Welcome Guest Author Nathaniel Danes and "The Last Hero"

Welcome Nathaniel, SO happy to have you here today!  

What I found so fascinating and what really resonated with me when you contacted me is twofold:  First, your book, The Last Hero, has similarities to The Kabrini Message that I'm sure will "hit home" with our fans and readers as well - yet's it's unique and very much it's own story as well.  Also, your own personal story is so inspirational.  Again, we LOVE a good "story-behind-the-story" here at The Kabrini Message.  It's difficult for anyone to get published in these times, so when additional challenges are involved, whatever they may be, it's even more proof that what is meant to be will be and NOTHING is impossible as long as you never give up!

So, with all of that said, let's delve into a little more about you and how all of this came about!  How long have you been a writer and how many books have you published?

                I started writing about six years ago. Never tried to publish any of them for about five and a half years. Just wrote and wrote then rewrote. It was a good exercise and helped me sharpen my pen. My first novel, The Last Hero, was just published on Oct. 14 by Solstice Publishing.

Congratulations!  What is it that made you want to become a writer?

My mind is always turning. I often slip into my own imaginary worlds. It's kind of a defense mechanism. I'm going blind from a genetic disorder and it’s an escape to dream universes I don't have any limitations.

I always wanted to write down these fantasies, to get them out of my head. But, I knew I couldn’t for a long time. Then, between college, graduate school, and a professional career that demands a lot of writing, my skills rose to the point where I felt component to start trying.

That is awesome...If you can dream it, you can visit it!  What genre do you specialize in?

                Science fiction within the subgenres of space opera, military, and Hard SciFi. I like writing about the future because you have the freedom to do just about anything. I also like to write military/combat scenarios because all I ever wanted to be growing up was an Army officer but my vision took that dream away from me. Now, I live out that dream through my imagination.

Absolutely.  That is so incredibly inspiring that you have found a way to NOT let your situation have the last say on what you will experience!

What is the most interesting thing that has happened to you since you started writing?

                The reaction of my friends and family when I told them I was getting published. It came as a total surprise to them because I’d told almost no one I had been writing. Not only am I visually impaired, I’m also dyslexic. To them, the idea I could write a book, let along get one published, seemed unreal. It’s fun to exceed people’s expectations of you.

As you know, unless you are already very famous, it seems to be all about non-fiction right now (self-help, etc.)  So getting published at this time, especially for a first time author of fiction, is an amazing accomplishment for anyone! 

What advice do you have for aspiring authors?

                Just write and write and rewrite. Don’t give up. If you write with passion and believe in yourself, chances are someone will give you a shot. Also, don’t try to be a writer you aren't. Write what you want to read. 

Great advice.  The only way one is sure to fail is to give up!  The key is to keep trying, as long as it takes.   

So tell us all about your new book, The Last Hero.

                The Last Hero, is a full length space opera novel just released in October. It

starts off a couple hundred years in the future after first contact with a race of pacifists convinced humanity to make peace with itself and disarm.

                When we first meet the heroine, the last Medal of Honor recipient, he's selling insurance for his father-in-law. A natural warrior, he's made the best of a demilitarized Earth and become a dedicated family man. He's drafted back into active service after a third race destroys the New Earth colony, forcing a crash mobilization.

As he travels the galaxy fighting the war, he struggles with the internal conflict between his lust for battle and his father's heart which just wants to be with his daughter. The law of relativity comes into play to complicate things.

There are big space battles and large scale ground engagements to more than keep the blood flowing, but it’s a deeper story than just action, explosion, fire fight, explosion, the end.

Excerpt:

Trent knelt down where Anna could throw her arms around his neck. She pulled against him tight and started crying again. Tears rolled down his face as he whispered, “I love you more than you can understand. I’m sorry.”

Her cries downed out his soft words.                        

After a minute, Trent summoned all of his strength to break free of her hold. Standing, he shared a look with Madison. She wrapped him in a loving, warm hug.  

This time she did the whispering, “Remember what I told you. Make them pay.”

