Interview with Nicole Zoltack

Today we're chatting with author Nicole Zoltack about her novel, WOMAN OF HONOR.

Welcome to We Do Write, Nicole. Tell us a bit about yourself.

Well, I’m married to my college sweetheart, who was also my first kiss. I have three young boys - a 4 year old, a 2 year old, and a 9 month old. Yes, I’m crazy. I’m obsessed with the Middle Ages and Renaissance - we even had a Renaissance themed wedding!

How long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing since I first learned how to write. My mom used to sit my sister and me down and gave us paper and pencils to write. I’ve been writing seriously since about 2007.

Tell us about WOMAN OF HONOR. What’s the story about?

Short version: A young girl wants to become a knight and ends up finding love as she tries to fulfill her dream.

Long version: Aislinn of Bairbhe dreams of becoming a lady knight to honor the death of her fallen brother. To her mother's horror, King Patrick grants Aislinn's wish and she begins her long years of training.

Despite the mockery of the other pages, and the disdain of Prince Caelan who also trains to be a knight, Aislinn commits herself to her dreams and embarks on a journey of self-discovery and bravery. Through the years, Aislinn and Caelan grow from sparring classmates to good friends. They both know that someday Caelan will marry for the sake of the kingdom, but even that cannot keep them from falling in love.

The threat of war with the Speicans is a constant threat, and one that grows more frightening as she and Caelan train toward their eventual knighthood. Aislinn has committed herself to serving Arnhem, and has promised herself as King's Champion when Caelan claims the throne. She is willing to give up everything... her childhood, her life, even her heart for Arnhem. No matter the pain it brings.

How did the idea of the story come to you?

As I mentioned, I love the Middle Ages. One day, I was going research and discovered there had been an entire order of female knights. The idea of a young girl asking her king if she could train to become a knight, citing those women, came to me, and Woman of Honor was born.

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

I self-edit, then have critique partners and beta readers. You can never have too many eyes on your story!

Are you a planner or a pantser?

A pantser. I tend to not finish stories that I figure out the ending to before I’m ready to write that scene (I tend to write from beginning to end). I am slowly starting to outline some, but it’s a loose outline so my creativity doesn’t feel stifled.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Editing. I can write rough drafts fairly fast when I want to, but editing can take me a long time.

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

Just my netbook or desktop or pen and paper. That’s all I have to have.

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

Super speed. That way, I can speed up the editing process and still have the house cleaned, my chores done, dinner on the table, etc.

What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

So many things! Probably when I was researching different poisons for a story about an assassin.

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: honestly, hornets nest, and humble.

“Honestly… I am scared,” Humble said, dropping the stick and stepping away from the hornets’ nest.

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

Chasing after the little ones.

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

My husband. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be able to stay at home with the boys all day and work on my writing in between caring for them.

Faith Bicknell Brown. My first editor. She taught me so much and was the first person to believe in my writing enough to sign me.

Mary Waibel. My newest beta reader. She’s read almost all of my novels now. Her feedback in invaluable.

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

Just about everywhere!

www.NicoleZoltack.com
http://NicoleZoltack.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNicoleZoltack
http://twitter.com/NicoleZoltack

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=nicole+zoltack
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s?store=allproducts&keyword=nicole+zoltack

Interview with L Leander

What? Monday again? Well, let's start the week off on a good note by indulging in an interview with author L. Leander.

Welcome to We Do Write. 

Tell us a bit about yourself.  

It’s only recently that I began writing a book.  I’ve spent many years as a singer/songwriter and I play several musical instruments. I’m very creative and grew up in a rural area of Michigan where we still churned butter, milked our own cows, canned fruits and vegetables and butchered cows and pigs for our food.  I sewed most of the clothing my family wore and baked my own bread every week.  I cooked on an old gas and wood cookstove. I love camping and cooking over a campfire.  My favorite food is pizza.  I am very interested in history, especially the Civil War years. I love riding roller coasters.

How long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing since I was about eight – poems first, then songs and short stories and finally on to a novel.   

Tell us about INZARED: QUEEN OF THE ELEPHANT RIDERS.

What’s the story about?

The story is about a young woman’s journey from a hardscrabble life in the Appalachian Mountains to the bright lights and excitement of the circus.  She works hard and becomes a famous elephant rider named INZARED, falls in love with the boss handler and begins traveling with the circus.  The setting is pre-Civil War 1843. Inzared learns to live with the Gypsies, but incurs prejudice not only from some of the circus performers but from her own people, as well.  As she matures into a woman she makes decisions that will alter her life forever and learns that you can’t run away from your problems.

