JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Mark Eller, author of Traitor
(White Wolf Press)

Last Chance – a small town set on the edge of the far frontier. It is a place of gentle manners and common civility. After all, it should be since more than three-quarters of its residents are women. However times change when a Talent Master runs rampant, savages threaten war, and an illegal militia from an alternate universe plans invasion and empire.

A hero is needed. A Savior. Meet Aaron Turner, the small unassuming man who runs the Last Chance General Store. He is this town’s–this world’s–only hope. Unfortunately for the town, Aaron also happens to be a soldier and spy whose job is to prepare the ground for the Militia’s invasion.

To help him with this task, he has a cellar filled with advanced weaponry and the unique ability to teleport between the two worlds. However, after a year of living within Last Chance, Aaron is no longer sure in which direction his loyalties lie.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the inspiration to write Traitor?

Mark Eller: I love flawed characters, magic, and situations appearing too large for a person to handle. I love someone who must fail and grow and develop until he becomes almost complete but leaving him with still more room for change. These characters allow me to experiment with psychological, social, physical, and sometimes sexual conflict.

For Traitor, I envisioned Aaron Turner, a small man in a world of large people, as someone with a unique talent, the ability to teleport between worlds. In one world he is the crippled flunky of a militia despot. In the other he is the forefront of a militia invasion.

A simple enough concept, I thought, but in order to fill the requirements of what I love, more had to be involved. What would happen if my hero had torn emotions? What if Aaron owed everything to the militia, but had learned to love his other home? What if he became deeper and deeper involved in his new life, gaining friends, responsibilities, taking part in local events while still owing loyalty to the illegal militia?

More complex, more room for growth, but it wasn’t enough, so I threw in other factors. Magic Talents and a Talent Master intent on empire. I added savages who go to war in an effort to declare their freedom and a prophesy which claims Aaron will be both the destroyer and savior of those savages. I added the introduction of modern knowledge into a backward world. Finally, I was beginning to become satisfied.

But not quite…

All these factors were a great deal for one small man to handle, but it still wasn’t enough. I threw in questionable courage, self-doubt, and a growing dependence on wine.

Aaron was swamped…

Too swamped for a small man with a tendency to fold. Perhaps. I needed a driving force, something that would make Aaron act despite himself. Enter the concepts of personal integrity and honor. Enter the idea that Aaron might not defend himself when challenged, but wouldn’t allow harm to women and children. These attributes gave him no choice but to step forward when trouble arrived. No matter what, Aaron Turner had to do the right thing despite the any cost to himself.

And thus, after two years of mulling things over, was born Traitor, the first book of The Turner Chronicles. Starting on a small scale, each of the four books is placed on a larger canvas, beginning in a small frontier town and ending on an international level.

I can’t say more for fear of giving too much away except that Traitor is a very good read. This is evidenced by the fact that one of the editors who worked for my first publisher offered to edit the rest of the series for free. She liked the book that much. At this time book two, Betrayed, has been published. Book three, Pawn, has had three edits and is waiting for me to record it before having it published. Crusade, book four, is in my editor’s hands.

JP: What sets Traitor apart from other books in the same genre?

ME: Larrian Wills wrote “…whatever you do, get your free copy. It’s a great read. The unsuspected hero makes you want to either shake him or hug him, but either way, you want to be at his side doing what’s right.”

This comment shows part of what makes Traitor different. The Turner Chronicles has complex characters, an unusual premise, and an ever-increasing canvas. The series is hard to classify. It’s science fiction…but not quite. It’s fantasy…almost. The characters are real, not stereotypes created to fit accepted rolls.

The hero isn’t somebody with superior physical abilities who has unquestioned courage. He is a recovered cripple. He doubts himself. He is an awkward man living among strong women. Aaron Turner often makes mistakes which his honor insists he sets right. This inflexibility leads him to greater problems through the series, dragging him deeper into national and international affairs.

The unusual setting and characterization of The Turner Chronicles made Traitor a hard sell when approaching publishers. Many read it, liked it, but said it did not fit any of the present trends. Swimming Kangaroo Books eventually picked up the series, but closed their doors soon after Traitor’s publication. White Wolf Press knew of Traitor through the Podiobook audiofiction podcast. When they approached me, I jumped on board.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that led to Traitor getting out to the public?

ME: Word-of-mouth, always, and making Traitor free so people can fall in love with the character and want to know more. I’ve also put Traitor out as a podcast on Podiobooks. If listening to books is your thing, you can find it there.

Traitor has been mentioned in other podcasts as well as being named a top twenty summer read by Cyrus Webb of Conversations Book Club and Conversations Live! radio. If you pick up the free copy and like it, please tell your friends and leave a review.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take you to start and finish Traitor?

ME: Each of the four books took about a year and a half to finish. The initial writing for Traitor was complete in only four to five months, but then came the inevitable fleshing out, greater character development, rearranging, rewriting,and rewriting again.

