Interview with Laurie London

Don't you love books with the word 'Blood' in them? I have to admit they get my attention. And I also have to admit I sometimes throw the word in there when I'm tossing around title ideas. So how great is it to chat with an author with multiple blood-titled books! Let's all get to know the awesome Laurie London.

Hi Laurie! Tell us a bit about yourself.

I live on a small farm in the Seattle area with my family. We have horses, a dog, a cat, a rabbit, and chickens--one of which got eaten by a coyote last night. :-(

Oh dear! How long have you been writing?

I've been writing off and on since I was a kid but only recently have I been writing with the goal of becoming published.

Tell us about your paranormal romance BONDED BY BLOOD and its sequel
EMBRACED BY BLOOD.

Bonded By Blood is the first book in the Sweetblood series. It centers around a group of Guardian enforcers, vampires who safeguard humanity from Darkbloods, rogue vampires who believe it’s their right to feed from and kill humans. The Darkblood Alliance is an organized faction that sells blood on the vampire black market. The rarest, called Sweet, is highly addictive and commands the highest price.


In the Sweetblood world, since vampires exist secretly, yet peacefully (for the most part) among humans, they don’t burst into flames in the sun, sparkle, or go into a trace-like sleep during the day. Ultraviolet light weakens them—they’re unable to convert it into energy like we do—so they avoid the sun and come out mainly at night. Which is why they need human blood and energy to survive.


Bonded By Blood is about Dominic Serrano, the leader of the Seattle field team, and Mackenzie Foster-Shaw, a human sweetblood. Her special blood will give him the strength he needs for revenge against the powerful evil who destroyed his family, but in doing so, he could destroy her.

Embraced By Blood is about Alfonso, Dom's estranged brother who worked undercover within the Darkblood Alliance for years, and Lily DeGraff, a highly trained Tracker agent with the Seattle field team. As a marked man, Alfonso has gone into hiding to protect the ones he loves. But when danger strikes close to home and the Darkblood plot intensifies, he and Lily must team up to fight the evil that threatens them all.

Sounds cool! How did the idea of the stories come to you?

The inspiration for the Sweetblood series came to me as I drove past an old cemetery near where I live. Although I’d driven by many times, there was something about this one particular time that stuck with me. Tucked beneath a stand of fir trees at the side of a busy highway, it seemed glaringly out of place.


Because I’ve always been intrigued by cemeteries, I doubled back and got out of my car. Not seeing any fresh flowers, just crooked and broken gravestones littering the forest floor, my mind started imagining all sorts of things.


I kept envisioning a man hidden under a pile of dead leaves. Although I knew he wasn’t the villain, he was going to do something bad. I needed to find out why.

That's freaky, but very cool. Tell us about Emmanuelle Morgen of the Judith Ehrlich Literary Management.

I signed with Emmanuelle as the result of a referral from another agent who liked my story enough to pass it along to her. Emmanuelle gave me great editorial advice, which helped me polish up the manuscript, and she sold the series quickly.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Writing that first draft!

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

Deadlines, either self-imposed or actual ones, are very motivating. Because of them, I've learned to push myself and to write every day, even when I don't feel like it or I'm not inspired. A deadline is a slave only to time, not your muse.

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

Hard candy and green tea.

Ah, I haven't heard that one before. If you could have any super power, what would it be?

I'd love to be able to fly.

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: briefcase, opera singer, and in-line skates.

Before Betty became a professional opera singer, she worked as a courier, but instead of using a bicycle, she zipped along the city sidewalks with her briefcase and her neon green in-line skates.

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

Thank you to my sister who was the first person who believed in my writing.

And finally, where can people find you online?

My website is www.LaurieLondonBooks.com
My blog is www.LaurieLondon.blogspot.com
I can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LaurieLondonAuthor
and Twitter www.twitter.com/LaurieBLondon

Thanks so much, Laurie, for chatting with us. I wish you lots of success with all your writing endeavors!

