Sunday, October 27, 2013

Sunday Brunch 10/27/13

MY SPECIAL GUEST FOR BRUNCH TODAY IS 
AUTHOR WILLIAM D. DICKERSON


First and foremost, it is a pleasure to have you here. Welcome to Harper’s Sunday Brunch Interview!

So, can you tell us what makes William D. Dickerson tick? What got you started on the path to becoming an author?
I’m always thinking about stories and when I read, I think about how I would have done it if the story had been mine. I really got started as a writer, though, because of National Novel Writing Month. I never thought of myself as a novelist because the length was so daunting, but after my first failed attempt at NaNo, I realized that I could write in a longer format.

What are you currently working on? Would you care to share a snippet?
I just released my second book, Young Mutants in Love. I’ll be starting my next project in November, but I’m still figuring out what that is going to be.

Here’s the first half of Chapter 1 of Young Mutants in Love for you to check out.

It was a perfect night for star gazing. It was cold, which wasn't unusual for an evening in early February, and the skies were clear. Cacy, bundled in two sweaters and her heaviest coat, was participating in a class she didn't like for credits she didn't feel that she needed, but the registrar's office had informed her that if she wanted to graduate, she would have to take the class. It was Astronomy 101 and because of the school’s policy, she was the oldest person in the class.

As a graduate student in Physics, she wasn't interested in the stars per se, but the school had a requirement that all students had to take an Astronomy class. It wasn't the worst thing possible. At least the 101 class was easy. Cacy just had to show up to check out the stars when the weather was nice. Unfortunately, the best nights were also the coldest. She just had to put up with her 'lab partner,' Gavin. He was the TA for the class, and since there were an odd number of students, and she was the oldest student in the class, she was partnered with him.

Gavin wasn't an impressive specimen. He stood just a few inches above her five foot five inches. His red hair was always badly cut and frazzled. He wore the thickest pair of glasses she'd ever seen, but he was a nice guy even though he was terribly awkward. Tonight he was just wearing a black school jacket that was a couple of sizes too small.

The class had come to an old field at the end of an abandoned road. Professor Harrington had chosen it because there was only one old tree so there was a clear view of the stars especially on a cold night like this.

Each team was given a blanket because the ground was muddy from the recent thaw and a star chart and a small flash light. Each couple was also given a constellation to find in the night sky. Cacy and Gavin had been assigned several because he was the TA and had an unfair advantage, as Professor Harrington insisted. It wasn't too complicated since Cacy had studied the heavenly bodies growing up. Her father had always tried to show her the stars when they went on their annual camping trip.

"Now that you have your constellations," Professor Harrington started, "I want you and your partner to find a patch of ground and lie down and look at the heavens. Take off your gloves and hold hands while you search for your constellations, and enjoy the moment."

Cacy was reluctant, but she took off her glove and the mitten from her right hand and grabbed Gavin's gloveless hand as instructed. She looked at his other hand which was also gloveless as he pointed at the belt of Orion.

"There it is," Gavin announced, "Orion, the warrior of the heavens."

"Oh really?" Cacy asked with interest.

"Yes,” Gavin continued, “according to legend, Orion was the greatest hero of his age. He was placed in the heavens as a testament to his courage and strength."

"Is any of that real?" Cacy wondered.

"Who knows what happened in the world all those ages ago," Gavin replied. "We just have stories to give us hints about the past."

"How did you learn about all of this?"

"It's a part of Astronomy," Gavin explained. "The constellations are all tied to the stories. There are stories from almost every culture in the world."

Cacy was going to comment, maybe say that it was interesting, see where the conversation went from there, but three things happened at that moment. First she saw a streak of light pass by the middle star of Orion's belt. Next, there was a spark that shocked both her and Gavin. Finally after several seconds, she passed out while screaming.


Do you include some of your own personal experiences in your books or do you prefer to use your imagination?
All of my characters have something of myself in them, but their experiences are not tied to any of my own. For example, in Cherry Wood, one of the main characters, Patri, loves cold spaghetti for breakfast, and so do I, but I’ve never had to run for my life.

What genre do you typically write in and why did you choose this over others?
I don’t have a specific genre. I like to work with the story that is on my mind the most at the moment. On top of a romantic thriller, and super hero action story, I also have a short story about a vampire hunter appearing in Winds of Change, a collection of short stories to raise funds for the victims of the Oklahoma Tornado.

