My Experience with Publishing - Self vs Traditional

I spent most of 2010 send query letter after query letter and received rejection after rejection. Unlike a lot of Author, I didn't keep track of how many rejections I got. I knew it only took one acceptance letter to become a published author. Well I got two offers from small independent publishing houses. These were both legit publishers. Legit, what does that mean. Well I mean a publisher that pays me, I don't pay them (Vanity Press). They covered editing, cover, some marketing expenses and more, a traditional publisher. One was in Europe, one in Florida. I decided to go with World Castle Publishing (WCP) in Florida.

Some friends and family we skeptical, after all WCP just opened and I was one of their first authors, along with my writing buddy, Kathi S Barton. WCP owner Karen Fuller was amazing to us authors that trusted her. She did everything right! She listened to us and worked with us, ensuring we were pleased with the books we were releasing. As a new author, I couldn't have asked for a better publisher. She planned and organized a book signing tour of Texas, we had I think eight authors. It was so amazing to sir in Barnes and Noble and have readers come engage with us, but our books, take photos.

I released four books with WCP between 2011 and 2012. I traveled and did fundraisers, book signings, book events and more. It was everything I imagined and more. I was also pretty proud of the sales and royalties I was receiving. As a new author with a new publisher to have steady sale was amazing. I became a best selling author with WCP, and had realized my dreams. Then I hit a brick wall, I couldn't write. I have a near finished novel, already in first round edits and I couldn't do it.

From 2013 to 2017 I went through lots of changes as a person, wife, mother and author. I won't go into it all, but in 2017 after a chronic illness diagnosis I got my drive back. I was ready to finish the story, work on the Embrace series. Many friends were self publishing and I thought wow, this sounds so amazing, not sharing my royalties, full control over my career, Independence and the title of Indie Author. I needed to do this. So I emailed Karen and asked to have my rights back. My contract was long over, but she continued with my books as a back list. They still brought in residual income for both of us.

I re-wrote all four books in the Embrace series. Had a good friend/artist design new covers for me and re-released The Embrace Series as an Indie Author. As I worked on the long anticipated fifth book.     

 
I finished my contemporary romance novel The Climb, and was so proud of this book. I knew it was amazing. November 1, 2018 I release the book that took nearly 7 years to finish. It got amazing reviews, and readers loved it as much as I did.

Fast forward a few months, to 2019. I feel lost again, no drive to write, I find doing this all on my own is way more than I bargained for. Self publishing is fucking HARD. You can't understand until you do it. If you want a nice cover, you have to out source to someone that knows what they are doing. A cheep cover can be spotted from a mile away. And yes people judge a book by it's cover. You need to hire and editor or two. You can not edit your own book, spell check does not edit your book. You need a professional. You have to hire someone to help with marketing or you need to spend the time to do it yourself. Connecting with readers, selling your book but not being spammy. I admire every self published author, successful or not, because it's a lot of work.

I know this is what I'm meant to do, I have so many stories in my head I can't sleep at night. Writing is my destiny, my calling, my  job, and I love it. With that said, I love the help, the support, the encouragement and yes the deadlines I get with a publisher. So I emailed Karen at WCP again and asked to come back. She said YES. I was so excited that she would take me back after I abandoned her. Yes after 8 years, WCP is going strong, they work with agents, and film production companies and are truly making their mark in the publishing world. I searched up publishers and WCP came up on several lists as a top ten small publisher. I'm proud that I was with her in the beginning and even prouder that she is taking me back. 

This week we signed contracts and discussed the direction for my books. We couldn't use the original covers, because after a computer crash, the original photos were lost. Plus I hated book 2 cover, she hated book 4 cover. I loved my new self publishing covers, but for various reasons we decided not to use them. We talked about doing a combo of the two covers and they are amazing.

The Climb, my passion project, a contemporary romance of loss and love. Love isn't always pretty and sometimes you have to climb a few mountains to get there. I absolutely love this story, I loved the original cover. It was exactly what I wanted. Even though other romance authors told me no, it looks like a travel book, not a romance.  I still went with it. Any reviews I got were amazing, but it just wasn't getting noticed like I had hoped. So we decided to make the cover look a little more romance and also change the name. So The Climb is now Beating the Odds - Loss and Love series novel. I'm so happy with how this turned out. It still has the elements I wanted (Kilimanjaro in the back ground) and has a beautiful romantic couple. This is it, I love it. 

