rachaelbyrd's Xanga

The City now available

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:20:01 GMT

Click here to visit the DDP page where The City is available.

Review Books/Get Free Reviews

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 00:06:19 GMT

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.

Darkness Benign

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 18:28:53 GMT

Darkness Benign is an eclectic blend of darkly hued tales ranging from the bizarre to the macabre. Writers Zar Castro, Mark Dunn, Kevin Anderson, Rachael Byrd, Michael Louis Calvillo, Jeffrey Burton, R.S. Hill, and Alex Knight come together to create a collection that wends its way from bloody carnival-grounds to southern werewolf haunts to the gore of yesteryear and dark perfection of tomorrow.

I feel bad...I just got the final edits done on the collection and sent it in to Deron. The last day I took submissions for Darkness Benign was December 1, which means I've been procrastinating for the last two months. I've given these authors the closest thing to a "yes" that I can, legally thinking--that is, "Yes, I think it's good, I'll put it in the collection that I submit to the publisher", and now the only thing I can do is cross my fingers and hope Deron likes their writing as much as I do. There's some pretty big names in that list, though--somehow I ended up with submissions from Kevin Anderson, Michael Calvillo, and Jeffrey Burton. That's a pretty big deal from where I'm sitting.

I'll let you all know how things go.

EDIT!

That was really fast turnaround. He likes it. That's a good thing.

Thanks for the feedback! (Also, help Micheal Calvillo)

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 22:20:09 GMT

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

Coming Soon and Coming Out

Sun, 27 Jan 2008 18:33:55 GMT

So I ran out of interviews and that was the end of this blog...for a while. I've done some editing, done some reviewing, and now that it's 2008, I'm ready to come back. The City, sequel to Red Sky, will be released sometime in the next few months. I wrote this one when I was 14, so it's fully two years more mature and readable than Red Sky (lucky you, huh?) Subscribe to this blog to get a notice when it's available online.

The City is the story of a girl who wakes up in a cage in the basement with no recollection of her identity or life. She's assigned a name by her captors and sold into a den of vampires. As she comes to terms with herself, a friend opens her eyes to her true identity and she is introduced to a secret that could end the newly blossoming undead society: vampirism is a virus with deadly consequences to its victims. In order to save herself and the friends she comes to love, she'll have to accept all the facets of herself and remember what happened on the other side of the river.

Also, I've been out to my friends for a few months, so it's probably a good time to out myself here--I'm b.isexual. Surprise, everyone.

I'm looking for volunteers to help me market The City. It's easy to do--just browse Xanga and find ten or a dozen bloggers who might be interested in my book and link them back here. With any luck, they'll be doing the same. After The City is released, I'll make up some free business cards on VistaPrint and try to convince some people to help me distribute them It's all going toward next semester's tuition, kids.

Also, I'm looking for more writers to feature on my blog, more books to review, and more causes to support. I don't expect reciprocity, but if you help me, I'll usually help you.

Meet...No one

Mon, 06 Aug 2007 14:45:11 GMT

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?

Meet Jeffrey Redmond

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 18:02:11 GMT

This week, I chose to interview Jeffrey Redmond, author of ‘Fair Aer-Inn’, ‘Islands of Mak-Naw’, ‘Valley of Von-Dar’, The Chronicles of Er-Da, ‘The Er-Dan Stories’, and ‘Getting Together or Breaking Up’.

Hey Jeffrey; thanks for doing this interview with me. In opening, can you tell us a bit about each of your books?

In the past few years, I've been getting science fiction and fantasy adventure novels published. But only after two decades of rejections!

Most of your works are either straight fantasy or cross-genre fantasy. How did you become a fantasy writer?

I enjoy a wide variety of reading, and have tried to combine various elements from different genres. I feel (strongly!) that this makes for a much more interesting, entertaining, and educating read. It is difficult to sell non-fiction.... and I have tried. There is still a market for good quality fiction, and I definitely enjoy pleasing my audience.

Are there any other genres you’d like to write in?

Currently I'm working on a second murder mystery. I've just had my first one accepted by Double Dragon, and it will be published in 2008. There's usually a one year lead time between contract and printing. But again I combine science fiction with mystery in the first one, and sci-fi with the supernatural in the second one.

What kind of books do you like to read?