Do you have a specific process or a ritual you go through when sitting down to write?
When I write, I like to have specific goals for that session. I consider what I’ve written so far and then plan the next step in my story. What has to happen to develop the characters and move the plot forward?

Where do you find your inspiration for your plots? Do you have any tricks of the trade you would care to share?
Ideas are everywhere. For me, the biggest problem is remembering them, so I try to have a way to record the ideas when I get them. Young Mutants in Love was just a title idea that I had, and when I thought of it, I knew that I had to write that story. It was just a matter of brainstorming the idea with a good friend. She is usually my idea sounding board.

When it comes to writing, I find it helpful to share my ideas with others. Sometimes, when you share the ideas with people you trust, you can get helpful feedback and ideas of what you might do with your idea.
 

What is the oddest place/situation where an idea for a book/plot has come to you?
There is a book idea that I have called Mr. Brenner’s birthday. It’s about a girl trying to throw a surprise birthday party for her teacher. That idea popped into my head while I was waiting for the light to change so I could cross the street.

What makes a book stand out and perk your interest?

For me, characters make a story interesting. If you have believable characters, it doesn’t matter what the story is about. Virginia Woolf wrote a short story about three women sitting at a party talking about what they do with their days, but it was an engaging story that spoke about their ability to connect or lack their of. (Find the story.)

We all have our favorite authors. Can you share some of yours and tell us why you like them?
I already mentioned Virginia Woolf. I didn’t always like her as a writer, but that was because my introduction was A Room of Her Own. It is a very important piece, but I was reading it in the middle of a very busy semester where I was taking 3 other literature classes. Later I read a collection of her short stories and discovered her ability to bring characters together, have them start to connect, and then have that connection fall apart. (Phyllis and Rosamond is the name of the story.)

I love Madeline L’Engle because she taught me to love strong female characters. (I read A Wrinkle in Time in 5th grade, and I’ve loved Meg ever since.)

I love Isaac Asimov’s ability to create a believable future.

I’ll only share one more, but I could go on forever. C. S. Lewis taught me that any kind of story can have fantastical elements in it.

We all have a pet peeve, care to share yours?
As someone who works with kids as a teacher, it’s hard for me to be in public and hear parents yelling at their kids.

When you’re not writing, what are the things you enjoy doing to relax?
I love walking, especially if it’s just to clear my head. I also love reading a good book. Cooking/baking is also a huge favorite.

Thank you so much for joining me here today, William. I know my followers will enjoy this spotlight as much as I have conducting it. Good luck on all your future endeavors


 A LITTLE ABOUT WILLIAM


William D. Dickerson started his life in a small town in northern Pennsylvania and was removed to Upstate New York shortly after that. He is often quick with a quote or a bit of snappy banter, but there is more beneath the surface.
William is a teacher and a writer. His writing interests are diverse. He has self published Cherry Wood, a romantic thriller and his second book, Young Mutants in Love, an action/adventure story filled with aliens, monster, robots, and more.
When he isn't writing or teaching, William can be found walking until his bus arrives since he is too lazy to sit around waiting, or reading other books to see how the authors do it. He might also be found enjoying playing with his niece and nephew when he can find the time.
William also has more ideas then he can keep track of at this point, but he has a growing list for future reference even if they never get written. That is a good problem to have, but it can be a hassle at times.

PLACES WHERE YOU CAN 
FIND WILLIAM ONLINE

TWITTER or @lockheed40

WILLIAM'S LATEST RELEASE


PURCHASE LINK FOR YOUNG MUTANTS IN LOVE

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Sunday Brunch 10/20/13

MY SPECIAL BRUNCH SPOTLIGHT GUEST TODAY 
IS AUTHOR LILY BENITEZ


First and foremost, it is a pleasure to have you here. Welcome to Harper’s Sunday Brunch Interview!
Thank you very much, I'm happy to be here! I appreciate you having me!

So, can you tell us what makes Lily Benitez tick? What got you started on the path to becoming an author?
Oh man. I don't know where to begin about that. I just remember always loving to write ever since I was a little kid. I remember my earliest stories were about cats and dogs and they were about three sentences long. Writing and drawing has always been my favorite hobby. I've never been much of a gamer (in fact, scratch that, I'm NOT a gamer) and between playing outside and writing/drawing inside, I was set. I got the idea for Shinobi 7 when I was 13-ish, and I remember I had a 60-page long transcript of it. It was terrible, hahaha!

