Saturday, February 27, 2016

H. Schussman interviews Felicia Bridges

H. Schussman interviews Felicia Bridges
Heidi:
So let’s just jump and get to know you. I’ve been looking forward to this since I heard you write adventure fiction around the very real adventure of mission work. Having been on mission trips myself, I know it’s fodder for great stories! What genres do you write? 
Felicia:
I’m releasing my first young adult novel this spring, but I’ve previously published a couple of non-fiction accounts in anthologies. The novel that launches May 30, 2016, CzechMate, has been called Action/Adventure, Suspense, and Fantasy depending on the reader’s perspective. It’s the story of a teen missionary in Prague who must prove her parents aren’t spies before it’s too late. It’s a little like Amy Carmichael meets Indiana Jones with a biblical worldview. It also incorporates a touch of romance and a healthy dose of the supernatural power of God.

Heidi:
When did you start writing?
Felicia:
I’ve been writing since I was a young Army BRAT learning to enjoy life overseas. At age twelve, we were deployed to Taegu, South Korea, and it was really difficult moving to the other side of the world and trying to make friends in a very different culture. For most of my life, I’ve written to entertain myself, or to process and cope with circumstances, or simply because a story popped into my head and wouldn’t leave me alone until I put it on paper. I started writing with a goal of being published about five years ago.

Heidi:
What are you working on now?
Felicia:
I’m working on the second book in the International Mission Force series, BoliviaKnight, which will release December 15, 2016. The series was borne out of so many different experiences, but it was inspired by the mission trip I took with my daughter when she was twelve. Working with a family that served on the mission field opened my eyes to the excitement, danger and everyday challenges they face. I wanted to write stories that would pull people into the lives of my characters and allow them to learn about the history, culture, landmarks and folklore of exotic places around the world while enjoying a tale that kept them on the edge of their seat. 

Heidi:
Who is your favorite character in your stories?
Felicia:
I don’t have a favorite. There are aspects of each of them that I love… and some aspects I’m not so crazy about. I hope their less-than-endearing traits help readers relate to them, not as perfect heroes, but as sinners redeemed by grace. In the end, I hope my readers realize that they don’t have to be perfect, and that God knows all their flaws and loves them in all their imperfection. The heroine in CzechMate, Nicole, is especially close to my heart because she is the first fictional character I’ve created. She has the best characteristics of my two daughters and I love her passion for God, even though it sometimes gets her in trouble.

Heidi:
Do you see yourself in any of your characters?
Felicia:
I see something of myself in each of my characters, but none of them is just like me. Often my heroes are the me I wish I had been at their age – courageous, steadfast, loyal, loving, independent. Frequently their flaws are the things I find most frustrating in myself. Exploring how my characters discover their kryptonite and destroy it encourages me as I work through identifying and submitting various areas of my life to God.

Heidi:
Where do you write? Describe your workspace?
Felicia:
I should have a really great answer about how I have a special office, decorated with artifacts from around the world, where I play alternative music and watch the sunset as I create stories from all these exotic places. But then you would want pictures and I’d be found out. The truth is most of my writing is done on my laptop (now a MacBook Air that I love) sitting on our sofa in the living room, with my feet on the ottoman and a glass of sweet tea beside me. Frequently it also involves tuning out the TV if my family is watching something, but I’d rather be with them than holed up in a remote corner in perfect solitude.

Heidi:
Who are your all-time favorite authors?
Felicia:
I don’t think I’ve ever read a book I didn’t at least like, even if it wasn’t my particular style or preference. But I do have two authors that I absolutely love. I mean like "fan-girl, stuttering in their presence, somebody pull me away before I embarrass myself any more” love. The first is Jerry B. Jenkins, who was the keynote speaker at the first writer’s conference I went to. I was giddy as a teenage girl at a Bieber concert meeting him and have been so humbled by his encouragement over the past six years. The second is Ted Dekker, who I understand is the keynote speaker for the ACFW conference this fall that I’ll be attending for the first time. Hopefully I can pull it together and act my age when I meet him, but I’m not counting on it.

Heidi:
Did you find writing a query letter a challenge? If so, how did you overcome it? Do you think there was a key phrase or idea in your query letter?
Felicia:
I’ve actually never written a query letter per se. After attending writer’s conferences for several years, meeting with various publishers and editors and pitching my ideas, I finally had the courage this past spring to submit a proposal in response to requests from several publishers and Vinspire Publishing offered a contract on the first two books in the International Mission Force series based on that proposal. By meeting with the publishers at conference, your proposal can bypass the normal gatekeepers. However, in today’s publishing climate, that means you must have a completed manuscript if you’re a first time author.