After this, I faced the tough part, finding a publisher, followed by the process of professional editing. I had thought Traitor was perfect. My editors thought different. Four of them and I looked at every line time and again. The process was grueling and fun and very educational.

Several of my editors thought me a strange duck because I enjoyed editing almost as much as I enjoyed writing. The endeavor created late nights and busy times, but I had a blast.

JP: What’s next for Mark Eller?

ME: I am presently working on getting Betrayed, book two, out as a Podiobook podcast. Following that will be the podcast of Pawn and Crusade. I’m working on publishing God Wars, a dark fantasy series I wrote with a partner, Elizabeth Draper. I am also working on consolidating a horror novel, Mercy Bend, into publishable condition.

I’ve been playing with radio hosting, Convince Me, a show where guests have the chance to convince me their views are correct, be it religion, politics, or the supernatural, and I have to rewrite a fantasy novel titled Expendable.

A few days ago, two of my other podcasts were dropped by their host without notice. From the chatter, this happened to a large number of podcasters. This gives me the opportunity to record the shows a second time to improve the sound quality and release them again. Other than those things, my time is free.

My main website is http://www.hellholetavern.com. It’s in need of updating since things have changed over the last year. However, if someone wants to contact me personally, go ahead and write me at hellholetavern@aol.com.

http://facebook.com/MarkEller

http://twitter.com/Mark_Eller

http://writtenword.ning.com/profile/MarkEller

If you like audiofiction, take a run over to I-tunes or Podiobooks and look up Traitor, by Mark Eller, Betrayed will be up before too long, followed by Pawn and Crusade.

Thanks for taking a look at me. I hope to hear from you.

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JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Janie De Coster, author of Frienemies: A Line Between Love and Hate
(J Burrage Publications, LLC)

Natasha Jacobs is a successful young woman who works for one of Atlanta’s most successful marketing firms, Emerson & Stuckey. Sloan Stevens is an ambitious young man working his way up the corporate ladder at Emerson & Stuckey.

Sloan and Natasha have been friends since third grade, and their families and friends suspect that they harbor feelings for each other that run deeper than friendship. But Natasha and Sloan are determined to prove their friends wrong and find true love after leaving a string of unsuccessful relationships in their wake.

Opportunity presents itself in the form of two new coworkers, Essence Kirkland and Derrick Perkins. But when Essence and Derrick turn up the heat, things threaten to boil over and turn true friends into enemies. Will this be a recipe for true love between friends or a poisoned dish that will cost one friend their very life?

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the inspiration to write Frienemies: A Line Between Love and Hate?

Janie De Coster: I got the inspiration to write Frienemies while a friend and I chatted about relationships. The topic was backstabbers and how you couldn’t trust the very ones you had faith in. That is how Frienemies began.

JP: What sets Frienemies: A Line Between Love and Hate apart from other books in the same genre?

JDC: In my writing, I not only want to entertain the reader, but I also like to bring awareness to a certain topic. My topic in Frienemies ask the question can men and women really be “just friends.” So my novel goes beyond the story as it engages the readers to think and form opinions about what they are reading.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that led to Frienemies: A Line Between Love and Hate getting out to the public?

JDC: The keys to my success is being persistent. I believe in myself, and I have confidence in my writing. I am not afraid to get out there and do what is needed to reach the goal I’ve set for Frienemies as well as my previous novels and those to come.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take you to start and finish Frienemies: A Line Between Love and Hate?

JDC: Well the process is pretty much easy. I usually gets up early in the morning while everyone else is still asleep and write a few pages. I prefer early mornings because I can’t write in the evenings. I am too distracted with my evening shows such as Atlanta Housewives, The Braxtons and so on.

Frienemies took me about six months to write. But as all authors know,your book is far from being finish.There are so many rounds of edits you have to go through to have a polish book.

JP: What’s next for Janie De Coster?

JDC: My novel Broken Commandments with Parker Publishing will be release in March 2012.

http://janiedecoster.com

http://facebook.com/ search Janie De Coster

http://twitter.com/janiedecoster

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JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Denetra K. Alexander, author of Sad, But True
(CreateSpace/Amazon)

Sad, But True is a compilation of short stories that carry you on a trip through love, laughter, hurt, pain, dating, confusion and even domestic violence, with a strong dose of empathy and life lessons learned.

Our characters are sure to take you through the entire gauntlet of emotions and have you loving every step of the journey. You’re sure to identify with one or all of the stories. If not, you’re either dead, or you haven’t truly lived yet!

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the inspiration to write Sad, But True?

Denetra K. Alexander: I came up with the idea for Sad, But True while I was beginning to get my second novel All’s Fair on paper. The concern was having an overflow of activity while developing the characters in my story. I felt that I would need to go beyond my anticipated two poetry books and two novels that I planned to complete.

