Interview with Author Elizabeth Clements

Elizabeth Clements resides deep in cowboy country in western Canada with her husband who is her real-life hero. She admits she’s an incurable romantic and thus her sensual stories always focus on romance, whether her heroines drive a buggy or a convertible. Elizabeth is often inspired by her surroundings, a photograph, or a song and the thought—what if… begins a delicious new journey into romance. Visit the author at her website:  https://www.elizabethclements.com  to learn a bit more about her and see pictures of the beautiful Cypress Hills, the setting for her western historical romance trilogy.

Question: What is the title and genre of your novel?  Why did you select them?

Answer:  Thank you so much, Jacqueline for inviting me on your blog. Beneath a Fugitive Moon is the second book in my Prairie Moon Trilogy published this past June. The first in the series, Beneath a Horse Thief Moon, was published in 2018. I love writing western historical romance and the setting for this trilogy is just an hour’s drive from where I live. In fact I can see the forest’s dark smudge on the horizon from a high hill.

Question:   What inspired this novel? How did it come about?

Answer:  The first book in the series was inspired by a Garth Brooks song of a man reflecting on a special summer when he was a teen. When the song ended, I said to myself:  “What if he comes back?” And he did. In this sequel, Mike Sutton whispered in my ear that he wants his own happily-ever-after story. Of course Josh Hunter wouldn’t be out done, so his story will be published next year. <grin> Each book is a stand-alone, but often pop in for a visit in all three books.

Question:  Could you tell us a little bit about the heroine and/or hero of your novel?

Answer:  In the current release, Jolene Reynolds is a feisty young schoolmarm who wants to be loved for herself, not her father’s wealth. Mike Sutton is a deputy U.S. marshal and a friend of Jolene’s father. Mike willingly comes to watch over the ranch and protect her from outlaws while her parents are away. He arrives in time to rescue her from horse thieves and he quickly realizes he’s in love with Jolene. But he never tries to steal a kiss. Not even once. Why?

Question:   Can you tell us about some of your other published novels or work?

Answer:  Beneath A Desperado Moon is the last book of this trilogy and will be published next year. Josh Hunter, the son of a wealthy nobleman, left England when the girl he loved married another for wealth. Her memory haunts him until he meets Molly, a saloon girl who yearns to be a lady. Can they overcome their past and find lasting love? In July my novella, Diamond Jack’s Angel was published in the Hot Western Nights anthology. That story was inspired by a visit to a coal mine disaster in the Crowsnest Pass, except my story has a happy ending.

Question:   What are you working on now?

Answer:  I’m revising a mail-order bride story set where I live when the city was a mere railroad stop over a century ago. My heroine is rejected because she’s too thin and not suitable to be a “workhorse” for the farmer who sent for her. The hero comes to the rescue. But who’s the one who’ll truly be rescued? I also have a new novella in which the hero and heroine are giving me a real challenge. It came to me in a post-dream state while  I was still warm and relaxed in bed, thinking of writing a novella for an anthology. My hero blew in like a hot Texas wind, wrapped the woman in his arms and kissed her with such passion that she nearly swooned. Then he left, his intriguing invitation lingering in the air. I went to the computer and wrote it down before I’d forget it, but I believe I boxed myself into a corner and am still waiting for him to come back so I know for sure what happens next. <grin>

Question:   What made you start writing?

Answer:  I’ve loved books all my life and wanted to be a journalist when I was ten. One day, many years later, I threw a book against the wall in absolute disgust, muttering I can write better than this. And then one day, while cooking breakfast for my little boys, an idea dropped into my head and I began writing on my dining room table.

Question:   What advice would you offer to those who are currently writing novels?

Answer:  Never, ever, give up on your dream to be published, no matter how long it takes when life intervenes. And read lots of books by well-published authors: study the way they put the story together. Study what you like and what you don’t like and learn from that. Trust your instincts and believe in yourself.

Question:  Where and when will readers be able to obtain your novel?

Answer:  All three of my published books are available on Amazon or through me.

Website Page: https://www.elizabethclements.com

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Clements/e/B07C9RL5HQ

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.clements.549

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17898781.Elizabeth_Clements

Questions and/or comments for Elizabeth are welcome here!

