BOOKWYRMS

Its been awhile since the BOOKWRYMS have had a chat, and for that I apologize. Now with the kids back to school, I hope to be able to keep this more up to date. Anyway with back to school starts the premiere's of all my favorite shows. I just saw a commercial for Survivor, one for the Amazing Race- Yipppeee, and Grey's Anatomy!! Unfortunately nothing yet for LOST, The Tudors or Robin Hood- but hey, I can start off little. :O) My poor TIVO will be working overtime!

So, what shows are you anxiously awaiting? What are you reading???

HAVE AT IT LADIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Book Review- "My Sister's Keeper"

Can a Parent love too much? Or is too much never enough?

Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate -- a life and a role that she has never challenged...until now. Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister -- and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable, a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves.

MY SISTER’S KEEPER is a story that struck a cord with me. As the sister of someone who suffered from a life threatening illness I saw first hand the struggles that parents go through to protect their child. Is this a controversial story? Some could see it as such. But for me it was a powerful, though heartbreaking story of real life. These things happen, and as a parent I could not fault Anna’s parents for making the decisions that they made. Did it mean they loved her any less? Absolutely not. If I were in the same situation would I have a baby just to save another child? I don’t know. But what I do know is that I would do everything in my power to save my child. Who could fault anyone for that?

Jodi Picoult writes a heartbreaking, emotional page turning story that I would recommend to anyone. Will it cause people to talk? Sure. Will some people disagree with the decisions made within the story? Absolutely. But I’ll be surprised if you guess the ending!

I give this book 5 *****stars.

Interview w/Author Gloria Wiederhold

Hi Everyone! Today I had the pleasure of interviewing the Author of the "Hearts of Ellan Vannin Trilogy," Historical Romances set on the Isle of Mann, Gloria Wiederhold.

Welcome Gloria!

You have some very eye catching covers! I would buy your books based on that alone!! Anyway I don't want to babble, so lets get down to business.

C of C- How long have you been writing?
GW- Thank you for the interview Andrea!

C of C- You're so welcome, it was my pleasure!
GW- I’ve been weaving tales for as long as I can remember. As a child I drew pictures, each sheet of paper represented a scene from a story. I began writing down the stories as I matured. I was always the quiet, shy teenager, later co-worker scribbling away in a corner. Storytelling has always been my passion.

C of C- Are you a plotter or a pantser?
GW- I’m a bit of both. The “spark” hits from out of the blue, most of the time. I try to visualize the makings of a story, beginning, middle and end, letting my imagination run wild until I feel compelled to write it down. I make a brief timeline jotting down events, bits and pieces of dialogue. I develop settings and character studies. As the project progresses, I usually have enough information to fill up a hefty binder. The opening line, getting past the blank page is always the hardest step for me.

C of C- Ugh, that blank page. I know what you mean!

C of C- How would you describe your voice?
GW- My voice is dark, Gothic and intense to the extreme. My love of history and archaic language definitely comes through in the prose. The dialogue is formal. I rarely use contractions unless the character is a child or person from a lower rung of society. I love when a story makes me smile here and there, but can it stir me to the very depths of my soul? Can it make me cry? I pride myself in taking risks and pushing limits as an author and taking the reader along with me for the ride.

C of C- Very interesting! You definitely have me intrigued!!!

C of C- What is your favorite part of the writing process?
GW- I love the research involved in writing historicals. I love learning all I can about the medieval world and when I make the inevitable “medieval mishap”, I’m grateful because I’ve learned something valuable. It’s frustrating when you want to get every detail right only to discover resources are limited. I’m hoping one day to take a trip via time machine so I might experience the medieval world first hand, until then, I have to rely on what facts I can dig up and my imagination can fill in the gaps. Right!

C of C- When you find that time machine, can go with you??? PLEASE!!! :O)

C of C- Where do you find your inspiration?
GW- I wish I knew. I’m “blessed” with a wild, very vivid imagination, oftentimes it’s a bit over the top. If I had to make a list of what inspires me, it would include beauty: Heroism in the face of adversity, crafting situations between lovers that will test them to the limits and require the ultimate sacrifice to achieve fulfillment. Music is a powerful driving force that sparks my imagination when I write.

