Review: The Unbelievers by Julie Affleck

Julie Affleck's mid-grade supernatural thriller, The Unbelievers, flows relentlessly and as swiftly as the river that features in the heart of her tale. When Leigh and her close-knit group of friends decide to go to lunch one frigid winter day, they get swept up in the current of a curse that has plagued their island community for over 65 years: a curse which threatens to untie more than the bonds of friendship, but the bonds of life.

Although dealing with topics which may be a little heavy for younger readers: suicide, kidnapping, murder, rape, madness, The Unbelievers is clearly aimed at younger readers. Affleck demonstrates a keen understanding of social dynamics as well as the importance of doing the hard work necessary to maintain friendships. Underlying the entire story, the themes of courage, initiative, modern skepticism, youthful imagination, and the strength of love to warp or heal combine to forge a memorable story.

For me, The Unbelievers coaxed memories from my own childhood of the things my friends and I would find in the woods, and the tales we'd tell each other, reinventing our concrete world into something more deliciously frightening and powerful. I could relate to the tale's unfolding as well as the familiar tools to which Leigh and her friends turned. I appreciated the telling, and I know my younger self would have enjoyed it even more.

For a chance to win one of two paperback copies of The Unbelievers, check out our interview with Julie Affleck, which includes a giveaway.

The Unbelievers can be purchased on Amazon

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 with Natasha Salnikova

Happy Friday, Blogosprites! Hope you've all survived the week. What do you say we meet another fabulous author? Is that a yes? Okay, then say hello to Natasha Salnikova.

Hello, Natasha! Tell us a bit about yourself.

Well, I'm Russian. I was born in Kazakhstan and later moved to Moscow. I came to America ten years ago. In Russia I was a TV host, a TV writer for one of the biggest networks, and a novelist, among of other things. Now I write books and also articles for a Russian newspaper based in Miami. I've acted in a couple of TV commercials here and even independent movies. I live in beautiful Fort Lauderdale, Florida with my husband, twin daughters and a dog.

Cool, what an amazing life! How long have you been writing?

I'd say for about 20 years now. Wow, that's a lot. Professionally for about 15. But that would include TV scripts and articles for a local newspaper. I started with scripts for prime-time TV series and grew into novels. Fiction gives so much more freedom for creativity, unlike scripts.

Tell us about your books. What are they about?

Most of my books are thrillers. And their subgenres are psychological, supernatural. I enjoy developing interesting characters just as much as plot, and all of my novels have some level of psychological tone to them. Some people call my recent novel, The Voice of Waterfalls, a horror. If it is, it wasn't intentional. I think horror and comedies are very difficult to write. It's very difficult to scare people or make them laugh. All my books are written in Russian and I translate them. So far two of them are out and I'm almost finished with the third one.

How did the story ideas come to you?

Ideas always come unexpectedly. Quiet River is actually based on a real story. Part of it. The Voice of Waterfalls was "born" in the car. I was driving, there was a car in front of me with one of the back lights flashing the whole way. And I thought, what if there is somebody in the trunk? What if the driver is helping that person, not kidnapping her? What if he's not what she thinks? The novel was supposed to be about werewolves but I'm glad I changed that idea. For one of my novels, the idea came from a dream. That kind of stuff also happens. The writer's head is always on the idea hunt.

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

I have a group of Russian beta readers but not of English speakers yet. I do not self edit. English is my second language and my grammar is terrible. Nanci Nelson Rogers, a wonderful editor, helped with my second novel and she reedited the first.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Legal parts. I try to avoid involving police but sometimes it's not possible. Also the end of the story. No one wants to disappoint readers at the end. Nothing else is hard, really.

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

A cup of black tea and chocolate. That's it. I'm simple. I need my caffeine and sugar.

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

Healing, absolutely. There are days when I think about it. I hate when somebody close to me is sick and I can't do anything to help. Being invisible would be fun!

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: paper cup, parrot, and opera house.

The opera house was dark, so no one saw a dead parrot by an empty paper cup.

LOL, interesting. Okay, here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

There too many so I just mention the closest. My mom, of course. She's my first reader and my best friend. My husband. I came here ten years ago because of him. My kids. They are the best. My friends for believing in me. Especially Katia and Ulia. And Nanci, my editor, for doing a tremendous job with my novels.

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

I have two books for sale now.

Quiet River (psychological thriller)
On Amazon
At Barns and Noble

The Voice of Waterfalls (supernatural thriller) 
On Amazon
At  Barns and Noble

They also can visit my Facebook page for latest news.
http://www.facebook.com/Natasha.A.Salnikova

Natasha, thank you so much for chatting with us. I wish you lots of success with your books! Do svidaniya!