I especially enjoy any kind of historical work. Right now I'm reading an autobiography by the famous author Pearl Buck. She tells about her life and the many events in China in the 1920's and 30's. And, of course, the coming onslaught of World War II.

Have you written any books that haven’t made it to publication?

Yes. I still get manuscripts rejected. But - interesting enough - two of these publishers have recently announced their termination and/or bankrupcy. This could be a kind of what the Germans call "Schadenfreude," meaning a delight in such a thing happening to others. But I'm also relieved I didn't sign any contracts with them.

When did you start writing?

Of course when I was in high school, and also in college. There were all those assignments!

But I also began submitting letters to editors of major newspapers, and also wrote for campus "underground" papers (not too subversive). About a quarter of a century ago I also began submitting short stories to various magazines, and every once in awhile I'd get an acceptance. The pay was only a few cents per word, but my ego was assuaged. But trying to get books published was a long and tedious time for me. I had to learn - the hard way - to write for the readers.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Either a WW II submarine captain or a defender of the Alamo.

When you were writing your novels, did you use outlines?

I find that I must. I simply cannot deal with all the characters' names and situations otherwise. Each novel is different, and I'm always making changes in plot and interactions.

Your book, ‘Fair Aer-Inn’ was written from the point of view of a scribe. How did you choose this point of view, and how is the scribe involved in the story?

Someone such as yourself would be the dynamic princess, and some energetic and forceful fellow could be the army commander. But I myself, easing into middle age, will have to be an observer and chronicler of all that takes place. Since I can't control the events around me, I can at least control all future understanding of them.

In ‘Islands of Mak-Naw’, a young woman travels to the planet Erda. Can you tell us a little bit about Erda’s history, and how it came to have a human colony?

Excellent question!!! Erda is an ancient name for our own Planet Earth. I include "fresh water seas" just like the Great Lakes around my home state of Michigan (see map). I tell of all the problems we have down here today, but have them happen in a future of a thousand years hence. My point is that people will always be what they have been, no matter where and when they exist.

You’ve also written ‘Getting Together or Breaking Up’. I’m a bit hesitant to ask you about something outside your fiction writing, but I’ll give it a shot. Why did you decide to write this book?

I remember being a young man and being so confused about young women. So I thought I could have some fun and maybe help other males out. I don't really know how informative that particular book is, but it's filled with humorous anecdotes throughout.

What qualifies you, as a self-proclaimed ‘dating man’, to tell others how women think? That seems like a pretty broad generalization to me—do you have extensive experience in psychology or sociology?

I am absolutely the LAST man on Planet Earth to ever claim he knows anything at all about humanoid females on this planet. Now on my own planet of Erda...... I definitely know everything about all the humanoid females there (I think).......

Which of your books is your favorite?

Most probably all of the ones I've written and gotten published.

How do the writing styles change or develop from one of your books to the next?

I actually believe (and fell) I'm getting better. Especially thanks to all the feedback and edits from all those wonderful female editors and publishers. Whereas my romance adventures were more like simple stories, my mysteries are more complicated with interactions and plot twists.

Do any of your novels feature specific underlying social issues or allegories?

Yes, most definitely. All of them do. I try to throw in my own personal opinions and comments throughout. Perhaps also a kind of Christian subversion with how we should all behave not as we want to do, but instead as we ought to. And also how destroying our environment will destroy ourselves.

What online writing communities do you frequent?

I keep getting bombarded with e-mailings from the NWU, the MWA, the RWA, the N3F, the SFWA, the SFRA, the RFF, and other such writers organizations. Quite often there are some really lively online discussions and debates.

Critique groups often help a writer improve his/her technical details, catch plot inconsistencies, and help with awkward phrasing. Do you participate in any crit groups, on or offline?

Actually I don't have to. I receive enough nasty remarks about what I say and do from others in the above mentioned groups.

Three of your books have been published with Double Dragon Publishing. What can you tell us about working with DDP and its owner, Deron?

I lived in Ontario Canada for three years. The Canadians have a much softer and gentler culture than we do in America. A few years ago I found the Deron Douglas's DDP company listed as being a better than average one. I sent them a few manuscripts other publishers had rejected. Deron is especially enthusiastic about science fiction and fantasy works, and he actually tries
(hard!) to market and sell his publications. I especially like the process of submitting and doing everything on line. I have wasted a lot of time and expense in postal mailing hard copies to other publishers, and then getting them rejected by a badly photocopied form letter mailed back to me

Can you give us links to purchase your books?