C of C- Well said, I couldn't agree more!

C of C- How do you come up with your ideas/plots?
GW- I really can’t say where my ideas come from other than my passion for history. I tend to daydream about what life would have been like for people in medieval times, especially famous historical figures, like Richard III. There’s plenty of fodder for drama when you consider the events that transpired in the lives of the Plantagenet dynasty. They make the Sopranos look like meek kittens in comparison. Reading, movies and documentaries also provide inspiration to research a topic that may lead to a story.

C of C- Boy isn't that the truth!

C of C- Do you write in short stretches or for long periods of time?
GW- If I had it my way, I’d write most of the day and all night long. Suffice it to say life beckons. We humans require sleep to rejuvenate and keep us coherent.

C of C- This is true! Sometimes sleep is a good thing!

C of C- Do you write in silence or listen to music?
GW- Music helps me visualize and stay on track. Depending on my mood, I’ll listen to just about anything but my favorite genres to work by are Celtic folk, new age instrumental and classical, my Project Playlist or Andrea’s blog playlist (lol!).

C of C- lol, I love my playlist!! Each of the songs can pull a different emotion from me!! Its great to know that it does that for someone else too!!!!

C of C- Do you eat or drink while writing?
GW- I try not to bring potential hazards, like food or drink anywhere near my computer but sometimes, I bend my own rule and will take a “brain food break”. I make every attempt not to let my kids see me.

C of C- Do you research your story before you write it, or as you go?
GW- Research is an on-going process for me. I research as much as possible before I begin a project but questions always pop up along the way.

C of C- What have you learned through research that you’ll remember for the rest of your life?
GW- I try to cross reference and double check my sources. It’s always best to approach an expert in the field, if I can find one. Private collections and libraries are usually very willing to assist and normally don’t charge a fee. When I required translations of the Manx language, I contacted the Centre for Manx Studies. When I wrote “The Captain and Caillin Fynn”, I needed to research nautical terms and other information pertinent to sixteenth century seamanship. Internet searches yielded very little information, so I contacted SUNY Maritime College located right in my hometown and they were very accommodating. Yahoo Groups featuring specialized subject matter usually have members who are very knowledgeable and willing to assist.

C of C- How do you decorate your writing space?
GW- I don’t ! However, one fine day, I hope to make it look fabulous. The computer room is not my private domain, alas. My children are in and out all the time so I keep the area functional.

C of C- Boy can I sympathize! My kitchen table doubles as my office and the kids are always trying to get on my laptop, even though its strictly forbidden!!!

C of C- Are you a neat/organized writer or is your office and/or space a complete mess with sticky notes everywhere?
GW- I can’t function with clutter so I keep my work space as neat and clean as possible. My children do not always cooperate which can be very frustrating.

C of C- Does all your writing take place on a computer or do you ever write on pen and paper?
GW- Most of my writing takes place on the computer but when I have to be away from my PC, I will write using pen and paper. If I hit a “wall” in my writing, I find taking time to work out the details on paper really helps.

C of C- What is your favorite time period? And why?
GW- Most of my stories are set in the British Isles during the late medieval era. I’m fascinated by the history of this region and the complexity of all aspects of medieval life: the music, the food, the pastimes, the clothing, everything. I’m especially drawn to the Wars of the Roses and the cast of characters from that period, Richard III in particular.

C of C- I'm with you there, Gloria! I love the Medieval times, everything about it!

C of C- Do you feel a draw to the people and time period you write about?
GW- I do. I’ve had a fascination for the magic, romance, pageantry and mystique of the medieval world since childhood. I distinctly remember reading Sleeping Beauty in first grade and the combination of text, pictures and my imagination swept me away to another time and place. The more I learn about this era and how people lived, the more I’m drawn in, thus I’ve branded myself, the “Medieval Junkie”.

C of C- I'm a medieval junkie too! :O)

C of C- What character did you most enjoy writing?
GW- All my characters were a joy to write but of the males, I’d have to say Roan is my favorite. He leapt from the page and into my heart. He is all a noble knight should be and then some. He has his quirks and can be temperamental but, heck, no one’s perfect. In fact, I adore flawed, tortured men. Of the females, Rosette (Roan’s daughter) is my choice. She experienced many hardships and faced them all with courage and dignity.