He pulled away, nodding as he placed his hand on Anna’s sobbing head.

“I’ll see you both again someday. I promise.” The words bound him to a promise he wasn’t sure he could keep.

Blurb:

Contact with a race of pacifists convinces mankind to lay down its weapons and keep the peace. The last Medal of Honor recipient, Trent Maxwell, trades glory for the comforts of a family after the U.S. Army disbands. All that ends when an alien menace attacks the New Earth colony, which forces a crash mobilization. Trent finds himself reactivated and traveling through space to distant worlds, in order to stop this new enemy. During the century long journey of death, love, and loss, he also deals with the law of relativity that wreaks havoc with his daughter.

That is our kind of book - I can't wait to read it!  Where can we buy it?  

Book Links:  

Amazon

Bookgoodies

Do you have and future books in the works?

                Sure do. The Last Hero is the first in a trilogy. I am editing Book Two now. Once this series is over, I will start polishing the drafts I have written for the first two books in another series.

That's exciting - glad to hear there will be two more!  You are a busy guy, but I'm sure you are an avid reader as well.  What are you currently reading and what do you like to read?  

                Exile, Star Force Series by B.V. Larson and David VanDyke. I like to read what I write, space operas, military, hard SciFi.

Thank you so much for joining us today - it has been so much fun and we look forward to having you back again for Books 2 & 3 and any and all future projects!  Please leave us with your contact links so we may stay in touch in the meantime.  All the best of luck to you and thanks again!

 Bio:

Nathaniel Danes is a self-diagnosed sci-fi junkie and, according to his wife, has an over active imagination. Mostly blind, he writes to create universes where he has no limitations. He lives with his wife and daughter in the Washington, DC area.

Author Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nathaniel-Danes/1528587637363979

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nathanieldanes

Blog: http://nathanieldanes.blogspot.com/

Website: www.nathanieldanes.com

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/nathanieldanes

"Alternate Hilarities: An anthology of 31 humorous short stories in Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror. CONTEST ALERT TOO!

Welcome to Giovanni Valentino, Editor and one of the authors in Alternate Hilarities!

Alternate Hilarities is a compilation of 31 humorous short stories.  Here is a little about the concept (LOVE the book cover, BTW...), followed by some info. on Giovanni, blurbs for some of the stories AND a contest!  Don't forget to ENTER TO WIN a $10, $25 or $50 AMAZON GIFT CARD!  Contest runs until 5/20/14 - ENTER TODAY!

Alternate Hilarities 

Blurb:

Along time ago in a city in central New York  ....

Alternate Hilarities

Episode 1

Back from the Dead

In the early nineties, a man had a dream. A dream of funny stories in his favorite genres, Science fiction, Fantasy and Horror. Not just a joke at the end of the episode like the original Star Trek or the occasional gem from Douglas Adams, but all the time.

            So the small press fan-zine, Alternate Hilarities was born. Six issues were produced against his ex-wife's express wishes.

And they were terrible! 

Just Terrible!

It looked semiprofessional but proofing was not his strong suit. He had no funds to hire a proof reader and let's face it, volunteers suck.

            But the stories were great. Many talented authors sent in great funny stories.  With concepts like game shows in the afterlife, the last man alive and the secret life of a teenaged mad scientist.

            But in the end, the cost of publishing his pet project became too much and the zine was retired.

            Now, two decades later, the overhead and distribution issues of the small press have almost disappeared with the advent of eBooks.  With a new partner in crime who can do line edits with a professional level understanding of spelling, grammar and punctuation, the man decided to give his old love a second shot.

            So, here it is, The New and Improved Alternate Hilarities. We have Alien invasions and Abductions, Time Travel, Ghost Ships, Demonic Possessions, Flatulent Clowns, Body Switching, Talking Monkeys and Feghoots.

That's right, I said Feghoots.

            Google it.

            So off we go. With Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror and Halitosis for all!

            Halitosis? WTF? I mean Polarity?

            Not Again! I mean H I l a r i t y?

            Damn AutoCorrect!

With Stories by ….

