Saturday, November 5, 2011

DOWN BUT NOT FOR LONG!

I know I haven't made a post in ages, but I had good reason.  I have been suffering from ulnar nerve entrapment, an impinged tendon, and torn rotator cuff in my left arm for quite some time.  By the time I made it home from work, having typed most of the day, my arm was not in any shape to continue typing for fun on my blog.  My writing has also had to take a backseat because of the inability to type for long periods of time. 

The good news in this post is that the problem hopefully has been resolved.  I had surgery on my left elbow and shoulder last week in an attempt to correct these painful problems.  It is difficult right now to type with my arm being in the sling, but with the aid of Dragon, the voice recognition software, I am getting back into the swing of things.

I hope to post the last edition of my Summer Songs Interview Series this weekend as well as an update on my new writing projects.  Please check back over the next few days and in weeks to come for updates and more information that what's going on with me.     

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Guest On Hollis Chapman Show!

A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of being interviewed on the Hollis Chapman Show.  We discussed not only my novel, Wings of Fate, but we also touched on my new novel, To Cry For Dakota, that is slated for release in late December.

Mr. Chapman was great, and I had a wonderful time chatting with him.  He also had a couple of tips for marketing your books.  I hope you will check it out.



Listen to internet radio with hollischapmanshow on Blog Talk Radio

Friday, October 7, 2011

Guest Blogger On ParaYourNormal!

Wow!  It's amazing how time flies when you have real life to deal with.  But, things are better now, and I hope to focus on catching up over the next few days. 

This week, I had the opportunity to be a guest blogger on ParaYourNormal.blogspot.com.

Thanks Kelli for having me on your blog!

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Summer Songs - Interview Series - DV Berkom!


WELCOME DV BERKOM!

Tonia (T.M.):  This week I would like to welcome DV Berkom to my Summer Songs Interview Series.  I was so excited that you agreed to visit with me.  I know you have been busy with your seventh book in the Kate Jones Adventure Series being released last week, but I wanted to ask you a few questions so we can all get to know more about you and your writing.

DV: Thanks for inviting me, Tonia. It's always a pleasure to chat with you. J Ask away!

Tonia (T.M.):  How long have you been writing and what peaked your interest to do so?

DV:  My first attempt was at the age of seven when I wrote an illustrated ode to cleaning my room (tongue in cheek, even then). I didn't get really serious about writing until 2006 when I completed my first full-length novel. What a rush that was! After that, I was totally hooked.

Tonia (T.M.):  If you had to name five authors who have inspired you to write or keep writing, who would they be?

DV: Only five? Aaack. Okay, let's see: Carl Hiassen (his characters are to die for and he's so FUNNY), Philippa Gregory (my favorite historical writer), Ernest Hemingway (The Sun Also Rises completely changed my ideas about writing), J.K. Rowling (the woman owns a castle. 'nuff said), Daniel Silva (love his Gabriel Allon series), John Sandford (great characters, off the cuff humor, gripping suspense), Janet Evanovich (her books make me LOL), Ken Follett (grew up reading his spy novels), Sue Grafton (Kinsey Millhone- one of the best strong female protagonists I've ever read) – oops. Apparently, I can't count. J

Tonia (T.M.):  Who is your favorite author, of those you've mentioned above? 

DV:  No fair! I enjoy all of them equally. They each offer so much in terms of writing style, pace, setting, etc.

Tonia (T.M.):  I am not sure if everyone knows, but I am a big fan of the Kate Jones Series.  I love the character and for me, Kate represents the strength that lives within each and every one of us.  DV can you tell us how Kate came to be?

DV: Thank you, Tonia! I'm so glad you enjoy Kate. She's fun to write! I love strong female characters, and have a deep need to incorporate that aspect into anything I write. And, I agree with you about inner strength living within each of us- I'm often in awe of people and how they cope, especially in dire circumstances. I'm also fascinated by how one decision can affect a life so profoundly, having repercussions far beyond what the person ever envisioned. With Kate, I knew I wanted a woman who was at heart a good person, but who made one mistake (okay, maybe a couple of them) that changed the course of her life forever. Then, it was just a matter of figuring out what she would do in response to everything I threw at her!