C of C- They both sound wonderful!!!

C of C- Readers are always curious to know about authors lives. What is the worst job (non-writing related) you’ve ever held?
GW- I worked hard to earn a Masters in Early Childhood Education, passed all the New York State (and Florida State) Teacher Examinations (on the first go) only to discover I didn’t enjoy teaching at all. The setting is too restrictive for me and I simply could not deal with the pettiness and lack of professionalism of administrators and peers in the field. My goal is to earn a second masters in Library Science and make a career change.

C of C- What is one thing you think your readers would be interested to know about you?
GW- Let’s see, that’s a tough question. What would you like to know? Feel free to e-mail me anytime.

C of C- Are you reclusive or do you like being with other writers?
GW- I’m an extremely private and reclusive person. I always function best when working alone, especially when I’m getting a project off the ground as a first draft. I push myself hard. Once I’ve revised a project to the best of my abilities, I look forward to working with an editor. When you establish an excellent rapport with your editor, your project can really soar to levels you never imagined possible.

C of C- Do you find love scenes easy or hard to write?
GW- Love scenes are difficult to write because they have to occur naturally in the scene and they should never distract from the plot. By nature, I’m a lusty wench but as I mentioned above, I value my privacy. What you read on the page may not be the original version my dirty little mind conjured up. A few editors have requested I go back and rewrite love scenes because they might offend the “modern reader”.

C of C- hmm, you peaked my curiosity!!

C of C- Do you ever act out your scenes?
GW- GOD YEAH!
C of C- lol, :O)

C of C- How long do you wait once a story is finished to revise it?
GW- I may tweak things up every now and then but I like to wait a 1-3 months before I go back and attempt in-depth revisions.

C of C- Do you ever second guess yourself and your writing?
GW- All the time. I’m constantly going back to revise and research. I take immense pride in my work and my goal is to craft the best possible stories for my readers.

C of C- Glad to see I'm not alone. :O)

C of C- Do you ever stray from your genre? Your comfort zone?
GW- I would have to feel a very strong urge to write a story out of my comfort zone. Each genre is so specialized. It would require an enormous effort on my part to delve into uncharted territory. If I put my mind to it, I might enjoy writing paranormals, fantasies and historicals set in periods other than the medieval era.

C of C- Is it necessary to have a Critique/Writing partner?
GW- Having a critique partner is a dream come true. I’d love to have the good fortune of finding someone to collaborate with on a creative level. Who knows, maybe someday?

C of C- Probably sooner than you think!

C of C- Do you allow family and friends to read your stories?
GW- Certainly. I read to my husband on a regular basis. He’s a wee bit jealous of the heroes in my stories, especially Roan which has transferred over to any man in a kilt.

C of C- lol :O)

C of C- Is there a subject you would like to write about, but don’t because you believe it isn’t marketable?
GW- I prefer dark, poignant stories. I’m not a stickler about having a “Happily Ever After” conclusion. I know most folks get all bent out of shape if the ending doesn’t meet their criteria of a formulaic romance. This is an unfair restriction. Many of the greatest romances of all times had tragic endings, Romeo and Juliet, Wuthering Heights (my favorite), Arthur and Gweneviere, Tristan and Isolde and Abelard and Heloise (a true story).

C of C- I have to agree with you there, sometimes I enjoy an ending that isn't quite so picture perfect.

C of C- Authors make writing look so easy. Is it harder than most people imagine it to be?
GW- Like anything else, the writing process is harder than it appears to be. You have to have a passion for it because it requires vast amounts of your time and dedication. The process is something like the artist finding the sculpture in the clay. The more you work at it, the better the end result will be.

C of C- I couldn't agree more!

C of C- How long does it take you to finish a story?
GW- I can finish a first draft of a novel length story in a minimum of three months but one of my greatest joys is going back to revisit my work. I always find things I want to revise or I’ve come across pertinent information during my research ramblings that will enhance the story so I go back, again, again and again.

