Now Available - Knight's Big Easy

Dear readers!  My friend and fellow author, Gordon A. Kessler, just informed me that his newest book in the "Knight's Reports" series is finally live on Amazon for your Kindle. 

I had the pleasure of proofreading "Knight's Big Easy" prior to publication and can tell you that this story moves at such a rapid pace it will keep your old ticker pumping for the duration.  If you'd like to stay inside where it's cool instead of out in the heat and humidity, this novel will give you ample reason to do so - without getting bored.  Or if your penchant is more toward lazing by the pool, pick this up on your Kindle before you head to the water.

You'll be glad you did!

Knight’s Big Easy

Fantasy Author Rachael Pruitt Visits

Today is a great day, because I bring to you fantasy author, Rachael Pruitt.  Ms. Pruitt is currently in a series of historical fantasy novels based on the Arthurian legend, specifically following the life of Guinevere.

I say a great day because even though I write mostly thriller and suspense, my first love for reading is the fantasy genre.  I look forward to reading Ms. Pruitt's current novel, THE DRAGON'S HARP.  For the historical fantasy lovers in our audience, I think you will also when we are done.  So without further audieu, please welcome Ms. Rachael Pruitt!

DAB:  Tell us about the time when you first realized you wanted to be a published author.

RP:     D.A. I believe I've wanted to be a writer ever since I was a little girl & wrote my first short story in 5th grade.  The story, as I recall, was composed in a rather boring geography class, and was all about a girl who had to save her family from a vicious tribe of cannibals.  She didn't succeed, I'm afraid.  But this whetted my appetite for tragedy & I immediately saw myself being interviewed by thousands of reporters & being allowed to cast Natalie Wood (then very much alive & beautiful) in the title role.

It was only recently, that I realized reporters would not be beating my door down just because I've published a novel!  It's been a real shock - but I'm coping :)

DAB:  Do you have a daily writing regimen, and if so, please tell us about it.

RP:     My traditional writing regime, when I'm working weekdays, is to wake up at least 2 mornings a week at the ungodly hour of 4 am, set a hidden alarm, & write for 2 hours.  This way, I feel as if I'm staying on track as a writer--but not totally killing myself by rising every morning before the roosters.  I then commit one segment of time every weekend (a morning or an afternoon) to do some more writing--without having to worry about a hidden alarm going off and ruining my train of thought!

I do want to add to your readers, D A, that, in my opinion, a writing schedule is a very individualized choice.  Some of us are night owls, some are morning larks.  The point is to 1) create a schedule or framework that works for you 2) experiment until it really works & is comfortable & realistic for you and 3) stick with it.  The third point is probably the most important of all--aspiring writers must have some commitment to setting consistent time aside to write--even if it's only a few hours a week to start.  Otherwise you'll never get past the starting line.

DAB:  Great advice!  So where do you come up with ideas for your novels?

RP:     One of my characters in "Dragon's Breath" (my next novel) says, "Stories are carried 'beneath the wind'".  And I agree.  To me, the world is filled with a never ending flow of ideas, characters, & situations that just beg to be put into novels, poems, & short stories.  As novelists, and as artists, we simply need to know how to reach for them & mold them in our own voice.

To be a little more specific:  My Arthurian novels, (5 in all, beginning with "Dragon's Harp"), represent my lifelong passion for all things Arthurian--most especially Gwenhwyfar & Merlin.  I also have several more epic fantasy books in mind, and one historical set in the Biblical Era.  These novels have all sprung from my childhood fascination with myths, legends & ancient history.

My additional writings tend to be memoir-based--I love being funny too--so chick lit's another genre I plan to explore!

So what do all these ideas & genres have in common?  I love people & have great admiration for women & men who consistently surmount all kinds of obstacles.  I'm also a keen observer of people & love to laugh and have fun, at the same time honoring our very human struggle to survive, to love, & to stand up & protect what we cherish.  These themes and this admiration find their way into all of my writing.

If you're ever stuck looking for ideas--just visit a grocery store on Saturday morning--or sit in a coffee shop or restaurant.  Take a local bus, eavesdrop on the beach...you get the idea.  Bring a notebook with you at all times...trust me, you'll have plenty of ideas!  Just listen & observe...

DAB:  Have you ever experienced writer's block?

RP:     Only when I allow myself to!  To me the best & most effective way to beat writer's block is to sit down & write--even if what you come up with initially is total crap.

D A, I truly believe writers' block happens when writers become afraid that what they produce won't be "good enough"--so they talk themselves out of writing one way or another.  This can take the form of procrastination, distraction, the "I'm too busy" excuse, and so on.  Bottom line is we--as writers--become afraid we're not "good enough"--and so we don't try.  Just keep writing when this happens--don't give in.  Also, for a good "pick-me-up" go to inspirational books such as Julia Cameron's wonderful THE ARTIST'S WAY, indulge yourself in a subscription to a publication like "The Writer", and invest in good books on the craft of writing.  Read these types of resources--or speak with a good friend (preferably another writer that you trust) if you find yourself "blocked".

I've been there & for me, the one thing that helps, above all, is to continue to write--and shut off any negative "self-talk" while you're at it!

