Interview on the Writing With Red Book Blog

Note:  This interview was conducted by Red Thomas and posted on his Writing With Red blog - you can read the original here and check out his other excellent reviews and author interviews.

Interview with Authorpreneur Mike Wells, the Master of Unputdownable Fiction     

NOVEMBER 9, 2015 / THINKTANKRED91

Welcome to a special interview with the self-published author Mike Wells, a multi-genre writer whose books are consistently rated four stars and above by readers, publishing what he calls “unputdownable” stories. Wells’s focus has been on pushing his content to a cheaper, more readily available media format, and as such he is an advocate for eBooks in today’s market. I previously reviewed several installments of Lust, Money & Murder my blog and found them to be fast-paced thrillers packed with action and drama.

Now that you know a little about Mike Wells, let’s see what he’s working on, as well as his thoughts about his work, trends, and new media.

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What are you working on now?

Right now I’m focused on the next trilogy in my Lust, Money & Murder series—Books 7, 8 and 9. This story has snowballed and taken directions I never could have predicted back when I wrote the first trilogy five years ago. My latest experiment was to post the newest book I was working on, the sixth, serially on my blog, as a free read for anyone who was interested and was willing to join my VIP Reader List. This advance review copy proved to be quite a success, with around 1,000 people reading it by the end, and I plan on doing this with all my future books. It has a lot of advantages for both me and my readers—they give feedback as I go, catch typos and continuity errors—but at the same time it gets the book into their hands a few months faster. Of course I will also publish the books the usual way when the serialization is complete, for those who don’t care for that approach or would simply rather download the whole thing at once.

What was your favorite piece to write?

I don’t really have favorite pieces, any more than a parent could have favorite children. If any part of a book is not fun to write, I simply don’t write it, or stop writing it and delete that part. If it is no fun for me, or feels laborious or like a struggle, then it will probably feel that way to readers, too. There is no place for this in any book if you are trying to produce gripping, “unputdownable” fiction.

You have quite a few books and series. If someone hasn’t read your work before, where do you think should they start?

Probably you should start with Lust, Money & Murder, simply because Book 1 is free. This is my most popular series, and if you like it, there are more books in that series to enjoy than in any of the others.

You offer free advice on your website to help other writers. I do know other writers who are willing to help each other out, but usually it’s strictly people they work with—This way they know when they’ve made an impact or can better control the flow of information. You’re a different case, giving away bits of information you’ve had to work for from the bottom up. What makes you want to share?

Well, I think what you may be getting at is why I don’t not want to share or hold my cards close to my chest. I have been a creative writing teacher for a long time, and what I’ve found is that the vast majority of people don’t ever do anything with this sort of information anyway, no matter how good it is, and the few who are going to do something with it figure it out anyway, so why not help them along? Besides, writing down what I know to share it with others clarifies the principles in my mind and helps me, too.

What made you decide to self-publish, and how did you go about doing it?

Hard to say exactly where the publishing industry is heading. The advent of eBooks and the ability to self publish, digitally, for free has certainly shaken up the apple cart. I decided to self-publish simply because I am a control freak and highly opinionated about how things should be. I did go the traditional publishing route and burned through four different NYC and London agents but was never able to make a deal, which was as much my problem as theirs. But what I finally learned is that most publishers don’t know anymore than I—or you or anybody—does about which books will become successful and which won’t. There’s a huge luck factor involved. To put it another way, I believe I know what’s best for me, what readers want, what will sell in the market, what a “good” book consists of, and I don’t have the time or patience to try to convince other people of that, especially when their track record shows that 70% of their debut novels flop. What’s the point of dealing with them now, anyway, when the gates have been torn down and you can reach readers easily and develop your readership yourself? What you give up, of course, is having the blessing of the Establishment, having them sprinkle their holy water over you and say, “This writer is a REAL author.” Such validation matters to a lot of people, and it matters a little bit to me, but not that much. What makes up for it is having direct contact with thousands of readers who love my books, can’t wait to get their hands on the next one, and have no problem pulling out their pocketbook and paying for them. It’s incredibly satisfying. By self-publishing, I don’t have to convince anyone of anything, I just quietly do my thing.

Do you have any advice for people looking to self-publish?

Good question. First, from square one, if your intent is to make money from your writing, I believe it’s important to think of your self-publishing as a business, if. Of course, some people who self publish are just interested in sharing their work with others, and it doesn’t really matter if they spend more than they make—For them, it’s kind of like a hobby, such as owning and showing horses. Nothing wrong with that. But if your goal is to make money and perhaps earn enough to write full time, I think you have to become an “authorpreneur.” You will be responsible for every aspect of your book, from the cover design to the jacket copy, to the pricing and promotion, and you better be ready to learn to market and sell, too. The latter is the aspect that many writers loathe or outright refuse to have anything to do with. If that’s the way you feel about it, by all means, do not self-publish, go the traditional route and let someone else worry with the details. If you want to sell your self-published books, believe me, you are going to have to market like there is no tomorrow. Nobody needs your novel—you have to convince them to buy it, and the competition in the fiction market is fierce and increasing all the time.