 

How did the idea of the story come to you?

Honestly, I don’t know.  As a child I always loved the circus and wanted to run away to join one.  When I began writing this novel I sat down and INZARED dictated the story.  She led the life and she knew how she wanted to be portrayed.  I’m just the vehicle through which she speaks.

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

All of the above.  I have a wonderful Writer’s Group in Mexico, where I spend the winter months.  The members are honest and give excellent feedback.  I use beta-readers and I self-edit.  I want my writing to be the best it can be before it’s published.

Are you a planner or a pantser?  

I am definitely a pantser.  I hope to do a little more planning on the second book in the INZARED series, which I am writing now.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?  

The internet.  I have to use it for research, but before I know it I am off on a tangent somewhere and I have to force myself to get back to writing.

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

 

A thesaurus – I use an online dictionary and refer to it often.

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

 

I think it would be the ability to heal people – make terminally ill people instantly well.

What's the weirdest thing you've googled?  

What an elephant rider wore in 1843 to protect her legs from the abrasive hide of an elephant while riding.  Sounds like an easy question but it wasn’t.  I finally found the answer from a circus museum curator in Germany.    

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: flip chart,

insinuate, and cheesecake.

I don’t mean to insinuate that you are not paying attention, but since you aren’t looking at the flip chart while you nonchalantly eat that piece of cheesecake gives me reason to believe that you are uninterested in my presentation.

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

sleeping, but then I’m dreaming about writing! lol.

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

Let's hear your shout outs.

I have amazing friends and family.  Here are the people who made INZARED a reality.

Ralph Baumann – my incredible husband.  Thanks for doing the housework so I can write!

Edith Wiscombe – my biggest inspiration for Inzared’s character.

Ethel Stockton – my most supportive author friend who always told me the truth.

Charles and Arlene Flory – I know you’re proud of me, mom and dad!

Angel Artrip – my daughter – thanks for the long pep talks.

My sisters and brother, Sandy, Sheri & Chip – thanks for buying my book (I would have gifted you a copy!)

Peggy Ritchison – my good friend and fantastic beta reader.

Helen Livingston and Alan Switzer – my English and band teachers in high school- they pushed to get the best out of me.

Mazatlan Writer’s Group – everyone should have a writing group like this one – we are brutally honest and all help each other achieve.

There are so many others I need to thank, but you know who you are.  Along the way I have met many incredible Indie Authors who have helped me in some way or another.    

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

Amazon Link: http://tinyurl.com/7dfave4

Amazon Author Page:  www.amazon.com/author/lleander

Video Trailer:  http://youtu.be/lQHtsFQGAP0

Website:  www.lleander.com

FB Author Page:  http://facebook.com/lleanderbooks

L.Leander Blog: http://lleander11.wordpress.com/

The Three Two One Pitch Contest!

This contest is now closed. Good luck to everyone who entered. I will announce the winner as soon as Natalie makes her decision. Thanks to everyone who participated.


It's finally here! The official post for the Three Two One Pitch contest. Are your pitches ready? Great! Let's go over the rules one more time before you hit that "comment" button too quickly.

• THREE - Pitch your story in only three sentences. 
• TWO - Two days to enter: June 7th and 8th.
• ONE - One awesome agent—Natalie Lakosil of The Bradford Literary Agency— will judge and pick a winner.

How do you enter? Make sure you follow the directions correctly! In the comments section of this post, type in the following information:

• Name and email
• Title of your manuscript
• Genre of your manuscript
• Word count
• Three-sentence pitch. (No more than three sentences or you'll be disqualified.)

Leave a space between your word count and pitch to make it easier for Natalie. You have from now until midnight (EDT), June 8th, to enter. After that, I will turn off comments and no other entries will be accepted. The winner will be announced when the judging is done and will get a full manuscript request from Natalie!

This contest is open to unagented, completed and polished manuscripts in the genres of:

• MG
• YA
• Contemporary, Paranormal, or Historical Romance
• Upmarket Women's Fiction
• Sci-Fi and Fantasy
• Thrillers and Darker Contemporary Fiction

You may enter pitches for up to TWO different manuscripts, but they must be in separate comments.


