAi0uUIjItd2UwIhb4a4g8-MWVZW3sHTJP9hcpJeatXfS2xH-h9cDmBjfuOphpvTppRr-AbI3FgllVIraFlbtokJpdItEM/s400/author+photo.tif" title="LP Ring author of Long Snake Moan, a Senior Inspector Choi series" width="221" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LP RING author</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
Today I’m chatting with <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17763851.L_P_Ring" target="_blank">LP Ring</a> author of Korean Crime Thriller Senior Inspector Choi series, Ring’s second novel in the series <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41715113-long-snake-moan" target="_blank">Long Snake Moan</a> is just about to be released in Oct. Available Amazon <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Long-Snake-Moan-Inspector-Mystery-ebook/dp/B07H4LR77D/ref=sr_1_2" target="_blank">HERE</a> </h4>
<br />
<b>Liam, you mention on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17763851.L_P_Ring" target="_blank">GoodReads</a> that there are 5 novels in your Senior Inspector Choi series. So, are you a plotter or a pantser? Are these all planned out in advance?</b><br />
<br />
When I started out I knew who the characters were and what would happen to them. I also had an idea of how these events came about and the themes I wanted to discuss within the stories – the crimes being investigated reflect some of my views on society and the importance of a country’s history. However, I freely admit that characters have a habit of doing things I don’t always expect them to do, so it’s entirely possible that Choi and his team might end up not following my plans for them at all. I’ll have to wait and see.<br />
<br />
<b>How did you come up with 5 being your ideal series number?</b><br />
<br />
I feel that sometimes a series of novels can go on too far and the stories can become repetitive. Some writers can end up with 10, 15 or 20 novels in a series and the stories and action seem to blend into each other to the point where even hard-core fans are left wondering who was in what story. Also, I’d love to give another genre and character a try before I’m in my dotage – it’s something that we are a lot freer to do in the self-publishing market – so five seems the number at which I’ll have said enough with these people and this situation. I’ll be ready by then for a new set of paintbrushes and a new canvas. <br />
<br />
<b>What drew you to writing crime novels?</b><br />
<br />
I was kidded for years by this intellectual snobbery that crime fiction - isn’t as valuable as literary fiction; indeed that snobbery has fallen by the wayside in the last decade with writers like <a href="http://www.john-banville.com/" target="_blank"><b>John Banville</b></a> entering the crime genre. As time has elapsed I’ve realised that the characters in novels like these end up dealing with problems that can happen to anyone in any walk of life.<br />
<br />
I’m really interested in social issues and I think that a lot of what irks us about society can be looked at in a crime novel format. Just having these themes within a story will hopefully make people think about issues they ignore on a regular basis. My favourite novel of all time is probably <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29044.The_Secret_History" target="_blank"><b>The Secret History by Donna Tartt</b></a>. She isn’t someone you’d term a crime writer and yet that and her other two novels both feature crimes and criminality as a major motivator.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsTk8gcQHoUlrvGngfV-W0teSrSbsrYjqvAq8k8nhtV5Qg26wnzlpjpHKJzNlaz7a6be9fABHgbrCZyUBWP8PlWY0yYMkpqmq0Al_Epvb_xOyuKPH-gQACnfuPiDXI2OntDSRoSTv3yEw/s1600/Long-Snake-Moan---Final-for-ebook---mark-2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Long Snake Moan, author LP RING cover designed by Kura Carpenter," border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsTk8gcQHoUlrvGngfV-W0teSrSbsrYjqvAq8k8nhtV5Qg26wnzlpjpHKJzNlaz7a6be9fABHgbrCZyUBWP8PlWY0yYMkpqmq0Al_Epvb_xOyuKPH-gQACnfuPiDXI2OntDSRoSTv3yEw/s640/Long-Snake-Moan---Final-for-ebook---mark-2.jpg" title="Long Snake Moan, author LP RING cover designed by Kura Carpenter," width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Long Snake Moan</b><br />
Book 2 in the<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Senior Inspector
Choi series</b></div>
by LP RING</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<b>What era and city is <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41715113-long-snake-moan" target="_blank">Long Snake Moan</a> set in?</b><br />
<br />
The novel is set in the modern day in Seoul, South Korea. South Korea is a potentially fantastic subject as it’s a first world country that was decidedly under-developed only 50 years ago. Its history as a former colony as a country riven by civil war also makes it a fascinating study. In addition, its status as a mega-city means that a lot of things go on in it every day – things that can involve an insane number of people. On a more mundane point, Seoul also gets hit by these pretty tough winters sometimes – minus 20 degrees is not uncommon – so choosing the winter as the time of year for the first three in the series gave me the chance to add some claustrophobia to the story. <br />
<br />
<b>What part of East Asia were you living in before moving to NZ – is it safe to guess Korea as your novels <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38901662-the-tiger-awakens" target="_blank">The Tiger Awakens</a> and Long Snake Moan are set in Korea?</b><br />
<br />
I taught English in Japan for a number of years before moving to South Korea where I taught at a university. That job gave me space to write during the vacations. The winters are long and quite harsh too so there wasn’t much to do outside. <br />
<br />
<b>Why did you decide to go the self-publishing route?</b><br />
<br />
I’m my own boss and although that means a lot of extra stuff to do besides writing, I only answer to myself at the end of the day. I had a look at a few publishing companies – quite small, niche ones - and sent off a few query letters (I think it was 4 in the end). I immediately got an automated response from one company that said if you haven’t heard from us in six months, we aren’t interested. It just struck me as incredibly disrespectful, and if the company was going to be like that, even if they were interested in my novels I just wasn’t going to enjoy the overall experience. I’d also seen how people like <b><a href="http://www.hughhowey.com/" target="_blank">Hugh Hovey</a> </b>and <a href="https://jfpenn.com/" target="_blank"><b>J.F. Penn</b></a> had been successful and happy without any publisher backing and thought I’d enjoy the process a lot more just taking care of myself. <br />
<br />
<b>What have been some of the hard things to overcome with your self-publishing journey?</b><br />
<br />
Technology can be a major pain. I’m a bit of a technophobe so have found some of that quite tough. I’m using <a href="https://www.draft2digital.com/" target="_blank"><b>draft2digital</b></a> at the moment though, and I’ve found that the learning curve isn’t as steep with them. It also gives me a decent ‘time spent to results’ trade off that I’m comfortable with. So I have published two novels so far this year and learned some things along the way.<br />
<br />
<b>If you could go back and give yourself tips as a young writer, what would you advise?</b><br />
<br />
Write what you like. Don’t force yourself into writing in a genre you don’t like. It sounds obvious but for example, I’m not a romance kind of guy so my trying to write a romance novel would be absolutely crazy (even though romances are often the most popular sellers in self-publishing). I wasn’t reading the right things when I was younger as well. If you want to write anything - space opera, thriller, harlequin romance… anything, you’ve got to read as much as you can in that genre. You’ll learn how the experts do it and it will gradually filter into what you do. You’ll at least structurally be a better writer for it and have a fair idea of how the experts go about things. You don’t learn to cook or do carpentry from scratch. Writing isn’t any different. <br />
<br />
<b>Great advice Liam, Thanks for answering my questions today. I wish you and Senior Inspector Choi all the best for the rest of the series.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Please check out Liam's Latest novel </b><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41715113-long-snake-moan" target="_blank">Long Snake Moan</a> on Goodreads.</b><br />
<b>Or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Long-Snake-Moan-Inspector-Mystery-ebook/dp/B07H4LR77D/ref=sr_1_2" target="_blank">Long Snake Moan on Amazon </a></b><br />
<b>You'll also find him on <a href="https://twitter.com/L_P_Ring" target="_blank">Twitter: @l_p_ring </a></b><br />
<br />
<b>Or for more info checkout his Blog <a href="https://lpring.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">LP Ring on Wordpress</a></b><a href="https://lpring.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><br /></a><br />
<br />
And Don't forget his <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_ebooks_1?ie=UTF8&text=L.P.+Ring&search-alias=digital-text&field-author=L.P.+Ring&sort=relevancerank" target="_blank"><b>Amazon Author page LP Ring</b></a> where you'll be able to keep track of the entire series as it progresses.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnT17aAzfLitjFYbSTvFVMlDNHcWq3nKYQ8GllSKKVpOG9Yczi_uCcBP8SVxrkgr9W0aGnM_h6-H2i80it1eyzMNLziMzG3imIlGBw408sQHNZ8PW02UvMcHj1-qxO82WcUFOin_Vn2g/s1600/The+Tiger+Awakens.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="318" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnT17aAzfLitjFYbSTvFVMlDNHcWq3nKYQ8GllSKKVpOG9Yczi_uCcBP8SVxrkgr9W0aGnM_h6-H2i80it1eyzMNLziMzG3imIlGBw408sQHNZ8PW02UvMcHj1-qxO82WcUFOin_Vn2g/s200/The+Tiger+Awakens.jpg" width="141" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Tiger Awakens</b><br />
Book 1 in the
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Senior Inspector
Choi series</b></div>
<b>by LP Ring</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Kura Carpenterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05958865645698396775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260859772687515062.post-21900151092879825462018-09-07T15:04:00.000+12:002018-09-07T15:04:12.813+12:00Guide: How to Write A Book Review<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Today I'm chatting with Angela Oliver, Christchurch based writer, illustrator and GoodReads Book Reviewer. </span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>As
someone who has written nearly </b><b>1000</b><b> reviews on Good
Reads, why are reviews so important for authors?</b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Reviews
are important because purchasing - or even reading - a book requires
a certain commitment, of time and generally money, thus many readers
would like to know, in advance, if they are making the right choice.
Reviews are especially important for independently published or debut
authors as a reader is less likely to commit to something they are
unfamiliar with.
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Do
you have a method? Or have you developed one?</b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I'm
not really sure I've developed a method as much as a structure, but
one thing I shall say is: review as soon after you've finished the
book as you can. The initial emotional impact will soften as time
passes and key elements will fade from memory. When I first write up
a review on Goodreads I tend to write only one or two sentences. If
it is a book I am reading purely for pleasure - as opposed for one
I've specifically been asked to review - I may not always elaborate
past this point, especially if it is a later book in a series or
hasn't left a strong imprint.
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>How
do you start?</b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I
begin by first noting down my general impression of the book. Here's
where I will occasionally use words like “evocative” or
“spell-binding”. If it is a book I didn't like, I may end up
going off on a rant as to why I didn't like it. Interestingly, my
rant-style reviews tend to earn more Goodreads “likes” then my
positive ones. My review for THE Hundred-Year Old Man is my most
“popular”.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
If
it is to become professional review, ie an advance copy in have
specifically been asked to review, or one for the Booksellers site,
then I will generally follow up with a teaser of the plot. I never
exactly copy the book’s blurb, although I may refer to it to make
sure I have included key points. I conclude with a general summary of
my impressions including recommendations on whom I believe the book
would appeal to.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Sometimes
I will write a ranting-style review on Goodreads then refine it
before submitting it to Booksellers. I never lie about how I felt
about a book but can mostly find some redeeming features!</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Do
you think there’s an ideal word count to aim for?</b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I'm
not sure how many words most of my reviews contain but I think
probably between about 200-400 words. That's more for professional
reviews, of course. If it's not one I've been specifically requested
to review and I didn't feel particularly strongly about (either
positively or negatively), then they can be very short. I think the
shortest I've ever written was one word: “unremarkable”.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>How
do you avoid Spoilers?</b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I
try not to reveal more than what the author or publisher has revealed
in the blurb. Sometimes blurbs can give away significant plot points!
I will tease that there is a twist but not say what it is - only
whether it caught me unawares or not.
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>What’s
your opinion on reviews that have Spoilers?</b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I'm
mostly okay with that as long as they give fair warning - and
Goodreads does offer the ability to hide spoilers. Of course, if I
found a review that started with “I couldn't believe that Jack was
the killer!!” then I'd be very annoyed. That's not a review -
that's just ruining it for any other readers. If they were saying
“Jill’s relationship with Jack felt unconvincing and made me
uncomfortable” however, than that is highlighting the quality of
the writing (or lack thereof) even if it may also be a slight
spoiler.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>What
kind of statement might you suggest ending a review on?</b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I
tend to try to end with a positive - often by saying who I think the
book would appeal to, and why. After all, even if I hated it, that
doesn't mean there isn't someone out there that would love it!</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Are
Amazon and Good Reads the only good places online for people to share
reviews?</b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
They're
the only two I frequent! Goodreads more than Amazon, since Amazon has
introduced their stricter rules around who can post reviews (which
includes deleting reviews if they discover you are friends or family
of the author). I can understand their reasoning for the $50
requirement thanks to sites that offered positive reviews for sale
but it does make it harder for people who review ARCs. Goodreads
would probably be better if people weren't allowed to review books
before they were even released though. I also have book reviews on
Booksellers website, but those are ones I review on request.
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>What’s
the hardest things about reviewing books?</b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Trying
to write a positive and professional review about a book I didn't
particularly enjoy! I've found words I can use that make the negative
sound more positive - which is perhaps where my writing skills are
put to use!</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Can
you explain some of the common terms eg/ TBR, DNF, ARC?</b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<ul>
<li>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
TBR means: “To Be Read” and like most authors, I've quite a pile
of those!
</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
DNF is “Did Not Finish”. I've a few of those: sometimes no
matter how promising a book sounds, the writing style or
characterisation just doesn't work. And life is too short to read
bad books.</div>
</li>
<li>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
ARC is “Advanced Review (or Reader) Copy”.</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>What
are some tips for newbie reviews to build up a following?</b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Write
a negative review of a popular book - you might be surprised how many
people agree with you! But I guess, be honest, but not offensive,
and, if you are an author that gets a negative review, don't start an
argument with the reviewer!</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
-------------------------------------------------</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfP8paAjJ02gUH2Fypoz0C1wUfGawSOyP6buPUYT1LXTVwcxlSTE2mQu0s8YTRSi9Xa6aL1Jxoont7rzNFGk_Md0TcE2d_TaThL9fo64Vw0G9BMjnSS-qq49th2PkO6gwMw3L6yN_b_0/s1600/Angela+Oliver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Angela Oliver, New Zealand writer and illustrator" border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfP8paAjJ02gUH2Fypoz0C1wUfGawSOyP6buPUYT1LXTVwcxlSTE2mQu0s8YTRSi9Xa6aL1Jxoont7rzNFGk_Md0TcE2d_TaThL9fo64Vw0G9BMjnSS-qq49th2PkO6gwMw3L6yN_b_0/s1600/Angela+Oliver.jpg" title="Angela Oliver, New Zealand writer and illustrator" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angela Oliver</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>ABOUT:</b><br />
<br />
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Angela Oliver (LemurKat)</b>
is a dedicated bibliophile and has been reviewing books online for
over a decade. </div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
She officially reviews selected titles for Booksellers
NZ. </div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Since joining Goodreads in 2011, she has reviewed almost 1000
books. You can visit her Goodreads page and see what she's reading
(and writing) <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5100947.Angela_Oliver" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a>
</div>
Kura Carpenterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05958865645698396775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260859772687515062.post-74899341200289188072018-08-27T10:30:00.000+12:002018-08-27T10:30:29.261+12:00Writing Groups NZ: Otago Writers' Network<h2>
Today I'm chatting with Jane Woodham about the Otago Writers' Network.</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZOiEqNIWaPz-0cmortv1RnRteaW1AH8c5yv_I0gQ68i7enPe7-0NT4NLWpgnj9aovWHrWCw011OG0TUvcZxxe2HGtcp_9IN1VKGoJqd_koZEhh_lyXZV4LXfkxIvc18EO4cqg-V0YVk/s1600/Otago+Writers+Network.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Otago Writers' Network" border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="919" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZOiEqNIWaPz-0cmortv1RnRteaW1AH8c5yv_I0gQ68i7enPe7-0NT4NLWpgnj9aovWHrWCw011OG0TUvcZxxe2HGtcp_9IN1VKGoJqd_koZEhh_lyXZV4LXfkxIvc18EO4cqg-V0YVk/s400/Otago+Writers+Network.jpg" title="Otago Writers' Network" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>What is the Otago Writers' Network?</b><br />The Otago Writers' Network is a website designed to help put writers in contact with either existing writing groups or with other people looking to start up a new writing group.<br /><br /><br /><b>Who started it? (And when)</b><br />It was started by the members of <a href="http://www.otagowritersnetwork.co.nz/kath-beattie-in-the-beginning.php" target="_blank"><b>Kath Beattie’s Writing Group</b></a> in 2017, and came about almost by accident.<br /><br />We wanted to celebrate the fact that we had been together as a writing group for twenty-four years. Claire Beynon came up with the idea of showcasing the group’s work on a web-site. Then someone mentioned how nice it was to hear the writer read aloud their work, and words like podcasts and MP3 files started to get thrown about. As newest group member I volunteered to run with the idea and apply for funding from the <a href="http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/services/dcc-funding/arts-funding" target="_blank">DCC Community Arts Grants</a>. A requirement of the grant is that there is community involvement. We knew Kath was often contacted by writers looking for a writing group, so we thought why not use the website to help writers find existing groups and where necessary create new ones. <br /><br /><b>What’s been the hardest aspect of launching the OWC?</b><br />It took quite a bit of organising, but eventually things fell into place. In order to record our writers’ voices we needed to find a sound engineer and Claire suggested Danny Buchanan, husband of Caroline Davies, the creator of the wonderful Down In Eden on-line magazine. While looking for a recording studio Danny asked <a href="https://oar.org.nz/" target="_blank"><b>Otago Access Radio</b></a> if we could use their facilities. They came up with the idea of recording a 15-part radio series, which we could then link to our website and use for MP3 files. Lastly we got help from Yvonne Sommer from clickdesign.co.nz to help put together the website. <br /><br />The most nerve-wracking thing was recording the actual radio series. Luckily for us Danny said he’d help, so he did the technical stuff while we read our work and interviewed one another. I’d warned each member we’d need about 24 minutes of material, including a reading and an interview, as well as a couple of pieces of music. We had two days in which to record 15 hours of radio. Not to put too fine a point on it, half our group are over seventy. Websites and podcasts leave them cold, but as soon as I mentioned a radio series their eyes lit up. I asked them to pair themselves up, and drew up a timetable. Danny and I weren’t sure we could get it all done in two days, but crossed our fingers and waited. We were gobsmacked. Along everyone came, clutching their pieces of paper, on time and fully prepared, and we were done in half the time. They were so professional.<br /><br />We launched the website at the<a href="http://www.dunedinwritersfestival.co.nz/" target="_blank"><b> Dunedin Writers and Readers Festival</b></a> in May 2017. There being twelve of us present that day we worried the panel might outnumber the audience, but the <a href="https://www.dunedinlibraries.govt.nz/about/venues" target="_blank">Dunningham Suite</a> was packed. One by one the group spoke about their experience of being in a writing group, about what they felt they had gained and why they recommended others to join or create their own groups. It was a magical afternoon. I was very proud to be part of that group. <br /><br /><b>What it is you hope to achieve with the OWN?</b><br />A strong network of writing groups across Otago. Not just generic writing groups, but also specific groups, ie groups for people who write for children, or groups for self-publishers, or groups for male writers … why belong to just one group when you can belong to several? <br /><br /><b>How can other Otago writers become involved? </b><br />On our website is a page that lists the writing groups within Otago <a href="http://www.otagowritersnetwork.co.nz/WHICH-WRITING-GROUP.php" target="_blank">HERE</a>. If you are looking to join a writing group, that is a good place to look for one.<br />
<br />
If you’re not sure which is the best group for you, contact us by completing the form on the Contact Us page and we will suggest a group. <br />
<br />
If you can’t see a group there that appeals to you, you might wish to start your own, in which case we could list it.<br />
<br />
If you belong to a writing group that is not listed, let us know and we will add you to our list. We have created one new group, and added many writers to existing groups.<br />
<br />
We nearly started a men’s group, but so far that has failed to materialise.<br />
<br />Another way to meet other writers is at the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/nzsa-otagosouthland-branch/our-story/618056761652055/" target="_blank"><b>NZSA Salon</b></a>, which is held every second Monday of the month at the <a href="https://www.dunedinathenaeum.org.nz/" target="_blank"><b>Athenaeum Library</b></a>, in the Octagon. Paddy Richardson and I are on the committee. Members of our first new writing group ‘Black Ink’ have read for us, as have members of Dunedin Writers’ Workshop, Writing Dunedin and Kath’s Writing Group. It’s a great place for new writers to practice the art of reading their work aloud, as well being somewhere you can listen to the experts, last year we had Scottish writers Lesley Glaister and Andrew Greig, this October we have former poet laureate Jenny Bernholdt with Greg O’Brien and our very own Claire Beynon.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Thank You so much Jane, for telling us all about the OWN and its creation, and I encourage you all to <a href="http://www.otagowritersnetwork.co.nz/" target="_blank">visit the website of the Otago Writers' Network</a></b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>---------------------------------------------------------- </b></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCpoPyaCKcOFItrMXsPCE1ZQuZiyexROvsxmTGOKvVvRC7kHwkca-ppkdWnIrBaGknQ-gomqlfpMVY6g5JRe530IJvypMlB5uYhqdNrj58sqFTGxYOtXC81k8cxhBF3M8ItWcjTwooARM/s1600/Twister+Jane+Woodham.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Twister by Jane Woodham" border="0" data-original-height="242" data-original-width="170" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCpoPyaCKcOFItrMXsPCE1ZQuZiyexROvsxmTGOKvVvRC7kHwkca-ppkdWnIrBaGknQ-gomqlfpMVY6g5JRe530IJvypMlB5uYhqdNrj58sqFTGxYOtXC81k8cxhBF3M8ItWcjTwooARM/s200/Twister+Jane+Woodham.jpg" title="Twister by Jane Woodham" width="140" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Jane Woodham</b>, is the author of <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28387728-twister" target="_blank"><i><b>Twister</b></i></a>, a Dunedin-based crime novel published by Rosa Mira Books in 2015 and in 2016 was a finalist in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ngaio_Marsh_Award" target="_blank">Ngaio Marsh First Book Awards</a>.Kura Carpenterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05958865645698396775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260859772687515062.post-39211761943599849072018-07-12T10:19:00.000+12:002018-07-12T10:19:10.429+12:00Author Interview: Lennard GillmanI was approached recently by Adrienne Charlton of <a href="http://www.amproofreadingnz.com/index.html" target="_blank"><b>AM Publishing</b></a><span id="goog_1354245822"></span><span id="goog_1354245823"></span> after a recent collaboration rebranding book covers for <a href="https://vickyadin.co.nz/2018/04/26/rebranding-updating-refreshing/" target="_blank">Vicky Adin</a>, to help with a <b>fantasy cover design for New Zealand author Lennard Gillman. <span><i> </i></span></b><br />
<br />
<span><i><b> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_q3H6Kq4JYVcAeSJ3SxfwiiLpv7vxTDa9smzO-epCZcSP2oOTkTiaxJCKCz9mL4c6pRKg63NfphVzq9hFmtegqS357q4xIoUuOsPoVqbUb7AMf4GpW1H7_UVOo3u2fCcoWIIVybyl4ic/s1600/41SwtL1vnxL._SY346_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Accipitri and the battle for Heliosa by Lennard Gillman, cover designer Kura Carpenter" border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="231" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_q3H6Kq4JYVcAeSJ3SxfwiiLpv7vxTDa9smzO-epCZcSP2oOTkTiaxJCKCz9mL4c6pRKg63NfphVzq9hFmtegqS357q4xIoUuOsPoVqbUb7AMf4GpW1H7_UVOo3u2fCcoWIIVybyl4ic/s320/41SwtL1vnxL._SY346_.jpg" title="Accipitri and the battle for Heliosa by Lennard Gillman, cover designer Kura Carpenter" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span><i>Accipitri and the battle for Heliosa</i> - Lennard Gillman</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</b></i></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span><i><b>Accipitri and the battle for Heliosa</b></i> is Lennard Gillman’s debut novel, and today I'm interviewing him about the novel and his journey into self-publishing.</span><br />
<span><br /></span>
<span>Hello and Welcome, Len, </span><br /><span>
</span><br />
<ul>
<li>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Please tell us a little bit about yourself:</b></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.64cm;">
I have climbed in many parts of the world, camped on beaches,
mountain tops, Arctic glaciers in Baffin Island and the Ross Ice
Shelf in Antarctica. I am Head of Science at Auckland University of
Technology (AUT) and a Professor of Biogeography. My work as a
scientist has taken me to the hot deserts of Namibia and Australia
and to the Dry Valleys of Antarctica where I have flown drones to map
protected areas. I also have a keen interest in conservation and
sustainable development. I have worked as a conservation manager in
the past and I am on the AUT Sustainability Task Force. I live in
Laingholm on the fringe of the Waitakere Ranges, southwest of
Auckland and have three wonderful children and a beautiful partner.
