Author’s Corner with Jennifer R. Povey

Welcome back to Author’s Corner!

Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Jennifer R. Povey, She has self-published multiple books including “Transpecial” and “The Silent Years” sequence of novellas.

Before we start with the interview Jennifer here is a bit about Jennifer!
Jennifer R. Povey is in her early forties. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband of eighteen years - having moved here from England. (Yes, she still has the accent). In addition to writing, she enjoys roleplaying games, horseback riding, and being a voracious reader. She writers science fiction and fantasy fiction, as well as writing for gaming companies and has even had a comic script published (In the You Are Not Alone anthology from Grayhaven Comics). That's as well as freelance writing and proof reading.


Now on with the Interview!


Why do you write Jennifer?
It's what I do. I wrote fan fic and casual stuff for years before deciding to go serious a few years ago. I'm good at it, I enjoy it, and honestly I've never been able to stop making up stories in my head.

What are your ambitions for your writing career?

I have a lot of ambitions! I have quite a few more novel ideas I want to get out there. I'd also love to do an ongoing comic book. And I'd like to try my hand at writing a movie script at some point. There's also a few magazines I want to sell stories to that I haven't yet. Mostly, though, I want to write things people enjoy.

Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured?

I don't really have a "special time to write". It depends on what I have to do that day - and obviously not everything I do is writing. There's also the endless editing...a lot of people think we just sit down, write, then hand it over to somebody. It's not that simple, sadly!

Do you write every day, 5 days a week or as and when?

Right now I'm kind of writing fiction cyclicly. I might write 5,000 words one day and only a few hundred the next. I do write at least something every day.

Do you aim for a set amount of words/pages per day?

Generally, no. I'm more likely to set a certain amount of time for writing - an hour or two of sitting down and getting the words out. I've tried the set amount of words thing and it doesn't work as well for me.

Do you proofread/edit all your own books or do you get someone to do that for you?

Everything I release is professionally edited with the exception of a web serial I have called Making Fate (that one I do edit myself). My husband is my proofreader (he's a technical editor for a non profit, so he's pretty good at it).

Which writers inspire you?
Oh, that's a long list. Transpecial has been compared to Heinlein - and that one's quite intentional. I also try for the transparent 'story first' style of Isaac Asimov in a lot of my work. Jules Verne triggered my desire to write science fiction and, of course, you can't deny the influence of Tolkein. Making Fate is urban fantasy and shamelessly influenced by Joss Whedon's Buffy. So, yes, a long list.

I read voraciously and I let it all inspire me to some degree.

Where do your ideas come from?

Oh, not this question. They come from...all over the place. Some of my science fiction stories come from science fact articles I read that week. I write to anthology calls a fair bit, and in that case the idea generally comes from the call. A Star To Steer By, which is probably my best published story, came from a call about soldiers returning home, got rejected by the call and then bought by Analog. (Lesson there: Don't worry about rejections!) Transpecial started with the title and was originally supposed to be about somebody physically becoming something other than human, probably subconsciously inspired by Delenn's cocoon in Babylon 5, then it morphed into a first contact story on me. Oops.

How do you think you’ve evolved creatively?

I've become more focused. Honestly, the reason I didn't start writing seriously until my thirties was because I couldn't get anything finished until then. I started so many novels in my twenties! I also would have told you when I was twenty, twenty-five, that I could never write to order. Now I do some of my best work when being basically told to write a story about X.

What is the hardest thing about writing?

Can I say marketing? I'm not a natural salesman, I freely admit it. I find marketing and promotion and networking all a little bit stressful. Probably because I'm an introvert.

What was the hardest thing about writing your latest book?

Really, I'd say Making Fate is my latest "book" and the challenge has been trying to learn to write in a more episodic form. I don't have it down yet, but I'm getting there. That and right now I have a character who's taken more prominence than planned and she's proving harder to write than some of the others.

What is the easiest thing about writing?

Sitting down and writing the first draft. Telling the story. That's easy. Then, well...then I have to edit the thing.

Give us an insight into your main character. What does she do that is so special?

