Krista Lakes

First and foremost, please tell us a little bit about yourself. Well, I like chocolate and long walks on the beach, though I have already found my soul mate. My husband and I have a little boy that keeps us running like crazy. He's adorable and when I'm not writing, I'm hanging with him. I know he has us wrapped around his little finger because all we watch is Sesame Street- to the point where my husband and I debate the character motivations of the monsters.

You tend to write various types of genres.  What's your favorite to write and why?  What are you most comfortable to write and why? I started out short stories focusing more on erotic romance. As I wrote more, I found myself falling in love with longer romantic plots. It took a little bit for me to find my favorite genre, and to discover that I liked writing longer.

Are you a plotter or a pantser? I'm a plotter. I started out as a pantser, but with the longer stuff that I wanted to tie together, plotting makes my life so much easier.

What is your writing routine? Get up with the kiddo, write as much as I can during his nap, play some more, and then write furiously after he goes to bed.

Where do you find your inspiration? Sesame Street. (Just kidding). I get a lot of it from my friends and family, and then I love to read other writers and then expand on the ideas I like from there.

Do you write the steamy scenes in your Ancient Loves stories the same way you would write the same scenes in your contemporary stories? The Ancient Loves stories were some of my first works, and they are a little more erotic than what I now put in my contemporary novels. The novels are able to get more character depth, so I focus more on the relationships than the sex.

What made you want to write Megan as a plus-size woman?  I think it's amazing because even in today's society, heroines are usually stick-thin and gorgeous, whereas Megan is just plain gorgeous in every way.  Did the concept come to you as a separate entity (you had Megan and you thought, 'Hey, I should make her plus-size') or was she always plus size? She was always plus size. The character was really me writing about one of my best friends, and how I would love her love story to look. I wanted to write something that would give her the happy ending she deserves.

How was it writing short stories and novellas and then writing your first novel-length book?  Do you have a length preference?  Why or why not? I started out with the shorter stories, just because I was getting a feel for writing again. My first full length novel was kind of an experiment just to see if I could write something that long. I found I loved the process. I got to focus more on the characters and bigger plots. I still write short stories every once in a while just because they are fun, but I definitely enjoy the novel length works best.

What type of relationship is your favorite to explore and develop? I love writing about friendships and "love from across the room". It's probably because that is what I am most familiar with in my own life, but it is fun to explore and dive into.

What type of person is your ideal heroine when you're both reading and writing?  What type of person is your ideal hero when you're both reading and writing?  Are they the same?  Why or why not? I love having a heroine with a little bit of fight to her, and definitely someone with brains. I hate it when the solution to a problem is super obvious and the heroine misses it, or when the entire problem could be fixed with a simple adult conversation, so I try not to do that too much in my own works. As far as heroes, I enjoy writing the alpha males, though in my reading I tend to fall for the comical sidekick. There is a lot of overlap though, so whenever I read something that I really enjoyed about a character, I do try to put it into my own heroes/heroines.

Why did you decide to self-publish? Starting out with short stories, there just aren't a lot of options for traditional publishers. I found an amazing community of self-published people, and I've never looked back.

How did you earn your success in the self-publishing industry?  Do you have any advice for aspiring novelists? A lot of it is looking at successful books and then making it your own. I collaborate a lot with other indie authors. My advice to aspiring novelists is to find other successful people. Join writing forums and follow successful authors. Make friends with them. Go over your ideas with someone else and then have beta readers. I bounce my covers, my blurbs, and plot points against other successful people and then use their feedback.

Would you recommend advertisements or did you market your books through a different venue? I loved using facebook. There are groups devoted to getting the word out, so I looked those up and then made a sale price to start with.

How involved are you in terms of editing/book cover/release date/marketing process? Since I am self-published, I get to do it all and have complete control. I make a lot of my own covers. I am learning photoshop, so they keep getting better, but when I get stuck I do hire professionals. For my novels, I hire an editor who works with me to make them better. I am amazed at the stuff she finds! Even if you can't afford to hire an editor, at least get someone else to read over it!

Are you working on anything now? I am working on the next installment of my Billionaire Love Story books, Champagne Kisses

Any upcoming releases?  I don't have anything available for pre-order yet, but I'll hopefully have Champagne Kisses ready for publication by the end of September.

