Today I would like to welcome Bryna Butler to the blog.  Hi Bryna; let's get started
D.E.: Tell us a little about yourself.

Bryna: I write teen paranormal novels based in small town America. I love the diversity of writing about beyond normal circumstances in the most normal setting imaginable. In addition to being an author, I'm a fangirl at heart. Movies, TV, books...you name it. I'm a sucker for vampires (pun totally intended). I love time traveling and monster hunters. Got drama? Bring it!

D.E.: How long have you been writing, or when did you start writing?

Bryna: I've always been in love with storytelling. I entered creative writing contests as a kid, and when it was time to go to college, I studied mass communications (journalism). I've worked in public relations for the past sixteen years and in 2010 created a story that propelled me into fiction. That story was the first book in my Midnight Guardian series.

D.E.: What is the most difficult for you to write? I can't really say. I love a challenge.8. How many books have you written?

Bryna: Currently, four books in the Midnight Guardian series are available: Of Sun & Moon, Whispering Evil, Midnight Child, and Shadows Rising. Book 5, Book of the Lost, is due out at the end of summer. Book 6, House of Gammen, will be the series finale and will be out at year end. The Midnight Guardian series is about Keira Ryan, a strong-minded girl that's a different kind of paranormal.

D.E.:  Are you self-published or do you use a publisher? 

Bryna: Self-published by choice. I've never shopped for an agent or publisher. Being indie is just too amazing.

D.E.: Do you self edit or hire an editor? 

Bryna: Hire. My mass communications background gives me a heightened respect for properly edited and proofread work. 

D.E.:  Are your books also available in print, or are they primarily in e-book format?

Bryna: My books are available from major online bookstores in paperback as well as a wide assortment of ebook formats.

D.E.: Do you have any tips or tricks to help keep your ideas in order or at least from being forgotten?

Bryna: Two of the characters in the Midnight Guardian series are time travelers, because they pop in and out of the story out of sync with a linear timeline, I track their comings and goings via Excel spreadsheet. I also keep detailed notes on each character.

D.E.: Do you prefer pen on paper for drafts or do you stay strictly on a computer?

Bryna: My mind usually goes the fastest. I type much faster than I write, so it's a computer for me because that's the only way I can keep up!

D.E.: Do you have a favourite place to write or do you write anywhere and everywhere? 

Bryna: I write everywhere. I jot it down whenever inspiration hits. Just this week, I was sitting on a lawn chair in the sheep barn at the Ohio State Fair and thumbing notes on a chapter into my phone.

D.E.: Mass communications sounds very busy and involved.  How do you balance your writing time and career?

Bryna: I do have a day job that keeps me very busy. Most of my writing is done at night after the kids and hubby are in bed.

D.E.: How do your stories unfold?  Are they plotted first and then filled out or do they simply unravel as you go? 

Bryna: A girl's got to plot...at least I do. I guess, I'm a planner at heart. The best description of my method is that I plot and layer. I plot the highlights and then I add layers of action and interest and weave them throughout the entire story. And of course, it wouldn't be a great series without a punch-you-in-the-gut cliffhanger at the end.

D.E.: Where did mogdoc come from?

Bryna: I was looking for a name that sounded ancient and tribal with harsh guttural tones. I started playing around with sounds and mogdoc surfaced.
D.E.: Well done, I must say.  When I first came across it I considered the google thing to find out which culture it came from.

D.E.: What are you working on now and what's next?

Bryna: After the Midnight Guardian series wraps at year end, I'm releasing a young adult werewolf trilogy set in Alaska. It's about a girl that finds herself dancing the line between two feuding werewolf packs. The first book, called Werewolf Biology, will be available in early 2014.

D.E.: Where can readers find you and your work?  

Bryna: Check out my site at www.brynabutler.com for the latest news. My books are available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple iBooks, Google Play, Smashwords, Sony eReader Store, and other online bookstores. I love paranormal movies, TV, and books and talk about them often on my twitter profile, @mogdocnews.

D.E.: Let's hear some "Shout-Outs".  Who are the people you would like to thank?

Bryna: I receive a ton of great advice and support from the YA Author Club,http://yaauthorclub.blogspot.com. Let's hear it for those talented writers including T.R. Graves, Suzy Turner, K.C. Blake, Ella James, Melissa Pearl, Heather Sutherlin, and Laura A. H. Elliott. They are the best!!!

Thanks again for having me on the blog today, D.E.
Thank you, Bryna, for taking the time to share with us.  It's been great.
I wish you all the best.
D.E.

Welcome, Lee E. Shilo, to D.E. Dunlop.  I would like to thank you for taking the time to do this interview.
D.E.:  How long have you been writing, or when did you start writing?

Lee; I started writing in Highschool.  So, I guess I have been writing off and on for about thirty (30) to forty (40) years.

D.E.:  Do you write primarily in one genre?

Lee: I am a Multi – Genre writer.

D.E.:  What compels you to write?

Lee: What compels me to write is the million dollar question!  I have no answer to that, other than some strange compulsion to share what little knowledge I have and to entertain others with imagination and mystery.

D.E.:   As a writer is there a particular obstacle you face? If so, how do you get around it?

Lee: My particular obstacle is Editing.  I am blessed to have a wife that does my Editing professionally for me.

D.E.:  What is the most difficult for you to write?

Lee: The most difficult for me to write is Romance.

D.E.:  How many books have you written?

Lee: To date, I have written about 16 to 20 books.

D.E.:  Are you self-published or do you use a publisher?

Lee: My ebook Publisher is Smashwords.

D.E.:  Do you self edit or hire an editor?

Lee: My wife does all my professional Editing.

D.E.:  Are your books also available in print, or are they primarily in e-book format?

Lee: Some of my books are in print by Blurb.com

However, they are primarily in e-book format from Smashwords.com

D.E.:  Do you have any tips or tricks to help keep your ideas in order or at least from being forgotten?