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.27cm;">
<br />
</div>
<ul>
<li>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>What is your novel </b><i><b>Accipitri and the Battle for Heliosa</b></i><b>
about?</b>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.63cm;">
It is about a boy (Ferobellus) and a girl (Tess) struggling against a
harsh mountainous wilderness and a king who wants to annihilate a
neighbouring kingdom. It is also about the development of
relationships and respect among people with different behaviours and
abilities. Tess is strong-willed, resourceful, and an expert archer
while Ferobellus is fit and skilled at surviving in the wilderness,
but they both have their weaknesses. It is set in a fictional land in
the southern hemisphere approximately 1000 years in the past. The
genre is low fantasy because of its fictional setting but it is
nonetheless grounded in reality. The novel brings together medieval
European and African cultures in a landscape that draws on a prehumen
New Zealand.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 1.26cm;">
<br />
</div>
<ul>
<li>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>What sort/age of readers would most enjoy it?</b>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.64cm;">
Eight to thirteen year-old boys and girls, although adults appear to
enjoy it too.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.64cm;">
<br />
</div>
<ul>
<li>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>I believe <i>Accipitri and the Battle for Heliosa </i>is set in a
pre-industrial age, did you do a lot of research into earlier
civilisations, or prefer to make things up?</b></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.64cm;">
Yes, I did do a fair amount of research but I also had the freedom to
create unique cultures and an entirely unique continent. The
landscapes and situations, such as the 3000-foot descent down a
vertical granite escarpment, are derived from my personal experience
in the mountains and so it should be possible for people to enact
them. I would like to challenge a couple of modern climbers to repeat
the feats of Tess and Ferobellus on a similar rock face using the
equipment described in the story.
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.64cm;">
<br />
</div>
<ul>
<li>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>What type of magic/technological is there which is unique to your
world?</b></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.64cm;">
My story is different because there are no magical powers or
unrealistic abilities. The technology is of the middle ages and
faithful to the reality of that time. It is the mixture of cultures
and the setting that makes my world unique.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.64cm;">
<br />
</div>
<ul>
<li>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Where did the idea for the story come from?</b></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.63cm;">
I invented the overall plot and then got inside the heads of my
characters and acted it out.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.63cm;">
<br />
</div>
<ul>
<li>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Which character do you most identify with and why?</b></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.64cm;">
I think I identify equally with most of the main characters but I
like Tess best because she is the most complex and conflicted
character.
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.64cm;">
<br />
</div>
<ul>
<li>
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<b>Why did you decide to venture into self-publishing?</b>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.64cm;">
Just for fun. I find fiction relaxing and a nice contrast to
scientific writing.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.64cm;">
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</div>
<ul>
<li>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<b>What tips would you give to others considering self-publishing
that you wished you knew when you started?</b></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.63cm; text-align: left;">
I don’t think I have any pearls of wisdom other than to get a good
editor and artist for the cover – I could not have done it without
Adrienne Charlton and Kura Carpenter.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.63cm;">
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</div>
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<li>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<b>Where can we buy your books?</b></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
Email:
<span style="color: #0563c1;"><u><a href="mailto:lennardgillman@gmail.com">lennardgillman@gmail.com</a></u></span>
NZ$19.50 plus postage.</div>
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You can also find <a href="https://www.amazon.com/default/e/B07DTYZGL6?redirectedFromKindleDbs=true" target="_blank"><b>Len's author page on Amazon HERE</b></a> </div>
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Kura Carpenterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05958865645698396775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260859772687515062.post-27562277066937076382016-11-09T11:42:00.000+13:002016-11-09T11:42:04.595+13:00Calling New Zealand PoetsIf you're a New Zealand writer/poet you'll be thrilled to hear<b> the annual 'Poems in the Waiting Room' Poetry Competition for 2017 is now open</b>.<br />
You've got until the 28th of February to submit.<br />
Read the full set of <a href="https://waitingroompoems.wordpress.com/2016/10/29/2017-poetry-competition/" target="_blank">Conditions of Entry on the Poems in the Waiting Room website</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKAMzf8K_BqKkwLjW6NKnYyN0qAO68YFtzr1mZlY1kSKCpd6MacYVVZpB_eUdb0tLXlRDiy9ytFBKEhxdQ8x5I3X8FYajYkG33GGcXcoYT9lTqBLX2aLWrwz2coWcmYIEkk6kDfewAtw/s1600/Poems+in+the+waiting+room+-+2017+Poetry+Competition+-+Web+Version+-+Green.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Poems in the Waiting Room 2017 Poetry Competition Poster designed by Kura Carpenter" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKAMzf8K_BqKkwLjW6NKnYyN0qAO68YFtzr1mZlY1kSKCpd6MacYVVZpB_eUdb0tLXlRDiy9ytFBKEhxdQ8x5I3X8FYajYkG33GGcXcoYT9lTqBLX2aLWrwz2coWcmYIEkk6kDfewAtw/s640/Poems+in+the+waiting+room+-+2017+Poetry+Competition+-+Web+Version+-+Green.jpg" title="Poems in the Waiting Room 2017 Poetry Competition Poster designed by Kura Carpenter" width="451" /></a></div>
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<br />Kura Carpenterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05958865645698396775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260859772687515062.post-81168718306535227422016-10-27T10:10:00.000+13:002016-11-07T09:30:09.825+13:00Book Festival Tips for Indie Authors<h4>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Are you an Ind<span style="font-family: inherit;">ie</span> Author looking for tips to guide you in attending your first book festival? </span></h4>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Today's discussion will provide you that insight, so sit back and drink in the knowledge as <b>Vicky Adin</b>, <b>Cassie Hart</b> and <b>Darian Smith</b> share their <a href="http://nzbookfestival.co.nz/" target="_blank">NZ Book Festival</a> experiences, and <b>Vicki Nelson</b> discusses her time at the <a href="http://www.baybookfest.org/" target="_blank">Bay Area Book Festival</a> (BABF) held in Berkeley, California.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRi_hHIBAMUiAX1zzGFdNBh74qMQAebzjIATdLA1yy4E9FE49gaK6QltMcxpCyw24ucbeyXf_f2SyA8IKj-XWw3IEqiCwStImHNdJL_VqbqxNrcc5Jgk1npqhCe_BFNrX2HnK4rQb_tU/s1600/Kura+Carpenter_Book+Festival+101+-+Promo+graphic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Book Festival 101 - Tips for Indie Authors" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRi_hHIBAMUiAX1zzGFdNBh74qMQAebzjIATdLA1yy4E9FE49gaK6QltMcxpCyw24ucbeyXf_f2SyA8IKj-XWw3IEqiCwStImHNdJL_VqbqxNrcc5Jgk1npqhCe_BFNrX2HnK4rQb_tU/s320/Kura+Carpenter_Book+Festival+101+-+Promo+graphic.jpg" title="Book Festival 101 - Tips for Indie Authors" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">What was your main aim in attending?</span></b><br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></h4>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Vicky Adin:</b> I wanted to raise my profile as an author and make connections with other indie authors. Selling a book was a bonus.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b>Cassie Hart:</b> Mostly to give it a go - do something new, challenge myself, see how it all worked, and hopefully sell some books while I was at it!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b>Darian Smith:</b> My aim was to raise awareness of SpecFicNZ authors and, of course, my books in particular!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b>Vicki Nelson:</b> As a self-published author, I have really had to struggle to promote my work. My reason for attending the book festival was threefold: To sell books, make connections, and to gain experience interacting with people who showed an interest in my novel.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhe2X3gIkhg0kQs_UyqCaDOtDuVdxjT5-QM9u3N63No7PtWBl4m_EG9wIsBVt1LCzUlc8RoFi_657CsaBm-Xcx7dQMpHrtCjAULSebW90ShG3cFPGEmIg3yBUMf6-HQ3Wu6F_rM0dL9yY/s1600/Bay+Area+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhe2X3gIkhg0kQs_UyqCaDOtDuVdxjT5-QM9u3N63No7PtWBl4m_EG9wIsBVt1LCzUlc8RoFi_657CsaBm-Xcx7dQMpHrtCjAULSebW90ShG3cFPGEmIg3yBUMf6-HQ3Wu6F_rM0dL9yY/s400/Bay+Area+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bay Area Book Festival</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Tips learned from attending book festivals (things to do/not do)</span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></h4>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Vicky Adin:</b> </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Have an enticing and well laid out display that says who you are at a glance – create a talking point. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do not overcrowd the table.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Have some give-aways eg: merchandising products (as much as you can afford). Bookmarks are excellent or mini pocket calendars & postcards etc, and enticements like lollies, balloons or colouring in for the kids (especially if you are a children’s author).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Talk to people – say hello, ask what they like to read, tell them where you’ve seen a great book that fits what they described (they may buy from you later).</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Cassie Hart:</b> Take snacks, take breaks, take plenty of drinking water as you’ll be talking heaps and your mouth will get dry. I packed a ‘magic box’ before the festival with several kinds of tape, pins, blutack, painkillers, bandaids, a usb power box for emergency charging, spare pens, sheesh, I can’t even remember everything - it wasn’t very big but it had a lot in it, and was our saviour.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b>Darian Smith:</b> Bring snacks!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b>Vicki Nelson: </b>The first thing is to give oneself plenty of time to think about and prepare.</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Books need to be purchased and shipped in time. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Posters, banners, and bookmarks need to be designed and also shipped in time. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">In addition to the books and marketing materials, it is important to have a few book display stands and a tablecloth. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">A cash box is essential with plenty of change on hand as well as a credit card reader for the cell phone. It is important to set up a PayPal account in advance with an app that works with a cell phone. </span></li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5jlQV-2Mig7C-f-SUSylk4uQF3nMzuX8sUav7VFCTID-jFgXqgjpFJ5s0WxaX9uHwZ2ayq3zNTqxvnqfp21if42wOc5T7Fe19A0yhQQWT4QrZJC_gEojCtBTK5F5JgQFagj-R86ERJk/s1600/2-Cassie-Hart-Book-Festival-photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5jlQV-2Mig7C-f-SUSylk4uQF3nMzuX8sUav7VFCTID-jFgXqgjpFJ5s0WxaX9uHwZ2ayq3zNTqxvnqfp21if42wOc5T7Fe19A0yhQQWT4QrZJC_gEojCtBTK5F5JgQFagj-R86ERJk/s400/2-Cassie-Hart-Book-Festival-photo.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cassie Hart's shared stall at NZ Book Fest, pictured TG Ayer</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><br /><b>Often when we go into a new situation we’ll have assumptions/expectations. What assumptions proved wrong or different, the first time you a festival?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b> </b><br /><b>Vicky Adin:</b> I am never grumpy about the hard work other people put in to make a festival work. You are reliant on the public and they are fickle at best and often downright cantankerous. Do not blame the conference organiser if your expectations are not met. They already know if the day hasn’t gone the way they had planned. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">For newbies to the game:</span><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Never expect a sale. Selling in a Festival environment is hard work. People come to look first and foremost. They may buy if you engage them, but don’t be too pushy or they’ll walk away.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Always smile when someone is walking past. Hand out your freebies willingly, not attached to something else.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Don’t spend all your time talking to your companion or neighbour. Potential customers won’t want to disturb you and will walk on by.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">You want to catch the eye of every person heading your way.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wear comfortable clothing and shoes – you will do a lot of standing. And always have a coat with you in case the venue is draughty.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Take enough food, nibbles, a flask and water to last the day. If it is busy and you are manning your own stall by yourself, you may be able to get to the toilet but you won’t have time to wander off and have lunch.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Make sure you have enough cash to give change.</span></li>
</ol>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0J_fEFeW7hKKZaDEGrUts6UsjB54HPQrSqY2MqP0LpBGlnhCNFXJwKli7Q_auYu76f_op0Q-7mdCVdVrZb8VoCbBPPxFlDBDrQZdnMuL0cLRf0hhcFXh5Yy4ISMixYPuosOYMuzOWzY/s400/Vicki+Book+Festival+Pic.jpg" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Victoria Nelson, Author and Greg Brown,
Director and Founder of The Studio Santa Rosa, the oldest, largest, and
longest running art studio in Santa Rosa, CA. (Greg will be celebrating
The Studio's 31st year this <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2099842746" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">November 5th and 6th</span></span>).</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>What’s the best part for you personally attending?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b> </b><br /><b>Vicky Adin:</b> Meeting people</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b>Cassie Hart:</b> Facing my fears, trying something new and putting myself out there! I felt like it was worth it for those things. Hanging out with my friends was also awesome ;-) Oh and meeting new people! I met some twitter friends for the first time when they came out to buy my books and that was amazing!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b>Darian Smith:</b> Finding people who enjoy my books. As an author, it’s not that often we get feedback from people who read our work so when I had a fan bring her friends over to the stall and tell them “You HAVE to buy this book” it absolutely made my day!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b>Vicki Nelson:</b> I believe the best part of the festival was meeting people. Berkeley is a unique city (I was raised there), full of creative individuals, writers and artists, with creative ideas.<br /><br /><b>What are your tips for connecting to Readers/potential buyers who stop at your stall?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br />Vicky Adin:</b> Know your blurbs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b>Vicki Nelson:</b> In spite of evidence promoting the pitch approach, my best advice for drawing people to one's stall is body language, presence, and facial expression. At least that is how I seemed to have attracted people. My aim was to put people at ease and to feel free to come over and casually thumb through a copy of the book and read a few pages without having to say anything. This is also why I put a couple of obvious display copies on the table for people to pick up and handle. I find that if I am calm and don't act like I am too anxious to make a sale, people are more apt to stay and chat a bit, asking questions about the book.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaBbP9NRKycCQ5yVRtNlIdu4wk580kmrTS6dtuncoEtfwM0Yl5a_w0Z0xLuRqEyMQvY4N54SlVgYr1gudP-_oJjnhZAPP7vvVIaOEE7h6YP-CRDqRO4lAjo3Vw-KyLf3lgQnUjsJHitsM/s1600/Mairangi+Writers%25E2%2580%2599+table+1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaBbP9NRKycCQ5yVRtNlIdu4wk580kmrTS6dtuncoEtfwM0Yl5a_w0Z0xLuRqEyMQvY4N54SlVgYr1gudP-_oJjnhZAPP7vvVIaOEE7h6YP-CRDqRO4lAjo3Vw-KyLf3lgQnUjsJHitsM/s400/Mairangi+Writers%25E2%2580%2599+table+1.jpeg" width="386" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mairangi Writers’ table at NZ Book Fest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Do you put out a display copy? (so people can feel free to check out that copy without worrying about creasing/damaging etc)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br />Vicky Adin:</b> Yes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b>Vicki Nelson:</b> I put out two display copies at either end of the table. In addition to my novel, I had written two other books and put out display copies of those as well. I also placed a price list at each end of the table. My price list showed colored copies of each book cover, a short synopsis, description of the genre, and target audience. By presenting this information in a colorful, informative format, people were more apt to spend a longer time investigating my booth and striking up a conversation about my work.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1gA4byU230tDUxBeOCismK8t4GFvMyFpZ4rIi_lA78vNUGxZsurac2XpbTXemiBsX8PmOWssq_lP5nCmmda2vw9fRFOu7npx_ZA6NWlayzvTocKMwP12Vzy6eUQYilDXeIoaFj_MOZ9I/s1600/1---Darian-SpecficNZ-stall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1gA4byU230tDUxBeOCismK8t4GFvMyFpZ4rIi_lA78vNUGxZsurac2XpbTXemiBsX8PmOWssq_lP5nCmmda2vw9fRFOu7npx_ZA6NWlayzvTocKMwP12Vzy6eUQYilDXeIoaFj_MOZ9I/s400/1---Darian-SpecficNZ-stall.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SpecFicNZ Table at NZ Book Festival</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b>Do you hand out bookmarks/postcards, something to give to everyone who stops at your stall? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: blue;"> </span><br />Vicky Adin:</b> Yes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b>Cassie Hart: </b>We had a range of ‘book swag’ as they call it. Bookmarks, and fridge magnets as well - what I found was that every other stall had bookmarks, so they were a hard thing to give away. The lovely woman in the stall next to us had bookmarks but they had beautiful designs on them (not book covers) with her details on the back - these went down really well, and were some of the only bookmarks I kept!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b>Darian Smith: </b>Yes, I do offer bookmarks and I give them to anyone who passes. It’s a free gift that helps people engage a little and has a link to where people can by the book in e-format.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b>Vicki Nelson: </b>Colorful well-designed, sturdy bookmarks are essential. They are also more useful than brochures or postcards since people tend to retain them longer.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6YohVwe0IgYE7PsJK1K6XTOunZpMBZ0kOrC2p3vk2bh1iAjySxbVVxEgtG4ZxEHZKV-kWcYzIqWfVsRd6_4tZSIfPzZsySoSFN5SGodma50Zz9NBeAzLrcaunbG-TAowryVzr122POA/s1600/Bay+Area+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6YohVwe0IgYE7PsJK1K6XTOunZpMBZ0kOrC2p3vk2bh1iAjySxbVVxEgtG4ZxEHZKV-kWcYzIqWfVsRd6_4tZSIfPzZsySoSFN5SGodma50Zz9NBeAzLrcaunbG-TAowryVzr122POA/s400/Bay+Area+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bay Area Book Fest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b>Do you have a sign-up newsletter form, (paper or electronic) or some other method to get Reader’s email on your stall? If not, why not? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: blue;"> </span><br />Vicky Adin: </b>Yes. And follow up. I usually have a ‘Win a Free Book’ option to encourage them to sign up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b>Cassie Hart: </b>We did, but again, it was hard to get people to fill it out. Maybe if the prize was really amazing, but there wasn’t a lot of interest for ours - a bottle of wine or something quick, tangible, and not necessarily directly related to your book/product seemed to go down the best.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b>Darian Smith:</b> Yes, I do have a way to sign up to a newsletter. I would prefer to have a tablet or laptop so it can be done right away but this can get tricky in terms of security of the item and battery life. It can be tricky to find a power socket at these events! Especially if you don’t want to spend extra to have one as part of your stall.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjNMdd8AXkj7ytz0LmfocGUGcIwQvwqYc3pLLQnMWmh25YI_pYAryT6P8GoMwbs-tzs3Mwtc9r36o1ceOeoOeDmliDqdTftH-n7muHfoMkVyjjJdhz9gjiIOl1c5j5aczRtvBjURpxy4/s1600/Mairangi+Writers%25E2%2580%2599+table+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjNMdd8AXkj7ytz0LmfocGUGcIwQvwqYc3pLLQnMWmh25YI_pYAryT6P8GoMwbs-tzs3Mwtc9r36o1ceOeoOeDmliDqdTftH-n7muHfoMkVyjjJdhz9gjiIOl1c5j5aczRtvBjURpxy4/s400/Mairangi+Writers%25E2%2580%2599+table+2.jpeg" width="331" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mairangi Writers’ table at NZ Book Fest</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Why do you think Readers like buying straight from the author?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br />Cassie Hart:</b> I think readers get a kick out of meeting the author - if they know you from social media and live in the town there is a good chance they will come out to see you. Most of my sales were made that way. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b>Darian Smith: </b>I think readers enjoy talking to the creator of any artform. The personal connection can encourage them to try the book if they like the author. Also, people like to get their books signed!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bay Area Book Festival</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b>Assuming the venue allows it, would you recommend a couple of authors team up to share a stall?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br />Vicky Adin: </b>It has its advantages to reduce costs, and for indie authors that often is a major drawcard. A writing group working together can work, if you are prepared to sell your fellow authors books as much as your own. If not, then don’t share.<br />Two authors can work – again if you are willing to sell the other person’s books as hard as you would sell your own. You never know what the pay-off will be. <br />Being an indie is about sharing – especially knowledge.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b>Cassie Hart: </b>Definitely! I did this last time, and am doing it again this year. Share with people you like to hang out with because it makes it more fun. It reduces the cost of going, and means there is plenty of interesting things for people to come and see - and more people to talk to! If you need to go and get a drink or have a bathroom break it means there is always someone to cover the stand. All in all, I just think it makes for a more fun, easier time of it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b>Darian Smith: </b>My experience of sharing a stall was a good one, especially as it was my first time. It meant a reduction in costs and the ability to share the time spent there. It also meant company in the quiet times. <br />The down side is that if you’re sharing with a lot of authors that means a lot of books competing for limited space in the stall. Also, my experience was that people bought the books of the authors who were present more often than those who weren’t. That’s not to say that those of us at the stall weren’t promoting all the books – we were! <br />But I think that readers enjoyed meeting the author and talking to someone who was knowledgeable about the book and who had made the effort to be there to meet them and that translated into sales. So if you’re sharing, still try to be there as much as you can No one can sell your books like you can. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Vicki Nelson:</b> No matter how well one prepares, there is no substitute for a good booth partner. How else does one expect to use the restroom or take a short stroll? (It is important to know where the restrooms are located in advance.) A two-day festival can really take a toll on one's energy and it is also nice to have a booth partner to keep one company. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b>So here we have it. Book Festivals give Indy authors a chance to meet and make fans, hopefully sell some books, but also make business contacts and new friends with like minded writers.</b> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqNNjuG4KJlRbOxBIImLuqSKE_VDWdTHm1nFOBWGHdYhsNEqHl1CGjumD7zqKYGudM02coFWpqNaGPz2Un_dvZd5pbVb_4hlP5aYyf5cIgB7jO4LeRoUMzlnT7UUSztOiRrUwBSoVlP0/s1600/Cassie+auhtor+photo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqNNjuG4KJlRbOxBIImLuqSKE_VDWdTHm1nFOBWGHdYhsNEqHl1CGjumD7zqKYGudM02coFWpqNaGPz2Un_dvZd5pbVb_4hlP5aYyf5cIgB7jO4LeRoUMzlnT7UUSztOiRrUwBSoVlP0/s200/Cassie+auhtor+photo.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cassie Hart writing as JC Hart</span></b></span></span></td></tr>
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<div class="m_3539293070042837112gmail-m_8764673561137089784gmail-MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Cassie Hart</b> is a lover of pizza, coffee, and zombies (in no particular order). She was raised on a healthy diet of horror, science fiction, and fantasy, and despite many attempts by various English teachers has refused to budge on her position that these are the best genres ever.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">When she’s not raising her horde of wonderfully creepy children or dreaming of the day she’ll have an army of ninja kittens, she’s writing speculative fiction, or binging on TV, movies and games.</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <b>Visit Cassie's website: <a href="https://just-cassie.com/" target="_blank">JC Hart</a></b></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Darian Smith</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Darian Smith: </b></span>I’m a writer and reader of fiction and live in Auckland, New
Zealand. While I have dabbled in non-fiction, my true love is crafting
exciting stories that interest and move me. And hopefully have a similar
impact on readers! I mainly write fantasy and contemporary fiction. I
am a member of SpecFicNZ, an organisation for writers of speculative
fiction here in New Zealand, and also of RWNZ. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <b>Visit <span style="font-family: inherit;">Darian</span>'s website:</b> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://darian-smith.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Darian Smith</b></span></span></span></a></span></span> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQL0oM518XBdLZUKYO6xcuJzkukWz3SrHffDpn3MgRQ81z8hTcKwzF9tMFeoF2WmaTAfJpAVqPew8yfS-G6SFSLUSzHs4BdowF3MORXfKcgAr8eWKWJB17qpYMXR6HrKmcNp4vtaF7Ko/s1600/Vicky+Adin.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQL0oM518XBdLZUKYO6xcuJzkukWz3SrHffDpn3MgRQ81z8hTcKwzF9tMFeoF2WmaTAfJpAVqPew8yfS-G6SFSLUSzHs4BdowF3MORXfKcgAr8eWKWJB17qpYMXR6HrKmcNp4vtaF7Ko/s200/Vicky+Adin.jpeg" width="138" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Vicky Adin</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b>Vicky Adin</b> is a New Zealand author living on the North Shore of Auckland
within walking distance of the beach, the coffee shops and inspiration. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Vicky is particularly fascinated by the 19<sup>th</sup> Century pioneers
who undertook hazardous journeys to find a better life. Especially the
women, who needed strength of mind as well as body to survive, let alone
flourish, in a new country still coming to terms with its existence.
