Our Interview with Stephen Grossman!

                                                       

                                                        Bio

Stephen Grossman was born in New Jersey but has lived in Vilnius, Lithuania for the past 20 years. He has a slight Jersey accent when he speaks and believes he often speaks Cantonese when he sleeps. Mr. Grossman writes novels for "big people" who wish they were still small and stories for "little people" who wish they were big. He rescues companies globally and dogs & cats locally. Before becoming a turnaround specialist and international negotiator, Mr. Grossman's employment mural covers hosting & producing his own FM Rock-n-Talk radio show, a fleeting moment as a stand-up comedian, a foreign correspondent, a university lecturer, 2 days as a limo driver, an ice cream vendor, and a tour guide at Universal Studios.

Though he thoroughly enjoys smoky jazz, travel, cooking (and eating), film, stand-up comedy, and single malt whiskey, Mr. Grossman's greatest joy is growing up a second time with his children.

                                                       Bio provided by author's site

It was our great pleasure to get the opportunity to get a chance to know more about Stephen and learn how he became an author. Stephen has been writing for "Big" and "Little" people alike. So grab a warm mug of your favorite beverage and please give a warm welcome to Stephen!

1. What makes for a good hook in your stories? Where does your inspiration come from?I've never read a good answer to the question where does one's inspiration come from, probably because it comes from everywhere and everything around us and inside us. The question is perhaps better answered by saying: It's not where inspiration comes from but what one does with one's inspiration.

2. Are you an organized writer? Do you do things like take notes and make lists of characters? Or do you free write and work it out as you go?Yes and no. What appears to be writing from the hip, jazz riffing, free flow composition actually comes from a fairly well pre-formed structure and destination in my mind. However, I leave a lot to improvisation and free thought, sanding down and re-shaping as I go along.

3. What is your normal writing day like? Do you write when you are inspired or do you have a schedule?I am always writing, mostly in my head, and not always consciously. When I have a specific project I have started and am determined to complete it, I write daily from morning until evening, with short breaks in between, occasionally going back to it late at night.

4. Who is your favorite author and how did they inspire you to write?There are many authors I enjoy and admire. I don't like selecting just one, but if I had to, I would have to give that honor to Dr. Suess. He inspired me the most as a child and still invigorates me now as an adult. It was his vivid and free imagination, the complexity of his seemingly simple stories, but most of all the musicality and composition of his verse and prose. It was Suess who made me realize words could make music, paint pictures, create emotion, stimulate thought . . . It was Suess who made me first appreciate how a great writer turns our world inside out and upside down and right side in. But if to be granted a Pantheon of favorite authors, I would add Philip Roth, Henry Miller, Virginia Woolf, William Faulkner, James Joyce, Dylan Thomas, William Shakespeare, Mikhail Bulgakov, and Jack Kerouac.

5. It’s easy to see that you have a passion for writing but is there any part of it you don’t like?No. But to be fair, editing is part of writing (I say with clenched teeth). I'm not a good editor. But I appreciate great editors. As a journalist, I had the privilege to work with a few of the best. They make you a better writer and make your work a better read.

6. Do you make time to read and if you do what are you reading right now?When I find something I enjoy then it's never a question of finding time to read it. Just like it is NEVER a question to find time to write. I'm always in between several books at once.

7. How did you get started in writing in the romantic comedy genre? Is there personal life experience in the writing?Honestly, I don't write in any genre. That has frustrated the few agents I've had over the years and potential publishers. These days, marketers want to box everything into neat little packages with tight labels to spell out clearly "this belongs here and that belongs there". My work has never fit nicely here or there. I don't really remember what got me started. I think it was discovering my father's typewriter in his office. The sound and feel of the keys tapping against a crisp new page of paper was a real rush for me . . . and the words and feelings and thoughts, even then, at a very early age (I must have been about 12 or so) just flowed out. It felt right to write and I kept wanting more and more often to return to the "keyboard" and play and sing (off key most of the time, I must admit).

8. Your books have been published with Amazon.com, Does this mean you see the publishing industry headed this way?I have always been a staunch believer in traditional publishing. As I said before, I believe in the editorial process, the vetting process and cross checks and challenges that come from talented editors. Therefore, I wanted to reject the ebook phenomenon. But the power of Amazon and other new channels for writers and journalist (professional and amateur) is so great that it is forcing even the most steadfast tradionalist to accept and embrace e-publishing and even self-publishing. It certainly has given me and so many others a chance to build a readership when we might be otherwise denied one. However, to abandon the discipline and craftsmanship that editing brings and the filtering out of utter crap that the vetting process traditional publishing long ago brought to the industry is a gigantic mistake. We are overloaded with noise these days and accept all-too-easily garbage as food-for-thought and half-baked truths as sustenance.