Lee: I always carry a pocket size writing pad.  The moment an idea pops into my head, I quickly write it down for later use.

D.E.: Do you prefer pen on paper for drafts or do you stay strictly on a computer?

Lee: I used to draft only on paper first, but have since trained myself to use the computer.  I still use paper for ideas that pop into my head or unique titles that I want to explore later on.

D.E.: Do you have a favourite place to write or do you write anywhere and everywhere?

Lee: I have a special room in my home that houses the computer, library, and is my favourite place to write.

D.E.: Do you have a writing schedule?

Lee: No, I do not you have a writing schedule.  I write for myself as a freelance writer, so conseqeuntly I do not have to follow any rigid time frame.

D.E.:  How do your stories unfold? Are they plotted first and then filled out or do they simply unravel as you go?

Lee: A bit of both actually.  I may begin by writing in a stream of consciousness, then go back and organize it into various plots and side stories.

D.E.: Tell us a little about, “Off the Wings of a Child”.

Lee: My book “Off the Wings of a Child”, was my attempt at a humorous early childhood biography.  It is amazing to me, that we actually reach adulthood at all, considering all of the near death accidents we find ourselves in.
D.E.:  Where did you get the inspiration for, Dark Swan?

Lee: With my book “The Dark Swan Diary”, I wanted to see if I could take an actual event(s) and add on some fiction in a way that the reader could not tell the truth, from the fiction.

D.E.:  How long did it take you to write it?

Lee: It only took about a month to write “The Dark Swan Diary”, since I had all of the actual events picked out ahead of time.
D.E.:  What are you working on now and what's next?

Lee: Right now I am working on three (3) different stories, in three (3) different genres.  When I get stuck on one, I move to the next.  That way I give my brain time to rest and formulate more ideas for when I return to the first story.  If that makes any sense at all!

What's next?  I'd still like to write that Romance story.

D.E.: How long have you been involved in Martial Arts?

Lee: I have been involved in Martial Arts since the age of ten (10).  I am going on to fifty (50) years now.  I have written eight (8) books on Martial Arts to date.

D.E.:  Where can readers find you and your work?

Lee: Readers may find me and my work at:



http://www.smashwords.com/books/search/Lee%20E.%20Shilo/

http://shilocom.com/

http://www.blurb.ca/search/site_search?search=Lee+E.+Shilo

D.E.:  Let's hear some "Shout-Outs". Who are the people you would like to thank?

Lee: I would like to thank my wife Elisabeth Shilo for her Editing of my work and continued support.

I would like to thank all of my Readers for their patronage.

And a special thanks to D. E. Dunlop for this excellent Interview.

Lee E. Shilo

Thanks, again, Lee for spending the time here and all the best for your future.
D.E.

I would like to start by saying, welcome William J. Benning, to D.E. Dunlop.


D.E.: What compels you to write?

WJB: What a great question – and, you are absolutely right (!)  It is like a compulsion, an addiction (if you will) that puts us through the nightmare of endless rejections and makes every small success feel like an Olympic Gold Medal. 

I like my writing, and now I can hardly imagine the day where I won’t be sat in front of my bashed up old laptop (with the missing keys) tapping away furiously.  But, I do like to have targets and objectives, or I just become some deranged lunatic without any focus or direction.  Deadlines are all very well and good (and, I can be quite self-motivated at time – he said confidently before his halo choked him!), but something to achieve is even better as a motivator for me.  Originally, the challenge was to get published whilst doing something that I enjoyed.  Now that I’ve achieved that, I’m setting myself greater goals for the future.

D.E.: When did you realise you wanted to become a writer?

WJB: I suppose the reality of the writing situation only really hit me about a fortnight ago when my own works arrived in paperback from Amazon.  I finally got around to buying my own books (!)  Suddenly, there was something very tangible in front of me that I had created and achieved.   And, it felt so good.  All the people who like my work enough to put their hands in their pockets (or purses) and buy my books have given me an opportunity – and, I’ll be forever grateful to them for that!   

D.E.: Do you prefer a particular genre?

WJB: I have no preference for a particular genre at the moment.  The successful “First Admiral” (and subsequent titles) was my first real stab at ‘serious’ writing and just happened to be YA sci-fi.  I am still exploring my writing and would like to branch out into other areas.  “The Gettysburg Incident” took me into the realms of historical/political-type thrillers, plus – like probably many other writers – I have a screed of half-started/half-finished projects that I keep promising myself that I will pick up again and finish on that magical SOME DAY!  

D.E.: Where do you get your motivation or inspiration from?

WJB: Inspiration comes from a whole range of sources and quite often I’m not sure where it has appeared from until much later in the writing process.

A story usually begins with just the germ of an idea – or even an image in my mind – which, I work on and then refine.  What was it Edison said – 10% inspiration, 90% perspiration?  A character is usually a combination of people that I know or have known and very often I’m unable to pinpoint who or where they have arisen from until after I have completed a piece of work.  The successful “Private Gimble” character, I realised, came from a character in the Bernard Cornwell “Sharpe” series.  I finally figured it out about three months after the short story was published – about a year after it was originally written (!)

D.E.: Tell us about your first publishing experience.

WJB: My first publishing experience was a very cheesy poem – about the local War Memorial - that was published in my School Magazine (Dumfries Academy) when I was about 16.  My English Teacher – who really encouraged me with what was then called “Creative Writing” – informed after class that my poem had been selected for publication.  No ifs, buts or maybe’s about it.  

D.E.:  How many books have you written?