 

www.Kristalakes.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Krista-Lakes/285860124877724?fref=ts

email: Krista.Lakes@gmail.com

newsletter: http://eepurl.com/xG17P

 

 

 

Peter Prasad

Please tell us a little about yourself.

Boys Life Magazine turned me into a reader when I was ten years old.  After hearing my first Paul Simon album, I started writing poetry at age 15.  I managed the literary journal in high school and got a degree in journalism at University of Florida.  My fast path to paid writing was in South Africa and Japan where I wrote ads and magazine articles for ten years.  I didn’t have TV, so I read all the time. I returned to California to begin a career in high-tech marketing and renewable energy.  Now that solar energy is well-established I’m happy to be writing everyday.  

What type of books do you like to read? What type of books do you like to write?

 I read all the Hardy Boys and cut my teeth on the epic sagas of Leon Uris and James Michener.  I discovered Vonnegut in college and read all of him.  I hitchhiked around Madagascar reading Lord of the Rings. Stephen King wrote his early novels about psychic powers so I read all of them.  John LeCarre is my favorite spy thriller writer.  Then I discovered the historical fiction of Bernard Cornwell.  Now I read biographies, history, thrillers, murder mysteries and mystic poetry. 

I’m working hard to write crime thrillers featuring my newbie private investigator Jake Knight who is an Afghan war veteran and a sheep dairy farmer.  Jake is only twenty five years old, so I expect to grow him through a series of stories.  I’m playing in a land where the slow food movement meets the crime thriller.    

What are your top 3 books? What are your top 3 authors?

 Michener, Vonnegut and Cornwell are must reads for storytelling, story arc and making a location come alive. At the cutting edge of fast-paced thrillers, I’m fond of Russell Blake and Barry Eisler.  The last excellent crime thriller I read was Joseph Amiel’s A Question of Proof.  The story held me enthralled to the last page.    

What inspires you to write?

I love stories told at the camp fire that engage my imagination. This is a lineage from Mark Twain, Bret Harte, Jack London and updated by Stephen King.  I wrote to King once; his advice -- just tell a good story.   I’m inspired by the right choice of word, the turn of a phrase, a descriptive passage that paints a scene. 

Are you a plotter or a pantser? Why?
A good crime thriller requires well-plotted action so I’ll spend weeks mulling over a story and outlining it before I begin to write.  It saves me having to focus on what happens next.  Thus I can pay attention to character development, dialog and scenic descriptions when I’m writing.  I know some folks are successful as ‘seat-of-your-pants’ writers, but I would find myself wandering all over the map at the cost of telling a tight story.  Being a plotter enforces a discipline that many early writers lack. 

What time of day do you write?

 I like to start early and use as many uninterrupted hours as I can squeeze in.  If I’m deep in a story that needs lots of attention, I’ll write from 2-7am.  Normally, I prefer to work between 7-11am and 4-9pm.  But then, that’s just me.  To clear my mind, I’ll go pull weeds in the garden or cook.  When you add the time spent editing, proofing and marketing, it can make a long day.    

What tool do you normally write with? (A pen, computer, phone, etc.)

I write at a computer.  I remember the days when I xeroxed pages and cut and pasted new sections to build a better story.  Those days are over.  The keyboard is the way to go.  I doubt I could think in longhand for more than a paragraph now. I believe each draft needs to be polished five or six times.  I want the flexibility, speed and convenience to make that part of writing easy to do.    

Have you ever dealt with writer's block? If so, how did you combat it?

I like to spend weeks thinking through a story line, outlining and plotting.  When it comes time to write, I know what needs to happen next.  If the story is not coming, then I’ll review and polish a section I’ve already done.  At the end of the day, I try to leave off at a place where I can pick up quickly.  Rod Sterling once gave that advice to my journalism class.

Please tell us a little bit about your work (please provide a link here if it's published somewhere online).

My first book, Campaign Zen, was an attempt to resurrect tavern doggerel as political commentary.  It’s a subjective history of the democratic process and the ballot box.  I wrote it to process me angst during the Obama presidential election.  I’ll update it every four years for the next election. 

Sonoma Knight: The Goat-Ripper Case is a sexy romantic crime thriller set in the heart of California wine country.  The book is a homage to artisan cheese, wine and the beauty of Sonoma County, north of San Francisco.  I’d like to move to Sonoma some day.  I made cheese every weekend for a year as part of my research.

