Interview with John Lavan

Happy Friday, everyone! Let's top the week off with an interview with poet John Lavan who's here to talk about his new book, FAMILIAL.

Hi, John! Tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m a management consultant who recently became a published poet: www.apostrophebooks.com/familial. An amazing paradox! I started writing poetry to my new wife about seven years ago. I realised I was quite good at spell-weaving and I now read and write poems avidly. I decided to write a poem every day. I tweet poetry on twitter a lot. You’ll find me as @Toltecjohn.

Tell us about FAMILIAL. What’s the book about?

Many poems are inspired by my son, Andrew, who has Down’s Syndrome. It’s like his birth – and life – have opened all kinds of feelings – which I can express as poetry. It’s great to know a man can feel! So my poetry is generally about family & hence the title – Familial.

How did the idea of the book come to you?

The feeling of love in relationship between son and father is not explored much in literature. Poetry’s a great vehicle for my inner and outer search.

Are you a planner or a pantser?

A pantser. I set off and the poem expresses. I edit maybe twenty times from when I have a first draft on screen – looking for rhythm, meter, rhymes, structure, alliteration, imagery etc. A poem is never finished.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

The first creative expression.

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

A mac or ipad.

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

Casting spells with words.

What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

The word pantser.

LOL! Well, you learn something new every day, right? ;) Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: obligatory, air freshener, and moderator.

In the first clinch, he used the car’s obligatory air freshener as a testosterone moderator.

Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably ...

dreaming

Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

Apostrophe Books have been great as an e-book publisher. We got on with the job quickly and Familial was in the stores eight weeks after we connected on Twitter. Such intent!

And finally, where can people find you and your book online?

I blog at http://poemsfromreality.blogspot.co.uk/ and http://beautifulwordpoems.blogspot.co.uk/ 
The page on Apostrophe Books’ website is http://apostrophebooks.com/familial

‘Familial’ is available from:
Amazon 
iTunes 
and will soon be available from 130+ other retailers, through http://apostrophebooks.com/books/poetry/familial/

You can also find out more about Familial on Pinterest and on Goodreads.

Author Update: Laura Schultz

It was just a year ago that I interviewed an amazing writer by the name of Laura Schultz. Now, Laura's debut poetry book is available! It's called Arise and Shine: Laments from the Darkness, Songs from the Light. Published by Silver Bow Publishing.


This debut poetry book by Laura Schultz is evocative, passionate and enhanced with 21 color photographs by Anton Mueller and paintings by the poet's mother. Laura wields her paintbrush and takes us on a memorable journey down the pathways of her heart into the core of her soul.




Check out Laura's book here!

Interview with Candice James

Today we're talking with a prestigious member of the writing community. I'm sure you'll all be delighted to meet her and learn more about her work. Let's welcome Candice James.

Hi, Candice. Tell us a bit about yourself.

I am the Poet Laureate for the City of New Westminster BC CANADA and a full member of The League Of Canadian Poets; The British Columbia Writers Federation, and founder and creator of "Poetic Justice" a weekly poetry reading series and "Slam Central" a bi-weekly spoken word performance poetry series.

Wow, sounds like you've got your hands full. How long have you been writing?

I've started writing at a very young age and have been writing for over 40 years.

Tell us about your newest book, INNER HEART - A JOURNEY.

INNER HEART - A Journey, published by Silver Bow Publishing 2010 is a poetry collection of 100 pages devoted to the eternal timeless theme of love. It touches on both the agony of heartbreak and the ecstasy of soul mates. This book can be purchased online at www.wix.com/silverbowpublishing/silver-bow-publishing.

What's the hardest part of writing for you?

The most difficult part of writing for me is to try to get through a poem without somebody interrupting my flow while I'm writing. Also, writing is more difficult when I write within a structured form instead of free verse. I suppose the poetic form SESTINA is the most difficult structure to adhere to, followed by the sonnet. However, I do enjoy writing these types of poetry, although free verse is my main form of poetic writing. When I'm looking for a challenge, I write a Sonnet, and when I'm looking for a super challenge, I write a Sestina.

Who are your inspirations?

