My Book Place

Tell us about yourself.:
As a child, once I learned how to read, books were all I wanted. I especially loved book series; The Happy Hollisters, Nancy Drew and so on. My mom began to reward my good behavior with books. That didn't work for me. I wasn't getting them fast enough. So I hunted down my 'reward book stash' in her closet and read them while she was gone from the house. Amazingly, I never got caught. By the time I received a new book, I'd already read it twice — the first time for the story, the second to catch any details I might have missed.

During elementary school, I read just about anything I could get my hands on. By the time I was 12, I knew for a fact that I was eventually going to be a professional novelist.

Meanwhile, when I was 13, I began to travel much of the world. Over some years, I saw South America, Central America and all of Europe. My travels ended when my parents put their foot down and pulled me back to the States. I was attending the University of London at the time.

I did not want to come home. Having no choice, I enrolled in an American university. Soon after, I met the love of my life. My parents despised him. His parents despised me. We were marrying outside of our faith and they weren't going to allow it.

We married quietly and ran away to Manhattan. There, we raised our brilliant daughters and have been happily married for 44 years. My husband is the finest of men.

And now, I have settled down into becoming a professional novelist. It took a while, but I finally got here.

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
Ah, Miami, Florida. Back then, it was a great place to grow up. I loved running around barefoot in the sunlight. And I loved South Beach. Nights could get a bit mystical. I have memories of Spanish moss hanging from oak trees like witches' hair and blue ladies dancing on rooftops in the moonlight.

But none of this has had any influence on my writing. It's simply how I saw my childhood … romantic and magical.

Today, Miami is a far different place than the one in which I grew up. Most of the old Spanish homes are ploughed under in favor of wealthy mansions. The waterfall fountains are all gone. I still visit occasionally but it will never be like it was in my childhood.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
When writing, I watch a literal movie in my mind and transcribe what I'm 'seeing.'

I am a Pantser (vs. a Plotter), meaning I don't outline my books from start to finish. Of course, I make many internal notes to keep my events and scenes on track.

However, I let my characters show me what they want to do. I am often surprised because I didn't see something coming. And typically, it's better than what I thought was going to happen.

I began "The Other Shoes of Larry Martin" with a kernel of an idea. I intended only one book. That's not what happened. My movie kept running and Larry turned into a 7-book series in one long story. From this, I learned it's important to be flexible. (An understatement.)

In sum, my process is …

Movie, transcribe, detailed notes and see what happens … I doubt much of this is unusual for many authors. Yes, there are those who outline from start to finish. And this works well in nonfiction books. However, for fiction, when it is all about imagination, characters and world building, I find it best not to be rigid.

As for habits, I tend to get up around 5:00 am. No alarm, just when my eyes open. I have coffee and settle down to write. Often, I write all day long. I love it when I can do this. But equally often, I am pulled out of my work by family and responsibilities. I just want to say, do what you must do … but do not ignore your family.

What authors have influenced you?
Ah, Miami, Florida. Back then, it was a great place to grow up. I loved running around barefoot in the sunlight. And I loved South Beach. Nights could get a bit mystical. I have memories of Spanish moss hanging from oak trees like witches' hair and blue ladies dancing on rooftops in the moonlight.

But none of this has had any influence on my writing. It's simply how I saw my childhood … romantic and magical.

Today, Miami is a far different place than the one in which I grew up. Most of the old Spanish homes are ploughed under in favor of wealthy mansions. The waterfall fountains are all gone. I still visit occasionally but it will never be like it was in my childhood.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes. Run! Okay. Joking aside, writing a novel is seriously difficult.

There are many forms of writing … articles to books; non-fiction to fiction. But like anything else, the more you write, the better you become.

I have found writing fiction novels to be a generally lonely experience. I could not tolerate this; it was too emotionally hard. So, I asked for help anywhere I could find it. I found an editor willing to deal with a few thousand pages. I advertised for Beta Readers on Craig's List and Nextdoor.com and found relief in their straight forward perspectives. I stopped being alone.

And then there is publishing. How to do it? Traditional? Indie? Self? There is SO much to learn. If you want to control your rights and content, traditional might not be the way to go. But if you go with Indie, you may need an entertainment lawyer to review any agreement or contract.

I came close to signing an agreement until I sent the contract to my attorney. She discovered that this firm retained the rights to creating any ancillary characters and/or movie rights from my book(s). What? No! While the publishing firm swore they'd never do this, they also refused to put it into writing. (I was done with them.)

To new authors: Be careful of scams. Sadly, there are many out there. Pay the few hundred dollars to have an attorney protect you.

Also, if you're going to publish an eBook on Amazon, realize you must do all your own marketing or hire a publicist.

So for new writers, I suggest you write a lot. Write articles and short stories. Joining writing platforms like Medium or Substack are helpful. Learn to format and get good at writing.

If you eventually want to write a novel, do it. But research and find a good editor to work with. Finish your book. I've seen many authors send out query's before their book is finished .. but they give up or cannot finish their novel for whatever reason. By finishing your novel, you know what you have and can discern your genre and audience.