To be eligible, you must:

• Follow this blog - go ahead and click "Join this Site" on the right if you haven't already
• Follow me on Twitter
• Spread the word! Tweet, Blog, or mention on Facebook about the contest linking back to this post

Not necessary, but in the spirit of paying it forward:

• Friend me on Goodreads
• Like my Facebook Author Page

Good luck, everyone. Can't wait to read all your pitches. On your mark, get set, pitch!

Three Two One Pitch Contest

Attention writers! Have you been working hard on the next great novel? Is your manuscript ready to pitch to an agent? Well, you're in luck, because I'm holding a pitch contest right here on the blog June 7th! What exactly does this contest entail? Well, it's a Three-Two-One pitch contest.

THREE - Pitch your story in only three sentences. 


TWO - Two days to enter: June 7th and 8th.


ONE - One agent will judge and pick a winner.

Doesn't that sound great? Well then get those pitches ready!


Do not enter your pitch on this post. I will make an official contest entry post on June 7th, and entrants will post their three-sentence pitches (no run on sentences - this agent is a stickler for grammar!) in the comments section of that post. At midnight on June 8th, I will turn off comments and no other entries will be accepted. The winner will get a full manuscript request!

I will announce our spectacular judging agent sometime prior to the contest, so keep an eye out!

This contest is open to unagented, completed and polished manuscripts in the genres of:

• MG
• YA
• Contemporary, Paranormal, or Historical Romance
• Upmarket Women's Fiction
• Sci-Fi and Fantasy
• Thrillers and Darker Contemporary Fiction

To be eligible, you must:

• Follow this blog - go ahead and click "Join this Site" on the right if you haven't already
• Follow me on Twitter
• Spread the word! Tweet, Blog, or mention on Facebook about the contest linking back to this post

Not necessary, but in the spirit of paying it forward:

• Friend me on Goodreads
• Like my Facebook Author Page

So, don't forget: Three sentences, two days to enter, one agent will judge. Good luck, everyone. Can't wait to read all your pitches. See you back here on the 7th of June!

Interview Two with Sara Sheridan

Today we welcome back author Sara Sheridan, whom I interviewed last year. Sara has a new book out, and she's here today to talk about it.

Welcome back, Sara! Tell us about your new book BRIGHTON BELLE.

It's lovely to see you again. Brighton Belle is the story of an ex-Secret Service agent, Mirabelle Bevan. At the end of the war Mirabelle feels her useful life is over – her skills are no longer required. Her boyfriend is dead and she moves down to Brighton to retire. Then she gets a job working for a debt collection agency run by the charismatic Big Ben McGuigan and before she knows it she finds her skills are useful because a mysterious case comes in…. It's been interesting to write a crime novel, for a change. I had to learn some new skills.

How did the idea of the story come to you, and how much research went into writing the book?

The book had its genesis in a boozy lunch with my parents. My father was brought up in Brighton and London during the 1950s and he has some great stories. It prompted me to look at setting a story there – I had a couple of months on my hands initially and once I’d started writing I didn’t stop. The research was very different from the kind of historical research I’ve done before but there is fabulous material available from the era – film footage, photos, eyewitness accounts etc. I delved right in! Austerity Britain is a fascinating era for me as a writer, in contrast to the eras I've covered before. It was the end of the Empire, you see, and the earlier novels I've written are largely about the Empire taking off. 

Without giving too much away, what's your favorite part of the book?

I like the interplay between Mirabelle and the secretary down the hall, Vesta. Mirabelle has been through the war and she's lost everything. She's lonely and grieving and Vesta is jolly - she's the antidote but she has no idea about life. 

Are you a planner or a pantser?

I'm a bit of both. The main thing, when I start, is to know what the book feels like. That sounds odd, but with Brighton Belle I wanted it to be  a whizz of a read, reminiscent of the cosy crime heyday of Agatha Christie but slightly more noir for the modern reader. So I knew that. I also knew the character of Mirabelle somehow. But plot twists, well, I think if I planned those too much, I'd be writing anticipating it and I'd rather the reveals were blind. It's more difficult to write that way, but it means you experience the book like a reader and I love that.

What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

How quickly a body decomposes in different soil types. Actually, that wasn't for this book, it was for Ma Polinski's Pockets. I ended up having to ring the local cemetery authority. Once they had established I wasn't a weirdo with a plan, they were fine about it.

That's hysterical. I'm sure all writers could be potentially locked up due to our search words. Let's tell everyone where they can find BRIGHTON BELLE online?