The great Oscar Wilde has been a huge influence on my writing, as have been T.S. Eliot, W.H. Auden, Leonard Cohen, Rod McKuen, Michael Drayton, Edmund Spenser, Edward Henley, Elizabeth Barrett Browining, and of course the fabulous sonnet spinner William Shakespeare. Favorite poems are, "The Ballad Of Reading Gaol", by Oscar Wilde, "The Hollow Men" by T.S. Eliot and "Funeral Blues" by W.H. Auden. These poets are my influences, but my inspiration is usually a deeply felt emotion for someone or something in my life at the time. People and things come and go in our lives and it's not by accident. I believe it's by divine appointment.

Let's get to know you on a deeper level. What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

I always like to have my cell phone and a can of pop or some kind of drink to whet my whistle so to speak as I sit at my computer and type the mindstream onto the screen.

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

There are so many super powers I would absolutely love to have, but if limited to only one I would like to have the super power of mind control over others and the option to use it if and when I chose to. Wow, what a wonderful world my world would be if I had that super power! Not that it's not wonderful now, but it would just become a little bit more wonderful!

Finally, someone who thinks like me. Mind control would totally be my choice as well.(Not that I'm all that selfish - I've got a teen and a preteen in the house. That's enough reason, believe me!)

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: flood, fireworks, and pancake batter.

I like to flood my mind with emotional fireworks and taste the sweet residue of their phantom pancake batter.

Wow, you really are a poet! Awesome. Here's the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

There are so many that I'm bound to leave some people out, so I apologize in advance for anyone I should have mentioned here but didn't. I'd like to thank Ken Ader, Don Benson, Laura Schultz, Alexandra Zlotnik, Franci Louann, Ariadne Sawyer, Ruth Kozak, Nancy Denofio, Michael Sullivan, Hector and Virginia Bremner, and I could go on forever here, but will stop the list here and extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone else who has been instrumental in helping me reach the point I'm at today.

And finally, where can people find you online?

I have 3 websites and 3 facebook sites. I hope you'll click on them and enjoy the poetry, music, and videos!


WEBSITES:
POET LAUREATE WEBSITE http://saddlestone.shawwebspace.ca
CANDICE JAMES POET WEBSITE http://candicejames.shawwebspace.ca
CANDICE JAMES VIDEOPOEMS AND VIDEOS www.youtube.com/saddlestone11


FACEBOOK PAGES:
POET LAUREATE FACEBOOK PAGE
http://www.facebook.com/people/Candice-James/100000085021617#!/pages/Candice-James-Poet-Laureate-New-Westminster-BC/110819482308440
CANDICE JAMES FACEBOOK PAGE
http://www.facebook.com/people/Candice-James/100000085021617#!/profile.php?id=100000085021617
CANDICE JAMES SONGWRITER MUSICIAN FACEBOOK PAGE
http://www.facebook.com/people/Candice-James/100000085021617#!/pages/Candice-James-Songwriter-Bass-Guitarist/156859754352277

Candice, thank you so much for letting us get to know you. I'm sure all our poetry-lovers will be looking for your book now.

Interview with Henry Lyons

Today we're chatting with Henry Lyons, author of poetry book DEEP THOUGHTS. Henry's new work is a book called SUPERNATURE. Let's get to know him.

Welcome, Henry. Tell us a bit about yourself.

Well I’m a New York City Special Education Teacher. I also design websites and graphics for advertisements as well as edit short films and music videos. Of course I also write first poetry and now novels.

How long have you been writing?

Most of my poetry was written over a fifteen year period. During that time I did have some ideas for stories but I never wrote any of them down until last year when I started work on Supernature.

Tell us about SUPERNATURE. What’s the story about?

The story starts off as a simple police investigation which uncovers mass mutations that are caused by an unknown substance. As the mutations spread they begin to threaten the entire planet. A team of scientists and investigators work together to halt the spread of the mutated creatures.

Sounds intriguing. I bet it would make a cool movie too. How did the idea of the story come to you?

To be honest with you I got the idea for the story way back in the nineteen seventy’s. A disco song was popular at that time called believe it or not, “Supernature” by a French artist by the name of Cerrone. As I listened to the lyrics of the song I noticed that it talked about Man’s manipulation of nature and finally natures revolt against man. Here’s a few lines from the song:


Once upon a time
Science opened up the doors
We would feed the hungry fields
'till they couldn't eat no more

But the potions that we made
Touched the creatures down below
And they grew up in a way
That we've never seen before

supernature supernature
supernature supernature

They were angry with the man
cause he changed their way of life
And they take their sweet revenge
As they trample through the night


I started to think about how genetic engineering has become common place within our society and how if abused what impact the technology could have on our environment. I played with the idea for years and then in 2009 I finally decided to put pen to paper.

