Hi Erin! Tell us about yourself.

I was born and grew up in Ukraine, and have lived in Chicago’s north suburban area since 1992. I have BS in civil engineering and work in the IT field. My passion, however, has always been reading and writing. Having been on a spiritual quest through all my life, I am inspired by the vision and work of Gangaji, Papaji, Eckhart Tolle, and Adyshanti. Through the Clouds is my debut novel, and if anyone finds their answers in this novel, I am glad I wrote it.

How long have you been a member of EPIC?

Since January 2010

If you use a pen name, how did you choose it?

I do use a pen name. I didn’t have to spend much time to come up with it as I’ve always liked the name Erin, which is close to my real name – Irene. And Aslin is just a short version of my last name.

How long does it take you to write a book?

My debut novel, Through the Clouds, took me roughly 3 years to write. Then there was another 2 years of reviewing and editing the manuscript, synopsis, query letter and outline and submitting everything to editors and agents. As I have a full-time “non-writing” job, I worked on my book any chance I had – weekends, nights, vacations.

Do you write one book/story at a time or multiples?

I write one book at a time. I let my mind and thoughts become completely engaged with the story which is unraveling. I will have some ideas for other books here and there – some character sketches, an intriguing plot or situation…if that happens, I record those into my journal, or any piece of paper I have on hands.

What genres do you write?

I am officially writing women’s fiction. Although, I don’t think it should be “women’s” only. The main heroine is a woman and the book is written from her point of view, but the quintessence of my book—struggling through life’s trials and tribulations (emotional abuse, divorce, financial hardship, depression, etc) to raise above the tragedy to the brighter outcomes—is a journey of one’s soul through the “dark night” to the light of the day that I think anyone can relate to.

Are there any genres you’d like to try but haven’t?

Yes, spiritual. I have a lot to say on this topic, but there so many books are out there…I’m not sure that there is a need for another one.

What’s your writing process? (i.e. pantser/organic writer or plotter or mix? write on the computer? longhand? mix? how many passes? etc.)

I had the whole plot of the book planned out before I started writing.  I obviously made some adjustments as I wrote, but the book mostly stayed the same as I’d envisioned it in the beginning.  I write mostly on my laptop, but if I have an idea or think of a way to write a passage that I’d been stuck on, I would jot that down on any piece of scrap paper I could find at the moment.

What are the strangest conditions you’ve written under? The strangest place and/or time you’ve written something?

I was driving along a highway thinking of the story and suddenly a thought occurred so I had to put it in writing immediately as I knew I might forget it later. So, I pushed my car to the road shoulder, pulled a notebook out of my purse and began writing. Forgetting about where I was, I startled when a cop knocked on my car window and was genuinely confused as to why he was bothering me.  It took me a moment to realize I was actually still on the highway shoulder, and therefore he had every right to “bother” me. Everything ended up well though – no ticket.

If you could choose two authors to be seated between at a signing…or to have your books shelved between in the bookstore, who would they be?

Danielle Steele and Eckhart Tolle

How many books do you read in the average month? e-Book or print or both?

I am reading one for a while now – “A Course in Miracles,” and I am kind of skimming through the others as they appear on my plate.  Sadly, writing this book took away most of my free time to read others.  I prefer hard copies over e-Books, though I do see the appeal of e-Books for some people.

What is the funniest or strangest editor/crit request/comment you’ve encountered? (This one always has funny answers.

I have a phrase in my book about the flowers nourishing the window. So, this editor actually snail-mailed me a response—a short critique in my SAGE.  She said the flowers cannot nourish the window as they simply are not nutrition for the window. In other words, the windows do not eat the flowers—maybe in sci-fi books they do, she said, but not in women’s fiction. She was being very serious and I was amazed at how one could take those words in such a literal way. However, I was grateful for her taking the time to write a response to me anyway—it was one of the few personal responses I received out of many of canned rejections.

What is your ideal location to write a book, if you had the money to live there or sequester yourself there?

On the terrace outside of my mansion, under the shade of a beautiful leafy tree, surrounded by rose bushes and blooming flowers, enjoying the view of the ocean…

If you could choose your dream job, besides writing, what would it be?

Traveling around the world, talking to people from all walks of life. That could be a job, right?

Where do you get your character names?

Most of the time they just drop into my head, like, Hi, I am Lisa, or something.

Tell us about your current release… blurb… link to purchase is a plus!

Through the Clouds was e-published by Write Words, Inc and was released on Dec, 2009. It can be found at the following sites:

Write Words, Inc (http://www.writewordsinc.com/throughclouds.html)

Amazon (Kindle Edition) (http://www.amazon.com/Through-the-Clouds-ebook/dp/B002Z6G7TU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=digital-text&qid=1259894296&sr=1-3)

Fictionwise

http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/b101946/Through-the-Clouds/Erin-Aslin/?id=1642

Mobipocket

http://www.mobipocket.com/en/eBooks/AuthorDetails.asp?authorId=119281&authorName=Aslin%2C+Erin

Give us your URLs (web site, MySpace, Facebook, blog, etc.)

My website: http://www.erinaslin.com/

I was a contributing editor for an astrology magazine for several years, writing three or four articles each month.  My urban fantasy series, Mudflat, grew out of that background and is set in the Seattle area where I live.  Yes, I like to visit the zoo, and no, I don’t go camping.  My one attempt, to please friends, ended in a miserable case of poison oak. Possibly that wasn’t quite as life threatening as the camping trip taken by the heroine in the first Mudflat book Tarbaby Trouble, but almost.

How many EPIC’s e-Book Awards/EPPIE finalists do you have? How many winners?

Three finalists and one of them was a winner.  These were the first three books in the Mudflat series.

Which books in what years and which categories?

Winner: Tarbaby Trouble, Mudflat book 1, 2009 EPPIE for Best Fantasy

Finalist:  Welcome to Mudflat, Baby, Mudflat book 2, 2009 paranormal romance

Finalist: Mudflat Toy Boy, Mudflat book 3, 2010 fantasy/paranormal

Tell us about your current year finalists/winners.

Mudflat is a Seattle neighborhood where magic runs in families.  As the genetics grow weaker, they attract outside forces who try to take control.  In this book outside evil meets inside stupidity.

What are you looking forward to entering next (if you plan on entering again)?