DAB:  So true, Rachael!  So the next question is the eternal debate - outline or no outline when writing?

RP:     I believe this is another strictly individual choice that every writer decides for her or himself.  I am not an outliner--however I do write overall summaries of where I think my novel will go--I'm constantly surprised, of course!  I do, however, like to have an "organic plan".

I believe the only thing to watch out for, if you do choose to outline, is to make sure you don't make the mistake of forcing the characters to stick to your "outline" rather than adjusting your preconceived ideas to characters & plot twists that develop as a natural part of the magic you are creating on the page.

DAB:  Do you have a favorite character in THE DRAGON'S HARP?

RP:     Shh!  Merlin is certainly in the running :-) But this question is like asking me to pick a favorite kid--sorry D A, I just can't bring myself to choose!

DAB:  LOL!  Well then, do you have favorite authors you like to read and who have inspired you in your own writing?

RP:     Probably my all-time favorite author is Anya Seton (now deceased).  Her novel, GREEN DARKNESS, about star-crossed Tudor lovers reincarnated in the present (the 1968 present that is), may sound "old hat" now--but it was the first novel of its kind when it was first published in the early 70's.  GREEN DARKNESS remains one of the most haunting & powerfully written love stories I've ever read.  Other writers who have inspired me are fantasy author Charles de Lint, the early works of Stephen King, and historical novelists Sharon Kay Penman, Jules Watson, Pauline Gedge, & Donna Gillespie.

All these authors share three things in common that I've attempted to emulate in my own work:  fantastic characters, gripping plots, & a fantastic instinct for pacing.

DAB:  When I write, I have particular composers and music that gets me in the mood for certain scenes and characters.  Have you ever written to music?

RP:     Great question!  Sometimes I do like to listen to soft Celtic harp music as I write--nothing too distracting.  And, like you, D A, I often listen to music to get myself in the mood.  While writing "Harp", I discovered that when I was approaching a particularly tough scene, listening to the music of Loreena McKennitt, and the musical themes from Braveheart, Rob Roy, Lord of the Rings, &--of course--King Arthur :-) beforehand really helped.  Those themes & Loreena's beautiful voice & instrumentals really conjured the "Celtic grandeur" necessary for me to approach the toughest scenes in my novel.

DAB:  I saw on your blog the story about how THE DRAGON'S HARP first came into being on a beach twenty-five years ago.  Once you sat down to write, how long did it take to complete?

RP:  Once I really "got serious" about "Harp", D A, it still took me about 7 years, including research, to complete.  I don't anticipate taking so long with my upcoming novels!  For one thing, the original research I did for "Harp" regarding Arthurian lore and ancient Celtic & Welsh history and culture should hold me in good stead for its sequels.  I also feel a lot more confident as an author regarding plot and character development.

DAB:  So on that note, now's your chance - give us your fabulous plug for THE DRAGON'S HARP.

RP:     Thank you, D A:  Readers:  Here goes :-) :

"Before Gwenhwyfar became Queen--before Arthur met Merlin--a tribal Welsh princess met a young Heatherlands Mage.  Together, they will create a legend.

Inside a mist of beauty and brutality waits the Arthurian legend as you've never heard it before.  Enter the world of The Dragon's Harp, a realm of blood lust and vengeance, of spellbinding magic from the beginning of time.  The realm of Princess Gwenhwyfar:  a young girl torn between magic and desire, born with magical powers she can either wield to save her people from destruction--or deny to save her soul. 

First in a five book series of historical fantasy, Rachael Pruitt's unique take on a beloved legend reintroduces the mythic characters of Gwenhwyfar, Merlin, and Vortigern against the gritty backdrop of sixth century Wales, where scenes of shape-shifting and heartbreaking romance vie with torture, murder, and battle in a dragon-haunted land."

"From the first page I was drawn deep into Pruitt's beautifully-realized Celtic realm, so vivid I felt as if I'd stepped right into the tale and could not only see but smell, taste, and touch her creation. With shades of The Mists of Avalon, the story is a magical blend of Welsh and Arthurian myth, thrilling adventure, romance, and otherworldly enchantments - while also managing to be funny, earthy and believable. All the characters are so vividly rendered they soon lay siege to your heart, and you find yourself loving them, rooting for them, terrified for them, and utterly captivated by them.

The child Gwenhwyfar is brave and spirited, sensitive to the mysterious otherworld of goddess rituals, druids and dragons that lie just beyond the more brutal reality of her father's warriors and their bloody swords. The story leaves her as a teen coming into her powers - and under the spell of first love. I can't wait to see the woman she will become in future books. Bravo!"     

-----Jules Watson, bestselling author of The White Mare Trilogy, The Swan Maiden, and The Raven Queen

     Rachael Pruitt is a gifted storyteller, able to create vivid, three-dimensional characters in prose that is, by turns, lyrical and powerful.  Readers who enjoyed the novels of Parke Godwin, Persia Woolley, Rosemary Sutcliff, and Marion Zimmer Bradley will love The Dragon’s Harp, in which Gwenhwyfar comes of age; best of all there are four more books to come…     

  ---Sharon K. Penman, New York Times Bestselling author of Lionheart, Here Be Dragons, & Time and Chance

"Rachael Pruitt is a natural story teller, and her love of the Guinevere character shines through every page of The Dragon’s Harp. It's a pleasure to discover her take on this very old story."