Do you have a critique group/partner or beta readers, or do you self-edit?

I had a number of friends that helped me edit the book and give me some critical feedback.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

I think one of the hardest things to do is to create believable characters that people can identify with.

Let’s get to know you on a deeper level. What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

A photo of my beloved deceased daughter. Her memory gives me my drive.

Sorry for your loss. That's got to be the worst pain someone can endure. I'm glad she's giving you inspiration.


Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you.

I would like to thank my wife Shanell who has supported me patiently while I write. I would also like to thank my father who has always been my ROCK and role model. He is also one of my most enthusiastic fans. I would also like to thank my buddy and business partner Alvin Grant.
Also LULU.com, and all of my family and friends

And finally, where can people find you online?
http://www.HVLYONS.com
http://stores.lulu.com/hvlyons
http://hvlyons.blogspot.com
twitter.com/Hvlyons

Henry, thank you so much for chatting with us. I wish you success with all your publication endeavors.

Thank you!

Interview with Laura Schultz

What? The weekend is over already? I think I can ease your Monday morning blues with my next interviewee. Laura Schultz is a fantastic writer whom I've connected with through Twitter and Facebook. She's always supportive and has a terrific attitude. Let's get to know her a little more.

Welcome, Laura. Tell us a bit about yourself.

I grew up in a small border town in California into a political family. My father was a farmer turned politician and mother was a painter/sculptor. As a child I was greatly influenced by what I saw there in the 1950’s during an idyllic time much like old American television shows. Meeting notable political figures was quite interesting. They came to our cozy little town to campaign for my dad who was running for a Senatorial seat from our district in 1964. We had horses and lots of great animals on the ranch we had. As with many of us my childhood influenced my adult life, including what I have chosen to write about now.

How long have you been writing?

I have been writing poetry almost all of my life to get me through the good times and mostly the many tough years. However, I began writing professionally about 4 years ago and began by writing for national magazines. I write a myriad of genres including true crime, poetry, articles related to relationships, sexuality and book reviews for the New York Journal of Books in genres that I am credentialed to review. I have also been a licensed Psychotherapist for over 20 years which also influences my writing style.

Wow, sounds like you've got your hands in every jar. That's awesome. Tell us about the book of poetry you have out with a publisher.

My book involves poetry of love, loss and personal struggles of having an incurable but manageable physical illness for many years. The collection of poems is reflective of my philosophy about life and writing from the soul. There will be more details forthcoming when it gets closer to publication.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I gather my inspiration from many sources including other poets and writers--mainly those who struggled throughout history. But also those I have had the privilege to come to know presently. My mom’s fabulous artwork and gourmet cooking talents have also influenced my desire to create something artistic. I have no artistic talent per se like she had but I know that she would be proud of me now. She was way ahead of her time and was also a somewhat renowned artist for her generation of women. Unfortunately she is in the last stages of Alzheimers and cannot witness what I have accomplished.

Sounds like she's an amazing woman.

Tell us, do you have a critique group/partner or beta readers?

I don’t necessarily enjoy writing critique groups but my best friend is a prolific writer, scholar and film teacher. He has also been my writing mentor and best teacher for over 6 years now. I also recently created a writer’s group called Writer’s etc. along with my Co-Director Italia Trent. The group has over 600 members from many genres as well as members of the Hollywood Community. I have received and hopefully give support to all the writers in the group as much as I am able to do along with my many writing deadlines.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

The hardest part for me, Dorothy, is maintaining a balance in my life between writing, friends taking care of myself and having some semblance of a healthy relationship. That will take more time for me to learn to do well. Many of my non-writer friends are disappointed that I don’t have much time to spend with them anymore and don’t understand why I work such odd hours, in their opinion.

I understand. I've often wished for a way to freeze time so I can do all the things I need to do and stay connected to everyone I'd like to.

Do you have any tips you’ve learned about writing you’d like to share?

For me writing at night when it’s quiet is the best time for me to focus. I realize every writer has their own personal preference when it comes to this issue. I also feel that my outlook on life in general helps me get through the waiting or dry periods (so to speak) that can cause great angst for many writers including myself. I’ve been very lucky to have such great support for the writing life the past few years. Though I dreaded the thought of social media at first, I have learned to enjoy networking with other writers and sharing our mutual concerns.