So there you have it my experience with traditional and self publishing. I am a writer that likes the support of a team behind me, I like to write rather than search for covers, editors, and what not. Since my chronic illness became a major player in my life, my brain just cant focus on doing it all. I applaud an author that takes the Indie route, and I think that everyone should at least try it. you can't really understand until you've been there.

Thank you to the readers and fellow authors that have supported me through my journey, but most of all thank you to World Castle Publishing for always being there to help me realize my dream. All my books should be back up for sale world wide through most book sellers in the next week or two.

Now to finish book 5 of the Embrace Series and book 2 of Love and Loss.

xoxo
Charlotte

Change your thoughts, Change your life

Change your thoughts, Change your life is a phrase that is very popular in the self help community. The power of positive thinking, Law of Attraction, or anything else to improve your mindfulness states this. After spending the month of November being grateful and watching my thoughts, I have to agree. Changing your thoughts can change your life. 

Now I'm not saying that if you think about being a millionaire, it's going to happen...I'm still waiting. What I am saying is changing your thoughts to be more positive, more grateful will change your attitude. You will appreciate the little things in life more, you won't let the crap get to you. Changing your thoughts can improve your personal, professional and any part of your life you want. In the last month, my mood has improved, my motivation has improved, happiness, energy and even health. Don't get me wrong, I still have bad or down days, moments, whatever, but I do my best to change those feelings into something good. 

When you are happier, more positive, you also become ore productive, you have more confidence in yourself. You work harder, play harder and love harder. To me this is the real secret. You change your thoughts and you change your life, you want more, you realize you deserve more and you are willing to move forward in life to achieve this. 

Every morning when I wake up, before checking emails, Facebook, while I make make coffee I listen to morning motivation on YouTube. So far the one that spoke the most to me was Believe Nation -Oprah's top 10. 

Every night when I'm ready for bed, I listen to a guided meditation. This helps me relax, reflect on the good of the day and bring forth my dreams for tomorrow. 

I challenge all of you to try this, start with a week. Show gratitude everyday, be grateful for the air you breath, the water you drink, the food on your table, the people in your life. What ever you want to be grateful for, do it, say it, believe it. You will change your life. 

 

XOXO

Charlotte

Dreams

We all have some kind of dream for our lives, some big, some small but each one is important. I have dreams for myself, my career, my life, my kids, everything in my life I have an ideal dream for it. Some may say I live with my head in the clouds, but I say I live my life with goals. Lets face it, that's what dreams are, goals. I bet if we examine our dreams, we all have very similar dreams.

Family, there's many dream we have about family. Some dream of having a family, some dream about a loving or happy family and others dream about what they want for their family. I'm no different. When it comes to my family, I dream about happiness. I want each of my kids to have success and happiness, I want them to find love and enjoy life. I dream that my husband gets the recognition at work that he deserves, that he doesn't have to work so hard to provide the life we want for our family.

Health, I dream about health for myself and my family. As some of you might know, I have a autoimmune disease. This has made me make some major changes in my life. I take the good days when the come and the bad days when they come. I dream of having more good days than bad. I dream that my kids won't suffer the same disease as I do. Health is something we take for granted. We usually don't think about it until something is wrong. Health is something I've dream about all the time and from a young age. I dream of the day when people won't have to suffer anymore, when cancer will be cured. I dream that my children will never have to face any further health concerns.

Financial Stability, this I think is something everyone dreams about, and it's okay. We all dream of a day when we don't have to worry about bills. A day when we can take a vacation if we want. I dream of the day I beat the odds and win the lottery, I mean who wouldn't like that. Mostly I just dream of making a living with my writing. I dream of financial stability with writing, so I can pay it forward, I can afford to use paid blogger services, help others live their dreams. 

So as you can see dreams are really just goals, things we want to achieve in life. It's important to follow your dreams. Believe that you can achieve them. What are some of your dreams?

Birthday's

Today is my birthday, what does that mean? Not a whole lot. Although when it comes to my books, it means a lot. In The Embrace Series today is also Sophia and Alexander's birthday. I also released all my books in print today. So that is super exciting. I know lot's of people have been asking when I was going to do print copies, and I'm sorry it took so long. Anyways just a short post today sharing the links with you. The best part is you can order my newest title, The Climb in print today and have it before it officially releases on November 1st. So go ahead, I can't wait to share it. 