Being a genealogist in love with history, these men and women and their
ancestors drive her stories.<b> </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b>Visit Vicky's website:</b> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><a href="http://vickyadin.co.nz/" target="_blank">Vicky Adin</a></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtPrDdw7qQimHgaqPi0L7h5eQRMseux4-QtE2t0V8dG-OATJGi_j746fVvrgRxWksMNqJv3bsjg28ZgclxObwSx1uHSZLU4Nwz4ttLVQplJf0fNe_twQYBfquVe8LMGq1VrDOsVMDWlQ/s1600/Vicki+nelson+Book+Festival+Pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtPrDdw7qQimHgaqPi0L7h5eQRMseux4-QtE2t0V8dG-OATJGi_j746fVvrgRxWksMNqJv3bsjg28ZgclxObwSx1uHSZLU4Nwz4ttLVQplJf0fNe_twQYBfquVe8LMGq1VrDOsVMDWlQ/s200/Vicki+nelson+Book+Festival+Pic.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Victoria Nelson </b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Vic</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>toria Nelson</b> </span></span>is a freelance writer from
California who holds an MA in English Literature from
Holy
Names
University. She is a writing and research tutor for graduate students and a homeschool
curriculum consultant. Publications include a stage play, <i>
L. is for Sayers</i>, a screenplay, <i>Jack Marlin, Private Eye: The Case of the
</i><i>Barbary</i><i>
Blackbird</i>, and
a novel,<i> Romana Volume I</i>
<i>from the Annals of Romana</i>. She is also a contributing author to the
<i>Saint Austin Review</i> (StAR), an international journal of Catholic culture, art, and literature.</span></span>Kura Carpenterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05958865645698396775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260859772687515062.post-63087797944390916002016-10-10T07:00:00.000+13:002016-10-10T09:36:38.650+13:00NaNo what now? Newbies Guide to NaNoWriMo<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>What is NaNoWriMo? NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing
Month.<br />
Essentially it’s a global writing event held annually
in November, where participants try to write a 50,000 word novel. </b></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ewBB3PGtkzhfLZwKi6sLNIvk5XlDuXKcgS6bm7kiXnrdCSOOo2txNC9V-0gSyS3eV2PjP7sobhlKS_zMbZl9ZxVF9BoMbeJxH1PKFmeeOzC0PohChO8bGwmP7W1trr1RNH6RsKnSi5c/s1600/NaNoWriMo+Crest.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ewBB3PGtkzhfLZwKi6sLNIvk5XlDuXKcgS6bm7kiXnrdCSOOo2txNC9V-0gSyS3eV2PjP7sobhlKS_zMbZl9ZxVF9BoMbeJxH1PKFmeeOzC0PohChO8bGwmP7W1trr1RNH6RsKnSi5c/s1600/NaNoWriMo+Crest.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b> </b>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The first step</b><b> </b><b>in </b><b>participating</b><b> </b><b>in
</b><b>NaNoWriMo </b><b>is to join via the </b><a href="http://nanowrimo.org/" target="_blank"><b>NaNoWriMo </b></a><b><a href="http://nanowrimo.org/" target="_blank">Website</a>.
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</b><b>Then add</b><b> </b><b>your local region and find out
who your local ML (</b><b>Municipal Liaison</b><b>) is. </b></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>According to the website: </b></span></span>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Quote - </b>“Municipal Liaisons (MLs) are
volunteers who add a vibrant, real-world aspect to NaNoWriMo
festivities all over the world.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
They host regular writing events in November—and some MLs host
write-ins, parties, and workshops all year long. They also oversee
their regional forums and act as official NaNo representatives.”</span></span></div>
</blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>I first heard about NaNoWriMo a few years ago and this year I’m
participating. As a NaNoWriMo Newbie, today I’m talking to a few
local experts to pick their brains about what to expect when
attending NaNoWriMo for the first time.</b></span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Let me introduce my experts:</b></span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Talia Nyx</b> - has participate</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">d</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">3</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">
times, </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">the first in 2012</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Tali</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">a</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">
is the </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">ML </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">(</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Municipal
Liaison</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">)</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">
for Otago/Southland.</span></span></span></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Judy Mohr</b> – 2016 will</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">
be</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Judy’s</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">
third official NaNoWriMo, </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">and
her second year as ML for the Christchurch, New Zealand region, along
with Amy Paulussen.</span></span></span></div>
</blockquote>
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<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Chris Yee</b> – </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">
first NaNo was in 2011. Chris</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">is </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">one
of several internationally based online administrators that oversee
and maintain a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/NaNoWriMoparticipants/" target="_blank">NaNoWriMo Participants group on Facebook</a><br />F</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">rom
Christchurch, t</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">his year
</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Chris</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">will</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">
be hanging out with writers in the Twin Cities, Minnesota.</span></span></span></div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>I asked my experts: </b><b>W</b><b>hat </b><b>is your
role in NaNoWriMo?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">T</span></b></i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i><b>alia:</b></i>
It is my job to get the region going, and organise Write-ins and
other meet ups, provide motivation, and support; and obviously,
liaise with NaNo HQ.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">J</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">ud</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">y</span></i></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b><i>:</i></b>
It’s part of our job to coordinate and organise write-ins and other
activities for the region.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i><b>Chris:</b></i> </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">keep
the peace as best as possible, enforcing rules and ensuring that the
group is a safe and friendly place for writers to celebrate (or
lament) the literary profession among like minded individuals.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>One of the great things about NaNoWriMo is there are both online
and in-person Write-ins.</b></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>I </b><b>asked my experts, </b><b>What can newbies expect when
going to their first </b><b>Write-in /</b><b>meet-up?</b></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
<i><b>Judy:</b></i> It will depend entirely on the group and their dynamics. Some
groups will just want to talk, having a good old chin-wag over a cup
of coffee, while others will read out their work and want feedback.
Every group is different, catering to a different set of needs. No
one group is the same.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">If it's a scheduled NaNoWriMo
write-in, you can guarantee that there will be writing and little
talking.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">C</span></b></i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i><b>hris:</b></i>
</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">A warm welcome, inquiry into
your current writing foray and general merriment. A brief
interrogation, but that's just us being interested in what you're
writing about. During NaNoWriMo, the MLs running the meetups will
keep people from being distracted from their writing. They are fairly
relaxed atmospheres and there is no obligation to go for the long
haul, but incentives for being able to reach certain word goals. They
are set up for people who want a place to write and/or talk about
writing.</span></span></span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What To Expect at Write-ins:<br />Some
groups will just want to talk<br />a good old chin-wag<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><b>A warm welcome</b></span></span></span></span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></span></h3>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>What are the benefits of attending Write-ins?</b></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i><b>Talia: </b></i>I would have to say the
bouncing of ideas. We talk about what we want our story to do, how we
are going about it, we discuss our characters. And we take
inspiration from what and how the others are writing their stories,
but also we can ask them for help clearing a writers block. We share
our ideas freely, and sometimes it is the people themselves who
provide the inspiration. Of course it is always nice to be able to
talk about the madness that we are participating in with people who
understand.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i><b>Judy:</b></i> </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">For
one, it’s where you can meet other writers who understand the
trials and tribulations that you are facing. They’re either going
through it too, or have been there at some point in the past. They
will help you through. Depending on the group dynamics, you can talk
out your stories, bouncing ideas around the table. Sometimes, to make
sense of something yourself, you need a sounding board. Even body
language responses to an idea can be valuable feedback. Those that
write 100% in isolation are missing out on these wonderful resources.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Benefits of attending </b></span></span>NaNoWriMo<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b> Write-ins </b></span></span>: <br /><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Bouncing of ideas</b></span></b></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><b>Meeting other writers</b></span></span></span></span></b> </span></span></span></h3>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Other than the offical website, what On-line gatherings are there?</b></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i><b>Judy:</b></i> This year, Amy and I have
joined with MLs from Queensland, Australia and Fayetteville, North
Carolina, USA for a special chat room that we can all use. The chat
room will be open to all, regardless where you are in the world, with
the MLs from the three regions being the moderators and occasionally
running virtual write-ins. The chat room uses new technology and will
be hosted by Jessie Sanders on her website <a href="http://www.jessiescoffeeshop.com/">www.jessiescoffeeshop.com</a>.
Full details about the chat room will be made public come
mid-October.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>What tips can you share that will improve first timers’
experiences whether joining in on-line or in person.</b></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
<i><b>Talia:</b></i> Don't give up! There will be at least a few times where you
think that you've lost your mind, you haven't - but you should
probably go to your nearest write-in, they have all been there and
understand what it's like, and they may even be able to help you.
Don't Edit as you write - NaNoWriMo is the production of a first
draft, don't edit, don't delete; make notes in the column if you
wrote something and really hate it, but leave it there ALL THE WORDS
COUNT, and remember it's just a first draft.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Judy: </span></b></i><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
biggest advice I can give to any first timers is to introduce
yourself. Make sure people know you’re there. You don’t need to
delve into your life story –– share only what you feel
comfortable sharing –– but if the others don’t know you’re
there, they want interact with you. I know it can be scary, but do
it. Move out of your comfort zone. These are fellow writers. They are
on the same path as you, just maybe at different points. They’ll
understand. They’ll help you through.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i><b>Chris:</b></i> </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Be
yourself. Whether you're a dabbler or a seasoned pro, it's important
to be comfortable. If you are a complete introvert then it may not be
your cup of tea, but I'm an introvert myself and you can find me
engaging in a topical discussion to retreating into my own crafted
worlds on the screen, typing furiously. We don't judge. Online
instances may be easier to ignore or harder to ignore depending on
who you are, so while I will find I may end up writing instead of
talking online (typing elsewhere won't exactly contribute effectively
to wordcount), but more often than not I would be looking for a
little distraction, which ends up being a bigger distraction, until
you find yourself at 3am having started from a funny cat video to
astrophysics papers on trinary star systems with the occasional
planetary body stuck in a tidally locked orbit.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">NaNoWriMo Pro Tips: <br />Don't give Up<br />Introduce Yourself </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Be Yourself</span></span></span></h3>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>What can people do the rest of the year?</b></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
<i><b>Talia:</b></i> The rest of the year, is for rewriting, editing, and planning.
And of course publishing, for those who go that route. But for those
who want to write more on their novels, or have other projects, there
is Camp NaNoWriMo in both April and July; and you set your own word
count goal.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Judy: </span></b></i><span style="font-weight: normal;">NaNoWriMo
is about development a habit for writing. There is no reason why that
should stop. If you want to participate in other events like it,
there are two CampNaNos a year (April and July). There are also
Facebook groups that run similar events. Take part in the Twitter
hashtag #NaNoWriMo. The possibilities are endless. Even if you have
no desire to participate in another NaNo-type event, you should still
write.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i><b>Chris:</b></i> </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Keep
writing of course! Like I said, December is usually reserved for
editing if you want to make something of the story you create,
getting it ready to a publishable state. Others just start up new
projects, or prepare for the next year's NaNoWriMo events including
Camp NaNoWriMo events that occur in both April and July, SoCNoC
(Southern Cross Novel Challenge) which is NaNoWriMo but put on for
June to be more in line with the southern hemisphere's yearly
downtime. There are also various competitions, anthologies and other
various calls for submission happening throughout the year, so there
is no shortage of writing motivators. Otherwise we can go back to
being normal human beings for the 11 months until the craziness
happens again.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
<b> </b></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>What do you wish you knew when you first started attending?</b></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i><b>Talia:</b></i> </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
would have to say, that I wish I knew that write-ins are the best. It
sounds ridiculous, but I wish I knew how amazing the write-ins are.
How great the people who attend them are.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i><b>Chris:</b></i> </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Perhaps
a little more information about where the meetups were happening.
That said, I had only discovered its existence in Christchurch while
I was working fulltime, so the first year I barely had time to find
out where gatherings were happening, much less get any writing done.
Since then with a little more flexibility and scheduling out blocks
of time, to having more of an active role in the community, it's been
a lot of fun meeting the new writers and helping them on their way to
finishing their stories in any way possible.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
<b> </b></span></span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">NaNoWriMo TOP Tips:<br />Write-ins are the Best<br />Great People</span></span></span></h3>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Thanks everyone, it was great to hear what you had to say. I’m
really looking forward to being part of my first NaNoWriMo.</b></span></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1cm; margin-top: 0.1cm;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This article wouldn't have been possible without the gen<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">erous help of</span> my experts:</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KK0jbTcfEiMg2Itg9xtR4wv8JfouXgMNsr0B6CXbLyFs2d2ZVNHNfipzTdTIOaMYQWzk5EZi21d4gmWihpvyk6YMjDaqmcIn7kw5bUUa9b7Vt3yfdwYZ2PWK_RrHqFA8peB3qMa6IjM/s1600/Talia+Nyx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KK0jbTcfEiMg2Itg9xtR4wv8JfouXgMNsr0B6CXbLyFs2d2ZVNHNfipzTdTIOaMYQWzk5EZi21d4gmWihpvyk6YMjDaqmcIn7kw5bUUa9b7Vt3yfdwYZ2PWK_RrHqFA8peB3qMa6IjM/s200/Talia+Nyx.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Talia Nyx</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Living in Otago, New Zealand surrounded by students is where <b>Talia Nyx</b> most enjoys writing. She has three currently published works, and is constantly experimenting with style and genre. Talia also loves reading, and will read almost anything once.<br /><br />Feel free to check out <a href="https://talianyxauthor.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Talia on Wordpress</a>, where she will keep you up to date with the writing she has on her plate, and what she is planning to write during the approaching November for NaNoWriMo. Her other social media is <a href="https://twitter.com/@TaliaNyxAuthor" target="_blank">@TaliaNyxAuthor</a> Twitter and Facebook. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFcmc4Y1rM0YRLn5xs2u1uoLSe8mHxGUOWOnDfnyNF9r9Xh6UAxGXJKp1lIU7HwNuCypfHyTcHiNyk_chABIFmg4fUwQNAFgfhKb0G6Rm0vPJ5UKQc2QL2K3nNC44yNkaypEXR3LQsT8/s1600/Profile_JudyLMohr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFcmc4Y1rM0YRLn5xs2u1uoLSe8mHxGUOWOnDfnyNF9r9Xh6UAxGXJKp1lIU7HwNuCypfHyTcHiNyk_chABIFmg4fUwQNAFgfhKb0G6Rm0vPJ5UKQc2QL2K3nNC44yNkaypEXR3LQsT8/s200/Profile_JudyLMohr.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Judy L Mohr</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Kiwi <b>Judy L Mohr</b> is a writer of
fantasy and science fiction. She is also a freelance editor with
Black Wolf Editorial Services (<a href="http://blackwolfeditorial.com/" target="_blank">http://blackwolfeditorial.com</a>),
working on projects from writers around the world. When she isn't
writing, editing or doing something for writing within the local
community, she is hosting her own radio show about science on KLRN
Radio (<a href="http://klrnradio.com/shows/conversations-in-science/" target="_blank">http://klrnradio.com/shows/conversations-in-science/</a>).
