Monday, May 18, 2009

Make-Believe Mondays With Maria Geraci

Today on Make-Believe Mondays I am thrilled to introduce everyone to my American Title II sister, Maria Geraci, now that her first book is out!

Maria, first, tell us a little bit about the manuscript you’re working on now.

Maria: I’m working on a proposal for the third Bunco Babes book. It’s tentatively titled Bunco Babes Back in Action and features the characters I introduced in my first two books, as well as a new protagonist. It’s not sold yet, but keep your fingers crossed for me!

Debra: I will cross all fingers and toes for you!

Ray Bradbury said, “We are cups, constantly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out.” How do you keep your creative cup filled?

Maria: I’m always reading, watching films, being inspired by the real people and events in my life. You know the old saying ‘truth is stranger than fiction’? Well, it’s true! I find inspiration in the everyday things that make our lives so important- family and friends.

Debra: Yes, that's so true! Lately I've been completely revising one of my manuscripts because of life changes and events, which makes me glad that one hasn't sold yet. And I love old films too. In Memphis there is a summer film series at the Orpheum which starts this Friday and I'm planning to go see Breakfast at Tiffanys. One of my favorites.

Is there a point when your characters begin to come alive and you can see and hear them?

Maria: Definitely. It’s faster with some characters than others, but there’s always a sort of ‘aha’ moment when I feel that I truly “know” a character. Some characters of course, try to take over the story. They’re the ones you have to watch out for and probably the most fun to write.

Debra: Yes, I know just what you mean. I have to wrestle my secondary characters sometimes because they like to steal scenes. That's better than killing them off, I am learning. lol

Some very famous authors have played with language, creating words for people or places that no one has ever heard of. Have you ever played with words in that way and if so how?

Maria: Oh yeah. One of my secondary characters in my Bunco Babes books is Cuban-American (like me). Pilar is always making up words that you won’t find in Webster’s Dictionary. Sort of like her own version of Spanglish. For instance, she refers to text-messaging as ‘tex-mexing.’ That’s a line I totally stole from my sister, by the way.

Debra: Ooh I love that! 'Tex-mexing' Your sister sounds fun and I like the name Pilar.

For some writers, dreams play a role in creating fiction. Has this been true for you? Have you ever dreamed a scene or an image that later wound up in one of your books?

Maria: I can’t say that I actually dreamed a scene (although I’m sure I probably have and just don’t remember it), but I definitely daydream scenes all the time. When I’m in the middle of writing a scene (which could take up to 2 weeks for me) I’ll be thinking of it constantly, and then at the most obscure moment- like while waiting in line at the grocery store- the perfect piece of dialogue will come to me. It’s like I’ve been subconsciously working the scene out in my head and the answer will come at the strangest time and place.

Debra: Yeah the subconscious is funny like that. At the grocery, while driving, or at the sink with hands in the soapy dishwater. Then it's oh shoot where's a pen? lol

As a child did any particular book or author pull you into their imaginary world?

Maria: I loved Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. I think I read that book a dozen times. I was drawn by the strong female characters and the historical time period that I found so fascinating.

Debra: Oh, that's one of the best.

If there were no categories for books, no reader expectations to meet, and you could create the wildest work of imagination that you could think of what kind of story would that be?

Maria: I think I would write some erotica. Something really crazy and out there, but honestly, I’d probably be too embarrassed by what I came up with to ever show it to anyone!

Debra: lol You are so funny. (Course if you wrote it under a different name like so many authors do, no one would know it was you!)

Is there anything else you would like to add about the role of imagination, and dreams in creating fiction? Any other message for our readers?

Maria: I think one of the most important things while writing is to always let the characters tell the story. While plotting is good (and necessary) don’t let a plot become so rigid that you miss the spontaneity that happens during the creative process. Sometimes our characters really do know what’s best.

Debra: Excellent advice, Maria. Thank you for joining me here on this Make-believe Monday to share a little bit of the magic of writing with our readers.

Maria: Thanks for having me!

Debra: My pleasure!

Maria: I’ve always wanted to be featured on Make believe Monday!

Debra: And I've been waiting for the day your first book would come out so you could visit!

Readers please visit Maria at
www.mariageraci.com

-------------------------------------------------
Debra's News/Debra is watching:

www.debraparmley.com

Monday, May 11, 2009

Make-Believe Mondays with Shiela Stewart


Today my guest on Make-Believe Mondays is Shiela Stewart.