Immortal Embrace https://www.amazon.com/dp/199941800X

Forbidden Embrace https://www.amazon.com/dp/1999392434

Mystic Embrace https://www.amazon.com/dp/1999392450

Everlasting Embrace https://www.amazon.com/dp/1999392477

The Climb https://www.amazon.com/dp/1999392493

The Climb, Cover Reveal

I know I said I was going to focus on Mental Health for my next few posts, but in all honesty I need a break from that... for my mental health. So I decided what better way then to reveal to you my new book. The climb has been my romance project for about 7 years. It started as erotic, but I took all that out. Don't get me wrong, I love reading a hot and steamy book, I just can't write it. So The climb has become an amazing love story. I love this novel and hope you will too.

The Climb

Sometimes fate brings two people together to create a perfect love, but then life has different plans, so we must decide to trust that fate will prevail and our lives could be better than ever imagined.

Trista Smith is from San Francisco, she struggles with her self-worth. Deciding it’s time to take her life back, she makes the trek up Mount Kilimanjaro, hoping that climbing Africa’s tallest mountain will give her a new outlook on life and the courage to live it to the fullest.

Wealthy New Yorker, Phil McKay lost his wife to brain cancer. He’s finally fulfilling her dream of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. With her ashes in his pack, he is ready to close this painful chapter and move on with his life.

Both Trista and Phil hoped to ‘find themselves’ on the mountain; they never expected their lives to change forever. Unfortunately, they live on opposite ends of the country. It’s hard to be drawn together and then torn apart in such a short time. However, life throws even more curve balls at them and the risk of tragedy brings them together again.

 

Cover Art by CJ Strange

The Climb releases on November 1, 2018 on Amazon world wide. I am having a face book release party, so make sure you join and try to win various prizes from myself and other amazing authors. Don't forget to like my face book page for up dates and other fun stuff.  

XOXO

Charlotte

Book Recomendation

August Book Recommendation

My goals for my final year at university were: 1) Kick ass at my internship 2) Keep hiding from my family 3) Stop frying my phone battery by accident with my powers. Then I walked into the first day of my internship at a hot indie record label to find that my old life had collided with my new one. Five hot guys in a band called Phoenixcry, I’m supposed to manage them, and oh yeah, PS, they’re werewolves. I’ve left the magic world behind, but I’m still a witch and witches and werewolves don’t mix. But doing the wrong thing was always my M.O., so now I’m out on the road with a band full of sexy, growly werewolves. But the magic world is one step behind us: there are hunters on our trail, and if they catch us the boys are dead and I’m back at home under lock and key. Oh, one more thing, I think I’m falling in love with them. Not just one of them, all of them, and to make it super complicated, I think they feel the same way. So I had to revise my goals for this year: 1) Kick ass at my internship 2) Don’t fall in love with the band 3) Stay alive Sounds easy, right? ========== Meet Darcy Llewellyn, fourth year university student, music intern, and secretly a witch. This is the story about how she meets and falls in love with the werewolves that make up the band Phoenixcry: Finn Gunner, Elias Gunner, Charlie Gage, Wesley “Ace” Rivers, and Cash Legend. This steamy Reverse Harem Romance is over 80,000 words in length, and is the first in a series about Darcy Llewellyn and her pack of werewolf lovers.

Simple Book Review  This is the first reverse harem book I've read and I have to admit I loved it. Darcy is a relatable  character that is well written and well thought out.  The author KT Strange pulls us right into Darcy's life. We get to know the characters, we get to love them as we enter their world. Yes this is a 18+ novel, but it isn't over the top. It gets the blood flowing but doesn't use language or scenes that make you blush. The romantic components are well written and planned out. If you like music, bands and want to learn what life on tour is like, this is a great book. KT Strange has first hand knowledge of the music industry making everything real and believable. Go inside and enjoy the life of a rock band as they find love. I give Pheonixcry 5 stars.

Forbidden Embrace Cover reveal

As some of you know, I like to write books. Seven years ago I published and released the Embrace Series. This year I regained my rights from my publisher and decided to revise and re-release them. It's been fun reliving this journey and I can't wait to continue the story. During my years away from writing, I received many emails from you, the fans asking when the next book would be out. Well we are finally approach that. With the re-release of the first four books, I will be releasing at least two more books in the series. Best of all they will be here before the end of the year. Thank you for being patient as I was a mom and dealt with my on-going health issue. I'm back and ready to share this story with you all again.