Tonia (T.M.):  I absolutely love the scenery in your books.  I understand that you lived in Mexico for a time and that is where the first five books, Bad Spirits, in the series are set.  Did you write about places you had been to and had a personal connection with in these books?

DV: Absolutely. As you mentioned, I lived in Mexico and fell in love with the country and the people who live there. Much of the time I lived on a sailboat in the Sea of Cortez, but I also traveled alone by bus to Mazatlan and other places, like Kate. It turned out to be the perfect setting for Bad Spirits.

Tonia (T.M):  In the sixth book, Dead of Winter, you lead us to Alaska for a while as Kate sorted things out and made a new life for herself.  Have you ever lived in or visited Alaska?


DV: I did live in Alaska for a time and was awestruck by the raw beauty and vastness of the place. I love hiking and camping and basically anything to do with nature, so felt completely at home. The incredible people I met there gave me a LOT of writing material.

Tonia (T.M.):  This question is selfish and merely to satisfy my own curiosity, but I have to know if we will ever see the character, Sam, again who appeared in Dead of Winter?  I sort of fell in love with him, by the way. *wink*

DV:   It's interesting you should mention that. Several readers have asked me to bring him back, and for much the same reason <grin>. He's definitely one of my favorite characters. I must admit, the idea for another book has been skipping around my brain that just might include his return…stay tuned!

Tonia (T.M.):  As you know, I have purchased book seven, Death Rites, and I am dying to read it.  I have a looming project of my own that I must complete then I get to relax and begin the new adventure with Kate.  As I understand, it is set in Hawaii.  Is that correct?  Do you have a history with Hawaii?


DV:  That's so cool! I can't wait to read your next book. And when will we fans be able to purchase this new project? Soon, I hope. J

As for Death Rites, I made my first trip to Hawaii last February and was intrigued by the mythology and history of the islands. I met many wonderful people while there and was exposed to countless fascinating legends so, of course, my brain just logically took those new experiences and created murder and mayhem. (Yes, it's a twisted brain, I know J)

Tonia (T.M.):  This may be a spoiler question and because I have not yet read Death Rites you may have to dance around this one.  *smile*  Do you have other adventures for Kate Jones planned?  If so, when can we expect to see more of this courageous, resourceful, vivacious character?

DV:  Well, IF she makes it out of Hawaii alive J, then I would think the next book in the series could possibly be available around September.

Tonia (T.M.):  I know that you published your first five books in this series with Books to Go Now.  However, with the last two, you went the self publishing route.  How is that working for you and are you glad you made that move?  

DV: Books To Go Now was great to work with and I thoroughly enjoyed my time with them, but I've always been a Do-It-Yourself kind of gal. After I realized how much fun self-publishing was, I had to go solo. One thing a person should realize before they take the plunge, though, is you will need to treat self-publishing like a small business, because that's exactly what it is. You're responsible for your cover art, formatting, uploading, promotion, editing, the works. There are folks out there who can help you with any of the above, but most of the responsibility is going to rest squarely on your shoulders. That's the aspect that excites me the most, but, like I said, my brain is a tad twisted. J

Tonia (T.M.):  I know you mentioned having interviewed a former DEA Agent from Texas, at the end of the Bad Spirits books.  You know that has always piqued my curiosity as to how you met the former agent or was able to get that interview, considering I am from Texas.  I think it adds a great deal of depth to your books and casts an air of realism to them as well.  How did you happen to meet the mysterious former agent?  Or is that a trade secret?   

DV:  It was pure, dumb luck. I posted a legal question on a writer's listserv I belong to, and a retired DEA supervisor responded. We exchanged several emails and I asked him if he'd be interested in reading Bad Spirits and giving me his take on the plausibility of the story.  He said yes and I held my breath, waiting for his response. After a few days, he sent me an enthusiastic thumbs up! I was so grateful and excited to get the stamp of approval from an actual, retired member of the DEA.

Tonia (T.M.):  That's an amazing turn of events that helped you bring Bad Spirits to life.  I'm glad you had that input.  Now, do you get a chance to read much with all the writing you do?          