C of C- When you write a new story are you apprehensive about allowing others to critique it?
GW- Putting your baby out in the world to be rated and judged can be harrowing but its all the nature of the beast. As an artist, you have to be prepared to take criticism with a grain of salt. Reviews are subjective but they should be fair. Every work of art has a flaw somewhere and we are all entitled to our individual opinions. My favorite singer, Bono, gets a bad rap sometimes, poor lad. My favorite authoress, Emily Brontë received severe criticism in response to her novel, Wuthering Heights.

C of C- Which author/(s) are on your must-read list?
GW- I’ve some across wonderful authors as a reviewer including Hazel Statham (Wings E-Press), Isabel Scott (Awe Struck Publishing) and many, many others.

C of C- What is your favorite writing memory?
GW- Every time a publisher offered a contract for one of my stories, I was on a natural “high” for days. I remember each occasion most vividly. My all time favorite memory was working with a certain Samhain Publishing editor. She impacted my life more than she’ll ever know. I won’t mention her name here because she’ll blush.
C of C- Isn't it wonderful when someone can do that? Touch you in a way no one else ever could?

C of C- Do you have more than one book out now?
GW- I have a total of four titles available now and many more projects in the works. The Hearts of Ellan Vannin trilogy is available from Samhain Publishing. The three titles are, (1) The Songbird of Rushen Abbey, (2)Roan of Ellan Vannin and (3) Noble Hearts of Ellan Vannin. The fourth title is a novel inspired by the series entitled, The Captain and Caillin Fynn. This story will release on August 7, 2008 from Dark Castle Lords Publications.

C of C- Wow, you've been a busy girl!!! Congratulations!!! I know I mentioned it before we started the interview, but your covers are truly fabulous!!!

C of C- Has your writing journey been a smooth or bumpy ride?
GW- I’d have to say it’s been a bumpy ride. Prior to my hiatus from the workforce in 2004, I had no clue the e-publishing industry existed. Really! I’d go to the nearest Barnes and Nobles or the library to satisfy my need to read. The path to becoming a published author has had highs and lows but like anything else, you have to take the good with the bad. Every day brings opportunities to learn something new.

C of C- That is sooooooooo true.

C of C- What advice would you give to a new aspiring writer?
GW- Never give up and believe in yourself even when you have a bad day. Read diligently and keep writing. Research publishers with great care before you submit your baby and try to learn something new about the industry everyday.

C of C- Excellent Advice, Gloria!!!

I want to thank you for being with me today, Gloria! Its been a pleasure getting to know you, and I want to wish you the best of luck in all your future endevours!!!!

To learn more about Gloria Wiederhold go to her website at- http://loversbeckon.com/

To purchase any of her four releases you can find them at: Samhain Publishing, http://samhainpublishing.com/authors/gloria-wiederhold

or DCL Publications, http://thedarkcastlelords.com/

Interview w/Song of the Muses author, Michele Hart

~Something's Rotten at the Gates of Heaven~

Under conspiratorial inspiration of Olympian thrones,
Thalia, the Muse of Comedy,
sends a blessing of love and laughter to Drew Murphy,
a young man cursed to a short and miserable life.
But when her favorite messenger Daisy Sullivan accidentally launches the magic
--wrong time, wrong place, wrong method, wrong everything!--
Thalia must force to light buried secrets of a millennia-old family curse
and face down a most vengeful Immortal on his own bloody stage
if she wishes to free both Drew and Daisy from an unJust fate.

Ares, the God of War,
loves only one thing as much as he loves bloodshed....
How's Thalia supposed to make THAT funny?
At least, she's wearing her best sandals!

Today I had the pleasure of interviewing, Michele Hart, another author contributing to the Songs of the Muses anthology. Her story, "No Funny Stuff," is being released today by the Wild Rose Press!

Welcome Michele, I appreciate you taking the time to grant me an interview. You must be so excited about your upcoming release! And I hope you don't mind if we ask you a few questions!

C of C- How long have you been writing?
MH- Ew, complicated answer. I started writing from 1991-95, took a break for real life, then returned to the keyboard in 2005, when I rewrote all I’d written in the ‘90s, then wrote more. Haven’t stopped since.

C o C- Are you a plotter or a pantser?
MH- I was 100% pantser until I joined this anthology! I’d always generated my own stories, had never been handed an “assignment” before, so I had to learn a comfortable combination of both. And I’m glad I did. The skill will help me from now on, I’m sure.