Aaron Austin - Isabel Sterling - Day Al-Mohamed - Brenda Anderson - Jason Bougger 

Gavin Cameron  - A.B. Rinklin - Dan Doerflein - John H. Dromey - Christine Edwards Jaimie M. Engle - Eric James Spannerman - Steve Esling - Laura Thurston

Ronald Friedman - Jay Fuller - Danielle Gales - Steven Grassie - Cathy Greco 

James E. Guin - Shari L Klase  - Felicia Lee Lance Manion - Daniel McPherson

Jez Patterson - M. Kelly Peach  Clay Sheldon - Chuck Rothman - Josh Strnad

Giovanni Valentino - Adam Millard

Goodreads Link
Amazon Link

Smashwords Link

Barnes and Nobel Link

Giovanni Valentino

About the Editor: 

Giovanni Francesco Valentino has struggled at the art of writing for four decades against many demons like self-doubt, chronic depression, OCD and severe dyslexia. He has written a few memoir pieces about his life struggles going undiagnosed for more the half his life. He hopes one day to be a famous published science fiction and fantasy author. 
He is a member of the CNY Writers Haven, a critique and writer support group. He is the editor of the upcoming humorous anthology, Alternate Hilarities.

Goodreads Author Page

Giovanni's Website/Blog

Follow On Twitter
Facebook

Here is a list of some of the stories in Alternate Hilarities

Attack of Ye Olde Zombies by Cathy Greco
And, thus, the world ends… not with a bang… not with a whimper… but with the mournful cry of an off-key bagpipe playing an undead reel, and the sad, sad sight of deflated codpieces never to be filled.

1-800-CALL-GOD by Chuck Rothman
Help is just a phone call away...

Adrift by Dan Doerflein
In life, he sailed the high seas with his pirate crew. All he wanted in death was to sail the seas again. Before he can escape his situation and obtain the afterlife he dreamed of, he must first defeat a pirate’s worst enemy: a bureaucrat.  

The Princess and the Witch by Isabel Sterling
Marisa only wanted one thing for Halloween: the ancient magic she possessed in a past life. She’d prepared for this ritual for years, and nothing could get in her way. Except, perhaps, her sorority girl roommate.

The Muse and the Psychiatrist by M. Kelly Peach
She was divinely beautiful, a daughter of Zeus with a serious problem. She needed a qualified and caring psychiatrist, with talent and experience, to help her. Little did she know he had his own agenda…

Upgrades by Daniel McPherson
Software updates. Sometimes they install cool new features. Other times they screw up your entire system. Which really sucks when the software is running inside your head.

The Great Abyss Disjunction by Danielle N. Gales
When Gregory Artifex became lighthouse keeper of the multiverse's loneliest dark corner, all he wanted was a little peace and quiet. The triggerfish, however, had different ideas. Gregory is about to have a very bad day.

The Bombastic Adventure of Bob from Planet 9 by Jaimie M. Engle
 Bob and Melvin sit at Flo’s Intergalactic Greasy Spoon on the Tuesday the joint is held-up by two symmetrical beings called ‘humans’. Melvin accidentally disintegrates and Bob seeks revenge. But a visit to His Greatness on Planet 9 may change everything.

Do Flatulent Clowns Smell Funny by John H. Dromey
“Emission Possible” at the circus. The gastric suspense is intense. Will there be comic relief?

Dead Right, Dead Wrong By Ronald Friedman
The active Dead are not much different than the rest of us, although they can bore you to tears with stories about how they died. As the number of Dead increased, they emerged from the shadows and became politically active. Their party, Dead Americans Mobilizing for National Integration and Tolerance (DAMNIT), was ready to field a candidate for the office of President of the United States.

Language Barrier by Steve Esling
"Mit-choo "Mitch" Maru is Tenerelli and Associate's first Titanian accountant! But his progress in breaking social barriers and becoming more than just a "token alien" comes to a halt after a sticky situation in the bathroom with a coworker. Will the skills he learned in his college English courses be enough to tell others about this unfortunate close encounter?"