First was Immortal Embrace which went live on July 2, you can get the e-book via amazon or print at most online book stores.

It’s been three decades since Sophia’s brother left, and she is unsure if she’ll ever get over it. That is until her family moves to Wenham, MA. She and her siblings have been given orders to protect their littlest sister, and must return to a High School existence. This is where Sophia meets her soul mate, Nathanial, and life as she knows it is about to change...
  
As a vampire, Sophia always kept to herself. As a student, will she start to step out of her comfort zone? She’s found a best friend in a powerful, young witch, and a love to call her own. But when tragedy occurs and blood is spilt, will Sophia be able to resist the sweet scent of her beloved?
 
This breathtaking introduction into Blackwell’s paranormal romance book saga wraps mortals, vampires, witches, and other supernal themes into a dramatic tale of passions versus pitfalls, love versus loyalty, and the essence of family.
 
This is Sophia’s story — the story of a girl who finds herself when she thought all was lost.


Tonight I want to share book 2 Forbidden Embrace's new cover with you. I'll be honest revising book two was an eye opener for me. I always loved the Embrace Story, but Forbidden Embrace was my least favorite. At least until I started working on it again and totally feel in love. I'm excited to share it with you all on July 31, 2018. Tonight, I'm happy to share the amazing cover that graphic artist and author CJ Strange has created.

Just when Sophia Pierce thinks her eternal life will be happy and peaceful, something else happens to turn it upside down. With rogue vampire approaching the town she has learned to call home, the Pierce family must prepare for battle. With some magical help will they be able to save Wenham?

Even more trouble arises when Danika, the newest vampire of the family decides this might not be the right place for her. The Pierce family has already lost one love, Caspian, when he felt he was no longer worthy of their family name. Will Danika follow his footsteps and will he be able to save her from a fate far worse than his own? 

***

I hope you all fall in love with these covers as much as I have, as well as the amazing love story within them. 

Charlotte 

Kindness Matters

So often these days I see the changes in humanity. When I was growing up, we would always offer our seat on the bus to an elderly, an expectant mother, even mother with a young child. I rarely see this done anymore. It's so much more than that though. With a heavy online presence taking over, people can hide behind their keyboards and attack others. It seems so many people are out for their own agenda and don't so much care who they roll over to get to it.

Today while my husband and I were out, we saw a tire in the middle of the road. It was too far for us to get, but my husband said " I wonder if anyone will get that?" A moment later we saw a man get out of his vehicle and begin to roll the tire to the rightful owner. This isn't something we see frequently anymore and it saddens me. A video I saw yesterday, showed a man losing his shit on a woman for wearing a Puerto Rico shirt, the police did nothing and the man was right up in her face. Like since when can we treat people this way because they are proud of their heritage? She was a citizen, she had the proper permit to be where she was, who cares what she was wearing?

Another thing that is common lately is anonymous comments online. This is where the trolls come out. I've seen it for years. It used to be common with teens throwing hate to each other, but now I see it with adults. My question is, what are we teaching our children by showing so much hatred to others? Why do we as adults have to be so consumed with other peoples lives? Can't we just be nice to one another, and if you don't like someone...stop following them on social media. It seems pretty simple to me. I don't look at someones facebook and then start complaining that they bought a new truck or decided to have another baby. I don't criticize them for every little choice they make. Why? Because it doesn't affect my life. The lady across the street having a baby, is not my concern. I congratulate her and move on. Do I want to have another child, nope...3 is enough for me. Did I have them all at the perfect time, HELL NO. Did I raise smart, polite, caring , independent young adults? You bet I did! I will save my bragging for another post.

My point is that kindness matters, so often people complain about how entitled kids are today, how they have zero respect. Well guess what, we are the ones teaching this to our kids. So the next time you see an elderly person trekking through the snow with their cane, stop your car offer to help them, maybe give them a ride. When you see a child fall off their bike, stop and make sure they are okay. A lady at the store who is a dollar short for her bill, well pay it forward and give her a hand. Most of all stop hiding behind the computer screen tearing others apart. You never know when you might need someone's kindness, so do your best to be the kindest person you can be. Most of all remember kindness is contagious. Spread love not hate and the world we become a better place.


 XOXO, Charlotte

     

Immortal Embrace (revised edition)

Just a short post tonight. It's almost time, Immortal embrace will be re-released on July 2, 2018. This comes 7 years and 1 day after the original release. There are some minor changes, and some big fixes. I'm so excited to share it with you.