There are no rules about tools, because what you do yourself and what you outsource or barter for depends on your experience and interests. For example, I design all my own book covers but I have an artistic background and a little prior experience with graphic design. The most important advice I can give you is to conserve cash. Most new authors grossly underestimate the difficulty of selling their work and forget that every penny they spend on editing, proofreading, creating their book covers, websites, video trailers, etc. must be made back if you intend to make money at it. This is much easier said than done.

One final point. It’s my observation that most authors self publish far too early, before they have honed their craft and know how to write a great novel. Writing high quality fiction is not easy. All the fancy cover illustrations and video trailers and websites and social media marketing are not going to help a bad book. And most first and even second and third books are pretty bad—mine were; I admit it. But when I actually self-published, though, I had been writing novels for twenty years and had the advantage of lots of interaction with editors and agents, and at least I learned how to write a good enough book for that group of readers to take seriously. So, my advice is that before you self-publish, either: 1) Go down the traditional publishing route until you are a good enough writer to at least get a top literary agent to sign you up for representation (this is far from a guarantee of a book deal, remember—they will probably not be able to sell it), or 2) Post your book(s) on free fiction websites like Wattpad and fine tune your writing until you start building a following of loyal readers. I think success along either one of these paths will ensure that you are not self-publishing prematurely.

I noticed you have reached the maximum friend limit on Goodreads—That’s quite amazing! Do you find it’s a great way to connect with readers and other authors?

I think Goodreads is an excellent platform for readers and authors alike. I am not crazy about the user interface; think it’s kind of hard to navigate, at least for authors. Also the fact that there are often several pages created for the same book because anyone can upload anyone else’s book is kind of annoying. But those are small things, and overall, I think Goodreads is a great resource and an easy way to connect with reader and writers. I do a lot of posting there.

Which of your books or series has been downloaded the most, and what do you think makes it so successful?

Again, that would be the Lust, Money & Murder series, but it’s hard to say whether that series actually has wider appeal than any of my others. This is because Book 1 is kind of my “greeting card”, a book (eBook) that I give free to every new reader I encounter on social media. If I had been doing the same with, say, Book 1 of Passion, Power & Sin, that series might be just as popular or even more popular. It’s hard to disentangle the marketing effort behind a book from its inherent appeal.

Do you enjoy going to seminars, classes, or conventions?

I used to do some of that and I think it’s great, especially when you are on the steep part of the learning curve with writing and publishing. I don’t do much of it now simply because I don’t have the time to do it and don’t need it as much. I prefer to be a speaker now, rather than a member of the audience, even though it is a lot more work. The same holds true for books on writing—I highly recommend them to new authors.

In closing, is there anything you’d like to tell everyone?

First I would like to thank you for interviewing me on your blog, I really appreciate it and you asked some interesting questions, not the usual interview fare. And as always, a huge thank you to all my readers for your continued support.

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Be sure to check out Mike Wells on Goodreads or Twitter!

Interview with Audiobook Narrator Mark Torres

Mark Torres

Today I'm pleased to interview professional actor and audiobook voice artist Mark Torres, who narrated my romantic thriller, The Drive-By Wife.  Mark is now halfway through the narration of The Wrong Side of the Tracks. As feedback from my audiobook listeners has been fantastic, I thought listeners might want to know more about Mark, his background, and his narration process.  In the interview he also shares some interesting thoughts for authors who are considering putting their books in audio format.

Mark, can you tell us a little about yourself and your background? 
I trained as a stage actor at Temple University's Professional Actor Training Program where I received an MFA in acting.  I also hold a BA from Indiana University, where I majored in Theatre and Drama.  When I got out of school, I moved to New York City and was cast in the original cast of Amadeus which ran for three years.  I worked with Ian Mckellen, Tim Curry and Jane Seymour in the original cast.  I soon became interested in directing and began working as a director. I founded a small theatre called Moving Target Theatre Company and produced a number of plays in Brooklyn before moving the company to Dallas.  From there I went to Bangor, Maine to head Penobscot Theatre which I ran for 13 years.  I have now moved back to the New York City area and am once again working as a free lance actor and director.

What led you to start narrating audiobooks?
I have always had an affinity for spoken word communication.  Radio programs and old fashioned radio dramas have held a fascination for me.  When I began researching it as a career option, I was very excited to think I might be able to do it as part of my acting career.

What aspects of audiobook narration do you find the most challenging?
I had heard that recording audiobooks takes lots of personal stamina and I agree.  It takes mental, physical and vocal staying power.  I am often surprised at how much energy I seem to expend after a session of recording and editing.