9. Do you have any online sites where others can read more of your writings?
No. This is all very new for me. Baby steps. Amazon with one of my earlier novels (Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Body-Search-ebook/dp/B0077SW89Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330029982&sr=1-1) and a Facebook page dedicated to Body Search and related material: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephen-Grossman/363983810285903

10. Do you have any more stories in the works? What kinds of stories do you plan to write next?I have completed a few other adult fiction novels and children's books and am currently working on a new novel.

11. Who would be your first choice to play Sidney Pelchik from your book "Body Search"?I don't write characters with actors or famous people in mind. I had Sidney Pelchik in mind when I wrote him. I would like readers to go in to the book with an open mind and to build a living imagine of the character in their mind as they read. But your question makes me want to ask: Who did you see in your mind when you read the book?

12. If you could meet anyone from any time who would it be and what would be your first question?A Neanderthal. My first question would be a two-part question: One, are you certain your generation is the smartest and most advanced, that it is going to right the wrongs of your parents, etc.? That first one is to test my belief that every generation, regardless of history proving otherwise, has been dead sure it was the smartest and was going to fix the ills of the past and had superior technology and was entitled to take anything it wanted and to consume as much as it wished and be wasteful because it was at the top of the food chain and would live forever. My second question would be (and this is the one I am most interested in): When you're in a crowded cave or at a gathering of other Neanderthals, do you ever stop and think how bad the others smell? I'm curious if they all smelled off because of sweat and eating raw or barely barbequed food, and from not having soap and deodorant or toothpaste. Or were each of them convinced that he or she smelled right but the others smelled off? Could they distinguish between a perceived good smell and a genuine bad smell?

Our Interview with Scott Ashley!

                                    

                                                  Bio

Scott Ashley was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1963. Enamored with Bruce Lee as a child, Scott started karate training on his 16th birthday. A product of a broken and scattered family; and raised by an abusive father, Scott made martial arts the singular focus of his life. Thriving on competition, Scott entered the boxing/kickboxing realm, trained in New York's world-famous Gleason's and Gramercy Gyms; and was coached by Fred Corritone, Al Gavin, Al Shevlin & boxing icon Angelo Dundee. During his prize-fighting career, Scott competed in twenty-four kickboxing and seventeen boxing bouts. After capturing the Super Welterweight World Kickboxing Title, Scott wrote; "Kickboxing a Champions Guide to Training," (Llumina Press 2009). "Road to the Title: Memoir of a Champion" (Amazon/Kindle), documents Scott's perseverance to rise above adversity in an accomplishing his childhood dream. Scott has five children; lives with his wife of 20 years, works in Law Enforcement, and operates a karate program for children in Coral Springs, Florida.

                                                    Bio provided by author

It was our pleasure to get a chance to know more about Scott and see how he came to be an author through the struggles in his life. Scott is the kind of person who's determination and outlook on life are a positive role model for others who have had a few knocks in their life. So get comfortable and please give a warm welcome to Scott!

What makes for a good hook in your stories? Where does your inspiration come from?

  Since the two books that I authored; Kickboxing a Champions Guide to Training (Llumina Press 2009) and Road to the Title: Memoir of a Champion (Amazon Kindle/CreateSpace 2012), are both nonfiction and are based on my personal knowledge and experience, their hook lies in my credibility within the martial arts community. I am a sixth-degree black belt and I held the United States Super Welterweight Kickboxing Title from 1993 until 1994, and the Super Welterweight World Kickboxing Title from 1994 until 1997, when I retired to pursue a career in law enforcement. I have been teaching karate for over 30 years and defensive tactics to police recruits for the past 12 years. I am considered a use-of-force subject matter expert by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Kickboxing a Champions Guide to Training; is a comprehensive training manual that includes the personal training routines that led me to a championship. Competitive fighters aspiring to improve their performance would naturally gravitate towards the training advice of someone who has reached the pinnacle of the sport.

Road to the Title: Memoir of a Champion; details how my rise to the top was fueled by an insatiable desire for recognition, which stemmed from my being the survivor of abuse, neglect, and abandonment as a child. The entertainment industry is enamored with this type of compelling story as the films; The Blind Side and The Fighter each grossed hundreds of millions of dollars.

Although my story is uniquely mine, there are a countless number of individuals facing similar circumstances that would find inspiration within the pages of my memoir. The adversities that I overcame in achieving my goals, and accomplishing my dreams, give hope to those faced with similar circumstances; thus, my inspiration comes from my desire to inspire others to pursue their dreams with an unwavering commitment.

Are you an organized writer? Do you do things like take notes and make lists of characters? Or do you free write and work it out as you go?

I would consider myself fairly organized when it comes to my writing. I do not take notes or make character lists; however, I spend a considerable amount of time contemplating the details that I wish to express. Once I start hitting the keyboard, I can easily stroke out several thousand words in one sitting. The real organization of my stories begins with the editing process; when I ensure that the timeline is correct, and the details that I wish to communicate are properly documented.