I have two new Mudflat novels out this year from BookStrand.

Tell us about the other awards you’ve won…

The EPIC entries were my only contest entries so far.  I have now entered another contest that will close later this year.

What genre/s do you write?

My writing crosses genres but is primarily contemporary urban fantasy, heavy on plot and mystery, light on romance, and described by one reviewer as off-the-wall humor.  I like to combine a strong fantasy story with a true crime story.  In Mudflat the true crimes are the sort where TV reporters say, “How could anyone be that dumb?”

Where would you like to see an EPICon held?

Washington state or Oregon would be wonderful.

Where did you get the inspiration for your finalist/winning book?

The story grew out of several ideas and then came together when I remembered Joel Chandler Harris’s classic Brer Fox and Brer Rabbit stories. Tarbaby was the bait used to catch the rabbit, and in my book the blonde guy on the cover is Tarbaby and the girl is the rabbit.  Everyone knows what happened to the fox and  the rabbit, but what happened to Tarbaby?  Okay, you have to read the book to find out.

What is the best reader or reviewer comment you’ve ever received?

From Nancy Eriksen at ParanormalRomance.org, who has reviewed all the Mudflat books, the fourth book brought this lovely comment: Every year I wait to hear from our dear Dee that Phoebe has written another Mudflat book. This one is as good if not better than the last three.

I guess I should also mention that the second book was reviewed in the April 2010 RT Book Reviews and given a 4.5, which was pretty exciting and brought some fun fan mail.  4.5 is RT’s highest rating and they identify that rating as “Fantastic – Keeper.”

What are your writing goals? Where do you want to be in a year? Five years?

Probably lazy of me, but the thing is, I write because I love writing.  It’s exciting to have a new idea and then see what I can do with it.  The only goal I set for myself is to do the best job I can with each book.  I write and rewrite and polish and keep going back to the beginning until I can’t find one more thing to re-do.

Also, for fun, I write a weekly Fortune Cookie on the Claire’s Prediction Page of my website.  Claire is the Mudflat astrologer.

Give us your backlist… with all publishers

All of the following titles are available now in ebook from the publishers or as ebooks or print from Barnes&Noble or Amazon.

Tarbaby Trouble, 2008 BookStrand

Welcome to Mudflat, Baby, 2008 BookStrand

Mudflat Toy Boy, 2009 BookStrand

Mudflat Spice and Sorcery, 2009 BookStrand

Goldilocks in Mudflat, 2010 BookStrand

Deja Vu Lover, 2008 The Wild Rose Press, a reincarnation romance

Also, I have a short story in the July 2009 Crossed Genres magazine and two short stories in The Cupid Diaries Anthology, 2010 Classic Romance Revival Publishers, available in the US in ebook only.  For more order information, check my website.

Tell us about releases you expect within the next year..

I am working on the sixth Mudflat book, and also on another series, but I don’t know when they will be ready to go.

 Give us your URLs (web site, MySpace, Facebook, blog, etc.)

 Website is http://phoebematthews.com and includes my Blog and email address for reader comments or questions    

Twitter me at http://twitter.com/mudflatbks

Facebook is http://www.facebook.com/people/Phoebe-Matthews/1644604709

Myspace is http://www.myspace.com/phoebematthews

Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life

*Reviewed nationally in the Chicago Sun Times, Seattle Post-Intelligencer and Ventura County Star

Deacon Steve Lumbert and his daughter Karina Fabian, a two-time EPIC’s eBook Award™ winner, share their stories of how God led them from casual belief to deep devotion, and offer tips and exercises to help you see God’s hand – and take it. They delineate the Catholic faith as experienced by a pair of average, everyday people like the great majority who make up the 24 percent of Americans who share this religion. What is Catholicism really like? One would be hard-put to find a better verbal painting of the faith so many call their own.

Visit the book’s web site at: www.WhyGodMatters.com

The eBook is available at Tribute-Books.com, Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and Smashwords.com. It is formatted for all eBook readers including the Kindle, Nook and iPad.

Since before Moriah can remember, she wrote stories in her head to put herself to sleep at night. Unfortunately, they grew like kudzu and took over her neural pathways until, around age fourteen, she had to start putting them on paper before they choked out everything else. She’s been writing ever since, with the exception of a five-year sagging middle—er, uh, hiatus—during which a lot of stuff happened. The trouble started when she woke up one morning with the solution to a plot problem that had plagued her since 1995 . . .

***

How many EPIC’s e-Book Awards/EPPIE finalists do you have? How many winners?

This is the first time I’ve entered and I finaled.

***

Which books in what years and which categories?

I entered The Proviso in 2009 in the Mainstream category.

***

Tell us about your current year finalists/winners.

The Proviso is a family saga aka soap opera, the first book in a series, using the structure of Hamlet. It takes place mostly in Kansas City, Missouri, with characters who are political and religious renegades, fighting their external fights while trying to navigate relationships none of them expected to acquire.

***

What are you looking forward to entering next (if you plan on entering again)?

Stay is the second book in the series I started with The Proviso, using the structure of an O. Henry story, which I plan to enter it this year. It takes a different turn with tertiary characters from The Proviso. It’s less “family saga-ish” and more contemporary romance-ish, yet doesn’t truly fulfill many of the tenets of genre romance. It’s what I think of as a sweet love story.

***

Tell us about the other awards you’ve won…

I’ve not won any.

***

What genre/s do you write?

Family saga, contemporary romance, women’s fiction, historical, and post-apocalyptic.

***

Are there any genres you’d like to try but haven’t?

No. I’ve pretty much got covered what I like. That could change in the future.

***

Are there any genres you’d never consider writing in?

Paranormal, scifi/fantasy, horror. I don’t feel I have the chops or imagination to build the sorts of elaborate worlds, gadgets, science those require. I also don’t read in those genres, so I wouldn’t consider writing genres I don’t read.

***

If you’ve attended EPICon, what did you enjoy about it?

I wasn’t able to, but I wanted to.

***

Where would you like to see an EPICon held?

Kansas City, naturally.

***

The #1 holiday or birthday gift to purchase for an author is…

My birthday/holidays are special. I can and do get author-type stuff anytime.

***

Where did you get the inspiration for your finalist/winning book?