Thanks so much, Dorothy, for having me on today!

Interview with Cornell Deville

Looking for a great read? A TALE OF TWO HEARTS, by Cornell Deville, is available now!

Summer in Morro Bay can be boring when you're thirteen. But when Grant Parker and his friends discover a mystery that's been buried for over 300 years, suddenly summer isn't boring any longer. The chest they've uncovered has an eerie and cryptic warning engraved on the lid. Matt is convinced it contains a pirates treasure. But April isn't sure. She wants to put the chest back where they found it and not take any chances. When curiosity gets the better of them, they find an ancient spell book inside the chest. One of the spells seems fairly simple, but things don't turn out as they expect. And there's only one way to change things back to the way they're supposed to be. The three friends set out on a dangerous adventure that leads them deep inside Morro Rock. They discover a lot more than they expect. And something even more unexpected waiting for them at the end of the dark tunnel.

I've had the honor of interviewing the author recently. Join me as we get to know him better.

Welcome to We Do Write! Glad to have you with us. I'd love to hear more about A TALE OF TWO HEARTS. How did the idea of the story come to you?

My wife and I made a trip to California a few years ago. We flew to San Francisco and then drove down the Pacific Coast Highway and along the Big Sur Coast. On the second (or third) day, we arrived at Morro Bay. It was lunch time so we stopped and had something to eat. I had done some research on the internet and wanted to see Morro Rock before we left the town. When I drove to the shore and looked out at it, a spark of an idea came to me. I took some photos and continued to think about that idea until we got home. Shortly after that I started writing it.

Here's a book trailer for A TALE OF TWO HEARTS!

Your new project, CANNIBAL ISLAND, sounds interesting as well. Can you tell us more about it?

I'd love to. Cannibal is my longest novel to date. It's written in the Steampunk style, set in the turn of the century. The whole story centers around a legendary Golden Disk that is supposed to be a time travel device created by the ancient Incas. The adventure begins when an old sailor, Angus Callahan (who owns a small and ingenious monkey), arrives in the town of Southampton and enters the Emporium of Nautical Charts (where our hero, Richie Armstrong is employed.) Angus is trying to sell his treasure map. During the conversation, Richie's archenemy, oily-haired Hans Von Hisle enters and overhears the conversation. From there it's a race to get to the uncharted island. Richie's father (recently deceased) owns a steamship company, and Hans' father owns a dirigible manufacturing plant. The quest takes them from Southhampton to Africa, from Dakar to Rio and around the Horn until the reach Lima. There's lots of adventure and intrigue along the way. And, of course, Richie's sweetheart, Wren Remington, gets hoodwinked by the Von Hisles into coming along as a hostage of sorts. It's fast-paced once it gets going and my beta readers tell me it's a real page turner.

Here's the book trailer!


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

It depends. I have used a professional editor on one occasion for a book entitled Lost in the Bayou. I haven't done anything with it yet, but it's a thriller that has a lot of scary scenes in it. I think it will be very popular among the middle grade and young adult readers. It's ready to print, but I'm holding off on that one for now. I also use both of my sisters for editing and catching typos. One is a writer, the other is a reader. And my wife acts as the final proofreader.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

That's a great question. I think the hardest part is simply getting started on a new story. Once I get the first chapter finished, the time flies and I thoroughly enjoy the time I spend with my characters. But it's getting past that initial hump and getting the story going that's the obstacle.

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

That's easy. Dr. Pepper.

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

Invisibility.


Ah, I see. Or ... I don't! LOL

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: laser, clock tower, and tutu.

Oh, my goodness. How's this?
It wasn't an easy task to conceal the laser in the pink tutu while she climbed the clock tower steps, but she was a clever monkey, and she made it to the top door without anyone noticing.

