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 S. Evan Townsend

Welcome to my fellow World Castle author S. Evan Townsend. 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?

I'm a 51 year old writer living in central Washington State.  I'm married with three children, all boys, the youngest is 18 and a senior in high school.  I've been writing for almost 40 years now (you do the math).  I spent four years in the U.S. Army in the Military Intelligence branch and then I worked for 20 years in a business I partially owned and ran.  About 15 months ago I decided to pursue my dreams of being a writer and now I write as much as I can.  I do fiction novels and I also write freelance articles.  I've gotten to meet a lot of interesting people most of whom were, because of where I live, farmers.

What quality do you most value in yourself?

I hope this doesn't sound snobbish or conceited, but I most value my writing ability.  It is the one thing I do best.  I'm just hoping I do it well enough to make a living at it.

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

I love to drive and drive fast.  I've driven on a race track (since I've been writing for a living, I can't afford that anymore), and I know all the low-traffic roads in the area where speed enforcement is little or none.  I'm passionate about politics.  My mother was very involved in politics as I was growing up and she would run political campaigns while dragging me all over Idaho with her.  And I'm passionate about my kids, helping them succeed and become the adults they want to become.

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

My kids aren't criminals.  They don't tag, they don't swear, they don't talk back to adults.  They don't abuse drugs or alcohol, and they are all brilliant (which I'm sure is all because of me).

Why do you write?

Why do I breathe?  I have to write.  I have these thoughts, voices, ideas and if I don't record them they go away.  Plus I enjoy it so much.  I will write to pass time (which is how Hammer of Thor started).  There is nothing like the satisfaction of writing something unique and beautiful that conveys exactly what you want to say.

What is your greatest strength as a writer?

I'm a very visual person.  When I write I see a movie in my mind of what's happening.  I believe my strength is transferring that movie from my head to paper so the reader sees what I'm seeing.

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?

Me.

Seriously, I wish more people would read Robert Heinlein and Poul Andersen and learn from them.  They are both brilliant writers but are confined to the ghetto of "oh, they're just science fiction writers" when they are so much more.  Heinlein's political and social commentary disguised as entertaining stories influenced me a lot.

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

Robert Heinlein, as I just said, Poul Anderson and Larry Niven are the three fiction writers who have influenced both my life and my writing.  In writing my novel Rock Killer I tried (and I think failed) to write as well as Larry Niven would on the subject of asteroid mining.

About Writing:

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

My writing comes in spurts.  And can come anytime.  I could be driving and have an idea (usually when I'm driving slow).  Or the shower is a great writing venue.  Usually I do what I call "pre-writing" when I think about something.  Then I'll sit down and actually write it.  But I don't hold on to what I pre-wrote because sometimes inspiration hits and suddenly I'm off on a whole new direction.  One time I made a typo and I liked the change so much, I changed to plot of the novel to match the typo.

I don't outline much or if I do, it's very broad.  For example, the outline for the final chapter of Agent of Artifice was "Final Conflict with Bad Guy."

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

When I think of "tools" I think of thinks like a good dictionary (the older the better so that it's not infused with modern stupidity), a copy of The Elements of Style by Strunk and White, and a Fowler's Modern English Usage (the older the better).  But the writer themselves, they need a good vocabulary (and an accurate one), and the ability to get their thoughts into prose form so that it is both easy to read yet not plain.  And they need to be absolute believers in their craft and ability because they are going to get a lot of rejections along the way.

What motivates you to write?

I need to write.  If I never got another penny and no one ever read what I wrote, I would still write.

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

It seems to me that my writer's block is my subconscious telling me I'm writing crap.  For instance, I had writer's block for over a year on the climax of Hammer of Thor.  Then one day, I realized my idea was crap.  And so I started thinking about it more (pre-writing) and came up with another idea and suddenly, it was no longer crap and I finished the book's first draft in about two weeks.  So when I suffer writer's block, I try to step back, think, and figure out what's wrong.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Prostitution pays better and is less degrading.