                   --Persia Woolley, author of The Guinevere Trilogy.

The Goddess is most definitely afoot in this engrossing novel by author Rachael Pruitt. The Dragon's Harp courageously depicts the roles of mothers, daughters, queens, and priestesses in a time when men fought battles while women abided by a far more ancient law. The tale is woven with lyrical language that resounds with the hills, trees and rocks of a land where the mist between worlds falls easily away--one small step beyond a fairy stone.  

       Ms. Pruitt masterfully guides her reader through not only a mystical retelling of the Arthurian legend, but educates us with her historical expertise of the time.  Her attention to detail drowns our senses into this world where kings rule the land, but the land and all who live on her ultimately answer only to the Goddess.  I cannot recommend this novel highly enough.  Ms. Pruitt is a gifted storyteller with a powerful story to tell.

                                                              - Molly Padulo, writer and shamanic healer

And there we have it, dear readers!  Thanks again to Rachael for visiting the blog and for the great advice to our fellow writers out there.  I particularly could relate to the section where she mentioned the writer's block, as I too recently procrastinated writing a particular scene because I was sending a character to a place of which I'd only read and never visited.  The possibility of screwing it up had my confidence in the proverbial toilet and made wanting to write it daunting indeed.

For our historical fantasy readers in the audience, be sure and pick up a copy of THE DRAGON'S HARP and also contact Rachael Pruitt via her website, Facebook, and Twitter pages below.  Enjoy!

Website:  http://www.rachaelpruitt.com

FB:  http://www.facebook.com/GwenhwyfarEraofDragonsSeriesbyRachaelPruitt

Twitter: http://twitter.com/EraOfDragons

Rachael Pruitt is a writer, storyteller, and teacher with a lifelong fascination for Celtic mythology and the Arthurian legend.  Her Arthurian poetry has been published in Paradox magazine (2008 and 2009) and her article “To Dream a Dragon” appeared in the award-winning 2011 writing anthology, Many Genres, One Craft.  She has also published nonfiction articles detailing, “Myths for Our Time”©, a personal mythology process she developed while an Artist in Residence in the Pacific Northwest.  The Dragon’s Harp is her first novel, and the first in a projected series of five books following the life of Gwenhwyfar, King Arthur’s famous Queen.  You can also visit her on her blog tour below:

Mayan Sci-Fi Author - T.W. Fendley

This week I've had the pleasure of interviewing a fellow Midwesterner - T.W. Fendley, author of ZERO TIME, a fascinating sci-fi fantasy incorporating ancient Mayan culture.  As one who once desired to be an archaeologist (and who still enjoys the study of many elements of history), I was very intrigued by the premise of this book.  Plus it has an element that seems to be on so many minds since Y2K, the end of the world.  So please join me in welcoming to the blog, Ms. Fendley!

DAB:  Was there a point in your life that prompted your desire to write or have you always wanted to be an author?

TWF:  For many years, it was hard for me to decide which I liked best: art or writing. Even in college, I had a double major. As so often happens, the money ran out before I finished both degrees, but by that time I'd already decided that journalism was my calling (plus the job prospects were better). I've always earned my living by writing, mostly in corporate communications, but it wasn't until the mid-1990s that I decided to try fiction. A couple of things came together--today I'd call it synchronicity. My boss and I didn't see eye-to-eye on things, and at one point he said I "wasn't creative enough." Well, for me, insults don't get much worse, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Things improved between us after I got accepted at Clarion, one of the top workshops for science fiction and fantasy writers. About the same time, a co-worker told me she'd just found a publisher for her first romance novel. She introduced me to the Crescent City Writers, a great group of women who knew the ins and outs of publishing. They helped me take my first steps toward becoming a fiction writer.

DAB:  Where do you come up with ideas for your novels like ZERO TIME?

TWF:  Mostly I get ideas from reading about a wide variety of things: metaphysics, ancient cultures, science and astronomy. Sometimes I dream entire stories, although they often don't make sense by the time I get them written down. I like to write about the connections I see between things. A journalism instructor once dubbed me "Leap of Faith Teresa" because I intuited connections between things. Of course, you certainly check the facts if you're a journalist, but it makes for some interesting possibilities in fiction.

For ZERO TIME, the inspiration came while researching short story ideas at Clarion. I came across some information about the ancient American cultures--it was love at first sight. Although I've always been a history buff, this was new to me. I'd studied ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt, but never Andean and Mesoamerican cultures. I already had this setting in mind when I ran across a description of the sex-chromosome drive (SRY) in Matt Ridley's book, GENOME. I thought, What if people had this SRY disorder that causes 97 percent of the offspring to be female? Suddenly my characters became travelers from the Pleiades whose motivation for traveling to Earth was to save their race from extinction. And it went on from there. Some of the resources I used are listed on my website: ZERO TIME: Behind the Story. 

DAB:  Do you ever have difficulty writing from the point-of-view of a member of the opposite sex?