Which one? I'm going to pick Suza MacRae from Transpecial. She's autistic, and that allows her to work with the aliens in a way most people can't. She's also a very strong character in ways that aren't what a lot of people think of as the "strong female character." (I have real issues with that trope - Jane from Making Fate is very much in that trope, but it sometimes seems that people want every female MC to be that way, especially in visual media. I'm thinking of some of the complaints about Jupiter in Jupiter Ascending now).

She's special because nobody prepared her to be a diplomat, in fact, nobody prepared her to be anything but a disabled woman treated as a legal minor her entire life, and she manages to rise to the occasion and do it anyway. Sometimes, that's what heroism is.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Simple.

You are not your work.

Your work is going to be rejected. You're going to get form rejections from agents, from publishers, from magazines.

Your work is going to be reviewed. Some of those reviews are going to be bad.

If you're in a writers' group, your peers are going to take your work apart. And when you start working with an editor...

It's very easy when you first start out to take criticism personally. It's very easy to kind of let yourself and your work overlap.

They aren't rejecting you. (And if they are, they aren't worth taking seriously. It does happen sometimes, but it's not professional behavior, and if it's a reader review, ignore them). They aren't rejecting every single piece of work you will ever write in the future.

They're just criticizing that one piece. It doesn't matter whether you're self publishing or trying to get a New York contract. It doesn't matter if you write novels, short stories or both.

You are not your work. It's not personal. Learning to realize that and develop the thick skin that keeps you from bursting into tears every time you get rejected is one of the most challenging aspects of being a professional.

How can readers discover more about you and your work?

Website: http://www.jenniferrpovey.com/
Blog: http://jenniferrpovey.blogspot.com and http://jenniferrpovey.tumblr.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jrpovey
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ninjafingers
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Jennifer-R.-Povey/e/B006MONKKA/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4953851.Jennifer_R_Povey

Book of the Week "Vulnerable"

This Weeks post Belongs to "Vulnerable" by April Wilson

Beth Jamison had a rough start in life. She survived a childhood abduction, but her emotionally traumatic past still haunts her, and she suffers from anxiety and issues with intimacy. Beth doesn't know it, but the man who kidnapped her has just been released early from prison. When Beth’s brother hires McIntyre Security, Inc. to protect Beth and conduct surveillance on her kidnapper, Beth has no idea she has secret bodyguards keeping her safe 24/7. With his money and good looks, CEO Shane McIntyre has never been short on feminine company, and he’s developed a reputation as a “love ‘em and leave ‘em” kind of guy. But everything changes when Shane meets Beth. Their mutual attraction is instant and intense, and Shane falls hard for Beth. Shane has his work cut out for him if he’s going to gain her trust and get past her fears before it’s too late. This alpha protector is determined to keep Beth safe, but he’s also determined to make her his.

Check out her Book Here!

Facing the dreaded Writers Block:

Writers Block is every writer’s worse nightmare….I know it’s mine.

The complete halt of any new ideas forming can put a strain on anyone’s writing and really start to stress you out.

Here are a few ways to chip away at the dreaded Writer’s Block.

1.       Free Writes

Free Writes are a chance for you to clear your mind of every thought in your head whether or not they are related to the topic at hand. Sometimes we can’t focus on our work because we have so much running through our minds. We need to make some open space for new ideas.

Free writes are a mind dump; call it cleaning out the attic. All you need is a paper and pen (try not to use a computer) and a set span of time and let go. Don’t worry about your spelling or grammar, just get everything out on paper and you can review it later. This is why I find it is better to do a free write on paper rather than a computer so you are less likely to back space and try to edit as you go along.

2.       Step Away

Sometimes Writer’s Block comes because we are so stressed over our project. We are trying to force ourselves to pump out more and more every day. This is not good for the creative process. You cannot force ideas…they should come organically in the writing process. If you feel your writer blocks stems from this then put your work down for a week or two. 

Your Brain needs a break! Go outside, go for a run, and read a book not related to your genre. See a movie just don’t think about your book. Give you brain time to rest! I know it seems like I am asking a lot, asking you to walk away from your masterpiece but trust me it will work. Writing comes better when it’s not forced. If you just step away for a week you will come back feeling refreshed and ready to finish your masterpiece!