WJB: At the moment, I have four on the shelves with a sequel to “Time Commander” pencilled in for release in the summer.  “First Admiral” was initially written (and re-written several times) from 2006/07 onwards and finally published in February, 2012, but every time I go back over it I can always see improvements that I could be making.  But, it’s way too late now.  I suppose we never really get our first book absolutely right.  “The Burning Sun”, “Time Commander” and “The Gettysburg Incident” were much easier to complete after the initial success of “First Admiral”.  I suppose it is a confidence/self-belief thing for a lot of writers.  How many potential literary careers have floundered and perished because someone felt that they (themselves) weren’t good enough?

Plus, I always seem to have an endless procession of unfinished titles.   

D.E.:  Are you self published or do you use a publisher?

WJB: I was lucky enough to find a publisher at the end of 2011 when Malachite Quills accepted “First Admiral”.

D.E.:  Are your books also available in print or are they primarily in e-book format?

WJB: All of my books are available as both download or in print version.  The short stories, I believe, are e-book format only.

D.E.:  As a writer is there a particular obstacle you face?

WJB: Like everyone else, I suspect, it’s working out the balance between actual writing and marketing.  It’s a tough one as I’m quite new to this writing thing and have no idea if my marketing efforts are having any effect.

I also have to be careful of the language that I use. Part of the William J. Benning ethos (some call it the ‘brand’) is no graphic sexual content or bad language, the latter of which can be tricky at times. A character lands in a situation and my own, personal, natural instinct would be to cut loose with the broad Anglo-Saxon (!)   To my mind, bad language is simply lazy writing and dialogue and it detracts/distracts from the action in the novel.

And, I think that teenagers/young adults are far more intelligent and sophisticated than many give them credit for.  I think that young people have moved on from the sniggering-behind-the-bicycle-sheds at “rude words” that went on in my younger days.  
If people want eff-ing and jeff-ing then TV, Cinema and Games will provide it aplenty. 

Just don’t look for it in a Benning book!!

D.E.: What is the most difficult for you to write about?

WJB: As previously mentioned, I’m still exploring my writing and, as yet, I really haven’t found any areas that give me “difficulty”.  Then again, I haven’t really tackled any really controversial subjects.

D.E.: Do you self edit or do you hire an editor?

WJB: I am lucky in that I have had excellent editors provided for me by Malachite Quills.

D.E.: Where did you get the inspiration for, "The First Admiral Series"?

WJB: The idea for Billy Caudwell (“First Admiral”) came from a comic book of the 1940’s/50’s about a young schoolboy (of about 7 or 8) who commanded an ‘Army’ of radio-controlled models.  He then used his toys to foil bank robbers, exact revenge on bullies and make his local community a better place to live in.   The idea of the “Boy General/Admiral” then developed into an idealistic teenager who commanded huge alien fleets in outer space whilst still trying to remain an anonymous schoolboy on Earth.  Billy’s character is built up from the teenage sons of some of my friends and guys I knew at school (back in the days when the dinosaurs roamed the planet!)   

D.E.: As a Scottish author what made you decide to use Gettysburg as the back drop for your historical fiction?

WJB: “The Gettysburg Incident” arose from my school days.   In my final year of Secondary School our history topic was the American Civil War, and, I thoroughly enjoyed it.  However a great deal of romantic mythology has arisen about the Civil War – the gallant/dashing Confederates, the stolid courageous Yankees – and, I thought what would happen if there had been a war crime and prisoners had been deliberately murdered?  If the U.S Government at the time had covered the atrocity up, how might that impact on the present day?   I like historical fiction and also speculative fiction.  The “What If’s” of life can be fascinating.

D.E.: What are you working on now and what's next?

WJB: At the moment I’m working on another “First Admiral” title; the fifth in that series, which I hope Malachite Quills will take for release in the Fall/Autumn.  Next year, publisher-willing, I’ll tackle the Earth-Invasion books; which might be three titles (I’m not quite sure yet). I’m also working on a YA adventure series set during World War One.  I have several ancestors/relatives buried in War Graves in Europe/Middle East and I wanted to use the series to commemorate and remember some of them with the 1914-18 Centenary next year.

D.E.: Do you have any tips or tricks to help keep your ideas in order or at least from being forgotten?

WJB: I actually have an astonishingly (for me) well structured filing system on my computer.  Under a file on my desktop, I keep all my ideas on individual MS Word pages.  Some pages are little more than random scattered thoughts whilst others are often well-structured ideas that just need a bit of work.

D.E.: Do you prefer pen or paper for drafts or do you stay strictly on a computer?

WJB: Actual drafts of either short stories or novels are invariably kept on the computer.  However, in the cases where I have a chapter heading outline the details are scribbled on paper with my spidery scrawl; what my late mother would have described as “a hens’ march through a midden”(!)  Unfortunately, I have the handwriting of a doctor (!)

D.E.: Do you have a favourite place to write or do you write anywhere and everywhere?

WJB: Do you mean my very expensive, luxury ‘writing facility’?  i.e. my kitchen table with the rickety chair, on my battered old laptop (with the keys missing) surrounded by the unpaid bills, draft chapters, unfinished projects and old newspapers?  Yep – it’s a pretty glamorous world that I live in these days (!)

In days of Yore, I used to write anywhere and everywhere, hotel rooms, trains, kitchen tables, in railway station Buffets. And, I suppose, I still have that particular skill; I just become so focussed on what I’m writing about that the surroundings don’t really impinge on my consciousness.

D.E.: How do your stories unfold?  Are they plotted first and then filled out or do they simply unravel as you go?

WJB: It tends to be a combination of both.  I usually try to structure out a series of chapter headings and write things up from there.  However, there are times when the chapter list isn’t fully formed and I just have to start writing and fill in the gaps as the story unfolds and the ideas refine in my head.  If I can get a prologue and an epilogue, the rest tends to sort itself out in its own good time.

D.E.: Let's hear some "Shout Outs".