Who is your favorite author and how did they inspire you to write?

  I honestly wouldn’t commit to naming any one author as my favorite. As a young martial artist, infatuated with the Eastern culture, I read and enjoyed James Clavell’s Asian Saga series of novels. Bruce Lee’s, Tao of Jeet Kune Do, provided theories that were instrumental in developing my fighting strategy. And I still find pleasure in reading the short stories of Edgar Allen Poe.

My inspiration for writing does not come from another author, but from my sincere desire to express myself. As a martial artist, my channel for self expression is the practice of the formal techniques that are combined in a dance like pattern, which are called kata, or forms. As a competitive fighter, I used the ring as the means to express my art for the enjoyment of spectators. Art is ever evolving; therefore, its mastery is impossible. I will study the craft of writing, approaching it as the art that it is, and will continue to evolve as a writer. I desire to connect with readers on a personal level, and I hope to satisfy a willing audience with my writings.

It’s easy to see that you have a passion for writing but is there any part of it you don’t like?

  As I write, watching my thoughts blossom into phrases that form stories is quite satisfying. I would have to conclude that editing is the most unpleasant part of the overall process. It’s not only a painstaking task, but cutting away sentences that I have formed; that gave life where there was none, and then removing them with the touch of a delete button, gives me a real sense of loss. Yes, in the end, I will have a better product to offer to the reader, but watching parts of my creativity disappear is not particularly satisfying. For example, Road to the Title: Memoir of a Champion, was 120,000 words, after editing, it is now 92,000.

Do you make time to read and if you do what are you reading right now?

  Whenever I take on a new interest, I dive in wholeheartedly, and without a doubt, I find the best way to educate myself on a new topic is to gather as much reading material about the subject as possible, and dive right in. I am currently reading, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, by Stephen King.

How did you come to write your personal story of how you became a kickboxing champion?

  My story is not just about a martial artist or prize fighter looking to gain fame or notoriety; it’s about the maturing of an insecure child struggling to establish self-worth. Reflecting on the events of my life, and considering the situation from where I came to the accomplishments that I have achieved, I thought that documenting the extreme adversity that I overcame in making my dreams come true would give hope to those faced with similar circumstances. Throughout the course of my life, and through martial arts, I have been able to mentor several young people who credit me with many of their life’s successes. As a writer, I'm hoping to reach a far larger audience where I can have a positive impact on the greatest number of people as possible.

Your books have been published with Amazon.com, Does this mean you see the publishing industry headed this way?

I published Kickboxing a Champions Guide to Training through Llumina Press in 2009, and I invested approximately $1,500 in getting my book to the public. In an attempt to have Road to the Title: Memoir of a Champion published by a traditional publishing house, I sent a query letter to approximately 50 agents. As many writers will attest, it’s not exactly easy to influence an agent to represent the work of a relatively unknown author. Amazon is the perfect outlet for authors with a polished product ready to publish, and who are confident in their ability to market their work successfully. I can’t see any reason why I would even attempt to secure an agent for my future writing endeavors.

Do you have any online sites where others can read more of your writings?

  Since I am fairly new to the business of marketing, I do not have an established list of writing material on the net that is ready to read. My Facebook page is listed as Scott Ashley, my Twitter is @ScottAshley63, and I recently started a blog; thefightingwriter.blogspot.com. I am currently researching the channels that I need to be active with in order to reach the public, and am hoping to attract readers through the World Wide Web.

Do you have any more stories in the works? What kinds of stories do you plan to write next?

  Since I have been working as a law enforcement officer for the past fifteen years, I am currently writing; We the People, and I have completed 14,000 words. I’m looking to give the reader a realistic perspective of common police practices from the officer’s point of view. Some of the issues that I wish to detail have to do with unethical police conduct, and I’m not certain how I will be able to publish this while still employed as an officer. When the manuscript is complete, I will consider my options.

Who would be your first choice to play you in your book "ROAD TO THE TITLE: Memoir of a Champion"?

  Since Road to the Title: Memoir of a Champion spans three decades, it would require different actors to portray my character. Robert Patterson would be a proper fit for my adult years. Any young actor representing my character from 10 years old through my early teenage years would have to have diversified life experience to draw from. Expressing the sorrow of an abused child, as well as the excitement of a young man discovering the wonders of the world requires a broad range of emotions. One thing I know for sure, I would be the best person to portray my abusive father as I truly know how cruel he was.

If you could meet anyone from any time who would it be and what would be your first question?

  I would love to come face-to-face with my Lord Jesus, and I would ask him why the first man, Adam, who was formed in the image and likeness of God, was so weak in the flesh that he succumbed to the temptation of the evil one.

Our Interview with Joseph Rubas!

