Interview with an Author

It is with great pleasure that I present (now hold your breath here) JOAN O. SCHARF!  I have the privilege of associating with her through the Utica Writers Club on a monthly basis.  Let me just say that her critiques and suggestions are beyond valuable.  Since many of you are writers as well, I hope you find insight from this interview.  We also have exciting news for everyone at the end, so read on…

 

Kissed by Literature: Joan, welcome to the blog.  How long have you been writing? 

 

Joan O. Scharf: Thanks for having me here, Jordan.  As for how long I have been doing this .. I think I caught the 'writing bug' in high school.  Whenever the teacher assigned the class to write a creative story, there were moans and groans from most students, but I was secretly delighted.

Through the years I wrote short stories and poems, "just because", and piled them in a drawer.  I finally worked up the nerve to enter some contests, and happily came out a winner in five of them .  Thus encouraged, I submitted to a couple of magazines, and had my writing accepted. ...And got paid, too.  :-)   Soooo, among other things, I then decided to write a book.  

 

KbL: Tell us about your book. 

 

JOS:  There are three books.  One was published 31/2 years ago;  the second is currently in production and will be available soon;  and the third is written, but still needs editing. ( Hopefully it will go to a publisher next year.) 

               

Number one is Hanging on a Twisted Line, a book of devious, sassy, short shorts, sometimes identified as flash fiction.  It contains 43  unique stories often with O. Henry type twisted surprise endings.  Included are a mix of genres in captivating quick reads for today's busy lifestyle.   Mystery, humor, ghost, romance, and literary are all there for your reading pleasure.  (Available at Amazon.com, through Barnes and Noble, or other bookstores.)        

                                                                                                            

Book two is titled Valentine Tales.   This is written for children in the 7 to 12 age group.  A grandfather tells stories to 3 of his grandchildren about his own father, ...a mischievous boy named Valentine growing up in the early 1900's.  The stories he narrates are often humorous as Valentine becomes involved in a series of incidents including several one-room schoolhouse happenings, a snipe hunt, apple snitching, an encounter with a bear, an outhouse event, ghostly messages, a 6th grade graduation, a remarkable Birthday gift and a others.

Book three doesn't have a title yet.   It is comprised of three thought-provoking stories for adults.  Genres are:  police/action; horror; and futuristic. 

 

 

KbL: I mentioned earlier how we are both in the Utica Writers Club.  When did you first become involved and how has it improved your writing?   

 

JOS:   I've been a member of the Utica Writers Club for about 9 years.  I also belong to two other writing groups. (Florida Writer's Association, and Hodges University Critique group.)  Suggestions and critiques from fellow writers are immensely valuable.  They help catch the snags, fill the gaps and generate ideas to take a writer to the next level.  I find the Utica Writers Club to be a particularly caring and motivating group of talented people.

 

 

KbL: What is your weirdest writing experience?

 

JOS:  Oh oh, ...now you are asking me to share a deep dark secret.  Some years ago, I wrote a manuscript along the lines of Fifty Shades of Gray.  Perhaps even a little spicier.  Considering the subject matter, it likely would have sold well, but I was too embarrassed to ever send it to a publisher. 

 

 

KbL: What inspires you to write?  Do you have any writing regiments, such as you always have to write while listening to music or you can only write during a certain time each day?  I do my best work in the morning, but oftentimes I can only grab a moment late at night – then I get to ask myself “why, oh why, did I write THAT?” 

 

JOS: I write at odd times....no regular routine.  I find myself composing in my head during dull lectures, or sermons.  I scribble in my pad when I am a passenger on long trips, or in a waiting area.  Ideas pop into my mind here and there, and I ask myself  "what if...."  and a story starts.  The notes eventually make it into my computer, and after they mellow for a couple of weeks, I reread and rearrange and edit.

 

 

KbL: What is your favorite genre to write?  Why do you love that one the best?

 

JOS:  I never thought about having a favorite genre.  A story begins with an idea, and the genre develops itself from that. I guess I would have to say whatever piece I currently work on is 'my fav' of the moment.

 

 

KbL: Would you mind telling us about your other writing projects?

 

JOS:   I've already talked about the other two books I'm currently working on...the one at the publishers and another in the pipeline.  I also occasionally write poetry, several of which have been published.  Two of my stories were chosen to be included in a collection of short stories by a variety of authors.  The title of that book is Slices of Life.

 

 

KbL: Now for the extra excitement, ladies and gentlemen.  Joan has agreed to a contest.  To enter, please leave a comment with your name and email address.  The email address is very important – without it, we won’t be able to reach you!  You have until Monday, July 1, to leave a comment.  On July 1^st, Joan will choose a winner.  Feel free to leave a question for Joan as well.  Joan, what would you like readers to take away from your book?

 

JOS:  Hanging on a Twisted Line.  May it awaken your curiosity, ....generate excitement, ....satisfy your need for entertainment, ....provoke a chuckle, a tear,and.a lasting memory....

Author Interview and Book Giveaway with LM Preston!