Oh, please do! Here's a good one: www.erdabooks.net

And another one about me: www.myspace.com/jeffringr

The DDP one is at: www.double-dragon-ebooks.com

My books can best be found by searching by author Jeffrey Redmond

Have any cats?

I could, but my sister would have a fit. She said her dog would get jealous, and I believe her

For you, what’s the most difficult part of writing a novel?

I have found that I usually get tired and bogged half way through each one. But after a week or two off, the old urges to get back at it resurface.

Several of your books have been self-published. How was your experience, and what would you say to skeptics of self-publishing?

I was lucky to find out about the iUniverse company in Nebraska. I paid $100 for the cover art and ISBN and copyright for each one. They pay for all production and distribution costs. I had to do all my own advertising and marketing, but there have been quite a few libraries and book stores that have gotten copies. At about $2 per in royalties all I had to do was sell fifty copies of each to break even. The latest iUniverse report to me has total sales at almost 600 for the past few years, and so I am satisfied. Plus I'd had two terrible experiences with "vanity" publishers many years before. They would have me pay them $ thousands, and then go out of business. I highly recommend all new authors double-check into the publishers they want to deal with first.

Do you have any upcoming books?

Yes. Double Dragon in Ontario will continue to publish my science fiction novels. Midnight Showcase in Texas will be publishing a few fantasy tales, Aphrodite's Apples in Delaware has already accepted two erotic romances, and Whiskey Creek Torrid Press in Wyoming will be publishing one novel. All of these will be forthcoming in 2008.

A lot of published authors organize projects to bolster online or local writing communities. Do you have any plans or ideas for such projects?

I hope to be able to contribute ideas and information to the groups I belong to. Though I hope to not bore them too much with my bragging, my sarcastic humor, and my personal opinions.

Often, books can be associated with colors or color schemes. What color(s) would you associate with your books?

My favorite color is blue (though I actually have hazel eyes). I love the sky and water, and believe I am a water person (and also a Taurus). I appreciate when publishers will include lots of blue shades on the books covers. A bold blue, a dark blue, a deep blue, a bright blue, and a beautiful blue.

Any last thoughts?

Thank you very, very much for your time and energies with putting all these interviews together. You have helped me organize my thoughts. I hope to be able to continue to provide enjoyment and interesting information to many others out there in literary reading land.

Stay safe and well, everyone, always.

{ Jeff Redmond

Meet Christopher Hoare

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 19:42:42 GMT

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.

How Best to Avoid Dying, by Owen Egerton (Review)

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 17:57:39 GMT

How Best to Avoid Dying, by Owen Egerton

“Your word is ambrosial.”

From the first sentence, Owen Egerton’s new collection of stories is bizarre, humorous, and compelling. The book is eighteen stories long, and each story is a drop of chocolate syrup on a pine needle.

The collection opens with ‘Spelling’, a witty reflection on the rigors we assign to children, and the political weight often assigned to trivialities. ‘Spelling’ opens the crescendo that ends with ‘Lish’, a story about a poet of stars and bubbles, sperm and death. The middle of the book provides us with a variety of fascinating pieces, such as ‘The Martyrs of Mountain Peak’, emphasizing the lengths people will go to indoctrinate and convert children, ‘Lord Baxter Ballsington’, in which a man has lengthy conversations with his genitalia, and ‘The Adventures of Stimp’, one man’s paranoid contemplation of what his life might be like, and how Pumpkin the hamster might save his life.

While his outlandish and amusing plots provide a reason to pick up the book, it’s Egerton’s fanciful character development that makes the book into the fantastic piece of work that it is. Not once in 183 pages does Egerton create a character solely to be a prop. Each person lives and breathes on his or her pages, with their own quirks and fears, existing for their own ends and reasons.

Every story is laced with humor and allegory, and every phrase is precisely what it needs to be to make this the awesome and laugh-out-loud book that it is. This is one book I enjoyed, one my friends enjoyed, and one that America will love.

“and this”

Meet Kim Baccellia

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 15:43:38 GMT

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