Also, last but not least, create a social media presence. For me, this was an annoyance that took away from writing. But I did it anyway. It's a part of the business end. So, FB, Twitter, Instagram, ect, … create a following and, if possible, build an email list of people interested in your writing.

Like anyone else, new writers must be willing to grow and take on new challenges that are relentless in expanding the mind. There are no shortcuts. This is, in my opinion, a true labor of love.

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Pavane Ravel

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Tell us about yourself.:
Nat Bickel is an energetic storyteller who aims to move people to action with her words. She has a bachelor's in communications, a previous contributorship with Darling Magazine, and published features in Glamour, Stylist, Shondaland, Refinery29, Parade Magazine, and more. Through her journalism experience, she's interviewed celebrities, worked with musical artists, and reported on current trends and events. She's the author of the children's book, The Christmas Clue, that showcases the tale of a Christmas morning scavenger hunt. When she's not writing, you can find her taking film photos of her dog, pressing flowers, or blazing new trails with her husband.

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I grew up in Southern Indiana. It’s an alright place to live, but it can get a bit dull. I moved from my flat hometown to a town with hills and more scenery. I think this is reflected in my writing because I’m always writing about places I’ve either been outside of Indiana or places I want to go. The setting isn’t usually a Midwest town.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Writing has always been the way I process things, and therefore I try to take readers on a journey with me, letting them see the world from my mindsight view. I tell people I’m an energetic storyteller because I feel the energy when I write. For example, I can tell when a good story or article is brewing. It starts to pop up in my dreams, and I can visualize it before the words come to me. A half-sleep state is usually how my writing starts. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve accidentally texted with a sentence I didn’t want to forget, when I was trying to make a note for myself.

Whenever I sit down to write, I have to drink out of my favorite mug. It gets me in the headspace of “I’m about to let the stories, worlds, characters, and metaphors unleash onto a page.”

What authors have influenced you?
I grew up in Southern Indiana. It’s an alright place to live, but it can get a bit dull. I moved from my flat hometown to a town with hills and more scenery. I think this is reflected in my writing because I’m always writing about places I’ve either been outside of Indiana or places I want to go. The setting isn’t usually a Midwest town.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Constantly be writing/creating.
Even if no one reads it, write it because you only have yourself to benefit.
No one has lived your experience or is in your head, so let your unique thoughts out regularly.

Treat your book like you would a baby. It’s your creation, and you have to nurture it to make it thrive in this world.

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Nat Bickel

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Tell us about yourself.:
My name is Michael Anthony, I'm a writer an author of the graphic memoir, "Just Another Meat-Eating Dirtbag," and the award-winning and acclimated memoirs "Civilianized, " and "Mass Casualties. " My work has appeared widely across the web in various publications and formats, I hold an MFA in creative writing from Lesley University and am a volunteer for the Veterans Writing Project.

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I grew up in Massachusetts, which has a deep history of early American literature (from Emerson and Thoreau to Melville).

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I think my biggest writing quirk is that I tend to write in bursts, meaning I might not write for two weeks but then I'll have a day where I write for 14 hours straight and skip breakfast and lunch.

What authors have influenced you?
I grew up in Massachusetts, which has a deep history of early American literature (from Emerson and Thoreau to Melville).

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don't give up. It's a sludge out there, but keep working at it, keep writing, editing and improving, keep submitting and eventually something will happen!

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Michael Anthony

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Tell us about yourself.:
I was diagnosed with depression at the age of thirty and bipolar disorder at thirty-five. I have been living with these illnesses since 1991 and have had numerous hospitalizations. Two psychiatrists told me at age thirty-nine that I would never work full time again. I have proven them wrong.
I have written two books. The F Book: 7 F’s to Creating Your Fantastic Future teaches you how incorporating these seven F’s will lead to a happier, healthier, more joy-filled life. The other is called My Journey Back to Myself which depicts my struggles and recovery from bipolar disorder.
As an Inspirational Speaker I share with others my coping strategies for living with bipolar disorder and how I learned to be a productive member of society again and thrive despite how I was labelled. My talk, “7 F’s to Creating Your Fantastic Future” outlines seven words all starting with the letter F that led to my recovery. Those Fs are Family, Friends, Fun, Fitness, Fulfillment, Finances and Faith. I have spoken at hospitals, conferences, Rotary Clubs, libraries, colleges and universities.
My home is in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. In the summer I love taking care of my vegetable garden and eating fresh from it every day.

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I grew up on a farm one hour north of Toronto. This gave me the discipline I needed to write a book.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write when I feel inspired. Currently I am writing speeches and blogs.

What authors have influenced you?
I grew up on a farm one hour north of Toronto. This gave me the discipline I needed to write a book.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you are passionate about what you are writing about the ideas will come; don't force them.

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Lynn Rae

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Tell us about yourself.:
I am a lawyer (LL.M., McGill University, Montreal, Canada) and, most importantly, a happy husband and father (one son, and a baby boy on his way). After practicing law for many years and serving as ad hoc diplomat to a specialized UN agency, I am currently focused on enjoying my family time and writing, and I am very happy to join the My Book Place community!