Once I changed my mind about keeping All’s Fair intact, I still hadn’t addressed the use of the title Sad, But True until approximately 9:00 AM on September 24, 2007. The God-given idea was to create a book of short stories. However, I wouldn’t be the only author. I would share this life-altering task with my close friends — C. Real and J. Boss.

JP: What sets Sad, But True apart from other books in the same genre?

DKA: Although Sad, But True was a group project with three authors, we were given no constraints. Collectively, we were allowed to create stories as raw as we wanted them. Creativity was the key.

The general theme was the “ups and downs” of relationships for our generation which is common, but no social issue was off-limits to us. The only requirement was that each of us write 3 short stories, but there was no length requirement. I did give an option to write a fourth story ranging from 500-1000 words. The short story served as a public service announcement (PSA) for a cause of our choice.

We created beyond that goal. After group edits were complete, we decided what stories to include in the book and worked on a sensible order. The order of the stories in Sad, But True is as significant as the actual stories.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that led to Sad, But True getting out to the public?

DKA: The release of the book had to come when all authors were prepared to throw our full attention and support to its successful marketing while managing the expectations each other had of what true success actually is for the project. Our day-jobs would continue, so we had to find creative ways to hold book events and keep one another motivated following the initial positive feedback received from family and friends.

We already knew the work was great. We needed to ensure that we made it to the next level with greater exposure.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take you to start and finish Sad, But True?

DKA: I personally work much better under pressure. I can’t speak for the other two authors. For this book, I didn’t write only a daily basis. For a long time, I loved journal writing. For stories, I write spontaneously on loose pieces of paper, bill envelopes, or any surface that has an available space to jot down my wildest thoughts.

A timeline was given for this project to give more structure as a group. We met as a crew monthly at a different location to group edit and enjoy each other’s company. It kept the project enjoyable. From start to finish, it took less than 6 months to finish the book.

JP: What’s next for Denetra K. Alexander?

DKA: Sad, But True is the first book in a series of three. We begin working on the second book in July 2012. I’ve written and released If Ever and am working on its continuation in addition to All’s Fair. I have completed a book of poetry and journal entries geared for a teen audience but it has not been released.

J. Boss released The Eighth Day prior to this project and is currently completing the sequel. C. Real is currently serving a military mobilization so has not been afforded the time for individual projects. She’s still preparing to contribute to the short story series once she returns in August or September. We are so excited!

http://sbt3fam.webstarts.com/index.html

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000341311239

http://twitter.com/7wondersent

http://twitter.com/SadButTrue3LLC

http://www.linkedin.com/profile/edit?trk=tab_pro

We thank you for this opportunity to revive the enthusiasm we had when we initially released the book, Mr. Pinkney. The work you are doing is amazing!

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JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Kevin Aregbe, author of Kevo: Absence of Color
(Createspace)

Kevo, who was on Fox news “From Inmate to Entrepreneur” has written a book based on miseducation to America. The book explains the influence and lies of the European education system. Kevo also has powerful and inspirational advice in the book for young African-Americans.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the inspiration to write Kevo: Absence of Color?

Kevin Aregbe: History. Inspiration creates History. I was inspired by so many people: Angela Davis, George Jackson, James Baldwin, Steve Biko, Fred Hampton, H.Rap Brown, Bobby Seale, Shirley Chisholm, Cynthia Mckinney, Marcus Garvey, Nelson Mandela, Maya Angelou ,Mary McLeod Bethune, etc. I feel that if you understand your place in history, you will have something to live and die for.

JP: What sets Kevo: Absence of Color apart from other books in the same genre?

K.A: Me. I have been shot, stabbed, in prison, in the streets, but I’ve also opened two businesses, been on Fox news, and even joined the Chamber of Commerce. I am the message in the middle of the poor man and the politician. I see contemporary America from the eyes of both.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that led to Kevo: Absence of Color getting out to the public?

K.A: The YouTube video I made for the book. It actually started as an audio book. When people from other countries demanded I write a paper back, I took it to the next level.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take you to start and finish Kevo: Absence of Color?

K.A: My book is actually a letter, so it didn’t take long to write. I write speeches, so my process is the same as entering a speech: be as honest as possible and write from the heart.

JP: What’s next for Kevin Aregbe?

K.A: The DVD for my book, more speeches, more books, and continuing inspiring others. I figure, “If you don’t do it, no one will do “it” for you”. Im also Houston’s most famous tattoo artist, but I’m not just “a tattoo artist”.

http://www.kevoshow.com

http://facebook.com/ search “kevo/tatts”

http://twitter.com/kevo2021

http://www.kevos.mobi

God bless you guys, much love.

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JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Nakia R. Laushaul, author of Running from Solace
(Serendipity Bound Books)

Running from Solace is a heartfelt story about Naomi, a young girl that is being physically and emotionally abused by her mother and her mother’s boyfriend. Eventually, she is taken out of the home and sent to foster care. She grows up to become a hard-nosed CPS investigator.