Here’s the set-up.  Afghan vet and bronze Star hero Jake Knight comes home to heal, save his family farm, fall in love…and stop a puffed-up wine adulterator bent on murder.  

One reviewer said: The style of this book is excellent, it is a fun read, extremely funny and witty and the author has not only created a gem of a book, he is created some wonderfully inspired characters.

Where did you get your idea for this story?
I followed the advice to write about what I know and love.  I wanted to write in a genre that could be a launching pad for a series of stories, so I chose crime thrillers.  Instead of writing police procedurals, I wanted to make Jake Knight a budding P.I. so he could sometimes be outside the law.  The formula is simple: create an ugly situation, drop my P.I. into the middle of it and see what happens. I work hard to create the unexpected.  

What challenges have you faced with writing this story?
Writing is the easy part.  Editing, proofing, and marketing are the hard parts.  I struggle with how I paint characters.  I create a fully-developed back story and motivation for each one.  The bad guys have to demonstrate heir evil, which the battered and abused characters need a way to come clear of their suffering.  While my P.I., Jake Knight, starts out kind of vanilla, he’s going to grow some character quirks to survive as a series.  That’s going to be fun.

Who is your favorite character to write?

I enjoy writing bad guys.  The bad guy defines the reason you want to root for the good guy. The movie Gladiator is an excellent example of this.  Today’s reader wants to know what made the bad guy be so evil.  Is he or she beyond saving?  When the bad people demonstrate that they are, then it’s OK to kill them off.     

What type of romantic relationship do you like to read? (Hate/love, best friend, forbidden, etc.) is it the same type you like to write? Why or why not?
I’ve been married for 30 years.  I like to see relationships in the many stages of love from passionate bodice-rippers to calm, abiding, eternal love that lasts a life time.  Love is a drug and when you have it in your life, you’re lucky.  On the other hand, love requires daily attention, lots of dialog and honesty.  The best partner is the kind you can grow with through all the stages of life.  However, if I put that in a character’s mouth, I think I would lose readers.  My job is to entertain, not moralize, sermonize, explain or pontificate.  Recently I was told that a sex scene helps make characters human. I struggle to write sex scenes.  The challenge is to know how much is enough.           

What draws you to a book (to read)?

I have to like the genre, the era, the location, feel that I’ll learn something and be entertained.  I read and write reviews.  I like to read authors that are good at their craft so I can study how they do it.  I have great respect for a plausible yet twisted plot.  I enjoy new authors that show a spark of creativity.  Bottom line, I need a good story. Writing is hard work, and when done well, I like to let the author know why I enjoyed it.   

What characteristics do you look for in your ideal heroine? Your ideal hero? Are they the same characteristics you employ when you write your heroine and your hero? Why or why not?
Heroes make choices that reveal their character.  Heroes don’t go looking for trouble; trouble finds them.  My kind of hero champions the down-trodden and lifts them up.  My  heroes want you to believe that life is a good place to be.  They strengthen your willingness to have faith in humanity.

What are you currently reading?

In the last month, I’ve read and reviewed three crime thrillers. 

A Question of Proof by Joseph Amiel is a classic courtroom drama with a plot that twists to the very last page.  Hostile Witness by Rebecca Forster is about a female defense attorney that champions her client when everyone else wants to find her crazy. Buffalo Dick by Duff O’Brien introduces an element of magical realism into a crime thriller.  All are well-written and fun to read.

 
Why a mystery?  What about this genre inspires you to write?
 Mysteries engage a part of my brain and keep me reading to find out what happened.    Plot it important for me.  Some people read books to spend time with the characters.  I already have too many characters in my imagination.  I read to see what happens.

If you don't mind, what is On'Ya and what have you learned by putting your story there? 

On’Ya is Australian slang for “good on you”.  I use it as a salute to acknowledge authors and readers.  I once lived in a communal house with a wild bunch of Australians who had very creative slang.  Because I like dialog and poetry, I care about the odd things that people say.  Slang gives character to life and dialog.