What parts do you enjoy the most?
I love the to and fro of character to character dialogue, especially if it is witty as in lots of the fun exchanges in The Wrong Side of the Tracks or dramatic, as was the case in working on The Drive By Wife.

Do you have a studio in your home? 
Yes.  I have a recording booth with a standing desk in the guest room of our house (and I can disassemble it pretty quickly when we have guests.) 

Do you do your own editing?
I do my own editing and find that it is during editing that things like the pace of a scene can be addressed if, for instance, I didn't get it quite right when I recorded it.

What's your recording schedule like for given audiobook and how do you pace yourself?
It depends on my schedule.  For instance, with The Drive By Wife, I recorded all the sections and then took them with me to edit when I went out of town to act in a regional theatre production.  When I was not in rehearsal or performance for the play I was in my hotel suite with my headphones on editing the audiobook.

What talents/skills are required to be a good audiobook narrator?
In the case of both of Mike's books that I have worked on, I would say it is character differentiation.  With The Drive By Wife, getting the right tone for the character Billy.  He had to be menacing and yet have a kind of broad regional Appalachian dialect that could have been construed as comic or cartoonish.   With The Wrong Side of the Tracks, voicing the young people with their high school micro-cosmic social hierarchies and concerns also calls on the actor to play them earnestly without a hint of commentary.

Which character was your favorite to narrate in my books?
By far for me was Billy in The Drive By Wife.  Mike created a character whose inner psychological demons drove him to demand from his victims a lengthy and varied cat and mouse game played out over weeks and numerous colorful locales. 

What type of novels do you like to listen to/read yourself?
I enjoy contemporary fiction in both written and audiobook form. 

Do you have any advice for people who want to become audiobook narrators?
Remember that you are bringing the author's work to the listener's ear.  Try to do that while staying out of the way.

Do you have any advice for authors in hiring and working with audiobook narrators?
I would urge authors to consider that they are seeking storytellers, as opposed to someone with a "good" voice. 

Thanks, Mark!

Anyone interested in contacting Mark can do so here on his ACX page.

__________________________

Now in Audio! 
Note:  you can download any of the below FREE by becoming an Audible member on a no-risk 30 day trial basis.

The Drive-By Wife (Romantic Thriller)

      
 

Lust, Money & Murder (International Thriller)

      

Baby Talk (Horror)

     

The Mysterious Disappearance of Kurt Kramer (Paranormal Romance)

     

Thriller Author Mike Wells Interviewed on The Carnage Report

The following interview is reprinted from The Carnage Report, August 26th, 2013

What inspired you to write?
 
For me, that's a little like asking what inspired a bird to fly, or what inspired a fish to swim.  I am a writer; writing is what I do.   I feel a strong urge to write each and every day, and I've had this urge as long as I can remember.  This urge is different from "inspiration," I think.  To me, inspiration is a kind of high, and like most highs--whether naturally or artificially induced--it wears off pretty fast. 

Inspiration might get me started on a book, but I could never actually finish a whole novel, which takes months or years, fueled by inspiration alone.  I would never get through that difficult middle part of the story, where, as the author, you have to struggle with the thorniest story issues.  

Did your family play a role in the development of your literary skills?

Definitely.  My mother is also a writer.  Some of my earliest memories are the sound of her tapping away on a typewriter, writing short stories and other pieces.  In fact, the sound of someone clicking away on a keyboard in the next room is very comforting to me.  Maybe I caught the desire to be a writer through some sort of osmosis, or it's in the genes, I don't know.  

My family, as well as my wife and her family, have always been very supportive of my writing.  They have grown along with me in their supportive roles, too.  My wife has learned to be a fantastic developmental editor and her mother, who is a retired journalist, also helps a lot with both the overall shaping of my books and marketing.

Do you have any literary influences on your work?

I'm sure I do, but I'm not that aware of them when I'm writing.   Stephen King, Rod Serling, Thomas Hardy, David Mamet and Sidney Sheldon have influenced me a lot.  I’ve dissected their books and screenplays in great detail, trying to understand how their plotting, characters, dialogue, and other story elements work. 

What do you think of the state of the book market at the moment?

The fact that ebooks are revolutionizing the publishing industry in a disruptive way has been a godsend to me.  The gatekeepers, the literary agents and editors who were the barriers in traditional publishing, are no longer in the way.   Now authors can easily self-publish and reach readers, and the general public decides which books are good and which ones are not. What could be fairer than that?  Of course, the negative side is that virtually anyone who can push buttons and put together strings of characters (not necessarily forming intelligible words or sentences) can publish.  