Currently you can pre-order the kindle edition. Now for the big moment, the amazing new cover!

I hope you all love it as much as I do. Who's ready to get Embraced for the first time or all over again?

All my love,
Charlotte

Where have I been?

It's been a long and exciting 4 year break I took from writing. Yes life got in the way, I lost my drive for writing, my muse. Well I'm back and I'm sorry it's been so long. I've been receiving lots of emails and messages encouraging me to write more, to come back to what I love. Well I want to start by sharing the last 4 years with you.

So much has happened in such a short time. Here's a brief break down of my life the last little while. Near the beginning of my lets call it a sabbatical, my eldest daughter at the age of 15 moved to NYC on her own to attend Joffrey Ballet school. It was a dream come true for her, and for us. We were so proud. A few months later I went to work for the local school board as a special needs learning assistant. My nursing background help immensely with this rewarding and challenging job. This is where I really lost my drive to write. Working a full time job, taking care of the other two children and the household was enough for me.

About a year into my job I began suffering some health concerns. Nothing major, but I was bedridden for several months and had surgery. Jorden was now home from NYC and finishing her senior year of high school.  She helped me so much with her younger siblings, but was still busy herself. Anyways, once healed from surgery, I returned to work. I transferred schools at the end of the school year.

Now I loved my job, I love working with kids. I just felt that I needed to do more. So being very interested in politics, I ran in the civic election, increased my volunteering and ran my ass off. It was an exciting year. Until I got sick again. During the election I became really ill. I struggled to keep up with my obligations. I basically stopped campaigning the last two weeks, when everyone else was out in full force. Now I didn't withdraw because I wanted to follow through. I did very well, but thankfully I did not win a seat on our city council. Everything happens for a reason. I really do believe that.

That brings me to the last seven months. I have left my job with the school, been trapped in bed and seeing so many doctors and tests. We still don't know exactly what is medically wrong, aside from it being some kind of autoimmune disorder. I have been learning how to live my new life. A life with chronic disease. I'm not sharing this for sympathy, because none is needed. It is just a new way of life.

So what better way to heal the mind and body than doing something you love? For several months my mother (yes even at my age she still tells me what to do) has been telling me to start writing again. Well lets just say after being the stubborn child that doesn't listen, my mom was right. The moment I picked up my computer and started writing again, I felt a sense of relief. I found myself again.

Now with all that out, I hope you will all follow along on this journey with me. Oh and start rereading The Embrace Series, because there will be a new instalment. 

I got an Award

 I got the Versatile Blogger Award!!!

My blog was awarded the The Versatile Blogger Award by Lindsay and Jane at http://lindsayandjaneviewsandreviews.blogspot.ca

Thank you so very much!

According to the rules, we are to nominate other blogs and list seven things about

ourselves. So, here goes:

 The blogs we're passing the awards to are...

1. http://theeclecticartistcave.blogspot.ca/

2. http://beckysbarmybookblog.blogspot.ca

3. http://fullmoonbites.blogspot.ca/

4. http://paranormal-bookclub.com

5. http://www.bookwhoreblog.com/

Seven things about me.

1. I'm a best selling author

2. I love music

3. I have three children

4. I live in Alberta, Canada

5. I used to be a nurse

6. I believe in the laws of attraction

7. I'm a uber positive person

Meet Author G.R. Holton

I am proud to introduce you all to G.R. Holton a wonderful author from Wolrd Castle Publications. Thank you for joining us today, I’m so excited to have you hear and know my readers will enjoy it as well.

About You:

Can you tell us a little about you? Well I am 50 years old and happily married to my soul mate Charlotte. I have 3 children and four step children. I am also the proudest Grandpa Fuzzy of four beautiful little granddaughters.

What quality do you most value in yourself? I would have to say the fact that I go out of my way to please others. I get true satisfaction by hearing those two special words “Thank You”.

In addition to writing, what else are you passionate about? I am very passionate about my volunteer work in my town here. I am on just about every board and  am always looking to find ways to make the town better.

What are you most proud of accomplishing so far in your life? Actually, winning three awards for my writing is what I am most proudest. That and surviving to be able to say I am 50.

Why do you write? I write as a therapeutic way to combat my severe Bipolar disorder. It allows my brain to escape and be in places that I have never been before.