It wasn't until I was 14 when I moved from Southern CA to Mississippi that I started writing Shinobi 7 more. I restarted and would write whenever I wanted to. Well, that went on for about two years of me writing the book on whims. Then when I was 16, I said to myself, “You know what? I wanna be an author, no question about it.” So THEN after that I buckled down and wrote the rest of Shinobi 7. In fact, I had the 2nd book finished by the time the 1st one was published. It was just the fact that I buckled down to write them.

I plan to write as long as I want to, and considering how much I love to, I'll probably be writing awhile. I already have set goals and I'd like the Shinobi 7 Series to be my most recognized work. But, it's in God's hands and I'm blessed and grateful for what I've done so far. I'll just keep doing what I love and keep writing =)

What are you currently working on? Would you care to share a snippet?
I'm currently writing Shinobi 7's 3rd installment. Yes, I have the 2nd one written and now I've got to: market the 1st book, edit the 2nd one, and write the 3rd. It's a lot to juggle but it's a lot of fun. I'm abusing post-it notes and there's a lot of notebook paper scraps around my room.

I thought awhile about the snippet I'd share and what scene. So this is a snippet from Shinobi 7: Trials of a Warrior, Book #1 of my series. The book switches from 1st person to 1st person for different characters. For this scene, the character is a girl named Cassie and she's one of the main protagonists. This snippet is from her POV. Sorry if it's a bit out of context!

“The, uh, map says we keep walking on the dirt road until we come to a river, then we make a left and cut through the forest. Well, I mean, it doesn't actually say that, like in written words, but uh, you know, in
picture form it, uh, says that.” I read out loud to Hanran. Read out loud?
 

More like stuttered out loud! I'm such a dork! He nodded in response, which is all he’s given me so far. Not a single word. He wouldn’t even look at me. He even walks a few feet ahead of me because he has a faster walking pace.

As I had dreaded, the atmosphere was horribly awkward for me. I’m not sure if Hanran felt awkward or not, he probably felt fine because of the silence. The only thing going through my mind was making it through today. I didn't want to say anything else to him unless I had to. Obviously he was cold to me because he didn't like me, although I can't figure out why. I've been nice to him the whole time. I expected the whole trip to be silent. Think of my surprise when Hanran actually said something to me.

“What's your purpose for going to the Kitsune Clan?” he questioned.

That was the first time he said more than a few words; his voice was gruff and husky, but still held adolescence in it, like he hadn't completely grown out of boyishness. His voice was nice to hear although I've barely heard it. Then I realized he was waiting for an answer. “To, uh, train there,” I answered softly. I didn't stammer as much, but I still sounded foolish. He continued walking ahead of me and his head stayed straight forward. Usually people look at the person they're talking to. I didn't expect him to reply.

He surprised me a second time when he said in a darker tone, “You don't seem like the fighting type.”  Hanran had apparently studied me and summed me up. Of course, I couldn't disagree with his conclusion. Just one more person I can hopefully prove wrong, right?

“I... I'm not,” I mumbled softly. Even a complete stranger could tell I was way in over my head... maybe I am. “Why are you going?” I asked him.

“To become stronger,” he answered simply. I should have known that would be Hanran's answer. He already looked like a fighter, or at least, he looked like he'd take fighting seriously.

 

Do you include some of your own personal experiences in your books or do you prefer to use your imagination?
That's a really great question, actually. There's a character named Luna, and she's like my alter ego on the page. One reason I really had a lot of fun with this book is because I viewed as writing my life (and my friends' lives) inside a ninja school and all the trouble we'd get into, etc. Luna is just one main character, and I love them all equally, actually. The experiences and emotions the characters go through I can relate to some, although there are other instances where I do have to use my imagination in order to truly get into their character.

What genre do you typically write in and why did you choose this over others?
My genre is typically action/adventure. I love writing fight scenes and anything that will get the reader's adrenaline pumping. My second favorite thing to write is humor, and it's the best feeling in the world when someone laughs at something I wrote. I feel special!

