H. Schussman interviews Teryl Cartwright

The Teryl Cartwright Interview

Heidi:

First, Teryl, tell us a little about yourself?

Teryl:

I am that writer who loves to sneak humor and jokes inside some fun, yet serious stories. I live in PA (Pennsylvania to the rest of the country) and have two kids, three pets, and a serious need for many, many, many more bookshelves.

Heidi:

What genre do you write?

Teryl:

I write inspirational romance, drama, westerns, fantasy, and mysteries. I usually start with a question or concept to base a book upon and then think of the ending before starting to write the beginning of the book. That way I know where I am going and why as I explore the story that unfolds. For instance, in my first inspirational romance I wondered if you could "make yourself love someone" and in the next one I wrote to discover whether you could "make" someone love you.

Heidi:

When did you start writing?

Teryl:

I started in third grade when I wrote about what I wanted to be when I grew up. I stated, "I want to be a writer, farmer, fireman, banker, and circus girl. I know it is a lot, but I can do it." I'm still working on the other jobs!

Heidi:

What are you working on now?

Teryl:

Right now I just finished work on a screenplay and today I started some freelance copywriting for an educational publisher. The screenplay was for a contest sponsored by Meryl Streep for women over forty (which shares another fact about me). In a few weeks, I hope to start writing humor after I finish an online course that I wrote and currently facilitate.

Heidi:

Who is your favorite character in your stories?

Teryl:

My favorite character right now is Constance, the heroine in my second Regency romance. She didn't give up on love despite her mishaps and the many misunderstandings of her reluctant suitor--I enjoy her optimism and spunk.

Another favorite character is actually real. One of the sneaky additions to my first novel, A Sensible Match, was the bay mare that Abby rode and which just happened to be based on my own horse Esprit. (The other characters, I promise, are fictional, including the "church ladies" who get a bit nosy at times.)

Heidi:

Do you see yourself in any of your characters?

Teryl:

I see myself "reading too much into things" that Abby (the heroine in A Sensible Match) did. Yet I hope that sometimes people can see the wise, calm personality that I wrote into sidekicks like Robert (in Courting Constance) and Roundy (a character in my western, Prodigal).

Heidi:

Where do you write? Describe your work-space?

Teryl:

My work space consists of the laptop I use while sitting on the living room couch. I have a huge window that lets in a lot of light with a view of a wide street and a tree with a nesting robin nearby.

Heidi:

Who are your all-time favorite authors?

Teryl:

Georgette Heyer and Louis Lamour are my favorite storytellers because you can re-read their books and get something new each time.

Heidi:

What advice do you have for a writer aspiring to be published?

Teryl:

Write in many genres, you don't have to specialize unless you want to do so. Build readers in more than one place and see if they will crossover. I have learned to be flexible and to have different avenues to create a "name" and income. When you learn the multiple formats and mindsets of writing styles, you can bring that into your storytelling. For example, in writing books you share many details about the setting and delve into the thoughts of your characters. In plays, you share much less and in screenwriting you rely on subtext, letting the director and actors read into what your characters feel and why without telling or showing too much. Going back to fiction where you can share so much makes my writing deeper because I'm more aware of how much unimportant text can be cut. I want every word to work and count for me.

Heidi:

Would you like to acknowledge someone for their help/assistance/faith in you/etc?

Teryl:

I'd like to thank God for giving me unexpected opportunities--after all, my first magazine clip came from a rejected article by that same magazine and A Sensible Match was initially going to be rejected as well. It needed to be completely rewritten to include the male viewpoint (Edwin) and yet Dawn Carrington gave me that chance to resubmit my first book to Vinspire--and it was accepted. I'd like to thank you, Heidi, as well. Not too many "coming soon" authors would invite so many of her fellow authors to share space on her blog, most wait until after their books are released. Your effort to reach out to help us was very generous and kind of you. I'm looking forward to learning more about your new book, El Tiburon, too!

Heidi:

Thank you Teryl. I do the interviews for selfish reasons though. I wanted to learn more about other authors and what makes them tick, and I wanted to get my Blog up and running. So for me it is a win-win! El Tiburon will be released on December 30, 2015. My wild-and-crazy book release party will be January 16, 2016.

