http://www.books-and-films.com

Yeah, how neat?  Help me get this going; The City'll be out in a few months and it'd be nice if there were reviewers out there who were interested.  Plus, the more traffic we can get to that site, the more books I'll be able to review and the more reviews you'll be able to read.  So...send the link to your friends, join the site, whatever.  Is anyone interested in helping me pass out business cards with the website on them?

DDP took Darkness Benign; looks like it'll be released sometime in 2009/2010.  We'll see. 

The book one of you mentioned in your comment (from my website) was Red Sky.  The City hasn't been released yet, but it'll be out in a few months (April, I think, but that's flexible) and I'll be sure to get a link up.  Red Sky was the predecessor to The City; I wrote Red Sky when I was twelve and it's available online worldwide as an ebook at http://double-dragon-ebooks.com/single.php?ISBN=1-55404-427-8 It's also available as a 564 page paperback, but the paperback is about $25 through Lulu (http://www.lulu.com/content/697062) and the download is only $5.99 through the first link I posted.  I'll make sure to get a link up as soon as The City is available; for the first few weeks a book is out, the ebook is available for 10%-15% off.  If you buy it, be sure to rate and review it and let me know what you thought.

I'm thinking about having a drawing of sorts for a free paperback copy of The City when it comes out--maybe ask a question about Red Sky and put the names of everyone who answers correctly into a hat.  What do you guys think?

And again, for any of you writers, feel free to drop me a message--I'm still looking for fresh authors to interview and new books to review.

Micheal Louis Calvillo (Author of I WILL RISE) recently contacted me with a request.  His novel, THE BASILISK, was selected as a semi-finalist for Amazon.com's Breakthrough Novel Award.  Winning is determined by two factors--a professional review and reader reviews.  His request was that I read his excerpt and write a quick review on it.  I did so and thought I'd pass the opportunity on to you guys--here's an opportunity to sample a novel and help out another writer.  As an extra incentive, Amazon is choosing some of the best reviews and rewarding the reviewers with $2000 in Amazon cash!

To help Micheal out, go here: http://www.amazon.com/The-Basilisk-Official-ABNA-Entrant/dp/B0011G9Y0O There's a download for free button on the right of the page.  Click it, read the excerpt, return to the main page, and click create your own review.  I guarantee he'll appreciate it.

-Rachael

All right, I confess, I don't have an interview prepared for this week.  So...what else would you guys like to see?  I've been getting upwards of 500 footprints a week on this site, so I *know* there are people coming to this page--author interviews?  Book reviews?  What do you prefer to see here?

 

This week, I chose to interview Christopher Hoare, author of “Deadly Enterprise”, “The Wildcat’s Victory”, “Sorcerer’s Bane”, and “Appearances”.

 

 http://double-dragon-ebooks.com/single.php?ISBN=1-55404-466-9&picsize=LARGE&x=57&y=102

 

Hey Chris, and thanks for choosing to do an interview with me.

 

First off, can you tell us a bit about each of your books?

 

Deadly Enterprise – Lt. Gisel Matah has to escort the scion of a merchantile family, Yohan Felger, to an enemy city on an alternate Earth, circa 1700. She is a stranded modern and finds Yohan's formal manners quaint – he thinks she's no lady, but after being pursued by enemies the whole way and involved in putting down a coup d'etat they find themselves in love.

The Wildcat's Victory carries the story on into a joint partnership between Gisel's people and the Felgers. The Felgers are trying to pull a fast one on the moderns by conveying a steam engine to their enemies, but Gisel knows about it. The deceptions are threatening their relationship so when she's offered a cavalry posting in a new campaign (by an ex-lover) she takes it in order to give Yohan breathing space. The action ends up involving both of them and the climax comes when Gisel wins a desperate action and confronts two enemies in a barbarian encampment.

Arrival is the prequel to the stories and goes back to the arrival of the moderns in this world and how they wound up with so many enemies. It is basically a coming-of-age story for Gisel that shows her developing from 16 year old starship brat into a valued agent.

I also have a fantasy accepted by Zumaya – I'll mention it next.

 

Do any of them stand out in your mind as being a little ‘above and beyond’ the others?

 

Rast – Sorcerer's Bane is a departure in writing style for me. I usually write clean and concise prose, but the story came to me complete with its own elevated prose style. A prince and his sweetheart must drive off several invading groups from the land of Rast when his father is destroyed by the rebellion of the magic he wields. It pits a materialist invader with his mechanical weapons against the simpler, magic culture of Rast. It also pits the sweetheart, Jady, against the princess sent by family to be the prince's consort. It is somewhat allegorical, satirical, and atmospheric – enough that I've put off getting back into that mode to write the sequel for several years.

 

Which of your characters can you most empathize with?