In 1994, I had a short-story assignment for one of my 400-level creative writing courses. At the same time, I was taking a senior review of Shakespeare. At the same time I was mulling over assignments in both classes, I heard a song, “Walkaway Joe” by Trisha Yearwood. It got me thinking. A throwaway character from the short story I wrote for the first class started to fascinate me, and it evolved from there.

***

What is the best reader or reviewer comment you’ve ever received?

At least three readers have told me that The Proviso was meaningful to them and life-changing, and all for different reasons.

***

What’s your favorite part of being a writer?

I get to daydream without people telling me to stop that.

***

Do you use any special software to write? Voice to text? Audio edits? etc.

Pen and paper. I used to use pencil, but that fades and smudges and I’ve lost some really good stuff because I used pencil. I like the green engineer’s paper, although I’ll write on anything, napkins (even though it’s a cliché). When an idea strikes, I have to write it down. Otherwise, just good ol’ Word 2000.

***

What advice would you give a new writer?

Read. A lot. You can’t write if you don’t read.

***

What are your writing goals? Where do you want to be in a year? Five years?

I am writing a five-book series encompassing different genres, different storytelling styles, different scenarios. I never write the same book twice (i.e., I don’t have a personal “formula,” for lack of a better word), although they are interconnected. With each book, I want to accomplish something technically different, something I find challenging, that I haven’t done before. I always have a technical goal for each manuscript.

Right now I’m simply building my backlist and reader base. In five years, I’m hoping to be selling consistently.

***

What book, if you have written several books, is your favorite and why?

The Proviso is my eighth full-length manuscript, but it features three full-length romances. The #1 romance is the fourth rewrite of an earlier manuscript written years ago. The #2 romance was an idea I had started years ago, but never finished. The #3 romance (the Hamlet one) was the one that gave me the most trouble.

But it’s the #1 romance in The Proviso that has my heart.

***

Give us your backlist… with all publishers…

The Proviso (book 1 of 5)

Stay (book 2 of 5)

Both are with B10 Mediaworx, http://b10mediaworx.com

*** 

Tell us about releases you expect within the next year… Remember to say which publishers they are with!

Magdalene (book 3 of 5) will be released on April 24, 2011, and I hope that Dunham (book 4 of 5) will be released before the end of 2011 (but I’m not holding my breath).

***

Give us your URLs (web site, MySpace, Facebook, blog, etc.)

My blog: http://moriahjovan.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/moriahjovan

The books’ websites:

http://theproviso.com

http://theproviso.com/stay

http://theproviso.com/magdalene

My publisher’s website:

http://b10mediaworx.com

***

Thanks so much for the interview!

Linda M. Faulkner is a transplant from New England to western Montana, which is the setting of her mysteries.  Although the locals tell her she’ll never achieve her dream of attaining status as a native Montanan, she believes that everyone has a right to her own reality—especially after surviving evacuation because of the summer wildfires in 2007—which burned as close as one-half a mile from her house in the mountains.

In addition to writing fiction, Linda penned a monthly newspaper column for seven years and regularly writes magazine articles.  A large body of Linda’s work appears in the insurance industry, where she develops and write insurance continuing education seminars, online courses, and pre-licensing texts.

Linda is a long-time member of Mystery Writers of America and Romance Writers of America, having served as president of RWA’s New England Chapter from 1990-1994.  She is also a member of Sisters in Crime, EPIC, and the Rocky Mountain Chapter of MWA.  For more information about Linda, visit her web site at:  www.lindamfaulkner.com.

How many EPIC’s e-Book Awards/EPPIE finalists do you have? How many winners?

Second Time Around is my first published fiction novel and, although it finalled in the 2010 EPIC Awards, it did not win.

Which books in what years and which categories?

Second Time Around, 2010, Mystery/Suspense fiction.

Tell us about your current year finalists/winners.

What do you do when the dead body you stumble across turns out to belong to your father, the father you thought abandoned you in infancy?

That’s what Timmie Campbell asks herself.  Turns out her mother has been lying for years:  about her father’s abandonment, about him not contacting them, about a lot of things.  Unfortunately, Timmie can’t dwell on her mother’s deception because she has to deal with the stalker who’s monitoring her every move with cameras hidden in the trees outside her mountain home in western Montana–not to mention the additional bodies that begin piling up.  Sheriff’s deputy Jack Kendall further complicates her life.  He’s investigating the murders and is intent on resuming their relationship—the one he ended the previous summer.  Unfortunately for Jack, Timmie’s not the least bit interested in romance.  Her priority is stopping the killer before he eliminates everyone her family.

What are you looking forward to entering next (if you plan on entering again)?

I am in the process of finishing the sequel to Second Time Around (titled Two-Timed) and plan to enter that.

Tell us about the other awards you’ve won…

Unfortunately, none at this time.

What genre/s do you write?

I write mystery and romantic/suspense.

Are there any genres you’d like to try but haven’t?

I’d love to try a thriller or a romance but would like to continue publishing a few mystery/suspense novels before branching out.

Are there any genres you’d never consider writing in?

I only have the desire to write in genres I read.  Clearly, if something isn’t appealing enough for me to read it, I don’t want to write it.

Where did you get the inspiration for your finalist/winning book?

Actually, the opening scene is very similar to something that happened to my husband and I—without the dead body.  Like the main character, we were walking our dogs down the driveway of our property in the Rocky Mountains.  As we neared the road, the dogs heard a critter in the forest and we all stopped and waited for it to appear on the hillside.  As we waited, my imagination kicked into gear and I whispered to my husband, “Wouldn’t it be neat of a dead body rolled down the hillside?”  He looked at me like I’d lost my marbles, which further kick-started my imagination.  It took some convincing on my part before he believed I didn’t mean I didn’t actually want a dead body to roll down the hillside, it would just be neat if it happened…in a book, of course. 

What is the best reader or reviewer comment you’ve ever received?

The fact that my father, who is not lavish with praise, read the book in one sitting and said it was very good.

What’s your favorite part of being a writer?

Everything:  the research, the what-iffing, the writing, the angst, the brainstorming, the slightly skewed perspective it gives me when looking at people and situations.  If life is an orchestra and people are the musicians in the orchestra, we writers are just half a beat out of time with the other music-makers.  Conversations with other writers, regardless of what they write, are the best conversations I have; it’s nice to chat with someone who understands about being half a beat out of time with the rest of the world.