C of C- How would you describe your voice?
MH- Not all that Romancy, in my opinion. The greatest share of my writing is Futuristic Romance, and I probably have a cooler, more gritty voice in most for those stories. But No Funny Stuff! is more light-hearted than my other stuff. Thalia had specifically requested fun.

C of C- What is your favorite part of the writing process?
MH- The unflowering of the story as I pound it out of my keyboard. I’m often very surprised at how things turn out, how earlier things mentioned in the story play through the plot. I love the surprise.

C of C- I agree with you Michele, there is nothing better than when your characters take over the story and send you on a journey you never expected!

C of C- Where do you find your inspiration?
MH- Decades of Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, and all those ‘70s reruns that had babysat me in my youth. The news and technology inspire me, as well. Science is my true love.

C of C- That is obvious to me as I speak with you!

C of C- How do you come up with your ideas/plots?
MH- I find a technology that tickles my brain, then I create the characters around that. I’m a huge Tesla fan, and he always has an idea for me.

C of C- Do you write in short stretches or for long periods of time?
MH- Long stretches, often 15-18 hours a day when I’m pounding out a first draft. I don’t sleep more than 5-6 hours then, and not many breaks. Usually the story’s bursting out of me.

C of C- Wow!! I wish I had your dedication!

C of C- Do you write in silence or listen to music?
MH-I WISH I could write and listen to music, but I must have a pretty quiet place, and I’m lucky to have that.

C of C- Do you eat or drink while writing?
MH-I break to eat, but guzzle the java like the Coffee Cops are banging down my door.

C of C- lol, :O)

C of C- Do you research your story before you write it, or as you go?
MH- I start the research before I write and it’s usually ongoing throughout writing the first draft.

C of C- What have you learned through research that you’ll remember for the rest of your life?
MH-Oh, my gosh! You don’t have enough room!
The most important thing I’ve studied, and still do, is HAARP, electro-magnetic technology that can find fossil fuel, communicate underwater, initiate mind-control, change the weather, disrupt migratory fields, shatter our magnetosphere, and dominate the world. HAARP could be the most important scientific development in the history of Mankind. Or the WORST doomsday machine ever devised.
C of C- lol, ok, Michele way over my head!!!! very interesting though, I'll have to google that!:O)

C of C- How do you decorate your writing space?
MH- I have twenty times more toys in my office now than I’d ever had as a kid!

C of C- ha, ha!!

C of C- Are you a neat/organized writer or is your office and/or space a complete mess with sticky notes everywhere?
MH- It’s organized chaos in my office! Notes everywhere!

C of C- Does all your writing take place on a computer or do you ever write on pen and paper?
MH- Computer. Oh, if I had to write by hand, I wouldn’t have written my name!

C of C- I'm with you there!!! lol, I would die if it had to be done by hand!!

C of C- What is your favorite time period? And why?
MH-I love the far future for its challenging settings, themes, and technologies.

C of C- What character did you most enjoy writing?
MH- Thalia, the Muse of Comedy, was very fun to write. I gave her a very big problem she had to take seriously and still have fun.

C of C- Readers are always curious to know about authors lives. What is the worst job (non-writing related) you’ve ever held?
MH- Ha! I once did telemarketing for a funeral home. That was the pits.

C of C- Oh my, that must have been interesting!! lol, you are so funny!!! It's no wonder they asked you to write about the muse of comedy!!!!!

C of C- What is one thing you think your readers would be interested to know about you?
MH- My family’s from Transylvania!

C of C- Awesome!!!! that is totally cool!!! Ever met Dracula??? lol :O)

C of C- Are you reclusive or do you like being with other writers?
MH- I’m a terrible hermit, seldom leave my office.

C of C- I definitely wasn't getting that impression of you, but I shouldn't be surprised, us writers are a reclusive lot!!

C of C- Do you find love scenes easy or hard to write?
MH- I find love scenes very difficult to write, mainly because they require a different concentration and mood than other action and dialogue scenes. I usually skip over love scenes in a first draft, then go back to write them.

C of C- hmm, interesting.

C of C- How long do you wait once a story is finished to revise it?
MH-I take a few days off to clear my head, then I jump right on revisions.