You can find out more about Judy's various projects on her <a href="http://judylmohr.com/" target="_blank">personalwebsite</a>
or follow her on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/JudyLMohr" target="_blank">@JudyLMohr</a>.</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj155KtN9My_c22d35He2x_QnO1woQGnmmFOERVEEKuWoXitaUWVcSqQanxDxI6EKeoNne76YwDj7aBwpYU2I7s2wuiuz11I9WVjxNAdiOzgbb8n2uQKHc9IahwOEuOGLlPANZ4BDkqX0A/s1600/chris+yee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj155KtN9My_c22d35He2x_QnO1woQGnmmFOERVEEKuWoXitaUWVcSqQanxDxI6EKeoNne76YwDj7aBwpYU2I7s2wuiuz11I9WVjxNAdiOzgbb8n2uQKHc9IahwOEuOGLlPANZ4BDkqX0A/s200/chris+yee.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chris Yee</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Chris Yee</b> is a long-time member of the <a href="https://chchwriters.org/chris-yee/" target="_blank">Christchurch Writers<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">'</span> Guild</a> and <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">a teacher in </span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Film, Video and Animation. In 2015 he approached to teach Stop Motion movies using Lego for the Imagination Station based in Christchurch. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He's recently moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. </span> </span></span></span></span><br />
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</span></span>Kura Carpenterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05958865645698396775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260859772687515062.post-19230968564047613662016-09-14T09:26:00.000+12:002016-09-14T14:06:33.547+12:00Author Interview: Patrick G Cox<h3 style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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<b>I really enjoy time-travel books, the standard format being a present day person travels back in time. <i>Harry Heron: Into the Unknown</i> is a neat twist on the time travel genre. Characters from the Napoleonic era are transported hundreds of years into the future. </b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_dYU9iYK2s37HIu4BICFG4zpVrOPJTbvRhlARYpQmKG2_r4dmN-l7xfUzP7MAezAFgabtZpdFBjuWpDvWBkGpTFCgZX0TzWnJts3S1LcsNG8w6ZppvY_-XkF2kQcOM5DSxvLhrqwNVk/s1600/HH-Into-the-Unknown---Front-Cover---For-Web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt=""Harry Heron: into the unknown", author Patrick G Cox, book cover designed by Kura Carpenter" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_dYU9iYK2s37HIu4BICFG4zpVrOPJTbvRhlARYpQmKG2_r4dmN-l7xfUzP7MAezAFgabtZpdFBjuWpDvWBkGpTFCgZX0TzWnJts3S1LcsNG8w6ZppvY_-XkF2kQcOM5DSxvLhrqwNVk/s640/HH-Into-the-Unknown---Front-Cover---For-Web.jpg" title=""Harry Heron: into the unknown", author Patrick G Cox, book cover designed by Kura Carpenter" width="426" /></a></div>
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>I</b><b>n 1804 </b><b>the Napoleonic
Wars </b><b>rage. A</b><b> freak accident during a sea battle
catapults Midshipman Harry Heron and his shipmates four hundred years
into the future.</b></span></h3>
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<b>Today I'm interviewing author Patrick G Cox to discuss his novel <i>Harry Heron: Into the Unknown. </i> </b><br />
<b>It’s a cliché to ask an author where they got their idea from, but I love the <i>Harry Heron: Into the Unknown</i> premise so I must ask: where did you get the reverse time-travel idea? Taking characters from history and sending them into the future?</b><br />
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The idea originally came from the realisation that my grandfather’s generation had seen horse and cart/carriage replaced by steam engines, then internal combustion engines, flimsy flying machines, airliners and the space ships that took men to the moon. So I wondered what they might have learned, and what they might have known or been able to do which most people today would not be able to do. I was surprised by just how much we take for granted, but which they would have needed to have either special skills or knowledge to do. When I came across an article about how we, as a species, lose skills with each ‘convenient’ leap in our technology, the concept of Harry and his friends leaping forward was born.<br />
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<b>Although there must be a lot of resources for researching sailing ships of the Napoleonic wars, how exactly did you go about researching (or creating) space ships?</b><br />
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As you say, there are loads of resources for researching sailing ships, not so many when you want to ‘create’ a ship capable of interstellar transport. Obviously there are loads of concepts in many science fiction stories, and, of course, there are a lot of concepts from the scientific world as well. I based my concept ships on the big nuclear submarines operated by several navies. These ships are self-contained to the extent that their only limitation is the capacity for carrying consumable stuff like food, and the endurance of the crew. Remove those limits by making the ship big enough and give it the means to produce food, perhaps by means of having a ‘green lung’ that doubles as a oxygen producing filter and food production, and couple that with recycling of water and water recovery and suddenly the only limitation becomes the crew endurance.<br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">“<b>Patrick Cox's <i>Harry Heron: Into
the Unknown</i> is a great sci-fi book, combining characters from the
great age of sail with a future we can easily imagine.” - Amazon
reviewer</b></span> </h3>
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<b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Researching such a ship involves not just the ship, but the possible controls, manoeuvring, power sources and the things that would limit it. So you have to look at a range of things including some that exist only in concept, and others that are already being developed. It gets quite challenging in a way because technology that was a ‘concept’ yesterday could be reality by tomorrow. A good example is my concept of ships run, under human command, by Artificial Intelligence systems that make them ‘self-aware’. When I started writing these stories AI was a ‘dream’ pursued by some to the amusement of others. Now it is slowly becoming a reality, and I suspect that we are not far from creating an AI that is truly independent and intelligent.</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvwWjq5x7256JYRV0lYFsc51alvra822t-Cnmu1k8fXdciIjG_Fbihd-d84IatO6wWZfOeumA0KyUJ0a_DVB31kEI3I_BOf37yMTXmGG6MWiEavvJRQ65vYFno32lAItOEm2rsEXvWqc/s1600/Harry-Heron-into-the-unknown-tall-ships-to-space-ships.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvwWjq5x7256JYRV0lYFsc51alvra822t-Cnmu1k8fXdciIjG_Fbihd-d84IatO6wWZfOeumA0KyUJ0a_DVB31kEI3I_BOf37yMTXmGG6MWiEavvJRQ65vYFno32lAItOEm2rsEXvWqc/s400/Harry-Heron-into-the-unknown-tall-ships-to-space-ships.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>What are some of the historical references you used when researching this novel?</b><br />
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The obvious historical reference material is drawn from the naval histories of the Napoleonic war. France maintained a squadron in the Indian Ocean, based primarily on Mauritius (then called Ile d’France) which preyed on the British East India Company’s ships. The Dutch were also active, based on the Cape and Java, and this forced Britain to maintain their own squadrons in India and Ceylon, and the Honourable East India Company maintained its own ‘Navy’, the Bombay Marine, in the Indian Ocean, so I drew on a lot of that, plus a lot of the social history of Ireland and its relationship with Britain in providing Harry and Ferghal with their own ‘history’.<br />
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Since ‘history’ shapes and sometimes informs the future, I have tried to use current ‘history in the making’ to project a possible future world shaped by the politics, commerce and so on of the present. One aspect of that is to remember that history tends to repeat certain trends at fairly regular intervals, largely because we have a tendency to forget the failures and the reasons for them. Particularly in politics.<br />
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So the answer to your question is ‘many sources’, which include national history, military history, demographic studies, political trends and people. <br />
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<b>Who is your favourite new character introduced in <i>Harry Heron: Into the Unknown</i>?</b><br />
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Hmmm. I think I’d have to say Harry’s twelve times great-nephew, the Commodore James Heron, but it’s a difficult choice, and there are several other candidates including the Surgeon-Commander Len Myers and ‘Aunt’ Niamh, Harry’s twelve times great-niece …<br />
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<b>What would Harry, the main character, have to say about you?</b><br />
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Something good, I would hope! I suspect that he would say I had set him some very difficult goals, and sent him and his friends on a very exciting adventure.<br />
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<b>Anyone reading Shakespeare’s four hundred year-old scripts can see the way we communicate changes. How did you work around the issues of language? Did the historical characters and the future people understand each other?</b><br />
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That was a challenge. In similar books (though with the switch usually going the other way) it is one of those things that is ignored. It is very difficult to see how our language will develop in the next two hundred years, let alone four hundred. We can already see how texting and ‘street slang’ is changing the way we speak. What I attempted to do in the opening chapters was to indicate that the accents had changed sufficiently for it to be difficult to understand each other, but then eased up on it as the story developed and implied that Harry and Co had adapted to the new version of the language. In the beginning of the story Harry finds he recognises some words, but has difficulty understanding everything. He thinks the people in his new surroundings are speaking French …<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><i>Harry Heron: Into the Unknown</i>
is a neat twist on the time travel genre. Characters from the
Napoleonic era are transported hundreds of years into the future.</b></span></h3>
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<b>And finally, what are you working on currently?</b><br />
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I have two projects on the go. I’m in the process of publishing a work of biographical fiction titled <i>Magnus Patricius</i>. It is based on the life of one Magnus Sucatus Patricius — better known as St Patrick. I started research this book almost eight years ago, and I quickly discovered that once you get past the legends and mythology, a very modest, but very tough and determined man emerges. He left us two documents written by himself, and a wealth of material undoubtedly based on other writings now lost to us, but I have used his ‘Declaration’ as the framework for this story.<br />
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The second project is to get the sequels to <i>Harry Heron: Into the Unknown</i> ready for publication. Watch this space, the next one will, I hope be published early next year.<br />
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<b>That sounds very interesting, Pat. Thanks for taking the time to chat with us today.</b><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Patrick Gray Cox is a writer that
combines his love of Historical Fiction with Science Fiction writing;
a mix of CS Forester and Isaac Asimov. </b></span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeE2jIii3TRKLfD2jJEMzcixvMMDp3AmynnNcMW3n0f4B_khyphenhyphenLu6O61mX0nPus2vXsy3iVdJTpRodj3zZXWM_FCtm2MzFxRg1EljcWTbLZj_rmFftghm6U-UXY3REAJgmAls9CwUPvf3k/s1600/Pat+Cox+photo+of+author+-+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeE2jIii3TRKLfD2jJEMzcixvMMDp3AmynnNcMW3n0f4B_khyphenhyphenLu6O61mX0nPus2vXsy3iVdJTpRodj3zZXWM_FCtm2MzFxRg1EljcWTbLZj_rmFftghm6U-UXY3REAJgmAls9CwUPvf3k/s1600/Pat+Cox+photo+of+author+-+small.jpg" /></a><span style="font-weight: normal;">Cox
is the author of </span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">A Baltic
Affair</span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;">, </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">a
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">popular historical romance</span><i>
</i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Limehouse Boys</span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">which takes readers to the
grimy, gritty streets of the East End of London in the 1830s and
follows the struggles of three orphans caught up in a web of crime,
corruption in high places and poverty. </span>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Harry
Heron: Midshipman's Journey</span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
the first book in the Harry Heron series.</span> <i>Harry
Heron; Into the Unknown </i>is the sequel.</div>
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<ul>
<li>Follow the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/harrynelson.heron/" target="_blank">Harry Heron Adventures onFacebook</a></li>
<li>Visit <a href="http://harryheron.com/blog/" target="_blank">Patrick Cox’s blog</a>
</li>
<li>And see <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5126089.Patrick_G_Cox" target="_blank">Patrick G Cox author profile ofGoodreads</a>
</li>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Patrick-G.-Cox/e/B002BLXXU0/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0" target="_blank">Patrick G Cox author page on Amazon</a></li>
<li>Follow Patrick on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/patrickgcox">@patrickgcox</a></li>
</ul>
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And if you liked the <i><b>Harry Heron:
Into the Unknown</b></i> book cover I designed for Patrick G Cox and
are looking for a custom design for your novel Please click here:
<a href="http://kuracarpenterdesign.blogspot.co.nz/p/testimonials.html">Kura
CarpenterBook Cover Designer for Hire</a> to find out more. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7NJk9bJUK0T25jz1zp6Vh9nkpUFbZ8tZBoVm57sM0MuOZ2gAR_-yi3aBP549ZaF4kgmhhCptWEAv_8DaDivn89182uOsQqEb6sd_lG65Hmp5eaAQqGKt2WuhJ2g4Uh4HUwVjRUk2QyA/s1600/Harry-Heron-into-the-unknown-Kura-Carpenter-testimonial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt=""Harry Heron: into the unknown", author Patrick G Cox, book cover designed by Kura Carpenter" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7NJk9bJUK0T25jz1zp6Vh9nkpUFbZ8tZBoVm57sM0MuOZ2gAR_-yi3aBP549ZaF4kgmhhCptWEAv_8DaDivn89182uOsQqEb6sd_lG65Hmp5eaAQqGKt2WuhJ2g4Uh4HUwVjRUk2QyA/s400/Harry-Heron-into-the-unknown-Kura-Carpenter-testimonial.jpg" title=""Harry Heron: into the unknown", author Patrick G Cox, book cover designed by Kura Carpenter" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />Kura Carpenterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05958865645698396775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260859772687515062.post-34314610916533045492016-09-05T09:21:00.000+12:002016-09-14T14:05:30.195+12:00Author Interview: Mary Brock Jones<div class="western" style="line-height: 0.35cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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<b>Mary Brock Jones' novel
<i>Torn</i>, the first in her romantic science fiction <i>Arcadian series</i>, is
being launched today.</b><div class="western" style="line-height: 0.35cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Mary Brock Jones has
written several historical and science fiction novels. Her novel <i>Pay
the Piper</i>, the second book in Mary’s <i>Hathe</i> science
fiction series was a finalist in the 2016 RUBY’s Romantic Book of
the Year awarded by the Romance Writers of Australia. </div>
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<div class="western" style="line-height: 0.35cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Mary,
welcome, Please tell us a little bit about yourself:</div>
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1) What sent you down
the path of writing romantic science fiction?</h4>
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I've always loved
science fiction, right from my early teens. I started out with
Asimov and Heinlein, but then gravitated towards writers such as Anne
McCaffrey, Orson Scott Card, Robert Silverberg, Lois McMaster Bujold
and Catherine Asaro. Writers of scifi where character was as
important as technology. But I am also an avid reader of the romance
genre, as well as historicals. </div>
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I found that the
stories of people, how they live in strange worlds and what matters
to them, interest me more than just the science alone. I love gizmos,
and creating new ones is part of the best fun of the world building
side of scifi, but always it's the people in the story that fascinate
me most, finding what is at the heart of my characters. And romance
is the most fundamental driver of stories we have. Humans are a
social animal, family is important as are the bonds that unite them,
and so it seems very natural to me that stories with a romantic
element will capture our interest. I know they do me, and romantic
science fiction just seems to unite all the strands of storytelling
that I enjoy most - world building, adventure, intrigue and suspense,
all spun together in a deeply satisfying romantic tale. </div>
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<h3 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">"Requirement for anyone wanting to go down the
self-publishing route:<br />First is a good, strong story - get it professionally edited, that's absolutely essential. <br /><br />Next you must have
a professionally designed cover. <br />An effective cover is the first and best chance to capture your
reader, so it has to be enticing, look good in thumbnail and
immediately tell the reader the genre of the book." - Mary Brock Jones </span></h3>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<h4 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
2) What appeals to you
about bringing romance to a genre that has atypically been lacking in
romantic elements?</h4>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I think romance has
always been a part of the science fiction world, but too often it is
assumed that women don't like science, have no interest in
mathematics, and are solely concerned with the humanities. Whereas
'proper' science fiction only deals with hard scifi stories. This is
not true. Women have been writing science fiction and telling
stories about science and people for a long time - after all, Mary
Shelley's "Frankenstein" is recognised as the first science
fiction novel. </div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
But too often
publishers, reviewers and the general literary world assume that
science fiction is written for and by men only. Well, I love scifi
and so do a large number of women out there. I think it's more that
scifi with a romantic element is not talked about much, but as a
genre, romantic scifi is gaining increasing popularity. </div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">"I think romance has
always been a part of the science fiction world, but <u>too often</u> it is
assumed that women don't like science, have no interest in
mathematics, and are solely concerned with the humanities." - Mary Brock Jones </span></h3>
<h4 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</h4>
<h4 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
3) What sort/age-of
readers would most enjoy <i>Torn</i>?</h4>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I would have to say
that <i>Torn</i> is best suited to an adult audience, those who
enjoy both adventures and stories that challenge their ideas.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9JC4UkT7hmXxt0chR-1iqHwX9xUFhkhZ7u26-IBixn0HCMlDiMeS176j265BdjtA3E3THpO2wu3dXpcPpUCfwcZv6ZwOvi1NldmKH8I25KN3LE_sGkRSYIFupv7uZoqpkt2zyk8Lgho/s1600/Torn-Promo-graphic-Mary-Brock-Jones-close-up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9JC4UkT7hmXxt0chR-1iqHwX9xUFhkhZ7u26-IBixn0HCMlDiMeS176j265BdjtA3E3THpO2wu3dXpcPpUCfwcZv6ZwOvi1NldmKH8I25KN3LE_sGkRSYIFupv7uZoqpkt2zyk8Lgho/s400/Torn-Promo-graphic-Mary-Brock-Jones-close-up.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<h4 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</h4>
<h4 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
4) Torn involves
ecological themes that reflect problems currently faced in the real
world. Was there a particular real world crisis/discovery that
sparked ideas for your novel?</h4>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I've thought for some
time that climate change is the most critical issue facing our world
at present, but I've also long had a fascination with ecology. I can
still remember as a young child being taken for a visit to a local
creek, and being totally fascinated by the various bugs and critters
our teacher showed us that day. My first degree was in Zoology and I
was raised on a farm, so I guess ecology has been a part of my life
for a very long time.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
An event that did
galvanise me though was the GFC, and the worldwide pattern of
governments sacrificing the public sector to keep big business happy,
culminating in the US congress stopping the pay of ordinary officials
for some weeks for pure political gamesmanship. Officials that
included the US park rangers we had met a year previously. Men and
women deeply committed to preserving the history and environment of
the US and always ready to share their knowledge but treated as of no
consequence on that occasion by the so-called establishment.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
One of the most
serious, and I think least recognised, of the effects of that whole
financial crisis was the huge brake it put on getting the world to
focus its efforts on dealing with climate and other environmental
issues. Luckily there is a huge groundswell of people who know that
as a planet we cannot put this off. People power will win the day!</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
</h3>
<h4 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
5)What was your
favourite part in researching for the novel?</h4>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I'm not sure if it was
my favourite part, but working out the meteorological aspects of the
story were certainly the most challenging!</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<h4 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
6) What has been the
hardest part with promoting your work?</h4>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Just getting it out
there. Like most writers, I tend to be somewhat introverted, so
having to push yourself forward and praise your own work is hugely
challenging. Plus I am a decided technical clutz when it comes to IT
stuff, and to self-publish you have to learn a whole pile of new
computer skills. My poor laptop has been subjected to some truly
awful verbal abuse at times. </div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
There are so many books
being published at present; finding ways to push your own book above
the parapet to be noticed is a definite challenge, and something that
you have to keep reminding yourself can only be done one step at a
time. You have to somehow keep believing in yourself while you inch
those books slowly, so slowly up the pile. </div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<h4 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
7) Can you please offer
any tips to others considering self-publishing especially ones you
wished you knew when you started?</h4>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Oh my, when I started
out I think I made every mistake possible! Beginning with trying to
publish two full-sized books simultaneously, one of which had a
cliffhanger ending (readers hate that, I have since discovered). </div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
So
the very first requirement for anyone wanting to go down the
self-publishing is a very good sense of humour (and a big wad of cold
hard money to fund it helps too.)</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
So first you have to
have a good, strong story. Then get it professionally edited - that's
where the cold hard cash comes in. Proper editing is expensive, but
absolutely essential. </div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Next you must have
a professionally designed cover - thank you for my lovely cover,
Kura. An effective cover is the first and best chance to capture your
reader, so it has to be enticing, look good in thumbnail and
immediately tell the reader the genre of the book. That's why the
cover of <i>Torn</i> has a spaceship and horses on it. This is
science fiction adventure with a big dollop of the romantic - and I
hasten to add that, yes, there really is horse-riding in the story,
much to my heroine's horror. </div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcXLuaopvE7FIuAiSyfw3B6PIYUl662U_0p3qF_HstZLz-fl3aKksmFTXrKrbKidAiigNFbS1UakVAvt7VE7Y-WZ1lJltm3adiqTtZvkshLi5v2_4fNqBWohGwjSWyAYY3uADbARmAK4A/s1600/Promo-graphic---Torn---Mary-Brock-Jones---square.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt=""Torn" romantic sci-fi, author Mary Brock Jones, cover designer Kura Carpenter" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcXLuaopvE7FIuAiSyfw3B6PIYUl662U_0p3qF_HstZLz-fl3aKksmFTXrKrbKidAiigNFbS1UakVAvt7VE7Y-WZ1lJltm3adiqTtZvkshLi5v2_4fNqBWohGwjSWyAYY3uADbARmAK4A/s400/Promo-graphic---Torn---Mary-Brock-Jones---square.jpg" title=""Torn" romantic sci-fi, author Mary Brock Jones, cover designer Kura Carpenter" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Formatting for e-book
is not hard, but I would recommend getting it done for you the first
time round. Far less stressful. I just about had a nervous break down
when I tried it, until <a href="http://vldreyer.com/" target="_blank">V.L.Dreyer</a> came
to my rescue and did it for me. I have since learned how to format
for e-book, mostly by following the instructions in Mark Coker's
"Smashwords Style Guide", but needed to refer back to the
original formatting as a template to make sense of it all - not being
technically literate at the best of times. It's not hard once you get
the hang of it, as long as you set aside a time when you will be free
from distractions and can take it methodically step by step. </div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<h3 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">"There are so many books
being published at present; finding ways to push your own book above
the parapet to be noticed is a definite challenge, and something that
you have to keep reminding yourself can only be done one step at a
time." - Mary Brock Jones</span></h3>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The hardest part for me
comes next - Marketing! Discoverability is the name of the game in
Indie publishing - and for that you need REVIEWS - and yes, the
capitals are deliberate. Reviews are that important - most
particularly, reviews on Amazon. Further, they must be
legitimate ones - Amazon has very strict rules aimed at protecting
their customers from fake reviews, so read the guidelines and make
sure to follow them. This time, <i>Torn</i> is on netgalley, courtesy of a
netgalley coop group ( found through <a href="http://www.kboards.com/"><span lang="zxx">http://www.kboards.com/</span></a> ),
plus I have sent ARCs [Advance Reader Copies] to a number of review sites and put out a
newsletter (another of those new tech things I had to learn about).</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6PPH2cT2K3w4cZ-DTNgGD3zVI_rTIUkx2tEncL5MFL0iboSjtXJjI5yrNWGghDAIGKXZp9cnX547IX1HiSyIsTQGNRocoJ5fwg8nUkN-SC9F-esQx3zmhk-mZjvtv3_y5Y-YqHlePxVA/s1600/Promo-graphic---Torn---Mary-Brock-Jones--quote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6PPH2cT2K3w4cZ-DTNgGD3zVI_rTIUkx2tEncL5MFL0iboSjtXJjI5yrNWGghDAIGKXZp9cnX547IX1HiSyIsTQGNRocoJ5fwg8nUkN-SC9F-esQx3zmhk-mZjvtv3_y5Y-YqHlePxVA/s400/Promo-graphic---Torn---Mary-Brock-Jones--quote.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Most importantly,
before trying to self-publish, learn as much as possible through
reading, websites, podcasts etc. The self-publishing community is
widespread and very generous. My best source of advice is <a href="http://www.thecreativepenn.com/" target="_blank">Joanna Pennat The Creative Penn</a>,
who also includes a large number of references in her podcast,
website and various books, but join writers organisations, facebook
groups, and some of the Indie support groups. Indie publishers are a
very supportive community of writers and always willing to pass on
what they have learned. There is also a huge amount of advice
on the KDP (Amazon), Smashwords and Draft2Digital websites. </div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<h4 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
8) Torn is the first in
your romantic science fiction Arcadian series, are you
working on a sequel and what’s it about?</h4>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I'm still working on
the third in my <i>Hathe</i> series, but after that I will be writing the
story of Caleb's brother, Ethan. He is a man who loves the business
that his family has created. It's all he has ever wanted, but Caleb's
actions in <i>Torn</i> have both put that in jeopardy and forced Ethan to
question everything he thought he knew. </div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
And then he is brought
up short by a woman on the other side of the business divide. A union
organiser who has never known what it is to be rich and comfortable,
but one who will not back down to anyone when it comes to protecting
those she serves. This book continues the climate change theme, but
also brings in the economic divide. Can we judge people only by the
size of their bank balance - big or small? </div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Thank you so much for sharing your advice and experiences with us today, Mary, I wish you every success. Here's where to learn more about Mary and her novels:</b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbIYwiMRpcg1mnNk0JYZhaX-4uySI9NEDyx1Z7AyFNtOxTqxtY5V8cjgerEX5dpaQOoOzaZTtREbp-TlB7G605GlhyphenhypheneRgdV8f2ISxIXyWjqAMtk8n3a2YIsu5qvYTwHhKsNWmzK3LH2rc/s1600/Mary-Brock-Jones1-284x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mary Brock Jones New Zealand Author of science fiction novel 'Torn'" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbIYwiMRpcg1mnNk0JYZhaX-4uySI9NEDyx1Z7AyFNtOxTqxtY5V8cjgerEX5dpaQOoOzaZTtREbp-TlB7G605GlhyphenhypheneRgdV8f2ISxIXyWjqAMtk8n3a2YIsu5qvYTwHhKsNWmzK3LH2rc/s200/Mary-Brock-Jones1-284x300.jpg" title="Mary Brock Jones New Zealand Author of science fiction novel 'Torn'" width="188" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary Brock Jones</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.marybrockjones.com/" target="_blank">Mary Brock Jone'sAuthor Website</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/MaryBrockJonesAuthor/" target="_blank">Mary Brook Jones on Facebook</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7010352.Mary_Brock_Jones" target="_blank">And see Mary BrockJones author profile of Goodreads</a></li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/MaryJones7" target="_blank">Follow Mary Brock Jones tweetson Twitter</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mary-Brock-Jones/e/B00BV3WKS0/" target="_blank">Mary Brock Jones authorpage on Amazon</a></li>
<li><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/118102325685806772102/" target="_blank">Mary Brock Jones on Google+</a><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/118102325685806772102/"><span lang="zxx"></span></a></li>
</ul>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mary-Brock-Jones/e/B00BV3WKS0/"><span lang="zxx"><br /></span></a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 0.35cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<br />
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
And
if you liked the <i>Torn</i> book cover I designed for Mary Brock Jones and are looking for a
custom design for your novel Please click here: <a href="http://kuracarpenterdesign.blogspot.co.nz/p/testimonials.html">Kura CarpenterBook Cover Designer for Hire</a> to find out more.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
Kura Carpenterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05958865645698396775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260859772687515062.post-33846247558640131932016-08-26T11:34:00.001+12:002016-08-26T11:34:48.907+12:00Self Publishing Resource: SPA Girls Podcast<b>Today I'm sharing a new (to me) helpful Podcast about self-publishing:
the Self Publishing Authors Podcast, aka the SPA Girls Podcast.</b><br />
<br />
The Self-publishing Authors Podcast is a New Zealand based group of
Romance and Urban Fantasy writers who have, or are about to, venture
down the self-publishing route, and each Monday they share their tips
and experiences.<b> </b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57gGbT8gpWg3Z8OjJWFS3Cxdmpyro84bpmbrvbo4FT45IaLQVaIkUEMzJEa7OkbPC8j9fC2IKM7tjud-DxqrmH-Tu1ZHfxmbcYhTwL0cLMoLSyQkRlARGS_8ByeGQev_t_m5P-cNZj9g/s1600/SPA+Girls+Podcast+Graphic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57gGbT8gpWg3Z8OjJWFS3Cxdmpyro84bpmbrvbo4FT45IaLQVaIkUEMzJEa7OkbPC8j9fC2IKM7tjud-DxqrmH-Tu1ZHfxmbcYhTwL0cLMoLSyQkRlARGS_8ByeGQev_t_m5P-cNZj9g/s400/SPA+Girls+Podcast+Graphic.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<h3>
Join the SPA Girls at the Self Publishing Authors Podcast each week for a new episode full of helpful tips and insighful tales.</h3>
<br />
To get you started here's a couple of episodes that I recommend:<br />
<ul>
<li>Firstly, there's no avoiding the giant that pretty much rules
self-publishing: Amazon. Learn about Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and
much more in SPA Girls Podcast episode <a href="http://www.selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep24-all-about-amazon/" target="_blank">#24 All about Amazon</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> As an author (self-publishing or traditional) looking to promote yourself on Facebook you need to know the difference between Facebook's standard profile and an author page. Didn't know there was a difference? Check out <a href="http://www.selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-episode-4-facebook-for-beginners/" target="_blank">SPA Girls Podcast episode #4 Facebook for Beginners</a></li>
<li> If you're considering trying out self-publishing it's often helpful (and inspirational) to hear other's experiences, I really enjoyed when they interviewed SPA Girls member: Trudi Jaye, to discuss her journey into self-publishing in podcast <a href="http://www.selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep019-interview-with-trudi-jaye/" target="_blank">episode #19 Interview with Trudi Jaye</a></li>
<li>Cover Design being close to my heart, my favourite episode to date is their <a href="http://www.selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/spa-girls-podcast-ep43-great-covers-and-how-to-get-one/" target="_blank">Podcast #43 How to get a great Book Cover Design</a> - quite probably because I agree with what they say! - see my book cover essentials check list below. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2_scOalttHZrnraYMJYEHV_q01isdHBJLLil4kvk6UPDNU5c74BbsU5R-vZ2yw8IkzbkMp5s7Rl7IY3sqZsXI5a9VNVPs__CxyTl5Qid5WNhlBoaSsh4MSm_nIxoqgn8VY3UWfbAqNE/s1600/Kura-Carpenter_Book-Cover-Essentials-Check-List.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Book Cover Design essentials check list" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2_scOalttHZrnraYMJYEHV_q01isdHBJLLil4kvk6UPDNU5c74BbsU5R-vZ2yw8IkzbkMp5s7Rl7IY3sqZsXI5a9VNVPs__CxyTl5Qid5WNhlBoaSsh4MSm_nIxoqgn8VY3UWfbAqNE/s640/Kura-Carpenter_Book-Cover-Essentials-Check-List.gif" title="Book Cover Design essentials check list" width="449" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>So what are you waiting for? Jump right in by visiting <a href="http://www.selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/" target="_blank">the SPA Girls Podcast Website</a> </b></div>
<br />Kura Carpenterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05958865645698396775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260859772687515062.post-12001225725658401682016-03-30T09:48:00.000+13:002016-08-30T16:50:20.241+12:00Guest Post: "9 tips to getting published"<b>Hello, I'm very luckly to have a guest blogger today, Rachel Stedman, sharing: 9 tips to getting published.</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7-WkhSOGSKMF7N4QZcz06KPY-tuFsy0MUdeWiTQjXBLwX7ufRZLMdk1ug3GY_KSnKRPCdu-m3MvRGaoluP44lpL6R6gBXGd2ccvz1_BEYbhLFoyO1XQ33pp5ivqPVPad2H29INlRTvI/s1600/9-Tips-for-getting-published---RL-Stedman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="9 Tips to Getting published - guest Blog post by author RL Stedman" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7-WkhSOGSKMF7N4QZcz06KPY-tuFsy0MUdeWiTQjXBLwX7ufRZLMdk1ug3GY_KSnKRPCdu-m3MvRGaoluP44lpL6R6gBXGd2ccvz1_BEYbhLFoyO1XQ33pp5ivqPVPad2H29INlRTvI/s1600/9-Tips-for-getting-published---RL-Stedman.jpg" title="9 Tips to Getting published - guest Blog post by author RL Stedman" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>**************************************** </b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-top: 0.21cm;">
What most people
actually mean by the question “How can I get a publishing deal?”
