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5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Starr Sanders, author of BloodLust: The Beginning

March 20, 2009 Joey Pinkney 1 Comment

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Starr Sanders, author of BloodLust: The Beginning
(Infinity Publishing)

Fifteen years ago, Iancu hung up his sword and turned his back on his own kind. A Native American slayer picks up where he left off, although she’s haunted by memories of the night her family was slain by evil incarnates. She has fought and killed every vampire that she has come across.

She’s never made an exception-until now, when she realizes that the man who saved her life fifteen years ago is a vampire. Vampires are growing restless. They want to wage war against humans, but first they must go through Iancu and Charlie.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea/inspiration for BloodLust: The Beginning?

Starr Sanders: I have been interested in vampire fiction since I was a teenager. What inspired me to write this particular story is the fact that there wasn’t enough vampire fiction around at the time. I enjoy a story with a fast-paced story, and not many novels fit the bill when it came to that criteria. More than anything, I wrote this story for myself, so I would have a vampire story to read.

JP: What sets BloodLust: The Beginning apart from other novels in the same genre?

SS: As mentioned before, this story has a faster pace than many other vampire fiction novels. This is, in part, because of the amount of action that was infused into the story. This novel is a lot more action-packed than most. I live for well-written action scenes and fight scenes. This novel definitely delivers.

Another factor that contributes to the fast pacing of the story is the interesting cast of characters that I have put together. It is my every intention to immerse the reader in the intricacies of this story. I want the readers to lose themselves in it.

JP:Â As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to BloodLust: The Beginning getting out to the public?

SS: One of the keys to my success has been the fact that I’m not afraid to try out new avenues of marketing. I make myself as accessible to the reader as possible. I like to get their input on the story. I like to hear their ideas on where the story should go from here… I am in constant contact with my readers.

Another key to my success has been persistence. In this business, persistence is key because not much comes easy in the literary world. There is a lot of competition out there. There are also those consumers who would rather go out and watch a movie than stay in for the night and get lost in a book. It has been and always will be my goal to persuade the non-reader to love reading.

There are many goals that I have for myself, and those goals – along with persistence and innovation – are two major elements of my success.

JP: As a Black author, how did you come to write in the horror paranormal genre?

SS: When it comes to reading, one of my pet peeves is when I am able to predict the ending of a book. When it comes to romance novels, there is a certain formula that many writers use to create a story. Hero and heroine meet; hero and heroine despise each other at first; event happens that bring hero and heroine closer together; an event or secret tears hero and heroine apart; hero and heroine overcome this event or secret and live happily ever after.

There are exceptions to this rule, of course, but for the most part that is a romance novel in a nutshell. Writing paranormal romance fiction, horror fiction, suspense/thrillers, and mystery novels are a way for me to break away from the formulated structure of the romance genre without losing the romantic element. These genres always keep the reader guessing.

JP: What’s next for Starr Sanders?

SS: In the Spring of 2009, I do have a new novel that will be released. The novel is called Open Book and will be released under the pseudonym Skye Sanders. The story follows a romance novelist named Paige Turner who accidentally submits her diary to be published instead of her latest book.

This is my first romance comedy novel, but many of the people who have had the opportunity to read it have loved it. I, myself, love it. In addition to the release of that project, BloodLust: Resurrection will be released in the Fall of 2009. I will be a busy, busy lady this year!

www.starrsanders.com
www.myspace.com/starrsanders

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5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Mikki Starr Martin, author of Zella Dora

March 18, 2009 Joey Pinkney

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Mikki Starr Martin, author of Zella Dora
(ReignStorm Publishing)

Zella Dora’s progression in life has been on hiatus for the better part of the past six years. Since losing her mother tragically and unexpectedly to a rare disease, she has inherited the duty of caring for her father who has vehemently refused to accept that his wife is forever gone. Added to that is the burden of being there for a suicidal friend who, in a quest for love, is determined to pull everyone around down with her. Not to mention her own dependence on her closest friend Darwin who, unbeknownst to Zella, is suffering from the quiet despair of unrequited love.

An instance of unintentional eavesdropping on her neighbor’s lovemaking oddly becomes the catalyst that creates the desire for Zella to break away and come into her own again. A decision she soon discovers is easier to commit to in theory than reality. When Zella becomes intimately involved with her married neighbor, her world quickly spins out of control begging the question of whether she’ll ever be able to live for herself again.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Zella Dora?

Mikki Starr Martin: Zella Dora came about approximately a year and a half before I really got into writing the story. I had some insane idea to write some twisted tale in the genre of erotica…got as far as a prelude and put it down, never thinking about it again. When I moved out to Cali and was unpacking some things, I happened across the legal pad that I’d written that prelude on. When I read it, I thought it was rather dope and very well written… I impressed myself. Immediately, I decided that something should be done with and I began outlining.

JP: You have a knack to making your novels simply complex. What was your writing process for Zella Dora?