This makes it hard for good books to be discovered by readers.  However, the industry is still better under this more democratic model.  I wouldn't want the system to go back to what it was before, not that it would be possible now.  Having a relatively few “experts” wedge themselves in between authors and the reading public, for the purpose of deciding what people will read, is a terrible concept.  It is a formula for corruption.  

What inspired you to write Wild Child?

There's the I-word again!  I felt the urge to write Wild Child as a result of a dream that I had about a girl that I knew in high school -- in the dream, she challenged me to swim across a lake, and it seemed a more than a little dangerous.  When I woke up I thought, "Hm, that's an interesting situation" and felt a lot of energy underneath it.  I poured myself a cup of coffee and started writing the first scene.  The story grabbed hold and I wrote the entire thing in a very short period, in a kind of creative frenzy.

What advice would you lend to a budding writer who has already completed his first novel?

First, break out the champagne!  Ninety percent of the people who say they want to write a novel never actually start one, and ninety percent of those who start one never finish.  So by completing your first novel, you're in the upper 99th percentile.  You have every right to celebrate!

Now, for the not so good news.  As hard as it is to do, try to accept the fact that this first novel of yours is probably not a masterpiece.  There is little chance of it magically zooming to the top of the bestseller lists or that you will be hounded by a gaggle of paparazzi and crazed fans who all "want a piece of you."  If you try to publish your book via the traditional route, you will probably not even be able to find an agent willing to represent it.  If you self-publish it, it's likely that your book will just sit there online and be completely ignored.  I hate to sound so negative, but these are the facts.  Of course there are rare exceptions to this—you might happen to hit on subject matter and/or a style of writing that strikes a nerve in millions, and have your book “go viral,” but think this is a matter of luck more than anything else.

However, take heart:  if you decided to learn to be a baker, would you expect your first cake to be perfect and take the world by storm?   The layers would probably be sliding off each other, the icing job would look a bit sloppy, and it would taste a little off.  That's how your first book will be.  Accept it.  To write a good novel, a formidable set of skills must be mastered.  And, like baking or roller-blading or designing spacecraft, much of the learning comes through trial-and-error and experience.

The most important thing you can do is get your first book out there in front of as many unbiased readers as possible.  The operative word here is "unbiased."    Your mom will force a smile as she swallows that first piece of cake, suppressing a grimace, and a few people who you thought were your friends will lash out with unmerited criticism because they're envious that you turned out to be in that upper 1%.  As a new author, the only readers who are of value to you are total strangers, folks who have absolutely nothing to lose or gain by reacting openly and honestly.

There are a number of websites that allow writers to post books for free for the purpose of getting feedback, often from professionals--HarperCollins runs an excellent one (www.authonomy.com).  What I would recommend is posting HALF of your book, cutting that first part on a cliffhanger, and then see if people start asking you for the other half.  This is the only true litmus test for whether your writing is any good--if it is, people will want MORE.  Even friends or family won't ask for more unless they're hooked.

If you post half your book and nobody wants to read more, then you need to bite the bullet and start asking why, what's the matter with it?  This is where another 90% of wannabe authors drop off, the ones who cannot accept any negative feedback and falsely believe that great writers simply sit down and whip off masterpieces with no learning curve.  Taking this last difficult and often painful step forward will lead you to address the weak spots that you have in your writing, and you will be well on your way to success.

You have written a lot of books.  Which one was the hardest to write?

The Drive-By Wife, a psychological thriller which I am about to release, has definitely been the hardest book I've ever written.  I'm not saying this because it's my latest book and is heavy on my mind.  I say it because it's the book that's taken me the longest to write.  It amazes me to think that I started in…drum roll please…1995!  Eighteen years, folks, to finish one book.  Of course in terms of actual time it probably only took about a year and a half. 

 I got stuck in the middle of the story and every few years I pulled the half-finished manuscript out of the drawer and valiantly attacked it again, only to find myself yanking out my hair in tufts (which is why I don't have much now) and then finally saying, "I just can't nail this one," and putting it away.  It's very discouraging when that happens but you just have to keep the faith.  

Part of the reason this crime novel was so difficult is that it takes place between three characters and is almost "hermetically sealed," like an Agatha Christie mystery.  The character dynamics were hell to develop and get right.  But it's also because I simply didn't have the skill set to finish the book.  As I said earlier, writing a good novel requires mastering lots of skills, and the learning curve is never finished--this particular book really required me to stretch beyond anything I've written before.

Do you have a writing process?

Yes.  When I start on a new book I become very organized, get everything all lined up and ready to go, telling myself that unlike all the other books I've written, THIS one will go smoothly.  Then I start writing, trying to maintain that order, becoming more and more desperate as things begin to fall apart, and eventually I say "Oh, hell" and dive head-first into the deep end, struggling, choking on water, jumping all over the place in the story, half-drowning and fighting for dear life...and after a few months of this struggle, my wife finally drags me out and gives me CPR, and the first draft is done.  The rest is relatively easy.