Let’s get to know you on a deeper level. What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

Must haves for me are inspirational pix or quotes from people I admire, an old-fashioned writing pad that I carry everywhere I go and in my office I am surrounded by award-winning paintings that my mother created years ago.

Cool! Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

I am very grateful to the many people who have supported me in the last few years from all over the world especially Stuart McCallum, Italia Trent, Roz Morris, Anton Mueller, Don Odom, Nancy Denofio, Russ Bryant, Amanda Haines, Deborah Riley, Derek Haines and Dan Hays. All of them can be found on twitter or facebook or both. And all have special writing talents of their own. My stepfather Joel Rudof, cousin Mark Goldenson and brother Mike Schultz have been very supportive family members. And Dorothy you have also been very supportive. Thanks for interviewing me. This almost sounds like an Academy Award acceptance speech doesn’t it?

LOL, yeah, but it's fitting. And finally, where can people find you online?

The best place for people to read samples of my work is www.lauraschultznow.com. I am just getting my blog up and running but am enjoying people stopping by to leave comments, etc.


Laura, thank you so much for chatting with us today. I look forward to more information about your book, and I wish you lots of success with all your writing endeavors.

Interview with Heather E. Sedlock

Hello, everyone. I hope you've all had a pleasant weekend. Let's celebrate this lovely Monday morning by chatting with another great aspiring writer.

Heather E. Sedlock is a mother of two boys with special needs. In addition to contributing to various online parenting websites, she also writes poetry.

Welcome, Heather! Tell us, how long have you been writing poetry and how did you get into it?

I’ve been writing poetry since my first assignment in second grade, at about age 8. The poem was titled 8 balloons and was a creative writing assignment from the teacher. It was considered to be very good and was submitted by the teacher to local press, the school paper as well as a contest. I won the contest and so figured I must be good at this writing thing!


My mother was a huge encouragement growing up. She has the same skills and wasn’t encouraged during her childhood and so she was more than happy to live vicariously through my writing endeavors.

What are your inspirations for your poems?

Oh, that’s a good question. Some come from my own mental health issues stemming from having social anxiety disorder, OCD and PTSD… some comes from my relationships… some come from observations of others… just life in general. Life happens every moment and each moment provides an inspiration for a poem.

Do you read poetry yourself, and if so, who are your favorite poets?

Yes, I do. Favorites? You know, it’s strange; I do not have any particular favorites. I like the classics as well as modern poets. I can find something to appreciate in almost any poem of any kid. Even Dr. Seuss ;)

Besides featuring poetry on your blog, do you share your poetry with friends or family?

Yes, yes I do! One poem I had written was published in an anthology, called “Colors of Life,” with other authors. It was about family relationships. I signed a copy and gave it to my father who I had dedicated the poem to for a Christmas gift.


I often write poems for others, print them out on pretty paper and then frame them as gifts. It’s a talent I have and I use it to share with those I care about. I want to let them know today how much they mean to me now while I still can. There are no guaranteed tomorrows.

Do you have plans to put together a book of poetry for publication?

Other than the “Colors of Life,” I have not considered publishing my poetry. I consider it a bit personal actually. More like a journal than something for public consumption although I do share it on my blog for just that purpose. It’s difficult to describe. I’d feel guilty selling my poems through a book to others. I think they should be freely given.

Which of your poems are you most proud of?

For some reason I can’t explain, the poem “Fear” is my favorite of my own. I don’t know why I’m so proud of it other than it was really a challenge for me to open up so much and left me feeling exposed and raw after I had written it.

Click here to read Fear.

I understand you're also writing a novel. Can you tell us the title and genre?

Yes, it’s untitled but it’s a romance book with a fantasy flair. A woman named Jess is hired to look after an old woman who is receiving hospice care services. The woman one day disappears and there is a young woman now living in her home claiming to be the old lady, renewed. The young woman is refusing to leave until her love returns for her. How she comes to be young again and who this lover really is, is what Jess is left to find out.

Sounds interesting. How did the idea of the book come to you?

*grins* I wrote a poem. The poem became a short story. And then now the short story is becoming a novel. How it came into my head to begin with? I don’t know. When I write, it’s like a movie happening for me and all I’m doing is transcribing what I see on my mind’s screen. I don’t use an outline. I don’t do character maps or plot lines or any of that.