To me, some people are writers and some want to write.  Those that are writers will write. Those that want to write want to make a lot of money, go on Oprah, and do book tours.  If you want to be a writer, then write and viola, you are a writer.  You may not be a paid writer or a published writer, but you can post your stuff online for others or start a blog or try to find a publisher.  But write.  And grow and thick skin because you will be rejected, criticized, and berated.

What are your current / future projects?

I am currently working on a third novel in the Adepts Series to follow up Hammer of Thor and Agent of Artifice.  It is titled Book of Death and it is set in 1968 (just 5 years after Agent of Artifice but the cultural changes are huge) and deals with the Cold War, the Prague Spring (I hope), and my version of vampires.

About your book:

Can you tell us a bit about your book?

My latest book is titled Rock Killer.  It is not part of the Adept Series but is a stand-alone novel.  It is science fiction that is set in the not-too-distant future when in order to supply an over-crowded planet with the resources it needs, a company called Space Resources, Inc., mines asteroids for their valuable metals without degrading Earth's environment.  But there are people who cannot stand human progress and will stop and nothing to slow or halt it.

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

The message of the book is that progress is always better than regress, and that standing up to bullies, be they nations, terrorist groups, or individuals, is better than surrender.  My readers have been universally approving, even those that I thought might be more inclined to be on the bad guys' side philosophically.

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

I learned a lot about asteroids and how to plot a constant acceleration orbit in the solar system.  I remember having a spreadsheet open on my computer with the calculations on it to make the timing work right and having to wrap my plot around the reality of the math.  It was a challenge.  I also learned about Middle East politics, languages and cultures.  When I was writing the novel I had a friend who was an Arab linguist and he helped out a lot.

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

The book isn't meant to be a "message book" even though like all good literature, it has messages.  It's supposed to be a fun space adventure, taking the reader someplace they've never been: the Moon and the asteroid belt.  I hope what they find notable is the adventure and the fun in the book.

Have you acquired any good anecdotes surrounding this book? If so, could you share one?

A friend of mine read an early draft and he complained that the terrorists put out their statement claiming responsibility for the attack before they made their attack.  And I pointed out that they were twenty light-minutes from Earth at the time, so they were timing the message so that it would hit Earth right after the attack.  And for some reason, he couldn't understand that it would take twenty minutes for a radio transmission to get to Earth.  I kept saying things like "the speed of light is finite" and he still never got it.

Did researching and writing this book teach you anything or influence your thinking in any way?

I learned about Middle Eastern cultures and languages and customs.  So now when we talk about an Arab Spring, I can understand more why it is unlikely that will lead to a Western democracy.

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

That it was a fun book to read with lots of adventure and good old-fashioned space battles and some Earth-bound shoot-outs.

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

This book has two main characters who never meet (except briefly at the end of the novel).  One is Charlene "Charlie" Jones.  Interestingly, she started out as a white guy and ended up being a beautiful African-American woman.  It was one of those bolts out of the blue while I was writing.  In an early draft Charlie Jones was coming to meet someone.  But when he walked into the room I suddenly decided to make him a woman.  And then I decided to make her African-American as I wrote her background.  And finally, I made her beautiful because, well, I like beautiful women.  But she is strong, intelligent, and independent.  And I like that in a woman, too.

How can readers help you promote this book?

Tell everyone they know they loved it.  Tweet, blog, and post on Facebook about it.  And most of all, assuming you loved it, leave reviews on Amazon and Goodreads and Shelfari or anywhere else.  Email me through my website and I might link your review to my website.

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

The first place to go is my website: www.sevantownsend.com

All my books are available on Amazon.com and are available for the Kindle.  http://www.amazon.com/S.-Evan-Townsend/e/B004B3DRFM/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Some are also available for the Nook.