WJB: Gee, now you’ve really put me on the spot!!  Who to mention??  First of all, a big, big, shout out to all the fans, the folks that support me in my endeavours and the people who buy my books out there (without who all the effort would be utterly pointless).  To my Editors (past and present) Tara and Ivan; who struggle valiantly to keep me on the straight-and-narrow and the Quality Control people at Malachite Quills who let me get away with nothing whatsoever!!!   To Brian and James at Malachite Quills who field all of my crazy ideas, suggestions and notions with the skill of international diplomats.  Then, all the guys (and gals) on Facebook etc who seem to ‘like’ my postings and who encourage me through the days when things don’t feel so good.

D.E.: Where can readers find you and your work?

WJB: To quote the old advertising cliché – available at all good retail outlets!  They tend to be most popular on Amazon and B&N.

Thank you very much, William.  It has been a pleasure interviewing you.  I wish you all the best in your writing career.  
D.E.

Let me start by saying, welcome, Bobbie, to D.E. Dunlop.com. 
After reading your bio on your website bobbieshafer.com I must say, you are a modern day wonder woman.

Let's get started.
D.E.: Tell us a little about yourself. 
Bobbie: Thank you, kind sir, but all women seem like modern day wonder women at times. I live in Troup, Texas on a small acreage with my husband and a cast of critters. I have four children, three grandchildren, one stepson, one step-grandson, and one great-grand daughter.  No, unfortunately, I didn’t marry young, lol. I belong to a writers group, critique group, speak at various organizations and write, write, write.
I am CEO, Editor, and Acquisitions Mgr. for a publishing company and am a published author.

D.E.: How long have you been writing, or when did you start writing?
Bobbie:  I retired in 2002 and began writing in about 2004.

D.E.: What compels you to write?
Bobbie: When I was a child my mother and grandfather told me some wonderful stories that compelled me to share.

D.E.: Do you write primarily in one genre?
Bobbie: No, I write whatever strikes my fancy. I’m not sure what or when I’ll get inspired, but whatever idea comes up, I’ll write in any genre.

D.E.: Where do you get your motivation or inspiration from? 
Bobbie: Everywhere, people’s off the wall remarks, television, magazines, characters I’ve known.

D.E.: Tell us of your first publishing experience.
Bobbie: After submitting for years and receiving nothing but rejections, I wasn’t prepared when after submitting one Sat. night late, I was informed the very next morning that my story was accepted. I was stunned and cried like a baby.

D.E.: Are you self published or do you use a publisher?
Bobbie: I, personally, do not self-publish. I use publishers.
  
D.E.: How many books have you written?
Bobbie: I’ve written about 20 books, three are available, two will be released in the next couple months, and three more by the end of the year.

D.E.: Are your books available in both, print and e-book format?
Bobbie: Yes, they are, from Amazon, B&N, www.dancingwithbearpublishing, and can be obtained from any of the book signings or organizations I speak at.

D.E.: As a writer is there a particular obstacle you face?
Bobbie: The only obstacle I am ever concerned about is wanting to live long enough to write everything I want to.

D.E.: What is the most difficult for you to write?
Bobbie: Non-fiction

D.E.: Do you self edit or hire an editor?
Bobbie:  I, of course, edit as much as I can, but my publishers have editors on their staff who edit it for publishing.

D.E.: Do you have any tips or tricks to help keep your ideas in order or at least from being forgotten?
Bobbie: I always say that my stories beg me to tell them and don’t let me rest until I write it down, so no I don’t have any tips, so far, I’ve not needed any tricks to remember…

D.E.: Do you prefer pen on paper for drafts or do you stay strictly on a computer?
Bobbie: I write strictly on the computer although I do take notes on research I do for the story so I don’t have to go back in the manuscript and remember all the info.

D.E.: Do you have a favourite place to write or do you write anywhere and everywhere? 
Bobbie: I write in my bedroom office only. I do daydream anywhere and everywhere when an idea blossoms.
 
D.E.: Do you have a writing schedule? 
Bobbie: I’ve found that I write better in the morning, but often find myself rewriting late at night when everyone is asleep.

D.E.: What sort of advice would you give to other authors out there? 
Bobbie: Have faith in yourself, don’t give up and by all means, write, write, write. Also join a writers org. and establish a critique group.

D.E.: Were did you get the inspiration for The Secrets of Eagle Creek series?
Bobbie: Secrets of Eagle Creek is the second in the series, Secrets of Eagle Creek. Loves Golden Dream, the first book, came from a television show about the discovery of a sunken ship from 1857 and I wondered what if this girl had been on board and survived. Legacy is about a family 50 years later that moves into the house that girl from Loves Golden Dream built. All the series functions around that house, Eagle Creek Manor

D.E.: Tell us a little about The Mark of the Dragonfly. 
Bobbie: Mark of the Dragonfly is about a young orphan boy who at the age of fourteen is rescued from the orphanage and taken to a fantasy world where he discovered  he is descended from a line of warriors.

D.E.: What are you working on now and what's next?
Bobbie: I have a fantasy book coming out this summer, Quest for the Sorcerer’s Staff and Miracle at Sycamore Grove, Book III in the Eagle Creek Series coming out July 4th. The sequel to Mark of the Dragonfly is recently completed and hopefully will be published spring of 2014.

D.E.: Which do you find more fulfilling to write, the short story or the novel?
Bobbie: Being a long-winded southern woman, novels are easier to write, but I do enjoy jotting off a short story now and then.

D.E.: With raising miniature horses, donkeys, goats, rabbits, and chickens, and all the while keeping your house and husband happy, how do you find the time to write?
Bobbie: Anyone can find time to do the things they love. You just have to work out a schedule that becomes a way of life.