In the line of duty, Naomi’s path intertwines with Xavier, a 14-year-old boy at the crossroads of making a life-altering decision. Should he report his mother, Mona, for child abuse? Everything about this story will leave you emotionally drained and breathless.

While Running from Solace may not be true for you, it is true for somebody. And something must be done because a report of child abuse is made every 10 seconds in the United States.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the inspiration to write Running from Solace?

Nakia R. Laushaul: I actually sat down to write a chick lit book. It was going to be a witty look at love and dating. But, once I sat down to write it, well, let’s just say that Running from Solace took on a life of it’s own and began to tell the story that was ready to be told. I just went along for the ride.

JP: What sets Running from Solace apart from other books in the same genre?

NRL: I’m a firm believer in this: “There is nothing new under the sun.” I believe that every story has been told a hundred ways already, but every reader has not been reached by every story.

The only thing that sets my book a part is that my voice is new—I’m a new author. I’ve only just arrived to this literary world. Because I stepped up, God will set my feet where He wants them to go, so I try not to focus on being different, but to just be me.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that led to Running from Solace getting out to the public?

NRL: I’m grassroots all the way. I attribute any success that has fallen my way to the readers of Running from Solace as well as my first book, The Truth As I See It.

I can’t tell you how many messages that I’ve received that start with “_____ told me that I had to read this book”. Also reviewers have been huge Running from Solace pushers.

However, behind-the-scenes there was a lot of hard work getting this book reader-ready, and I didn’t skimp on any of it from pouring my heart out as I wrote and re-wrote, to finding the perfect editor, and a nice outfit (cover) to present it to you.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take you to start and finish Running from Solace?

NRL: Well, about 10 years ago, I started writing Running from Solace and got to the end of Part One when self-doubt and fear made me put it away. In 2009, I received feedback on a sample of it from Author/Teacher Venise T. Berry that made me go back to the drawing board to evaluate my writing style. I pretty much started from scratch at that point.

A huge majority of Running from Solace was written in a month. I call myself a “binge writer”. Once I get going, I get greedy and end up purging until the entire story is out of me. I’m waiting for that to happen again with my next book. It’s right on the tip of spirit, impatiently waiting to be told.

JP: What’s next for Nakia R. Laushaul?

NRL: I’m currently working on my next novel while I try to get Running from Solace into as many hearts as I can. I’ve gone back and forth with which one of the three novels that I’ve already started will come out next, so I’m won’t say any titles just yet.

http://www.nakiarlaushaul.com

http://nakialaushaul.blogspot.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nakia-R-Laushaul-presents-The-Truth-As-I-See-It-In-Poetry-Prose/346645442878?ref=nf

http://twitter.com/nakiaRL

YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/NakiaRLaushaul

Welcome to my literary journey!

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JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Paul Collins, author of Mack Dunstan’s Inferno
(iUniverse)

Mack Dunstan’s Inferno is about a Charlton-Heston-type character who succumbed to Alzheimer’s, descended into hell and met victims of his pro-gun policy. Yes, as he descended into hades, he met oodles of Hollywood celebrities, both living and dead, including Kelsey Grammar, Sally Struthers, and JK Rowlings. There is even a comical scene with Woody Allen, too. This is a modern-day Divine Comedy!

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the inspiration to write Mack Dunstan’s Inferno?

Paul Collins: Mack Dunstan’s Inferno was inspired by the documentary “Bowling for Columbine“, where Michael Moore challenged actor Charlton Heston on his role in gun rallies on the week of a massacre at Columbine High School. Well, the Heston Estate forbid the use of Heston in the work, but iUniverse has published it because I changed Charlton Heston into Mack Dunstan, and the paperback is called Mack Dunstan’s Inferno.

JP: What sets Mack Dunstan’s Inferno apart from other books in the same genre?

PC: Mack Dunstan’s Inferno is about the death experience without the dogma of organized religion. It is also about the victims of violence, not the guilty who are being punished for their crimes. It is every day average people, including politicians, and Hollywood actors, all adding humor, or insight into the work.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that led to Mack Dunstan’s Inferno getting out to the public?

PC: This book mentions names, some famous, some not. Mack Dunstan’s Inferno is a reflection of our society, a sight we would not like to see, but we have to see it and understand it to make this world better. Essentially, sometimes you have to walk through the mud, to smell the roses!

You will never find a book like this endorsed by Oprah, or any other celebrity. This is not the usual fluff from Daniel Steele. Mack Dunstan’s Inferno has its own personality, and it is unapologetic about the sight it reveals.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take you to start and finish Mack Dunstan’s Inferno?

PC: The only way I can scribble is to daydream. The idea comes stream of consciousness, before I start following a structure. This idea also came right from “Bowling for Columbine” and reading Dante’s Inferno. I started writing it in May or June of 2004, and  I finished it at the end of February 2005.

Someone actually had to encourage me to put this on paper. But once it came, it flooded the pages, and I was pleased. I remember reading Dante’s Inferno, taking notes along the sides, finishing the book, and then typing up the notes. Such a memory makes me smile.