DV:  I try to read something everyday. Right now I'm burning through mysteries and thrillers.

Tonia (T.M.):  Do you see yourself working on new projects that are not Kate Jones related in the near future?  If so, can you elaborate on or give us a glimpse of those projects so we know to keep our eyes open for them?

DV:  Yes- thanks for asking! In addition to the Kate Jones series, I'm working on a stand alone book tentatively titled, "Pieces of April." It's a complete departure from Kate, and involves another strong female character who may or may not have had a history as a paid assassin. The rest of the plot is fairly twisted, so I'll leave it at that. My plans are to have it available by the end of this year.

Tonia (T.M.):  Thank you so much for agreeing to participate in this little interview and for being a guest at my blog.  Do you have anything you would like to say to the readers of this interview, other writers or those on the verge of diving off the writing cliff, so to speak, in the way of  encouragement?   

DV:  Thanks, Tonia for such a fun interview! Great questions. Make sure you let us all know when your next book is available- I'm so looking forward to reading it!

If I were to say one thing to writers considering self-publishing, it would be DO IT! If you're a newbie and you have the urge to write, learn the basics, take some classes, shore up your weaknesses (we all have them J), join a critique group- then, write! Finish your first draft, go over it a couple of times, then send it to some trusted beta readers for feedback. Listen to everything they say that comes up more than once, as well as what resonates with you, and figure out how to change it. Put the manuscript down for a week or a month, then come back to it and re-read. Out loud. Revise, revise, revise. Check your facts. Send it to readers again. Incorporate their suggestions if they make sense, and revise again. Then, when you think it's as perfect as you can make it, find a good freelance editor and have them take a look. Once that's done, create a great looking book cover, format the book (the Smashwords Style Guide is a good place to start) and publish! There's a boatload of free information out there about all aspects of self-pubbing. Use it!

One more caveat: Enjoy the process.  Most people won't stick with something for long if it isn't fun, and this is a long-haul kind of thing. Don't expect instant success, and don't quit your day job, yet. It's an exciting time to be a writer. Grab the reins and hold on tight!


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I want to offer a big thank you to DV for visiting with me and letting us get to know more about her personally and her work.  Her stories are very realistic, and I enjoy them very much.  I hope you will check all of them out.  I know I am looking forward to her her next projects.

Please stop by again next week for another featured author in my Summer Songs - Interview Series. 

Monday, August 8, 2011

Fan Made Trailer - Wings Of Fate!

Last week I had the most wonderful surprise.  I knew a friend was reading Wings of Fate, but I had no idea what she was planning after she read my book.  This is what she made.


K also had some wonderful comments to make about Wings of Fate, which she posted on Twitter:


Monday, August 1, 2011

Summer Songs - Interview Series - Pavarti K. Tyler!


WELCOME PAVARTI K. TYLER!

Tonia (T.M.):  Pavarti I want to say welcome to my Summer Songs Interview Series.  I am excited be able to visit with you and ask a few questions so we can all get to know more about you and your writing.

Pav:  Yeah!  What fun!  I'm thrilled to be here, what a cool idea.


Tonia (T.M.):  Please share with us what prompted your desire to write.

Pav:  Honestly?  It was the crap filled writing in the Twilight Saga.  I've been writing my whole life to one degree or another, but after reading Stephanie Meyer's version of "feminism" and "love" I was just pissed off.  I went to read some fanfiction and decided, hey I can do that!  My stories were so well received I decided to throw caution to the wind and work on one of the books in my head.  That was DEVOUR, which will hopefully be out next year. 

Tonia (T.M.):  This is the first I have heard of Devour.  Can you elaborate any at all on this project?

Pav:  Sure!  Here's the blurb.  I love Stacia and love working on that story.  I've rewritten it three times and seem to be over thinking it.  Hopefully someday I'll be happy enough to publish it!

DEVOUR:
In a a small town in North Dakota Anastasya Ruinski struggles to finish her senior year of hight school, believing that there is no fate worse than being an outsider in an American small town.  Her sense of self and community is rocked as a virus spreads across America, taking over the populace and turning them inot somthing unrecognizable.  Will Stacia realize the danger she's in before it's too late?