D.E.: Where can readers find you and your work? 
Bobbie: My work can be found on Amazon.com, www.dancingwithbearpublishing.com , CaliburnBook.com Malachite Quills Publishing,  facebook, Linked In, Twitter, or at any of the dozens of book signings here in East Texas. You can contact me at [email protected]


Thanks again, Bobbie.  It's been great interviewing you.    I wish you all the best and look forward to more great works.

D.E. 

Welcome, Kirstin, to D.E. Dunlop.  Thank you for taking the time to do this interview.


D.E.: Tell us a little about yourself. 
Kirstin: Let’s see… I was born and raised in Southern California, and later graduated from Oregon State University (Go Beavs!) with a degree in Forest Management.  I am happily married with two small children, 4 and 5.  I believe life is an adventure, and try to make every day memorable.

D.E.: How long have you been writing, or when did you start writing? 
Kirstin: I have been writing my whole life.  It has always been my creative outlet… some people sing, some paint, some cook…  I write.  I didn’t start pursuing it as a career until a couple of years ago.

D.E.: Do you write primarily in one genre?
Kirstin:  So far, my writing has focused on the fantasy genre.  It is one of my favorites, and one that my mind is naturally drawn to.  I love the idea of good triumphing over evil, Prince Charming waiting around the corner, damsels in distress, and that magic is as real as science.

D.E.: What compels you to write?
Kirstin:  It sounds silly, but there are moments that I see something, and a scene or idea just pops into my head.  In those moments, a story unfolds in my mind, and I am compelled to tell it. 

D.E.: As a writer is there a particular obstacle you face?  If so, how do you get around it?
Kirstin:  My biggest obstacle is balance.  I struggle to find the right ways to juggle writing, social networking, and marketing with my family life.  I am constantly shuffling things, and trying to find a balance that works… I am still a work in progress on that.  Ha!

D.E.: Tell us of your experience getting your first work published.
Kirstin:  A couple of years ago, I started thinking about what I wanted to do when my kids were older and in school full time.  With a blank slate in front of me, I started to think about what I truly wanted to do.  There was only one thing that popped into mind.  I wanted to write. 

With that revelation in mind, I began to do what I needed to do… I edited my book, edited it some more, queried agents, edited more, queried publishers, edited more… after a year of this cycle I received a contract from Malachite Quills Publishing.

D.E.: How many books have you written? 
Kirstin: I have written 2 books.  The Escape of Princess Madeline and its sequel, The Battle for Princess Madeline.  The third and final of this series should be ready Winter 2013.

D.E.: Are you self published or do you use a publisher?  Kirstin: Both.  My first book, The Escape of Princess Madeline is published through an independent publisher, Malachite Quills (Caliburn Books).  The sequel, The Battle for Princess Madeline is being published directly through me.  There are pros and cons to both... and I am grateful for what I have learned through both processes.

D.E.: Do you self edit or hire an editor?
Kirstin:  Haha, hire an editor!!!  I write the first draft, and the first round of edits before sending off to a team of beta readers.  They help me notice any holes in the storyline or development.  From there, I do another round of edits, and then send off to an editor.  

D.E.: Are your books also available in print, or are they primarily in e-book format?
Kirstin:  Yes!  They are available in print and digital.  Since my books are targeted for the upper elementary/ tween age, I find that having the paperback option helps.

D.E.: Do you have any tips or tricks to help keep your ideas in order or at least from being forgotten?
Kirstin:   Write them down!!!  I have a notebook that I keep in my purse, so whenever an idea, a bit of dialogue, or a new arc of a storyline hits I can write it down.  I also use the microphone option on my cell phone, if I can’t write.  When inspiration calls, I have to answer.

D.E.: Do you prefer pen on paper for drafts or do you stay strictly on a computer?
Kirstin:  Mainly computer.  I wrote my first book in a spiral notebook, and then transferred it all to the computer when I was done, and did my first round of edits in the process.  I find having it all in the computer is nice, it helps me track my word count, allows me a quick reference back to certain areas, and speeds the whole process up.

D.E.: Do you have a favorite place to write or do you write anywhere and everywhere?
Kirstin:  Yes!  I call my website “The Literary Closet” due to the fact that my main writing space is in my master closet.  It is one place that I can escape at home and have some quiet to write… on the weekends, I write in my car overlooking a wheat field.

D.E.: Do you have a writing schedule?
Kirstin:  I am trying to get better at this and more disciplined for a consistent schedule.  I try and wake up an hour before the kids and get up to have some quiet time, as well as after bedtime.  During the day, I am 100% focused mommy.

D.E.: How do your stories unfold?  Are they plotted first and then filled out or do they simply unravel as you go?
Kirstin:  I am a plotter.  Before I sit down to write my first draft, I have a clear outline of what is going to happen.  The major story arcs, conflicts and twists are all designed.  From there, I weave my words to follow the structure, but allow for sudden changes that may develop.  For me, this keeps my thoughts more streamlined and plot holes a bit tighter.

D.E.:  What are you working on now and what's next?
Kirstin:  Right now I am promoting the release of the sequel, The Battle for Princess Madeline, which releases May 29th, and am working on the first draft for the third and final book in the series, The Dragon and Princess Madeline (Winter 2013)

D.E.: How do you go from a degree in Forest Management to being an author of Young Adult Fantasy?
Kirstin:  Haha, well, I say every day is an adventure that you never know where it will take you.  This is an example where I can say I have been a writer my whole life.  I remember being in the woods on my lunch breaks, writing.  I would be out on fires, and in the evening, I would be writing a story.  I am an outdoorsy girl, feeling completely at home and at ease in nature.  What I found, for me, was that working in the forest, took the enjoyment out of it.  Having the joy removed from one of my favorite past times was too high a price… and so life took a detour, and a new career path.

D.E.: Where can readers find you and your work?
Kirstin:  So many places!!!!  I love to connect with new readers and fans.