Interview with Andy Hollowman

The week's almost over, blogosprites! I don't know about you, but it's been a long one for me. So how about another interview? Today we're talking with writer Andy Hollowman. Let's get to know him.

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

Gladly. I'm a pretty typical, 40-something guy. Live in the Raleigh, NC area with my wife of 20 years and three wonderful kids (well, they're wonderful *most* of the time). I enjoy the outdoors in NC, (beaches, mountains), camping, running, and being involved in my kids lives. My day job is in real estate financing and I also do some real estate buying on the side. Went to university at UNC-Chapel Hill and did a fair amount of writing then and after college (nothing published).

How long have you been writing?

I've been seriously writing since about 2002, when the idea for my first novel "Shades of Gray" got stuck inside my brain and I found that the only way I could get it out was to write it down.

Tell us about SHADES OF GRAY. What’s the story about?

My novel is a thriller that is revolves around the life of single father and travel agency owner who finds himself in a very bad financial bind when his daughter is diagnosed with a rare kidney disease, and his formerly thriving business is ravaged by the effects of 9/11 on his industry. He teams up with a client of the business that is a drug dealer, and a single mom, and together they form a partnership to smuggle drugs aboard cruise ships. The story is mostly set in the Raleigh/Durham NC area with brief stops in Mexico and St. Thomas, V.I.

How did the idea of the story come to you?

I was a travel agency owner myself for most of the 1990's and one of my staff alerted me to a client that she suspected was doing something illegal during her travels. This client was later found murdered in her burned down home and thus our suspicions about her appeared to be true as the incident was reported by the police as drug-related. After this event (and the downfall of my business post 9/11), I began to think about the age old question of "How far would one go to save their company?"

Wow, interesting. What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Re-writing. No doubt about it. I truly enjoyed laying out the story for "Shades of Gray". It was fun to develop the characters and put them in difficult situations. I enjoyed the sculpting of the plot and finding interesting ways to reveal clues and provide foreshadowing as to what would be coming about at the end. But the re-writing, OMG! That has been tedious. I read an author who described the process of creating a novel not as "writing" but as "re-writing". Boy this is so true. It takes a lot of time and energy to re-write. It has been valuable in that I can see now where the novel is much improved over its earlier forms.

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

I need the following when writing - Coffee and sodas, lots of caffiene. If it is after five o'clock, then I need a glass of red wine. I must have absolute silence, so no music. And I must have my handy, dandy notepad with my thoughts and my outline at the ready.

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

No doubt about it, flying like Superman.

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

I truly owe the most incredible debt of gratitude to my best friend, my wife. She has been through so much with me and remains the most honest, caring, and loving person I've ever met. To have her in my life has made writing possible and has made me the luckiest person I know.

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

http://novelistandyholloman.wordpress.com/

Thanks so much for chatting with us, Andy. Good luck with your book!

Interview with Carrie Green

It doesn't have to be Halloween to cuddle up with a good horror book. I'm pretty sure Stephen King proved that. Today we're chatting with horror, suspense, and thriller writer Carrie Green.

Carrie is the author of ROSES ARE RED, VIOLETS ARE BLUE, and SUGAR IS SWEET. Let's get to know her a little better.

Welcome, Carrie! How long have you been writing?

I've been writing nearly my entire life, as soon as I could form the letters of the alphabet. My grandmother was a published author and poet. My grandfather was a columnist for a major Chicago newspaper. It was expected that I would write and like most children, I rose to my parents' expectations. I was given a diary, when I was five, and I wrote my first stories in there (with illustrations, even).

What drew you to write horror?

It's the genre that I love the most, mainly because it can be any genre. I often cite Stephen King's Misery, as an example of this claim, since it's a horror story as well as a darn good historical romance. I firmly believe that horror offers the greatest freedom of expression for writers. Readers will find elements of mystery, science fiction, women's lit, action adventure, romance, etc. in what I write!

What are you working on now?

Right now I'm in the middle of final edits for my full length novel, set in Chicago, Walk A Lonely Street, which will be published in 2012. It opens with the death of a jazz nightclub owner which the police are writing off as a suicide, but his wife and best friend believe otherwise, and they investigate on their own.

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

All authors self-edit, it's part of creating a final, polished, product. I've just learned to not write and edit on the same days, in order to prevent writer's block. Writing and editing are completely different and opposing processes; trying to be critical, while writing, will only inhibit your creativity. As a PR professional, I always follow the rule of thumb that three sets of eyes should look at any document before it goes public. I do the same for my books, but I'm realistic that some typos will slip through, given the greater length of a novel as compared to a standard two page press release.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

The isolation is probably the hardest part of writing. I have to sit in front a computer without any distractions in order to write. Unlike many authors, I'm unable to listen to music. I even close the curtains, so that I don't gaze out the windows. A closed door is also helpful. A completely empty house is best.