Tonia (T.M.):  This story sounds amazing.  I hope we get to read the entire story some day.  Do you have certain authros that inspire you?
Pav:  Totally!  Vikram Seth, Haruki Murakami, Anais Nin, Neil Gaiman, Frank Herbert, Olivia Butler, there are so many it's hard to stop listing them!

Tonia (T.M.):  Who is your favorite author, of those you've mentioned? 

Pav:  Can I have two? Anaïs Nin is my favorite because of her complete disregard for convention.  She did what she wanted and said what she felt.  I love that about her.  From a story construction point of view though Haruki Murakami totally overwhelms me.  His stories are lyrical and thought provoking without losing any of the fun and momentum.


Tonia (T.M.):  I know you have one story published.  Can you tell us about Consumed by Love?

Pav:  Hehe, you sure about that? Consumed was originally written as an entry for a Romance Short Story contest.  After writing it though I decided it really wasn't "Romance" in the way they intended.  Although I find the story deeply romantic it's not the kind of thing that swash-buckling pirate readers are looking for.  Since it's an erotic horror piece it was hard to find it a home.  SNM Horror Mag and my good friend Steven published it in Feb of 2011 and the response was so positive I decided to put it up as an ebook. 

Tonia (T.M):  I have read Consumed by Love and was stirred by the level of commitment your heroine had for her husband.  What brought you to the place you had to be at to write a story like this?  

Pav:  Thank you!  Since Consumed is such a different style than most stories I always worry if the underlying theme of the book which really is love.  For me the story is an extreme example of what we do when we are in a long term relationship.  When you really love and respect the person you're with you want them to be the most amazing person they can be and you'll do anything you can to support that.  Ideally, they will do the same for you.  That's the thing about Bree and Hugo, I think the husband loved the wife just as much.

Tonia (T.M.):  In Consumed by Love you introduce us to the Abenaki Native American People.  Can you tell us more about the reason why you chose this particular group of people to model one of the characters in your book after?

Pav:  I used the Abenaki Tribe because of their Wendigo lore.  While Hugo isn't exactly in line with the mythos of the Wendigo that is what I drew my inspiration from.  I love writing about different cultures and looking to find the element that connects us all.  It’s a challenge but also really satisfying when it works.  With Hugo his culture felt like a natural part of him, not something that was exploited or superimposed on the story. 


Tonia (T.M.):  Now, your second book, Shadow on the Wall, which is part of a series you are writing will be published this fall by Flying Monkey's Press.  Is that correct?

Pav:  Haha no!  I love that name though!  Shadow on the Wall will be published by my small Indie Publishing House: Fighting Monkey Press.  Fighting Monkey has been my business for over 10 years in my real life.  It has supported my family and provided my husband and I with consulting work.  When I decided to publish it only made sense to me to do it under a subsidiary of FMP.

Tonia (T.M.): Okay, so I screwed up on the name, but it is catchy.  No?  Can you tell us anything about your new story?

Pav:  Surely! (Don't call me Shirley) Shadow on the Wall is Book One in the SandStorm Chronicles.  It's a dark fiction about the lives of people who live under the oppressive rule of the Islamic religious police.  The main character, Recai Osman, is fun to write and live with.  He's conflicted and dark, but also very open to the world around him.  He wants to believe in the good in people but its hard when every time he turns around there's just more violence and oppression.  So what does a Moderate Muslim with a degree in Philosophy do?  Well he becomes a superhero of course!

Tonia (T.M.):  Is that a "superhero" with super powers or a "superhero" who uses his wits to help those in need around him?  And what made you delve into the world of Islam?

Pav:  For the superhero, it's a little of both.  He's not like kryptonite superhero but there are some mystical/divine interventions which make him more than just a man.  I think Recai has some of the darkness that makes us love the anti-hero and some of the tragedy that makes us root for his side.

As for Islam, there are a lot of reasons, but mainly it's a story that needs to be told.  The culture of Islamophobia we live in now and the misunderstanding the west has about an entire people is a travesty.  Any extremist is dangerous but for the most part Muslims are kind, faithful, loving people.  Religious intolerance and prejudice against a whole people based on the actions of a few is no better in this circumstance than it was during slavery or the holocaust and I felt like I had a story to tell that was evocative and rooted in truth which can illuminate the sameness between us instead of the differences.