I put Goat-Ripper up on Story Cartel for a 20-day run of free downloads in exchange for honest reviews.  As an Indie Author, I need readers willing to express an opinion.  I think of Amazon and Goodreads as big turnstiles in the sky. They count every click and comment.   The challenge is to get some buzz going about your book so readers will take a chance on you.  Story Cartel does a good job of that and Goodreads is great for reaching out to readers. 

Why did you choose the self-publishing route?

I chose self-publishing because it’s fast and direct.  I wanted to avoid the three-year delay of rejections while seeking a publisher. If an e-book does well, then a publisher may seek me out to re-issue for bookstore sales.  Plus, the millions of e-book readers consume more books faster than any other segment of readership.  It is a great proving ground for story, and never too much trouble to fix errors or typos and republish.  Every writer has a responsibility to readers to produce the best book we can.  Even if we self-publish we’ll be compared to books that have been combed and edited by professionals.  I encourage all writers to pay for those services. 

What are the ingredients to your favorite book?

The classic story line is to get your character up a tree, throw rocks at him, then get him down from the tree.  Another formula is a big action event in the beginning that concludes with a big action event in the end.  Many films are structured this way.  I believe that a story works better when you add new characters in the middle and twist the plot a few times.  It’s important to offer the reader a thrilling ride.    
 

Twitter handle:  PeterPrasad.SF@Twitter.com

Blog link: Goodreads blog: Expletives Deleted http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6494640.Peter_Prasad/blog
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Peter-Prasad/e/B008MHBABG/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1377532623&sr=8-1

A.S. Thompson

Please tell us a little about yourself.

I’m a southern California native who loves living. And I don’t mean that in the hippie sense, I mean that I try to make the most of every day. I've had the opportunity to test many different career paths and even live out of state but eventually I landed on the right career and made my way back to California- at least for the foreseeable future. 

I love traveling and being active: trying new sports, testing my fears, watching new movies, seeing new bands- anything. Honestly, if it sounds remotely fun, I’m in. I always seem to have my hands full with different projects, throw in writing, and I wonder where all my time goes and how I still manage to be as active as I am. 

That’s probably good for now.

What type of books do you like to read? What type if books do you like to write?

Is it bad to admit that I spend more time watching movies than I do reading? Well, when I do read, the topics are across the board. Of course I check out other horror authors, I like to see what the latest zombie developments are, action is always a safe bet, but I also dabble in how-to stuff, well-being material, old school literature and some other random topics. 

I enjoy writing about an array of subjects and genres. I have two horror/zombie books out right now called “The Longest Road” and sequel “The Change” with a third in the works. I’m definitely not restricted to zombies or survival horror, though. I have side stories I’m building plots for right now, some involving apocalyptic themes, a few comedies and sci-fi, others just action hero-type stories. Most of these involve elements of physical struggle, psychological challenges, and tend to be dark in nature...maybe I’m trying to bring back the tragedy, maybe I have a dark mind, maybe it’s just a phase or maybe it’s something else- I’m not sure. If I find out, I’ll let you know. 

What are your top 3 books? What are your top 3 authors?

Top three books?! And authors?! Eesh. If I have to choose, I’d say Paradise Lost, The Iliad/Odyssey and Sherlock Holmes are some of my favorite books. I realize those are across the board, but there is something about each of those that I enjoy reading and find myself coming back to. The mystery, in-depth plots and originality are unreal.

I won’t be lame and say that my favorite authors are the authors of the aforementioned. So, in an effort to divulge something new, I’d say some favorite authors of mine are Brian Keene, Z.A. Recht and Dean Koontz. They are all horror authors, but I appreciate their individual fortes in story-telling.

What inspires you to write?

A combination of my dreams and life life events. I might wake up from an intense dream and be like “that would make for a kick-ass story!” then jot some notes down and build it up over time. Or I might be driving down the coast or in the mountains snowboarding and a thought will come to me out of nowhere and I’ll see where the story takes me. There are, on occasion, times where I’m just tired of seeing the same stuff in Hollywood and I want to create something unique. Conversely, I might go see an original film that is truly inspiring. Just depends. 

Are you a plotter or a pantser? Why?

I have never thought about this, but I would probably say I am both. For the most part, I’ll write down a very generic plot to give myself some structure, then sit at the computer and let the creative juices flow. I never had any formal education in writing (beyond college papers) so I just let it happen naturally. Similarly to when I write music, I like some structure, but I don't like to feel restricted by norms or "standards." I like having the freedom to test the waters and make something new. So, by nature, my stuff might not be for everyone and I'm cool with that.