Website:  www.kirstinpulioff.com

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/kirstinpulioffauthor

Twitter:  @KirstinPulioff

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6558842.Kirstin_Pulioff

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Kirstin-Pulioff/e/B00A2498Z2/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

 

D.E.: Let's hear some "Shout-Outs".
Kirstin: Who are the people you would like to thank?  A big thank you to my husband, who supports me and stands behind me 100%, and to my kids.   They teach me every day to be grateful for the little things, to believe in magic, and to live life to its fullest.

Thanks, Kirstin, for taking time out of your busy schedule.  I greatly appreciate it. You've been exciting and insightful.  May God bless the release of your new book and, of course, your family.
D.E.

Today, as promised, I am interviewing K.A. Krisko.  First of all I would like to say, welcome, Kathy, to D.E. Dunlop.com.  We've got lots of questions for you so let's get started.

D.E.; How long have you been writing, or when did you start writing?
K.A.; Recently I was going through some boxes I had stored on an upper shelf, and I found a "book" written in crayon when I was six years old. I also found a sci-fi book I wrote when I was sixteen - pretty trite and terrible stuff! My mom taught me to type on an old manual Royal typewriter when I was six or seven, so she could read what I'd written (to this day I still pound on my keyboard like it's a typewriter!). She was an English Literature graduate from William & Mary, and she encouraged me to write as soon as I could do it. However, I didn't publish anything until 2005.
 
D.E.;  Do you write primarily in one genre?
K.A.; I do at the moment - fantasy fiction. But my first published works were non-fiction short stories, and I'd already written a mystery (not published) at that time. Now I've got three fantasy-fiction and one book of short stories out, as well as shorts in four other anthologies.
 
D.E.; Where do you get your motivation or inspiration from?
K.A. I think from all the stuff my mom read to me when I was a kid and the stuff I continued reading as a young adult. I throw together the Oz books and Carlos Castaneda, Tolkien and Asimov. But I also get inspiration from music. Sometimes I'll be listening and a storyline will just start to evolve. Sometimes I ask myself a question, and the answer becomes an entire book!
 
D.E.; Tell us about your first publishing experience.
K.A.; After I adopted two rescued cattle dogs, I saw a request for the submission of stories about rescued animals on the rescue organization's website. I submitted two stories, one about my two dogs and one about another dog I had rescued. Those two were published in "Happy Endings One and Two", edited by Bonnie Marlewski-Probert. One of them, One Wet Dog, is available as a single now, too, and also was included in the Snow Deer anthology.
 
D.E.; How many books have you written?
K.A.; Well...I've written five, but only three are out. That first one, a mystery, may never see the light of day! Let's call it a practice piece...I also have four short stories and my own anthology of shorts out.
 
D.E.; Are you self published or do you use a publisher?
K.A.; Stolen and Crypt of Souls, the first two of a trilogy, were published by the Chimera Tales imprint of Malachite Quills Publishing. But The Snow Deer and Cornerstone are both self-published.

D.E.; Are your books also available in print, or are they only available as e-books?
K.A.; Everything's available in both print and ebook form. I read both, myself, and I like having copies of my books with the nice cover art to look at!
 
D.E.; As a writer is there a particular obstacle you face?
K.A.; Hmmm. One of my dogs likes to put his face on my computer and bring up hundreds of calculators...of course, there's the day job and all that other stuff, like walking the dogs, eating, sleeping, and chores, that I would sometimes prefer not to do. But I don't face any serious obstacles, fortunately.
 
D.E.; What is the most difficult for you to write about?
K.A.; Sex! I don't like reading graphic sex scenes and I don't like writing them either. So I usually just...don't!
 
D.E.; Do you self edit or do you hire an editor?
K.A.; Stolen and Crypt of Souls were both edited by a professional (Suzanne Baldwin) and I learned a TON from that experience! Some of my shorts were edited by the editors of the anthologies they were included in. But Cornerstone went through alpha/beta reading and not a professional editor. If you can afford it, I think it's important to use an editor, but I've also discovered that editing is a very subjective thing. One person can edit a section completely differently from another and come out with a whole different feel.

D.E.; Where did you get the inspiration for the "Stolen" trilogy?
K.A.; I was driving to town listening to The Hazards of Love, a Decemberists album, and the short story that became the first chapter started to form in my mind. I wrote it down that evening, but I knew there was more. Over the next month, I wrote the first draft of the first book, and went directly to the second one after that. I was actually kind of surprised. I finished the third one about nine months later and started submitting it.
 
D.E.;  Tell us something about this trilogy we won't find on a preview page.
K.A.; The trilogy ends with a very strange relationship.
 
D.E.; What are you working on now?  What's next?
K.A.; I'm working on a short story for an anthology, the proceeds of which will benefit Water Aid. I'm also beginning to put together my ideas for a sequel to Cornerstone, and I'm hoping to start working on editing the third book of the Stolen trilogy soon. I've got a few other ideas, as well.
 
D.E.; Do you have any tips or tricks to help keep your ideas in order or at least from being forgotten?
K.A.; I've recently started using Scrivener, which I really like. But of course, there's good ol' pen-and-paper for when I'm driving around or otherwise can't get to a computer.
 
D.E.; Do you prefer pen on paper for drafts or do you stick strictly to your computer?
K.A.; I type on the computer. I can't go fast enough with handwriting!
 
D.E.; Do you have a favourite place to write or do you write anywhere and everywhere?
K.A.; I used to write exclusively at a desktop with a full-sized keyboard, but after my desktop crashed, I started using my laptop more. Now I sit in my recliner with my laptop on my knees, usually the TV on and my dogs hanging around.
 
D.E.; How do your stories unfold?  Are they plotted first and then filled out or do they simply unravel as you go?
K.A.; Both. I like to have an ending in mind, but the middle often just comes as I head out towards that ending. I do often write out character sketches, family trees, and I hand-draw maps and timelines so I don't get lost and mess up my consistency. I also write lists of words, places, and names and create documents as background. For the Stolen trilogy, some of those are available on the dedicated Stolen website, www.stolenworld.com.
 