is: How can I see my work in print?
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-top: 0.21cm;">
I get this. It is a
buzz to see your book on sale at the bookstore (it’s a lot less of
a buzz to see it in the sales bin!) My first novel was <i>A Necklaceof Souls</i> and when it came out I spent a lot of time visiting
bookstores and taking photos of it on the shelves! </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgDXj_yY7T5sWC3hFuT_HK2zVHnhXZ3aLIJeOHCmLyHvGMskbZckziEfHQnoDl1lX4IRI6QkHZEm0RaP5GkZazVvrnHozIe2JvWishCT7vjJ5BTPubG-dlAkuXeQx90Vbx9L2xymIp4c/s1600/524198_967177243293627_7192674033328227401_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgDXj_yY7T5sWC3hFuT_HK2zVHnhXZ3aLIJeOHCmLyHvGMskbZckziEfHQnoDl1lX4IRI6QkHZEm0RaP5GkZazVvrnHozIe2JvWishCT7vjJ5BTPubG-dlAkuXeQx90Vbx9L2xymIp4c/s320/524198_967177243293627_7192674033328227401_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Inner Fire</i> by RL Stedman</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9EFfYIR4xKGxvDXEppjAneNumeyoIPWP2_NGMOMIK_mQr3fnVqz74tdhXjKVI5j8mD1zdQJ1_ZD7tReOheapo2FsadvW-ne-yGsBGeDw3SB-cY5EP6ZyqsTDemqr4fQIXRhosBJ2Y8fI/s1600/1016187_626150207396334_1618218789_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9EFfYIR4xKGxvDXEppjAneNumeyoIPWP2_NGMOMIK_mQr3fnVqz74tdhXjKVI5j8mD1zdQJ1_ZD7tReOheapo2FsadvW-ne-yGsBGeDw3SB-cY5EP6ZyqsTDemqr4fQIXRhosBJ2Y8fI/s320/1016187_626150207396334_1618218789_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>A Necklace of Souls</i> by RL Stedman</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-top: 0.21cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-top: 0.21cm;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>Here's
what worked for me...</div>
<ol>
<li><div style="margin-top: 0.21cm;">
A ton of hard work. I wrote on and
off for about ten years before I got an acceptance. Over that time I
wrote one novella, one novel, and many, many short stories.</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-top: 0.21cm;">
Write for free. I edited a
professional magazine, which gave me experience in working with
deadlines, keeping to word counts, formatting documents.
</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-top: 0.21cm;">
Join a writer's association. I
joined the <a href="http://authors.org.nz/" target="_blank">New Zealand Society of Authors</a>. Associations like the NZSA often have mentoring
programmes for new writers and access to grants and competitions.</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-top: 0.21cm;">
Formal training. I completed a
Certificate in Creative Writing at a local polytechnic, but there
are other opportunities both on-line and in person. Just do be aware
of cost if you’re doing this, as paid tuition at a university is
not cheap.
</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-top: 0.21cm;">
Develop networks. This sounds
cheesy, but often in life it's not what you know, it's who you know.
(And be POLITE. Apart from the fact it’s the right thing to do,
the writing world is a really, really small place!)</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-top: 0.21cm;">
Submit to e-zines and small
journals. My first paid acceptance was an e-zine which paid TEN
DOLLARS! So exciting!!
</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-top: 0.21cm;">
Enter competitions. Comps can be
expensive, so now I only enter those with that offer the opportunity
to get my script read by a publisher, or that provide direct
feedback on my script. The <a href="https://www.rwa.org/" target="_blank">Romance Writers of America</a> has some good ones, and my lucky break was
with <a href="http://www.storylines.org.nz/" target="_blank">Storylines</a>.</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-top: 0.21cm;">
Keep writing. Evaluate critically.
Write some more. When you feel it's good enough - and only then -
begin submitting to agents or publishers.
</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-top: 0.21cm;">
And finally, and this isn't
something you can ever predict, you need to get lucky. Why was <i>A
Necklace of Souls</i> accepted, when another person's might have
been equally as good? I don't know. Maybe the commissioning editor
liked fantasy. Maybe they were looking for a novel with a strong
female protagonist. Maybe the stars had aligned.</div>
</li>
</ol>
<div class="western" style="margin-top: 0.21cm;">
<u>Reality checks:</u></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-top: 0.21cm;">
Don't expect overnight
success. Actually, don't expect to make a living wage from writing,
period. Treat it like a passion and then anything's a bonus.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-top: 0.21cm;">
Or, you could just be
famous, notorious or both. Then landing a publishing deal is way, way
easier.</div>
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</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMzv5hAtmK080W3a8m3U6HH9_5O1lE0bfgBZB2SNIjIRZC4mRTc1KDnD17NZCkMJ230sKDLA6mE_8KHJP08ifixWc70VHcNeR3QU07N9B0KyYMnbl2JphziroSQAYoHb6YkG8qhERaKZA/s1600/IMG_1294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMzv5hAtmK080W3a8m3U6HH9_5O1lE0bfgBZB2SNIjIRZC4mRTc1KDnD17NZCkMJ230sKDLA6mE_8KHJP08ifixWc70VHcNeR3QU07N9B0KyYMnbl2JphziroSQAYoHb6YkG8qhERaKZA/s200/IMG_1294.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dunedin author RL Stedman</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-top: 0.21cm;">
<b>Thanks for shraring this great info, Rachel. You
can find out more about Rachel Stedman through her website: <a href="http://www.rlstedman.com/" target="_blank">www.rlstedman.com</a></b>
</div>
<b>
</b>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0.21cm;">
<b>And You'll
find her books <a href="http://www.amazon.com/R-L-Stedman/e/B00BNY0BC4/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2?qid=1448260196&sr=8-2" target="_blank">HERE </a></b></div>
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<br />
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<br /></div>
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****************************************</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLb9CLlr1dg2JFxGPsfcQTGrsrIBs8zm7bhmrzFsWM5RsoCjvg2lkPRRoZ4X1axIKTTacQUQZyrMncX6h3Ir1S-N4irWP7aua4Id0dqGoCDi_mzpG4C9YSCP5OV9ajqYGbzO0QPEMVruo/s1600/9-Tips-for-getting-published--220-square.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="9 Tips to getting published - Guest Blog Post by author RL Stedman" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLb9CLlr1dg2JFxGPsfcQTGrsrIBs8zm7bhmrzFsWM5RsoCjvg2lkPRRoZ4X1axIKTTacQUQZyrMncX6h3Ir1S-N4irWP7aua4Id0dqGoCDi_mzpG4C9YSCP5OV9ajqYGbzO0QPEMVruo/s1600/9-Tips-for-getting-published--220-square.jpg" title="9 Tips to getting published - Guest Blog Post by author RL Stedman" /></a></div>
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Kura Carpenterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05958865645698396775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260859772687515062.post-48004384424617725552016-03-09T09:06:00.001+13:002016-03-09T09:06:49.816+13:00Interview: Jenner Lichtwark, Christchurch author who writes under the penname J.L. O'Rourke<b>Today I’m talking with author and publisher Jenner Lichtwark. Jenner
is based in Christchurch and writes under the pen-name of J. L.
O’Rourke. <br /><br />Please tell us a little bit about yourself:</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge2xUI8YoDj5QpZtvQ53sKFPHqB7O0YHaQppuel9BPnDIIJnKYWjrxVqf5twxVrtHOLHhQ0lZnH_yd3jXDEtkrqNr5w34N5_vKfy6VY2o7-jVPu6LIsp09yVf_NRc2oez95YRdop5VQoE/s1600/J+L+O%2527Rourke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Christchurch author Jenner Lichtwark who writes under the penname J.L. O'Rourke" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge2xUI8YoDj5QpZtvQ53sKFPHqB7O0YHaQppuel9BPnDIIJnKYWjrxVqf5twxVrtHOLHhQ0lZnH_yd3jXDEtkrqNr5w34N5_vKfy6VY2o7-jVPu6LIsp09yVf_NRc2oez95YRdop5VQoE/s200/J+L+O%2527Rourke.jpg" title="Christchurch author Jenner Lichtwark who writes under the penname J.L. O'Rourke" width="150" /></a></div>
<b></b>I grew up in Oamaru where I worked as a journalist before moving to Dunedin and Radio New Zealand. I worked in both radio and newspapers for over 20 years in Oamaru, Dunedin and Christchurch before fate took a hand and I moved into administration, which I am good at but don’t really enjoy. I was in an old brick historic building during the February 2011 quake and that experience plus post-quake stress, led me to quit my job to write. I am not too far from qualifying for the pension, have two adult children and two grandchildren (with my son’s first child due any day now!). When I am not writing I am either backstage or singing in a theatre, or enjoying my animals (bald dogs, fluffy cats and grumpy guinea pigs).<br />
<br />
<b>You have two mystery series, <i><a href="http://millwheelpress.co.nz/power-ride-by-jl-orourke-ebook" target="_blank">Power Ride</a></i> a murder-mystery centred around a rock band, and the Severn Series, urban fantasies following Vampires living in Christchurch. What drew you into writing Urban Fantasy after writing traditional mystery?</b><br />
Murder mysteries were my obvious genre choice as that’s what I read all the time. I like the gentle simplicity of the British cosy mystery, although my own turned out a bit more hard-edged than the usual small-village style stories. I like imagining bodies in strange places and wondering why they ended up there, so I have lots of ideas for future Avi Livingstone stories. Vampires in Christchurch theatres was an extension of the many hours I have spent backstage in theatres. It just seemed logical to find vampires in the black parts of the theatre, working on the dark. Theatre crew are odd people – being vampires didn’t seem a big jump. <br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-M6Njp6hTytopKtCq8vYhWnM48ouow2uCUTyXAsnO7nE01YMJU0BPNA2Fi7uVLuYRzgVoDdIb7zBmE0wc_I2DVpXCXFCmA6gWMJi4JFKvlwZz3r0PF5MSGxX907nZYAFfv4ejIFs_KQc/s1600/PowerRide-500x500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt=""Power Ride" by Christchurch author J.L. O'Rourke" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-M6Njp6hTytopKtCq8vYhWnM48ouow2uCUTyXAsnO7nE01YMJU0BPNA2Fi7uVLuYRzgVoDdIb7zBmE0wc_I2DVpXCXFCmA6gWMJi4JFKvlwZz3r0PF5MSGxX907nZYAFfv4ejIFs_KQc/s320/PowerRide-500x500.jpg" title=""Power Ride" by Christchurch author J.L. O'Rourke" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
<b>Have you found Readers of “regular” mystery are willing or resistant to crossover and explore the magical twist that the urban fantasy genre provides?</b><br />
I have never assumed that I am writing for the same audience. The murders are adult while the vampires are YA. And I write children’s stories as well, so I tend to assume a different audience for each. Urban fantasy suits the reader who likes science fiction but prefers it set in a world they can relate to. I think the idea of there being abnormal things among the normal suits the YA imagination.<br />
<br />
<b>The Severn Series: <a href="http://millwheelpress.co.nz/chains-of-blood-ebook" target="_blank"><i>Chains of Blood</i></a>, and <a href="http://millwheelpress.co.nz/blood-in-the-wings-ebook" target="_blank"><i>Blood in the Wings</i></a> are YA fiction. When writing YA mystery what are the elements you add in or omit than compared to when writing mystery for adults?</b><br />
Sex, and sub-plots. The first Severn story, <i><a href="http://millwheelpress.co.nz/blood-in-the-wings-ebook" target="_blank">Blood in the Wings</a></i>, originally had a sex scene between Riley and Severn, but when I realised I wanted it to be YA, and there was going to be more than one book, I took the sex out. The romance is still there, and Riley talks about sex, but the actual act doesn’t happen. Which is one of the reasons I like writing YA – I hate writing sex scenes. And sub-plots – YA sub-plots tend to stress the growing up of the main character – in some way they all speak to the character’s emergence into adulthood.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhggoLQ1GvOqRAxM27DiDW-P4WBO8neESZGhwjBgun_kOfk78bTj0EqXNTqcHN2NpwohMsW4-P7f6zUNm-mT_ZGUQN8JCr7CMhHlSiN5OD_EzqjZoTX_1P2c-GrhR2qfrNims5df9jghhY/s1600/blood+in+the+wings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt=""Blood in the Wings" by Christchurch author J.L. O'Rourke" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhggoLQ1GvOqRAxM27DiDW-P4WBO8neESZGhwjBgun_kOfk78bTj0EqXNTqcHN2NpwohMsW4-P7f6zUNm-mT_ZGUQN8JCr7CMhHlSiN5OD_EzqjZoTX_1P2c-GrhR2qfrNims5df9jghhY/s400/blood+in+the+wings.jpg" title=""Blood in the Wings" by Christchurch author J.L. O'Rourke" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>What’s your writing style, do you plan everything first, or write and see where the story leads you?</b><br />
I learned the hard way that a good idea without the work done to plot it out leads to a half-written story that gets lost in the middle. So I have an idea, let it sit in my head for months to develop from an idea into a plot, then draw up the skeleton plot to give me a framework to work to. The story might then meander away from the plot but the basic outlie keeps me on track.<br />
<br />
<b>I believe you interviewed some police as part of your researching. Did you tell them you were writing a murder-mystery? How did they react when you approached them? </b><br />
Yes – I was up-front from the start. I needed to know how NZ police differed from the way police are shown in British books, so I made an appointment and spent a very fruitful hour or so with a top detective who answered all my odd questions. I think he was pleased I was making sure I got it right, and he was amused and helpful. <br />
<br />
<b>What was your favourite and least favourite part in researching for the novel?</b><br />
I tend to set my books in places I know well, so the research is usually around the odd things. For instance, my current work in progress is set at Lake Waihola so I am trying to learn about black swans and their nesting habits, and wild pig hunting. Thank heavens for google!<br />
<br />
<b>You have a lot of personal experience in theatre, and the Severn Series is set within the theatre world. Was there an experience in your own life that inspired the idea for the first Severn story? If not, where did the idea for the story come from?</b><br />
The first of Severn is set backstage in the old Theatre Royal during a run of Singin’ in the Rain, even though those two facts are never specifically noted. The story came from when my (then teenage) daughter and I were part of the crew for that show, in that theatre. The lead vampires are based on other crew members. A lot of time was spent in the alleyway, the black coats are standard garb (mine’s still hanging in my wardrobe). It just occurred to me one night that the big “rain truck” for the famous street scene would be a perfect place to find a severed head – and what if the rain came down blood coloured. And the idea grew from there. The second story came from an outdoor show where I was operating sound. Again, it was watching people wading in the lake during rehearsal breaks that sparked the idea that became <i>Chains of Blood</i>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyXQCB6uS2xTLjZRxKoNtK4f2zj3BXWl5vk7SI_aSsYnZGA1nQwlbnqakMatIeTVtZgzKO1H9gF1Lv9ZDQo_3MIs9xrzsqVDoixWByKbMvur_IKIAKRiGpfvlY6jF2auHht-7btiytbHQ/s1600/chains+of+blood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt=""Chains of Blood" by Christchurch author J.L. O'Rourke" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyXQCB6uS2xTLjZRxKoNtK4f2zj3BXWl5vk7SI_aSsYnZGA1nQwlbnqakMatIeTVtZgzKO1H9gF1Lv9ZDQo_3MIs9xrzsqVDoixWByKbMvur_IKIAKRiGpfvlY6jF2auHht-7btiytbHQ/s400/chains+of+blood.jpg" title=""Chains of Blood" by Christchurch author J.L. O'Rourke" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>How long have you been involved with the <a href="https://christchurchwritersguild.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Christchurch Writers’ Guild</a>? And what are the advantages to belonging to such a group?</b><br />
I joined the Guild a couple of years ago when I was trying out the various writing groups to find one that suited me. I used to love the Waitaki Writers in Oamaru and I had missed the camaraderie of that group. I stayed with the Guild as it is very informal while the other groups seemed to concentrate too much on having a set agenda. I get a lot of inspiration from the random conversations and mutual support. I find the informality suits my style.<br />
<br />
<b>You established <a href="http://www.millwheelpress.co.nz/" target="_blank">Millwheel Press</a> in 2012 to publish your own books. Why not just use Amazon? What have been the advantages and disadvantages of going out on your own like that?</b><br />
I use Amazon but it is almost impossible to get into libraries or bookstores as an indie author. A formal publishing house name (even if it’s boutique) has more credibility in the marketplace. Plus I offer editing services to other writers, so a business name made sense. <br />
<br />
<b>Whereabouts are Millwheel Press books stocked? And how receptive have you found local book stores? What tips would you give authors trying to stock their books in shops?</b><br />
I sell mostly through <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=jl+o%27rourke" target="_blank">Amazon</a> and via the <a href="http://www.millwheelpress.co.nz/" target="_blank">Millwheel Press website</a>, although I am working on getting out to more places. I carry a small stock of printed copies for marketing opportunities that pop up.<br />
<br />
<b>What has been the hardest part with promoting your work?</b><br />
Marketing – I am the world’s worst sales person. Like a lot of writers, I’m actually quite shy and get very anxious confronting a book store. I can sing, act or talk in front of thousands no problem, but one-to-one marketing scares me witless. I find cold selling an absolute nightmare. <br />
<br />
<b>Millwheel offers editing assistance to other writers, what do you find are common problems arising from people editing their own work?</b><br />
People see what they want to see, not what is there. It is too easy to miss typos because the brain reads over them. Also, if the writer is too close to their work, they won’t see where it goes astray. It’s really important to have someone who is unbiased but knows your genre check your work to make sure the characters stay in character and that there are no gaping plotholes. Also, if people are writing in a style that doesn’t work, (too much tell, not enough show or overblown descriptions) they are not going to see that themselves – it needs someone else to point that out.<br />
<br />
<b>Having had several years of experiencing ebooks versus physical copies, what have you found your Readers prefer? And as a publisher which format do you prefer dealing with and why?</b><br />
Buyers still seem to like physical books but I, personally, prefer Ebooks. Publishing – I like the look of my printed copies on my shelf, but the cost of publishing is off-putting. I do like Createspace for print-on-demand so I am not paying for huge print runs that sit in boxes. I like the immediacy of publishing in Ebook format. Sales-wise adult novels are about equally Ebook and print, while YA and children’s are predominantly print.<br />
<br />
<b>If you could go back in time and give your younger self a piece of writing advice, what would you say?</b><br />
Plot the whole story, not just the first half and the very end. Think how the middle is going to work before you start. Work out all the red herrings and sub-plots before you start writing – it’s much harder to fit them in later.<br />
<br />
<b>Thank you so much for your time today, and what’s the next project we can look forward to?</b><br />
<br />
A mystery romance set at Lake Waihola with handsome Southern men, dead pigs, black swans, a fat pug and a severed arm – and a children’s book about a road cone’s earthquake adventure. <br />
<br />
<b>And where can Readers find you online?</b><br />
<b>Millwheel Press Website</b> <a href="http://www.millwheelpress.co.nz/">www.millwheelpress.co.nz</a><br />
<b>Facebook</b> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MillwheelPress/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/MillwheelPress/</a><br />
<b>Or email at</b> editor@millwheelpress.co.nz<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpu2NU6Gqwtzj8eimS7N-MTayDsy1AKmB6a1KZBsx8xcoRMxuUNRr7TmBYZKlTI6oYUga6UNhg65tAKBMsE1asQntUJzaFk9Uhyz1nDEw7zEyvTPMuGeAUJEoLmN9f4_sj5EcHwHj00s/s1600/logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Millwheel Press Ltd is a small, independent publisher founded in 2012 to offer works of speculative and mystery fiction with New Zealand settings and written by New Zealand authors. Millwheel Press publishes works for both adults, teenagers and children in both print and Ebook." border="0" height="81" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpu2NU6Gqwtzj8eimS7N-MTayDsy1AKmB6a1KZBsx8xcoRMxuUNRr7TmBYZKlTI6oYUga6UNhg65tAKBMsE1asQntUJzaFk9Uhyz1nDEw7zEyvTPMuGeAUJEoLmN9f4_sj5EcHwHj00s/s400/logo.png" title="Millwheel Press Ltd is a small, independent publisher founded in 2012 to offer works of speculative and mystery fiction with New Zealand settings and written by New Zealand authors. Millwheel Press publishes works for both adults, teenagers and children in both print and Ebook." width="400" /></a></div>