JP: What’s next for Paul Collins?

PC: I have worked in film and TV for over ten years. I meet a lot of crazy characters in my position. I find if you work with someone for 12 or 14 hours, you will get to know a person more than you plan. Some people leave a lasting impression because they may something private.

I wrote a fictionalized version of all the crazy stuff I have heard on film sets. I will not name names. I am pitching it around but things take time. I hope to get it out in the future.

http://www.myspace.com/authorpaulcollins

http://angiesdiary.com/author/authorpaulcollins/

http://facebook.com/authorpaulcollins

http://twitter.com/authorpcollins

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JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Lisa Maria Carroll, author of Confessions of a Gold Digger: She’s the Woman You Want to Hate, but Can’t
(I Define Me, LLC)

Confessions of a Gold Digger chronicles my dating life from a time when I was ready to throw in the towel because I thought all men were no-good to a place where I found happiness in my dating life. I was so fed up with men whose idea of a great date was hanging out or kicking it at my place, eating my food, or sleeping in my bed that I donned my independent woman crown as a way of showing them that I didn’t need them. And I got everything I bargained for by attracting men who expected me to pay for dates and buy them gifts.

But I eventually realized that I was the problem, and that I needed to stop trying to change men and change myself. I had set my expectations of men so low out of fear that I wouldn’t get one. I was also afraid that I would be seen as high maintenance or a gold digger if I had standards. But once I got over those fears and did the work on myself, I began to attract men who possessed the qualities that I desired in a mate.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the inspiration to write Confessions of a Gold Digger: She’s the Woman You Want to Hate, but Can’t?

Lisa Maria Carroll: I host a relationship radio show, and I also have a relationship group page on Facebook. And everyday I hear from women and men who talk about their relationship problems, but don’t take responsibility for their choices. From there, I knew I wanted to write a book on relationships, but didn’t know where to start because I couldn’t narrow the topic.

Then I was brainstorming with my accountability partner one day, and she said, “Confessions of a Gold Digger,” and I was like, that’s perfect because I had recently reconnected with an ex that I hadn’t talked to in almost five years. When we talked, he called me a gold digger and said that I only broke up with him after he ran out of money.

At first I was offended, because I thought our relationship was built on love. But after I thought about it for a while, I realized that wasn’t the first time I had been called a gold digger. I usually got that title hurled at me anytime I decided to put my own interests first. I also realized that there are some women, namely white women, who don’t get called gold diggers as often as black women do, because they’re raised to have certain expectations of men that black women aren’t.

JP: What sets Confessions of a Gold Digger: She’s the Woman You Want to Hate, but Can’t apart from other books in the same genre?

LMC: Most people read the title of my book and expect it to be about a woman teaching women how to get over on men, or how to dress and where to hang out in order to snag a rich man. But that’s not the case at all. I teach women to not set their expectations of men low because that’s all they believe they can have or deserve. I want them to know that good men abound and having standards does not make them high maintenance. And if other people think it does, so what?

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that led to Confessions of a Gold Digger: She’s the Woman You Want to Hate, but Can’t getting out to the public?

LMC: I am a lover of all things social media, so I use my networks to get the word out.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take you to start and finish Confessions of a Gold Digger: She’s the Woman You Want to Hate, but Can’t?

LMC: I’m not very disciplined in my writing process, so I write whenever I feel inspired. Once I finally organized my thoughts and decided to sit down and put them in print, it only took two weeks. However, the revision process was much longer, probably about four months.

JP: What’s next for Lisa Maria Carroll?

LMC: I’m currently working on a fiction series called Even Thugs Love Jesus. The first book by the same title is due out in Spring 2012. I’ve also drafted the outline for the second book, which is Single, Saved and Searching for a Wife.

http://www.confessionsofagolddigger.com

http://facebook.com/lisamariacarroll

http://www.twitter.com/iamlisamaria

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JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
George Wier, author of The Last Call – A Bill Travis Mystery
(Flagstone Books)

The Last Call is the first in an action/adventure mystery series called The Bill Travis Mysteries. In this first book, Bill Travis – an investment counselor rapidly approaching his 40s – assists Julie Simmons in her flight from the henchmen of quarterhorse racer and illicit liquor baron, Archie Carpin.

Carpin’s men are as ruthless as they are stupid, and their penchant for high-powered firearms and rigged explosives is matched only by their doggedness in either capturing or killing Julie. Enter Bill and his good friend Hank – also no slouch in the explosives department.

But what did Julie do to get all this attention? And how can Bill save her? Fortunately for the reader, this book is free on Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Nobles Nook, as well as other ebook readers. To quote Bill Crider: “Get it before last call!”

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the inspiration to write The Last Call – A Bill Travis Mystery?