Small Change by Steven Grassie
Miserable and almost broke, as per usual Paul’s in the pub drowning his sorrows. His evening takes a strange turn, however, when he encounters an interesting, if rather implausible, individual… who might just have the answer to his problems.

Cash on Delivery by Laura Thurston
When you absolutely, positively have to have had it already call Einstein Express, where hindsight is the same as foresight.

Overdue by Jay Fuller
When the librarian can flay your mind as easily as she can gut you, very little will stand between her and an overdue library book – even a powerful (and generally disagreeable) wizard. And what if the book wants a say in the matter? 

Diary of an Overlord by Clay Sheldon
Villagers are terrified, heroes quake in their boots, and the world fears his very name. Witness the origin of a terrifying(ish) demon lord. But be warned: not everything is as it seems...

Thorkwald and the Cherub by Day Al-Mohamed
The adventures of a misfit demon and his struggle to succeed, or at least not get fired (literally) in Hell’s corporate world. With the help of his trusty minion, an eight-legged llama, and his Ctrl-Alt-Smite button, what could go wrong?

Chicken Soup for the Demonically Possessed Soul by Felicia Lee
In this heartwarming tale of loss, redemption, and best practices for web design, we follow Al, a promising young man in the prime of his life, as he faces down the demons of unethical competitors and, well, actual demons.

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FREE COPY - TODAY ONLY! "The Dome" by Nova Sparks

What if you knew the exact date and time the world will end, what would you do?

Sam Tucker was faced with that dilemma when he began getting visions of the Earth's demise. Luckily for him, he was able to save his family and as many people as he could before the tragic event occurred, and he did so with the help of unknown visitors. With Earth now destroyed, Sam, his family, and thousands of other lucky survivors must live the rest of their lives on a faraway planet in a Dome that simulates life on Earth. But Sam's mind can't seem to rest as a few questions arise. Why did the aliens save them? How did they know about Earth's sure fate? And exactly what are they hiding?

Emma Tucker begged for an escape from her boring life but never in a million years did she think it would come at the destruction of Earth. Living on a new planet and finding it difficult to get rid of her rebellious habits, Emma finds herself making friends with a member of the alien race and it soon develops into an unexplainable love; a love that is more dangerous than she could ever imagine. While her father is searching for his own truths, she has no idea that she is stumbling on a truth of her own.

Told from the point of view of both Sam and Emma, author Nova Sparks takes readers on a journey to discover love, fate, faith, truth, and the mystery of the DOME!

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Welcome Guest Author Perrin Pring and "An Appointment at the Edge of Forever"!

Welcome Perrin and congratulations on An Appointment at the Edge of Forever!  I LOVE the cover, BTW.  But before we delve into the book, please tell us a little about yourself.

Hi. My name is Perrin Pring. I’ll give you some fun facts about me:

Since 2008 I've lived in Boston, Colorado, Wyoming, Washington state, Maui, Montana, and California.

I’I've held a variety of jobs and volunteer positions, some of which are: ski patroller, dish washer, whitewater kayak/canoe coach, wilderness therapy field instructor, raptor rehabilitation aide, river ranger, park ranger, promotional blog writer, substitute teacher, English as a Second Language teacher, butterfly garden attendant, and river guide.

I like animals, a lot.

I can bake.

I love cold weather, as in below zero temperatures.

Coffee is an imperative part of my morning, but it’s a fine balance. It turns out that too much of a good thing is actually a bad thing.

What genres do you write?

I write science fiction and/or fantasy, depending on what definition you want to use. My most recent work, An Appointment at the Edge of Forever, Book One of the Ryo Myths, takes place in space, but has fantastical elements to it. I’m also working on a dystopian story.

Please tell us about your newest release and what inspired you to write it.

My newest book is An Appointment at the Edge of Forever, Book One of the Ryo Myths. It’s the first book of a trilogy, and it’s a combination of science fiction and fantasy. I had been reading fantasy and watching science fiction, and I wanted to combine the two genres. In my mind, fantasy works with magic, and science fiction works by logic (there are many definitions out there though). As I considered how both logic/science and magic could co-exist together, I came up with beginnings of the Ryo Myths trilogy. I created a universe where a normal person might believe in magic, but a person capable of magic simply had a total grasp of the rules of the universe (science) and could therefore do seemingly ‘magical’ things. This principle is the foundation of the Ryo Myths. 