Ooh yes please!
At the moment it's only available online because the hardback was a library issue and it isn't going into bookshops. So, on amazon:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Brighton+Belle+by+Sara+Sheridan&x=0&y=0
And the paperback will be in the shops, online and off, in July (just in time for the summer.)

Thanks so much for stopping by and chatting with us again, Sara. It's always great talking with you. Best of luck with your new book!

Interview with Sara Sheridan

Spring has arrived in my part of the world, and it's making me feel very energetic and blissful to see everything in bloom. And in the spirit of feeling blissful, I've brought you a delightful interview with a wonderful writer. Let's all welcome Sara Sheridan.

Hi, Sara. Tell us a bit about yourself.

I was born in Edinburgh in 1968 and went to an all-girl school with little to recommend it except great English and History teachers. I went on to read English at Trinity College in Dublin and after a short stint running an art gallery and restaurant in Galway I came back to Edinburgh in 1991. I now sit on the Society of Authors Committee for Scotland which is one of my more energetic activities!

Just as a sidenote, I absolutely love Scotland. I've been there twice and would definitely go back again. So, how long have you been writing?

I started to write about 15 years ago. I was getting divorced and was having difficulty looking after my daughter (who was very small at the time) and working in an office job and well, just coping. I wanted to work from home and came up with this crazy idea of being a novelist. Honestly, I am the luckiest girl out. Initially I thought of it as a career break. Anyway, I wrote my first book (Truth or Dare) in three or four months, sent it off and a few weeks later had my first offer. I've been writing ever since. I know. It's appalling! I feel guilty but I haven't looked back and I think it's the best job in the world (for me, anyway!)

I would love to hear about SECRET OF THE SANDS. What’s the story about?

It's set in the 1833 - the heyday of the British Empire and the year slavery was abolished. The story is based on three letters I found in the John Murray Archive in the National Library of Scotland that were from a young Lieutenant in the Bombay Marine (the Indian Navy) James Raymond Wellsted. He befriended the Sultan of Oman and was given permission to venture inland to the desert. He was the first European to do so and as he was a surveyor he realised there was oil there. I also used a character that Wellsted mentions only once (but in an intriguing fashion) - an Abyssinian slave girl who takes the trip with him. I wanted to evoke the souk, the desert, the harshness of life and also the clash of cultures - it's really my favourite thing! I had great fun with it too - I have an Irish woman who gets shipwrecked and sold into slavery but she falls in love and marries her master. I have a crazy Emir who kidnaps an English exploratory mission. Oh - stop me! If you don't I'll just keep going and I'll give it all away.

Sounds intriguing! How did the idea of the story come to you?

The letters I found sparked it and then I went on to do quite a bit of research into Wellsted, the Bombay Marine and the Middle East during the period. It grew.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Honestly - I don't find writing difficult per se. I really enjoy it. If there is part of a writer's job that's tough it's handing it over to the publisher. That's when you lose control (and me, I'm a control freak). If there is a writing challenge, then finding the right voice in which to tell the story - that's probably it. You have to get that right from the start because it's very difficult to change once you're embarked. Secret of the Sands was a third person story with a slightly knowing tone. My last historical book was in the first person - that was just the way the story came across best.

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

I'd say that you need to read a lot because that's where you spot how to best represent different voices and situations. I'd also say that you have to get on with it - it's hard work but doing the work is a lot more satisfying than, well, hanging about and talking about it. Also I can't stress enough the value of a professional editor - they're priceless. That is a huge learning curve - working with a professional editor really raises your game.

You really enjoy the community side of writing, don't you?

Definitely. I'm always getting involved in that! As I mentioned, I'm on the committee of the Society of Authors in Scotland (where I live). We also have some fabulous institutions that will stage writers events. Last year I spoke at the National Library of Scotland about the importance of reading and staged also took part in a project at the V&A in London which took 26 writers and used their responses to 26 objects to tell the story of British history. It was called 26Treasures and I wrote my first poem since school for it. When I arrived at the V&A to see the exhibition (which took the form of a treasure trail) my poem was two up from Andrew Motion's contribution. I almost died! This year I'll be taking part in an exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland and I'll also be on at the Edinburgh Book Festival. I love communicating about history and stories on all levels - not only through books. You should search me on YouTube - I'm always spouting forth!