Kura Carpenterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05958865645698396775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260859772687515062.post-30342316410078740582016-03-02T10:18:00.000+13:002016-03-04T12:08:08.729+13:00Lilliput LibrariesWhat are Lilliput Libraries?<br />
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They are part of a global movement spurred by <a href="http://littlefreelibrary.org/" target="_blank">Little Free Libraries</a>. Basically these are mini libraries (about the size of a large dollhouse) in neighbourhoods, usually located on their 'Guardian’s' fence, and passers-by are welcome to <i>'take a book now,
leave a book later.'</i><br />
<br />
In Dunedin <i>Lilliput Libraries</i> are the brain-child of Ruth Arnison, who's also coordinator for the popular <i>Poems in the Waiting Room</i>. <br />
<br />
Part of the success of these libraries is a constant supply of good-quality book donations. If you're in Dunedin, Otago and would like to help please bring books to the Dunedin Resene store at <span class="st"><i>172 Crawford Street.</i> </span><br />
<br />
You can also Donate money at their <a href="https://givealittle.co.nz/org/pitwr/pages" target="_blank">Lilliput Libraries Givealittle</a> page (I have! Be like me, I'm cool). Donations go towards the cost of constructing more Lilliput Libraries.<br />
<br />
You can follow the progress of Lilliput Libraries popping up in Dunedin neighbourhoods via the <a href="https://lilliputlibraries.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Lilliput Libraries Blog</a> and also on <span id="goog_1884132494"></span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Lilliput-Libraries-565461176922493/?fref=ts&ref=br_tf" target="_blank">Facebook<span id="goog_1884132495"></span></a><br />
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I'm certainly going to try and be involved myself, other than wanting one in my neighbourhood, I really <i>really</i> want to paint one!<br />
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<br />Kura Carpenterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05958865645698396775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260859772687515062.post-78036957572879709722016-02-25T10:10:00.000+13:002016-02-25T10:18:06.053+13:00Interview: Judy L Mohr <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJlQ63DNfLCh2TKpWjL0utTxFwAbtaOWGUxZtHsUsXOyKXc9r78Pew5nN4xj8382sXsNxHmDfyTbYdjmKHLThnCoPI0mdyCTUHoUWEqe8WBrMcPZ3zYORePqQhUdQctpP_LGf8oimlg4/s1600/Judy+L+Mohr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJlQ63DNfLCh2TKpWjL0utTxFwAbtaOWGUxZtHsUsXOyKXc9r78Pew5nN4xj8382sXsNxHmDfyTbYdjmKHLThnCoPI0mdyCTUHoUWEqe8WBrMcPZ3zYORePqQhUdQctpP_LGf8oimlg4/s320/Judy+L+Mohr.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Judy L Mohr. Photo by Anthony Hovens
</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Hello and welcome, Judy, please tell
us a little bit about yourself and your writing.</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Let me start by saying a big thank you,
Kura. I’m feel honoured that you would ask to interview me. Now
that’s said, we can get to the questions and answers.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
For as long as I can remember, I’ve
always made up stories. As a child, I would spend hours with a tape
recorder, making up plays for my Barbies to act out. (Yes, I’m
really that old.) As soon as I could write, my mother encouraged me
to kept a diary; I wrote poems and lyrics to songs. While I was
studying my PhD, the writing became a much-needed escape from the
pressures of being a part-time research student and a full-time
mother of two. Even now, I use the writing to help me find the
strength to face reality. The recent quakes have generated pages of
writing. I’m also a freelance editor, and launched my own business,
Black Wolf Editorial Services, back in December 2015.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
My personal writing tends to have a
fantastical flair, filled with adventure, dark monsters, humour and
romance. Science fiction leaks in too, thanks to my PhD in Astronomy
and Masters in Engineering. I have many projects on the go, but tell
me what writer doesn’t.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>You’re very involved with the
Christchurch writing community. What’s your current role with the
Christchurch Writers’ Guild?</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I’m currently the president of the
Christchurch Writers’ Guild and one of the coordinators for
EastSide Writers, a coffee group for writers that meets every
Thursday. I’m also one of the Municipal-Leaders for NaNoWriMo
within the Christchurch region. Everything that I do for the writing
community is meant to give back by paying it forward. So many I have
meant on this journey have helped me develop my craft and become a
better writer. I want to be able to do the same for others.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGyYT0C0MszkE62EIKeT_GIuG95hewHW-gDFzVIifeNMu6LIsRod4IQ7z5m8lc3Q1JtEguStobse2lkbK1tYUXsr7rLm0Eh8u2Z3DOe0-Kca5SmQMqkwqCrIOBqrefm15EAP49_cb9QA/s1600/cwg-shield.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christchurch Writer's Guild logo" border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGyYT0C0MszkE62EIKeT_GIuG95hewHW-gDFzVIifeNMu6LIsRod4IQ7z5m8lc3Q1JtEguStobse2lkbK1tYUXsr7rLm0Eh8u2Z3DOe0-Kca5SmQMqkwqCrIOBqrefm15EAP49_cb9QA/s320/cwg-shield.jpg" title="Christchurch Writer's Guild logo" width="320" /> </a></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>When was the CWG established?</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Christchurch Writers’ Guild was
established in 2012 by Angela Oliver and Beaulah Pragg. They noticed
that many of the local writing groups required their members to
produce works for critiquing and review, among other things. For a
new writer, sharing your writing can be extremely daunting. Not only
that, membership fees in some cases was beyond the means of the
average new writer, and with very little reward. They wanted a group
where everyone felt welcome with none of the pressure to share your
writing, accessible to all. The Christchurch Writers’ Guild was
born.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Since then, the membership has grown to
over 80 members. In May 2015, the Guild became an incorporated
society.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>What is the CWG’s mission
statement/ main purpose?</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The Guild is a community of people who
understand what it is to be a writer, from the first draft through to
publication, and not just through traditional publishing houses.
We’re there to help our members develop their craft to a level that
they feel confident in sharing their writing with others.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
At the same time, we love to celebrate
our members’ successes. Writing can be a very isolated road. We aim
to make it not so lonely.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>What sort of writers can join? Do
you have to be published?</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Christchurch Writers’ Guild is open
to all writers, published and unpublished, regardless of the genre.
It doesn’t matter whether you write poetry, short stories, novels,
or even screen plays — if you write, then you’re welcome to join
us.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Are there any fees?</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
At this stage, there are no membership
fees to join the Guild. All you have to do is visit our website and
fill in the membership form with your contact details. It’s as
simple as that.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Does the CWG offer its members
internal competitions?</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
At the moment, the Guild does not run
any internal competitions. However, we do offer our members with
opportunities to participate in various anthologies, a chance to
become published.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The criteria for each will depend on
the anthology itself. More information can be found on our website.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>What do you see as the benefits of
being part of the CWG? </b>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The biggest benefit of being part of
the Guild is the support network. So many writers feel isolated,
because their family and friends don’t understand who much of an
obsession writing can be. Through the various activities that the
Guild runs, writers are able to meet other kindred spirits.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Guild members also are entitled to
discounts on our workshops, which are spread throughout the year.</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Where does the CWG meet and how
often?</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Currently, the Guild runs two different
weekly groups. The Night Owls meet every Tuesday night from 7pm at
Coffee Culture in Bush Inn. Eastside Writers meet every Thursday
morning from approximately 10:30am at Robert Harris in the Palms.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Members from the Guild also meets every
second Monday of the month from 7pm at Undercroft at the University
of Canterbury (under the James Hight Library).</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
These meetups are open to all. We
always welcome new members.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Where can we find the CWG online?</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The CWG has its own website (<a href="http://www.christchurch.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">www.christchurch.wordpress.<wbr></wbr>com</a>), as well as a public <a href="http://www.facebook.com/chchwritersguild/" target="_blank">Facebook</a> page. We also have a Facebook <a href="http://www.facebook.com/groups/chchwritersguild" target="_blank">discussion group</a> </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Recently, the Guild has also joined the
world of Twitter. Our username is @ChChWriters</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
And of course, if anyone just wants to
send us an email, our address is
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
christchurchwritersguild@gmail.com</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Thanks so much for your time, Judy,
the Christchurch Writer’s Guild sounds like a very supportive
bunch.</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
You're welcome. It was no problem at all.</div>
<br />Kura Carpenterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05958865645698396775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260859772687515062.post-80299499770430875992016-02-18T15:10:00.004+13:002016-02-18T15:10:42.156+13:00Dunedin Writers' WorkshopIf you're in Dunedin, Otago and looking for a writing group, please check out these guys, The Dunedin Writers' Workshop, <a href="https://dunedinwritersworkshop.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">website</a> and also on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/243001249090452/?hc_location=ufi" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fdunedinwritersworkshop.wordpress.com%2F&h=XAQH3ixQLAQGT5JTAOYCzFH1zonNrpid6hPMqVzecJItkzw&enc=AZNajt_XJxOZYo34w6Vc5QfUu9oBZqS83oWJl_kqAFHGYBcM4e74wnBhPc_qIfcnN3NtUMVlwkmfmr5Su43eI3TPykaGc8jWF-WAetyki1z-qG8u_0m9_JvhhlgKgVFxMiVYhiztMsziwhG1-JkR-Cal_gmS2QGpAv_iIrbZKkVE2MbsJd5FjGZ7ouExfUAQaD0&s=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a>Kura Carpenterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05958865645698396775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260859772687515062.post-60803675773260862352016-02-10T12:17:00.000+13:002016-02-10T12:17:18.084+13:00Writer Interview: Beatrice Hale<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHggLWsr5Nm2sD0daUS4Vuk6WiSKiGIFbYqWM0F84xO5uyODGK1tNUZXJWmZQOCLvj3_oLnLZBB3kabkLlZe4gPQY-hYp97R3EOoE5nOH0YUZYGRtNv_Ip0ssFHhBCHbTGsdS1Is_6l6g/s1600/Dunedin+author+Beatrice+Hale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Dunedin author Beatrice Hale" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHggLWsr5Nm2sD0daUS4Vuk6WiSKiGIFbYqWM0F84xO5uyODGK1tNUZXJWmZQOCLvj3_oLnLZBB3kabkLlZe4gPQY-hYp97R3EOoE5nOH0YUZYGRtNv_Ip0ssFHhBCHbTGsdS1Is_6l6g/s320/Dunedin+author+Beatrice+Hale.jpg" title="Dunedin author Beatrice Hale" width="216" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Hello and welcome, Beatrice.Please
tell us a little bit about yourself:</b>
</span></span><br />
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">First
of all, I’m Scottish, from Aberdeen. We’ve been here for over
forty years, however, having come for my husband’s job. When you
get a good place with good people, you don’t move unless you have
to! Secondly, I’m a very devoted and proud grandmother to three
delightful grandchildren, who love to do the things I like best such
as cooking and gardening.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">And
I retired as a social worker for older people, and working for family
caregivers, in 2006-7 and decided that now was my time to write what
I wanted.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMSSA6sPau6WXYHpooud58OaO09V07IocekMBPaVdfwZAfXeLVcrL128dyDNtr5eZ2pOGvECD_MfAcsYYGyYwAsZT059YSbwMUBBqNrFd35s48rcEsJ1G1WjlWZaYOqOPKF3030Utv9Jg/s1600/No+Space+to+waste.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt=""No Space to waste" by Dunedin author Beatrice Hale" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMSSA6sPau6WXYHpooud58OaO09V07IocekMBPaVdfwZAfXeLVcrL128dyDNtr5eZ2pOGvECD_MfAcsYYGyYwAsZT059YSbwMUBBqNrFd35s48rcEsJ1G1WjlWZaYOqOPKF3030Utv9Jg/s320/No+Space+to+waste.jpeg" title=""No Space to waste" by Dunedin author Beatrice Hale" width="225" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What
genre, and what is your latest novel about? </b></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
write mostly non-fiction, gerontology and caregiving, and years ago I
wrote on herb-gardening; but I have written two children’s
stories, <i>Ice Escape,</i> the story of a rescue of pioneer flyers,
American Aces, father, mother and 2 children, by a Scottish fishing
boat. <i> No Space to Waste </i>is a briefer story about a boy and
his grandfather who grew potatoes in rubber tyres.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">My
most recent young adult novel <i>The Resolute Heart</i> is about a
young man who was press-ganged from his home in Fife, Scotland, to
serve in Nelson’s Navy. His wife followed him, and after some
adventures found the boat where he was serving, boarded and became a
surgeon’s assistant. Together they unmasked a mutiny, and a plot
to take at least some of the British frigates over to the French.
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What’s
your writing style, do you plan everything first, or write and see
where the story leads you? </b></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
planned <i>No Space to Waste</i>, and <i>Ice Escape</i> followed a
pattern, but I wrote <i>The Resolute Heart</i> as it came to me –
sometimes at 2 a.m. A very awkward time.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTxRAAcOWRoWH55V5N7s9fiZDft0xWFrR1YykXVGEeSg9vwLdf8i2sYidM0qFYJpRue_2DnMbKrNrObgH2LEyanwz7SlRnH-7TMQw6oBHK22nJEh6y6IHSzAsnRuE2iDG0GiWHN1sNw_s/s1600/Beatrice-Hale---The-Resolute-Heart---Ebook-Cover---for-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt=""The Resolute Heart" author Beatrice Hale, cover designer: Kura Carpenter" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTxRAAcOWRoWH55V5N7s9fiZDft0xWFrR1YykXVGEeSg9vwLdf8i2sYidM0qFYJpRue_2DnMbKrNrObgH2LEyanwz7SlRnH-7TMQw6oBHK22nJEh6y6IHSzAsnRuE2iDG0GiWHN1sNw_s/s400/Beatrice-Hale---The-Resolute-Heart---Ebook-Cover---for-web.jpg" title=""The Resolute Heart" author Beatrice Hale, cover designer: Kura Carpenter" width="265" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Where
did the idea for </b><i><b>The Resolute Heart</b></i><b> come from?</b></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
got the idea from reading some of my ancestors’ stories, sent me by
someone in Scotland who had been researching our ancestry. I’ve
always been interested in my ancestors – one side came from Fife,
and t’other from the west coast, members of the Cameron Clan, and
somehow the two sides got together in Aberdeen. From reading about
Harry’s being press-ganged, and his wife following him, I thought
it would make a good story.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Which
character do you most identify with and why?</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Probably
the mother in <i>The Resolute Heart</i>, the one supporting the home
fires/gathering the herring/selling at market, keeping going while
others had the fearsome adventures.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What
was your favourite and least favourite part in researching for the
novel?</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
loved the research but would have been even happier if I’d been
able to walk along the streets of Cellardyke in Fife, where my family
came from, so that I could continue absorbing the atmosphere. I’ve
had a few visits, but I’d like more.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Why
did you decide to venture into self-publishing?</b></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fwde-NW5fxGqZb-aPN2Cmrs3Mtq60v_46DRfuT1ZiNDGQ0cMsq8obQpnxpAw5Lz3JwVJ-z57nd4GMN_AUgpzTH5bGciuzEBlaksLIGpoWpWOdypamHvrPhuxBoU1adDE8kEEBmDZ1FI/s1600/Beatrice-Hale---Ice-Escape---Ebook-Cover---for-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt=""Ice Escape" by Beatrice Hale, cover designer Kura Carpenter" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fwde-NW5fxGqZb-aPN2Cmrs3Mtq60v_46DRfuT1ZiNDGQ0cMsq8obQpnxpAw5Lz3JwVJ-z57nd4GMN_AUgpzTH5bGciuzEBlaksLIGpoWpWOdypamHvrPhuxBoU1adDE8kEEBmDZ1FI/s320/Beatrice-Hale---Ice-Escape---Ebook-Cover---for-web.jpg" title=""Ice Escape" by Beatrice Hale, cover designer Kura Carpenter" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Speed
of getting things out. At my age (mid seventies) I can’t wait for
publishers’ decisions, and then the time to get the books out. I’d
much rather someone else did this, but I want to see the books in my
hand, fast.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What
has been the hardest part with promoting your work?</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Not
knowing quite what to do and where to go.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What
tips would you give to others considering publishing that you wished
you knew when you started?</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Go
for it! Find others who can help, join NZSA which is an excellent
organisation, become more computer literate. I needed to know more
about printing fonts, sizes, sizes of covers at the end, though the
cover itself is brilliant (of <i>Ice Escape)</i>, I managed to make a
mistake on sizing it when I got a few books printed.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What
else have you had published, and what is coming up?</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Recently,
I’ve published <i>Ice Escape </i>and <i>The Resolute Heart, </i>but
before then I was working in<i> </i>Non-fiction
and published <i>Family Transitions in Caregiving </i>(Patrick
Barrett, Beatrice Hale, Mary Butler)<i> and The Age of Supported
Independence </i>(Beatrice Hale, Patrick Barrett, Robin Gauld).
Before that I published with Longacre <a href="http://www.fishpond.co.nz/Books/New-Zealand-Pleasure-Garden-Beatrice-Hale/9781877251221" target="_blank"><i>The NZ Pleasure Garden</i></a>.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2-eLLufP4Yb-i8sM94GGoDN7pZ_-_fXNedgm3tN5sfs6E7q-3Y8xV7dSWzjt8DedF9Wnpldzv-0-U2fs4-CKdf4ns9I00VXNQmDiJ4_9DDNtYvcy1lakOdF0URU1OKnlvpAqV2XrSgw/s1600/NZ+Pleasure+Garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2-eLLufP4Yb-i8sM94GGoDN7pZ_-_fXNedgm3tN5sfs6E7q-3Y8xV7dSWzjt8DedF9Wnpldzv-0-U2fs4-CKdf4ns9I00VXNQmDiJ4_9DDNtYvcy1lakOdF0URU1OKnlvpAqV2XrSgw/s1600/NZ+Pleasure+Garden.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Coming
up? I’m hoping to have <i>Simon Says</i>, a book about a young
carer whose mother is sick and who gets bullied at school, and <i>Lucas
catches the Light</i> and I don’t know what that’s about yet!