C of C- Do you ever second-guess yourself and your writing?
MH- Story-telling’s such a deeply personal thing, I think it would take a monumental ego not to question yourself and your writing every now and then. Unless you’re Nora Roberts.

C of C- I agree.

C of C- Do you ever stray from your genre? Your comfort zone?
MH- I didn’t think I ever would, but in the last year, I’ve written an Erotic Romantic Suspense and a Fantasy Romance short story, things I never saw myself doing. It’s a good thing to test your boundaries, push them back.

C of C- Good for you!!!

C of C- Is it necessary to have a Critique/Writing partner?
MH- Although I don’t have a critique partner, I believe it’s critical to have one. An extra set of eyes will see what you don’t.

C of C- I agree, totally, they are definitely worth their weight in gold! You better be getting yourself one!!

C of C- Do you allow family and friends to read your stories?
MH- Mom edits for me but, no, I don’t pass the stories onto someone until they’re perfected by the publisher’s editors. I’d prefer as few mistakes seen as possible!

C of C- Authors make writing look so easy. Is it harder than most people imagine it to be?
MH- It’s much harder to be a WORKING and SELLING writer than 99% of outsiders speculate. There is far more work involved than they imagine, far more non-writing work with Web sites, blogs, book trailers, banners, postcards, interviews, reviews, and more! Being a writer is far more than just writing these days. You must make yourself a publicity machine.

C of C- Boy did you hit the nail on the head, its allot more than just getting story down on paper. I'm sure it can be exhausting.

C of C- How long does it take you to finish a story?
MH- I write word counts from 35,000 to 156,000 words, so the time varies, as well.

C of C- Which author/(s) are on your must-read list?
MH- Angela Knight, Jennifer Estep, Cheryl Anne Porter, Katie Macalister

C of C- Do you have more than one book out now?
MH- Yes, I have my Erotic Romantic Suspense releasing on May 19th with Siren Publishing.

C of C- Congratulations!!

C of C- Has your writing Journey been a smooth or bumpy ride?
MH- I’ve never heard of it as a smooth ride for any writer, considering research, rejections, seeking out information hidden in corners to make the best possible decisions. It’s not an easy job for the faint-at-heart. You really must be tough. That’s not to say I haven’t shed some tears. I have.

C of C- What advice would you give to a new aspiring writer?
MH- Step 1: Murder your ego!
You MUST learn to take advice and direction from more experienced writers, to endure tough criticism and rise to learn. Don’t let ego or feelings from keeping you from learning how to write a marketable story. Every good story is not a saleable story. You must learn to write what sells.
Having 300 great but unmarketable stories does the serious writer no good.
C of C- Excellent advice! You definitely must grow very thick skin!

Thanks so much for being here with me today Michele, I enjoyed getting to know you better, and I wish you the best of luck with all your future endeavours!!! AND most of all I want to send you my Congratulations on today's release of "No Funny Stuff!"

For more information on Michele please go to: http://www.michelehart.com/

To buy a copy of No funny stuff- go to: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=925

Michele will be giving away a PDF copy of, "No Funny Stuff" to one lucky commenter. In order to be considered you must leave a comment under the interview. Please, PLEASE, PLEASE.. leave your contact information so that Michele can reach the winner.

If the winner doesn't respond to our attempts to reach them within a weeks time another name will be picked. Good Luck!!

'He of the Fiery Sword', by Skhye Moncrief

My friend Skhye Moncrief, author of "He of the Fiery Sword," is Tiffany James's "Word Wizard" of the day at Armchair Heriones, http://armchairheroines.blogspot.com/.

Ms. James interviewed Skhye after reading HE OF THE FIERY SWORD.

The interview is today's feature where she will be giving away a paperback copy of HE OF THE FIERY SWORD to one lucky person. Please stop by and chat with her if you'd like to be in the running. I believe the contest runs through Friday. ~Skhye

Interview w/Song of the Muses author, Alisha Paige

BLURB:
Cursed for mocking Aphrodite, the goddess of love, Clio, Muse of History and her lover are thrust back in time to the Salem Witch Trials and then the Italian Renaissance. Only love can save them both, but is their love strong enough against the one goddess who can end all love?
Is their love A LOVE BEYOND TIME?