TWF:  So far my point-of-view characters have been women, mainly because I want to portray strong female characters, not victims. When I write about male characters, usually I rely on something from my experience. I've been observing men for a lot of years <grin>, so I've heard and seen a lot. I haven't received much push-back from men who've critiqued my work, but I'm always open to constructive feedback.

DAB:  So are there particular men in your life for observation or are they just random men who cross your path?  Also, how much of "them" have you incorporated into the male characters in ZERO TIME?

TWF:  Hmmm. Not an easy question. None of the male characters are patterned on a particular person, but some of their actions are reminiscent of things that have happened. For instance, my husband is very romantic and brought me roses at the airport while we were dating (he lived in Florida and I was in New Orleans). Like Xpiyacoc, he would definitely remember promising me the starry sky and would bring me a blue rose in parting. Xpiyacoc and Xmucane are loosely based on Jamie and Claire from Diana Gabaldon's amazing OUTLANDER series, but my story quickly veers off the romantic path. That's also pretty typical of my real life. Thankfully, my relationships have vastly improved through the years.

DAB:  Who is your favorite character to write in ZERO TIME, and why?

TWF:  Usually I find Xmucane most appealing because she's a strong leader who listens to her heart. This sensitivity made it possible for her to respond appropriately when confronted with the unintended consequences of leaving her daughters and sisters. Sending her sixteen family members in small groups to places separated by 6,000 years was one of many sacrifices made to improve their expedition's chances of saving the people of Omeyocan from extinction. Xmucane's a take-charge kind of person, but it's never a matter of ego. Sadly, I guess such leaders only exist in fiction.

DAB:  What is a typical day of writing for you?

TWF:  Hmmm. I'd love to say that I'm incredibly disciplined and work on my novel every day at a certain time, no matter what. That isn't what happens. But unless I'm out of town, at the gym, at critique group or running errands, I am generally in my office. I usually have several small daily writing goals that fill the day--such as write for an hour or five hundred words (whichever comes first), edit a chapter or research a specific topic. Daily goals build toward my overall writing goals, which include finishing my next book this year, marketing the one that's published, finding an agent/publisher for my completed YA novel, and entering short story contests.

DAB:  I love it that you mention being at critique group, as I have found mine to be invaluable (we celebrate our ten year anniversary this year).  However, it seems very few writers anymore belong to an actual critique group, choosing either an online group or to go it alone.  How do you feel your group benefits your writing and overall experience as an author?

TWF:  One of the reasons I joined the St. Louis Writers Guild was to meet other writers. That's how I found two of the three critique buddies who reviewed the first two drafts of my novel. I met the other one at the local sci-fi/fantasy convention. Three of us have continued to meet every other week for more than five years. We've reviewed numerous books a couple of chapters at a time. I don't think I would be published without their help. There's simply no substitute for having someone you trust read your work and give constructive feedback. One of my critique buddies says you should always leave the session feeling inspired to write, and I know I always do.

DAB:  Tell us about the moment you received your first real fan correspondence.

TWF:  The closest thing I've had to fan correspondence so far was the first review I got on Library Thing from a reader who won my book in a giveaway. I'd received a couple of two-star reviews on Goodreads and was pretty discouraged. Then I saw the comments from his four-star review and knew this perfect stranger had "gotten it." I raced to tell my husband and sent off a few emails with the news. Although I try to measure success based on internal factors, sometimes the kindness of strangers makes the day a lot brighter.

DAB:  Okay, to outline or not to outline - that is the question.

TWF:  No question, no outline. At Clarion, one of my favorite authors, Tim Powers, talked about using colored index cards to plan his wonderful, complex stories. I'd love to do something like that--or at least be able to outline BEFORE I start writing a story instead of after I finish it. I keep trying from time to time, but it hasn't worked yet.

DAB:  I personally don't use an outline either.  In what ways does an outline just not work for you at present?

TWF:  Even when I have an outline, I find I don't use it. Occasionally I can pick up a plot thread or two, but that's about all. Still, it seems like such a good idea, doesn't it? What works best for me is stopping at the beginning of a new scene, with clear direction on how the action needs to continue. Then I have a starting place the next day. 

DAB:  How long did ZERO TIME take to put to bed?

TWF:  It depends on when you start counting. After I took early retirement and started writing full-time, it took a little over a year to complete the book. Of course, by then, I'd spent a decade doing research and had a pretty clear idea of who my characters were, etc.

DAB:  Care to tell us what is next on your writing horizon?

TWF:  I’m hunting an agent for my young adult contemporary fantasy, THE LABYRINTH OF TIME. Sixteen-year-old Jade Davis discovers she and the son of a Peruvian museum director are the only ones who can telepathically access messages encoded by an ancient race on engraved stones. Jade’s family vacation to Peru quickly turns into a quest to save humanity from fiery destruction. I’ve also started writing WHITE HERON, the sequel to ZERO TIME, which tells the master shaman’s story.

DAB:  Now's your chance - please give us a final plug for ZERO TIME.

TWF:  I'll just share a few words from two of my readers:

• “For those who like to stretch their imaginations—and who doesn’t?—this novel is a fascinating and compelling read."
• "Breathtaking scope, thrilling action!"