                                      

                                                       Bio

Joseph Rubas is the author of more than 150 short stories and a novel. He currently lives in Virginia with his family. To find out more about him, “like” him on Facebook at Joseph Rubas: Horror Writer http://www.facebook.com/pages/Joseph-Rubas-Horror-Writer/201437026565659?ref=ts

                                      Bio provided by author

It was our pleasure to get to know more about Joseph and how he came to write in the horror fiction genre.  Joseph has a love of writing that shows in his many stories. So get comfortable and please give a warm welcome to Joseph!

1. What makes for a good hook in your stories? Where does your inspiration come from?
My inspiration comes from everywhere. On good days, I can’t walk down the street without twenty good story ideas smacking me in the head.

2. Are you an organized writer? Do you do things like take notes and make lists of characters? Or do you free write and work it out as you go?

I’m very disorganized when it comes to writing. My desk looks like New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina: papers, pens, books, manuscripts, cigarette ash, empty soda cans. I do jot down notes, mainly ideas for future stories, but I always end up losing them.

3. What is your normal writing day like? Do you write when you are inspired or do you have a schedule?

I try to write something each day. If I can’t write, I edit something. I always have to be working, in other words.

4. Who is your favorite author and how did they inspire you to write?

Nowadays, my favorite author would have to be Dean Koontz. He inspires me by making me jealous of his talent.

5. It’s easy to see that you have a passion for writing but is there any part of it you don’t like?

I don’t like formatting my stories for submission. Double-spaced this, page number that, name/title on each page….I dread doing that. It just takes so long.

6. Do you make time to read and if you do what are you reading right now?

I steal the occasional quiet moment here and there. Right now, I’m reading an old, obscure collection of supernatural stories, my favorite kind.

7. How did you get started in writing in the supernatural horror genre? Is there personal life experience in the writing?

I’ve always been surrounded by terror and the supernatural. I grew up watching 80s slasher flicks, and at the same time living with a father who liked to scare the shit out of me whenever he got the chance. I’ve always loved horror, no matter what packaging it comes in.

8. Your books have been published with Amazon.com, Does this mean you see the publishing industry headed this way?

Not all of it, no. There will probably always be the big, physical publishing houses, but online publishing certainly allows a larger number of writers to market and sell their work than there would be otherwise.

9. Do you have any online sites where others can read more of your writings?

Just my Facebook page at the moment. Joseph Rubas: Horror Writer.

10. Do you have any more stories in the works? What kinds of stories do you plan to write next?

I haven’t written many new stories this year, actually. I’ve been busy with promoting my collection, editing anthologies, and polishing off my novel “Dracula: 1912.” When I do begin to compose new material, I think I want to write something long, involved, and apocalyptic.

11. Who would be your first choice to play Adolf Hitler from your story "The End" from your book of "Pocket Full of Fear"?

Wow. I didn’t expect this. Let me think for a minute. Probably David Bamber from Valkyrie. He makes an impressive Hitler.

12. If you could meet anyone from any time who would it be and what would be your first question?

The Captain of the Titanic, Edward John Smith. No one really knows what happened to him that night; some say he sank with the ship, others that he shot himself, others still that he froze in the water long after the ship sank. If I could meet him, I’d ask, “So…what did happen to you?”

                             

Our Interview with Sarah Fredricks!

                                    

                                                             Bio
Sarah Fredricks lives in Central Scotland with her family.
As a child, Sarah loved writing stories and still remembers the two stories she wrote under exam conditions for her 'O' level english! On leaving school, her career took over and for a long time her creative outlet was through singing and performing in amateur operatic productions. She left a successful corporate career after 20 years and became a self-employed management development trainer. This second career is filled with peaks and troughs and during a particularly long trough she started writing her first novel. The peaks took over again and the novel was only finished in February 2012.

Sarah still delivers some training however, now the first novel is available she's going to go straight into writing her next one.

Sarah has been reading romance novels since the age of 15 and would happily never read anything else, but she belongs to a local book club which encourages her to broaden her reading! And Sarah would be the first to admit, she's read some great novels without the romance genre!

When she's not busy writing, training or creating digital art, Sarah plays an active role in her community, enjoys time with her family and still sings (but not as much as she would like to).

                                                        Bio provided by author's site


It was our pleasure to get a chance to know Sarah and find out a bit more about how she became an author! Sarah's first love is, may always be, romance novels. Sarah has been learning of other genre's and finding them to be great reads as well! So get comfortable and please give a warm welcome to Sarah!

1. What makes for a good hook in your stories? Where does your inspiration come from?

Some kind of shock or surprise. For example on the first page of my first novel, the male character is shocked into negatively reacting to a situation because it vividly brought back a nightmare experience from his childhood.