A Love Beyond Time .....Coming to Faery Rose August 8, 2008 (digital release) and October (print release), 2008 from The Wild Rose Press! A Time-Travel Novella to be included in a 9 Story Series about the Greek Muses!

Visit Clio, Muse of History

Today I had the pleasure of interviewing Author Alisha Paige, one of the Song of the Muses authors from the Wild Rose Press. Her story "A Love Beyond Time," is being released today!!

Welcome Alisha!

Wow, before we get into your interview let me start off by saying your cover is beautiful! The cover artist really outdid herself with the muse stories, they're all fabulous!! Okay enough staring at that cover! The model has such telling eyes!!! If its Ok with you lets jump right into the interview!

C of C- How long have you been writing?
AP- I’ve been writing all my life but wrote my first full length manuscript eleven years ago. I’ve been writing full time for the past four years.
C of C- It never ceases to amaze me how long a journey it is to publication.


C of C- Are you a plotter or a pantser?
AP- I write by the seat of my pants, which can be rather frightening sometimes!
C of C- that seems to be the consensus, most of us write by the seat of or pants!!

C of C- How would you describe your voice?
AP- Well, I’m a romance author so I try to be romantic *g*, but I’ve been described by reviewers as sensual, emotional and vividly real.
C of C- LOL!

C of C- What is your favorite part of the writing process?
AP- When a scene moves me to tears, I usually know I’ve done something right. These are wonderful moments.
C of C- I agree!

C of C- Where do you find your inspiration?
AP- From my muse, Clio of course. Seriously, my children inspire me the most and great stories. I’m always trying to come up with something unforgettable. Books have always been my friends. If I can touch just one person with a story, then I’ve done my job.

C of C- How do you come up with your ideas/plots?
AP- Sometimes I will have a very vivid dream and expand it into a book or many times, I read some fascinating tidbit from history and my mind goes into a million directions.
C of C- Don't you just love history!!!

C of C- Do you write in short stretches or for long periods of time?
AP- Mostly short stretches these days, like a thousand words a day. I have little ones so it can be quite challenging.

C of C- Do you write in silence or listen to music?
AP- If Elmo, Sponge Bob, Oscar the Grouch and Slimy the Worm are considered music, well then yeah.
C of C- lol, OMG, boy do I know what you mean!!!

C of C- Do you eat or drink while writing?
AP- I write in my kitchen so there’s always a coffee pot gurgling or if it’s nighttime, I’m sipping red wine. That’s usually when my love scenes are created and I’m totally relaxed after a long bath and a full day with the babies.

C of C- Do you research your story before you write it, or as you go?
AP- A little of both. If I’m writing about a certain time period, I will need some facts immediately but I never know where my story will take me so I usually end up doing quite a bit of research during the process as well.

C of C- What have you learned through research that you’ll remember for the rest of your life? AP-How lucky I am to be writing about some of these strong people that have lived in much harsher times. We are such spoiled creatures these days.
C of C- I couldn't agree more!

C of C- How do you decorate your writing space?
AP-I have photos of my family, tons and tons of sticky pads with notes on them and a stack of reference books on my printer.

C of C- Are you a neat/organized writer or is your office and/or space a complete mess with sticky notes everywhere?
AP- Organized clutter.
C of C- lol, I hear ya!

C of C- Does all your writing take place on a computer or do you ever write on pen and paper?
AP- If I take the kids outside, I will take a pad and pen and write the old fashioned way.

C of C- What is your favorite time period?
AP- I have many favorites but I really love the 30s and 40s, though romance books don’t sell well in this period. However, that didn’t stop me. And why? I love the nostalgia, the naive innocence of this time.

C of C- Do you feel a draw to the people and time period you write about?
AP- Most definitely.

C of C- What character did you most enjoy writing?
AP- I really enjoyed writing Clio, the muse of history. All that time travel just rocks!

C of C- Readers are always curious to know about authors lives. What is the worst job (non-writing related) you’ve ever held?
AP-I was a physician’s assistant to a plastic surgeon once. Horrid. He was money hungry and many of the patients were shallow, weak people.
C of C- Oh man, I can only imagine.