In the past, I’ve interviewed published authors, and it is time to welcome another: LM Preston!  I’ve known her for many years and she is an amazing critique partner, full of insight and imagination.  Her newest book, THE PACK: RETRIBUTION, is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.  You might also remember her from the writing contest, where she gave the winning fantasy critique.   

In your own words, how would you describe THE PACK: RETRIBUTION?

Full throttle action teen mystery with the tightest group of friends led by a reluctant hero, Shamira who is willing to give up the one person she's allowed herself to love to save his life.

Where did you come up with the idea for the story?

My daughter wanted me to write about a female hero, and Shamira was a kick-butt hero that was needed to fulfill the diversity in the Young Adult scifi hero void.

Who is your favorite character and why?

Hedi is a fun character to write, she's been through a lot and is just as needy for a friend as Shamira is. When Hedi comes on the scene she brings out the best in Shamira that only a girlfriend can do for another girl.

What did you learn while writing the novel?

I learned that I enjoyed writing females just as much as I do male characters - only they have to have a little tomboy in them like I did at that age.

Many of my readers are aspiring professional writers.  Tell us about your publishing process? 

The publishing process is a long process because it takes a while to build visibility for a book. So expect your book to take a year to get out, not because publishers are slow, but because your work gets edited over 10 times after you get a Literary Agent who then sells your book to editors. After and during your editing process, the publisher is trying to sell your work and it takes time to tell everyone a new book is coming out. It's a process that works. Be patient.

What is your best advice for writers?

You must like writing and you must write many books. Don't just finish one series but write the first book in many series so you have more product to sell. And lastly, think big, there are many options available to authors now, so do your homework and learn the publishing business like the back of your hand. When you do all of the above, make-it-happen.

LM Preston has agreed to give away a copy of her book.  To qualify for a chance to win, you need to leave your name, email address (or she can’t contact you!), and a comment.  Questions for her about the book and writing are eagerly welcomed.  On July 1^st, she will choose a winner.  Good luck!

Writing Contest

I hope my fellow writers are as excited as I am, because…

The Utica Writers Club is constantly seeking ways to help writers expand on their craft and to help authors reach a greater audience. So, may I present the club’s first Critique Contest! For those of you interested in learning more about the Utica Writers Club, you can reach us via our website at: http://uticawritersclub.org/index.html.

The first pages of your story of your manuscript are the most important – you need to hook your readers! Wouldn’t you love professional help on your first five pages? Five awesome authors have agreed to offer just that.

To enter the Utica Writers Club’s Critique Contest, email your query and first 250 words to me, the club’s co-vice president, at PrincessJaylia@aol.com. The contest closes on May 20th, so make sure to get your entry in before that. Only three entries per person, though! In the subject line, write: Critique Contest – your name – genre. (For example, I would write Critique Contest – Jordan Mierek – Young Adult if I were entering) I will send you a confirmation email so you know I received your entry.

Your email should look like:

Name:

Email:

Genre:

Query:

First 250 words:

The Utica Writers Club will select a winner from each genre. I will email the winner to request his or her first five pages. Then, the corresponding author will critique the pages (Dennis will critique the mystery winner, etc).

Let’s make this helpful and fun. Email me if you have any questions.

Happy Reading!

***

The winner of the Fantasy category will be critiqued by L. M. Preston. LM. Preston has worked in the IT field as a Techie and Educator for over sixteen years. She started writing science fiction under the encouragement of her husband who was a Sci-Fi buff and her four kids. Her first published novel, Explorer X - Alpha was the beginning of her obsessive desire to write and create stories of young people who overcome unbelievable odds. She loves to write while on the porch watching her kids play or when she is traveling, which is another passion that encouraged her writing.

The winner of the Middle Grade Fiction category will be critiqued by Dorothy Stacy. Dorothy Stacy is the author of the Erie Canal Cousins Series (Erie Canal Cousins, Three Weeks in Utica-Book 2, Albany Homecoming-Book 3, Canal Town Christmas-Book 4, and Stars Over Buffalo-Book 5). They are available at www.barnesandnoble.com , her website: www.dorothystacy.com and from her distributor, www.northcountrybooks.com . Barnes and Nobel store in New Hartford has them in stock. Readers have told her that the stories make them feel excited, happy, like they are part of the story, and many times, make them laugh. She loves researching her books since they involve local history, a subject very dear to her heart. She was born in Utica and now resides in Sauquoit. Stacy is now researching Town of Paris history for a new series to come out in 2013.

The winner of the Young Adult category will be critiqued by Sherry Soule. Indie author, Sherry Soule is a writer blessed with a vivid imagination and lives in San Francisco, California. Sherry is a former Acquisitions Editor for Crescent Moon Press. She also briefly owned an online publishing company, and has a blog devoted to encouraging unpublished writers to find success. In her spare time, Sherry writes supernatural tales of romance, magick, and demon slaying. Her debut novel, Beautifully Broken [www.sherrysoule.com] was published August 2011 and is nominated for best paranormal romance (Wizard and Witch 2011) by The Romance Reviews (TRR).