Ten Tips on How to Write Short Stories that Sell

I’ve written well over a hundred original short stories, most of which have sold to paying markets and some of which have also sold as reprints. One of my latest original short stories was published last month in THE BLEND INTERNATIONAL.

https://theblendinternational.com.au/

Tip One:

There are two ways to go about writing a short story that you can sell to a fiction market. You may write for a specific publication following their guidelines and requirements or you can write the story you want to write and then look for a market that is appropriate. I suggest the latter choice--unless you are specifically invited to submit your work by an editor for a themed anthology or magazine issue. Of course, if you aren’t certain what to write about, then publications requiring a particular theme might be answer for you. It’s also one way of dealing with writer’s block.

Tip Two:

You are unlikely to sell short stories unless you’ve read a great many of them. This will give you an instinctive grasp of the genre. If you don’t enjoy reading short stories, you shouldn’t bother writing them. It will show.

Tip Three:

 Don’t assume that because short stories are brief in length that they are easy to write. In reality, it takes discipline to write a good short story and sheer brilliance to write a great one. Short stories are focused works of fiction, just as Poe explained.

Tip Four:

You need to decide the type of short fiction you intend to write. Do you love literary short stories? Try then to write one of your own. Are you into speculative fiction? Do you enjoy science fiction, horror, or fantasy? Are you a mystery writer? Read some of the best both past and present before you attempt your own.  However, be aware that each genre has its own type of content and style. Mashups are acceptable, but first know the rules of each genre before you attempt to mix them. Do the research before you start to write. Read a lot of what you intend to write.

Tip Five:

Whether writing short fiction or a novel, you need to consider the basics: plot, setting, characters, and theme. Analyze how they fit together in your story. One hint: limit the number of characters to just a few so you can develop each one properly. Again, you need to focus.

Tip Six:

Also consider point of view. For instance, who is telling the story? Will this story work best in first or third person? Why? Is the narrator sophisticated, jaded, innocent, naïve? The style and choice of language need to reflect these considerations.

Tip Seven:

When you finish writing your story, put it away for a while and go on to another project. Wait at least one month, then reread and revise as needed. You are now the editor and must view your work with a critical eye. You will see the need for changes and improvements.

Tip Eight:

When you are ready to submit your story for publication, carefully read the submission guidelines. You have to follow them exactly. Each market has its own unique requirements.

Tip Nine:

Avoid writing only for “exposure” if possible. There are paying markets that encourage beginners who are without publishing credits.

Tip Ten:

Don’t be afraid to try writing in more than one genre or style. The great thing about short story writing is that you can be experimental. It’s not as constrained as novel writing. I have gotten stories published in a variety of genres: literary, mystery, romance, science fiction, fantasy and even horror—although I admit my horror stories are more psychological than gory. You really don’t know what you are capable of doing best until you’ve tried many styles of writing.

Your thoughts and comments welcome here!

Interview with Publisher/Editor/Author Roger Nokes

Roger Nokes is the Editor in Chief at Rock and a Hard Place Magazine and writes fiction under the pseudonym Stanton McCaffery.

He has published short fiction in Out of the Gutter Online’s Flash Fiction Offensive, Heater Magazine, Between World’s Magazine, and has an upcoming piece that will be published by Shotgun Honey later this month. His novel, Into the Ocean, is available from New Pulp Press.

He was born and raised in New Jersey where he lives with his wife and son. He works for a United Nations agency and spends most of his time commuting. 

Question: What is the genre of your magazine?  Why did you select it?

Answer: At Rock and a Hard Place Magazine we feature stories about protagonists who are somehow at the bottom of society – whether by their own doing or not. The characters have to be between a rock and a hard place.

We publish stories about people stuck in poverty, in the criminal justice system. People battling disease. People trapped in abusive relationships. People struggling with addiction. People held down by racism or any other form of discrimination. The characters need to be desperate.

Given our own interests, we have a heavy leaning towards crime fiction, but we aren’t limited to the genre. Pieces slated for our first issue have literary leanings--one that’s a bit horror. We haven’t yet received any high fantasy or sci-fi pieces that were ready for publication with us, but that doesn’t mean we won’t find something in the future that works.