For you, what comes first?  Character or plot?

That's one of those chicken-and-the-egg questions, because as you well know it's nearly impossible to separate the two.  Sometimes Character and Plot arrive together, unbidden, with a lot of fanfare, in a horse-pulled carriage, and they graciously step out and introduce themselves to me.  Other times I have to round up a posse to go track one or the other of them down, and I often find them cowering in a cave somewhere, refusing to come out. 

Interestingly, Billy, the villain and most memorable character in The Drive-By Wife, appeared out of nowhere in a scene in another story I was writing in a completely different genre.  Billy was so fascinating that I simply took that scene and started developing a plot around him, one that would really let him shine as a villain.  

Conversely, in Lust, Money & Murder, the plot came first.  I had an idea that there might be a criminal somewhere out in the world who could counterfeit U.S. paper money so well that the fakes would be indistinguishable from the real thing.  So I had the plot first, and then I needed to create interesting characters who would fit that plot, a villain and a hero.  

But if you want to know the truth, these two elements, plot and character, come at me much faster and much less distinctly than it sounds here--whenever I'm working on a story idea, the characters and plot hit me almost simultaneously and I jump back and forth between the two very rapidly--I mean, ten times back and forth in five minutes, that kind of thing. 

So the two elements shape each other until the overall story is nice and round, everything works from both a character and plot point of view.  In fact, that's the most difficult part of writing for me, going back and forth and massaging the plot and character until it all fits together seamlessly.

Do you have any new releases in the pipeline?

Yes, as I mentioned previously, The Drive-By Wife will be released shortly (around September 1st).  This is a psychological thriller about a young, upper middle-class couple who are terrorized by a seedy truck driver who becomes obsessed with the wife. He tries to blackmail the couple into letting him spend the night with her each time he passes through town. My wife describes it as “Cape Fear” meets “Psycho.” 

Following The Drive-By Wife, I plan to have Lust, Money & Murder, Books 4, 5 & 6, out by the end of the year, in time for the holiday season.  This will feature the same characters, including the villain, who was in the first series.

I want to say that I appreciate the opportunity to give this interview, and to thank you for asking such good questions.


Connect with Mike on twitter @MikeWellsAuthor or visit Mike's site here,

Also, you can purchase Mike's books at Amazon here

This Week's Reader Interview with Becky Scarberry

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I was born in Southern California and lived there until I was thirty. I now live in the Boston Mountains of Arkansas on a non-working farm. I have had four different careers throughout my life.  I was a Buyer for Hughes Aircraft Company, office manager for a Builder/Developer, legal secretary/paralegal and a claims analyst for an insurance company. I retired at the age of forty-five. I have loved art since I was a child. I love to draw and oil paint. When I was in my 30’s I was given a book on how to scrimshaw. I ended up making quite a bit of money selling it in California, Nevada and Oregon. I haven’t scrimshawed since 2000.

When and how did you discover that you love reading fiction?

I don’t remember what grade it was exactly, but after writing my first book report in school, I became hooked on reading all the fiction I could get my hands on. That never changed. I took every type of English course I could while in high school and college.  My favorite class in high school was journalism. I was convinced I would become a reporter one day.

What are some of your favorite books and who are some of your favorite

authors?

I love almost everything written by Dorothy Garlock. I also love “The Gold Coast” by Nelson DeMille and I consider it the best novel I have ever read. I also like James Patterson. Now that I read ebooks, consisting of many genres, I have a new list of favorite authors and novels.  One special eBook, I can’t bear to not mention is “Vanishing Act” by Indie author, John Scherber.  It’s #6 in his Paul Zacher mystery series of nine.  It has a supernatural or paranormal component, but it is a true mystery. He writes in a similar style as author, Jeff Bennington. Now I want to read everything he has written. It’s no secret to those who follow me on Twitter, another Indie author’s works I admire is Des Birch. There’s only one novel I haven’t yet read by this brilliant author and it’s now in my kindle.

What is your favorite thing about reading fiction?

Up until I started writing fiction, my sole answer would have been for escapism, but now that I write fiction, my answer is two-fold. I learn to write smarter, more creatively and with a better style. Since I’m on the Kindle Book Review team, I read more reviews than ever before. I have learned what the readers like and expect from an author.

Do you have any “pet peeves” about authors, something they do that annoys you?

I find it disappointing when the authors kill off the one character I was rooting for throughout the entire novel.  I also find it confusing when too many characters are introduced all at once. It’s not quite as big a deal now that I have a Kindle Fire because I no longer have to grab pen and paper and make notes. Instead, I can put notes regarding the book I’m reading on a document and save for future reference.

Do you write fiction yourself?