Tonia (T.M.):  I like the fact that you have gone "out of the box," so to speak, to create a character from a different culture that is entertaining and fighting for a cause he believes in.   How many books will be in the series?

Pav:  Right now I'm thinking three.  Book Two: Prisoner of the Wind should be out next year.  The third is still in the mulling/plotting stages but I know where I'm going so I think three is a safe guess for now.

Tonia (T.M.):  I understand that you have launched a campaign to raise money by preordering your next book to defer the publication costs for Shadow on the Wall?  Do you have a link to a web site for those that might be interested in placing an order? 

Pav:  You can preorder books at www.fightingmonkeypress.com.  I'm accepting pre-orders and donations.  Donations come with a prize and there are a number of different ones to choose from including swag and a bound copy of my story The Fragrant Taste of Rain.


Tonia (T.M.):  I know you read a lot, among the other thousand or so things you do each day, so can you tell us what genres most interest you? 

Pav:  I love me some sci-fi.  For those of you who know me, you've probably heard me whine about the lack of quality sci-fi out there.  It's never long enough and it seems like the concept of fantasy and sci-fi have become conflated, which is too bad, they're both great but very different.  Basically if there's an alien or some genetic manipulation I'm in.

Tonia (T.M.):  What are you reading now?  

Pav:  I just finished Perfect Copy by Judith Gaines which was great.  Now I'm reading Snow Crash by Neil Stephenson and this great new book just showed up in my mail box, Wings of Fate by some loon named T.M. Hobbs, have you heard of her?


Tonia (T.M.):  Your humor is applaud worthy.  I love that about you.  *smile*  Okay, do you have a blog site you would like to share with everyone here?

Pav:  I blog at www.pavarti.com or you can follow news about my books at www.fighitngmonkeypress.com


Tonia (T.M.):  I am grateful that you agreed to be a guest at my blog.  Would you like to leave the readers of this interview with a thought, an encouragement, or an idea? 


Pav:  Just keep swimming my friends!  You'll get there eventually! 

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I would like to say a big 'thank you' to Ms. Tyler for visiting with me and letting us get to know her.  She is a very talented and determined woman whom I am glad I have gotten to know.

Please stop by again next week for another featured author in my Summer Songs - Interview Series. 

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Indie Book Event!

I just wanted to let you know that several members of The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House will be at the Indie Book Event in New York this Saturday, July 30, 2011.  If you are in the area, stop by their table for an autographed book mark for Wings of Fate, and tell Donna or Shae I sent you.  You can also purchase a copy of Wings of Fate along with many other titles from some wonderful authors.

The entrance fee is only $5.00, so go and have some fun!!

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Summer Songs - Interview Series - Joey Mills!


WELCOME JOEY MILLS!


Tonia (T.M.):  Joey welcome to my Summer Songs - Interview Series.  I appreciate you giving me the opportunity to chat with you and ask questions, so that others might get to know as well.

Joey:  Thank you! I appreciate the opportunity to get the word out about the writing I’ve been doing.

Tonia (T.M.):  How long have you been writing?

Joey:  Professionally, for about a year now. Before that, I’ve always written, whether it was short stories for myself and friends as a kid or screenplays for video assignments in high school or just writing scenes for my own pleasure as an adult.

Tonia (T.M.):  Is there an influence you can associate with your desire to write?

Joey:  I’ve always loved reading. I read at an early age, and have always loved a good story. I think that is the biggest influence on my desire to write. Being an avid reader is essential to being a writer, I believe.

That said, when that “Aha!” moment came for me --- when I realized “This was published? I can do better than this.” --- that was the moment I decided to attempt to tackle the profession of writing. I was lucky in that the opportunity came along last year, and have been grateful since.

Tonia (T.M.):  I have just finished reading your book, Crowe, and I have to share with you that I thoroughly enjoyed the book.  Is this your first book?

Joey:  Thank you. It is my first full-length book.

Tonia (T.M.):  Having spent a couple of days with you at SoonerCon in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, recently, I know you told many who asked that the idea for Crowe just came to you one day.  Can you elaborate on how that seed grew?