George Wier: When I moved to Austin, Texas, in 2002, I did a great deal of reading. I didn’t know a lot of people and books were very much my constant companion. I looked around, however, for a book or a series of books that personified my new home town. Also, I looked for a character I could not only identify with, but one that could give me a clue as to how to act, or basically, how to be. Finding none, I sat down and began writing.

I didn’t know what was going to come of it; I just knew I would be creating the character and the situations I wanted to read about. And that, I believe, is the chief ingredient in any good story. Is the character true, not only to himself and his ideals, but to everyone and everything around him? Just how authentic could he be? So, that’s where Bill came from. And in those early days, I already had the titles for the first 10 or so books picked out, and very largely, I have stuck with those titles and those first story ideas.

Thus far, there are 7 completed books and more on the way. But the writing of them… That has gotten better. And Bill, he’s gotten a great deal better as well. His wit, like mine, is perhaps a little more wry. His predilection for action, like mine, is the highest it could be. (It may surprise you to know that I have lived some of these adventures – and maybe that’s why I’m prematurely gray).

I am still, however, gaining inspiration for this character, his friends and family, and even his enemies. It’s around me every day here, and like Bill, I’ve never stopped observing. I suppose a real writer must always be willing to look and experience. A real writer must be willing to get his feet wet or his hands dirty. And if he’s not ready and willing to do those things, why, I don’t believe the inspiration will ever come.

Ultimately, I guess you could say that my inspiration comes from life. But that sounds a bit trite. Maybe I could say it better by saying that if you plug in the other definition for life there (not the thing that means “what goes on around one”, but instead “one’s own existence”) then possibly it makes a little more sense.

People forget sometimes that THEY are life. I guess that’s what I mean. That’s a little bit truer, too, as far as this protagonist is concerned. George is not now the Bill he could have been. Not that he’s really me. Just that we’ve had some shared experiences, that’s all. Yes, I’ve had people point guns at me. Yes, I’ve had some high-speed chases. All that stuff.

It’s far better, though, to write about them than to have them, let me tell you. But sometimes… well, there’s just no substitute. There’s a definite ringing-in-the-ears that one gets after having fired a high-powered rifle. Try describing it without having experienced it. Shoot, I can smell the gunpowder in my nose right now.

JP: What sets The Last Call – A Bill Travis Mystery apart from other books in the same genre?

GW: Well, it sort of is a “genre” book, and it sort of isn’t. As a good friend of mine, Joe Prentis, said, there are too many protagonists that are too… (fill in the blank). Meaning, they’ve got a problem with alcohol, or they’ve got problems with women, or they’ve got this or they’ve got that… yada yada yada.

Bill is different. He’s Everyman. And in The Last Call, I’ve done my best to paint him as indistinctly as I can, yet at the same time I made it easy to get to know him – how he thinks, how he reacts, what his dreams are like. And in the final analysis, that’s what identifies us all – not what we look like, but who we are.

I wanted no less for Bill Travis. I wanted him real, just as you are, just as I am. Also, I wanted him in a completely impossible situation. I wanted to test his mettle and at the same time push the reader to the edge, if not over it. I don’t, however, find many other books that do this. “Of course,” I’m probably hearing you say, “you’re touting your book here, buddy.” Well, you got me there. But, please find for me a character or a book like this?

The closest I can come to that is John Dunning’s “booked” character in his classic Booked to Die, and its sequels. And Dunning is a true master. There are a few I strive to do better than, and he’s one of them. But there’s one last element I’d like to call your attention to: it’s the action. When I was a young fellow (I was once, you know – really!) I read a lot of action and adventure books. Most of them were a bit campy – I know because I’ve tried to go back and re-read them, and I just can’t get myself through one these days. But back then I had a white-knuckle grip on the page and the story would grab me and I’d read until two or four in the morning!

That’s what I wanted with these books, and particularly this first one. I wanted that white-knuckle/on-the-edge-of-your-seat feel. I wanted to give that to my readers. And I’ve had more than a few tell me that I succeeded. So, I suppose I did well. I that way, this book (and its sequels) is decidedly different.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that led to The Last Call – A Bill Travis Mystery getting out to the public?

GW: First, I never took no for an answer. Many, many times I was told that I should stop, that “we don’t accept this kind of manuscript” (which I took to mean: “you scare us kid. Nobody should write like this.”) I’ve heard it all. Not once did I ever give up.

As my wife, Sallie, says, no matter what is going on with me – death close by, taxes, 12-hour shifts, whatever – I’m always writing and I always will be (and I think it’s one of the reasons I think she married me: I’m always handing her something to read!). I can’t stop writing, so if I’m going to write, I might as well write what I want to read and what some other people will want to read.

So I made the break when my good friend, Milton Burton, suggested to Bobby Byrd over at Cinco Puntos Press that he should get a short story from George Wier for his upcoming Lone Star Noir anthology. So, in about thirty minutes I took a former Bill Travis story that seemed to be going nowhere, chopped it off around page 30 or so, changed the character names and the ending a bit, fleshed it out a little, and fired it off.