Heidi:

How can your fans learn more about you and connect with you?

Teryl:

Here's a few ways;

Teryl Cartwright Website

Facebook

Amazon: Sensible Match

Amazon: Courting Constance

H. Schussman's Interview with Diane Wylie

Diane Wylie: Grandma Writes Romance (and Loves It)

Hi, Heidi, thanks for having me at your blog. First off, I bet you can take a guess as to how old I am by the title of this blog article…and I think that is close enough. I live in Maryland at the top of the Chesapeake Bay, so close that we can see the bay out of our windows when the leaves are off the trees. Even though we don’t own a boat, we still love living here. There is something about being able to walk down by the water that is both soothing and inspirational. We came here from New Jersey for my husband’s job and decided to stay long after the job was over.

taken from internet

I have two grown children and two little grandchildren. They are my heart. I believe in strong family ties, which is a constant theme in my novels.

Heidi:

What genre do you write?

Diane:

I write historical and fantasy/paranormal romances and romantic suspense.

Heidi:

When did you start writing?

Diane:

I’ve been a technical writer for most of my life, but didn’t start writing fiction until a little over 10 years ago.

Heidi:

What are you working on now?

Diane:

I am working on the second book in a three-book series about a family of Scottish falconers set during medieval times.

Heidi:

Who is your favorite character in your stories?

Diane:

Well, with eight full-length novels in publication (MAGIC AT THE ROXY coming out in June will be number 8), I find it hard to pick just one favorite character. Right now, I guess I would say that Copper, the Jack Russell terrier in MAGIC AT THE ROXY is my current favorite. He is a spunky little guy, chosen to be in the story by my readers in a “Favorite Dog” contest a while back. Copper accompanies his magician owner through all kinds of adventures and excitement and brings a little light-hearted atmosphere to the drama.

Heidi:

Do you see yourself in any of your characters?

Diane:

Some part of me exists in all of my female characters. The desire to help care for people in Jenny of JENNY’S PASSION, the mother in me in Lila of LILA’S VOW, the desire to fit in can be found in Charlotte of SECRETS AND SACRIFICES, the wish to do something important for your country in Marilla of ADAM’S TREASURE, and in all three women in my MARK OF THE MAGICIAN series you can find my enjoyment of things outside the realm of reality.

Heidi:

Where do you write? Describe your workspace?

Diane:

I don’t write in any one place. I write all of my novels in spiral-bound lined notebooks by hand. I find that my thoughts flow easier when they come out through my pen. I also find that I can carry a pen and my notebook and write wherever the mood strikes. I sometimes write at lunchtime while I’m a work or sitting on the sofa while my husband watches NASCAR.

Heidi:

I can't believe you write all these books by hand, then you have to type them into your computer later. Is that when you do a lot of proofreading and tweaking? I'm sure the readers will be curious too.

Diane:

Yes, I do self-editing and embellishment when I type them into my computer. It gives me the chance to re-read what I wrote and critique it. Usually I don't type it in until long after I've written it. As a result, I have stacks of notebooks around.

Heidi:

Who is your all-time favorite author?

Diane:

Diane Gabaldon of the Outlander series is my hands-down favorite author. I love her style. I also love the new Outlander TV series.

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?

Diane:

In the beginning, it was hard to write a query letter. Now that I have done it multiple times, it is much easier. The key is to be able to tell the submissions editor why your story is different from the hundreds they see every day.

Heidi:

What advice do you have for a writer aspiring to be published?

Diane:

Keep trying. There is a lot of competition out there; you need to make your voice heard.

Heidi:

Would you like to acknowledge someone for their help/assistance/faith in you/etc?

Diane:

I’d like to thank my two sisters and my friend Lillian for their assistance as beta readers. But my husband is my biggest supporter of all, and the man on which I model all of my heroes. They have to be like him—strong, honorable, tender, romantic, kind, and most of all, sexy!