Joey:  Like I alluded to earlier, for me, the story tends to start with a single scene. The really good scenes stick with you. They expand and evolve, taking the forefront when I’m doing something that doesn’t require a lot of thinking or focus, like mowing the yard. I’ve written a few of those fragmented scenes before, but Crowe was the first time I fleshed out one of those scenes into a full-fledged story.

What’s funny is that I thought I knew what the story was going to be as it took shape around that initial scene. As I began writing the story and working through different drafts, the narrative took on a life of its own. The fun was in watching the story zig when I thought it would zag and seeing how things worked themselves out on their own. All I did was record what I saw in my head the best that I knew how.

Tonia (T.M.):  I may be cheating just a bit here, but I want to entice those who read this post to get a copy of Crowe and read it for themselves.  So, let's see if we can give them little morsels that will leave them wanting to know more about the world Johnny Crowe lives in.  The story is not only historical fiction but has supernatural elements about too.  Is this correct?

Joey:  That’s right. It started off with a supernatural idea. As the story started to flesh itself out, the setting came together naturally. Some people have asked me why I chose to set Crowe during the American Civil War. The “listen to me, I sound like a real writer” answer is that the Civil War is rife for storytelling. There is great nobility and the most sinister deeds. There is room for heroism, villainy, and drama. I mean, the conflict is inherent in the setting. Brother against brother and all that. Think about some of the great books and movies like Gone With the Wind, Gods and Generals, and Glory.

Now, the real answer is that when I started to probe around and outside of that initial scene, I found that the story was set in the Civil War. I didn’t put it there, that’s where the story was. I’ve heard Stephen King say that a story is like a fossil. It’s a found thing. At least with Crowe, I agree with his sentiments.

Tonia (T.M.):  But the genre's don't stop there.  Do they Joey?  Can you tell us about the paranormal aspects of the story as well and how you came up with such fantastic imagery for something like the "golden arm" without giving too much away?

Joey:  Again, it was a found thing within the story. I knew what the events were that led up to the “golden arm”, though I had no idea how the story was going to get there. I mean, I didn’t plan that little song number that takes place directly before the “golden arm” comes into play. It was the strangest thing that I have ever committed to page, but it worked in the story. It was just there. The same thing with the “golden arm” and the images that come after; the “gifts” or “help” that Johnny receives get more and more worthless as his story goes on. First it’s gold, then silver, then bronze, and finally iron. Totally not planned; that’s just how the story played out.

Tonia (T.M.):  For me, one of my favorite parts of the book was the relationship between Johnny Crowe and Anna Lee Henderson.  How did this relationship come to be when you were planning the book?

Joey:  For me, writing the romantic hook was tough. It just wasn’t something I was good at. I mean, growing up, the romantic aspects of the stories I liked were… I won’t say non-existent, but definitely non-traditional. I grew up with Harrison Ford as Han Solo and Indiana Jones. You look at the interaction between Han Solo and Princess Leia in The Empire Strikes Back or Indy and Marion in Raiders of the Lost Ark (not to mention the lack of romantic interest in The Hobbit or Watership Down or the Chronicles of Narnia) and those aren’t exactly the types of relationships you think of when trying to come up with a romantic hook for a story. And that was my problem… I was pressing too hard and trying to invent a romantic hook for the story. Once I just let the story play out, the relationship between the two characters came out on its own, with a little coaxing from my editor in what to look for so I didn’t miss it when it popped it’s head above ground.

Tonia (T.M.):  I loved the history aspect of the book.  You named a few high ranking military figures in this book.  Can you tell us what process you used for fleshing out these characters to be so realistic?

Joey:  A little (very little) research on who these characters were, in broad strokes. The only two characters I think I spent any time with that were real figures were Generals Lee and Stuart. The rest of the officers were made up and came with the story, so if you thought any of the others were actual historical figures and that they were realistically portrayed, then I’ll take that as a compliment!

Tonia (T.M.):  I did feel that these characters were real and went with the time period.  So I can honestly say, you met your mark there. 

What made you set this story during the Civil War rather than say the War of 1812, the Spanish American War, or the Texas Revolution?