I get my inspiration from around about me and from key events I hear about/see on TV. For example, I have a story based on swimming and the Olympics waiting in the wings to be written. My current writing is the first of a series of 4 dealing with 2 sets of twins in the same family (I have a fascination for twins). I swim 1500 metres once a week and I use that time to think about story lines (I need something to get me through the boredom of swimming up and down!)

2. Are you an organized writer? Do you do things like take notes and make lists of characters? Or do you free write and work it out as you go?

I use yWriter software to write my novels. The software enables you to capture all the character details as well as locations and items. It helps me to organise my stories into chapters and scenes so I can easily track what I’ve written and where I’ve got to. I write notes for each scene when relevant, attach characters, locations, items to each scene and create a timeline so I can keep track of time. I have to think about the story and ‘live’ with it in my head for a while before I start writing it. This helps me firm up the key events in the story and also understand my characters. Once I start writing I find it flows better but it can also end up taking me down paths I hadn’t initially thought of! So I guess the answer is that I am reasonably organised as a writer but still let my fingers fly on the keyboard wherever they wish to go!

3. What is your normal writing day like? Do you write when you are inspired or do you have a schedule?

It generally takes me a few hours to wind myself up to concentrating on writing so I use that time to clear my emails, catch up on the news and do some online marketing/social media for my published book. From early afternoon I then knuckle down to writing and very often will continue into the evening if I still have words in my head that need to get out. I aim to write an average of 2000 words a day.

4. Who is your favorite author and how did they inspire you to write?

I used to love writing stories as a child and I’m not conscious of any author inspiring me to write. I did read a lot of Enid Blyton so maybe on a subconscious level her stories inspired me. As an adult, I don’t really have a favourite author. I’m a romance junkie and over the years have read a LOT of Mills & Boon/Harlequin. I’ve read a lot of well constructed stories and a lot of rubbish as a result! The stories that really pull me in are those with well developed characters and a strong story line where the relationship is well developed.

5. It’s easy to see that you have a passion for writing but is there any part of it you don’t like?

I find it hard when I’ve got to the final proofread. I have to work really hard to stay focussed and get the whole book read and amended. I’m not a natural completer finisher, it’s sheer grit and determination that gets me through that part.

6. Do you make time to read and if you do what are you reading right now?

I read pretty much every day. I still read the Harlequin romances that I get from my local library every week. I’m also in a book club where I live and we read a book a month. Currently we’re reading The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay. I’ve previously seen the film of this book and really enjoyed it and I’m finding the book equally enjoyable.

7. How did you get started in wriing in the romance genre? Is there personal life experience in the writing?

It’s just a genre that I’ve read since I was about 15 years old. Maybe it’s the chance to escape to a better world that first drew me to the genre – what girl doesn’t dream of a ‘happy ever after’!

I think it’s inevitable that personal life experience comes into my writing, although, so far there hasn’t been anything major. One of my popular mental pastimes is imaging being a victim of a horrible/upsetting experience and I think this informs my stories!

8. Your books have been published with Amazon.com, Does this mean you see the publishing industry headed this way?

I’m really grateful for the opportunity that Amazon has afforded me to make my novel available on a major platform. At the moment this is a huge player in the marketplace with a brilliant model. Whilst I would hate to see publishing houses go to the wall, I can’t see the model Amazon has going away. It’s important though that the market has a healthy dose of competition and perhaps some kind of self-regulation over the quality of novels published.

9. Do you have any online sites where others can read more of your writings?

I’m on Goodreads and also have my own blog site at http://www.sarahfredricks.com. This site is new and I’m a new author, so there isn’t any more of my writings on there other than my first novel. Hopefully in a few years it will be an excellent place for people to catch up with my writing.

10. Do you have any more stories in the works? What kinds of stories do you plan to write next?

As I alluded to earlier, I have just started book 1 of a four part series. It covers the lives of four siblings: two sets of identical twins. This is going to be a huge challenge, to keep track of each of the characters across the four books. Whilst each one deals with a specific sibling, there will be mention of the other three. Again, these will be romances. I also have a storyline for the swimming world and a boss/admin one. As my confidence and experience grows I think I will get bolder and grittier with my storylines but I think at the heart, they will always be a happy ever after romance.

11. Who would be your first choice to play Carrie from your book "The Millionaire Falls Hard"?

It’s so funny you’ve asked this question! I was thinking about it last week! She’d be too old now (sorry!), but I think I’d be on the hunt for a younger Jane Seymour.

12. If you could meet anyone from any time who would it be and what would be your first question?

Ooh, fascinating question. I would love to be able to travel back in time and observe what life was like, particularly in the Victorian era. However, the one person I would want to meet from any time is still alive but I would want to meet him in the 1960’s. His name is Val Doonican (wonderful irish performer who was very big in the UK in the ‘60’s and 70’s). He always sat in a rocking chair for his last song and wore the most wonderful looking cuddly jumpers. The one thing I always wanted to do was sing a duet with him, so my question would be ‘Will you sing a duet with me please’! A bit of self indulgence there. I love singing and having grown up watching Val on TV, I have an emotional attachment to wanting to sing with him.