What I’m currently working on is <i>The Story of Caregiving</i>, a
meander through the past looking at how people gave care to older
family members. I begin by discussing work on Neanderthal peoples,
and move on from there. Very interesting, hugely ambitious and I
just hope I can finish it.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Thanks so much for chatting with us today. Where
can we buy your books?</b> </span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><i>Ice Escape</i></span></span> is available via Amazon and Smashwords </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">and
</span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><i>The Resolute Heart, </i>through <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Resolute-Heart-historical-young/dp/1514614693" target="_blank">Amazon</a><i> </i></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">as
Kindle ebook and Paperback.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
You
can also connect with Beatrice via her Amazon Author Page <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1?ie=UTF8&text=Beatrice+Hale&search-alias=books&field-author=Beatrice+Hale&sort=relevancerank" target="_blank">HERE</a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
And
on Linkedin <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/beatrice-hale-47296a21?authType=NAME_SEARCH&authToken=seTO&locale=en_US&srchid=1778129431455059164433&srchindex=1&srchtotal=6&trk=vsrp_people_res_name&trkInfo=VSRPsearchId%3A1778129431455059164433%2CVSRPtargetId%3A77031446%2CVSRPcmpt%3Aprimary%2CVSRPnm%3Atrue%2CauthType%3ANAME_SEARCH" target="_blank">HERE</a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>Kura Carpenterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05958865645698396775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260859772687515062.post-85647133419104753222015-10-27T12:38:00.000+13:002015-10-27T12:38:54.461+13:00SQ Magazine Edition 22I was thrilled to be asked by the team of Sophie Yorkston and Gerard Huntman to provide the cover for <a href="http://sqmag.com/2015/08/31/edition-22/" target="_blank">Edition 22</a> of their long-running (and award-winning) <a href="http://sqmag.com/" target="_blank">SQ Mag</a> speculative fiction ezine. Here's what I came up with:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCdXbASpfDLu5bpBEP4jbuvhmRAD22TXy5YwGRcQ-MdD6MVrWlYwQRIn8eNfO6hyc0TjTg2xnoRugayRj6aiNkbYzqno2B24NFAiQH4itoU8-cD3BcC1HPAeZZDJno_HcvmvTImViTKI/s1600/sq-mag-22-cover1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="SQ Mag, speculative fiction ezine, Edition 22, cover designed by Kura Carpenter" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCdXbASpfDLu5bpBEP4jbuvhmRAD22TXy5YwGRcQ-MdD6MVrWlYwQRIn8eNfO6hyc0TjTg2xnoRugayRj6aiNkbYzqno2B24NFAiQH4itoU8-cD3BcC1HPAeZZDJno_HcvmvTImViTKI/s640/sq-mag-22-cover1.jpg" title="SQ Mag, speculative fiction ezine, Edition 22, cover designed by Kura Carpenter" width="425" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
SQ Mag is published by IFWG Publishing Australia, it's a donationware ezine featuring short stories from Australian and New Zealand writers - I often see familiar names of <a href="http://specfic.nz/" target="_blank">Specfic<b>N</b>Z</a> members.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://sqmag.com/edition-22-table-of-contents/" target="_blank"><b>Read Edition 22 of SQ Mag online</b></a> or <a href="http://sqmag.com/subscribe-to-sq-mag/" target="_blank">subscribe today</a> and you can choose the format which suits you best. It's free to join!<br />
<br />
<br />Kura Carpenterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05958865645698396775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260859772687515062.post-79712619986295557972015-06-18T12:47:00.000+12:002016-09-02T15:09:47.231+12:00Interview with Victoria Nelson author of 'Romana' I've been very fortunate to work with <b>Californian author Victoria Nelson</b> on a few projects, and I was delighted when Victoria asked me to do the artwork (following her design) for the cover of her novel <b><i>Romana</i></b>, which I know has been a labour of love for her over the past five years.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4CX_MyfKGhkTeGB4HmgD6y8Gs4Xiy10N27MDXa3_qy5-_48QbMB-VOu23LZxCkAEjQ3Fv2T9k2AP1yfMF-gu0udXv6VGt9ZH2w5JAGAvjqxD8RLUI0cP0nBjNlMByuVOnVYFp2J3MjBc/s1600/romana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt=""Romana" by author Victoria Nelson, cover artwork by Kura Carpenter" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4CX_MyfKGhkTeGB4HmgD6y8Gs4Xiy10N27MDXa3_qy5-_48QbMB-VOu23LZxCkAEjQ3Fv2T9k2AP1yfMF-gu0udXv6VGt9ZH2w5JAGAvjqxD8RLUI0cP0nBjNlMByuVOnVYFp2J3MjBc/s640/romana.jpg" title=""Romana" by author Victoria Nelson, cover artwork by Kura Carpenter" width="449" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Please
tell us a little bit about yourself:</b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
By
profession, I'm a freelance writing and research tutor. I never
thought of myself as a creative writer since I believed my talent was
for research and writing about Literature. I surprised myself,
however, when I began writing my first stage play, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/L-Sayers-Play-Five-Acts-ebook/dp/B008XQ2HZ4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1434587629&sr=8-2&keywords=L.+is+for+Sayers" target="_blank"><b><i>L. is forSayers</i></b></a>, in 1998 followed by a screenplay, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jack-Marlin-Private-Eye-Modern-Day/dp/0615567835/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1434587669&sr=8-1&keywords=Jack+Marlin%2C+Private+Eye%3A+The+Case+of+the+Barbary+Blackbird" target="_blank"><b><i>Jack Marlin, PrivateEye: The Case of the Barbary Blackbird</i></b></a>, two years later, both of
which I completed and self-published. </div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The funny thing is that my
family always told me my imagination and temperament would make me a
good novelist, but I never bought it. Then, unexpectedly one day, in
came the muse—it spoke and I wrote. In terms of Literature and
storytelling, however, my research background proved to be
providential since one needs to conduct a fair amount of research in
order to write a credible, satisfying story. It also makes the
difference in being able to show rather than tell. </div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Looking back, I
can see that I have always been involved in writing of one type or
another, but I did not presume to think of myself as a writer, not
until my family began using the term. For me, writing entails a lot
of responsibility since words have a major influence on shaping
people's worldview and influencing their actions.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOSo3h2ly6GtZ_b34SZ4rKQbVE78CscLsQEJ2KY8Mr2z_fTvzDtzIHWBAF4haKdoQATNxkPSKVNfO260egcvzAMa8D1bWQzqhER0kPh1n6KpiD8bIeOOfj_JvlUBnKRcYPf5W7Z2149Dw/s1600/Jack-%2526-Sayers-mail-call.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt=""Jack Marlin Private Eye" filmscript and "L is for Sayers" play by author Victoria Nelson, cover design by Kura Carpenter" border="0" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOSo3h2ly6GtZ_b34SZ4rKQbVE78CscLsQEJ2KY8Mr2z_fTvzDtzIHWBAF4haKdoQATNxkPSKVNfO260egcvzAMa8D1bWQzqhER0kPh1n6KpiD8bIeOOfj_JvlUBnKRcYPf5W7Z2149Dw/s400/Jack-%2526-Sayers-mail-call.jpg" title=""Jack Marlin Private Eye" filmscript and "L is for Sayers" play by author Victoria Nelson, cover design by Kura Carpenter" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="color: black;">You
mentioned that you write about Literature. Can you tell us a little
more about it? </span></b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="color: black;"> </span></b><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I
am including here the titles of the articles I have published
beginning with the most recent. I believe that when a person is drawn
to the study of Literature, he or she wants to explore a variety of
genres. I suppose this remark leads us to ask what is Literature? The
simplest definition I can think of is writing (novels, plays, poems,
essays etc.) that serves what Socrates has termed "The Good."
I am especially interested in foundational works. In other words, I
want to study the same books that served as the inspiration for my
favourite authors. </span></span></b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">For example, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien were
great fans of Rider Haggard whose work inspired the creation of
Indiana Jones. I too am interested in Haggard and plan to write a
piece on his dealing with subterranean themes.</span></span></b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<ul>
<li>
<span style="color: black;">"Dark Journey into Light: On the Road with
Jack Kerouac." </span><a href="http://www.staugustine.net/the-st-austin-review/" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><i>Saint AustinReview</i></span></a><span style="color: black;">. (November/December 2014).</span></li>
<li>
<span style="color: black;"> “</span><span style="color: black;">Burnett,
Grahame, and Barrie: Neopaganist Idealism during a Golden Age.”
</span><span style="color: black;"><i>Saint Austin Review</i></span><span style="color: black;">.
(March/April 2011).</span></li>
<li>
<span style="color: black;">“</span><span style="color: black;">Don Quixote:
Madman or Mystic.” </span><span style="color: black;"><i>Saint Austin
Review. </i></span><span style="color: black;">(May/June 2010).</span></li>
<li>
<span style="color: black;">“</span><span style="color: black;">Teaching Ian
Fleming’s James Bond Thrillers from a Catholic Perspective.”
</span><span style="color: black;"><i>Saint Austin Review.</i></span><span style="color: black;">
(May/June 2008).</span></li>
<li>
<span style="color: black;">“</span><span style="color: black;">Walker Percy’s
</span><span style="color: black;"><i>Love in the Ruins: </i></span><span style="color: black;">Moving
beyond Paradise to the New Jerusalem.”<i> Saint Austin</i></span><span style="color: black;">
</span><span style="color: black;"><i>Review. </i></span><span style="color: black;">(May/June
2008).</span></li>
<li>
<span style="color: black;">“</span><span style="color: black;">Rosemary
Sutcliff’s Arthurian Trilogy.” </span><span style="color: black;"><i>Saint
Austin Review</i></span><span style="color: black;">. (December 2002).</span></li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<br />
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>What
genre, and what is </b><i><b>Romana</b></i><b> about? </b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b> </b>
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
story is about a quest and is medieval themed rather than a strict
historical account. One person put it very nicely when she said my
book is more about how things should have been, could have been,
rather than how they were. Yet, I believe we can't just say the
Middle Ages was this and not that. History unfolds on a continuum and
is being made as we speak. One of my favourite passages of fiction
that best describes my own values and motivation for writing is from
Tolkien's <i>Return of the King</i> where Sam sees the light of a
lone star shining down on the smoking ruins of Mordor and</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i>The
beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken
land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold,
the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small
and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond
its reach.</i></div>
</blockquote>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I
believe the Middle Ages, in spite of warfare and politics, was like
any other time in history—there is always a good side to people
who, in spite of the times, retain their humanity and seek to defend
and preserve it in others.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>What
type of Reader is likely to enjoy this story? </b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Fortunately,
I have had good success with people from all walks of life enjoying
my story. I think one of the reasons for this is that I strive to
make my writing accessible to everyone no matter their taste in
Literature. My motto for writing is to make people feel good about
themselves and the world they live in—in a word, to give them hope.
I try to communicate this idea in everything I do ranging from
editing students' papers to storytelling. </div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Surely, people who are
interested in the Middle Ages might relate more easily to the story,
but I have written it with a diverse reading audience in mind. Books
similar to <i>Romana</i> are the ones which have nurtured my own
inspiration and whose authors have served as my mentors. Some of my
favourite examples include C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Dorothy L.
Sayers, and Ian Fleming.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Where
did the idea for the story come from?</b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Apart
from an ongoing fascination with everything Medieval, some of the
early chapters were inspired from RP gaming and my interest in
swordsmanship. In the beginning, it was not my intention to write a
book, then one day I realized I had enough material for a full-length
novel. The ideas just kept coming. It was as if I was taking
dictation from my characters. And I discovered that the more rounded
the characters, the more animated and articulate they become. </div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
One of
the most delightful things about creating characters is to hear the
way they speak to one another. One asks a question and the other
answers, and sometimes it happens so fast, I have to laugh and write
fast to keep up with their antics. I also learn from them. When faced
with a difficult task, I sometimes ask myself how would one of my
characters handle such and such a circumstance. Lewis and Tolkien
both shared that they wanted to write the kind of books that they
themselves would enjoy reading. I believe my story has its roots in
this same sentiment.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>What was your favourite and least favourite part in researching
for the novel?</b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
My
favourite parts of the research had to do with learning bushcraft and
outdoor living. The Internet provided me with invaluable information
on everything I wanted to know about survival in the wildness. It
also enriched my outlook on life and fostered a more intimate
connection with nature. As part of my research, I reread <i>Sir
Gawain the Green Knight</i>, both Tolkien's and Simon Armitage's
translations, paying close attention to the descriptions of the
landscape and accounts of field dressing. In terms of hunting and
field dressing, it was amazing to learn how little has changed over
the centuries. </div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I also read Hilaire Belloc's, <i>The Path Rome</i>
which chronicles the author's walk from France to Rome and has
beautiful descriptions of the people and natural landscape
throughout.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I
can't really say that I had a least favourite part of the research<i>
</i>since I enjoyed the entire venture. The book itself was my own
personal quest. But to be fair, there were some parts that were more
challenging than others. The two most difficult challenges involved
creating a variation in food and landscape. I remember once reading
about how Ian Fleming's publisher told him that James Bond could not
always be eating scrambled eggs, toast, and coffee, which was one of
Flemings' favourite meals. This advice led to the books' more
affluent (shaken not stirred) fare later on. </div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
For my story, I
researched medieval cookbooks and films in addition to the literature
of the time after which I added some touches of my own that I
believed were entirely possible, and will continue to use in the
second volume. In terms of varying the landscape, the work of
creating no two sunrises or sunsets the same really took me to task.
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Why
did you decide to venture into self-publishing?</b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
One
reason I decided to self-publish was because I had been turned down
multiple times or simply ignored by publishers for other projects.
Looking back however, I am grateful since venturing into
self-publishing has provided me tremendous scope for controlling
every aspect of my work.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>What
has been the hardest part with promoting your work?</b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I
believe one of the hardest parts of promoting my work is keeping
one's mind on the task at hand while waiting for the book to sell.
Equally difficult is the job of encouraging people to buy the book,
read it and recommend it to their friends. When I really feel down
about people not buying my books, I picture Miguel de Cervantes
unjustly sentenced and sitting in jail, penniless, a family to
support, and the author of one of the greatest books of all time. </div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Aside from your question, let me add that when I first graduated with
my masters in English Literature, I was at a loss for what to do
next. I had been working as a private tutor, primarily for
international students, which I still find very rewarding. Yet, I was
in a kind of circling and hovering pattern trying to stay a step or
two ahead of the bailiff. In desperation, I immersed myself in
Cervantes' novel <i>Don Quixote</i> and had a revelation, a kind of
inner vision; I saw my life as a puzzle floating around my head in a
million pieces and reading <i>Don Quixote</i> brought all the pieces
together in a beautiful whole. </div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I believe this is what convinced me of
the healing, life-affirming power of Literature and of wanting to
promote my work for that purpose.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
W<b>hat
tips would you give to others considering self-publishing that you
wished you knew when you started?</b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
first tip is to make every effort to ensure that one's punctuation
and grammar is correct since revisions can be very costly and
compromise one's credibility. The second tip is to be careful of
having too high an expectation. We all need some type of expectation
and motivation to keep us going. I think that the greatest motivator
for beginning and finishing a writing project is to believe with your
whole heart and soul that what you have to say has some value. But it
saves a lot of heartache not to have too high of an expectation that
a book will sell. Unfortunately, writing is rarely the magic bullet
for paying the bills (as a rule). However, I believe if we write for
the love of the craft, and to help people to feel good about
themselves and the world they live in, we begin to move on the right
track.
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Where
can we buy your books?</b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
My
books can be purchased through <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1/188-6779188-8289426?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=dreaming+spires+publications" target="_blank">Amazon.com</a> and <a href="https://www.createspace.com/5248088" target="_blank">CreateSpace Direct</a>, also in Oakland California they're availble at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Black-Swan-Books/112255302201965" target="_blank"><b>BlackSwan Books</b></a> 4236 Piedmont Avenue.</div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
And there's also a <b>Facebook page for Romana</b>. </div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Thanks so much for sharing your writer's journey with us, Victoria, I wish you (and Romana) all the best :)</b></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkU1RJAYGX5YdyFZgS1XJNUqOyy3p94yfc6TSvRx1HlMaVRyz6WhbkJu7Ee9b60GVF7MHjxfLCaJy6ViPN8xfMjYuILMAF85Cysmg7XvNxA9S6IGNNhYaGCqGpGcQ4GKKtJ36uY3uqLm4/s1600/romana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkU1RJAYGX5YdyFZgS1XJNUqOyy3p94yfc6TSvRx1HlMaVRyz6WhbkJu7Ee9b60GVF7MHjxfLCaJy6ViPN8xfMjYuILMAF85Cysmg7XvNxA9S6IGNNhYaGCqGpGcQ4GKKtJ36uY3uqLm4/s400/romana.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
Kura Carpenterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05958865645698396775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260859772687515062.post-9838981848974748242015-04-08T11:26:00.001+12:002016-09-02T15:38:04.199+12:00Interview with author Patrick G Cox<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Author, <a href="http://www.harryheron.com/" target="_blank">Patrick G Cox</a>, is a veteran of the indie publishing scene</b> and<i> </i>I've had the pleasure of working with him a few times, most recently when custom-designing the cover for <b>Pat Cox's latest book, <i>Harry Heron: Midshipman’s Journey. </i></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7sNwRB81v28RmD_VqqAFq9Rc9DD7tUA-XBx4YVayLDvotwgjpPQ6L19yflKvrmoCSzzafMKewloqNKXAAhWhsg9uXM5B1C_ugeH4l3MrbHN1_UQ4O07XJIFmSr-eBm-cmRiBXtlJcnhg/s1600/Harry-Heron-Midshipman's-Journey---FINAL---6in-by-9in---Web-Low-res.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt=""Harry Heron: Midshipman's Journey" author: Partick G Cox, cover designer: Kura Carpenter" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7sNwRB81v28RmD_VqqAFq9Rc9DD7tUA-XBx4YVayLDvotwgjpPQ6L19yflKvrmoCSzzafMKewloqNKXAAhWhsg9uXM5B1C_ugeH4l3MrbHN1_UQ4O07XJIFmSr-eBm-cmRiBXtlJcnhg/s1600/Harry-Heron-Midshipman's-Journey---FINAL---6in-by-9in---Web-Low-res.jpg" title=""Harry Heron: Midshipman's Journey" author: Partick G Cox, cover designer: Kura Carpenter" width="426" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Q: What is Harry Heron: Midshipman’s
Journey about? </b>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The basic story is about two boys from
very different social backgrounds growing up, but there’s quite a
bit more to it than that. To start with they’re Irish, and though
Harry’s family have some connections, they aren’t in possession
of wealth and ‘office’. Ferghal, Harry’s companion, is the son
of his father’s Head Groom and a Roman Catholic in a period and a
place when being a ‘Papist’ barred you from a lot of things. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As a ‘younger’ son, Harry knows his
inheritance will be limited, so he faces the choice of Law, Army or
Church for his future. He chooses the Navy, and Ferghal is determined
to follow. Thus their ‘growing up’ takes them to London, where
Harry must first find a patron and sponsor, then to a ship. With the
Peace of Amiens, they transfer to another ship and find themselves
sent to Australia and thence to India and Arabia. Adventure is
lurking for them at every turn until the ship turns for home again
and a resumption of war with France.The story is also an
‘introduction’ to a future world Harry and Ferghal could not have
imagined. In the final chapters the reader is given a hint of that
future when they meet one of Harry’s descendants, now the Captain
of a Starship as he contemplates a replica of the memorial brass
dedicated to the memory of Harry and Ferghal.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Q: What sort/age of readers would
most enjoy it?</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I would really like to think there is
something here for readers of all ages, but realistically, I would
guess, since it is the ‘introduction to a longer story arc that
takes us (and Harry and friends) into the far future, that it will
appeal most to Young Adults, those who like ‘historical’ settings
and science fiction - because that is where this story is going after
this book.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Q: The Napoleonic 1800s is a popular
era for historical writers, what is it about this time that draws you
as a writer to it?</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Probably because it was an era in which
men achieved massive feats with only their own muscles, ingenuity and
resources to help them. It was an era in which the ‘reach’ of
authority vanished at the horizon, once you were out of sight, you
were own your own.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Reading the journals of Captains and
officers from that time, you get a real sense of the freedom of
action they enjoyed. They didn’t have some politician in constant
contact trying to micro-manage world shaping events on the other side
of the globe. Each Captain was, in effect, a ‘king’, the ruler of
everything and everyone on his ship, and he had to be a diplomat as
well, representing King and country in distant lands. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Communications were slow, it took
almost six months to send a letter to India for example, and almost
the same to Australia. By the time someone in Whitehall or
Westminster heard of some event on the other side of the globe, some
local commander had either dealt with it, or fallen victim to it. I
sometimes think things worked far more effectively than they do now
as a result.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
What draws me to it, and I suspect
other writers, is that it is so rich in larger than life characters.