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

Well I can work almost anywhere so it's not associated with a particular place for me or having any particular books or anything like that. I prefer to type (I'm fast) so my laptop and preferably an internet connection. That's it. It's an occupation of the mind!

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

I do have a superpower! I can read really quickly. Not Google Scan quickly, but still, pretty fast. I'm also very organised (it's that control thing). In terms of Magical Superpower (cos that's what you mean) Hmmm... mind control! I'd love to be able to do mind control. Scary but true.

Yes! That's my choice too. It would come in so handy.

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: brandy, kaleidescope, and investigation.

Dr Stuart sighed and took a sip of brandy before he continued his investigation - it was a cold night and when Martha returned she would want to sit by the fire mesmerised by the movement of the kaleidescope, and if he wanted to please her he had to finish it in time.

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

Oh thank you for letting me do that! I have, of course, a lot of people to thank. It doesn't take a village to publish a book - it takes an army. Firstly my family who are very patient (writers are quite, quite mad). My fiance, Alan, is tremendously kind - a real rock - and my daughter Molly is fabulous. Professionally my agent, Jenny, is a star. She's always available, absolutely on side and has a burning belief when I come up with crazy ideas that I'll pull them off. I also have a couple of undercover mentors - writers who are at a more advanced stage in their careers and kindly give me a bit of time now and then to share their experience. That's really important. Then there are the archivisits, librarians, specialists and geeks who help me when I want to find out something esoteric and eccentric (I spent a week finding out about Arabian horses for Secret of the Sands, for example, and how they were first imported to Europe). Other times it's about clothing or the kind of words that were fashionable in different periods. People are enormously generous and regularly point me in the right direction. And last of all there are the readers who write or tweet or whatever to tell me what they think. I love it when people come up after events for a chat. Recently I gave a library talk and a guy came up and said he didn't think he'd like my books (the covers, you see, are pink and have girls on the front) but hell, they were riproaring adventures. That cheered me up for days afterwards. How generous of him to bother to let me know.

That's awesome! Finally, where can people find you and your books online?

I love online. I've actually blogged about writers and technology recently and it got a great response: http://goo.gl/2d3ft I'm on twitter @sarasheridan and have a website www.sarasheridan.com and of course you can buy my books on Amazon (please, do!).

Sara, thank you so much for letting us get to know you. Your book sounds great and I wish you the best of luck.

Interview with Alex George

Today I'd like to welcome a very interesting writer to We Do Write. When I read the biography on his website, I was pretty impressed, and now I'd like to introduce him to you. Say hello to Alex George.

Hi, Alex. Tell us a bit about yourself.

I am an Englishman, living in Missouri. I’ve been here for over seven years now (my wife is from mid-Missouri and we moved from London to be closer to her family.) I’ve been married to my wonderful, long-suffering wife, Christina, for twelve years. We have two beautiful children, Hallam (9) and Catherine (5). By day I am an attorney; I have my own firm in Columbia, Missouri. I’m also involved in running a water park at the Lake of the Ozarks; consequently I have been known to clown about in a shark suit.

Wow. You'd make a well-rounded character in a book! How long have you been writing?

I’ve always enjoyed writing but I suppose I began seriously half way through the 1990s. I was always complaining about the books I was reading, and people kept telling me that I should shut up and write my own. So I did! My first novel was published in England in 1999. I’ve written four books prior to the novel I’ve just sold to Penguin. They’ve been sold in the UK, France, Germany and Italy, but none of them has been published in America (although I have had some very nice rejection letters from American publishers!) I wrote full-time for a few years after my second book was published, but now it has become more of a secondary career again. I get up at five o’clock every morning and write for two hours before the children wake up. Then I go to work. It does make for rather slow progress sometimes and I find it difficult to stay awake much past ten o’clock in the evening!

From what I understand, your current book is untitled as of yet, but can you tell us what the story is about?

It’s the story of a young couple who leave Germany in 1904 and make their way to America. We then follow the lives of the family over the course of three generations. The book spans all of the twentieth century – America’s century. And while it’s a book about them and the adventures they encounter in their new country, I hope it’s also a story about America itself.


As with all my books, there’s a lot of music in it. The narrator of the book is one of four brothers and they sing together in a close harmony quartet. It’s been a lot of fun researching that, although I think I’ve driven my wife slightly mad with all the barbershop CDs I’ve bought.