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

The first thank you has to go to my wife, Rosie, for her patience in putting up with my writing for so many years. My sisters, Melody and Sharon for reading everything I've ever written since I was six years old and telling me they loved loved every word of it. To all my Facebook writing friends. To all my Twitter friends who retweet my posts. To all my followers on my blog. To the members of Absolutewrite who offer such great advice. And to everyone who has read A Tale of Two Hearts, Scary Night Music, and Star Wishes, and to all my reviewers who have left such kind words.

Where can we find you online?


I can be found at my blog at http://cornelldeville.blogspot.com
I can also be found at http://treasureofmorrobay.weebly.com (This site is solely for The Treasure of Morro Bay trilogy books.)
I'm on Twitter as Sixtiesguy and on Facebook as Cornell DeVille (and Michael Broadway)

Anything you'd like to add?

Yes. I have only recently discovered a site called Kickstarter.com which is the largest funding site on the internet. It's an opportunity for artists and writers to get their favorite project funded. I have a project on there for a hardbound collector's edition of Cannibal Island. I just launched it, so there's only one backer so far. I'm hoping it succeeds and hits its funding goal so the project can become a reality.


And finally, I'd like to thank you sincerely for taking the time to do this interview. It's been fun.


Likewise! It's been great chatting with you, and I wish you lots of success with your books!

Interview with R.A. Evans

Hello, blogosprites! Hope you're all having a great week so far. To bring a little more sunshine to your day, I've got a fun interview with a great writer. Let's all get to know R.A. Evans, shall we?

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

I'm the anti-moth. Just as those creepy bugs are attracted to flame, I tend to be drawn towards darkness. By day I prostitute my creativity for the advertising industry, and by night I write about things that are dark and terrible. In between I balance three kids and a supportive wife who lets me think I am much more dark and mysterious than I really am.

How long have you been writing?

In some way shape or form I've always been writing. I remember as a child reading books and thinking I could improve upon them. I would actually write new endings and ask my mom to send those pages back to the library when we returned the book.

Professionally, however, it really started after college. Of course, it wasn't until 2008 that I officially started my work on Asylum Lake. Now, I'm addicted and I simply can;t stop.

Tell us about ASYLUM LAKE. What’s the story about?

Asylum Lake is about the power of memories and how they can attach themselves to places and things. And no matter how you try to run from them...sometimes, the dark ones, grow restless and come looking for you. The dark memories in my novel lie beneath of murky waters of Asylum Lake and are drawn from the abandoned psychiatric hospital on its northern shore. They've haunted the small Michigan town of Bedlam Falls for years and when the secrets finally surface it sets off a chain of events which, I believe, readers will both connect with and be frightened by. The reviews have been tremendous and the sequel, Grave Undertakings, is scheduled for release in May.

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

I spent 11 years working as the public information officer for the public mental health system in West Michigan. It was during that time that I discovered the real Asylum Lake - a nature preserve in Kalamazoo, Michigan that is right next to the grounds of the Kalamazoo State Hospital. I immediately knew that the place and setting would be perfect for a thriller, but it took me returning home to the small town where I had grown up to really pull the story together. I bumped into my own memories and realized that at the bottom of Asylum Lake the unremembered must be growing restless. That was actually the first line I write.

Can you tell us a bit about GRAVE UNDERTAKINGS?

As the story's chilling conclusion, Grave Undertakings is both a prequel and a sequel to Asylum Lake. Asylum Lake's story unfolded over three time periods - the 1950's, the 1970's, and present day. With Grave Undertakings readers will be taken back even further into the history of the asylum, yet also continue the present day search for answers. Without giving too much away for those who have yet to dive into Asylum Lake, the secrets unearthed in Grave Undertakings shed light on the mysterious hospital superintendent Dr. Wesley Clovis and the ramifications of his dark experiments.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Staying focused on one project. I currently have three different projects bouncing around in my head and I want to dive into all three. It's like choosing a favorite child.