Heidi:
What advice do you have for a writer aspiring to be published?
Felicia:
I highly recommend attending conferences, and Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference in particular. The opportunity to meet with agents, publishers, editors and other writers and to learn the craft, practice pitching, find out what the publishers are looking for in a proposal, and network to build relationships in the industry is worth every penny. As in any creative field, talent, hard work and determination will only take you so far if your work never finds its way to the desk of the person who can get it published. Writer’s conferences give you the opportunity to meet those people face to face, to make a great first impression on them, and to share your ideas with them even before you’ve taken the time to flesh them out completely in order to determine if the idea itself generates any interest. If you have what you believe to be the next great American novel, but everyone you present it to thinks the idea is cliché, boring or offensive, you can save yourself a lot of heartache and time by moving on to the next great idea. 

Heidi:
Would you like to acknowledge someone for their help/assistance/faith in you/etc?
Felicia:
Absolutely! The most important acknowledgment is to God for his grace in saving me when I was eleven and for drawing me back to himself when I had wandered away. Any words you read that I’ve written that are good and pure and true have come from Him. Anything that falls flat is where I stepped in. I thank Vinspire Publishing and Dawn Carrington, in particular, for believing in the International Mission Force series and taking a chance on a new writer like me, and my agent, Julie Gwinn, for her encouragement, wisdom and patience! I thank my family for their encouragement, patience with all the time when I was in the room, but was actually thousands of miles away, and their unconditional love. And a very special thank you to my friend and writing buddy, Daphne, who wrangled me in to going to a writer’s conference the first time and has been my personal cheerleader ever since.

Ways to connect with Felicia Bridges:

Adventures that Inspire Action

Monday, February 15, 2016

H. Schussman Interviews Ronovan Hester

I’ve been looking forward to this interview, Ronovan. Your constant help to new aspiring authors has earned you a place among the leaders in the literary world. It’s a pleasure to interview such a great guy, but I have to say… You are so normal and approachable. All of us are forever in your debt and are looking forward to getting to know you a little better.


So, let’s get started:

Heidi:
What genre do you write?
Ronovan:
Historical Fiction seems to be my natural leaning. Although, I have been working on a Southern Contemporary Romance for a while now. For the most part history finds its way into my thoughts. I have several manuscripts that deal with something to do with the past.

Heidi:
When did you start writing?
Ronovan:
I guess it's been at least 20 years now, but the real sit down and do it part has been the last few years. That's when I began to pay more attention the craft of writing itself, in how to tell a story the right way.

Heidi:
What are you working on now?
Ronovan:
I'm working on the Southern Romance I mentioned. I also have a YA Historical Adventure I go to when my brain needs a rest from the Romance. The YA book is one I wrote in the present but it's gone back and forth between past and present in the idea stages. The manuscript is complete in the present version but I want to change it.

Heidi:
Who is your favorite character in your stories?
Ronovan:
In the book I just released, Amber Wake: Gabriel Falling, Captain Gabriel Wallace is my favorite for various reasons. I also like a character named Gimby, he's the helmsman for Wallace's ship and has a matter of fact way about him people can't help but like.

Heidi:
Do you see yourself in any of your characters?
Ronovan:
I put a lot of me into Wallace. I have a co-author, PS Bartlett, so she took some of me out of there when she added her details, but that's fine. The core of Wallace is still me for the most part. I don't think you can write convincingly unless you tap into some deep hidden part of you when you write the antagonist in a story. We all have those moments of utter dislike and frustration we can channel.

Heidi:
Where do you write? Describe your workspace?
Ronovan:
I write in my bedroom. Having some medical issues I tend to spend time in as quiet a place as I can. I suffer from migraines that don't stop, just vary in degree. They are present 24/7. Writing helps a little. I get the ideas that run through my head during those sleepless moments down on paper. It's one reason I can write as much and as fast as I do.

Heidi:
What was it like to be a co-author? Did you have to consult regularly with P.S. Bartlett regarding the story, or were you given a free reign?
Ronovan:
I had free reign writing the first draft. Then I past it over to her to add her touches and adjust here and there to match up with her future stories and ideas in a series she is writing that involves a couple of the characters. She would at times ask me about Wallace or other characters while she was writing her current trilogy to get some details she could use. I would only advise co-authoring if you work together through the process in outlining and getting the ideas down for direction and character basics. It will save a lot of pain and agony later.

Heidi:
Why did P.S. Bartlett choose you to write the prequel to her pirate series?
Ronovan:
After reviewing her book The Blue Diamond: The Razor's Edge, and then interviewing her, we became friends and talked a lot. We both felt her book deserved more attention than it was getting and I saw the world she had created as being filled with potential. The idea of a prequel series of how Ivory Shepard, her main character, became a pirate captain. At the same time the idea of the sequel to Blue Diamond was discussed with only a couple of basics thought of at the time. One character came up that had red hair, blue eyes, and would be the influence for Ivory in her pirate development. We thought we could get a lot more done if we both wrote. She worked on the trilogy, and I Amber Wake. From the physical description of a man named Rasmus, I created Captain Gabriel Wallace of the Royal Navy and the rest of the characters in the book. Only one character appears that came from any other stories already written. I thought the appearance of Ivory's love interest in The Blue Diamond would be a nice addition, and an awkward situation in the future.