 

I think I empathize with them all – even the villains. The female protagonists, Gisel and Jady, are my favourites, but I also understand the motives and difficulties of the enemies. Perhaps the male protagonists have my sympathies when they try to keep their wild women in line.

 

How long have you been writing?

 

I started in 1967 with a huge historical novel that was never published. Continued on and off as I had time until I devoted my main attention to it around 2000.

 

What’s your favorite genre to write in?

 

I prefer speculative fiction although I have tried writing contemporary novels at times. The modern age's inequities and trying to write truth that doesn't exaggerate soon wears me out.

 

What’s your favorite genre to read?

 

I think I prefer historicals, much of my writing is set in real or alternate historical timelines.

 

Many authors get writer’s block on occasion.  What do you do to get around yours?

 

A small block is generally surmounted by a walk, a larger one by taking a longer view at where a plot should be going. I usually have more than one project at a time, so I can switch for awhile. If none of these works I can always catch up on the chores I've been putting off in order to write and can come back refreshed after a few days.

 

How do you feel about critique groups?

 

 If you find a good one you should invest in it. My writing craft would still be back in the stone age if I hadn't joined NovelPro in 2001

 

A lot of published authors go on to set up projects to bolster the online writing community.  Do you have any plans for a project, or ideas you’d like to see enacted?

 

I'm interested in feeling my way into promoting with character interviews and character sites. If these attract readers, I would like to develop a network of authors who can draw readers into the online genres.

 

I joined Nothing Binding and hope to see ways to increase the readership of online writers through its programs.

I'm also going to try my hand at reviewing.

 

What other writers have influenced your work?

 

 I think my NovelPro friends have done most. Critiquing and being critiqued in depth has opened my eyes to better techniques and the essence of story. Look at novelpro.com to see what a writers' group should be

 

Ever write in people you know as characters?

 

I might base characters on real people, but if the character is going to work it has to take on a life of its own within the particular story.

 

Other than ‘Deadly Enterprise’, do you have any upcoming works we should watch out for?

 

The Wildcat's Victory is for January 2008 release, Arrival for the summer of 2008, and Rast should appear before 2009. I've never written horror before, but I managed a story that I sent off to J for the next Double Dragon anthology.

 

Which of your books is your favorite?

 

Always the last one.

 

Have any cats?

 

No, but we have two shelter dogs. I keep fit taking them for a romp every morning.

 

Double Dragon Publishing will be releasing your book, ‘Deadly Enterprise’.  What can you tell us about working with DDP?

 

I like the openness and the cameraderie. When I first signed on I was invited to submit a story for Twisted Tales II. The established DDP authors didn't know me or my work but they were ready to take a chance on me. When I started looking for ways to promote the novel the group on DDP authors soon offered blog interviews and reviews. It feels as if I've found a home.

 

What writing-based websites do you frequent?

 

I have about 11 Yahoo writing groups, another three on Ning, and about three on Facebook. I'm talking to people who run group writers' blogs about joining and I keep joining more groups all the time. I don't have any major ones I visit as sites to guide my writing and promotion explorations but I think I will take stock of all of them when I've had a few months working to create a buzz for DE.

 

Favorite color?

 

 Any colour but white is my favourite when the Canadian winter hits.

 

Do you like to cook?

 

I do, and have been doing a lot this past year or more since my wife has been ill and is slowly recovering her strength. I like spicy foods, Indian, Middle East, and Southern, but I have to keep my spice hand severely in check.

 

Do you listen to music when you write?

 

 No, never, although I may sometimes hear music in the background from the next room.

 

Did you write as a child?

 

I rather think I did – and draw. I still have childhood books with drawings scribbled all over them. I composed my first work – a series on hand drawn comics when I was about 12.

 

Any suggestions for improving teenage literacy?

 

 Sabotage all the TV stations. But seriously, we need to be mentors for all the Internet activity and show the young how to increase the depth of their own thinking by accepting good reading and disciplined writing as a guide for their lives.

 

Any last thoughts?

 

Yes, I'd better go and get supper started. Thanks for the interview, it has made me reflect on things I might take for granted.

Chris.

This week, I chose to interview Kim Baccellia, the author of Young Adult novel ‘EARRINGS OF IXTUMEA’, available this July from Amazon.com.  Learn more about Kim at her website, http://www.kim-baccellia.com

 

 

Tell us about yourself (please).

 

I’m a former bilingual teacher. I taught eight years in a LA county school district.  . I’m a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators ( SCBWI) and EPIC. 

 

I love yoga, reading, quilting, power walking, Joss Whedon, and volunteering.

 

 

Can you tell us a bit about your book and its availability?

 

Right now you can purchase the e-serial and e-book at www.virtualtales.com  Next month it’ll be coming out in print through Amazon.

 

Are there any social or political undercurrents in the book that readers should pick up on?