Do you use any special software to write? Voice to text? Audio edits? etc.

When I’m outlining a book and creating the plot and characters, I tend to write longhand in a notebook.  I carry it with me and whenever an idea strikes I jot it down in the notebook.  Then, once everything gels, I transfer my scribbles into Microsoft OneNote—a computer version of a notebook.  I create separate sections for research, characters, plot, storyline, etc.  Then I just type away in Microsoft Word.  Call me old-fashioned, but there’s comfort in the rite and ceremony of creating using the same methods for 20 some-odd years.

What advice would you give a new writer?

Write.  It doesn’t matter what you write so long as you do it on regular (aka daily) basis.  In fact, I suspect that some people actually strengthen their skills by writing in different genres.  I wrote a newspaper column for years, as well as magazine articles, and writing the shorter lengths (250-1,200 words) helped me tremendously.  Hone your craft, study, listen to what other writers have to say.  In the final analysis, however, listen to, and write from, your heart.  Otherwise, your true voice won’t find an outlet.

What are your writing goals? Where do you want to be in a year? Five years?

I’ve always wanted to hit the NYT Bestseller list, so I guess that’s a goal, right?  Seriously, that’s my goal, although I’m focusing my short-term goals and deadlines in smaller, baby steps.  Unfortunately, I need to work—cash doesn’t seem to grow on the trees on my yard.  Fortunately, in the past few years, I’ve been able to earn money in my chosen field…writing!  As I restructure my life and the two businesses I own to allow more time to write, I plan to finish my current mystery and get halfway through the next book by the end of this year.  Then I plan to complete at least two books per year.  In five years?   Maybe bestsellerdom.

Give us your URLs (web site, MySpace, Facebook, blog, etc.)

Website:  http://www.lindamfaulkner.com

Writing blog:  http://www.lindamfaulkner.blogspot.com

Author Exchange Blog:  http://www.lindamfaulknertips.blogspot.com

Facebook Page:  http://www.facebook.com/LindaFaulknerWriter

Sandy James is a graduate of Indiana State University (B.A.) and Indiana University-Purdue University (M.S.) Currently teaching at Greenwood High School, in Greenwood, Indiana, she has been employed as a social studies instructor for fifteen years.  She is an adjunct professor of psychology to Indiana University, is a multiple year nominee to “Who’s Who Among American Teachers?”, and has been named on the “National Honor Roll of Outstanding American Teachers.”  Sandy is a member of Romance Writers of America, Indiana Romance Writers of America (current president), FF&P, From the Heart RWA, Yellow Rose RWA, and Elements of RWA.  She is proud to represented by Maureen Walters of Curtis Brown, Ltd.

How many EPIC’s e-Book Awards/EPPIE finalists do you have? How many winners?

This was my first year to enter the EPIC because I’m only recently published.  I was lucky enough to final two books.  Murphy’s Law (Damaged Heroes Book 1) was a finalist in the Best Contemporary Romance category, and Free Falling (Damaged Heroes Book 2) finaled in the Best Mystery/Suspense Romance Category.  Sorry to say, I didn’t win either category.  But it was such an honor to have two finalists the first time I participated!

Tell us about the other awards you’ve won…

Oh, my.  That might take some space because I was a bit of a contest diva before I published.  I’ve also entered a few published contests.  Overall, I’ve finaled eight books/manuscripts in twenty-eight contests, but I’ll focus on my published stories.  I would have to say the highlights for me as a published author were having two EPIC finalists (Murphy’s Law and Free Falling) and winning the Aspen Gold Readers Choice Award for Best Contemporary Romance with Turning Thirty-Twelve.  At the moment, I’m waiting on results for the Wisconsin RWA Write Touch Readers Choice contest.  Turning Thirty-Twelve is a Mainstream with Strong Romantic Elements finalist, and Faith of the Heart (Damaged Heroes Book 4) is a Long and Short Series finalist.  All the Right Reasons (Damaged Heroes Book 3) finaled in the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence and is a Colorado RW Award of Excellence finalist.  I should hear the results of that contest early this summer.  I consider it such a blessing to be able to say all my published books have been finalists in national writing contests.

What genre/s do you write?

I write romance and women’s fiction, but I write many sub-genres.  Turning Thirty-Twelve is women’s fiction, strong on the romantic comedy side.  Of my Damaged Heroes series, Murphy’s Law and All the Right Reasons are straight contemporary romances, Free Falling is romantic suspense with a touch of paranormal, and Faith of the Heart is contemporary with strong paranormal elements.  My agent, the fabulous Maureen Walters from Curtis Brown, Ltd., is trying to find a good home for my four-book urban fantasy romance series as well as a romantic time travel story with a sequel that is a straight historical romance.  My works-in-progress range from women’s fiction to a story about angels.  I never plan to write to fit a market.  I write the stories that call to me, regardless of where they will be categorized.

Are there any genres you’d like to try but haven’t?

Since my Bachelor’s degree is in criminology, I’m considering working on a straight mystery.  I’m just so in love with writing romance, the story would most likely end up a romantic suspense.

Are there any genres you’d never consider writing in?

I admire people who are able to write good non-fiction.  I just think it’s beyond my abilities as a writer, although I wouldn’t mind immersing myself in a true crime story if the opportunity presented itself.  I truly admire writers like Ann Rule.  For now, I prefer characters and worlds I can invent, so I’ll stick with romance.

Where did you get the inspiration for your EPIC finalist books?

I wrote Murphy’s Law to share the world of harness racing with readers.  My husband and I own a small stable of racehorses, and the sport itself isn’t well known to many people.  I love working with the animals and people at the Indiana racetracks, and I wanted to show readers how wonderful it is to be a part of racing.  Murphy’s Law is truly a book of my heart.

A character in Murphy’s Law – lawyer Ross Kennedy – became so important to me that I wrote Free Falling just to make sure he found his own happy ending.  As I wrote the book, I invented the character of psychologist Laurie Miller to use my knowledge of psychology, the subject I teach at my high school.   It was a fun book to write.

What is the best reader or reviewer comment you’ve ever received?

I had a fan email where the reader told me I made her both laugh and cry when she read Turning Thirty-Twelve.  I couldn’t receive a higher compliment than to know I pulled such strong emotions from a reader.  I’ve been blessed with wonderful reviews, and there are many, many quotes on my website.  I’d hate to single out any one reviewer quote because they all mean so much to me!