D.E.; Do you have a writing schedule?
K.A.; Nope. I figure it happens when it happens. However, my most productive time seems to be early evening, around 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., so I try to at least write something in that time period.
 
D.E.;  Let's hear some shout outs.
K.A.; I recently read several books by Indie authors that I really enjoyed and can recommend: two by S.J. Hunter (Longevity, a sci-fi novel, and The Ruthlessness of Cats and Dogs, a kind of cozy mystery); a sci-fi by Eric Dulin (Condemned), and a historical romance by Michele McGrath (Manannan's Magic - really a lot more than a romance). There are some good Indie authors out there!
 
D.E.;  Where can readers find you and your work?
K.A.; I have a couple of websites. My main site is at www.kakrisko.com. I'm also on Facebook, I have a tumblr (www.castlestones.tumblr.com) and I'm on Pinterest, Shelfari, LinkedIn, and, of course, Goodreads! I recently started a Twitter account, but I'm not doing much with it at this point.
 
D.E.; My wife's dog has recently learned how to bay like a coyote when she wants more attention.  Tell us about your dogs.
K.A.; That's funny! I bet it does get her attention! I have two Australian Cattle Dogs (sometimes called cattle dogs, heelers, blue heelers, or red heelers). One is an 11-year-old female. She is "red", has one floppy ear, and is a real sweety who loves people. She has her little quirks and she has eaten several of my plants and the spines off a bunch of my books. The second is a slightly-troubled drama queen "blue" heeler male, age three. He is currently on Prozac due to a little mis-wiring. He would be a great agility dog if he didn't forget what he was doing in the middle of it. I've had two other heelers in the past, too, and I've loved them all, although they are a real pain sometimes!

Well, that about wraps up my questions today.  Thank you very much, Kathy, for your time.  I do greatly appreciate it.  I wish you all the best in your future.
D.E.

Coming soon!  Interview with K.A.Krisko, author of, "Stolen".

Hello; Steve.  Let me first say welcome to D.E. Dunlop and thank you for taking the time for this interview.

D.E.; Why don't you begin by telling us a little about yourself?

Steve; I just turned 40 and am happily married to my wife Tara, together we have two teenage sons and two wonderful dogs, Olive and Angel. We have lived in Guelph, Ontario for almost 15 years and truly love it here. It is a city, but feels much more like a small town.

I worked in the automotive manufacturing industry for 14 years before leaving the company I was working for to go out into business for myself as a graphic and web designer. Very recently, my wife and I decided it was time to push myself as a cartoonist as well.

D.E.; How long have you been cartooning?

Steve; Since I was 5 years old. I have always known I wanted to be an artist and I love creating cartoon characters. Until the last few years, it has really been just for me, having not shared my work with anyone, but it has been a burning desire in me for many years.

I became an expert at drawing “Garfield” while in grade school and gravitated to superhero drawing in high school. I then discovered web-comics in my thirties that re-ignited that fire once again.

D.E.; How did you get into cartooning or what inspired you to start?

Steve; I have wanted to be an artist since I was 5 years old. In fact, my mom has an old album filled with my school photos from kindergarten to grade 8 and every year I checked off wanting to be an artist when I grew up.

I discovered “Garfield” when I was younger and that fat cat inspired me to become a cartoonist. I remember how clean the lines were and how consistently the characters were drawn, and I just had to learn how to do that. I later discovered “Calvin and Hobbes” and was blown away by how different it was from “Garfield” but how I still loved it. At the time I felt that Watterson had created the perfect strip and that anything I came up with would never compare. That’s probably why it took me another 30 years to start. 

D.E.; What is it you like most about cartooning?

Steve; I love the fact that I have readers who love reading the strip. Hearing that people enjoy your work is so amazing; I can’t truly describe the feeling. I pour myself into this work and try so hard to make it entertaining because I can’t let my readers down.

 It’s really funny, but there are certain strips I have done that I felt weren’t overly good or funny, but have gotten big responses from. It blows me away sometimes, but then there are the strips that I spent hours on crafting the perfect set-up to the joke and… nothing. You just never know what is going to hit with an audience. I just stick with the adage to write what I know and do it because you love it then trust there will always be an audience for it.
        
D.E.; Is there anything you have trouble cartooning?

Steve; What? Preposterous! I can cartoon anything, anything I say! Except maybe cars, and motorcycles, or boats or any vehicle, to be honest. I have always struggled with drawing vehicles; they are just not in my wheelhouse. I tend to write stories that don’t have those things in them, but I certainly don’t avoid them altogether. Whenever a joke will benefit from the inclusion of a vehicle, I bite the bullet and get to work doing the best I can. I can say that I have improved over the years, but drawing vehicles is still my kryptonite.
  
D.E.; What type of education or background do you have in art, web-marketing, internet business or the like?

Steve; I have a Fine Arts diploma from the School of Design and Visual Arts, Georgian College and am a certified Associate of Adobe Photoshop and Dreamweaver. I have taken multiple online courses to teach myself various Adobe programs including Illustrator, Acrobat and Flash. I am proficient in HTML and CSS and I also have an understanding of basic Javascript, jQuery and PHP programming. 

As a designer, I have used these skills to help other businesses with their marketing materials and of course, have learned a few things about marketing, SEO and Social Media along the way, but I would certainly not call myself an expert in those areas. In many cases, I team up with other business people to provide any service I currently do not.
  
D.E.; Tell us about digital drawing.

Steve; Digital is my current drawing method, but it wasn’t when I started “Worth it” back in 2009. My current set up includes a Wacom Intuous 4 drawing tablet connected to my iMac and I draw using Photoshop CS6.