Shiela, first, tell us a little bit about the manuscript you’re working on now.

Shiela: Right now I’ve just finished writing the last book in my Darkness series, Surviving the Darkness. It’s the eighth book in the series and for now, the Darkness series is done. For now. I may very well revisit Jacob’s Cove in the future and tell more vampire tales. What is the Darkness series, you may ask. Let me tell you. The Darkness series is a tale of a group of humans and vampires who are fighting to keep the city of Jacob’s Cove safe from vampires after the sun is blotted out during a ritual to bring forth the vampire king. With each book, the story continues, bringing love to the heroes and heroines amongst the darkest of times while they try to bring the sun back.

Debra: For some writers, dreams play a role in creating fiction. Has this been true for you? Have you ever dreamed a scene or an image that later wound up in one of your books?

Shiela: It’s funny you should mention this. A lot of my books have come from my dreams. Though, very rarely are they romantic. Most of my dreams are scary such as the dream that that helped spawn my Demon series (yet unpublished).I usually take the dream, add some key points, fill in the plot and add a romantic aspect to it. Sometimes all I’ll have is a short dream scene but it’s enough to get my mind rolling to create a story.

Kidnapped, my first novel published came from a dream I had where a woman was held captive and thought it was a joke so she didn’t really take it seriously. I took the idea and rolled with it. Secrets of the Dead came from a dream I had of a vicious ghost holding a guy hostage in a house, tormenting him. When I woke, I took the idea and changed it around to have the hero possess the ability to communicate with the dead investigating a supposed haunted house with near dire consequences.
I have a vivid imagination.

Debra: It sounds like your imagination is quite busy when you are dreaming. All it takes is a short dream scene to spark a story. Our dream lives can be so rich and vivid with detail.

If there were no categories for books, no reader expectations to meet, and you could create the wildest work of imagination that you could think of what kind of story would that be?

Shiela: Actually, I have created something like this. The story is called Mind over Madness and it’s about a young man, sixteen, desperate for his father’s attention ends up murdering a family. Unfortunately for him, he didn’t account for the fact that he might be seen and ends up going on the run. While trying to stay one step ahead of the police he meets various people, including a talking cat. He’s having the time of his life, getting into bars without ID, sleeping with several women and coming out the victor in several fights against men twice his size. Yet all the while a little voice inside his mind keeps reminding him of the family he killed. When he wakes up in his own bed, he laughs it off as having been a wild dream only to find the cops waiting for him outside his house. It’s one of those stories a reader would think had been created by a stoned author. LOL
It has yet to be published.

Debra: I won't ask if you were when you wrote it. LOL

Is there anything else you would like to add about the role of imagination, and dreams in creating fiction? Any other message for our readers?

Shiela: If there is a story swirling inside your mind, write it down. It may never be published, or it very well might be the next New York Times best seller. If you want to write about a talking bunny who falls in love with a woman then finds out he is actually human and needs the woman to break the spell, then go for it. You never know who will want to read it. J
Write what interests you and don’t let anyone tell you it’s not right.

Debra: Good advice, Shiela. Thank you for joining us here on this Make-believe Monday to share a little bit of the magic of writing with our readers.

Shiela: Thank you for the wonderful interview!

Debra: You're quite welcome. It's been fun.

To find out more about Shiela and her books, go to
www.shielasbooks.ca

Here is the list of Darkness books already released.
Seducing the Darkness. Desiring the Darkness. Embracing the Darkness. Charming the Darkness. Tempting the Darkness. Soon to be released, Penetrating the Darkness. For more information on the Darkness series go to
www.shielasbooks.ca/TheDarknessSeries.htm

-------------------------------------------------
Debra's News/Debra is Watching:

This week I am working hard on revisions to my contemporary romance.
Planning a book signing in Bartlett TN for June as well.

Watch my website for photos from the RT convention and other updates.
www.debraparmley.com

Authors who wish to be interviewed on Make-Believe Mondays, please use the registration form on my website. Thanks!

Monday, May 04, 2009

Make-Believe Mondays with Missy Jane



Today on Make-Believe Mondays, my guest is Missy Jane.

Missy, first, tell us a little bit about the manuscript you’re working on now.