I wrote a screenplay, years ago, but right after final edit, a very similar movie hit the big screen. I wrote my debut novel one year ago, which was an adventure story for young adults with murder in it. I have since decided to consider that novel as writing practice. I started my second novel, a thriller, but soon stopped to write two short stories for a couple of contests. So many young adult Beta Readers liked one of them, “Messages From Henry,” so much; they suggested I turn it into a novella. That’s my current project.

What do you think about ebooks vs.paper books?

On the whole, I think they’re fantastic. Since I joined Twitter, I have been told numerous horror stories by extremely talented authors about attempting traditional publishing. Had those talented authors never Indie published, I would never have had the pleasure of reading their books. On the down side, ebooks are easily pirated and it concerns me. One other thing that I don’t like is that if I want an Indie author’s signed autograph, I have to wait for them to put it in paperback and go to their book signing. I have a huge collection of kindlegraph signatures and cherish them, but it’s just not the same.

What is your favorite Mike Wells book and why?

I’ve read so many of them this is difficult to answer. Although I loved Baby Talk, I have to say Lust, Money and Murder. I love all of the characters.  The places where the characters lived and visited had a cinematic quality and I’m fascinated by the counterfeiting of currency. Elaine’s expertise in the field is especially impressive.

Thanks very much for your interview, Becky!

I’ve enjoyed answering these questions and was thrilled the day you asked if I would consider signing up for this interview. It’s a true pleasure reading your books and knowing you.

Email address: r3scarberry@yahoo.com

Twitter: @Scarberryfields

Facebook: http://t.co/wlUYJr5

Website: The Kindle Book Review http://bit.ly/nhJQL1

This Week's Reader Interview with Patricia Carrigan

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I am seventeen years old, a Senior in high school and I'm graduating June 2012.  I love to write.  I have a large family with 4 other siblings, all of which include, a twin sister, an older sister, and two older brothers. I grew up listening to all sorts of music but I'm a country girl at heart and if I had to chose a country singer that I like the most, it would have to be Toby Kieth or Tim McGraw. Anyways, my favorite class in school is glass class, I've taken the beginning and the advanced class and now I've just been a teacher's assistant for the past two years and helping out with some of the new students that come into the class. I'm usually known for being bubbly and I enjoy trying to cheer people up or just helping them have a good time... but mainly, just being random. :)

When and how did you discover that you love reading fiction?

I discovered that I loved reading fiction when I was fairly young, in fact, I was already reading at a ninth grade level in third grade. My teachers in elementary school didn't like that very much when we took trips to the school library because everyone else would be checking out stuff like Goosebumps and Animal Ark (even though I had tons of them at home) but I would be checking books out like National Velvet. But my mom always got me new books to read and she quickly got me into teen fiction and then the classics!

What are some of your favorite books and who are some of your favorite authors?

Some of my favorite books now are The Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith, The House of Night novels by P.C. and Kristen Cast, as well as some teen fiction novels by Sara Zarr like Story of a Girl and Sweethearts.

What is your favorite thing about reading fiction?

My favorite thing about reading fiction is that the story can go anywhere and take the wildest dips and turns. I also find that fiction can really grab the reader's attention easier than a non-fiction story can, but that's just my personal opinion.

Do you have any “pet peeves” about authors, something they do that really annoys you?

I don't really think I have any pet peeves when it comes to something authors do, I'm fairly tolerable. :)

Do you write fiction yourself?

Yes, in fact, I prefer writing fiction than non-fiction because it allows me to give my own personal flare and supernatural twists to my story. I wrote and published, Antiserum during my Junior year in High School.  It has been a real experience!  Antiserum is a unique version of a vampire story.  I'm currently almost through Antiserum Part II, The Rising.  Hard work, but so fun!

What do you think about ebooks vs. paper books?

Personally, I prefer reading an actual book than I would an ebook mainly because books don't die from a low battery and I love to be able to turn an actual page. I don't really know :) I just love having an actual book to add to my bookshelf, too.

What is your favorite Mike Wells book and why?

The Mysterious Disappearance of Kurt Kramer!   It is a terrific book.  I fell right in with the characters like they were my friends from school! So Mike, you must be doing something right.  Wonderful storyline... I found myself thoroughly engrossed in the tale.  I will continue to be a big Mike Wells fan.

Thanks so much for taking the time give the interview, Patricia!

I love to connect!  http://www.patriciacarrigan.com, @pcarrigan1, author@patriciacarrigan.com

My website is located at http://www.patriciacarrigan.com/  I don't give my book away free because I support the Burn Institute with half my profit.  http://www.rabmad.com/  is a page for a group of authors that donate to charity.