Heidi:
What advice do you have for a writer aspiring to be published?
Ronovan:
Take your time and find your voice. Do that by trying to write different genres outside your comfort zone and you might be surprised at what you can write. Listen to those who have made it in the business. And know there is more than one way to get where you want to go. I never expected to co-author a book with anyone, and never a Historical Adventure involving some pirates. Although Amber Wake is not exactly a pirate novel. It's more of a war against an enemy novel.

Heidi:
Would you like to acknowledge someone for their help/ assistance/faith in you/etc?
Ronovan:
Pretty much all of those that follow me on my blog RonovanWrites have been encouraging. Florence Thum, a law professor in Australia has been a big supporter and honest. She doesn't pull punches. The beta-readers of the book, Colleen Chesebro and author Annette Rochelle Aben have been great. I recently connected with a writing mentor of sorts in Claire Fullerton who is guiding me along the way in suggestions. It's an informal thing, but I enjoy her writing and I would like to capture that feel in my Southern Romance, and she's southern like I am. We ended up having more things in common than we realized. And oddly my cat Spunky. When you need those quiet times to get away from the pain of writing and the world, it's nice to have something that is amusing and will just enjoy being with you. Spunky has appeared on my blog as well as a friend's blog and is kind of popular. For a guy with constant noise in his head from a concussion he suffered over 2 years ago, a quiet friend like Spunky is a blessing.

Here are some easy ways to purchase Amber Wake, Gabriel Falling.


You may connect with Ronovan through:
Amazon Author Page: Ronovan Hester
Amazon UK Author Page: Ronovan Hester
Author Site: RonovanHester.com
Book Review Site: LitWorldInterviews.com
Goodreads: Ronovan Hester
Twitter: @RonovanWrites
Facebook: Ronovan Writes
Google+: Ronovan Writes
LinkedIn: Ronovan Hester
About.me: Ronovan

Pinterest: RonovanWrites

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Amber Wake, Gabriel Falling by Ronovan Hester, co-author P.S. Bartlett

Review by H. Schussman
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Reader’s Point of View:
This prequel is written to explain an enigmatic pirate, Captain Rasmus Bergman, found in a series written by P.S. Bartlett. Author Ronovan Hester was selected by P.S. Bartlett to go back in time to develop the character of this fierce, yet protective man.

Set in the early 1700’s, Hester uses a very formal Old English dialogue and non-dialogue language style. The historical descriptions are done smoothly, and flow nicely without being to “teachy”.

A word of advice is to settle into the language as quickly as possible. It was a bit of a stumbling block for me, as I tried to mentally get the long slow phraseology to catch up with the fast scenes. Hester seems to settle into a great story-telling groove after the third chapter. After that I was along for the ride.

If you’ve read the other three in this female pirate series, you will be hungry for the story of Rasmus. If you haven’t read any of them you will find yourself wanting to find out what happens next. This is the making of a pirate! How did this noble (albeit bad-tempered) man become one of the most feared pirates in the Caribbean Sea?

It’s a little confusing, but I believe P.S. Bartlett wrote Blue Diamond first and it was a major hit. The novella, Ivory Dawn was written to give history on Ivory. Amber Wake, Gabriel Falling is the story of Rasmus. Demons and Pearls is how those two met, Jaded Tides is the second book regarding the duo. Oddly enough, Blue Diamond has a different pirate in Ivory’s life, Captain Maddox Carbonale. Hester also develops this man’s character from the main character’s POV.

According to Bartlett she wrote them backwards because she was curious about how they came to be the fierce pirates they are in Blue Diamond. Not having read anything but Amber Wake, I wouldn’t know how well she pulls all of that off, but I do like Hester’s development of Rasmus Bergman from his male point of view.

Writer’s POV:
As stated above, the language is Old English and a bit stiff at the start. I don’t know if I warmed up or if Ronovan Hester warmed up, but it flowed through my mind smoother after a couple of chapters.

In Amber Wake, Gabriel Falling, Hester takes on the challenge of writing first person and steers clear of some of the pit-falls of that style. He doesn’t describe what is happening behind him or on another boat. As a reader, you only know what Captain Rasmus Bergman knows, which is critical in first-person writing.

Another challenge is developing a character from someone else’s series. Hester takes this in stride and creates a back-story to explain the famous pirate. He includes history of what could explain Rasmus’ high moral standards (for a pirate) and his upper class education. At times the internal and external dialogue, and the actions seemed at odds, but it didn’t stop me from reading.

This is the first I’ve read of The Razor's Adventures Pirate Tales. It would be entertaining to get readers together, who read these books in different order, and see if we each have a favorite character based on which book we read first.


So in conclusion; Ivory Dawn, Amber Wake, Demons and Pearls, and Jaded Tides are all prequels to The Blue Diamond. Unlike Ivory Dawn, Amber Wake is a stand-alone novel, but barely.

Amber Wake, Gabriel Falling is available at Amazon