I had an awful lot of fun writing it. In addition to the principal characters in the main family, I had an opportunity to populate the fringes of the novel with a lot of characters whom I really enjoyed creating. Among others, there’s a prim church organist who strangles chickens with her bear hands and a bicycle-riding dwarf. Two U.S. Presidents make cameo appearances, as well.


And no, no title yet. I have been writing this story for years, always hoping that a good title would fall out of the sky, but it hasn’t happened yet. Soon, I hope! Next time I’m going to start with the title, and do it that way around.

Sounds like a plan. How did the idea of the story come to you?

Well, I was casting about for a topic, having begun, and abandoned, a couple of (awful) ideas. And the thought occurred to me that I had done something that not many people have the opportunity to do, namely move to another country to live. I’m an immigrant, in other words. And America is, at its core, a country of immigrants. So I began to explore that theme. Around that time, my wife’s great aunt Ethel passed away. We attended her memorial service, and half way through, four men (who I later discovered were brothers) stood up and sang Abide With Me in beautiful four-part harmony. And while I should have been thinking: poor old Ethel, she had a good life, what I was actually thinking was: of course! A barbershop quartet! So there I had the two pillars on which the rest of the book is constructed: the story of a family of immigrants, and close-harmony singing. Kind of like The Godfather Part 2 meets The Sound of Music.

Being sort of an immigrant myself, in that I'm an American who moved to Germany, I find that quite interesting. So tell us, what’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Knowing when to stop. The French poet Paul Valery said, “Poems are never completed, merely abandoned,” and the same applies to novels. But at some point you have to take a deep breath and let your baby out into the world to see if it will walk on its own. I’m a perfectionist, and know that if I do one more review then I’ll improve the book a little more. But at some point you just have to let go.

LOL, I think my problem is I let go too often. Any tips you’ve learned about writing you’d like to share?

Tons, but the most important would probably be: write every day. Even if it’s only a little. If you’re serious about writing, you need to make it a priority. Find a time to write, and stick to it. (That’s why I write early in the morning. I know that there will be nothing else competing with my attention then, no excuses to do something else instead.) If you do that, then – little by little – words will appear on the page. The most important asset that you can possess as a writer is stamina. Writing books is a long slog; you need the drive and energy to propel you through the less inspiring moments (which can be much of it!) And, of course, you should read and read and then read some more.

Great tips. Who are your inspirations?

I read all the time (see previous remark!) and books, rather than people, serve as my principal inspiration. Writing is a craft. There is always room for improvement, more to learn, and higher hurdles to clear. Reading a wonderful novelist like Richard Powers (to choose one of many literary heroes more or less at random) gives me a slightly vertiginous sense of all that can be achieved within the form, and shows me how much further there always is to go.

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

Peace and quiet. I can’t write in coffee shops, or places like that. I sincerely wish I could listen to music when I write, but it’s impossible. It’s a complete distraction and my productivity plummets. I work in a very small room in my house, facing away from the window. I need to minimize the risk of distraction when I sit down to write. It helps that I know I only get two hours a day; that concentrates the mind.

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

I think I would like to be able to fly. It would make it much easier to get back to England.

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: needle, orange juice, and teepee.

When my daughter spilled her cup of orange juice I couldn’t help but needle her about it, even though it wasn’t really her fault; it had been a long and stressful day, and I was (as my son pointed out) both a wigwam and a teepee – in other words, I was too tense. (Sorry.)

Don't be sorry, that was surprisingly unique! Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

I am lucky to have had four wonderful reading angels, who have read this latest book in various drafts and have offered nothing but honest appraisal and unstinting encouragement throughout. Every writer should be so lucky to have just one such reader, let alone a quartet. They are my wife, Christina, and my three great friends Elaine Johnson, Jennifer Perlow, and Allison Smythe.

My agents, Bruce Hunter in London and Emma Sweeney in New York have shown endless faith, patience, and perseverance. And of course I’m grateful to Amy Einhorn at Amy Einhorn Books for having faith in the book and applying her enormous skill to the editorial process.

And finally, where can people find you online?

My website and blog is at www.alexgeorgebooks.com. There are links there to my facebook page and twitter pages.

Excellent! Thank you so much for chatting with us, Alex. Good luck naming your novel, and I wish you lots of success in all your writing endeavors.

Interview with Milva

Hello, everybody. I hope all the mothers out there had a fantastic Mother's Day.