Our loose theme can be approached from multiple different angles. No genre has a monopoly on accurately portraying human suffering.

                             

Question:   What inspired this publication? How did it come about?

Answer: In terms of fiction influences, we’re fans of other publications, some of which aren’t around anymore, such as Thuglit. We wanted to put our own spin on it.

As for inspiration outside the world of fiction--well, look at the state of the world. There’s a lot of suffering going on. There are a few people that have a whole lot, but a whole lot of people that have very little.

I always found comfort in sad stories, sad songs, sad movies, and I thought that maybe there’d be some comfort for other people in a publication like this. It kind of makes you feel like you’re a little less alone in the world. That you’re not the only one trying to dig out of mountains of debt, or figuring out how to put a troubled past behind you, or coping with a rough diagnosis.

I do a lot of reading and what I love best is when I’m reading a story or a novel and think, ‘damn, this is a writer who at least can imagine what it’s been like for me.’ I want our readers to feel that when they read the stories published in Rock and a Hard Place.

There’s just something about fiction that I can’t quite put my finger on that oddly exercises the empathy muscle better than non-fiction.

Question:   Is this your first publication? If not, can you tell us about some of your other publications?

Answer:  This is our first publication. The first issue should be out in the late summer of 2019.

Question:   What are you working on now?

Answer:  We are working on copy-editing the 15+ pieces we have accepted into the first issue of the magazine. We’re also raising funds to help pay our writers.

You can contribute to the fundraiser at https://www.gofundme.com/f/rock-and-a-hard-place-issue-1?sharetype=teams&member=2009944&rcid=r01-156478297513-111ca9c3cf9c4d72&pc=ot_co_campmgmt_w

Question:   What made you start publishing?

Answer: I was at a point where I felt like I had plateaued with my own writing. I wanted to stay in the sphere of fiction writers, but had reached a point of exhaustion with little to show for it.

I felt like there were a lot of people talking about how blending genres was a good thing, but that there were few, if any, venues that actively encouraged submissions from different genres.

Question:   What advice would you offer to those who are currently writing?

Answer: A lot of the advice I have at this early stage is advice you can hear almost anywhere. I’ve got so much to learn myself.

But here is some of what I have:

Keep at it. Just because you get rejected from one venue says very little about the overall value of the piece or about your writing. We received some great pieces that just weren’t what we were looking for.

All it says is that for whatever reason, the editors of that particular magazine didn’t think it was a fit. That could be for a million different reasons. There could be an editor who just doesn’t want to read anymore mafia stories, or serial killer stories, or whatever. They could feel like your ending was too dark, or in our case, not dark enough.

With so few fiction magazines out there and so many writers, it’s unfortunately impossible for editors to give feedback on every piece, so please don’t read a rejection as anything other than a rejection. It’s not a statement about your writing.

Also, if the editors tell you they want to see more from you, send them more. If we said it, we meant it, and I assume the same goes for other magazines.

Now, perhaps most importantly, you have to read the submissions requirements. Maybe they all seem the same, but still, you have to. Few things are more frustrating than investing time in reading a piece only to get halfway through and start to get the feeling that the writer just fired off a piece when they saw an open call for submissions without actually reading the requirements.

Question:  Where and when will readers be able to obtain your magazine?

Answer:  When it’s complete, it will be available through Amazon in print and for Kindle. You can stay updated by visiting our website, https://www.rockandahardplacemag.com/, or by following us on Facebook or Twitter. We hope to publish issue one later this summer.

Also, we would love to have a presence in brick and mortar stores. If anyone that owns a store or has connection with a store is reading this and is interested, please contact us at rockandahardplacesubmissions@gmail.com.

Questions and or comments for Roger are welcome here!

Interview with Author Katie Marshall

Katie Marshall received her BFA in creative writing and English from The University of Maine at Farmington. During her time there she also interned and later freelanced for a local newspaper as a journalist. Katie has had poems and short stories published in several collections. Katie is a member of the International Thriller Writers and several social media author groups as well. When she isn’t writing, she is a veracious reader and prides herself on her private library she has gathered over the years. She still lives and works in her beloved home state of Maine.