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I was born and raised in Argentina, but a big part of my adult life in Canada. North-America´s unique environment, cultural background, and landscapes have heavily influenced my writing, as you can tell from the very cover of "Crimson Winter"

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don't think I have any writing habits that are noteworthy for their uniqueness. But when I'm committed to a project, I’m determined to write every day (for intellectual activities, I am more productive in the second half of the day and at night). I also endeavor to strictly follow Stephen King's advice: "If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There’s no way around these two things that I’m aware of, no shortcut."

What authors have influenced you?
I was born and raised in Argentina, but a big part of my adult life in Canada. North-America´s unique environment, cultural background, and landscapes have heavily influenced my writing, as you can tell from the very cover of "Crimson Winter"

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Of all the persons living on earth, there is only one who has the power to cast the deciding vote to kill your dream. That person is you. So, keep writing, keep writing, and…keep writing! Remember that "an overnight success is ten years in the making." (Tom Clancy).

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Ken Adams

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Tell us about yourself.:
I am a very creative person and also a scientist. So, I consider myself a NEW Renaissance woman. In the old one, we didn't get much of a look in, did we?! So ladies, let's go, go, go!

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I grew up in California, but was soon travelling the world. Very much a free spirit. I now live in Australia. In a forest. I was always attched to nature, always outside. My family has a musical background, so music is also a big part of me and my writing.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I want to write richly realised and highly evocative fiction. I listen to instrumental music so my imagination can take flight. There are no words to tell me what to think. I sometimes watch birds flying for the same reason. Wow, do I go places!!!

What authors have influenced you?
I grew up in California, but was soon travelling the world. Very much a free spirit. I now live in Australia. In a forest. I was always attched to nature, always outside. My family has a musical background, so music is also a big part of me and my writing.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Believe in yourself and your creation. Don't ever let anyone put you down. Find help from experienced writers who are also good people.

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Karina McRoberts

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Tell us about yourself.:
For clarification the author headshot was taken walking the Bog of Frogs toward the Bailey lighthouse in Howth, Ireland. I'm retired from two careers and enjoy using my hands. Building things large or small is cathartic. I always come away renewed. I intensely dislike social media in all it's forms. If you don't use your muscles, they atrophy, that includes your brain.

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I got taller and grew whiskers in Florida, but it's now where I grew up. The Army taught me there were things more important than me in this world. I learned the value of selfless service. I learned men and women were built, not grown. Tik Tok doesn't build men or women. Being mentored by respectable contributors to society builds men and women.
Influencing my writing, my background, was actually a bit of a problem. In my careers you could never have enough detail, which means I spend lots of time deleting unnecessary narrative summary. I keep thinking readers want as much detail as I do: not so.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I've led a pretty regimented life so I attempt to keep it to a set work schedule of 8 to 5, no weekends or holidays. Sounds a little quirky, but there are others things in life I enjoy as much as writing

What authors have influenced you?
I got taller and grew whiskers in Florida, but it's now where I grew up. The Army taught me there were things more important than me in this world. I learned the value of selfless service. I learned men and women were built, not grown. Tik Tok doesn't build men or women. Being mentored by respectable contributors to society builds men and women.
Influencing my writing, my background, was actually a bit of a problem. In my careers you could never have enough detail, which means I spend lots of time deleting unnecessary narrative summary. I keep thinking readers want as much detail as I do: not so.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never quit. Quitting's like lying, every time you do it, it gets easier. Don't start.

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Geoffrey Robinson

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Tell us about yourself.:
My name is Christopher Link, I am a 48 (9/25/73) year old male. I am originally from Kokomo, Indiana. Currently living in Jacksonville, Florida. By trade I am a Hardwood Floor Technician, in the flooring industry for over 2 decades now. Sanding and finishing/installing hardwood floors. I am a newly published author and my first book is available now. Coming Out of the Illusion: Realizing the real you. I have a passion for creative/spiritual writing. Other interests include further education and training to become a Spiritual Life Coach and Musicianship as a drummer/learning and playing music with others.

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I grew up on a produce farm in between the small towns of Onward and Walton, Indiana. High school was in Walton and college was in Vincennes, Indiana. My writing is heavily influenced by my life in general. The whole act of maturing from a little boy to adult man, personal experiences and using the trials and tribulations of life for wisdom teachings.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My writing process would be considered old school by some. I like to write everything down on paper in full rough draft form and then type it up on the computer.

What authors have influenced you?
I grew up on a produce farm in between the small towns of Onward and Walton, Indiana. High school was in Walton and college was in Vincennes, Indiana. My writing is heavily influenced by my life in general. The whole act of maturing from a little boy to adult man, personal experiences and using the trials and tribulations of life for wisdom teachings.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice for new authors is for them to understand that they are not aspiring authors/writers. You are already talented and gifted value creators who are going after your true passions in life, no matter what it is.You cannot go wrong following your dreams to be a best selling author!

[Read more…] about Author Interview: Christopher Link

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