How far along are you now and what is your word-count goal?

I was finished in the writing part until I lost the manuscript in a move. How tragic! All I had to do was revisions and editing. Now I’m about 25,000 and going for about 150,000 or so.

How devastating, but glad it's all coming back to you. What's your next step?

My next step is to finish the rewriting. I take things one step at a time and don’t do much future planning either. I’m kinna quirky that way ;)

Do you have a beta reader or critique partner?

I do. My primary beta reader is my husband. He’s not afraid to hurt my feelings if something isn’t quite right. He’s also great at spotting typographical errors! He was a systems data analyst for years, so his eyes are trained for noticing inconsistencies.


Otherwise, I keep it to myself until it’s done. When a project is done, I’ll let then ship it around to some writer friends of mine. Once those critiques come back, I junk them or incorporate them, based on what I think is best for the story. Then I send to some friends of mine who are editors by trade if they have “extra” time. And I usually accept their suggestions.

And finally, where can people find you online?

I am a contributing writer at Special Mom Talk, an online news source for parents of special needs kids, www.specialmomtalk.com


I have my personal blog at http://heathr.wordpress.com


I have a blog about all things related to Autism at http://heatherbabes.autisable.com


I’m a parent blogger for the ezine, Empowering Parents, at http://www.empoweringparents.com/blog/author/heather-e-sedlock/


I’ve had my articles published on numerous other websites but those are the ones I have an on-going relationship with.


I’m also on Twitter as @heathrbabes and facebook.

Heather, thank you so much for chatting with us. I wish you much success with your rewrites. Please let us know when you've reached the next step in your publishing journey.

Interview with Kristen Howe

Today with talking to aspiring writer Kristen Howe.

Welcome, Kristen! Tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is Kristen Howe. I'm 33, almost 34, a former Jersey Girl who lives in Northern Ohio for the past 10 years, currently 5 years in the Cleveland area. I'm unemployed and currently work as a substitute secretary for my local school system. I also volunteer at my local hospital once a week too.

I understand you've got a lot on your plate. What are the names and genres of your manuscripts?

I'm currently working on five Nano/Julnowrimo mss at the moment. One of them I hope to pitch to agents this spring. Venom, Specimen and Double Exposure are my three eco-thrillers. The 24-Hour Chain Reaction is part psychological thriller/police procedural. Web of Deceit is romantic suspense.

That's a lot of writing! What are your stories about?

The 24-Hour Chain Reaction is about Detective Sierra Bledsoe, a SVU Detective from Dayton PD, who chases a speeder all across Southern Ohio, she finds out who the speeder is, and the ensuing events happen all in one day.


Venom is about a twisted poacher, who targets zoologists at a symposium in Key West, he is looking for a new kind of anti-venom; and it's up to Dr. Kylie Marx, a zoologist/herpetologist, to stop him in his tracks, which leads back to her past.


Double Exposure is about Dr. Alexa Phelps, a marine biologist and freelance photographer, who discovers a political scandal on the shores of Catalina Island, when it hits close to home dealing with potential politicians and eco-terrorists, with their regional outbreaks as ocean life dies.


Specimen is about Dr. Ursula Slater, a conchologist/zoologist, who learns that poachers are after a rare shell specimen on New Shoreham, Block Island, Rhode Island, and has to go scuba diving to beat them to the punch.


Web of Deceit is about Officer Melinda Herron from the Riverhead PD in Long Island, New York, who uncovers the truth on why someone wants her dead. She's also emotionally blackmailed and recruited by Internal Affairs to go undercover and ends up both in a love triangle and a world of hurt.

How did the ideas of the stories come to you?

Before I decided to go to Nano, I had dreamt of the ideas first. Recurring dreams. If it worked for Stephanie Meyer, why not me? Nonetheless, I never got stuck with Writer's Block. All of my ideas came from my dreams. The 24-Hour Chain Reaction stemmed from "24", the failed Fox TV show "Drive", and real life police chases you see in the news--high octane power in one powerful day. It reminded me of Sandra Brown's "Chill Factor", with the same timeline.