Thanks, D.A., for being a Party Host in my Virtual Book Tour Party! I hope your readers will visit the Party Page and "join the party." Here's how:

The ZERO TIME 2012 Virtual Book Tour Party is here!

To celebrate, T.W. Fendley is giving away a Maya-Aztec astrology report, a Mayan Winds CD, ZERO TIME tote bag and fun 13.0.0.0.0. buttons. Check out the prizes and other posts on the Party Page.

3 ways to enter  (multiple entries are great!)

1) Leave a comment here or on any of the other PARTY POSTS listed on the Party Page.

2) Tweet about the Virtual Party or any of the PARTY POSTS (with tag #ZEROTIME2012)

Example: Join the Virtual Party for historical #fantasy novel ZERO TIME by @twfendley for a chance to win prizes! #ZEROTIME2012 http://bit.ly/x91NgP

3) Facebook (tag @T.W. Fendley) about the Virtual Party. (NOTE: tag must have periods to work)

Example: Join the Virtual Party for historical fantasy novel ZERO TIME by @T.W. Fendley for a chance to win prizes! http://twfendley.com/?page_id=510

As Zero Time nears, only Keihla Benton can save two worlds from the powers of Darkness. But first she must unlock the secrets of Machu Picchu and her own past.

When Philadelphia science writer Keihla Benton joins an archeological team at Machu Picchu, she learns the Andean prophesies about 2012 have special meaning for her. Only she can end the cycle of Darkness that endangers Earth at the end of the Mayan calendar. As she uncovers secrets from the past, which threaten her life and those she loves, Keihla struggles to keep the powerful Great Crystal from the Lord of Darkness and his consort.

Xmucane leads an expedition to Earth to overcome a genetic flaw that threatens the people of Omeyocan with extinction, but she soon finds herself involved in a very personal battle that pits mother against daughter and sister against sister. With the help of the time-traveling Great Serpent Quetzalcoatl, she leaves the Southern Temples to arrive in present-day Machu Picchu as the expedition’s time-window closes.

Xmucane and Keihla work together as Earth and Omeyocan near alignment with the galaxy’s dark heart for the first time in 26,000 years. They must seize the last chance to restore the cycle of Light to Earth and return to the Pleiades with a cure, no matter what the cost to their hearts.

ZERO TIME is available at:

Ebook $4.99

• Amazon Kindle,
• AllRomance/OmniLit
• Fictionwise (multiformat)
• Nook

Paperback $16.95

• Amazon
• Barnes and Noble,
• Main Street Books (St. Charles, Mo.)
• Garden District Book Shop (New Orleans)
• Octavia Books (New Orleans)

BIO:

T.W. Fendley writes historical fantasy and science fiction with a Mesoamerican twist for adults and young adults. Her debut historical fantasy novel, ZERO TIME, was voted Best Science Fiction/Fantasy Novel in the 2011 P&E Readers Poll. Her short stories took second place in the 2011 Writers' Digest Horror Competition and won the 9th NASFiC 2007 contest. Teresa belongs to the St. Louis Writer's Guild, the Missouri Writers' Guild, SCBWI and Broad Universe. www.twfendley.com

Welcome Heidi Ruby Miller!

Today I have the pleasure of hosting Heidi Ruby Miller, author of the science fiction romance thriller AMBASADORA.  She's presently on her blog tour and here to discuss her newest novel, GREENSHIFT.  Heidi's also got a great giveaway offer so stay tuned to find out the details.

DAB:   Welcome, Heidi!  So tell us a bit about GREENSHIFT.

HRM:  GREENSHIFT is an upcoming novel set in the Ambasadora-verse one month before AMBASADORA begins.  It's a stand-alone novel that doesn't follow the arc in the main series.  Your typical virgin scientist/ex-military man/space hydroponics/human trafficking story.

David Anlow, a fleet captain forced into early retirement and jaded by an ex-lover, now spends his lonely days shuttling around a group of scientists for hire.

Boston Maribu, Mari to her friends, is one of his passengers, a young botanist who is as beautiful as she is naive and innocent.

When Mari asks David to teach her about more than just piloting the BARD, nights on their ship heat up and their feelings for each other mature into a relationship neither expects.  But a suspicious new client shows up with wicked plans for Mari, and the soldier inside David comes alive, ready to fight for the young woman who stole his heart.

DAB:  What prompted the novel's premise?

HRM:  I always wanted to tell David and Mari's love story, so I had this idea about a novella that could be a bit more sensual in nature and focus just on their storyline instead of the multiple plots and epic arc that run through AMBASADORA and will continue on in the second book, FRAGGER.  I found out from several readers that they also wanted to see more Mari and David, so I decided to make the novella a full-fledged novel.

DAB:  Which character in GREENSHIFT do you most identify with, if any, and why?

HRM:  I'm a little bit of both David and Mari, though I bring something of myself to every character I write - there's no way to avoid my personal schema when I write.  I'm like David in the respect that I'm always trying to be the responsible one, but am willing to break the rules for someone I care about.  I'm like Mari because I love sweets and use my brain more than my muscle.

DAB:  Were there any characters you found difficult to write?

HRM:  No, I knew what their roles had to be from the start, so I was prepared even when writing the abusive scenes.  Now, on the flipside of that, I was surprised how much I enjoyed writing from Mari's Point of View (POV).  She is nothing like Sara from AMBASADORA, but she fit in well with David's and Sean's POVs.