This Week's Reader Interview with Emma Hunneyball

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

First of all, I'm super excited to be here, I've been going on about it for weeks and driving my family nuts. I'm 29 years old, I love to read and review books and I write, with varied results. I have a delicious two year old son, and I've been married for three weeks. I'm a bank manager, gardener and daydreamer. In the evenings I write book reviews which I post to my blog and following a few requests I've launched an editorial service for Indie Authors. People sometimes ask me how I find the time to fit it all in, but I've found you can accomplish amazing things when you do without extraneous frippery. Such as sleep.

When and how did you discover that you love reading fiction?

I have no idea. Reading is just a fact about me, like the fact that I have a liver, but much less icky. My Mum made sure I could read and write long before I went to school and I never looked back. I remember as a child being given beautiful books for birthdays and Christmas. At the age of four I was often asked to read the afternoon story to the other children, and when I was seven a particularly idle teacher told the other pupils to check their spellings with me rather than disturb her drinking her coffee. Significant points in my life were marked with gifts of books: exam success, school prizes, and most recently a beautiful copy of Shakespeare's Sonnets my Dad gave to me on my wedding day. I still have my favourite books from my childhood: a "Chronicles of Narnia" boxed set which is so well read that the books are now fatter than they were, and I can't fit all seven in the box any more. As an adult I often struggled to find time to read. A friend of mine set up a book club at the start of the year, which I joined without hesitation. It forces me to make reading a priority, and because we all take turns choosing texts I get to enjoy books I would never ordinarily have chosen for myself.

What are some of your favorite books and who are some of your favorite authors?

I love Roald Dahl, Angela Carter, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Phillip Pullman, William Shakespeare, Alexandre Dumas, Jane Austen and Oscar Wilde. When I read I want to learn something new, or see a universal truth presented in a new way, and I want to be surprised. When I pick up a book I don't want it to be predictable, I don't want it to follow the formula of its genre and in my view a bit of Magic Realism goes a long way. Wit and irony are huge with me.

My favourite author is Angela Carter. She embodies everything I love about fiction. Rich, descriptive prose, a bit of fin de siecle decadence, Magic Realism, vivid characters and unexpected plot turns. I recommend "Wise Children" and "The Bloody Chamber".

What is your favorite thing about reading fiction?

There's always been an element of escapism for me, hiding away in a world created in partnership between author and reader. I love being able to pick up a book years after I first read it and find something new in a second reading. And I love taking hold of the characters, places and events and carrying on the stories long after I've closed the final page. It gives me an unfortunate habit of staring off into space, with the attendant issue of people asking if I'm "OK".

Do you have any “pet peeves” about authors, something they do that really annoys you?

Gosh yes. I'm Captain Picky, chief of the Pedantry Brigade. I get very cross about laziness of style, and repetition of words/phrases. A book I read recently described every building the characters entered as a Tardis. It really became very tedious after a while, especially when it became clear there weren't actually going to be any Daleks in the story. When I was a child I got very annoyed with Enid Blyton, who seemed incapable of writing a sentence without putting an exclamation mark at the end! Sometimes she used two!! The Famous Five is a veritable minefield of punctuation!!!!! Once I'd spotted it I couldn't concentrate, and I never read Blyton again. And since you've got me started, I'm going to mention J.K. Rowling. I cannot stand the laboured story-so-far rehashes in the opening chapters of Harry Potter books 2-4 She should either have written a precis and stuck it in before the book starts, a la J.R.R. Tolkien and Robin Jarvis, or integrated the "catch up" much better within the body of the stories.

I suppose what I'm getting at is that I can't stand books that are half-heartedly edited. There's a lot of commentary around this subject in the Indie sector, with books hitting the e-shelves jam packed with teeth-grindingly awful spelling and grammatical errors, but traditionally published fiction isn't immune to it either. I think the editor of the seventh Harry Potter book was too busy adding up his fee to actually get around to the business of editing the bloated thing. Editing matters. It really does.

Do you write fiction yourself?

Yes. Yes I do. My reading and writing gloop themselves together in a big creative blob, so that when I'm reading I concentrate on things like style, plot and character, enjoying the book more as a result and when I write I'm very conscious of what I like and dislike in books and it all feeds into my writing.

I'm currently working on a cycle of interconnected short stories set in and around a nineteenth century travelling show. It's packed with Magic Realism and my signature themes of loss and obsession. I plan to get it out into the world in time for my 30th birthday.

What do you think about ebooks vs. paper books?

I really don't get the whole ebook versus paperbook debate, and to be honest it bores me. A lot. I don't subscribe to black and white, either/or philosophies.  I adore my Kindle which has opened up access to books they just don't stock in my local bookshop, supermarket or newsagent. It's portable, so I can take it in the car or read it in my lunchbreak. But I also love my paperbooks, they formed an integral part of my wedding and I have some beautiful signed copies of Phillip Pullman's works. There is room for both in our lives. To be extremely bland about it, we all have a wok in the kitchen cupboard. But that doesn't mean we stop ordering takeaway.