What advice would you give a new writer?

Never stop learning your craft and never give up.  The only writers who fail are those who quit.  Don’t lose sight of your dreams.

What book, if you have written several books, is your favorite and why?

That’s akin to asking me which of my children is my favorite.  As I said earlier, Murphy’s Law is truly the book of my heart because of the horses.  But depending on when you ask me, any of them could easily be my favorite!  There’s so much of “me” in Jackie from Turning Thirty-Twelve.  I named many of the characters in Murphy’s Law and Free Falling after students who were very encouraging when I started writing, so I have such fond memories from writing those books.  All the Right Reasons allowed me to research my Hungarian heritage as well as pay tribute to all my former students who are veterans.  And Faith of the Heart was my first story to win a contest.  Honestly, I love them all because each is special to me in its own way.

Give us your backlist… with all publishers…

All my books are current releases.  All four of my Damaged Heroes are waiting to steal your heart!  And you can still buy the award-winning Turning Thirty Twelve.  The ebooks are available at BookStrand.com and Fictionwise.com.  Trade Paperbacks are available at both Amazon.com and Barneandnoble.com.

Give us your URLs (web site, MySpace, Facebook, blog, etc.)

My website: http://www.sandy-james.com/

My FaceBook Fan Page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sandy-James/280548586384

My blog: http://www.sandy-james.com/stable/index.php

Like any feline, Selena Kitt loves the things that make her purr-and wants nothing more than to make others purr right along with her! Pleasure is her middle name, whether it’s a short cat nap stretched out in the sun or a long kitty bath. She makes it a priority to explore all the delightful distractions she can find, and follow her vivid and often racy imagination wherever it wants to lead her.

When she’s not pawing away at her keyboard, Selena runs an innovative publishing company (www.excessica.com) and in her spare time, she worships her devoted husband, corrals four kids and a dozen chickens, all while growing an organic garden. She also loves bellydancing and photography.

How many EPIC’s e-Book Awards/EPPIE finalists do you have? How many winners?

Two finalists but no winners. Alas, always a bridesmaid, never a bride…

Which books in what years and which categories?

EcoErotica, anthology, 2008

The Real Mother Goose, erotic fantasy, 2009

 Tell us about your current year finalists/winners.

 The Real Mother Goose is a raucous ride through very familiar nursery rhymes – in a very different, very sexy setting!

 The book blurb reads: “Settle yourself in for a wicked bed time story, a hot, wild ride through nursery rhymes like you’ve never heard them before. Set in a fantastical world where the privileged few own and raise sex slaves like beloved pets, Mother herself is the star of the show, wielding a riding crop and taking care of and training her young charges with a firm and skillful hand. But where has Father Goose wandered off to, and who will take Mother in hand when she ventures too far?”

But that really doesn’t tell the whole story. Patrice F. from Joyfully Reviewed says:

“Selena Kitt puts an amazingly unique and hot twist on the key players from the well-known nursery rhymes. Many of the scenes definitely made me pause in admiration at her ingenuity. I refuse to spoil it for anyone interested in reading this characters. There is no way I will reveal the erotic goodies and wildly titillating scenes she has so painstakingly transcribed in this raunchy, racy fantasy. There are a couple of plot twists and turns that will leave you with your mouth hanging wide open in surprise. Voracious reader that I am, I certainly didn’t anticipate one shocker in particular and I’m the first to admit it was refreshingly creative. Batten down the hatches because The Real Mother Goose runs riot and I guarantee you’ll be swept away on a tempest of passion! The inspiration might be from nursery rhymes but it’s certainly not for anyone under age 18. There are loads of familiar faces from all the various rhymes in a variety of X-rated scenarios that will astonish and delight you…”

What are you looking forward to entering next (if you plan on entering again)?

Heidi and the Kaiser – a little BDSM erotic romance that was quite popular this year with readers.

The blurb gives you this much:

Mousy little Heidi is a wanna-be designer who works as nothing more than a glorified go-fer for one of the largest and most well-known companies in the world of fashion. When she accidentally stains CEO Warren Kaiser’s pants, she gets two things she didn’t expect–a spanking…and a job. Kaiser hires her as his assistant, and her “training” proves to be quite a test of surrender.

But Joyfully Reviews says:

“Selena Kitt is that rare author in the truest sense of erotic romance/erotica, willing to plunge into the shadowy depths of the sexual psyche… This author willingly explores the taboo regions of love—and does it with skill.  Heidi and the Kaiser is a love story belonging to the murkier areas of the human consciousness. The line between pain and pleasure, submission and dominance, humiliation and exultation is a reoccurring theme… The lurid sophistication of this tale is an excellent foil to the plot; as complimentary as the main characters’ haute couture wardrobe… Ms. Kitt is not shy in her use of the lurid, the descriptive, and the exotic.  If she resorts to crassness it’s right at home and where it should be.  She is no amateur when it comes to captivating a reader through subtlety and timing.  Her research is flawless, and she’s always quick to layer and bolster the story and character development wherever and whenever it’s needed.  Despite her excellent command of language and narrative, she exerts frugal control with words, bending every sentence and paragraph to her will with Hemingway-esque expertise…”

Tell us about the other awards you’ve won…

Selena’s story, Connections, was the first runner-up for the 2006 Rauxa Prize, given annually to an erotic short story of “exceptional literary quality,” out of over 1,000 nominees, where awards are judged by a select jury and all entries are read “blind” (without author’s name available.)

Selena was also a top ten author finisher in the 2006 Preditors and Editors Poll.

Selena’s book, The Surrender of Persephone, placed third in the N.O.R. (Night Owl Romance) Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy award in 2007.

Selena Kitt was voted Literotica’s Most Influential Writer of the Year in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

What genre/s do you write?

Most of them. I even tried my hand at m/m for the first time with my recent release, Second Chance, a romance between a Wal-Mart cashier and a biker who comes through his line every day to buy a Slim-Jim, Cracker Jacks and a box of 64-count crayons. By the time the reader finds out why, they’ve fallen in love, and we’ve fallen in love with both of them!

Are there any genres you’d like to try but haven’t?

I’ve never written a true mystery. I think that would be fun!

Are there any genres you’d never consider writing in?