 

That you shouldn’t be ashamed of your culture.  Be proud of who you are.

 

You’re a Young Adult writer—is ‘EARRINGS OF IXTUMEA’ aimed at a specific age group? 

 

Older teens to young adults.  It can easily crossover to adults.

 

Your website is clear, concise, and easy to navigate.  Did you design it yourself?

 

No!  My husband put it together.  Also Liz Jones, an SCBWI illustrator did the both my self portrait and web art.

 

How long have you been writing?

 

Since I can remember!  I wrote for my middle school, high school, and college newspapers.  Then I stopped.  It wasn’t until 2000 that I started writing again.  I took a class at UCI extension program and loved it.  I later took more classes and meet Lou Nelson, my writing mentor, through Writing the Novel class.

 

What inspired you to write ‘EARRINGS OF IXTUMEA’?

 

My students and my own search for my Mexican roots.

 

Do you have any other work published?

 

My writing credits include numerous poems in a variety of magazines, ranging from Beginnings magazine and Latino Stuff Review to Coil magazine. My poem, My Father , appears in the Mind Mutations Anthology published by The Sun Rising Poetry Press. My essay on the adoption of my son, Finally, Our Turn, appeared in both Adoptive Families magazine and the Adoptive Families 2003-2004 Adoption Guide

 

 

Do you have any works-in-progress that we can expect to see in the future?

 

Right now I’m shopping around my YA paranormal, CROSSED OUT.  I’m also working on a more contemporary YA where a sixteen-year-old deals with her abusive father in 1976.

 

When you were a child, did you ever imagine you’d write for young people?

 

Yes.  When I was in the fifth grade I did this big assignment on Nixon’s trip to China.  I imagined I was a reporter and covered the news.  I got an A on that assignment.

In my high school yearbook friends signed that they hoped to read my novel in the future.

 

Have any cats?

 

Um, no.  I have two exotic birds.  Sunni a sun conure and Cecily, a gray cheek parakeet.

 

Just out of curiosity…what exactly do the earrings of Ixtumea look like?

 

Rubies with fine gold woven around them.  Delicate looking but strong.  It’s interesting how each reader pictures them.  Also Michael Leadingham, the cover artist, has them shining on the cover.  I like this as it leaves it to the reader’s imagination.

 

Have you ever tried professionally writing anything other than Young Adult Fiction?

 

Yes, my own memoir.  And I even tried my hand at a romance.

 

Which writing-oriented websites do you frequent?

http://www.verlakay.com  A writing site for children writers

http://absolutewrite.com  A great site for all genres

 

 

Have a favorite website?

Orson Scot Card’s site

http://www.hatrack.com

 

 

What’s your favorite color?

Red.  It’s passionate and alive

 

Do you listen to music when you write?

Depends.  I try to put together some songs that reflect the mood of the novel I’m writing.  For Crossed Out I listened to a lot of Christian pop music.  Casting Crowns was one of my favorites.  For my WIP I’m revisiting 1976 music, which has been fun.

 

What are your thoughts on the publishing industry?

 

It’s a tough business to get into.  I’ve learned a lot this past year.  I learned how some traditional publishers don’t take the e-published world seriously.  I learned how some places snub you when they hear you are e-published.  But then again SCBWI has been very supportive and encouraging.  If anything I learned to be persistent and not to give up.  Talent is only a small part of this business.  If you get a rejection or bad review, dust yourself off and try again.

 

E-books and paperbacks—where do you stand?

 

I know E-books are the future.  I’m waiting for the Sony player to come down in price.  Once it does-watch out New York.

 

How do you feel about critique groups?

 

I’m totally for them.  I cringe remembering my first attempts at writing.  My grammar sucked and my writing was all over the place.  It also motivates you to write.

 

Ever tried screenwriting?

 

No, but I’d like to.  One of my goals is to write a graphic novel.  I love the new Joss Whedon’s Buffy and Runaways comic book series.  Plus Meg Cabot and some other YA writers are writing graphic novels. 

 

What’s the best way to get around writer’s block?

Get you butt in the chair and WRITE.  No excuses.  Just do it.

 

What kinds of books do you prefer to read?

 

Depends on my mood.  Right now I’m reading YA urban fantasies.  I love metaphysical books—Isabel Allende.  I also like chick lit, fantasy, science fiction, historical fiction, non-fiction, and just about anything else.  I don’t like westerns.

 

Any suggestions for improving teenage literacy?

 

Get involved.  My last school had an afterschool reading program that used volunteers from the community.  As a teacher I saw how much this helped my students in their reading.  I volunteer in both my son’s classroom and the library. 

 

How long do you think you’ll be writing?

 

Forever. 

 

Any last thoughts?

 

Thanks for letting me stop by.  Check out http://www.virtualtales.com for on-going promotionals this month.  S