Question: What is the title and genre of your novel?  Why did you select them?

Answer: My novel is The Blackbird’s Song and it’s a psychological thriller. I didn’t really set out to write a thriller novel but I’ve always been interested in the genre so I guess it found me. The title came out of a creative writing course I took in college. I submitted part of this novel for critique by my peers and every person in the class highlighted the same line as something they liked. It later developed into a metaphor for both of my main characters.

Question:   What inspired this novel? How did it come about?

Answer: My inspiration came from a dream I had about a girl and her sister in a dining room where plates, food, and other items in the room had been scattered all over the floor but the candles on the table were still lit. It felt like something was ending, something important, so I started to work backwards to figure out why it had happened. That’s how I came to know one of my main characters, Lizzie. I wrote about her for most of my senior year in high and the beginning of college but something was always missing. Even after I had completed her journey in my mind, it felt like half a story. Then I realized that it was  half of the story. So then I met Brian, my other main character, and it all fell into place.

Question:  Could you tell us a little bit about the heroine and/or hero of your novel?

Answer:  My heroine, Lizzie is a teenage girl that survived a horrific run in with a serial killer called The Bogeyman who terrorized coastal California. When Lizzie is found dying under her sister’s bed, she discovers that the police have targeted her adopted brother, James as the mass murderer behind these atrocities but Lizzie knows it can’t be true. Despite multiple therapists and her sister’s insistent they move to Maine for a fresh start, Lizzie is determined to hold on to this idea until she is able to uncover the truth.  

My second main character, Brian is more of an anti-hero. After the death of his mother and physical abuse from an alcoholic father, Brian is taken down a path of dissociative experiences that he is barely aware of. The “others” that emerge from these dissociations take over the mind, leading Brian into a series of events that transform him into The Bogeyman, a serial killer with bloodthirsty habits and the broken remnants of a mind that continuously justifies its self.

Question:   Can you tell us about some of your other published novels or work?

Answer:  The Blackbird’s Song is my first full length novel. I also have to collections of poetry and a collection of short stories, all of which I wrote in college. My collections of poetry, Tears Against the Windowpane and The Writer delve into my own personal journal of love, family, and finding my self worth. My collection of short stories, A System of the Chaotic Mind shows shorts glimpses of the lives of people who encounter extraordinary circumstances and battle disorders that can distort the mind’s perspective.  My most recent piece is a novella, The Other Half of the Moon, which is a romantic comedy about Aphrodite Miller’s misadventures in romance.

Question:   What are you working on now?

Answer:  I’m a multi-genre, multi-work kind of writer. I work on whatever piece I feel like at the time. I’m currently in the process of editing a young adult coming of age story as well as writing a fantasy piece about a coven on sisters. My largest piece currently is another thriller about a woman named Letitia who becomes a modern Elizabeth Bathory, bathing in women’s blood for their youth and beauty. In this piece, the reader will get a glimpse into Letitia’s past and journey with her into the future as she discovers there is more to life than her own vanity.

Question:   What made you start writing?

Answer: I always liked story telling when I was a little girl. My aunt helped me make my first book when I was six years old. I did the illustrations and I must say I’m a better writer than an artist. Writing became this thing that followed me throughout my life. When the time came for me to pick a major for college, I couldn’t think of anything else I would rather be doing.

Question:   What advice would you offer to those who are currently writing novels?

Answer: Let the writing breathe. It’s easy to get hung up on deadlines, word counts, and the feeling that everything has to be perfect right at that moment. Sometimes my best work comes from not meeting a deadline or not having the story go in the direction I had planned for it. I believe a good story will speak to the writer in a way that will let them know what it is meant to be.

Question:  Where and when will readers be able to obtain your novel?

Answer: The Blackbird’s Song is now available on the Black Opal Books website, Amazon, and any other location that Black Opal Books are sold. Readers can also check out my author’s website https://sites.google.com/view/katiemmarshall-author/my-works for direct links to all of my works.

Questions and comments for Katie are appreciated.