DAB:  How long did it take to craft this novel?

HRM:  Roughly four months.

DAB:  There's always debate over whether or not to outline when starting to write a novel.  What typically works best for you?

HRM:  I outline down to individual scenes.  It's the only way I can keep so many characters and plotlines in check.  When I begin a project, it's common for me to write an 80-page outline, which is basically a skeleton first draft.

DAB:  Do you ever write to music or do you prefer silence?

HRM:  Spotify is my new writing buddy.  I've always liked listening to music, especially as I associate certain songs with some of my characters and scenes.  And with Spotify I can put songs on repeat for as many times as I want, which helps me get into the writing zone immediately.  It's like a trigger for me to jump into my story - I can't help but to think about it when I hear particular songs.

DAB:  What other writing pointers do you have for our audience?

HRM:  This goes back to the outlining.  I believe outlining is why I never get writer's block.  As soon as I come up against a challenge in my plot, I start listing questions for myself to answer.  The answers shape (outline) the scene so I can keep moving forward.

DAB:  What's next on your writing horizon?

HRM:  I'm revising a short story for a Philip Jose Farmer anthology and working on two more books in the Ambasadora-verse.  STARRIE is another stand-alone, well sort of.  It picks up where GREENSHIFT leaves off and we follow David's brother Ben and his love interest Naela.  FRAGGER is the second book in the main arc - it's another epic, multiple POVs, intertwining plots type of read.  More of a thriller style like AMBASADORA has.  And, speaking of thrillers, I'm revising a thriller titled ATOMIC ZION, which I wrote just out of graduate school.  It still has Science Fiction Romance (SFR) elements, but takes place in modern times here on Earth.  I will probably always include SFR in my writing.

DAB:  Thanks so much for stopping by.  Please give us the final plug for GREENSHIFT.

HRM:  Here's one of the more light-hearted excerpts from GREENSHIFT.  It's how David thinks of Mari:

When David started on this path of regret at having given up his fleet commission, he just remembered the placid, stony look on Lyra's face when she put a gun to his head and challenged his control of the Argo Protector.  It had been the single most heart-breaking moment of his life.

"Don't you think so?" Mari asked.

David hadn't been paying attention.  Taking a fifty/fifty chance, he said, "Yes."

Apparently it was his lucky night because she seemed pleased with his response. 

Once again she brought him back to the present and grounded him.  She would never know how grateful he was for those times when just the cadence of her voice coaxed him out of that dark place in his head.  Just like her beautiful, shining eyes, Mari had become his light.

"Do you remember how you started ordering everyone around your first day on the Bard?" she asked.

"And how they all just snickered and walked away?  Yeah, I do."  David could laugh about it now, but at the time he'd been pissed.

"Except for me," Mari said. 

"Except for you," David agreed.  "You were always there to help, even when I didn't need it."  He smiled to let her know he was joking.

"If you're talking about that time I accidentally sent all your clothes to the cleaners and you had to borrow Geir's stuff for two days...."

"That's exactly what I was thinking about."

"At least you didn't have to wear any of Sean's clothes.  Besides, you looked good in those tight t-shirts," she said.

The blush that crept into her cheeks made David want to touch her, to see if her skin felt as flushed as it looked.

She got a little shy then and worried her bottom lip between her teeth.

I can do that for you.  He was mesmerized by that plump, wet lip.

She stared at him like she knew his thoughts.  The blush grew a little deeper.  This time she lowered her eyes and moved the food around on her plate with her fork, but she couldn't hide her smile.

She did this often, being bold and forward as though coming on to him, then pulling back demurely at the last second.  It drove him crazy...in an absolutely wonderful way.

FIND HEIDI'S BOOKS ONLINE:
Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Heidi-Ruby-Miller/e/B002BM1M48
Smashwords - http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/heidirubymiller

FIND HEIDI ONLINE:
Blog - http://heidirubymiller.blogspot.com/
Twitter - http://twitter.com/heidirubymiller
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/heidirubymillerauthor
Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/81266.Heidi_Ruby_Miller

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
To be in the drawing to win your choice of an e-bundle of AMBASADORA/GREENSHIFT or just GREENSHIFT, please leave a comment letting us know what you're reading now or have read recently and if you'd like the single book or the bundle, along with your email address disguised something like this - heidirubymiller AT gmail.  The contest ends on Thursday, March 1, 2012.  Winner will be notified on Friday, March 2, 2012.

There you have it, folks!  Thanks again to Heidi Ruby Miller for stopping by on her whirlwind blog tour to discuss what sounds like a fascinating novel.  I can hardly wait to read ATOMIC ZION after revision.  Please feel free to visit us again on your next published novel.  You'll always have a home here.  Happy reading.

Rating Success

This week I finally accomplished something I'd anticipated for a huge majority of my life.

I can now call myself a published author.

Though my manuscript is currently under review for proper formatting, cover art, etc., I successfully downloaded the entire thing into the ebook universe.  Even though they will allow purchase of the unreviewed product, I wish to ensure it passes muster before I make it available to you, my dear readers.