Probably hardcore sci-fi and in-depth historical fiction. I just don’t know enough to write them (or don’t have the time and patience to find out!)

The #1 holiday or birthday gift to purchase for an author is…

Diamonds. Or maybe a red 1967 Mustang convertible. What? It’s research!

Where did you get the inspiration for your finalist/winning book?

The Real Mother Goose? Um… you guessed it! The nursery rhymes. Although I admit, I got pretty imaginative with them and they don’t resemble the originals much at all anymore in my version!

What’s your favorite part of being a writer?

Telling stories people enjoy reading. For me, that’s all there is.

What are your writing goals? Where do you want to be in a year? Five years?

Still writing!

What book, if you have written several books, is your favorite and why?

A little romance called Falling Down. I admit, it’s not for the faint-of-heart. Poor wounded Lindsey is a very bad girl, but she comes around with the help of her new man, Zach, and learns how to really love. Even if it shows the seedier side of our psyches, it’s quite a redeeming tale in the end, and as a character, Lindsey just grows on you! She was incredibly fun to write and ran all over the manuscript whenever I let her!

Tell us about releases you expect within the next year…

Sacred Prostitute – June 2010 – Excessica Publishing

Holly practices the long-lost tradition of the true courtesan. Thoroughly educated in the ways of love and spirit by her mentor, she is a throwback in a modern world, but there are many who seek her guidance and wisdom and find comfort and connection in her arms. Holly has always been happy sharing her gift with the world, until she meets a man who completely disarms her and turns her life upside down. Finally, she has found the one man she could see herself spending infinity with, but Lloyd Winthrop is a powerful, wealthy man with deep-rooted family connections and far-reaching political ambition. How can she possibly be a part of this man’s world? When one of Holly’s previous clients, a Washington insider, discovers their affair, the couple find themselves plunged into an abyss of blackmail and intrigue. As the cruel plot grows even deeper, will Holly’s past sink them… or maybe even save them?

Cat Lover – October 2010 – Excessica Publishing

Sebastian can’t believe his luck when his gorgeous neighbor invites him up for dinner after he helps rescue her cat—but he can’t begin to fathom what he’s about to get into. While the two become fast friends—Katie doesn’t mind that Sebastian is a budding opera singer, and he isn’t bothered by her fifteen cats—usually shy, reticent Katie begins to undergo some rather unusual changes which alarm them both. When Katie’s temperamental boyfriend, Malcolm, steps on her last nerve, she finally snaps—and the resulting tragedy puts both Katie and Sebastian on the run, looking for the secret to the mystery Katie has become as they begin a cross-continent journey toward answers…and love.

Give us your URLs (web site, MySpace, Facebook, blog, etc.)

WEBSITE: http://www.selenakitt.com

FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/selena.kitt

TWITTER: http://twitter.com/selenakitt

MAILING LIST: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/selenakitt/

BLOG: http://www.selenakitt.com/blog

MYSPACE: http://www.myspace.com/selenakitt

BOOKS: http://selenakitt.com/index.php/books/

Tell us about yourself.

Linda Rettstatt began her writing career while clerking at The Brownsville Telegraph, her small Pennsylvania hometown newspaper. Though hired to take classified ads, Linda eagerly agreed to assume the task of writing reviews for community theater productions, for which her sole compensation was a by line. (It was a job no one in the newsroom wanted.) She later wrote a human interest story about a man who had traveled in his 1957 Chevrolet through forty-eight states, and the story was given front page space.

Her passion for writing led Linda into the world of women’s fiction and contemporary romance. Writing about heroines who had to draw upon their inner strength to overcome loss or adversity seemed only natural given her years of work as a psychotherapist. Of her writing, Linda says, “I write for women—stories of love, strength, humor, and hope.” Readers have compared her work to that of Elizabeth Berg, Nicholas Sparks, and Sherryl Woods.

Linda is the owner and moderator of The Women’s Fiction Writers Exchange, an online critique group of women writers from across the United States and Canada. She has served as contest judge for the River City Romance Writers and EPIC’s New Voices and EPIC Award competitions. Linda grew up in southwestern Pennsylvania and currently resides in Southaven, Mississippi.

How many EPIC’s e-Book Awards/EPPIE finalists do you have? How many winners? 

I’ve had two novels final for EPIC e-Book Awards. Neither won, but I’m thinking third time could be a charm!

Which books in what years and which categories?

My first novel, And the Truth Will Set You Free, finaled in the mainstream category in 2008. My fourth novel, Finding Hope, finaled in 2010 in mainstream.

Tell us about your current year finalists/winners.

FINDING HOPE is women’s fiction and tells the story of Janet DeMarco who, on a day when she has just ‘had enough’, determines to make some changes. No one in her family is exempt. She resigns from her job for an absentee boss (who is also her husband’s cousin), and she posts a resignation on the refrigerator at home for her husband and two teenaged children. In order to discover what she really wanted to be when she grew up, Janet changes her name to Hope and sets of on a journey of self-discovery—without even leaving home. By the way, the first draft of this book was written as a NaNoWriMo challenge and completed in seventeen days!

What are you looking forward to entering next (if you plan on entering again)?

I plan to enter my newest novel, SHOOTING INTO THE SUN, into this coming year’s EPIC e-Book Awards.

Tell us about the other awards you’ve won…

I’ve had short stories place and/or receive honorable mention from Pennwriters, Inc. and Writer’s Digest Short Stories competitions.

What genre/s do you write? 

I write Women’s Fiction, generally with a romance subplot.

Are there any genres you’d like to try but haven’t?

I wrote a murder mystery short story that I hope to one day turn into a full-length novel.

Are there any genres you’d never consider writing in?

I wouldn’t attempt Sci-Fi/Fantasy because I don’t think my imagination is that good. Historical romances aren’t my thing only because of the research involved. I’m just plain lazy in that regard.

If you’ve attended EPICon, what did you enjoy about it?

I attended EPICon 2010 in New Orleans. I loved meeting some of the authors and publishers I’ve come to know in name only on the EPIC loops. The workshops were aimed at offering a variety of information, a little something for everyone.

Where would you like to see an EPICon held?

The Memphis, Tennesee/Northwest Mississippi area.

The #1 holiday or birthday gift to purchase for an author is…

A Starbuck’s gift card! (Must have coffee to write, and you can almost always find a Starbuck’s in or near a bookstore.)