What time of day do you write?

Anytime. I might wake up in the middle of the night after a thought hits me and make my way to the computer to write down a particular sequence. Or I will make some breakfast and get ready for a long day of typing. Generally, I’ll just write until I feel burned out. I seem to always hit a point where I can tell when it’s time to call it quits.

What tool do you normally write with? (A pen, computer, phone, etc.)

Most of my writing takes place on the computer- let's be honest it's just easier. But there are many occasions when I bust out a pen and paper and jot down thoughts. I do a lot of traveling, so often times it's easier to make notes or write out a particular plot/action sequence on some scratch paper. Having records and files stored on a hard drive, accessible whenever I want it, makes life and writing so much easier. But I will say that staring at a computer screen for hours on end, sucks.

This is semi-off topic, but how did writer's do it back in the day? No auto-saving, no backspace, no white out. They had to make it count when the pen hit the paper. That's commendable.

Have you ever dealt with writer's block? If so, how did you combat it?

I think there are degrees of writer's block. Have I ever been completely stuck on trying make a new story or outline? No, not really (knock on wood). But I have gotten stuck sometimes when, say, I write an action sequence and it just seems dull. When that happens, I'll leave it for the time being and move on to a different part of the story or go work out and get my mind off it. Eventually, I work through it, get the right idea and write it down. 

*Throwing things or threatening your computer don't seem to be effective.

Please tell us a little bit about your work.

As I mentioned above, I have two books out right now. The first is called "The Longest Road" and the sequel is entitled "The Change." I am in the process of writing the third book in the series, that I am hoping to have released by the end of the year. At its base genre these are zombie books, but they are about so much more than that. 

The story follows five cousins surviving after the outbreak of an unknown disease (I know, I know, the premise of almost every zombie book, but trust me it's not the same). Picking up a few months after their own forced departure, the cousins travel from the east coast to California where there is a rumored safe haven. But the story is about more than just battles with the dead. I try to focus on elements of hope, humanity, love and the strength we get from our close friends and family. Furthermore, the fact that survival is a mental game, meaning brawn and preparedness don't always beat out the ability to make quick, calculated decisions. Also, I attempt to convey how much we rely on others even when we might think we are better off alone. Last, I wanted to show the lengths at which a person will go to protect his or her own and the grey area in moral decisions people make when living in a world ruled by anarchy. 

As the story continues into the second and subsequent novels, the reader learns more about the infection that caused the pandemic. New characters are introduced, some good, some straight up despicable, and some who have yet to reveal their true nature. The cousins are tested at every turn, and their deep-rooted familial bond and love for one another might not be strong enough as their lives are ripped apart again and again. 

Life is no longer about surviving, though. With new information and allies, the cousins find themselves in the middle of a global conspiracy. Their actions, and in some instances inaction, could prove detrimental on a global scale. 

I'll leave it at that for now. Feel free to follow this link to my amazon page, where you can see full synopses and view other reader's thoughts. 

amazon.com/author/asthompson

Where did you get your idea for this story?

How this story came to be is pretty interesting and never at all anticipated. The concept started when I was in a film class in college. We were tasked to write a treatment (kind of like a screenplay) about anything we wanted. Some people chose rom-coms, others action stuff, but me, I wanted to do zombies. As if it hasn't been suggested enough, I'm a HUGE zombie fan. 

Anyway, the story elements were created then and there- at least the main premise of cousins surviving through a zombie apocalypse. Over the years I took that treatment and went with it. I added things, took away certain sequences, ultimately designing a story that I thought would be interesting and new. Eventually, the A+ treatment (I don't remember what grade I really got) was converted into a novel that became "The Longest Road." 

What challenges have you faced with writing this story?

Staring at a computer screen for hours on end. I really don't like that. At all.

But to give a better answer and probably geared more toward the question being asked, my biggest challenge has been the characters. By nature, zombie novels and movies don't have a lot of people who "make it". Like any horror story, people die. So, when making mine it is about maintaining a healthy story line but incorporating surprises that the reader won't see coming. More than that, about making these surprises original, well-timed and stunning. I took a similar approach to Game of Thrones, where just because someone is a lead character doesn't mean he/she is safe and won't be killed off.