It's a pride thing, you know.

Funny thing is, the book wasn't up more than two days and I actually had a purchase.  Yay!  I call that a success.

As soon as it receives the rubber stamp seal of approval, I will link to the sites where it can be purchased and downloaded in all formats, Kindle, Nook, I-pad, Sony, etc.  Until then, enjoy the view of the cover art of Running into the Darkness.

Then I'll give you updates as I have them.  Rating success comes in many forms.  The fact that I completed all of the steps thus far, downloaded my manuscript, and have a purchase under my belt already goes way far in my book.

And all before Christmas!

Yep, I call all of those successes indeed.

Indie Publishing - RITD Excerpt

So here I sit on the verge of indie publishing.  I thought I might take my fellow readers along for the journey.  To get the proverbial ball rolling, here's a small excerpt of my coming thriller - Running into the Darkness.  Look for it in September on an eBook template near you.  You can also find me at http://www.readersmatrix.com/

Chapter 1 - A Bloody Mess

            The storage room door burst open and toppled boxes of gauze across the glaring white floor.  Samantha Bartlett awoke as the torrent pelted her, then stared through glazed eyes as the new wild-eyed resident doctor came into focus.

            “Incoming multiple wounded!”

            The brain fog dissipated as Samantha peeled herself off the linoleum and shot down the hallway to ER.  If only to have more than a catnap – cats themselves wouldn’t survive on the naps she took.  The instructors had spoken about it in medical school but living it was something else entirely.  The life of New York residency – always looking for sleep in all the wrong places.

            “What’s happened?” Samantha asked.

            “Several stabbings – one shot, and another who isn’t expected to survive the ambulance ride.”

            Controlled chaos greeted them as they rushed around the corner into the unit, the scent of sterility invaded by blood and sweat.  Wounded were shuffled through triage, vitals checked even as gurneys were wheeled through the trauma center.  Blood trailed across the unit as staff swarmed each body and connected patients to oxygen and cardiac monitors.  Questions and commands overcame the screams and reverberated throughout the room.

            “I need a suture tray over here.”

            “What’re his vitals?”

            “Blood pressure is dropping.”

            “Strap down his arms.”

            “We need to intubate now!”

            Second year residency starting now.  Samantha snapped on gloves and jumped into the fray with her team as they cut off the bloody shirt.  “What do we have here?”

            The attending nurse rattled off statistics.  “Male, approximately 50-years old.  Multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and neck.”

            “Do we know what happened?”

            “Altercation at a hotel known for prostitution.  Girls over there say he’s a john gone wrong.  Got the pimp and hotel owner after apparently filleting one of the other girls.  A couple tried to stop him.”

            “Blood type?”

            “A-positive.”

            The cardiac monitor pulsed a steady rhythm.  “Blood pressure is weak but stable.”  She probed the wound in the neck.  Bullet didn’t appear to have hit a vital artery.  “Get a line in him and shoot me a picture so we can prep him for surgery.”

            “Yes, Dr. Bartlett.”

            Police officers herded the other hookers into a holding area as Samantha turned her attention to her patients.  Prostitution – sad business.  What desperation would drive someone to even consider such a life, much less participate in it?

            An occupied gurney sat unattended along the wall, a stained sheet haphazardly tossed over the body of a female.  A dark red stain seeped through the sheet, and almost imperceptibly the sheet moved up then down.  Samantha’s heart raced with stark realization. 

            The girl was still alive.

            She dashed to the gurney and called out for a nurse.  As she pulled back the sheet, she swallowed the rush of horror that rose in her throat.  The victim – the prostitute.  Parts of the chest, face, and arms had been sliced all the way into muscle as if someone had tried to conduct vivisection on a living human being.  Blood oozed like lava from the layers of tissue.  The paramedics hadn’t even untied the poor girl’s hands.  Samantha sliced through the rope with a scalpel.

            “Find a vein, we need a vein.”

            Together they searched the bloody mass for an adequate vein, the arms eaten up by heroin tracks.  The nurse finally located one in the leg, inserted the IV and got the blood line connected while Samantha loaded up and injected albumin.  A weak and unstable pulse registered as the nurse hooked up the cardiac monitor.  No time to prep for surgery.  The girl would never survive the elevator ride, however if they could just stabilize perhaps she’d have a chance.

            “Five cc’s of epinephrine,” the nurse stated as he handed over the syringe.

            Had to work fast.  No time to be neat.  Those deep cuts needed attending to before the adrenaline took full effect.  She had to suture multiple layers instead of one at a time.  “Increase IV drip and keep a close watch on that bag.  Do you have a standby?”

            “Yes, Dr. Bartlett.”

            Though the task seemed impossible, she started piecemeal at the neck on a long and deep puncture, sutures broad and wide as she began the arduous process of stitching the poor girl back together, searching for perforated vessels or organs.  The slices of skin and tissue were precise, as if the john had a knowledge of anatomy.  The detectives would want to know later.  As the flow of fluids into the body increased, the ooze of blood turned into a stream.  The pace of the monitor intensified.  They needed at least to match the inflow with the outflow to have even a millimeter of chance at saving her.  Samantha focused on maintaining a steady hand.