I have to say this was so much fun, Sheldon I can't thank you enough for the pleasure of getting to know you better. You had me laughing with your answers. I'm looking forward to meeting you and other World Castle Authors this coming weekend in Texas. For those who are unaware or just living under a rock... nine of us authors will be gathering together at not one but two Barnes and Noble's store for a huge Paranormal book event. If you are in the area please stop in and say hi to us. And Sheldon see you in less than 48 hours. 

Interview with Margaret Millmore

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? I’m a native Californian and have lived in San Francisco for the last twenty years. I’m married to a wonderful man (19 years now) and enjoy reading and writing fiction.
What quality do you most value in yourself? The world is a brutal place and at every turn in life, there is something or even someone that wants to knock you down, but I won’t let it happen, my glass is eternally full and I thrive on optimism. In addition to writing, what else are you passionate about? Reading, creating art via painting (canvas and furniture and anything else that will stand still long enough to be painted) and my family and friends, they are my lifeblood.
What are you most proud of accomplishing so far in your life? My marriage and my relationships with my family, and of course completing and publishing my first book.
Why do you write? Fictional thrillers, with a touch of the paranormal What is your greatest strength as a writer? I’m not sure yet, but I hope it’s the ability to entertain the reader and keep them turning page after page.
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? My cousin, Sharon Owens, she is an Irish author of 7 books (2 of which are best sellers), they’re wonderful journeys of life and love. Although she’s quite popular ‘across the pond’, American readers are missing out on her wonderful works. What book(s) / author(s) have influenced your life and writing? Stephen King, Ray Bradbury and Dean Koontz, there are others but those are the top three.  

About Writing:
Do you follow a regular routine? I try to write in the mornings and do any promotional work in the afternoons, for the most part that is my routine, but life often throws me a curve ball and it only works about 2/3rds of the time.
What motivates you to write? I’ve been making up stories in my head since childhood, when the opportunity to write came about, I jumped at it, and I love it. The very act of getting these pesky stories out is my motivation and of course I have an enormous support structure in my family and friends and they are amazing in their encouragement to me.
Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it? Yes, when I get stuck, I stop and re-read what I’ve written, then I ponder it for a day or two, more often than not, the block disappears and I can continue.
Do you have any advice for other writers? Don’t give up! Its hard work, but anything worth doing always is.
What are your current / future projects? I’m currently working on my next book, a fictional thriller based in San Francisco, but it’s too new to discuss at this point, so stay tuned...   About your book: Can you tell us a bit about your book? It’s a thriller based in San Francisco about a woman who wakes from a coma to discover her life is not what she remembers. As she tries to put the pieces back together she discovers clues to horrible experiments that had been and could still be taking place. Murder, distrust and a husband she doesn’t know drive her to discover and stop the horrible things that are happening.
What is the message in your book? What are your readers’ reactions to it? Aside from the good versus evil aspect, there really isn’t a specific message. The reader’s reactions have been positive so far, many have enjoyed the fast pace and unpredictable ending. 
What do you think readers will find most notable about this book? I hope it’s the entertainment factor that the story provides, that was my goal. I didn’t want to bog down the reader with deep thoughts and complicated jargon, I just wanted to take them away for a while, make them care about the characters and what happens to them.
What would you most like readers to tell others about this book? Naturally I’d like them say they loved it! But I’d also like them to say they couldn’t put it down, that it entertained them and that they would recommend it to others.
How can readers help you promote this book? By spreading the word of course, currently the e-book is on sale at Amazon for $2.99 through the holidays, if that’s a success I would consider extending the sale.  
Where can readers find you and more about your book(s)? Where can they purchase your book(s)? www.margaretmillmore.com, FB: Margaret Millmore, Twitter: mmillmore My book is available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, World Castle Publishing and just about all other online retailers.

Thank you again for joining us today, I've been looking forward to reading your work. I wish you much success and happiness. It has been a pleasure getting to know you and I think your books will be a great addition to any book lovers shelf. I hope you will come visit us again.

Author Interview with Stacey Rourke

CB:Thank you for joining us today, I'm so excited to have you here, and know my

readers will enjoy it as well. 