Who is your favorite character to write?

Taking away the mains, I really enjoy writing about the character Nick Stronghead. He isn't introduced until the second book, but his presence is something that stands out and his character traits will continue to resonate throughout the story. Nick is a Native American man, who before the outbreak and leading into it, was a Sheriff whose life was always centered around helping people. He does come from a troubled past, and throughout the story much is revealed about his life and motivations. But what is known upfront is that Nick is all about serving his fellow man; from search and rescue operations to creating a safe haven in upstate Washington. He is a man filled with invaluable wisdom and at his core, a good man. He is the manifestation of hope and determination to the people who call him leader. His spirituality, never forced, is inspiring and grounding. Finally, his Sioux background has been incredibly beneficial in terms of survival practices. Like everyone, Nick has his flaws, but despite them, Nick is the guy you would want on your side- in battle or times of peace.

What are you currently reading?

I am not currently reading anything because I just finished the novel "Jordan's Brains" by a friend and fellow zombie lover J. Cornell Michel. Michel's story is incredibly unique and takes place from inside the mind of a mental patient. Jordan has been waiting for the zombie apocalypse to come and is so excited when it does. But the costs and everything Jordan knows about zombies might be too much or radically different. 

Jordan's Brains is tough to write about it without giving away major plot points, but if anyone is even remotely interested in zombies, check it out. I recently posted my review of it on amazon, so you can hear my full thoughts there. 

Why zombies?  What about the horror genre inspires you to write?

Why zombies? That is a good question. I love all things horror, but when it comes to zombies there are way more frightening elements that a character has to worry about. First is survival, obviously, but it is more than just staying away from un-dead mouths. A person living in a zombie infested world has to be weary of the basics: food, water and shelter. Often times there are no services left, no power, no going to a grocery store to get food for the week. You are on your own. Life is brought back to a more primal state of being and you have to fend for your yourself. Then throw in zombies on top of scavenging for those basics and life gets exponentially tougher. 

There is something to be said about the ability to survive, to make decisions that could affect the safety of both yourself and loved ones. Do we stay put and ride it out? Do we hit the road and stay moving? Each choice has long term ramifications that could ultimately lead toward your demise or success. On top of making those decisions, most people have never taken a life, but when dealing with zombies, could you imagine having to gun down your friends and family after they have been infected? Or how about a child who the misfortune of being bitten? What about turning away a hungry mouth?

The worst of it might just being living with yourself after surviving it all; dealing with the psychological torment of life during and after. In other words, survivor's guilt.

I get inspired by the people who have the fortitude to move forward despite terrible loss and grief- the mentally strong. The people who want to live, but, and this is a big point, the ones who aren't willing to sacrifice their good human nature to do so. The ones who are still willing to help others in need; to see the good in others. I understand that in these particular survival situations tough choices need to be made, and you can't save everyone, but I love reading books and watching movies about characters who are driven by a general good and aren't willing to let their lives be dictated by self desires or self-serving needs.

If you don't mind, what is Severed Press and what have you learned from posting your work there?

Severed Press is an Australian publishing company who specializes in horror. "The Longest Road" was originally published by a smaller independent publishing company, but due to unfortunate circumstances that company closed. Not long after, I sent my work to Severed Press and signed with them. I have had a great experience with them and their ability to promote my works has been incredibly beneficial. My only qualm is that they are based out of Australia so they aren't exactly a quick phone call or drive away. That being said our communication, though delayed by time zones, has been generally efficient and fluid. We are able to contact one another via email and get answers/updates. 

Since I'm still relatively new with them I'm still learning the tricks and ways of the published world and don't have any "wisdom" to divulge. When it comes to writing in general, I have learned that I have to be involved on social media, I have to do events, and be available to fans and critics. 

All in all, it's been a fun ride! 

Finally, what are the ingredients to your favorite book? (A dose of action, a splash of romance, etc.)

Hmm, the ingredients to my favorite book…I would have to say, and simply put, action, comedy of situations and dialogue, surprises in plot, and an ending that I didn't see coming. Romance is fun to have and makes for an excellent motivator. Suspesion of disbelief is almost standard when writing about zombies but for my favorite books realism is key