And those were the most well-spent thirty minutes of my life! I then went on the book tour around Texas promoting the book (I was the only author in that anthology that went to ALL the book signings, no matter how far-flung, and I took Sallie with me to boot!). You can say that I got lucky, and you’d be right about that. But it’s my belief that people make their own luck. You have to be a bit of a mule, you know. You have to make up your mind and NOT CHANGE IT when the wind blows the wrong way. That’s pretty much it.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take you to start and finish The Last Call – A Bill Travis Mystery?

GW: For my writing process, I take Stephen King’s advice in his wonderful book On Writing: I sit down and write. I let a hole open up in my computer screen and I see this other world and I report what goes on there. I just do that and only that.

And really, all along I have maintained (and still do so) that I have very little to do with the whole process. You just write. The story either comes or it doesn’t. It’s sort of a silly illusionist trick, you know? When you know the secret to it, it’s sort of spoiled. But, you asked.

With regard to how long this one took me, I’d say about a month, start to finish, maybe a little more. I didn’t clock myself on this one. I did on Arrowmoon, Book 8 in the series. That one took 29 days, start to finish. And all the while, I was taking classes and working a 40-hour week job. So when people say “I don’t have time to write,” and give me this sad look, I think to myself “Just keep thinking that and that’s what you’ll get: a lot of blank paper!” Sorry to sound so harsh, that’s just the reality of it, at least from my point-of-view.

JP: What’s next for George Wier?

GW: Well, finish this series, for starters. I just sent off a manuscript to a traditional publisher after he said he was interested in publishing it. Fortunately, I know the guy. I’ve got a number of other completed novels waiting in the wings. They’re not dusty or anything – they’re all fairly fresh and pretty much ready to go.

And when I say “finish this series”, I’m talking about 16, 17 more books. I can do no less, actually. It’s been the plan pretty much all along. I do hope that this body has from 50 to 70 more books in it. I’m 47 now, and I plan on a long run. Hopefully, you’ll be there interviewing me at the far end, and we’ll look back on that little interview we did once, and we’ll laugh. Okay, is that it? Say, thanks!

http://www.georgewier.com

http://billtravismysteries.com

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JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Patricia A. Bridewell and Faatima Albasir-Johnson, author of A Generation of Curses
(NCM Publishing)

Khadesia Hill’s life could not be better. She is the wife of the debonair Assistant Pastor, Malcolm Hill, youngest son and first choice to succeed his father as pastor of the mega church, Solid Rock Christian Ministries. Obedience to the Lord led her to California twelve years earlier where she met and married Malcolm and gave birth to their daughter.

Her world shatters when a detective shows up at her business one day. He claims to have evidence that could possibly link her to an ex-boyfriend’s murder ten years ago in her home town. Secrets about her past unfold and cast shadows over her pure reputation in the church and with Malcolm’s family.

When the news is revealed, Malcolm’s older brother Corbin and his wife Stacie step up efforts to win Corbin his father’s seat as the next pastor. Stacie’s friend Maxie, who has a long-time attraction to Malcolm, enters the picture at the wrong time and causes a love triangle by trying to sway Malcolm her way. Will Khadesia s and Malcolm s faith and trust in God remain steadfast through the crises in their lives?

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the inspiration to write A Generation of Curses?

Patricia A. Bridewell: My inspiration came from knowing that some of the facts in this book were based on true events. I experienced an overflow of excitement when we started writing what I call a “Reality Adapted to Faith-Based Fiction” novel.

Faatima Albasir-Johnson: What inspired me was that it is a fiction story loosely based on some actual events that happened in the past. We both were able to entwine fiction and facts to pull the story together.

JP: What sets A Generation of Curses apart from other books in the same genre?

FAJ: I think the book has something in it for everyone; it is an interesting story that will appeal to many readers. We want to reach not only readers who enjoy reading Christian Fiction, but those who enjoy reading good stories.

PAB: The book is a mix of inspirational romance offset by the kind of drama that will keep readers wondering what will happen next. Parts of the book are somewhat edgy, but not much, and I think readers will enjoy the storyline. The story exposes imperfections as well as positive aspects of characters’ lives, which are what we see in the real world today.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that led to A Generation of Curses getting out to the public?

PAB: The book will be released in May 2012, and we have been getting the word out through people that we know, social media, advertisement, planning for events and book signings. Our publisher has also been promoting the book.

FAJ: Even though the book has not yet been released, we have tried to create a buzz by using all forms of promotional methods. We are also connecting with various book clubs, trying to come up with creative, nontraditional avenues for promoting our book, plus our publisher recently did a great book trailer.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take you to start and finish A Generation of Curses?

FAJ: I tend to write in a free-flow style. It allows me to express myself freely, and it doesn’t inhibit my creativity. When the characters speak out, I write.

PAB: When an idea pops in my mind, I immediately write down facts—whether I’m at home, work, or driving somewhere. As soon as I get to a computer, I begin listing character names, appearances, personalities, plot information, whatever I can think of. From my ongoing notes, everything begins to flow.