             “Dr. Bartlett, I need your assistance please.”  Dr. Gibbon, the attending physician, tried to draw away her attentions. 

            Not tonight, please not tonight. 

            “I’m with a critical patient, sir.”  She continued suturing and spoke to the nurse.  “Have a crash cart standing by.”  The unsteady beep of the monitor screamed the precarious situation of her patient. 

            “Dr. Bartlett, you will assist me now.”

            Ignore him, ignore him. 

            Samantha gritted her teeth and persisted in attempt to save her patient.  Sweat dribbled into her eyes, while anger knotted her stomach as she fought to hold back an avalanche of expletives. 

            The monitor flat lined.  “Defibrillator!”

            The nurse handed over the paddles.

            “Clear!”

            The body convulsed as blood spattered from the wounds.  No pulse.  She warmed up the paddles and shocked the girl a second time.  Nothing.

            The nurse had another syringe ready before she even asked.  “Five cc’s of epinephrine, doctor.”

            Samantha snatched the syringe and injected the contents into her patient, blood pulsating in her ears.  She willed the girl’s heart to start again, but the steady high-pitched whine of the monitor only mocked her efforts.

*          *          *

            The dingy wall housing Dr. Gibbon’s plaques, framed degrees, and awards ridiculed her with their accumulated honors and years of service to the medical community, but the years and accolades had only hardened his soul to the human condition.  Would he even listen to reason this time?

            Dr. Gibbon’s dark eyes seethed as he looked up from his ancient, cluttered desk.  “There is no question that your skills surpass any second year resident I’ve worked with, but there is no room in this respectable institution for those who do not follow orders from their superiors.”

            Respectable?  In whose eyes? 

            “Sir, I was with another critical patient when you called.  What was I supposed to do – leave her to die alone?”

            “She was dead-on-arrival.”

            “But I had a pulse on her.  Didn’t you hear the monitor?”

            “No, you were just trying to make another one of your damned points.  There was no way she’d survive.”

            “Making a point?  She was very much alive when I found her shoved off to the side.”

            The vein in Gibbon’s temple throbbed as his face flushed red.  The room reverberated as he pounded his fists on the desk and towered over her. 

            “She was just another prostitute.”

            “And I suppose you are the morality police?  I, sir, take the Hippocratic Oath seriously with all of my patients, not just the ones who advance my career and enhance my reputation.”

            Dr. Gibbon’s face contorted as he pointed to the door.  “Get out of my hospital!”

Chapter 2 – Hello and Goodbye

            The crowd opened before her as the girl exited the hospital.  She appeared alone in a sea of people.  As if preparing to cross the street, she glanced in both directions, stared at her hands before stuffing them into her jacket pockets, and glared at the sidewalk.

            The night lit up as if it were day through the special sunglass lenses.  He stared at her.

            Look up.  Look up.  What’s she waiting for? 

            He brought her image closer into focus then zoomed in on her face.  He would be ready for that split second opportunity.

            As if on command she jerked up her head and jutted out her chin defiantly before stepping into the crosswalk.

            Just like her mother.

            The familiar scar trailed across her jawline in plain view.  With a press to the nose piece, he captured her image and transmitted the signal.  Then he double-tapped his ear and spoke as he blended back into the frosty night air.

            “It’s her.”

*          *          *

            The echo of the pounding gavel indicated another sale by Carlisle’s, the premier auction house of New York.  Late evening auctions for such a prestigious firm were rare, but exceptions transpired on occasion to accommodate the schedules of wealthy repeat patrons.  Even so, business made Ben late for this important event, not to mention the Saturday evening traffic worming their way to the latest Broadway offerings.

            Personal excursions were a thing of the past, opportunity to schlep in close proximity to both the rich and scum of New York humanity sporadic at best since accepting his position.  Tonight he’d satisfy two urges in one overnight hustle.  He only hoped the first hadn’t made him too late for this one.

            After he registered and entered the spacious auction room, momentary eye contact and an almost imperceptible nod told him he’d arrived just in time.  Since he had no intention of staying for the remainder of the sale, Ben took residence against the back wall near the doorway to await his purchase.

            The painting was nothing really, just a tiny blip on the radar by comparison to the work currently on display and bidding upward of two million.  But he had to obtain the historical piece to hang in his office, if only for the irony.  The boss would find the congruency quite humorous.

            The gavel slammed down again, closing the current sale at a crisp $2.4 million dollars.  The voluptuous redhead, his eyes and ears at Carlisle’s, set a new canvas in the easel.  With practiced flourish, she removed the cloth like a matador at a bullfight, exposing the image of the ship languishing among jagged icebergs.  The attendees released their collective breath of disappointment, most burying their heads in their catalogs while others glanced away and yawned or checked messages on their cell phones.

            He’d get it for a song.

            A mere seven minutes later and fifty-three thousand dollars lighter, he waited in the back of the limousine, irked that he’d gotten into a slight bidding war with a phone handler whose client was probably some idiotic history buff.  Frustration melted away when the package passed through the doorway into his hands, the redheaded handler with it.  Fifty-three thousand dollars was forgotten as she slid onto his waiting lap, her tongue snaking its way deep into his mouth.

            A small price to pay to mix pleasure with business.