Where do you get your inspiration for your main characters?

A lot of places. Sometimes it’s from books or shows I’m watching. When I wrote An Appointment at the Edge of Forever, I was reading Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series and watching Firefly, Stargate and Farscape. I've always been interested in groups of characters who wouldn't normally work together, but are somehow forced to, i.e. because they are stuck together on a spaceship.

I also spend a lot of time outside, both working and traveling. This enables me to meet a lot of people, as well as see some pretty incredible things. I will often take bits of people’s personalities, as well as experiences I've had, or experiences others have told me about, and blend them to make a unique character. I incorporate places I've lived or traveled into my writing as well, even though I often write about other worlds.

Who is your favorite character in the book?

Red. I’m sure there are many readers out there who will immediately recognize where I got my inspiration for Red, but Red is much more than a simple character. I've worked A LOT of jobs where I was one of, if not the only, female on the crew, and Red is the ultimate compilation of some of the more outstanding, ridiculous, well meaning, sexist, loyal and dangerous men I've ever met. Red’s the kind of person who would be entertaining to be at a dinner party with, unless you were the host or his date. He makes messes, starts fights, but in the end, is super loyal. Unfortunately, he doesn't always make the best decisions, which is why he’s the most fun to write. I can always count on Red to screw up a scene that’s just going a little too well or ruin a particularly touching moment.

Is there anything else you would like to share about the book?

I've had multiple people come up to me and tell me how sucked into my book they got. They often say that they aren't ‘into’ science fiction, but once they started the book, they just kept reading. This is a huge compliment, and I think it says something about what kind of read An Appointment at the Edge of Forever is. It isn't ‘gritty’ science fiction. You can enjoy it if you don’t understand how gravity works or how a black hole works. An Appointment at the Edge of Forever is about characters and possibilities. I explore the ‘what ifs?’ that make science fiction great, but I also delve into how people interact with each other. So, if you like science fiction, you’ll probably like An Appointment at the Edge of Forever, but if you have never thought of yourself as a science fiction reader, but you do like stories, you should give An Appointment at the Edge of Forever a chance. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. 

I know exactly what you mean!  That's just how I feel about The Kabrini Message.  That's why I'm sure our readers will thoroughly enjoy An Appointment at the Edge of Forever - I think the two books share a common fan base.

OK, next question:  What sort of writing routine/methods do you use?

This is an interesting question. I live in Montana, and when I tell people I’m a writer, 9 times out of 10, people say:

                “Oh that’s cool. So you just ski a lot then?”

I don’t think people who don’t write, and I mean, seriously write, get just how much work it takes to be a writer. For me, my alarm is set for 7:30 five days a week. I get up, eat, check my email, then go to a coffee shop where I spend the next three to five hours writing, editing or working on marketing, depending on the day. I often go home for lunch then maybe go to another coffee shop in the afternoon, or just work from home doing the same things I did in the morning. I’m usually done working on my stuff between 4 and 5. I’ll then read someone else’s work or workout. I read all sorts of genres - sci-fi, fantasy, literary fiction, non-fiction, basically anything. I’ll spend evenings with friends and family, and on slow nights, I’ll watch Netflix (because it is really nice to listen to other people talk after spending 8 hours writing my own thoughts).

                I've read and been told a lot of things about the ‘writing process’. What I've discovered works for me is contrary to some of the MUST DO advice from other writers. Some writers say that you MUST write first thing in the morning. Others say that you CANNOT have any distractions. (I will agree the Internet is terrible for productivity, but who would have thought there were so many cute cat videos?) What I've learned is that for me, I MUST have some sort of routine, and I would recommend that every writer have some kind of routine, even if it changes regularly. If you don’t have a schedule, you end up skiing all winter and as fun as that is, it doesn't often result in a finished manuscript. 