What is your greatest strength as a writer? My greatest strength is also my greatest weakness. I don’t read much and on one hand that makes all my writing very fresh unlike anyone else’s style, but it hurts me in learning sentence structure and usage.

Is there any new or established author whom you feel deserves more attention, and what is it that strikes you about his or her work?  Sorry on that one... I don’t really know this answer. I have a couple great friends in World Castle that are excellent writers and can’t pick one above the other. I would say that they really spend the time describing their stories and characters until you become one of them.

What book(s) / author(s) have influenced your life and writing? Of course the Bible... Stephen King’s Needful Things.... George Orwell...Isaac Azimov... But those were required readings in High School, but they really stuck with me.

About Writing:

What is your writing process? Do you follow a regular routine? My writing is usually done at 5 – 8 hour spurts...one day I will write until I drop and the next few days won’t write a single word. Those are my marketing days and town volunteer days.

What are the most important elements of good writing? According to you, what tools are must-haves for writers? A thesaurus is highly necessary. You cannot write a good and interesting chapter reusing the same old dead words. The other is patience! Take your time and do it right.

What motivates you to write? I am motivated to see what the next weird thing I can come up with. The stories motivate me to do something completely out of the box.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it? Writer’s block is when my voices refuse to speak with me. When that happens I usually just stop writing, go into Facebook and start working on promotion.

Do you have any advice for other writers? Three key words: Faith, Focus and again Patience. Have faith in what you are doing. Keep your focus on what you are trying to accomplish, and patience to wait to have it right.

What are your current / future projects? I am in heavy edit on a second edition of Guardian’s Alliance and Dragon’s Bow. I am also beginning to work on the screenplay for Deep Screams and the sequel to it called “Silent Screams”.

About your book:

Can you tell us a bit about your book?  My latest work is called “Dragon’s Bow”. It is a fantasy classic about good vs. evil, sister vs. sister. What happens when a Dark Wizard impregnates a White Witch? You get a set of twin girls that until they are 16 are the epitome of good. That is until one is touched by the wizard’s stone turning her pure evil. The only way to change her back is to kill the dark wizard with the dragon’s bow. But can you get it in time...stop your evil twin...and then have to kill your true father in the process?

What is the message in your book? What are your readers’ reactions to it? Good will always defeat evil...as long as the heart is in the right place.

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it? I had to do a lot of research on the monsters and characters for this one...something very foreign to me in my other works.

What do you think readers will find most notable about this book? The descriptiveness. I am really going into great depth to describe the characters and surrounds. Something I have felt I lacked in some of my other works.
Have you acquired any good anecdotes surrounding this book? If so, could you share one? Beware what you don’t know to be true. Fight for what is truly right.

Did researching and writing this book teach you anything or influence your thinking in any way? Yes I learned a lot about character description and that a good folklore makes a good monster.

What would you most like readers to tell others about this book? That it is truly a classic storyline that is also very imaginative.

Can you suggest one question readers might find interesting to discuss, concerning you, your writing in general, or this book? How can someone with such a severe disability write. I say that you need to channel your attributes and allow them to work for you.

How can readers help you promote this book? They can buy the book, the special Dragon’s Bow glasses that will be available before the book is printed, and tell their friends that a new fantasy author has come out of the depths of Science Fiction to write a truly inspiring fantasy.

Where can readers find you and more about your book(s)? Where can they purchase your book(s)? The best place to find all my books is on my website www.grholton.com or at www.worldcastlepublishing.com. 

Author Interview with Troy McCombs

Today I would like to introduce you to Troy McCombs a fellow WCP (World castle Publishing) author., Thank you for joining us today, I’m so excited to have you hear and know my readers will enjoy it as well. 


About You:
Can you tell us a little about you?

My name is Troy McCombs. I live to write and hopefully one day, I’ll write to live.

What quality do you most value in yourself?

My humbleness.

In addition to writing, what else are you passionate about?

Movies, music, playing guitar.

What are you most proud of accomplishing so far in your life?

I don’t know. That’s a tough question!

Why do you write?

I have to write. If I didn’t write, I’d go mad.

What is your greatest strength as a writer?

Another tough question. I’d say probably my raw imagination. I’ve always had a very very unique and vivid imagination--even more so than my peers when we were children.
Is there any new or established author whom you feel deserves more attention, and what is it that strikes you about his or her work?
H.P Lovecraft, just because his work wasn’t really sought when he was alive and because he has the most unique style. Then Eric Johnston for his clear, fast-
paced, awesome writing skills. I also read Brett Tallies’’ ’That Which Should Not Be’ which was great.