Our Interview with Tommy Jordan!

                          

                                                 Bio

Tommy Jordan is a self-published author. His first book Partly Cloudy is available on Amazon, Smashwords, and very soon will be in Barnes and Nobles and on the Apple Store.

In addition to writing internet and computer how-to books, he is also the founder of Twisted Networx, a national computer and cabling support company. He has traveled the world performing consulting and project management tasks for small businesses, international customers, and even foreign governments.

You can find him on Twitter, Facebook, and just about every corner of the web where communication channels exist. The easiest way to reach him is through the website at http://tommyjordan.me/contact/

                                                 Bio provided by author's site

It was an honor and a privilege to get the opportunity to interview Tommy and learn more about how he came to be an author of an instructional how to book. Tommy is a hardworking industrious person with a great love of family and friends. So get comfortable and grab a note pad to take notes as we give a warm welcome to Tommy!

1. What makes for a good hook in your book? Where does your inspiration come from?

I’m not sure I have “hook” because it’s not a fiction novel. It’s a how-to in the “for Dummies” style. The intended audience is definitely NOT the techno-geek generation, or even my generation mostly. It’s geared towards normal non-computer-geeks who want to learn a little about how to get started. It holds their hand through the process with one of many available programs and then points them off in a few directions for other things they can use as they become more familiar with cloud-computing.

2. Are you an organized writer? Do you do things like take notes and make lists? Or do you free write and work it out as you go?

I’m overly organized, which is why I’d never make a good fiction novelist, no matter how much I’ve always dreamed of being one. I can’t just free-think and fly off the cuff. I have to understand where it’s going, what it’s goal is, so I’d need to know the ending before I started. From what I’ve been able to learn of fiction writers, that’s not usually how they operate. Yes I make extensive notes and lists. I’ve got a few programs that sync my phone, tablet, and PC so I can take notes when they hit me and they’ll be waiting for me when I get to the computer again to write. And on your final part of that question, yes, once I have a clear thought of where I’m going I can usually free-write on that subject for quite a while. When it comes time to change topics, that’s when I have to get more analytical and go back to my notes to figure out how to blend from chapter to chapter.

3. What is your normal writing day like? Do you write when you are inspired or do you have a schedule?

Because I run a company and have all the same duties as other fathers and husbands, I write when I can. Once I decided to really move forward with Partly Cloudy, I kind of sequestered myself in my office late at night and would do most of my writing after my family has gone to bed, usually from about 10 PM to 3 AM.

4. Who is your favorite author and how did they inspire you to write?

I’m way too big a fan of way too many authors to know how to answer that. I can tell you that my inspiration for going ahead with this first book and the “how to” knowledge came from John Locke and his book “How I sold 1 Million eBooks in 5 Months.” HE is a great writer for those who are interested in writing for the kindle and eBook audience.

5. It’s easy to see that you have a passion for writing about technology but is there any part of it you don’t like?

Yes… the technology. Lol. It’s very hard to write ANYTHING about technology because using technology for most people is a vapid experience; it’s a tool to achieve an end. Further, the technology field changes by leaps and bounds every day, so how do you write a book that will still be relevant to your readers in 12 months? Or two years?

Honestly, the passion is to be a fiction novelist. I just know my limitations. I’ve learned enough over the years about myself to realize my limitations. The largest one when it comes to writing is the burn-out factor. I can’t approach anything slowly and methodically, except maybe woodworking. When I write, I get energized and I write hard and fast. My imagination burns hot constantly with new ideas, much faster than my fingers can type out the ideas on a keyboard or write them down. But eventually I’d be three-quarters through the book and I’d put it down one evening, never to pick it up again. Once the fire dies, I have no way to rekindle it. I know… I’ve tried. I’m not destined to be a novelist apparently.

6. Do you make time to read and if you do what are you reading right now?

I absolutely LOVE to read, but I’m also always on the go. I’m constantly moving, hate to be bored, and don’t have the time to put a book in my hands and slow down enough to read paperbacks very often anymore. A friend years ago gave me my first audiobook on CD, and I was hooked from then on. I have an audible.com account that I burn up each month without fail. I’ve even emailed the website creators at Audible and requested they make a package that has more than 2 books per month because that’s not enough for me. I listen to audiobooks when I’m doing chores, driving, even when I go to bed most of the time. My brain doesn’t shut down easily, so I can stare at the ceiling for hours each night if I don’t. Instead I plug in an audiobook and paying attention to the book makes my mind quit focusing on other thoughts, and eventually I’ll drift off.