                Another thing I take really seriously is the editing process. Kurt Vonnegut wrote a book called Timequake, and as discombobulated as it is, he makes the distinction between Swoopers and Bashers. Vonnegut writes, through his re-occurring character Kilgore Trout, that women writers tend to be Swoopers and men writers tend to be Bashers. A Swooper is a person who can write lots of pages in a day but needs to spend lots of time editing said pages. A Basher is someone who can spend 8 hours writing 4 sentences but, the world be damned, those sentences are as close to perfection as it’s going to get, so editing is a pretty easy process.

                As much as I hate to conform to gender norms, I am most certainly a Swooper. I can write ten pages in 8 hours, but it’ll take me 8 hours to edit three. I also listen to my work out loud, both by having the computer read it back to me and by my own voice. This is imperative to my process. If you want to figure out if your writing is good, enable the Speech tool on Microsoft Word (it comes with the standard word application). While the computer will sound like a robot, you’ll learn very quickly if you’re writing is fit for sharing. The computer will clue you into words you forgot to type, words you overused (Did I really use the word brick five times in two sentences?) and give you a feeling for the overall structure of your prose. I started by reading my stuff back to myself, but I found myself just saying what I thought I had written. I couldn't catch typos, and I couldn't hear my writing get bad. With the Speech tool, I can fix all that.

As I said though, I also read my stuff out loud because it can be hard, particularly with dialogue, for the speech tool to get the cadence right. If I were to give one other piece of advice, it would be to use the speech tool and listen to your ENTIRE novel. This takes a long time, I know, but it’s worth it. I’ll give you a way to test my theory. Go to your library, rent an audio copy of the Da Vinci Code and the print copy. Listen to the first half of the Da Vinci Code and then read the second half. I promise, you’ll want to throw the Da Vinci code CD’s out the window before you get halfway through the book. Brown repeats himself, he uses ridiculous metaphors; it’s awful. When you read the last half though, you’ll realize how easy it is to skim over that stuff and get on with the plot. If Brown had had a good editor (or had known how to edit), that book would have been ten times shorter and way easier to read. Then again, Brown sold like a bajillion copies of The Da Vinci Code, so maybe good writing isn't the key to selling a book, but I fear, for most of us, it is.

 I have NEVER before heard that tip about the Speech tool in Microsoft Word - excellent advice, thanks so much. 

In closing, thank you, too for joining us today - please come back again soon!  In the meantime, we definitely want to follow you - what's the best way to stay in touch?

My website is www.perrinpring.com. 

People can also find me on: 

Facebook

@Perrinpring on Twitter

G+

On Instagram at Perrin Pring

and on Goodreads

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Welcome Guest Author T.M. Williams and her latest Novel, sci-fi gem Sun Gate!

Welcome T.M.!  Can't wait to hear more about you, Sun Gate and your other works and genres as well.  

First off, please tell us a little about yourself.

Well here’s my “official” Bio:

 T.M. Williams began her writing career by accident when a song inspired a story about a woman named Carter.  What started off as a blip of an idea turned into the Bohemian Grove trilogy, a story based on ancient aliens, science, conspiracy, religion, and love.

Soon after, the completed manuscript was picked up by Nightengale Press Publishing. Bohemian Grove was released in early 2013 - just a little over a year after she began writing.

I’m also a freelance journalist and copywriter.  I’m the proud blogger of thebloggoddess.com and the emancipatedblogger.com

What genres do you write?

Horror, Mystery, True-Crime, Science Fiction and Adult Romance.

Tell us about your newest release and what inspired you to write it:

Sun Gate is the 2^nd book in the Bohemian Grove trilogy. The first book, Bohemian Grove, is what inspired my writing career.  I haven’t been able to stop writing since!

What other books have you written?

Undead Winter (Amazon Best-Seller), Moonlight Mini-Series, A Melanie King Affair (Amazon Best-Seller), and am currently writing Clusters: Case of the Missing, A true-crime paranormal mystery.

That's extremely impressive!  If you could spend a day with one of your characters, which one would it be and why?