MSM: With Zella Dora, I didn’t want to lead the story too much. I wanted to see what would happen if I gave myself minimal direction in writing. So I’d vaguely outline a few chapters at a time and fill in the blanks as I’d write. I was amazed at the things that poured out that way but scared at the same time because I didn’t know where this story was going and I wasn’t used to that lack of control.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Zella Dora getting out to the public?

MSM: I actually have yet to really push Zella Dora to the public. I’ve dropped a few breadcrumbs so her existence is known by a few but I wanted to wait until 2009 to really make her presence known.

JP: I am totally mesmerized by the book cover. Who is the model? Where did you find her? Who designed your cover?

MSM: Wow… I’m happy that you’re digging the cover. The model, I don’t know. I design all my own cover art. The image of the woman on the cover of Zella Dora is a stock photography image that I was thrilled to find. She fit my mental image of what Zella would look like and I was just so happy that the photographer granted me permission to use the image.

JP: What’s next for Miki Starr Martin?

MSM: I’ve started a couple of projects, but I’ve yet to put my heart into any of them. For now, I intend to focus on making my presence known…something that I’ve neglected doing for fear of being rejected by the masses, and finishing editing my first novel Well Runs Dry, so that I may re-release it later this month.

The biggest writing project that I am taking on right now is a 12-week short story series titled Psycho about psychotherapist Dr. Nicollet Madison Fairway who runs a lucrative business counseling fictional characters. It’s part marketing being that the fictitious characters she’s offering therapy to are my own and part writing challenge for myself as I’m allowing myself no guidance with this. I’ve got to find a way to keep it interesting, without giving away too much info about my books. I’ve gotten some love for the teaser, and even I am excited and curious to see where it goes.

www.mikistarr.com
www.myspace.com/mikstarr

Author Miki Starr Martin can be reached at starr_martin@mikistarr.com

P.S. Join the Joey Reviews Newsletter at http://joeypinkney.com/joey-reviews-newsletter.html

P.S.S. If you want to be feature in a 5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… series, email me at joey.pinkney@gmail.com or myspace.com/joeyreviews

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5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Paulette Harper, author of That Was Then, This Is Now: This Broken Vessel Restored

March 17, 2009 Joey Pinkney 2 Comments

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Paulette Harper, author of That Was Then, This Is Now: This Broken Vessel Restored
(Tate Publishing & Enterprises)

How could God have a purpose for me amidst this mess? Why do such bad things happen to good people? If you’ve recently asked yourself these questions, Paulette Harper’s That was Then, This Is Now has the answers. Paulette Harper gropes for meaning and understanding, and through her searching, God reveals Himself to her in ways she never before imagined possible.

By sharing her struggles with transparency, she illustrates how a heart attitude of surrender allows God to use a broken vessel for His ultimate plans of glory. That was Then, This Is Now is a heart-wrenching account of one woman’s true story of determination, loss and triumph. Struggling to recover from a broken marriage and disappointed dreams.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write That Was Then, This Is Now: This Broken Vessel Restored?

Paulette Harper: I was inspired to write That Was Then, This Is Now by God. It was derived from actualÂ events that took place in my life. I wanted to share with people how God restored my life spiritually and emotionally.

JP: What sets That Was Then, This Is Now: This Broken Vessel Restored apart from other novels in its genre?

PH: What sets That Was Then, This Is Now different from other novels is my sound reliance on biblical scriptures. That Was Then, This Is Now offers readers the reasons why and the solutions to many of the challenges we will face.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to That Was Then, This Is Now: This Broken Vessel Restored getting out to the public?

PH: Some of the keys to my success for That Was Then, This Is Now have been me knowing the market for which my book is trying to reach. This includes identifying people, groups and organization that will embrace my writing. I talk about That Was Then, This Is Now to everybody which has afforded me the opportunities to be on radio and television. I also try to stay connected to my readers my email, newsletters and by speaking and having book signing events.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish That Was Then, This Is Now: This Broken Vessel Restored?

PH: When I starting writing That Was Then, This Is Now, it began with the titles of each chapter and I built my stories around those titles.Â For example chapter 1Â Built To Stand- Though It All in this chapter I share with my readers the personal challenges that I faced and how certain scriptures helped me cope with and eventually overcome those challenges and gain spiritually victory. I startedÂ writing That Was Then, This Is Now in January 2007 and completed myÂ manuscript in March of the same year. Tate Publishing offered me a contract in April 2007.

JP: What’s next for Paulette Harper?

PH: I have several projects that I’m working on. I’ve started writing my next book Â Completely Whole another inspirational book which will be released next year. I’m launching a new radio show called “Broken & Restored “ and will be starting “Write Now” workshops to help other inspiring writers and authors.

http://www.bvministry.org/
http://www.pauletteharper.blogspot.com/
http://www.myspace.com/pauletteh

paulet_harper@yahoo.com

P.S. Join the Joey Reviews Newsletter at http://joeypinkney.com/joey-reviews-newsletter.html

P.S.S. If you want to be feature in a 5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… series, email me at joey.pinkney@gmail.com or myspace.com/joeyreviews

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