Today we have a special interview from across the pond. Well, across the pond from most of you—I live in Germany so it's more like right next door to me. We're talking with Holland-based Milva.

Welcome, Milva. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

My name is Milva (Chin Tjauw Yin). My husband's name is Dave van der Vinden and we have two children, ages 11 and 14. In real life I work in a store which sells diverse items from mugs to furniture. I started in the administrative field, but since my youngest arrived, I needed a part time job and I ended up in the store.

Let's talk about your writing. What is the name and genre of your manuscript?

The name of my book is Verloren Liefde, which translated in English is Lost Love. The genre is historical fiction, but I like to call it a historical chicklit.

Here’s the part where you pitch it. What’s your story about?

The story is about two people: The female character Maria Lynn lives in Amsterdam as a medical secretary. As long as she can remember, she has had vivid dreams about a past life. On the other side of the world is a doctor in India, Ray Agrawal, who also has the exact same dreams. They meet at a medical convention and when events move further they find out they have a connection, the connection of their previous lives together.

At the same time the story goes back in the time. In 18th Century India, Englishman Lawrence and the lovely princess Amala meet in unusual circumstances. Their love is forbidden, because she belongs to another man. It’s a story where love overcomes time. From past to the present. Can they retrieve their love in the here and now, the love that was taken away from them?

So it's a reincarnation story. Very interesting. How did the idea of the story come to you?

The time the story came to me, I watched a lot of Bollywood movies. With the setting of India, the idea of reincarnation began to grow on me and at one point the story began to come alive for me.

I understand you are published. Can you tell us about how that came about?

I entered a writing contest and the prize was you could win a contract with a publisher. I didn’t make it to the short list, but a few months later the publisher called me and said they wanted to publish my story.


It’s a print-on-demand publisher. That means if an order for the book is placed, they will print it. They have no stocking place. The only catch is you have to promote yourself. A lot. That’s a bit of a problem for me, because I’m actually too shy.

Do you have any plans to have your book translated into English and have it sold in English-speaking countries? Is so, what are your plans to accomplish this?

It’s a dream of course to get my book translated into English. Dutch is not a language everybody speaks around the world. I still have no idea how to accomplish this. I guess if I can get enough readers, it will get to the point where I can take that step. My ultimate dream is to get it adapted into a movie. I secretly already have a cast…hahaha.

That would be amazing. So do you have a critique group or beta readers, or do you self-edit?

At this point I do have some critique beta readers. Some are for spelling, others are simply reading the story. Is it exciting enough, that kind of stuff. When I wrote Verloren Liefde, I had just one beta reader and one corrector. I think I’ve grown since then.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Writer's block. Sometimes I’m in a flow and I can’t stop writing. There are also months I just can’t write, and several storylines are battling in my head, so I don’t know where to begin.
As for now, the research is getting in the way of writing. It’s important to get the research right, so readers will believe the story.

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

The thing I’ve learned about writing is that you have to re-write, and that the story should be written in the past or the present tense. I just wrote and I had no idea about all the rules. It’s important you know that, it will save you a lot of trouble.

Who are your inspirations?

My favourite author is Stephen King, but I also read other genres like Fantasy. Lord of the Rings is also my absolute favourite read. Chicklits are also a great read and the queen of chicklit, in my opinion, is Sophie Kinsella. I get my inspiration from history. I just love history, from ancient Egypt to French royalty before the revolution.

Let’s get to know you on a deeper level. Can you name three things about yourself people may not know?

Three things that people don’t know about me? That’s a hard question to answer.


I guess that I’m a complete nerd (proud of it). I’d like to stay at home with a good book and get totally lost in it.


Second one is, I hate to admit it, but I’m addicted to little black dresses, shoes and bags.
Especially little black dresses, I have a total of 5. Shocking! I won’t even mention the shoes and bags.


Third, I love Fantasy and Sci-fi movies. But my favourite movie is the Sound of Music.

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

I'd like to thank by beta readers, but especially Jolanda who was there at the beginning of it all, and my corrector and online friend since 10 years Brenda.

And finally, where can people find you online?

People can find me on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1240267268
If the link doesn’t work, just look for Milva Chin.
On Twitter http://twitter.com/milva7
I’m working on a website, but I’m a complete doofus..oops can I say that?

You can say it, but I bet it's not true. *wink* Thank you so much for chatting with us, Milva. I'm sure if we have any Dutch readers they'll be looking out for your book, and please let us know once it's translated into English.