I've got the idea to do eco-thrillers, from a Writer's Digest Magazine article about eco-thrillers making a comeback. Other than Nicholas Evans books, there haven't been many out there. Plus, all of my eco-thrillers are set in island locations, which is "outside the box" to set a storyline. Not many stories have been set there. For Key West, there's Stella Cameron's Key West. That's it. For Catalina, there's "Swimming to Catalina" by Stuart Woods. You might see a brief mention or have a brief scene, if any books set in California, but not the entire book. You won't see books in Block Island. But you might see some in Hawaii. You get the picture, right?


As for Web of Deceit, this happened last spring, around this time to try a new genre. I've read a bunch of romantic suspense books over the past two years from Lisa Gardner to Karen Rose to set how it's set up.

Are any of your manuscripts complete or still works in progress?

All of them are still works in progress.

What are your word count goals, and how far along are you at this point?

The 24-Hour Chain Reaction is still undergoing its final editing round. Venom is almost completed, and will be done in a few weeks--just have to finish finalizing my chapters, write 1-2 new final chapters, and rework/tweak the rest. Specimen is at its 2nd editing round. Double Exposure is at its second to last. Web of Deceit is at its first, since I've just started it for Nanoedmo. Yes, I do have a word count goal for all of them to be around 90-110 K. I need to cut 5K for Specimen. 20 K for Web of Deceit, since it's partially done, 22 K (than 42 K) for The 24-Hour Chain Reaction, 50 K for Venom, 93 K for Double Exposure. That's what happens when you overwrite, during Nano.

What's your next step – are you self publishing, querying for an agent, etc.?


I hope to pitch Venom this spring. That's my next step to query agents. The others won't be for awhile.

That's understandable. Do you have a critique group/partner or beta readers, or do you self-edit?

It's a bit of both. I have a beta reader for Venom and just gained crit partners for Web of Deceit. I mainly do self-editing on my own. I've been a member of a few crit groups/forums for a few years. They're free and online.

Your poems have been published. Can you tell us a little bit about that?

Sure. I am taking a break from poetry for awhile, I've been writing poetry for a few years. I write various poetry forms and topics, real or fictionalized. I've been published in some markets online and some in print. Other than copies, I've been paid a few dollars for my published poems. It's harder to get into those paying markets.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Editing. I tend to overwrite and have problems with show vs tell, tenses, tightening the flow. That's when crit partners/beta readers come in handy.

Any tips you’ve learned about writing you’d like to share?

Don't give up. Read out loud. Have a fresh pair of eyes.

Sound advice. Do you have an idea of your book’s cover art?

Yep. I don't have any pictures, but I have ideas that I've discussed with fellow Twitter friend and writer, Shannon Delany, last year.

For 24-Hour Chain Reaction, I have a tilting hourglass, with the small car from the chase slammed into the base. The title would fill white space above the hourglass and down along the right side of it. Words horizontal but stacked or a stopwatch being attached to the car's bumper as its squealing away. We'll see part of the car like viewer's overhead and disappear off to the right (either top or bottom corner--let your bloggers decide.


For Venom, there would be a photo of the swamp in the Everglades and at the bottom the title dropped into it, with one or two snakes slither out of the swamp, through the letters and towards the reader.


For Double Exposure, a photo of Catalina with a photograph of two spills with the "E" electric and in a different color than the rest of the title.


For Web of Deceit, it'll be simple with a spider web, a spider and a NYPD badge (perhaps RPD) in the middle of the web. The title would be in black and silver.


For Specimen, I've thought of a scuba diver in the Atlantic Ocean with shells forming the word, and a spear through blue-green letters.

Who are your inspirations?

Hmm. I would have to say, for the thriller angle, it would have to be Iris Johansen and Erica Spinder. Mary Higgins Clark got me hooked onto mysteries, and then onto cozies, suspense/thrillers. For romantic suspense, Karen Rose and Lisa Jackson. I've been recently hooked on them for a few years, before I decided to write my own.

Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Who would you like to give a shout out to?

Special thanks goes out to my mom for believing in me and helping me fix my errors. I would also like to thank all of my Twitter friends. They all support me. And to my crit partners/beta readers, thanks for going for the ride.

And finally, where can people find you online?

I have two blogs: www.Kristensbookjungle.blogspot.com
and www.kristenswritingendeavors.wordpress.com.
I'm also at Twitter as @Kristen_Howe.

Thank you so much for taking time to talk with us, Kristen, and I wish you lots of luck in your publishing journey!