Where did you get the inspiration for your finalist/winning book?

The inspiration for FINDING HOPE came from listening to women friends with a husband and children talk about their lives and their dreams. I think all fiction begins with a ‘what if’ question. What if a woman married, had children, was basically happy, but then wondered if she’d missed something along the way. In my book, Janet’s seventeen-year-old son is preparing for college. As he and his fifteen-year-old sister talk about their futures, Janet realizes that events in life prevented her from really exploring what she wanted to do when she grew up. She’s happily married, but has to know without a doubt that she didn’t dismiss some dream without giving it a glance.

What is the best reader or reviewer comment you’ve ever received?

This review by a fellow author and former EPIC e-Book Award finalist Kimberley Dehn, truly sums up FINDING HOPE.

“Change is infectious. Unfulfilled and forty-ish, Janet DeMarco quits her job and informs her semi-supportive family she now wants to be called Hope.  But changing her name and employment status is just the beginning. As Janet searches for who Hope really is and what she wants from life that Janet was not able to discover herself, her quest also touches the lives around her, both family and strangers, and encourages them to dig beyond the surface of who they are, to discover who they want to be.

What’s your favorite part of being a writer?

Meeting the characters who tell me their stories.

What advice would you give a new writer?

Don’t think you’re finished with the first draft! Also, find one or a few critique partners who can objectively help you tighten up and sharpen your work.

What book, if you have written several books, is your favorite and why?

That’s a tough one. AND THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE has a special place in my heart because it is my first-born and because Kate’s story is an adventure I’d like to embrace (and have, in some ways.) I absolutely love Rylee Morgan, my heroine in SHOOTING INTO THE SUN. She’s strong, but vulnerable, and she’s willing to change in order to embrace happiness.

Give us your backlist… with all publishers…

And the Truth Will Set You Free (July, 2007) Wings ePress

Pieces (January, 2008) Wings ePress

The Year I Lost My Mind (May, 2008) Wings ePress

Finding Hope (December, 2008) Wings ePress

The Restoration of Abby Walker (September, 2009) Wings ePress

Next Time I’m Gonna Dance (January, 2010) Champagne Books

Shooting into the Sun (May, 2010) Champagne Books

Tell us about releases you expect within the next year… Remember to say which publishers they are with!

Love, Sam (November, 2010) Champagne Books

Renting to Own, Class Act Books

Give us your URLs (web site, MySpace, Facebook, blog, etc.)

Web site:  www.lindarettstatt.com

Blog:        www.lindarettstatt-author.blogspot.com

Twitter:    linda_writer

A native of Brooklyn, NY, Teel–or T.J. as most know him, has a long career as a performer, teacher, stunt expert that has informed his writing: he has sold several screenplays and is the author of the fantasies Death at Dragonthroat and Tales of a Warrior Priest, TheDaemonhold Curse and Sister Warrior and the mystery Knight Errant: Death and Life at the Faire (the first set at a modern renaissance faire) and the nonfiction book “Them’s Fightin’ Words: how to write fight scenes for writers all published by Epress-Online.com, The Exceptionals: Measure of a Man (with Jerry Kokich), the first in a Science Fiction adventure series to Whiskey Creek Press, a book of epic poetry “Warrior Memories” at lulu.com/tjglenn and a pulp serial/ebook: The Adventures of the Granite Man at Virtualtales.com.

How many EPIC’s e-Book Awards/EPPIE finalists do you have? How many winners?

I had one book final in the action adventure category: The third book in my Exceptionals Science fiction series  On the Good ship Caligula.

 What are you looking forward to entering next (if you plan on entering again)?

This next year I will have 8 books coming out this year that will be eligible for the EPPIE.

 Tell us about the other awards you’ve won…

 None yet—but then I figure my readers are the judges that matter so far…

 What genre/s do you write?

 So far I have written in every genre: Westerns, mystery, fantasy (in several sub genres), thriller, romance (straight, gay and lesbian) and science fiction.

Are there any genres you’d like to try but haven’t?

 Not so far. For me it is about the characters so in many aspects the genre doesn’t matter.

 Are there any genres you’d never consider writing in?

 No- its all good.

 If you’ve attended EPICon, what did you enjoy about it?

 Meeting everyone face to face. Cyber is nice but real world is awesome.

 Where would you like to see an EPICon held?

 Down the block from me so I can walk home, but barring that somewhere I can get to on the train- in the northeast.

 The #1 holiday or birthday gift to purchase for an author is…

 A book. Preferably a classic.

 Where did you get the inspiration for your finalist/winning book?

 It is literally the fish out of water concept- in case a full aircraft carrier high and dry and a hero on a mission who tries real hard not to fall in love played right into that.

 What is the best reader or reviewer comment you’ve ever received?

 I had an editor who once said:

You are the very definition of what blazing is all about. A writer should have the ability to write any story with equal skill a   writer writes, and knows no limitations. You are the type of writer blazing was created to showcase. One that can write any genre, proficiently. *Salutes *

 I felt humbled and honored and have been working hard to live up to his praise.

 What’s your favorite part of being a writer?

 Meeting my characters and spending time with them; I really to feel that if they are not interesting to me no one else would like them, so I get to ‘meet’ lots of interesting characters. That and I love doing the research—it’s a great excuse to read cool stuff.

 What advice would you give a new writer?

 Love and believe in your work first, but listen to input and if people don’t like something find out why: did you communicate what you wanted and they just don’t agree or like ‘that style’ or do you need to rethink/rewrite it to get your point across?

 What are your writing goals? Where do you want to be in a year? Five years?

 In a slightly larger apartment writing. I hope by then I have enough of a following to assure that I can write full time. And I’d like to see some film adaptations of my stuff—I’ve done enough films to as a performer to want to want to hear my words from other actor’s lips.

 What book, if you have written several books, is your favorite and why?

 Ah, the Sophie’s Choice! I love all my literary children, but if I had to choose one that I feel I stepped up tot he plate on it would be The Exceptionals#2: Across the Wasteland. I think it is the most breathtaking book I’ve written.

The most fun is Deadline Zombies: the Adventures of Maxi and Moxie a collection of wisecracking reporter and his wife stories set in the 1930s.