We started the book almost two years ago, but both had tragedies occur and had to put it on hold for a while. But through prayer and determination, God put us back on track, and for the past six months we have collaboratively focused on finishing the book.

JP: What’s next for Patricia A. Bridewell and Faatima Albasir-Johnson?

PAB: My goal is to write more books that will hopefully encourage, educate, and inspire people. I have a deep passion for lifting spirits, and I believe words are powerful. The gift to pen genuine stories has been a blessing.

FAJ: I hope to continue my journey in the literary world, writing meaningful and enjoyable stories.

http://www.patriciabridewell.com

http://www.fatimaalbasirjohnson.com

http://twitter.com/PABridewell

facebook.com/search Patricia Ann Bridewell or Faatima Ingrid Al-basir

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JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Michael Meyer, author of Covert Dreams
(Amazon Kindle)

Is the mysterious disappearance of an American in today’s Saudi Arabia somehow linked to a terrible murder in Munich back in 1984? Is B.J. living a nightmare, or is it reality? How can he dream the same dream night after night and know intimate details of Munich, a city in which he has never been? How can he speak German in his dream, a language he does not know? Why does everybody think he is losing it? Is he going crazy?

How can a woman suddenly disappear in the Saudi Arabian heat, along with every trace of her very existence? Why is there absolutely nothing, not one single detail in any records anywhere, to prove that she is indeed a living person and that her spouse is not crazy for thinking so? Why do both the American government officials and the Saudi Arabia authorities insist that she has never even existed?

What is real, and what is not? Who is really who, and why? What is behind the murder, the kidnappings, and the nightmares all leading up to what end? The mounting suspense moves from Munich, to London, to Rome, and to the burning sands of Saudi Arabia. What is the horrifying link between these two alternating stories?

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the inspiration to write Covert Dreams?

Michael Meyer: I love a good mystery. I like to be thrilled. There are few locales in the world more mysterious than Saudi Arabia. In addition, Munich has been one of my most frequented vacation spots. That is how I chose the two primary locales.

As for the plot, the strange relationship between the very Western American government and the ultra conservative Saudi government has always intrigued me, so the plot was born. As I wrote the thriller, not knowing where it would lead me or how it would end, I was like a reader myself.

I have lived in both Germany and Saudi Arabia, the two most prominent locales depicted in Covert Dreams, so the authenticity of the setting appealed greatly to me.

JP: What sets Covert Dreams apart from other books in the same genre?

MM: I don’t see myself competing with other writers. I am not very good at tooting my own horn. What I can say, though, is that I strive to be only at my very best when I write. I am a strong critic of my own writing. If I don’t like something, then it does not find a permanent home in my work.

I love language, and I spend an enormous amount of time just trying to get every sentence to convey precisely the right sounds and images. In other words, I think of myself as a perfectionist when it comes to my writing.

One reviewer said the following about Covert Dreams, “The dialogue in the book was completely realistic. It was not cliché or overly dramatized as we sometimes see in thrillers.” That meant a lot to me.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that led to Covert Dreams getting out to the public?

MM: I rely heavily upon word-of-mouth advertising. I have been fortunate to have gathered great reviews of the book, and many from pretty prominent people. I seek out interviews on blogs, and I participate in a wide variety of forums. The bottom line, however, is that the quality of my work has to speak to others, and they, in turn, have to speak about it for me. Thus far things are going quite well.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take you to start and finish Covert Dreams?

MM: I am an early morning person, so I like to get to work right after breakfast. I walk for about an hour six days a week, and on that walk, just before breakfast, while exercising my body, I am also exercising my brain by coming up with ideas for that morning’s writing session.

I sometimes find myself having to hurry home just to be able to jot down a note or two before I lose the idea. I started Covert Dreams a couple of years ago and then after my retirement in December of 2010 from a forty-year career as an English professor, I made it my priority to finally give birth to my baby.

JP: What’s next for Michael Meyer?

MM: I am nearly finished with my second novel of suspense, entitled The Deadly Eyes of St. Croix. I was a professor of English at the St. Croix campus of the University of the Virgin Islands for four years. I hope to have the novel published by Amazon Kindle in the next couple of months. And then I hope to get started on my next book and the one after that. I seriously hope to be writing well into my old age.

My Amazon author’s website:
http://www.amazon.com/author/michaelmeyer

My Goodreads author’s site:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/674626.Mike_Meyer

My Google+ site:
https://plus.google.com/115986313551109065097/about

I have always been fascinated by language. For instance, why would I want my credit card swiped at the cashier’s booth while I am swiping it after a purchase? If you are going to come to my house for dinner, are you coming or going? Do children drink their milk up or down? I love the creativity that can be achieved by getting the wording just right. I am an avid reader, and that has also contributed to my desire to write. I enjoy reading my own work. I still can laugh, or cry, at the scenes I have created.

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