As far as “right now” I’m finishing up the latest Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child novel, titled “Brimstone.” I read so much faster than my favorite authors can write that I’m constantly having to find new authors to read. Currently, some of my favorites are Vince Flynn, Ben Coes (he’s new but very good), Tom Clancy, Lee Child, Brad Thor, David Baldacci, Neal Stephenson, … well, you can see where that genre is going.

7. How did you get started in writing an educational book that helps others better navigate Cloud Computing?

I’m an IT engineer and own my own company, Twisted Networx, so I’ve been giving out this same advice to people for years already anyway. The difference is I usually charge $65.00 per hour for training and consulting. I figured if this many people needed to know about how to use it, I could write a book that sells for three dollars and it would both save them money and earn me revenue without having to work with every customer independently.

8. Your books have been published with Amazon.com, Does this mean you see the publishing industry headed this way?

While I don’t necessarily like nor dislike it, yes I see that being where it’s going. In my case it was a matter of cost. I couldn’t afford a publisher, editor, etc for such a small niche book. I spent a few weeks learning the formatting requirements for Amazon and Smashwords and the various rules for different types of e-readers, and simply did it all myself. It was a cost and efficiency decision for me. Truthfully, I’d LOVE to see some of my own work in a paperback on a shelf somewhere, but I’ve yet to write anything that I think merits that kind of attention.

9. Do you have any online sites where others can read more of your tutorials?

I’ve been blogging and Facebooking this stuff for years, but no, there isn’t one consolidated place where I’ve posted it all. I guess that’s something that needs to go on my to-do list as well.

. Do you have any more educational books in the works? Have you thought of branching out into other genres of writing?

Yes, but I’m not sure what it’s going to be. I think, based on the recent media I’ve received due to my Facebook/YouTube debacle, the next book will be on Social Media and how it can affect your family. I don’t think anyone in America is more qualified to write that book right now than I am. My family has become a true case-study about what can happen. That’s probably going to be the next one I write.

11. If your book were to become a instructional documentary, who would you want to be the voice of the narrator for your book "Partly Cloudy - Getting Started with Cloud Computing"?

That’s a really cool question. I don’t think my books, at least the one I’ve written thus far, would be good choices for that, but if I had to pick a narrator: Scott Brick or George Guidall all the way. Love those guys!

12. If you could meet anyone from any time who would it be and what would be your first question?

That’s one of those questions I feel like anyone should probably have a ready answer for… but I’m drawing a complete and total blank.

Our Interview with Danny Kemp!

                                             

                                                       Bio

The reasons that lead me to pursue this new career as a writer have been well documented on the Web Page address below. I will not repeat them here, prefering this site as a means for us to get to know each other better and to update you with progress towards my ambition.

The Deslote Garden

I'm going to skip my vocation as A London Taxi Driver as that I make mention of on my Face Book page under the title of 'A view From the Cab.' Here I shall tell of moments in The Meproploitan Police and my time spent as a Tenant of three Courage Brewery 'PUBS' in Kent.

Let me first shock you with a tale that arose for the first of those three 'Pubs.'

I was arrested for attempted Murder.

My then wife of some fourteen years and I had grown tried of life as a Taxi driver and her as a Dental Nurse, so decided that a new challenge as Pub Tenants was our next step. We were selected after appyling for, and an interview process, a Licenced Premises in the quaint picturesque village of Headcorn in the middle of the Weald of Kent. Here amongst the black timber framed centuries old house's we were to make our debut.

The Pub in question was a 'run-down' place where the previous Licencee thought more of socialising than running a respectable House where all could go and feel at 'Home.' He had competion, there were Three other Pubs in this small community.

The customers ran the Pub for him, it was they who decided when it should close and what was important there, ie. the game of Pool.

                                 Bio provided by author's site

We have had the great pleasure of getting the opportunity to interview Danny and get to know more about him. Anyone who has read or followed him either on facebook or twitter knows how funny, kind and caring a gentleman he can be! His wit is sharper then any razor around today! I love his stories and listening to his interview on the web radio was also very entertaining! So get comfortable and please give a warm welcome to Danny!

1. What makes for a good hook in your stories? Where does your inspiration come from?

This is an awkward question for me to answer as I’ve only written two novels and started a third. I have been told that THE DESOLATE GARDEN has a good hook and that mirrors, in a way, the same beginning as the other two; they start in the present. They share another similarity in so much as, almost straight away there is narrative. If I could use an analogy to describe how I see crafting a story should go, then I’d use our own experiences of going on Holidays. The tension comes at the beginning before you set-off. Your coming home, at the end of that vacation, is the climax. The things that happen in the middle are the things that made that holiday memorable or not.

            As far as inspiration goes, I look around I guess. I’m not trying to be simplistic here but there is inspiration everywhere. I love imagining people in different situations than ones that possibly they might feel comfortable in. I was once described by my father as being ‘deceitful’ perhaps he was right, and that ability to lie is a necessity for my kind of imagination.