What book(s) / author(s) have influenced your life and writing?
Lovecraft.

About Writing:
What is your writing process? Do you follow a regular routine?

No regular routine, but I should. Some days my mind says BLAH and tells me NO. Sometimes music helps, sometimes not, though.

What are the most important elements of good writing? According to you, what tools are must-haves for writers?

Most important elements and tools... The ability to weave words together smoothly and coherently. The ability to write subplots. Realistic characters. Good vocabulary. If you write a lot and read a lot, you can be a great author.

What motivates you to write?
My spirit. That nagging internal part of myself that has to be heard.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?
Writer’s block sucks the big one. The only way to get out of it is just to take a break and focus on something else, preferably something else artistic.

Do you have any advice for other writers?
Practice reading, practice writing. Watch what other writers do that’s both good and bad. Learn how to construct good sentences. Create bad characters that do good things and good characters that do bad things.

What are your current / future projects?
Tooooo many to list/count.

About your book:
Can you tell us a bit about your book?

The House on Mayberry Road was my own take on the haunted house theme. I wanted to try something that was different than anything I have ever read haunted-house-wise. What if there were houses infested with beings not only scarier than ghosts, but also worse than demons?

Darkworld, which hasn’t been released yet, is about five British boys who unearth a treasure chest in a backyard. Struck by the sudden possibility of wealth, they open the box but get sucked into a time period somewhere between the past in the future, which is overrun by demons with a taste for blood and meat. Only one thing can stop them--fire. And it just so happens that one of the boys is a pyromaniac.

What is the message in your book? What are your readers’ reactions to it?
Message... I don’t know if there’s a specific message. There are, of course, but just little ones throughout. A reoccurring theme in The House on Mayberry Road is about learning how to let go.

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

I always learn something, but I’m not always sure what it is. lol

What do you think readers will find most notable about this book?
Hopefully they’ll make sure to check their closets and under their bed before going to sleep!

Have you acquired any good anecdotes surrounding this book? If so, could you share one?
I don’t know.

Did researching and writing this book teach you anything or influence your thinking in any way?
In writing Mayberry, I learned the human spirit is capable of some really unimaginable feats.

What would you most like readers to tell others about this book?
That it’s worth reading. That’s it’s creepy as all heck. Or just cool.

Can you suggest one question readers might find interesting to discuss, concerning you, your writing in general, or this book?

Can’t think of any right now, sorry.

How can readers help you promote this book?
Spread the word. I hope you enjoy it! That’s what really matters, isn’t it?
Where can readers find you and more about your book(s)? Where can they purchase your book(s)?
I mostly sell through Amazon, just because I love that company.

Author Interview With Eric R. Johnston

Today I would like to welcome Eric R. Johnston, another great author from World Castle Publishing. 

About You:

Can you tell us a little about you?

I graduated from University of Michigan with a degree in English and History with teaching certifications in social studies and english. When I’m not writing or editing, I am substitute teaching, a combination of long-term and short-term assignments. I have a daughter who was born this past December. She is so awesome.

I started writing at a young age, inspired by the success of my great aunt, Ruth White, who has written such classic children’s books as Belle Prater’s Boy and Memories of Summer. Having a successful writer in the family guaranteed a passion for writing would always be encouraged.

What quality do you most value in yourself?

I am patient and willing to stick to something no matter how long it takes. Sometimes this devotion borders on obsession, but that’s all right. To write a novel, you must be obsessive in some way.

 Why do you write?

I write because it makes me happy.

What is your greatest strength as a writer?

Characters. I think good characters lead to a good novel. In my mind, the story itself is secondary. You could have the best plot in the world, but if your characters are dead on arrival, no one is going to follow them long enough to find out. On the other hand, in my view, people will read about your great characters in a lackluster story and enjoy it.

What book(s) / author(s) have influenced your life and writing?

Stephen King’s Dark Tower series has had the biggest influence on me as a writer. I love the feel of the novels, the characters, and how they tie all of King’s work together into one massive uber-novel.

About Writing:

What is your writing process? Do you follow a regular routine?

I try to follow a routine. I set a goal of writing at least 1,000 words a day. Sometimes I write less, sometimes much more. I also set time aside each day to read. I consider myself a creature of habit. I need routine or I grow anxious. I am most productive in the mornings, when I do most of my writing, and then I write a little throughout the day as inspiration hits.