The winner of the Young Adult Dystopian category will be critiqued by Oliver Neubert. Oliver Neubert is the author of the "Chantel's Quest" series and "The Wind of Life" trilogy, available at Amazon.com, Barnes & Nobles, and all bookstores. "The Wind of Life" trilogy is also available as e-book. The stories are written for middle grade and YA readers, but even adults have commented positively about the fast paced, highly entertaining fantasy stories. The author tries to combine real life issues and tangible events in a world of fantasy with unusual characters and heroes. His thought provoking topics and ideas allow the reader to engage with the characters. He draws his inspiration from his own experiences and his wonderful surroundings. Readers have told him that his characters are fabulous, his stories are action-packed and very refreshing without a lot of teenage drama or romantic triangles.

The winner of the adult dystopian category is Paul Nandzik. Paul Nandzik, a born and bred upstate New Yorker, was drawn to the brutal and twisted soap opera style drama inherent in Greek and Norse mythology from an early age, where he was fascinated by the pillars of dystopia in Olympus and Asgard, where so-called higher beings bickered and fought, often vain and petty, while calling their macabre and savage homes paradise. Twombly McGreen vs. The Mean Steam Machine, a poetry anthology with many verses adapted as lyrics for American and European bands, was Paul's first serious publication, which came in 2004, just one month after earning his B.A. in English from SUNY College at Fredonia. Later, Paul became a journalist for In Good Health newspaper and M.D. News magazine. In 2009, he contributed a short story to the compilation, Adirondack Mysteries and Other Mountain Tales, as well as to its sequel, due out in Summer 2012. Currently, Paul is in the pre-production phase of his graphic novel, Gods and Devils: The Riddle of Mortality, and is developing several screen and teleplays. In what little spare time Paul has between his writing and his family, he is also a non-union film stunt performer, and has worked on such independent and Hollywood films as Razor Days, One Shot, and The Dark Knight Rises. Paul has also proudly served as member, webmaster, and president for the Utica Writers Club, which is easily the best writing club he has ever had the pleasure of being part of.

The winner of the Adult Fiction category will be critiqued by Joan Oblinsky Sharf. Joan Oblinsky Scharf is the author of "Hanging on a Twisted Line", a book of snappy, sassy, short shorts. She writes in a variety of genres, mystery, humor, ghost, romance, literary, all with unexpected twists and turns, in the style of O. Henry. "Hanging on a Twisted Line" is available at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com, and through other bookstores. Some of her stories also appear in anthologies: "Slices of Life" published last year, and "Fandamonium" to be released this April. Her short stories and/or poetry have been published in: The College Crier; The Waterville Times; Village Walk Life; The Queen of All Hearts, and more. Her shorts are entertaining satisfying reads for today's busy lifestyle, leaving readers asking for more....

The winner of the Paranormal/Urban Fantasy category will be critiqued by Darke Contour. Darke Conteur is the author of The Watchtower and Under the Cover of Wicca (the first two books of a paranormal series), available at Amazon, Smashwords, Kobo, and BN. http://darkeconteur.wordpress.com/novels/ Her short stories have been published with Bewildering Stories, Aphelion, and Brave Blue Mice and she was a member of the Online Writers Workshop for Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror for three years. She loves to write and read about things that go bump in the night, but nothing too scary, as she also likes her sleep.

The winner of the historical fiction category will be critiqued by Donna Fletcher Crow. Donna Fletcher Crow is the author of 38 books, mostly novels dealing with British history. The award-winning Glastonbury, an Arthurian grail search epic covering 15 centuries of English history, is her best-known work. Donna and her husband live in Boise, Idaho. They have 4 adult children and 11 grandchildren. She is an enthusiastic gardener. Her newest release is A Darkly Hidden Truth, book 2 in her clerical mystery series The Monastery Murders. She also writes the Lord Danvers series of Victorian true-crime novels and the romantic suspense series The Elizabeth & Richard Mysteries. To read more about these books and to see book videos for A Darkly Hidden Truth and for A Very Private Grave, Monastery Murders 1, as well as pictures from Donna’s garden and research trips go to: www.DonnaFletcherCrow.com.

The winner of the romance category will be critiqued by Nicole Green. Nicole Green lives in Virginia. She published three novels with Genesis Press: Love Out of Order (February 2010), The Davis Years (February 2011), and Holding Her Breath (July 2011). She recently self-published a novella entitled Pink Champagne. She is hard at work on her next two novels, and she hopes and plans to write many more. She most enjoys reading and writing love stories. She also writes young adult stories, and she hope to publish those one day as well. For more info, please visit her website: http://nicolegreen.webs.com or her blog: http://lisezvous.blogspot.com. She also blogs at: http://sevennightwriters.blogspot.com. Links to the books: Love Out of Order http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005OKPGDW ; The Davis Years http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004L62K9I ; Holding Her Breath http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00598KJFO ; Pink Champagne http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0078XH8RU

The winner of the mystery category will be critiqued by Dennis Webster. Dennis Webster is a paranormal investigator with the Ghost Seekers of Central New York and is the author of Haunted Mohawk Valley, Wicked Mohawk Valley and Daisy Daring. He's the editor and story contributor of the Tommy Award Honorable mention Adirondack Mysteries Volumes 1 & 2.