3.       Change your Writing Spot.

As writers we tend to find inspiration from everyday situations and surroundings. If we fall into the same routine day in and day out it can start to grow stale. We need a new environment to draw in new ideas. If you write at home, try going to a park, or a book store or even a coffee shop. 

If you go to the same coffee shop everyday try a new spot or even a new time, switch up who and what your see.

With a few changes you can defeat the dreaded Writers Block!   

Writing Prompt

        In One-hundred words or less please explain why are you afraid on the big bad wolf?  

               

                Post what you wrote I want to read them all!

Author's Corner with Peter Kazmaier

Welcome back to Author’s Corner!

Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Peter Kazmaier who is the Author of The Halcyon Dislocation, Questioning Your Way to Faith, The Battle for Halcyon!!

I want to thank you Peter for agreeing to be a part of this! 


Why do you write?

I love to read Fantasy and Science Fiction. First and foremost then, I write books that I would like to read, but no one else has taken the trouble to write them. Specifically, I like books that are plot-driven and keep me riveted wondering what happens next. But I also like books that ask the Big Questions, as people do in real life. Why are we here? What does it mean to be human? Why should I try to be good?

When did you decide to become a writer, and what was that process like?
For a large fraction of my life, I was a researcher in chemistry and much of my writing appeared in technical journals or as patents. My career as a novelist had a curious start. I was a member of a book club and during one of our sessions I mused how I would love to write a novel. One of my friends said, “Well why don’t you do it?” The gauntlet was thrown down and I had to do something about it. It took me four years of attending writer’s conferences, and writing in my spare time while still holding a full time job before my first book came out, the first edition of the colonization epic The Halcyon Dislocation.

So, what have you written? (Include everything you have published)
As I mentioned I have more than sixty technical publications on chemistry and about 175 US patents, but I’m sure your readers are not that interested in them. In terms of novels I have written three (in the order of publication):

· The Halcyon Dislocation (two editions)
· Questioning Your Way to Faith
· The Battle for Halcyon

The Halcyon Dislocation and The Battle for Halcyon are the first two books of a four part series that I call The Halcyon Cycle. They deal with a science experiment that transports the island University of Halcyon to a parallel world. In the story we experience how various members of the university deal with the trauma of the dislocation and the challenges of surviving in a new world.

Questioning Your Way to Faith is a much shorter book that arose because of requests I received from some of my readers. In terms of a time line, Questioning Your Way to Faith is set before the dislocation and involves two university friends having an extended discussion about whether or not Christian belief is reasonable.

Where can we buy or see them?

My books are available as either e-books or as trade paper backs at most major bookstores and online outlets. In alphabetical order here are some links:

· Amazon/Kindle http://tinyurl.com/qbyw5b8
· Chapters-Indigo/Kobo http://tinyurl.com/odmn6j6
· Google Store http://tinyurl.com/qbnxs6j
· iTunes http://tinyurl.com/pkteyj5

What genre are your books?

My books are Science Fiction that read a bit like Fantasy. I say that because my books have a strong science component and I worry a lot about whether events like the dislocation are feasible. Having said that, once the University of Halcyon is in the new world, technologies begin to fail (because modern technology requires enormous infrastructure) and then one has much more of a Fantasy-style landscape.

Do you do any research for you books?

I try hard to get the details right in my books, so I do quite a bit of research to make sure that the phases of the moon are correct, the fish found off the island of Halcyon are correct for that locale and that events like the dislocation are not unreasonable from a physics perspective.

Are you working on at the minute?

I’m working on the next book in The Halcyon Cycle which I have provisionally called Descent into Abaddon.

Do you mind telling us about it?

Not at all. I listened to a wonderful lecture a few years ago that described how our relatively low atmospheric pressure limited the size of land mammals and also the size of flying birds. My next book is centered on a continent so far below sea level that the high atmospheric pressure removes these constraints.

What is your favorite book that you have written so far and why?
I would probably say The Halcyon Dislocation. I like the Crusonian aspects of being marooned in a new world and all of the discovery that entails.

How often do you write a week?

I write in fits and starts. When one has several books in print, one has many duties. I work better when I work at something for a concentrated period of time.

Do you aim for a set amount of words/pages per day?

No I don’t set pages per day. I like long books, so I aim for more than 100,000 words for my books.