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

I have a writing schedule and its been fantastic. Each day from 3-6am I write. Some days I am lucky to get 300 words out an others it may be 3,000 or more! It's like anything else, practice makes perfect. And I've found that some of those 300 word days have contained nuggets of gold!

Great advice. I need to adjust my schedule. Let’s get to know you on a deeper level. What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

My MP3 player. Music is vital to my writing process, as the readers of Asylum Lake can tell. I have a variety of playlists that I use for different moods and tones. It's odd, I know, but not uncommon for me to have both Neil Diamond and Five Finger Death Punch on the same playlist. Nothing says "It's time to shed some blood" like a little Sweet Caroline!

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


X-ray vision, of course! I'd want to see what evil truly lies in the heart of men.

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: feather, tornado, and garden slugs.

From the lowly garden slug to the last feather on the birds of the field, the tornado's fury spared not a thing. (ugh! Tough one!)

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

First and foremost my wife and kids for allowing me the time and space to pursue my dreams. Having a writer in the family isn't all rainbows and unicorns - we tend to be a selfish and sensitive animal. I'd also like to thank Wendy Mersman, a dear friend who created the artwork and designed the website for Asylum Lake. She believed in me before I even believed in myself.

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

Asylum Lake is available on Amazon for Kindle at http://amzn.to/hGNex for only $2.99. For those of you who still prefer the printed page, you can get an autographed copy of Asylum lake for $15 by visiting http://bit.ly/fi54Z3. Now is the perfect time to dive into the mysteries of Asylum Lake.


Thank you so much for chatting with us. Asylum Lake sounds like a spooky read that promises to keep us turning the page. Good luck with it and with GRAVE UNDERTAKINGS!

Now Available: The Clearing

I love it when writers I've come into contact with have big news to share. In this case, it's the wonderfully brilliant young adult author Anne Riley whose novel THE CLEARING has just been released. What's the story about, you might ask. Well, let's take a gander.

Natalie Watson doesn’t believe the reports about the way her parents died. In fact, she’s not sure she believes in much of anything these days. But after moving from her home in Georgia to her aunt’s boarding school in Maine, solving the mystery of her parents’ deaths is just one of several things on her mind. When she’s not fending off attacks from the popular kids or taking refuge in the pages of a novel, she ponders the rumors circulating about a certain boy in her math class… a boy with fiery red hair who never speaks to anyone.

Despite suspicions that he may have murdered his sister a year earlier, Natalie finds it impossible to stay away from Liam Abernathy – especially when he confesses to knowing something about her parents. Soon she’s following him into the forest, where things happen she doesn’t understand… things that shouldn’t be possible….

As Liam’s story unfolds, Natalie realizes she’s more connected to him than she ever thought – and not everyone she counts as a friend can be trusted.

Sounds awesome, right? You can find THE CLEARING here and here and here.

Anne Riley is an author of young adult fiction disguised as a high school Spanish teacher. She lives in Birmingham, Alabama with her husband and their daughter.

After graduating from the University of Alabama with a double major in advertising and Spanish, Anne wrote several complete manuscripts, none of which will ever see the light of day. In fact, she likes to pretend they never existed in the first place, although this isn’t really fair as those manuscripts helped her find her voice as an author.

In case you're interested, here is the interview I had with Anne last year. Let's all wish Anne the best of luck with her novel!

Book Release and Interview with John Locke

John Locke's newest Donovan Creed novel is available now! Introducing VEGAS MOON. In order to save his own life, Donovan Creed signs on as bodyguard to the most famous gambler in Las Vegas history, Jim “Lucky” Peters. Lucky, worth millions, has hit a losing streak and must raise a lot of cash in a short period of time from some of the world’s creepiest people. It doesn’t take long for Creed to learn that the person who holds the key to his survival is none other than Lucky’s smokin’ hot wife, Gwen, who has secrets of her own.



Let's talk to John and ask him about his new book.