I always have a notepad with me. When I have time to write, but no computer access, I will write by hand and type it out later. You never know when you’ll have some down time.

What are the most important elements of good writing? According to you, what tools are must-haves for writers?

Writers must have a good sense of the English language. I had a professor who always said, “There is nothing more beautiful than the English language used properly; and nothing more hideous than the English language used improperly.” This is true.

Writers must also be readers. Know how other people write. Familiar yourself with different styles, different ideas, different things going on in the literary world. If you aren’t a reader, you can’t be a writer—or you can’t be a writer anyone would want to read, anyway.

What motivates you to write?

I’ve always dreamed of being a bestselling author. I also want to be a writer that inspires other writers. I want to change the world.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?

Not usually. When I do, on those rare occasions, I may go for a walk, or I might write something else for a while.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Read and write—a lot. And don’t get discouraged. You need to read and write to hone your craft. Additionally, don’t be discouraged if you aren’t writing something as successful as Harry Potter. You’re setting yourself up for disappointment.

What are your current / future projects?

I am currently working on three novels and outlining a fourth. These are Harvester: Evolution, which is the sequel to Harvester: Ascension, a book that will be released by WCP later this year. I am working on a science fiction time travel novel called Temporal Winter, a fantasy novel dealing with death and the afterlife titled Orchard Hills, and outlining one that you could consider a romance-horror tentatively titled Separations.

About your book:

Can you tell us a bit about your book?

The Twins of Noremway Parish is a novel that takes place in the distant future. The world is run-down; the land is dry, parched, and dead, and there are only a few human settlements left in the world. There was a war with beings collectively known as the Darkness. They have one goal: bring chaos to the world.

There is one being from a group of god-like entities that had survived since the beginning of existence that attempts to restore order to this chaos. He is a Story Teller. These Story Tellers spin tales, making sense of all the disparate things around them, developing a cohesive narrative that has a certain elegance to it.

 The Twins of Noremway Parish begins with the Story Teller narration, but he is soon captured by the Darkness who seek to use his powers to tell another story, one that will tear apart the fabric of the universe. The story changes, becoming dark, evil.

The Twins of Noremway Parish also deals a lot with tradition and injustice. These people have their own religion, one that I made up, but it is an off-shoot of Christianity and Catholicism. I have borrowed phrases, titles, roles, and religious edicts from a variety of places to create something unique, yet familiar.

The story itself really follows the parish Friar, Decon Mangler, often referred to as “Brother Decon” and the Parochial Vicar, Teret Finley, known as “Sister Teret.” They are the male and female religious leaders of the parish, and being such, must keep a certain innocence about them. When a pair of infant conjoined twins are found in the cathedral, they decide it would be best for the twins if they raised them as mother and father themselves. This leads to a social uproar as it becomes clear that, to some within the parish, tradition, even a tradition that makes no sense, is more important than thinking about the actual well-being of these children.

What is the message in your book? What are your readers’ reactions to it?

There are several messages. Decon and Teret love these twins, care for them, and are amazing parents, but the relationship they develop as they care for them tears the entire village apart. Why did this happen? The reader can ask himself or herself this, and can come to his or her own conclusion

So far, the reactions to this novel have been very positive.

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

I learned a lot about writing and character. I love everyone in this book as if they were my family. To me, the story itself is secondary. I love these characters, even the villains. Every novel I write from this point on will focus on character. I feel if you have characters you love, they can make any situation worthwhile.

What do you think readers will find most notable about this book?

The unique story telling device. A narrator, an omniscient being, is taken hostage at the beginning, completely changing the voice and the direction of the story. This was something I’d never seen before, and I suspect most readers haven’t either. This device is used throughout the novel to advance certain plot points that I will not discuss here.

What would you most like readers to tell others about this book?

Most readers would say it’s unique and has a heavy message.

How can readers help you promote this book?

Post on facebook, twitter, tell your friends, family, teachers, students, book club members. Just spread the word in whatever way is convenient for you.

Where can readers find you and more about your book(s)? Where can they purchase your book(s)?

Amazon.com and worldcastlepublishing.com are the two places you can find it most easily.

Another big thank you to Eric for stoping by, and make sure you all check him out. Show some love to the authors of WCP (World Castle Publishing).