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

A giant computer screen is the main must-have for me. My eyes are going, so that the bigger the screen, the better; my husband just recently upgraded my screen for my birthday. I now have a monster screen!

Monster screens are best for writing horror, I'm told. ;) If you could have any super power, what would it be?

I think that being invisible would be cool. It's a classic horror super power!

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: ponytail, calculator, and windshield wipers.

Oh, it's horror Improv! Here you go:

Like a calculator, his brain tracked the flip-flap rate of the windshield wipers—one, two, three seconds, until he could shove her head back and entangle her ponytail in the plastic blades.

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

Readers, of course, then my family and friends, and last, but not least, the super supportive community of authors that promote each other online. While I may write in isolation, marketing is definitely a joyful group activity—the WoMen's Literary Café, http://www.WoMensLitCafe.com, has, especially, been a terrific resource!

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

Visit my Amazon page for all three books: http://www.amazon.com/Carrie-Green/e/B005L3U1SW/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0. 


And congrats on ROSES ARE RED becoming an Amazon bestseller, hitting the top 100 in Kindle eBook Horror Occult. Thanks so much for chatting with us, Carrie, and I wish you continued success.


Thanks!

Interview with Tricia Merritt and Brad Gallaway

Today I'm going to double your fun by doing a double interview. Earlier this year, I was asked to take a look at a novel called REMEMBER TOMORROW by Tricia Merritt and Brad Gallaway. The story has a great voice, and the time-travel element kept me turning the page to find out what was going to happen next. There's also a steamy scene for those who enjoy a little schmexy in a novel. It's definitely a book for those looking for a fantasy-edged thriller.

I had the honor of talking with the authors, so let's see what they have to say.

Welcome to We Do Write, Brad and Tricia! Great to have you here. How long have you each been writing?

TM: I’ve been writing since childhood. My first professional success came about 14 years ago, when I sold my first short story.

BG: I also been writing since I was a kid. I won a “young writers” contest in third grade, and I've been chipping away at it ever since. However, getting into fiction is fairly recent for me... most of my writing efforts have been in reviewing video games and editing the work of my writing staff.

Tell our readers about REMEMBER TOMORROW.

TM: I’d call it a sexy, smart time-travel thriller. It’s meant to be a fun read but there’s also some substance to it: the universe we created has rules. This isn’t a case of time travel being an all-purpose deus ex machina. We set the story in Hong Kong and Seattle, which are cities we know very well.

BG: I agree with that, but for me, it was also about tackling time-travel in a way that a "normal person" would. Rather than the main character having all the pat answers, or being able to breeze through the challenges before her, it was really important to me to have her be human and relatable.

How did the idea of the story come to you?

TM: I think the idea came from a number of sources. I was walking across a snowy field in Korea, listening to Nine Inch Nails on my iPod. The song “Beside You in Time” came on, and it occurred to me that it would be fun to write a book like this. Brad and I decided to use the Tricia Merritt pen name because I am already something of a known quantity in a certain genre. I wanted people to come to the book with absolutely no preconceptions.

BG: Tricia had the original concept and the idea to write it as a team, and I was happy to jump aboard. Although I don't want to say that I came up with a certain thing, or that Tricia came up with a certain thing, I think our styles were a good balance for each other and hopefully they will blend together in a way that's enjoyable to the reader.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

TM: Finding the time to do it. I have a day job and I also run a small business on the side. With so much on my plate, getting into the right frame of mind has become exceedingly tough. I have a hard time calming my monkey-mind down enough for the words to come. It’s not that I lack ideas—I don’t—but creating a space for them is the hard part these days.

BG: My answer is the same. I have a regular day job that pays my bills (in theory, anyway) and I do my work with games writing at night. Despite this, I used to be able to work in an hour or two of fiction a night with no problem, but now that I've got kids in the house, it's a real challenge.

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

TM: Nothing talismanic, if that’s what you mean. I need my laptop, of course. My cat likes to hang out nearby while I’m working, to keep an eye on me. That works two ways, because if he’s in sight it means he’s not in another room destroying something! Sometimes a glass (or two) of wine helps.

BG: The only things I need are a quiet room and a headset. I tend to do most of my writing through a verbal dictation program in order to save my hands the wear and tear of pounding away on a keyboard, so give me some silence and a place to talk to myself, and I'm happy.

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

TM: Telekinesis, absolutely. Think of the X-men’s Jean Grey.

BG: For me, it would probably be something a little more pedestrian... something like the ability to summon piles of cash out of thin air, or the power to eat hyper-fatty food without destroying my cardiovascular system.

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

TM: I’d just like to thank the people who’ve already taken a chance on this book, as well as Brad, for taking a chance on writing it with me.