Hi, John! Tell us a bit about yourself and how long you've been writing.

I'm a husband, father, dad (there's a difference between being a father and a dad, and I like to think I'm both!) I have a day job as a real estate investor, specializing in building/buying shopping centers for my own portfolio. I own 13 shopping centers in three states and personally manage them. I also own two insurance agencies, and hold a minority ownership in a couple of movie theaters. In my spare time, I write, and I've been writing for almost two years now.

How did the idea of VEGAS MOON come to you?

Ideas for the next book always come to me while I'm writing the current book. I was halfway finished with A Girl Like You, when my brother sent me an article about a successful gambler. I thought, "Why not turn it around? What if the gambler used to be worth $50 million, but now he's on a losing streak, and owes a ton of money and has the mob against him, and needs Donovan Creed to be his bodyguard? What if he has an ultra-hot wife? What if he's trying to raise money from the world's creepiest people to dig himself out of a financial hole? How many laughs can I pack into that?" The story practically wrote itself, requiring less than three weeks from start to finish, writing part-time. As I anticipated, it's the funniest Creed ever!

Let’s get to know you on a deeper level. If you could have any super power, what would it be?

I can think of no greater power than to be invisible. Or any power that would be more fun. Provided you didn't have to be invisible all the time!

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: pistol whip, vegetarian, and oil rig.

The oil rig was an unlikely front for a vegetarian restaurant, but Maud Lynn sashayed through the place like a Tennessee Walking Horse with ginger up its butt and proceeded to pistol-whip the patrons till they screamed for hog jowls and red-eye gravy!

Wow, that was awesome - and funny! Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

There are too many to mention, so I'll start with you, and the rest of my OOU's. OOU stands for "One of Us!" --These are the people who have honored me by purchasing all my books, and who write to let me know if I'm doing a good job. They're my target audience, and I repay their loyalty by personally responding to every email and keeping my prices as low as possible, and remaining true to the characters and stories they want to read. These folks are fiercely loyal to me, and I love them with all my heart. I would love to meet more of you, and the way to do that is to click on the "Contact Me" button on my website, and leave your name and email address. I'll answer you personally, and then you'll have my personal email address, and we can get to know each other. If you like my books, I will practically insist that you stay in touch with me. The OOU's and I are in this writing thing together, as partners and friends, and like my character Donovan Creed, I have abandonment issues, so don't make me love you and then leave me. Stay with me, let me know if I'm screwing up or doing good, and I'll repay you with lots of fun stories, as well as my undying loyalty.

Finally, where can we find you online?

www.SavingRachel.com This website is hopelessly out of date, but if you click on the "Contact Me" button, it won't matter, because within a couple of days, we'll be friends! Also, I recently started a blog, where I will be sharing info I feel will be interesting to readers and other authors. I would LOVE to have your readers sign up to receive my blog posts in their email. I write these posts less often than once a week, and sometimes less than once a month, because I only write when I feel I have something special for you. I won't inundate you with content, and that's a promise! Here's the link: www.donovancreed.wordpress.com Check out the three blogs I've posted and decide if you'd like to be a part of it. I really would love to have you stop by!

John, thank you so much for taking to time to talk with us. Your book sounds like fun and I wish you the best of luck!

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to be interviewed!

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.

Eileen Schuh Revisited

To celebrate the upcoming release of her book, SCHRÖDINGER'S CAT, I thought it would be fun to look back at the interview I did with Eileen Schuh about a year ago. How interesting to see how far things have come. Here's how the interview went:

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

I’m a journalist by training and trade, but currently I’m an aspiring novelist. My dream has always been to publish fiction. Now that my children are grown, and time and money are mine, I’m pursing that dream with a passion.

How long have you been writing? 

I have been writing for half a century. I was 14 years old when my first story was published in Wee Wisdom Magazine—that’s a bit less than 50 years but I was writing for almost a decade before I achieved that milestone.