What is your favorite Mike Wells book and why?

I loved "Secrets of the Elusive Lover". It's funny, the themes are intriguing and it defies its genre. It isn't a formulaic romantic comedy and I was genuinely surprised by the ending. This was the first book I read where I interacted with the author whilst reading. Chatting to Mike on Twitter and sharing my favourite ideas and lines, writing a review and asking his opinion, really added an extra dimension to the reading experience.

Thanks so much for taking the time give the interview, Emma!

Emma Hunneyball was uploaded onto the internet several years ago, and has been living there ever since. She dispenses her brand of opinionated jabber on Twitter (@emmahunneyball) and holds forth on literary subjects, at length, on her blog In Potentia.

This Week's Reader Interview - Johanna Pitcairn

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?  

I am a 28 year old lawyer. I was born in France from a former Eastern German mother and a French father. I grew up in a small town in the center of the country, but my parents and I moved to the French Riviera when I was 15. I moved to the United States in 2006, and have been living in New York ever since. I speak German and French, and obviously English. I love to read and write. My upcoming divorce triggered a need for me to write, which I do every day on my blog, short stories and novel. I also love to discover new authors whose work motivates me and inspires me. 

When and how did you discover that you love reading fiction?  

I always loved to read. I think I was born holding a book in my tiny hands! I remember spending lots of days at the school library. I loved detective novels, so I read a lot of Enid Blyton, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie and the French author Maurice Leblan. I chose books mostly on the title and the cover - so when I hear don't judge a book by its cover, well..... I totally did that! I must have read about 10 books a week. I was devouring these books and made it a personal challenge to read as much as I could. I recall watching this documentary on Agatha Christie and wanting to be like her. Sitting all day by the typewriter, drinking tea and letting my imagination take control. It was really a wonderful time. 

What are some of your favorite books and who are some of your favorite authors? 

This is a tricky question!! I have many favorite authors. To name a few, I love Victor Hugo, Turgeniev, Guy de Maupassant, Gustave Flaubert, Stefan Zweig, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Charles Dickens, John Steinbeck, Charles Baudelaire, William Shakespeare. 

I don't have many books which I truly loved so much, I instantly knew they'd influence me for the rest of my life. Madame Bovary by Flaubert is one of them. Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare. First Love by Turgeniev. Les Fleurs du Mal by Baudelaire. 

I love to read modern authors too, of course, but these ones are the ones that I'll always carry with me everywhere I go. 

What is your favorite thing about reading fiction?   

It allows me to escape from the every day routine. I have a very vivid imagination, and a mind that never stops working, so reading fiction for me is like watching a good movie but on my own terms. I set the stage, the actors, the decor and I let the writer guide me in his/her world. It's wonderful. People who tell me they don't like to read don't know what they miss. 

  

Do you have any “pet peeves” about authors, something they do that really annoys you? 

 One thing that really annoys me is when I read a book that is full of typos and grammatical errors. I read many books and short stories, and I think that right now I'm in the process of going through 5 books since I'm giving reviews on Amazon. I am not mean when I tell an author they maybe should have edited their work a third time. It's not even about the story. These mistakes drive me nuts. I understand that many people out there dream of writing, but it doesn't mean that they're allowed to give us a half-assed job just because they have this great software that gave them the opportunity to self-publish in no time. I consider writing like making good wine or sewing a beautiful garment. It doesn't happen in 3 days. I don't care how eager you are to put your name on a book cover, your work is going to be worthless to me. And I'm going to give you one star. End of story.  

Do you write fiction yourself?  

Yes. I wrote since I was little, and I even wanted to become a screenwriter when I was 17, but my dad told me that the movie industry was a world of sharks so I'd be better off becoming a lawyer. I don't know if the legal industry is less crazy, I don't believe so, but... it helps to pay bills. I took a break from writing for about 10 years. My divorce reignited the writing flame, and I've been working on a SF/UF novel since May 2010. I also blog a lot, and write horror short stories. I'm not published yet. The race to find a publisher will start once I'm done with my trilogy. I don't feel the need to chase several rabbits at the same time. I already have a lot on my plate. 

What is your favorite Mike Wells book and why? 

I read 4 books by Mike. Lust Money and Murder, Baby Talk, The Mysterious Disappearance of Kurt Kramer and Secrets of The Elusive Lover. My favorite is by far Secrets of the Elusive Lover. That book was well written, and very engaging. It also touched me personally, as I saw myself in the main protagonist. I don't multi-date like he does, but I understood his thought process and his unwillingness to get too attached to one girl by fear of getting hurt. I could totally relate to such behavior. It was a wonderful read. I loved it a lot. 

Johanna Pitcairn

http://twitter.com/#!/themanicheans

http://themanicheans.blogspot.com/