When getting a Wacom tablet, the big criticism I heard was the learning curve of looking at your screen while drawing and not at your hand. I can tell you that the learning curve was very short for me. I was amazed at how quickly I adapted. After discussing this with colleagues of mine, I have heard the same thing, that it was very easy to adapt. 

Wacom and Photoshop give me a lot of options and settings that make the experience as close to drawing with traditional media as possible. There are settings that allow me to draw as if drawing with a pencil, and then with a push of a button, it is like drawing with a pen.
  
D.E.; How does digital drawing compare to traditional methods of drawing?  Which do you prefer?

Steve; Like I said earlier, the tablet has settings that make it look as if I am drawing with different materials, but it doesn’t give me the feel of traditional materials. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love drawing digitally and I currently have no plans to experiment with painting or printing in the near future, but I do still carry a sketchbook. 

One thing a sketchbook has always meant for me was that I could always flip through it and see the good work and the bad. I could see ideas that I had before and forgot about. I could inspire myself with all the ideas I jotted down, but with digital media, you need to look for files and if you don’t like them, just throw them in the trash. There’s no sense of permanency.
  
D.E.; Does digital drawing limit you to your desktop or can you use a hand held device?

Steve; My current set-up does limit me to using my desktop, but that is not to say there aren’t hand held alternatives. I have been doing some research and the Microsoft Surface Pro seems to have very good pressure sensitivity. Meanwhile, Wacom, the makers of my drawing tablet are making their own hand held tablet for artists, so I am waiting for that to be released.

D.E.; Tell us about, "Worth It".

Steve; A slice of life tale with a twist, Worth it follows a middle-aged superhero sidekick who abandoned his own dreams and took the only job he ever knew in order to provide for his family. A member of “Justice Ltd” and partnered with ESP, a cantankerous and egotistical enchanted sock puppet, Kirby patrols the mean streets of Guelph, Ontario. 

Thankfully, he has a supportive, if somewhat sardonic wife, Sue and two teenage sons, both of whom keep him guessing. Grayson, the elder is a boy in a mans body finding joy in all things immature while Drake, the younger, is beyond his years, finding contempt for what his father does for a living. 

Together they have formed a bond that defies logic but defines family. 

D.E.; What inspired you to start "Worth It"?

Steve; My wife. After years of talking about creating a comic strip, she was finally able to convince me to do it. The name came from the idea that even though I hated my job, it provided for my family, so it was worth it. Originally, the idea was to basically create a strip about my family. Whenever something funny happened that could be translated into a comic, my wife and I looked at each other and said aloud “Worth it”. 

My original strips were sent off to cartooning syndicates to see if I could get into the newspapers and after a few weeks of waiting, I was rejected by all of them. Although that was a bit of a setback, I had discovered web comics, and some of my favourites, Scott Kurtz of PVP, Brad Guigar of Evil Inc, Dave Kellet of Sheldon and Kris Straub of Starslip had written a book “How to make Webcomics”. I read the book and decided to self-publish. Considering the newspaper industry right now, I’m glad I have taken this road.
  
I took the original idea of using my family, but added some bizarre twists, like the main character Kirby being a superhero sidekick and his partner is a magical sock puppet that he must wear. I also added some colourful characters to round out the superhero chicanery and recently, I have established that these fictional goings-on happen right here, in Guelph Ontario.

D.E.; How long does it take to create one installment?

Steve; Hmmm…tough question. It does vary depending on the subject matter, but I’m fairly confident in saying that my process usually takes about 4 hours. If I am creating a strip with 6 panels, since I do a 2 tiered comic. That will take longer, and if I am doing a single panel, that will obviously take less time. 

D.E.; How long have you been writing it?

Steve; I have been creating my strip “Worth it” since 2009 at the same time I started my business.

D.E.; What are your plans for the future?

Steve; Funny you should ask, David. My future begins now. I have made changes to my business so that my cartooning will take centre stage. My goal is to build a business around my cartooning and illustration abilities and hopefully, one day soon, I can create “Worth it”, full time.

D.E.; What kind of advice do you have for other cartoonists?

Steve; I have some of the cliché stuff, like, never give up and believe in yourself, which, as hackneyed as it sounds is still advice you need to adhere to. But advice I think every artist needs is to keep a sketchbook and NEVER rip out any pages, no matter what. I look into my old sketchbooks and see pages missing and wonder what was on them. There are ideas I had that may not have been executed well back then, but I could go back to now with more skill and confidence, but are lost forever. Keep a sketchbook, keep a sketchbook and keep a sketchbook. Did I mention keeping a sketchbook?

D.E.; Do you have any "Shout Outs"?

Steve; First and foremost, my wife and business partner Tara. She has recently started actively working with me on the promotion side of things and has done an amazing job in the short while she has done it. Things are looking up for “Worth it”. 

My parents, who have always been supportive. 

Amy and Jen of The Dragon Comics and Games store here in Guelph. They are always supportive and have an original strip hanging in the store. 

Scott Kurtz, Brad Guigar, Dave Kellet, Kris Straub, Mike Krahulik, Jerry Holkins, Danielle Corsetto, Lar deSouza, Ryan Sohmer, Stephen Silver for inspiring me to do this on my own.

Scott Chantler and Scott Mooney, who are fantastic local cartoonists who I have recently connected with. Very inspiring.

D.E.; Finish this sentence.  "If I am not cartooning I am..."

Steve; asleep or dead. 

D.E.; Where can people find you and/or your work?

Steve; You can find my work at
www.worthitonline.com
On Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Worthitonline  
And on Twitter @ThatSteveMills

Thank you very much, Steve, for taking the time to talk with me.  This has been great and informative.  I look forward to seeing how things go for you and, "Worth It".  Hopefully we shall talk to you again here soon.
D.E.