Missy: My current Work In Progress is a sequel to They Call Me Death, about Andor’s daughter Emily. In Death, he is searching for her and reveals that she is thought to have been kidnapped. They are Golden Eagle shape shifters, but Emily’s mother is human so she has quite a few issues to work out both internally and with the prejudice against shifters in her world.

Debra: Now I'm curious as to whether she has been kidnapped and by who. ;-)

Ray Bradbury said, “We are cups, constantly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out.” How do you keep your creative cup filled?

Missy: By reading a lot. I believe most of the authors I admire inspire me. Also my children are such a wonderful resource, I don’t think I would be doing this if it weren’t for them.

Debra: Yes, children are a wonderful treasure, especially the way their imaginations simply take off and fly.

Is there a point when your characters begin to come alive and you can see and hear them?

Missy: Absolutely. I joke about hearing voices in my head, but that’s not far from the truth. It might not be an actual voice, but my characters definitely invade my thoughts to the point where I HAVE to write to get them to leave me alone.

Debra: You've described it very well. Characters and stories certainly can be persistent, somewhat like children if they think we've ignored them too long.

Some very famous authors have played with language, creating words for people or places that no one has ever heard of. Have you ever played with words in that way and if so how?

Missy: Yes. I have a few fantasy novels I’m working on and one in particular involves many different species that came straight from my imagination. A few of the names just popped into my head out of nowhere, and I even googled them to make sure I wasn’t accidentally plagiarizing. When it comes to language, I’m definitely not in league with Tolkien, so I tend to revert back to Latin.

Debra: I'm not sure anyone will ever match Tolkien. And things that come straight from our imaginations are usually the best things.

If there were no categories for books, no reader expectations to meet, and you could create the wildest work of imagination that you could think of what kind of story would that be?

Missy: Probably something along the lines of what I’ve already written. When I began writing I wasn’t even reading Romance yet. Most of my WIP and They Call Me Death, were written without any consideration for genre, or even audience. I was writing for myself and still do that for the most part. I’m an avid reader and if I wouldn’t want to read it I’m not going to write it.

Debra: Then you'll stay true to yourself and never veer off course. That's a very good rule.

Is there anything else you would like to add about the role of imagination, and dreams in creating fiction? Any other message for our readers?

Missy: The possibilities are endless and a writer is truly only limited by his/her own imagination. There may be a lot of books that are similar because they’ve all been inspired by the same stories, but no two are exactly alike. It’s the subtle differences that make reading such a wonderful experience.

Debra: Missy, thank you for joining us here on this Make-believe Monday to share a little bit of the magic of writing with our readers.

Missy: Thanks for having me!

Ms. Missy Jane is the alter ego of a Texas mother of four who has been married to the same wonderful man for thirteen years. About five years ago Missy finished reading a book by Mercedes Lackey and thought "Now, what if..." and a monster was created. Missy now spends most of her time lost in worlds of her own making alternately loving and hating such creatures as vampires, shape-shifters and gargoyles (to name a few). When not writing, she spends her time reading, taking photos of her beautiful daughters and training her husband to believe she's always right. Excerpts from Missy's work can be found at
www.missyjane.com
Missy’s first book, They Call me Death is available from Samhain Publishing

------------------------------------------------------------
Debra's News/Debra is Watching:

It was a busy twelve days in Orlando and RT was wonderful as always. Things just get better and better every year! I am already looking forward to RT 2010 which will be in Columbus, OH, not far from my hometown, Springfield, OH. (So you can pretty much count on me being there next year.) ;-)

It was such a joy to be teaching and such a pleasure to meet so many new friends at RT. Can't wait to see everyone's photos.

Flew home on Monday and planned to do a Make-Believe Mondays interview, but my ankles were so swollen I called my Dr. on the way home from the airport. He called in a prescription and got me in to see him the next day. They ran tests, one a scan of my veins, worried I had deep vein thrombosis. I'm happy to report all is well, the swelling has gone down and I'm fine. I try not to miss a week here with the MBM interviews but sometimes things happen. Anyway, it's good to be back!

Check www.debraparmley.com for future book signings and updates. I'm planning to set up a newsletter soon as well.

Authors who wish to be interviewed can find a form on the website as well. I schedule as far as a year out in advance.

Here is the lineup for the next five weeks:

May 4th - Missy Jane
May 11th - Shiela Stewart
May 18th - Maria Geraci
May 25th - Amy Ruttan
June 1st - Judi Fennel