BG: I'd like to thank Tricia for being a constant encouragement when it was needed, and I'd especially like to thank my wife Gina for being as supportive as anyone could possibly be.

And finally, where can people find you online?

BG: My next book is still in the works all that is due to be published soon, but in the meantime, anyone who wants to read more of my other writings can find me talking video games at http://www.gamecritics.com, or at my personal blog, http://drinkingcoffeecola.blogspot.com

Thanks so much for chatting with us, Brad and Tricia. Good luck with your book, and be sure to let us know when the next one is out.

Interview with Denise Grover Swank

I hope everyone's week hasn't been as cloudy and gloomy as mine so far. If anyone's got any extra sunshine hanging around, feel free to send it my way. ;)

Until then, I'm here to brighten your day with another interview. We're talking with a busy and talented woman I'm sure you'll all be pleased to meet.

Welcome, Denise. Tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is Denise Grover Swank. I write adult thriller/paranormal and I am preparing to write a MG adventure/fantasy. I'm a single mom to six kids (three biological and three internationally adopted,) five of which still live at home. I'm currently work at home which allows me flexibility with my kids and writing.

Sounds like a full house. Let's talk about your writing. What is the name and genre of your manuscript?

CHOSEN is a thriller/paranormal.

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

Emma Thompson was supposed to be a simple delivery for mercenary Will Davenport, but he’s repeatedly ambushed by gunmen hell bent on capturing her five-year-old son Jake, who not only sees the future, but tells Will he’s the Chosen One, the prophesied protector of his mother and the world.

How did the idea of the story come to you?

From my then three year old son. LOL One night my older son's girl friend told me Ryan counted to four, but only if he touched her fingers. I joking suggested perhaps he telepathically read her mind and that's how he knew the numbers. A light bulb went off in my head and I suddenly started playing the "what if" game. What if a boy could see the future? What if someone wanted him? What if his mother was on the run trying to protect him? And finally for a twist, 'cause I LOVE me a good twist, what if someone wanted HER and not her son?

I love good twists too. Sounds like an exciting read. Is your manuscript complete or still a work in progress?

CHOSEN is complete and ready to query. ARG!!!

Ah, the agent query-go-round. Tell us, do you have a critique group/partner or beta readers, or do you self-edit?

All of the above, plus one more: alpha readers.

I used four alpha readers as I wrote; two are writers (an man and a woman) and two a regular "readers" (also a man and a woman). They were crucial to help me stay on track with the story. One, just an avid reader, pointed out what she saw as a deviation from my character's motivation. She was absolutely correct and saved me a ton of future rewrites.


When I finished editing, I used both critique partners and beta readers. With my beta readers, I sent out questionnaires asking their reactions and opinions on particular areas of the book such as: what did they think of a particular scene, was the development of the relationship between Will and Emma believable? There were about 15 questions. God love 'em, they were all so enthusiastic about the book they answered my questions and offered plenty of their own opinion and insights too. I have to say, I was THRILLED to finally have someone read my book and see how much they loved it.

Sounds thorough. What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

The hardest part of writing is probably my criticism of my own work. I write a rough first draft but I have a friend who writes a beautiful first draft. Its hard not to compare. But I made my work shine in editing and at the end of the day, its how it reads when its finished, not when it's first written. (Thank God!)

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

Read, read, read. Be open to constructive criticism. Accept that some days the words just don't flow like you want them too.

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

My reward for finishing my first draft was granting myself permission to make a book trailer. I created a book cover for the end of the trailer. The arm you see on the cover belongs to my 19 year old son. I had to do some major bribing to convince him to let me: 1) draw the tattoo on his arm 2) stand in our front yard while I 3) took his photo. (He is currently in therapy.)


LOL. Well then you've done your job as a mom. ;p Tell us about your inspirations for writing.

Music. I cannot write without music. I listen to lots of different genres, depending on the scene I'm writing. Some days I feel like I live with my headphones in my ears.

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

Internet. I research like crazy. I will spend 30 minutes researching something that is one sentence long. I have said if I am ever suspected of ANY crime, I will be arrested based on my search engine history alone. (gunshot wounds, how to pry open a gun cabinet, bullet proof glass, sniper tactics, you get the picture...)

I can just imagine! Pretty incriminating evidence, hehehe. Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Who would you like to give a shout out to?

My six kids who range from 23 to 2. They have been wonderfully supportive and never even considered that I couldn't write a book. Also, all my friends who not only begged to read my book when I was done but loved it as much a I do.

And finally, where can people find you online?

@DeniseMSwank
http://www.deniseswank.com
Facebook:DeniseGroverSwank

Thank you so much for letting us get to know you, Denise.

Thank you for the opportunity!

And good luck with your books!