2.  Are you an organized writer? Do you do things like take notes and make lists of characters?  Or do you free write and work it out as you go?

            I’m organized in a way yes. I’m a Licensed London Taxi Driver so sitting in traffic jams is part of my life; I carry a big flip-over note pad beside me. Any snippets of information that can be used on my Blog site regarding advice for proposed visits to London are jotted down, as are recollections from my past that I use in that THE VIEWS FROM THE CAB Blog. BBC Radio 4 is on all day in the cab and it is surprising what you can get from that. The other day I heard the question..”Why do you bet?” Now there is a line that can go into a novel I’m sure, so that would go into that note pad.

            I don’t list characters no, That, to be honest, is what I find to be the best part of writing they come from your soul and your heart. They are the pumping blood that connects everything in your story together. I love where they take me in my imagination. I have a mental image of them all, fat, thin, beautiful, ugly but where they want to go is the excitement of writing.

            I read somewhere that the greatest novelist ever, Charles Dickens, never gave you chapter and verse about a character. He gave the reader their characteristics, their way of life and how they conducted that life, not necessarily the details such the colour of their clothes, what they ate, what was their favorite tipple. Films do that, and you have no need in them to use any imagination, but in a story; well I believe that it’s all about how the reader sees the character, that you the writer, outline for them to see. The very best story tellers paint with their words.

3.   What is your normal writing day like? Do you write when you are inspired or do you have a schedule?
With your indulgence I’ll answer the second part first. I would guess that most people have seen a rodeo show from American, and maybe those ones where very brave or foolish men attempt to ride on the back of a wild horse, or more dangerously, those bulls: I’m one of those bulls: Let me out and write, get off my back and let me free. This wish of mine is curtailed by your first question.

            Nothing is normal in my life at the moment. That novel I mentioned..THE DESOLATE GARDEN..is at long last at the printers and it is part of my responsibility to promote that book. I’m an unknown, so that vital profile is what I’m searching for. My day is split into four parts. Working day earning a living 10am to 7pm, Facebook/promoting day 7pm to midnight, sleep time and dreaming of Face Book ( I’m not joking.) Then 7am to 10am more of the same promotion only this time the added deviation of the world of Twitter! Wow, what a day and because it’s so enthralling I devote all day Saturday and Sunday to my profile build (Urg)

4.  Who is your favorite author and how did they inspire you to write?
 Sorry again haven’t got only one. John Le Carré and John Fowles, would be two. I have read all that they have penned. But my favorite story of all time was Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak That encompassed everything that I would aspire to write. James Joyce would fascinate me when I was younger with his use of language and of course there is Dickens, the Master.   

5.  It’s easy to see that you have a passion for writing but is there any part of it you don’t like?
Of writing and the telling of stories then no, but everything to do with sheer promotion for promotion sake. I love interacting with others on Face Book but not the spamming. I once put up a joke that has a hidden meaning, see if you can work it out: “I couldn’t repair your brakes so I’ve made your horn louder” It refers to those spammers.

6.  Do you make time to read and if you do what are you reading right now?
 As a Politician would say....”I refer you to an answer previously given” ie NO and NONE.

7. How did you get started in writing in the fictional genre? Is there personal life experience in the writing?
Yes there is, but I’m not saying which parts.

8.   Your books have been published with Amazon.com, Does this mean you see the publishing industry headed this way?
Like everyone else I would think, I imagine there will be huge changes within the industry. For me I preferred the traditional route, without an advance I would quickly add, but an Editor and sales representation and of course an agent. I’m 62 so as I see it I can realistically publish four books. Whatever changes come along in that time there will still be tangible novels around.

9.  Do you have any online sites where others can read more of your writings?

http://www-thedesolategarden-com.co.uk/       Book site.

http://danielkemp.co.uk/                                   More of me Past and Future.

http://www.facebook.com/dannyandpatkemp/   Speaks for its self.

theauthordannykemp.com                                   Blog Site..The View From The Cab.

@DanielKemp6                                                              Twitter

10. Do you have any more stories in the works? What kinds of stories do you plan to write next?

I have one, MITZEY COLLINS. It is a moralistic tale of how the death of a young girl implodes on those immediately surrounding her and on MITZY, who never knew her and wished she had never heard her name!

 11.  Who would be your first choice to play the main character of your book "The Desolate Garden"?

Easy one ...Me. (I’m being funny not even I am that egotistic.)

If the film industry buy the film rights, I’m MORE than happy to let them decide.

12.  If you could meet anyone from any time who would it be and what would be your first question?
First person I would like to meet, and one day will, but wont have any opportunity to ask any question would be;...God and I’d ask;...”Why did you do it?”

Another would be my father who died when I was only sixteen and too wrapped up in myself to care I’d ask;...”What was your life like dad?”