Many of them not from rich and powerful families. A lot, like
‘Captain’ James Cook (his actual rank was Lieutenant), self-made
men in command of small handy ships that kept the trade routes open,
carried orders to and from the grand fleets and in between achieved
some remarkable feats of navigation.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Q: I understand this novel was
released some years ago, but has now gone through a complete rewrite
and edit. What gave you the push to take on such a big task?</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It started out as an attempt to get the
original available to readers on Kindle and other e-formats. It was
one of my first attempts at a novel and, as Janet Angelo, my editor
and publisher, of <a href="http://www.indiegopublishing.com/" target="_blank"><b>IndieGo Publishing</b></a>, quickly pointed out, it had a number of ‘structural’
problems. She felt, and I’m sure she was right, that the
combination of the longer science fiction sections with the historic
parts created a number of problems for readers. Those who like
‘historic’ settings and stories would not identify with the
‘scifi’ bits and vice versa. She also pointed out that, though
there was a good story, it lacked any purpose other than to be an
introduction to a future story.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
So she persuaded me to write a new
start to the book, going right back to Harry’s childhood. Which
took me back to Ireland in the 1790s and all the unrest and upheaval
of that period that culminated in the two failed French invasions and
the bloody uprising that paved the way for the ‘troubles’ still
plaguing that beautiful country. With that done, it was time to look
hard at the ‘scifi’ element, and in the end I retained only a
fraction of it, right at the end, to link this story to the books
which follow it in the series. The result is, I think, and I hope
readers will agree, a very good story and a good book.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Q: As someone who is a pioneer in
self-publishing, what recent changes have you seen that benefit the
self-publishing/indie author?</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Funny should ask this, I was just
reading something about the way the whole publishing industry is
changing. It has certainly changed since I first published this book
- under a different title I must add. Self-publishing isn’t an
‘easy’ option. For one thing you are venturing a substantial
investment in your work, and secondly, selling isn’t just a
question of putting the book online or even, if you’re lucky, into
shops. There are a lot of sharks in the self-publishing ocean as
well, and you do need to make sure you know what you’re buying into
when you sign a deal with someone.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Something else to be aware of is that
‘Print on Demand’ cannot compete with traditional printing in
terms of pricing. Typically a PoD book will be priced at twice that
of a traditionally printed copy. That means your book is unlikely to
compete on the shelves of a book store with a Best Selling author’s
book from a Traditional publishing house. But, this is where
e-formats help. In electronic formats every playing field is level. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A word of caution though - if you want
to sell further books, make sure the formatting, editing and
presentation is first class. There are a lot of badly written, badly
edited and badly formatted ‘books’ available - and they drag
everyone else down.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
What has improved, in my view, is there
is now more awareness of the pitfalls among would be authors, and
there are resources and services available to ‘independent’
authors to get their books polished, edited and hopefully ‘sold’
to a publisher. I have benefited from having an editor with a
publishing background on my side. Plot problems, typos, gaps in the
story are all things a good editor flags immediately, and as an
author, I can address them. This is something that is lacking in many
‘packages’ sold to self published authors.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Ironically, as self-published authors
are cleaning up their work, polishing it and making sure it is
‘quality’, many of the traditional publishers seem to be
slipping. Maybe it is because I am now conscious of the problems in
my own books, I find I’m spotting typos, grammar errors, and other
problems in traditionally published work. I’ve even seen glaringly
mislabelled captions, entire pages repeated and passages misadjusted
in books by famous authors. I’m told this is because many
publishers now don’t employ separate ‘proof readers’, but leave
it all to an ‘editor’ who may be engaged in dealing with four or
five books at the same time.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Q: What tips would you give to
others considering self-publishing that you wished you knew when you started?</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Get an editor. Listen carefully to what
they say about the problems, and the improvements they suggest. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
If
you’re using a historic setting, research it. There’s nothing
more irritating to many readers than inaccuracy when writing about
historic events. Even details of uniforms and ranks are essential,
and even modern ships take weeks, not days, to cover long distances,
and sailing ships a lot longer. Many years ago I was completely put
off the writing of a very good author, by one simply glaring error -
he had a sailing ship cover a distance of some four thousand miles
round the Cape of Good Hope to reach an island in the Atlantic in a
few days.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Write the story, and then edit, edit,
edit. Sometimes you really do need to ‘kill’ some beloved part of
the narrative you’ve created, simply because it is too long, or not
relevant. Then choose your publishing package very carefully. You’ve
invested a huge amount of time and effort into creating the book,
invest some money into getting the best package - and then be
prepared to ‘market’ it. That takes a lot of time and effort, and
sometimes money. There are something like 2 million new titles
published each year, getting noticed takes a lot of effort, and it
doesn’t happen overnight.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Q: Can you tell us in on your next
writing project?</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
With pleasure. I have three in hand,
two complete - one, also set in the 19th Century and twenty years
after Waterloo is with my publisher at the moment - and two more
being edited and polished. The book currently going through the
pre-publication process is set against the background of the Thames,
and the trading barges that carried the goods and some would say the
wealth, of Britain to and from London and the crowded shipping in the
Port of London. It has crime, corruption, hardship and courage. The
research for it was an eye-opener in many ways. I’m hoping to
follow this with another 19th Century set novel also revolving around
the Thames and the East End of London.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>Q: Where can we buy your books?</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The books are on sale through any good
bookstore, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Harry-Heron-Midshipmans-Patrick-Cox-ebook/dp/B00U6R0H78/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1427890198&sr=1-%201&keywords=harry+heron%3B+Midshipman%27s+journey" target="_blank"><b>Amazon</b></a>, <b>Amazon UK</b>, <b>Barnes and Noble</b> and other online outlets<b>, including of course my publisher <a href="http://www.indiegopublishing.com/" target="_blank">IndieGo Publishing</a></b><br />
In
electronic formats, it is also available from iTunes, <a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/harry-heron-midshipman-s-journey" target="_blank"><b>Kobo</b></a>, and Google
Books. A full list with the links is available on my website <a href="http://www.harryheron.com/" target="_blank"><b>harryheron.com</b></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Happy reading!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
Kura Carpenterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05958865645698396775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260859772687515062.post-4161480097374122282015-04-02T09:19:00.001+13:002016-08-26T11:38:09.685+12:00Article on Cover Design<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-0Zy42pKPsip7ZT83756wGPlHdAVaWpCrHS5eiuN1vgGGNA5pkAEPrElZzej4jwCaVpGat3LqTB-e5_-JbN4y1rFFdq-zywHaR_i_3vFdTgxQxalEOAQ1exj6FQf27LM4tQYRHmS7N0/s1600/Flavacon_pohutakawa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-0Zy42pKPsip7ZT83756wGPlHdAVaWpCrHS5eiuN1vgGGNA5pkAEPrElZzej4jwCaVpGat3LqTB-e5_-JbN4y1rFFdq-zywHaR_i_3vFdTgxQxalEOAQ1exj6FQf27LM4tQYRHmS7N0/s1600/Flavacon_pohutakawa.jpg" /></a></div>
Today I'm sharing some advice on Cover Design Essentials (in my opinion) over on the blog of kiwi writer <b>Darian Smith</b>,<br />
please check it out the article <b><a href="http://dariansmith.blogspot.co.nz/2015/04/a-book-by-its-cover.html" target="_blank">A Book By Its Cover</a></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_evwYUOE2G46aciPixu2rhTzKOC8H-jnsLdvjrLKyB6C3G9RIyzhjnzHhWEcSNMwredO9LewUi91yWFU3YURHIIVMYMDaimzqmHFe1OGv_0bPnCvRL10Kb1YuxrRLtJLMysUspnH5lQ/s1600/Kura-Carpenter_Book-Cover-Essentials-Check-List.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_evwYUOE2G46aciPixu2rhTzKOC8H-jnsLdvjrLKyB6C3G9RIyzhjnzHhWEcSNMwredO9LewUi91yWFU3YURHIIVMYMDaimzqmHFe1OGv_0bPnCvRL10Kb1YuxrRLtJLMysUspnH5lQ/s640/Kura-Carpenter_Book-Cover-Essentials-Check-List.gif" width="450" /></a></div>
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<br />Kura Carpenterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05958865645698396775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260859772687515062.post-73720530650409116782015-03-05T12:50:00.000+13:002016-09-02T15:10:29.126+12:00"Ice Escape" by B.Hale<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH3bnhuTcuF-BP0f2lYPD0GfBiuAJUPs_TtDvo9vuPLtWayFpUmf-HVArpz-ygOfLuYEj0pLL4b1AEZli3WeKEgmFAqzXrtAV2pzjaRoMUddxomtVZ5kx9e82lN7kvismRIC5wczcXknU/s1600/Beatrice-Hale---Ice-Escape---Ebook-Cover---for-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt=""Ice Escape" author B Hale, cover designer: Kura Carpenter. www.kuracarpenterdesign.blogspot.co.nz" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH3bnhuTcuF-BP0f2lYPD0GfBiuAJUPs_TtDvo9vuPLtWayFpUmf-HVArpz-ygOfLuYEj0pLL4b1AEZli3WeKEgmFAqzXrtAV2pzjaRoMUddxomtVZ5kx9e82lN7kvismRIC5wczcXknU/s1600/Beatrice-Hale---Ice-Escape---Ebook-Cover---for-web.jpg" title=""Ice Escape" author B Hale, cover designer: Kura Carpenter. www.kuracarpenterdesign.blogspot.co.nz" width="133" /></a>I met Dunedin author <b>Beatrice Hale</b> last year at a talk on publishing ebooks, we had a great chat about writing in general, and I was tickled pinked as they say when she trusted me to create the cover for her first venture into writing for children.<br />
<br />
I'm thrilled to be able to let everyone know that Beatrice's debut children's book, <b><i>Ice Escape</i></b>, has been released released this week via Smashwords.<br />
<br />
Here's what Beatrice had to say about working with me,<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>"<span class="text">Kura Carpenter has an uncanny ability to read an
author's mind, and design a cover which best depicts the story and bring
out ideas behind the story. I enjoyed working with Kura enormously,
every conversation produced a good result, and the finished product is
superb. Eyecatching, riveting, and evocative! Thanks Kura. Let's get on
with the next one, please. " - B.Hale, author of <i>Ice Escape</i></span></b></blockquote>
One of the things that I'm sure kids (and their parents) will like about Ice Escape is it's actually based on a real life story. I think it would be perfect as part of a school project: read the novel and then research the real events. Sounds like an A+ waiting to happen.<br />
<br />
Please check out <b><i>Ice Escape</i></b> on Smashwords , and an interview with Beatrice, <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/522704" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitho2Z54T4aGk2RqmUsTPrWb110rylhkJvOJ3KEiazTR3HeKTUWy2yktsxRalicebEH1Gr6PM_N60wbPc7DNaJdAWwdx3VP61fb8ov7dCbwCpmgfctemXun329OSg4lpRVJvQbyxMdyN4/s1600/Ice-Escape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt=""Ice Escape" author B. Hale is based on a True Life Story" border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitho2Z54T4aGk2RqmUsTPrWb110rylhkJvOJ3KEiazTR3HeKTUWy2yktsxRalicebEH1Gr6PM_N60wbPc7DNaJdAWwdx3VP61fb8ov7dCbwCpmgfctemXun329OSg4lpRVJvQbyxMdyN4/s1600/Ice-Escape.jpg" title=""Ice Escape" author B. Hale is based on a True Life Story" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGpEih-2TV_vtq1SH7GKgaEgRDS4dZuQxyL8Lah8RTnHMRyfYskLfiswVAYhR2VNr_HSRe_BggDzF1AygZdaN3BpamtVYufcK3qMi8x-eBaiE2t3f8amsBxK-uc_XZPjgHvPN1QO3JG8I/s1600/recommendation-graphics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt=""Ice Escape" author B Hale testimonial for cover designer: Kura Carpenter. www.kuracarpenterdesign.blogspot.co.nz" border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGpEih-2TV_vtq1SH7GKgaEgRDS4dZuQxyL8Lah8RTnHMRyfYskLfiswVAYhR2VNr_HSRe_BggDzF1AygZdaN3BpamtVYufcK3qMi8x-eBaiE2t3f8amsBxK-uc_XZPjgHvPN1QO3JG8I/s1600/recommendation-graphics.jpg" title=""Ice Escape" author B Hale testimonial for cover designer: Kura Carpenter. www.kuracarpenterdesign.blogspot.co.nz" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />Kura Carpenterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05958865645698396775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260859772687515062.post-34808481941967771632015-02-18T12:06:00.000+13:002016-09-02T15:02:17.009+12:00Interview with Dunedin Author RL Stedman<span style="font-family: inherit;">I custom designed the ebook cover for RL Stedman's re-releasing of her award-winning novel <i>"A Necklace of Souls"</i> late last year, and today I'm pleased to take time and chat with her about writing.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM85ElfsB45p4wQT2G8NtsZJ4o_jZyp0TqVQWcwQFj2ovCXhvZKtyRK6M0euWfPJvh6JVDGcV3OEZOz5srmyQl10fZpYJZbvKiJl0o5Wc5fLFATaF61GRbo1E9dkUgH0_0bdcLgg36AR8/s1600/IMG_1294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Dunedin author RL Stedman" border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM85ElfsB45p4wQT2G8NtsZJ4o_jZyp0TqVQWcwQFj2ovCXhvZKtyRK6M0euWfPJvh6JVDGcV3OEZOz5srmyQl10fZpYJZbvKiJl0o5Wc5fLFATaF61GRbo1E9dkUgH0_0bdcLgg36AR8/s1600/IMG_1294.JPG" title="Dunedin author RL Stedman" width="200" /></a></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><b>Kura: What
genre, and what is </b></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><i><b>A
Necklace of Souls</b></i></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><b>
about?</b></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">
</span></span></span>
</div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><i>RL: A
Necklace of Souls</i></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en">,
a fantasy, is set in a parallel world. It's about a Princess, called
Dana, her friend Will, and the necklace that protects their country.
Without the necklace, their land would be overrun by an evil
Emperor; the necklace is their protection and its wearer the
Guardian. But Guardian's do not live long; eventually, the necklace
takes its wearer's heart. In </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><i>A
Necklace of Souls</i></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">,
Dana is to be the next Guardian. </span></span></span></span>
</div>
<div lang="en" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">What
sort/age of readers would most enjoy it?</span></span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">Ages
13+ . It seems to be enjoyed by two groups - fantasy buffs of any
age, and teens aged 13+. If you enjoy fairy-tale retellings,
dystopia, or epic fantasy, you'll probably enjoy Necklace.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">Where
did the idea for the story come from?</span></span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">A
dream. A cliche, I know, but true. I had an image of a girl fighting
in a forest. I wanted to know more about her, so I wrote her story.
In a sense, the whole book leads up to that one scene.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">
</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">Which
character do you most identify with and why?</span></span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">Probably
Will, the other protagonist in </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><i>Necklace</i></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">,
is my favourite. He's had to overcome hardship, he's resilient, he's
a survivor. He also has a very interesting view of the world. I
enjoyed writing from Will's point of view more than Dana's.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">What
was your favourite and least favourite part in researching for the
novel?</span></span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">Favourite
was researching sword fighting and martial arts. I loved watching all
these amazing videos on you tube. You can access some of these videos
from my <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/soulnecklace/a-necklace-of-souls-research/" target="_blank">pinterest board</a>. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">My
least favourite is still the proof reading. I hate proofing.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxoq3UnVOc77GRlCpXFREZ5raFJAfBZUia4HxtvQynJL1wK7IC5XyEg4Dm68-05D3-j5nbRiavohANh5Sgsjqw4z2LPL393jGyHMpp3FBr2WdkMo3zYQBAuC7uv5KWsFs6d8T1u2N4WE/s1600/A-Necklace-of-Souls---width-1400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt=""A Necklace of Souls" author RL Stedman, Cover designed by Kura Carpenter " border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxoq3UnVOc77GRlCpXFREZ5raFJAfBZUia4HxtvQynJL1wK7IC5XyEg4Dm68-05D3-j5nbRiavohANh5Sgsjqw4z2LPL393jGyHMpp3FBr2WdkMo3zYQBAuC7uv5KWsFs6d8T1u2N4WE/s1600/A-Necklace-of-Souls---width-1400.jpg" title=""A Necklace of Souls" author RL Stedman, Cover designed by Kura Carpenter " width="202" /></a></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><i>A
Necklace of Souls</i></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">
was initially published after winning a novel writing competition -
the Tessa Duder Award for YA fiction - </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">w</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">hat
tips/advice would you offer other writers entering the same or
similar comps? </span></span></span></b></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">Competitions
are good if a) they come with a review or a critique or b) they
aren't too expensive! They also provide a good discipline - nothing
like a deadline to get you writing :)</span></span></span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">Tell
us about the award </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><i>A
Necklace of Souls</i></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">
won.</span></span></span></b></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">T</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">he
<a href="http://www.storylines.org.nz/" target="_blank">Tessa Duder Award for YA fiction is sponsored by Storylines.</a> It
carries a cash prize and offer of publication by a major publisher -
in my case, HarperCollins NZ.<a href="http://www.storylines.org.nz/Awards/Tessa+Duder+Award.html." target="_blank"></a></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">
</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">You
have to be unpublished, resident in NZ (the criteria is on the
website) and the work has to be a full-length novel suitable for a YA
audience. Storylines sponsor a number of awards each year. I won in
2012 and was also shortlisted for the Tom Fitzgibbon Award (for
middle grade fiction, ages 9 - 13) in the same year. Winning the
Tessa Duder Award gave me a foothold into publishing and an
understanding of how the process works that I would have never had
otherwise. I am a huge supporter of Storylines; they are an amazing
institution.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>After
success in mainstream publishing, why did you decide to venture into
self-publishing?</b></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">
</span></span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">I'm
interested in self-publishing because I like knowing I'm writing
directly for my reader. </span></span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">Self-pubing allows me to present work that I think is innovative and different
without having to jump the very very time consuming hurdles of slush
piles and acquistions meetings. (these can take a year. I'm not
kidding. Twelve months for a rejection is not at all uncommon).
Personally, I think self-publishing will end up dominating the
mid-list; the statistics certainly suggest that market share of
self-pubbers is increasing. </span></span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">It's
slow to be accepted in New Zealand but it's becoming more accepted
overseas. </span></span></span></span>
</div>
<div lang="en" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">What
has been the hardest part with promoting your work?</span></span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">Time.
And money!</span></span></span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">What
tips would you give to others considering self-publishing that you
wished you knew when you started?</span></span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">Don't
expect to get rich overnight. If you get any sales at all, you're
doing well. it's a very crowded market. Unless you're lucky or
famous, I think best to aim for breaking even at about 5 years.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">
</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">Quality
is absolutely paramount. Reviewers are much much harder on
self-published work than on work coming through a trad house. You
have to prove yourself with self-published; trad work already has a
brand supporting it. So you must write the best work you possibly
can.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">Formatting,
proofing, printing, distribution are a steep learning curve. And you
need to be comfortable on a computer.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">I
have more tips set out on my blog, which you can access through my
website: <a href="http://rlstedman.com/" target="_blank">RLStedman.com</a></span></span></span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjglwmp6POkS5wSZ9ZP0x8DOx0dAeruW0sFzM6kQhCNWAIo8UJYPY6zq56WzhpTIAl5pjTJxpTEAiz8EHD9CryK21Dgd9yQP6FNSHFk3_mN5b6Buw5e0cnguX47xILsQfGLhIjBJOFo4/s1600/innerfire-stedman-ebookweb_FINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Inner Fire by Dunedin author RL Stedman" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjglwmp6POkS5wSZ9ZP0x8DOx0dAeruW0sFzM6kQhCNWAIo8UJYPY6zq56WzhpTIAl5pjTJxpTEAiz8EHD9CryK21Dgd9yQP6FNSHFk3_mN5b6Buw5e0cnguX47xILsQfGLhIjBJOFo4/s1600/innerfire-stedman-ebookweb_FINAL.jpg" title="Inner Fire by Dunedin author RL Stedman" width="213" /></a><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">What
else have you had published, and what is coming up?</span></span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">I've
published two works - </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><i>A
Necklace of Souls</i></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">
and </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><i>Inner
Fire</i></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">.
Later this year (2015) I hope to bring out </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><i>A
Skilful Warrior</i></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">,
the sequel to Necklace. It's darker than Necklace, because in it my
characters, Will and Dana, have left their country and have to cope
in the wider world. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">If
time allows, I'd also like to bring out </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><i>Ghost
School</i></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">.
Shortlisted for the Tom Fitzgibbon Award in 2012, </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><i>Ghost
School</i></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">
is a crazy middle grade adventure about friendship, ghosts and
technology. I'm looking foward to that one!! I'm also working on
another YA, called </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><i>Chasing
Harsh Light,</i></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">
but that won't be ready for absolutely ages.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">Where
can we buy your books?</span></span></span></b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><i>Inner
Fire </i></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">is
available on order at bookstores in New Zealand and available through
<a href="http://tinyurl.com/kmblhcf" target="_blank">Amazon. </a></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><i>A
Necklace of Souls </i></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">can
be spotted in the HarperCollins version at Paperplus and can be
purchased on <a href="http://tinyurl.com/mh4e6wn" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">
</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">I
will be bringing out a print version of </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><i>Necklace</i></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">
in a few months, which will also be able to be purchased through
Amazon and Book Depository, so watch this space.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div lang="en" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span>
</div>
<div lang="en" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Thanks for
taking the time to answer my questions, it’s been a pleasure
chatting today.</b></span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">And
for everyone out there you stay up-to-date by </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">follow</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">ing</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">RL
Stedman</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">
on </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">T</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">witter</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;">at
<a href="https://twitter.com/RLStedman" target="_blank">@rlstedman</a> and on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/soulnecklace" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span></span></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/soulnecklace" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en"><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span></span></span></a></b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>Kura Carpenterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05958865645698396775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3260859772687515062.post-55427425458297968182015-01-08T14:21:00.001+13:002016-09-02T15:10:44.578+12:00A Necklace of Souls - RL StedmanHappy New Year! I'm very pleased to be able to share the new book cover I custom-designed for <i>A Necklace of Souls </i>by local Dunedin author RL Stedman (whom I hope to interview during February.) <br />
<br />
The cover design project of<i> A Necklace of Souls </i>was completed late last year, and the novel is available now in ebook format <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Necklace-Souls-SoulNecklace-Stories-Book-ebook/dp/B00R742ZFA/ref=as_sl_pc_qf_sp_asin_til?tag=rlst-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=RIVPMKUEEQ6354RY&creativeASIN=B00R742ZFA">HERE.</a><br />
<br />
More details about RL's award-winning writing can be found through her <a href="http://rlstedman.com/" target="_blank">website</a> and see the great reviews of ANoS on the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23966537-a-necklace-of-souls" target="_blank">Goodreads page</a>, so go become a fan, because I know I am :) <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeJJbn4Oboj75c1zn5rz-dZ3rfAskFF678SqlJ1GOSwbk55XJqrHAD1ZotJMonYl7X5fGql_5oOZQpnESYvogVaoBHUHYBRaSLgGX01BI4uzSxVqwStif3lEm3J4ME2UzMVHuUwOGNvc/s1600/A-Necklace-of-Souls---width-1400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="custom book cover design "A necklace of Souls" author RL Stedman, cover artist: Kura Carpenter" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeJJbn4Oboj75c1zn5rz-dZ3rfAskFF678SqlJ1GOSwbk55XJqrHAD1ZotJMonYl7X5fGql_5oOZQpnESYvogVaoBHUHYBRaSLgGX01BI4uzSxVqwStif3lEm3J4ME2UzMVHuUwOGNvc/s1600/A-Necklace-of-Souls---width-1400.jpg" title="custom book cover design "A necklace of Souls" author RL Stedman, cover artist: Kura Carpenter" width="404" /></a></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="text"><b>"Kura did a great job of designing the book cover for
A Necklace of Souls, even giving me coffee to keep me sane and being
patient with my indecision. Kura understands what designs will sell; in
less than 30 days, e-sales have been steadily positive."</b> - RL Stedman, author of </span><i><span class="text">A Necklace of Souls</span></i></blockquote>
<br />Kura Carpenterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05958865645698396775noreply@blogger.com0