I like action/comedy the best to write in and I find it the easiest out of all the genres. I don't think I'm very good at romance or mystery. In fact, suspense/thriller might be the genre I'm not so skilled in…because I'm not serious enough to write it out! However, one day I would like to challenge myself and write in genres and settings that I'm not so comfortable in that way I can practice and get more well-rounded as a writer.

Do you have a specific process or a ritual you go through when sitting down to write?
I usually write in the mornings with a cup of coffee. I'm a morning person so I'm up by 5:30-6:00 and I write until 7:00. Then I have to go do something active or on my feet because I feel like a couch potato if I sit down too long. I always like to write to music and usually the songs will mirror the scene I'm writing (i.e. writing a fight scene I'll listen to high-beat music etc)

Where do you find your inspiration for your plots? Do you have any tricks of the trade you would care to share?
I'm inspired by different books or TV shows I watch. I have to be careful though because if I watch/read too much it'll serve as a distraction or will fickle me and my writing. When I get writer's block the best approach personally is to step back from the work and trust that an idea will come in time. So when I do get writer's block I'll watch my favorite movies or shows to get me distracted and then the inspiration will hit me once again. I never have writer's block for more than a week or so.

What is the oddest place/situation where an idea for a book/plot has come to you?
I was in karate class and all the students were sparring each other. I was up to fight and an idea for a scene in my book suddenly hit me…then my sparring partner really hit me. I wasn't paying attention though so it was a good shot! I just remember being in a hurry to get home so I could write down the idea, I was afraid I'd forget it or something. Of course I didn't, I was being silly.

What makes a book stand out and perk your interest?
Usually if a friend recommends it to me I'll check out a book. But if I'm on my own in a bookstore and I see a book, then usually if the summary grabs my attention I'm keen on reading it.

We all have our favorite authors. Can you share some of yours and tell us why you like them?
Neil Gaiman, the author of Coraline. That's my favorite book and I love how simple it was but it was actually a lot deeper than one might initially think.

I respect J.K. Rowling because the Harry Potter series was done her way and it felt like the package she gave us was hers, the way she intended it. That inspires me because with my book series I'd like to give the reader my book the way I intended for it.

I have more authors I like but those are the two that come to my mind right now. I don't read a whole lot because I'm writing and I'm dedicating all my time to that. However, I do enjoy reading books from other indie authors like me. I'm 100% supportive of every author like me and it's great that I'm one of them now!

We all have a pet peeve, care to share yours?
I cannot stand to be sat down for long periods of time. Two hours tops is my limit and then I have to go stand up or feel the need to walk around in circles, anything! Most of the time my friends/family/whoever is next to me says, “Would you just sit down already!”

When you’re not writing, what are the things you enjoy doing to relax?
I really love to practice Shotokan Karate, it's neck-and-neck with my writing actually. I like being outside in nature, especially now that the weather is fall. I love drawing because I've watched anime and read manga since I was a kid, so I enjoy drawing as well. One of these days I'm determined to make a comic. Cooking is another thing I enjoy; I have no set skill except grabbing ingredients, throwing them in a skillet, and making it taste good.

Thank you so much for joining me here today, Lily. I know my followers will enjoy this spotlight as much as I have conducting it. Good luck on all your future endeavors.
Thank you very much!!! I really enjoyed this interview and I'm very honored to have spoken with you, Harper. Good luck to you as well, I had fun!


PLACES WHERE YOU CAN
FIND LILY ONLINE

GOODREADS
FACEBOOK PAGE FOR SHINOBI 7 SERIES 
SMASHWORDS AUTHOR PAGE 



LILY'S LATEST RELEASE
 

Enter the feudal world of Shaaku Den...

A world that used to be peaceful until the uprising of the evil geisha Black Rose and the ruthless warrior Rengoku. Together the two are the Blackthorn Clan and they have turned Shaaku Den into their battlefield, conquering and killing the innocent for their own gain. Blackthorn has instigated destruction and the only ones left to fight back is the surviving Kitsune Clan.

Follow the adventures of six young individuals who are now soldiers in the legendary Kitsune Clan. Do they have what it takes to be a warrior and fight against Blackthorn? Can they save their world from Black Rose's evil thorns? This is a time of war in Shaaku Den— seen through the eyes of six unlikely youths. Will they overcome the trials of warfare? 

PURCHASE LINKS FOR 
SHINOBI 7:TRIALS OF A WARRIOR