Joey:  Like I said earlier, that’s just how the story came to me. I didn’t make a decision on setting… at least not a conscious decision.

Tonia (T.M):  Do you have a certain style of writing that you prefer?

Joey:  Anything that tells a good story. I love reading, but I love finding good stories regardless of medium --- television, film, magazines. I just like to have my attention grabbed and my mind transported to wherever that story is playing out.   

Tonia (T.M.):  Who were some of the authors you might dub as your favorites whose work have inspired you to write?

Joey:  I think I’ve mentioned a few in the works I’ve named above. Stephen King. J.K. Rowling. Tolkien. C.S. Lewis. Susan Cooper. I’m currently reading through George R.R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire books, and they’ve held me for a few weeks of the summer.

As far as non-fiction, I have the works of Joseph Campbell sitting side-by-side with Stephen Hawking on the bookshelf in my bedroom. In comics, I’ve really dug the work that Geoff Johns has done for D.C. Comics over the past 5-10 years.

Tonia (T.M):  If you could tell someone who reads this interview something encouraging about your journey as a writer, what would it be?

Joey:  Writing is hard work. I know that may not sound encouraging at first, but let me expand on that. A couple years ago, once my wife began her career and was on the verge of delivering our third child, I quit my job to stay at home and take care of the kids and run the house. The plan also included me taking a stab at getting published, to see if there was anything there for me. Everyone told me that they’d love to be able to stay at home, that I was on Easy Street, whatever. But, I have to tell you, it’s been a lot of hard work over the last few years, and unlike a job, this is my family and my writing that I’m spending my time with. It’s a lot more personal than just putting together spreadsheets and collecting a paycheck.

To that end, the feeling you get when you succeed at this --- and I’m not even talking about being published --- when you write something and read back over it and know that it’s good… that’s a huge reward in and of itself. I think it means so much because the work is hard and there’s so much of yourself you pour into it.

Tonia (T.M.):  I have to agree with you there, Joey.  Like you, when I can read back over what I've written, after having put it aside for a time,  and it makes me smile, or laugh, or cry, and I know that I have achieved an emotion, then I know someone else might like what I've written.  It does feel wonderful. 

I believe you have a new project in the works.  Can you share any aspect of that project with us?  Or is it still top secret?

Joey:  It’s no secret, though it has changed the more time I’ve spent with it this summer. It’s a big series, and it looks like it’s going to kick off with a novella or short story. I’m going to give the publishers behind Crowe a look at it first, but if they pass on it --- if it’s not where their focus or interest is --- then I’ll look at other ways to push it out there. I know that they are excited for the full-length novels in the series, so it’s up to me to find those stories and get them out there, sooner rather than later.   

Tonia (T.M.):  Do you read a great deal and do you feel it is important as a writer to be well read?

Joey:  Yes and yes. I don’t think you can write well unless you read. A lot. Reading gives you a sense for how a story flows on the page, which is much different from any other medium. It exposes you to great works that both humble you and force you to do better, and just as importantly, exposes you to the rubbish out there that shows you what not to do and reminds you that you can do better than some of what’s out there that some publisher somewhere decided to put their money and reputation behind. 

Tonia (T.M.):  It has been a pleasure chatting with you and I look forward to seeing more of your work in the near future.  Good luck on your writing endeavors.

Joey:  Thanks, Tonia. It was a pleasure to meet you at SoonerCon and I hope we get to do more stuff like that when we’re both famous! 

This is a picture taken at SoonerCon in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Pictured, left to right are myself, Joey Mills, and Lindsey Gray.


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I would like to thank Mr. Mills for sharing his experience with us.  I hope that you will check his book, Crowe, and will keep an eye out for his new projects in the near future.  I enjoyed reading Mr. Mills book very much and feel that anyone who picks it up, will not be able to put it down until it is finished.

We had a great time showcasing our books for The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House at SoonerCon in June, and I feel fortunate to have meet fellow writers, Joey Mills and Lindsey Gray.  I hope to have an interview with Ms. Gray here very soon as well.

Please stop by again next week for another featured author in my Summer Songs - Interview Series.