Great question! I’d have to say either William from the Bohemian Grove trilogy, because he’s so electric or Danny Ruiz from Undead Winter because he’s such a psychopath.

Do you have to do a lot of research for your stories?

Almost all my books involve a lot of research.  Even for the Moonlight series I did a lot of research on locations.  As for Sun Gate, I really go into parallel universe theories, Sumerian mythology, the Fermilab studies in Chicago, and explore places like the Egyptian Pyramids and Machu Picchu.

So yes, tons and tons of research.  I have stacks of books I've gone through, a lot of Googling, and a lot of documentaries.  I want my readers to really walk away with something to think about.  I tend to attract intellectual readers that keep me on my toes!

Which of your works would you most like to see as a movie?

Definitely the Bohemian Grove trilogy.  It’s just a fun and beautiful story that goes to amazing places.  I’ve spent a long time developing the characters on there and they’re so unique that I’d love to see them in action. Plus, I’d just love to see even more people exposed to the ancient alien theory (what it’s based on).

I think I’d be too scared to see Undead Winter on film.

Who would you cast as the lead? 

I’m one of the few authors who really thinks about this. But for Jack I’d cast Jake Gyllenhaal and Jibril would be Woody Harrelson. As for the other characters, I don’t know. Maybe my readers have an idea.

Yes, readers, please tell us your suggestions!  Where do you get your inspiration for your main characters?

My writing muse is responsible for that.

Hmmm...sounds intriguing!  Tell us about your experience with the road to publication?

 I’ve had a unique experience.  I never thought I’d write a book and never planned on it.  But one night I was listening to Colorblind from Counting Crows and just pictured this woman sitting at a dining room table.  The picture is so clear I can still see it in my head as if it really existed.  So, I wrote it down.

That image turned into a full length novel, (Bohemian Grove) and I haven’t been able to stop writing.  I never planned on publishing the book but fortunately I have a best friend who believed in me more than I believed in myself.  A publisher heard about my book through a friend and asked to take a look at it.  Long story short, she published the book and I’ve never looked back.

The experience has been mind blowing.  I’m constantly having to pinch myself.  It wasn’t until Sun Gate came out that I think it finally hit me.  I’ve only been writing for 2 years.

That's amazing!  So you never had to "chase after" a publisher - awesome - it was just meant to be.

How do you balance your “real life” with writing?  

By not trying to balance it.  I think there’s too much pressure on people to balance our lives and there’s just no such thing.  I write when I can.  Sometimes that means I get very little sleep, sometimes that means I go days without writing, sometimes I’ll write for 10-12 hours straight. It’s whenever I can and the mood strikes – fortunately, that’s often.

That makes a lot of sense.  I agree, we all put way too much pressure on ourselves.

If you could go back in time, what historical period or event would you most love to visit?

Who wouldn't want to experience the Tudor’s first hand?!  I’d only want to go back and be a fly on the wall.  It was a difficult time to live in and I wouldn't want to experience that first hand.

But, of course – I’d love to go back to the time of the Sumerians or Egyptians because there’s so much mystery around both era’s that we just don’t know or understand.

What author would you love to trade places with for a day?

Hmm, tough one!  Fictional author would be Richard Castle.  I’m sort of obsessed with him and would love to fight crime, solve murders, and be a best-selling author – plus play poker with some pretty amazing authors/writers as well.

Real author, I’d have to say Dean Koontz.  He started my obsession with reading and I’ve read almost every single one of his books, ever since I was a teenager.  I’ve followed his career for two decades and I love that he’s a best-seller but not someone that will get hounded on the street by crazed fans. Plus, I love his writing and would love to pick his brain.

I absolutely LOVE your book's trailer...and I'm not easy to impress with book trailers.  I really don't like most of them, but yours is absolutely awesome!  Take a look everyone:

  

Love it!

Thank you so much for being with us today, T.M. and sharing all the news of Sun Gate as well as your other creative endeavors with our readers!  Please let us know how we may stay in touch with you and also, please come back soon!

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