What do you find is the easiest thing about writing?

There’s nothing easy about writing well. Of all the hard things that must be done to produce a good novel, I find imagining new worlds and new inhabitants of those worlds easiest.

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

I suppose it takes me roughly four years from start to finish to write a book. However that’s highly misleading since I start the next book right after the first draft is complete, so there is a good deal over overlap when I’m writing the first draft of one book and editing the last.

Do you ever get writer’s block and if so do you have any tips on how to get through it?

Writer’s block, in the sense of reaching an impasse in a story is not usually my problem. My problem is sheer laziness. I have many duties to complete and I get caught up in all of these urgent matters and let my writing time slip.

What is your editing process like?
I have friends who have taken a great deal of time as “beta readers” who critique my book and often see blind spots that I as a writer have missed. I always enlist the services of a professional editor to complete the edits. I can’t stress how important it is to find an editor who is not only technically competent, but has a genuine love for your books.

Why self-publishing?

Self-publishing is a very broad term that includes vanity publishing. I prefer the term micro-publishing. By that I mean running a very small publishing business with an emphasis on the quality of the books produced and a severe eye on the costs.

Why self-publish or micro-publish? In my journey, I have seen many writers who spend years producing a novel and then spend years writing to acquisition editor after acquisition editor trying to interest them in their work. Often the writers eventually give up in discouragement without ever having provided their book to the people who really matter—their reading public. [For more on micro-publishing check my blog http://wp.me/p4cZo4-1l .]

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Force yourself to be a “finisher.” Make sure you sell some version of your book to your reading public to get feedback from them.

Where do you see publishing going in the future?

In my role as a research scientist I had a chance to see the Print-On-Demand technology develop. I think this trend will continue and will favor the smaller publisher. Traditional publishing will not disappear but will continue to be under increased cost pressure because of their extensive infrastructure.

Is there anything else you would like to add that I haven’t included?

1. The best books become part of our intellectual scaffolding. Remember as a writer you are an artist first. You want your books to be entertaining, but also to make a difference in your readers’ lives.

2. Don’t mistake sales as the primary indicator of your success.

What is your favorite book and why?

My favorite books (on an equal footing) are C. S. Lewis’ Narnia series and J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. I re-read the Narnia books because of the profound spiritual insights that Lewis offers. I re-read The Lord of the Rings because of the sheer beauty of the work. Even though I know the plot almost line for line, I love the beauty of walking through the vale of Ithilien and the terror of the Mines of Moria.

How can readers discover more about you and you work?

I’m always delighted to hear from my readers. They can contact me by email directly or leave a comment on my blog.

Website: http://www.WolfsburgImprints.com
Blog: http://www.PeterKazmaier.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peter.kazmaier
Twitter: (I don’t use twitter)
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00JB0IWE6
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4136519.Peter_Kazmaier

Using Descriptive Words: Fast

As writers we need to improve our Vocabulary. We cannot inundate our readers with the same words repeatedly. Words Like, fast, very, hot, sad…these are common words we all use to describe and action or how we feel.   

                Instead of using the word Fast, here are a few Synonyms that will give your writing a little extra boost.

Nimble,

 Swift,

 Hurried,

Fleeting,

 Agile,

 In a Jiffy,

 Lickety Split,

 Like a bat out of hell,

Supersonic,

Snappy,

Presto,

On the double,

Instead of writing ‘he ran out the house fast’ write, “He ran out the house like a bat out of hell.” With the new version it gives the reader a better understanding of how important it was for your character to leave.

Changing a word can give the readers a new understanding. 

Book of the Week, Dawn of the Dreamer

This Week's pick belongs to "Dawn of the Dreamer" by L.J.Higgins 

The year 2023, the world had changed. The MultiMind Corporation had released a Wristcuff to be worn over a microchip implanted beneath its host's skin. Dreams were no longer created by the subconscious. However, there were those for whom this technology failed to work on: the Dreamers. Amelia was a Dreamer, and the veil of ignorance was lifted when she met someone who helped her see through the lies and secrets. With her world shaken and changed, Amelia had to decide whether to fight for truth and the freedom to dream or remain bound by a controlled and manipulative society.


Check out her book Here!