 Give us your backlist… with all publishers…

 Fiction books:

Death at Dragonthroat                                                ePress-Online (05)

Tales of a Warrior Priest                                 “                      “(06)

Knight Errant                                                  ePress-Online(06)outofprint

The Daemonhold Curse                                  “                      “(“07)

Sister Warrior                                                  “                      “(’08)

The Vision Quest Factor                                 “                      “(08)

The Exceptionals: Measure of a Man Whiskey Creek Press (08)

The Exceptionals: Across the Wasteland        Whiskey Creek Press (08

The Exceptionals:On the Good Ship Caligula Whiskey Creek Press (09)

The Escape Artist                                            Whiskey Creek Press (09)

Weird Tales of the Skullmask                         BooksforaBuck (09)

The Horsed Thief                                            Eternal Press (09)

Gaslight Occurrences                                      Whiskey Creek Press (2010)

Secret of Wolf Island                                     Gypsy Shadow Publishing (09)

A Hex of Shadows                                         ePress-Online (2010)

Poetry collection:

Hymns to the Battlecrow                                Gypsy Shadow Publishing (09)

Non-Fiction books:

Secrets of the Samurai Sword—                     Laughing Wolf Press (97) outofprint

Them’s Fightin’ Words–                                ePress-Online (07)

 Tell us about releases you expect within the next year…

 The Devil Wore Greasepaint                           Whiskey Creek Press (2010)

The Traveler’s Tale                                          Eternal Press (2010)

Deadline Zombies                                           BooksforaBuck(2010)

Of Swords & Sorcery                                     Gypsy Shadow Publishing (2010)

 Give us your URLs (web site, MySpace, Facebook, blog, etc.)

 Theurbanswashbuckler.com

 Thewordcave.wordpress.com (for new fiction)

 TeelJamesGlenn on facebook

Christy Tillery French is an award-winning, internationally published author and poet. She resides in Powell, TN and is a small business owner and book reviewer for Midwest Book Review. She is a volunteer for Wolf Creek Weimaraner Rescue and donates proceeds from her books to local animal shelters and rescue groups. She serves on the Board of Directors of Tennessee Mountain Writers and is a member of Romance Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, the Guppies, High Country Writers, Tennessee Writers Alliance and Tennessee Mountain Writers. 

 How many EPIC’s e-Book Awards/EPPIE finalists do you have? How many winners?

One – EPIC 2010 Finalist.

Which books in what years and which categories?

Chasing Secrets, Category R5-Mystery, Suspense and/or Adventure Romance, 2010 E-Book Competition.

Tell us about your current year finalists/winners.

Chasing Secrets short blurb: ATF agent Rowan Bronson is chasing the secrets of a renowned televangelist and his connections to organized crime. The only allies she has are her dog Zeus and Garrett Somersby, a detective who is reluctant to believe her. Zeus is a sure thing but can she trust Garrett enough to let him help her?

What are you looking forward to entering next (if you plan on entering again)?

The latest release in my Bodyguard series, The Bodyguard and the Snitch.

Tell us about the other awards you’ve won…

My first book, Chasing Secrets, won the Madcap Award for Best in Romantic Comedy.

The Bodyguard and the Show Dog received the 2006 Cata Reviewers’ Choice Award and was named Finalist in the Dog Writers Association of America 2006 Writing Competition, Book: Fiction.

The Bodyguard and the Rock Star was named Award-Winning Finalist in USA Book News National Best Books 2009, Cross Genre Fiction.

Chasing Secrets was named Finalist in the Dog Writers Association of America 2009 Writing Competition, Book: Fiction.

What genre/s do you write?

Romantic comedy, romantic suspense, humorous mystery, and psychological suspense.

Are there any genres you’d like to try but haven’t?

Sci-fi.

Are there any genres you’d never consider writing in?

Historical romance, simply because there is so much research involved and I am paranoid about misstating facts.

If you’ve attended EPICon, what did you enjoy about it?

Haven’t yet, but intend to.

Where would you like to see an EPICon held?

Nashville, TN or somewhere in the Southeastern United States. In other words, close enough I wouldn’t have to travel far to get to it. (I am a terrible traveler!)

The #1 holiday or birthday gift to purchase for an author is…

An e-book reader!

Where did you get the inspiration for your finalist/winning book?

I am foremost a dog lover. I volunteer with a local Weimaraner rescue group and own two Weims myself. I wanted to write a romantic suspense featuring a dog who is, himself, a hero.

What is the best reader or reviewer comment you’ve ever received?

From Dolly Parton, who wrote me a letter in which she stated I was as “crazy and out there” as she is. I love that letter!

What’s your favorite part of being a writer?

Writing, when it’s flowing and I’m simply sitting in my chair, letting it happen. It’s a great feeling.

Do you use any special software to write? Voice to text? Audio edits? etc.

Not yet, although I have a voice-to-text program and plan to use it if I can ever find the time to install and learn it.

What advice would you give a new writer?

Persevere. Keep going. Most of all, enjoy the journey.

What are your writing goals? Where do you want to be in a year? Five years?

In a year, I’d like to finish the faction I’m writing with my sister about our Great Aunt Bessie and her growing up years in Hot Springs, NC, as well as the apocalyptic romance I’ve been working on for three years. Five years: It’d be nice to be on a national bestselling list.

What book, if you have written several books, is your favorite and why?

It’s always the book I just finished. In this case, The Bodyguard and the Bodyguard.

Give us your backlist… with all publishers…Bold things that are currently available. Note the publishers they are with!

Chasing Horses – PublishAmerica

Wayne’s Dead – PublishAmerica

Chasing Demons – iUniverse

The Bodyguard – iUniverse

The Bodyguard and the Show Dog – Behler Publications

The Bodyguard and the Rock Star – L&L Dreamspell

The Bodyguard and the Snitch – L&L Dreamspell

Chasing Secrets – L&L Dreamspell

Tell us about releases you expect within the next year… Remember to say which publishers they are with!

The Bodyguard and the Bodyguard – L&L Dreamspell.

Give us your URLs (web site, MySpace, Facebook, blog, etc.)

http://christytilleryfrench.com

http://www.facebook.com/christytilleryfrench

http://www.twitter.com/ctfrench

http://www.myspace.com/christytilleryfrench

http://reviewsbychristy.blogspot.com

http://authorsden.com/christytfrench

http://damesofdialogue.wordpress.com