Do you rely on critique groups or beta readers for your manuscripts?

I have used the Writers Guild of Alberta Reading Service to help me with my manuscripts. Throughout the years, I’ve discovered that my daughter is my most helpful critic. She’s honest but knows how to be gentle. (I have a fragile ego.) 


I haven’t joined any critique groups but I’ve tried beta readers. The experiences started out well. We connected on line. However, all three readers vanished before I received feedback. It’s a bit mysterious... 

Sounds like a mystery novel in the making, lol. What's the hardest part of writing for you? 

Trying to get published is the absolute worst part of writing. It takes so much time and energy. Repeated rejections can devastate self-esteem. I’d rather be writing. However, if I want people to read what I’ve written, I must persist.

Out of the books you've written so far, which one are you currently pitching? 

My pre-teen novel, Aerdrie, placed second in the 2009 Bookland Press Literary Award Contest. I’d love to see this timely novel published.

I’m also marketing my adult novel, NORAEBANG. It’s a crime novel that explores Stockholm Syndrome (the tendency for captives to bond with captors) and abusive relationships. An earlier version of this novel also placed well in the Bookland Press contest (in 2007).

Let's hear your pitches.

Aerdrie pitch: Aerdrie is my literary response to law enforcement’s recent pleas for community help in keeping youngsters from falling into the clutches of gangs.

Noraebang pitch: NORAEBANG is an irresistible, tightly knit, intriguing story set in an exotic locale and spiced with a few torrid love scenes. The characters’ inner lives drive the action in NORAEBANG. Their pasts, their emotions, their loves, and their fears are intricately intertwined with kidnapping, drug dealing, murder, and betrayal. 

How did the ideas of the manuscripts come to you?

The NORAEBANG characters came to me while I was vacationing in South Korea. They were a bit of an annoyance—downright intrusive at times. It’s challenging to enjoy a gimbap with friends while an imaginary biker gang one table over is chugging Soju and plotting to import cocaine.

Wow! You've piqued my interest. So what's the best tip you can share with other aspiring writers?

Don’t do anything, listen to anybody, or make any decisions that lessen your desire to write. Be strong and persistent and always accept that you have much yet to learn. Above all else—enjoy.

Great advice. Who are your inspirations?

People inspire me. I’m a ‘people watcher’. Always have been. People do the most interesting, unexpected, and totally random things. Strangers as well as...in-laws.

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

1.  I volunteer for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
2.  “Eileen” is Irish and means “Goddess of Light”. In Cantonese, it means “lovely lotus.”
3.  I love yoga. I can do the Tree Pose.

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

Many and much thanks to hubby for bringing home the bacon while I pursue my dream. Thanks to my daughter, Renita, for her careful and considered critiques, her enthusiasm, and her encouragement. Thanks, as well to my other daughter, Tracy, and my son, Chris, for their ongoing support. My family, my friends, everyone in my community—wonderful fans who are proving to be as persistent as I am. I can’t forget to thank Cheryl K Tardif, my cyberspace pal and my book marketing coach.

And finally, where can people find you online?

My website is http://www.eileenschuh.com I have several interesting features on my website. Aside from the usual (my bio, excerpts from my novels, etc.), I have the popular “Did you know...” page. As well, I get lots of traffic to my article “I met a man with empty eyes...”


I invite everyone to visit my blog for a light-hearted and quick read. I update it often. I’ve written on topics as diverse as my Quest to Quit Smoking, writing tips, and interviews with authors. I’ve also posted some great guest blogs.http://eileenschuh.blogspot.com


As well, people can find me and the opening chapters to my Adult crime/romance novel FIREWALLS on the Harper Collins Authonomy website.http://www.authonomy.com/ViewBook.aspx?bookid=18428Drop by for a free read. Leave a comment. Vote for me if you like.

Eileen, thank you so much for letting us chat with you. It's been great getting to know you, and I wish you much success with your books!