C of C- What is one thing you think your readers would be interested to know about you?
AP- I earned a scholarship to study voice but chose writing instead. I love to sing.
C of C- Wow, that's awesome Alisha!!

C of C- Are you reclusive or do you like being with other writers?
AP- I like my time alone but I love hanging out with other writers, especially because the life of a writer is so solitary. I adore my sister muses.
C of C- There's nothing better than hanging with like minded people, is there?

C of C- Do you find love scenes easy or hard to write?
AP-Sometimes it’s difficult to come up with something a little different, but I always work it out.

C of C- Do you ever act out your scenes?
AP- I’m not telling.
C of C- lol, :O)

C of C- How long do you wait once a story is finished to revise it?
AP- I begin revising right away. Once I’m finished I’m very excited to get it submitted.
C of C- Would you mind rubbing some of that off on me??? :O)

C of C- Do you ever second guess yourself and your writing?
AP- All the time. I think every writer is guilty of this.
C of C- Some more than others, sigh*

C of C- Do you ever stray from your genre?
AP- I write in many genres. My first book was a paranormal, my second was a historical, my third a fantasy, my fourth an urban fantasy. You get my drift. I like to dip my toes in other waters and see what I can dream up.
C of C- Multi talented! That's fabulous!!

C of C- Is it necessary to have a Critique/Writing partner?
AP- I don’t think so. I’ve had them before and sometimes it doesn’t always work out, especially if the other writer does not understand your genre well. I feel sometimes it stifles my voice because I start changing everything to please my critique partner. I’d rather have changes suggested by my editor.

C of C- Do you allow family and friends to read your stories?
AP- Yes, but usually only after my books are published.

C of C- Is there a subject you would like to write about, but don’t because you believe it isn’t marketable?
AP- I’d like to write more vintage romances set in the 40s but alas, I’ve been told over and over again that this time period just doesn’t sell.
C of C- I say go for it anyway!!!

C of C- Authors make writing look so easy. Is it harder than most people imagine it to be?
AP- It’s difficult sometimes to create that special balance of character, conflict, romance and satisfying ending. I feel like I’m juggling at times, but I love the challenge.

C of C- How long does it take you to finish a story?
AP- It takes me about three months to write a full length novel and a novella can be written in a month. These answers vary when juggling babies.

C of C- When you write a new story are you apprehensive about allowing others to critique it? AP-Sometimes.

C of C- Which author/(s) are on your must-read list?
AP- My muse sisters.

C of C- What is your favorite writing memory?
AP- Getting my first contract was thrilling. I called my husband at work and he said, “How is my published author?” I still get chills thinking about it.
C of C- I can only imagine!!! It must be an indescribable feeling!

C of C- Do you have more than one book out now?
AP- I have two books available now and three books to be released in 2008.
C of C- wow, you've been busy!! AND I must say your book, "The wooden Nickel" looks great!!

C of C- Has your writing Journey been a smooth or bumpy ride?
AP- It’s been pretty smooth with a few bumps along the way. I never let the rejection letters stop me. They only make me want to prove myself as a writer.
C of C- That's a great attitude to have!

C of C- What advice would you give to a new aspiring writer?
AP- Read everything you can get your hands on in your genre. Go to writer’s meetings. Learn about the market place. Expect rejections. If you never get rejected, you’ll never get published. It’s just a stop on the road to publication. I once heard a great saying and I’m sorry that I don’t remember who said it but it goes something like, “Double your failure rate and you will double your success rate.” So write, write, write and submit like crazy. Don’t let that manuscript just sit there and collect dust. You’ll never know if you don’t send it out there. And you just might be pleasantly surprised and soon you can call yourself a published author too.
C of C- That's great advice!!

Its been a pleasure having you here with me today, Alisha! Thank you very much for taking the time out to sit down with me! I've enjoyed getting to know you and wish you nothing but the BEST in all your future endeavours!!!

For more information on Alisha Paige, please go to: http://www.alishapaige.com/

The BOOKWYRMS ...

Ok, ladies have at it- what do you feel like talking about today??

Hmmm, lets see, I'll start by saying, I am reading Hannah Howell's "Highland Wedding" not too bad, and since I have always been a huge fan of hers I'm kind of biased. Any sexy man in plaid is enough to make me like the book!! hee hee