About You:

CB:Can you tell us a little about yourself?

SR:Well, I’m a mom, wife, and self-proclaimed shoe addict.  I graduated from college with a Bachelors of Business Administration with a marketing focus.  Yet despite my excessive student loan debts I decided to pursue my true passion of writing.  And I couldn’t be happier with that decision.

CB:What quality do you most value in yourself? 

SR:My sense of humor.  My parents instilled it in me never to take myself too seriously and to find the humor in any situation.  Life is just generally more fun if you take time to laugh.

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

SR:My children.  They’re my life.  My everything.  Everything I do, I do for them.

CB:I understand that, us mother's do everything with our children in mind.

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

SR:In my private life; raising two healthy and happy kids. In my professional life; seeing The Conduit finally make it to publication.

CB:You should be proud, they are all major accomplishment's.

CB:Why do you write? 

SR:Because it’s my passion.  It’s what I was meant to do.  If I go too long without writing I go through withdrawals like an addict. It just makes me who I am.

CB:I thinbk you describes exactly how most writers feel. It's not what we do, it's who we are.

CB:What is your greatest strength as a writer? 

SR:Again I say my humor.  There aren’t many situations where being a chronic smarta*# is considered a positive attribute, thankfully in writing it is!

CB: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? 

SR:Christopher Moore.  His twisted and demented humor is unparalleled and all kinds of wicked fun! 

About Writing:

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

SR:Before I start a new book I outline the story and plot for the entire novel.  From there I storyboard it like a movie or play.  I break it up into individual scenes to help me visualize it.  Then I can begin my first draft going scene by scene.  I have found that keeps me more focused.

CB:I think that is a whole talent on it's own, I can't story board, I just take off in a different direction anyway.

 

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

SR:I think all writers’ heads occasionally get in the way of their work.  We expect every word, every sentence to be utter perfection.  That pressure stifles the creative process and just isn’t realistic.  Sometimes we just have to let go and WRITE! Let the ideas flow, knowing they may take you somewhere better than you could’ve possibly imagined. Or not. It could be utter crap, but that’s okay!  That’s why we edit! Either way, forcing yourself to push through and click away on those keys will unblock your creative constipation.

CB:What are your current / future projects? 

SR:I am currently working on the continuations of The Gryphon series and a few other literary projects that are still in development.

About your book:

SR:The Conduit tells the story of three siblings that move in with their Grandmother in Tennessee after a rash of break-ins in their hometown spooks their mother. A series of unexplainable events later and Celeste, the middle child, learns that because of an ancient pact her ancestor made in the 17^th century she has been chosen to protect the Gryphon, the Protector of the Divine, from evil forces determined to possess him and harness his powers.  With her brother and sister by her side, and all of them sporting spankin’ new mystical powers, they set off to save the world.

CB:Have you acquired any good anecdotes surrounding this book? If so, could you share one? 

SR:The first draft of The Conduit was 110,000 words.  The published version is around 62,000 words.  I learned I can be way overly descriptive at times! There was a spaghetti making scene that read like I was writing a cookbook.  It, and a lot of details that didn’t pertain to the story at all, got cut. For very good reason.

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

SR:That it’s a fun, exciting, can’t miss read!

CB:How can readers help you promote this book? 

SR:Tell your friends, tell your neighbors, shout your love of this book from the rooftops and help spread the word that The Conduit is a MUST READ!

CB:I have confidence that they will.

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

SR:Find out more about my books at www.staceyrourke.com, follow me on Twitter @Rourkewrites, or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stacey-Rourke/112390402191876.  The Conduit is available for purchase for Amazon Kindle, Nook, Kobo, or at Smashwords.com

CB:Thanks again for joining us today Stacey. I can tell everyone that i have been totally wrapped up in your story and they should watch for my review on the 26th. And don't forget to leave some words of encouragement for this wonderful new author.

SR:Thanks so much for having me on your blog! It’s been a pleasure!