Links to Diane Wylie

Website 

Facebook 

Amazon 

Pinterest 

Twitter

H. Schussman’s Interview with Christine Bailey

Christine Bailey Heidi: First, Christine, tell us a little about yourself.

Christine:

I live in Tennessee, right between Memphis and Nashville. I grew up in Toronto, Canada and moved to the States as a pre-teen. 

Heidi: What genre do you write?

Christine:

I write contemporary Young Adult fiction—of the mysterious, romantic kind.

Heidi: When did you start writing?

Christine:

I started writing short stories in high school and even had a poetry journal in Grade 2. But it wasn't until I began working on my MFA back in 2009 that I became serious about writing YA fiction. My first novel, Girl in the Middle, really came to life during that program.

Heidi: What are you working on now?

Christine:

I've just started writing my fourth novel, which takes place in a small southern town, much like my own in Tennessee! I'm having a ball writing it, ya'll.

Heidi: Who is your favorite character in your stories?

Christine:

It has to be Skye Walker from Girl in the Middle. I mean, what a name right? One of my favorite parts of the book is when Skye explains why she gets called "Luke Skywalker" on a daily basis:  “Have you been living in a hole for the past decade? Star Wars ring a bell? The movie? I get called Luke or Princess Leia just about on a daily basis.”

“Never seen it. We don’t watch television at my house,” the girl said with her mouth full.

“Well, you’re just about the only one on this planet who hasn’t heard of it. I’ve been traumatized my whole life having to live with the stupid name that my mom swears didn’t have anything to do with Star Wars.”

Heidi: Do you see yourself in any of your characters?

Christine:

I see a little of myself in all of my characters, but then again I was a pretty angsty teen. Most YA fiction deals with the protagonist searching or longing for something (like Skye Walker does in Girl in the Middle). Having moved countries during a pivotal time in my life made me long for a sense of belonging.

Heidi: Where do you write? Describe your workspace?

Christine:

I can write anywhere really, but it has to be on a computer. A typical day of writing is usually me at home on the couch with my laptop and a pot of coffee close by.

Heidi:

What books have most influenced your life most?

Christine:

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger; Night by Elie Wiesel; Are You There God? It's Me Margaret by Judy Blume (actually, everything by Judy Blume); Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson; Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian; Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird; A Separate Peace by John Knowles; Lord of the Flies by William Golding; and all of Sarah Dessen's YA novels. Plus, 1980s teen movies influence my writing—Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, Lucas…

Heidi:

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Christine:

Maintaining an authentic teen voice, especially when I write in first person. Having to stay fresh with teen trends and talk can be challenging when you're no longer a teen yourself.  What I might think is "rad" could be totally bunk by today's standards. What stays the same, though, is human emotion and the psychological warfare teens often battle. 

Heidi: What advice do you have for a writer aspiring to be published?

Christine:

Don't write to get published or to get recognition. Write because you have to—because it's part of who you are and there’s a story that needs to get out from inside your head.

Heidi: Would you like to acknowledge someone for their help/assistance/faith in you/etc?

Christine:

My mom is my biggest fan and my biggest critic—but in a good way. She always reads my novels before I send them out and tells me when something is not working. She is very honest—nothing held back. But it's what I want. I recently read an article about tough editors who make their authors cry as in John Green's editor (as in best-selling author!). The title of the article: "Her Stinging Critiques Propel YA Best Sellers." I like to be pushed to my very best, and my mom and my writing mentor from my MFA program both have stung me multiple times.

Heidi:
How can your fans follow you?
Christine:
Author Website
Facebook
Amazon Link

H. Schussman's Interview with Venita Louise

Venita Louise Interview

Heidi:

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I live in Southern California and collect books, dust, and thoughts. Lots of thoughts. So many that I keep a list of them on my web site. I am most often found glued to my computer or reading.

Heidi:

What genre do you write?

Venita:

Wow, I wish I knew. I certainly don't recommend being eclectic but that is what I am. I started with romance and moved on to humor to accommodate a challenge and then mystery and paranormal. 

Heidi:

When did you start writing?

Venita:

I got kind of a late start, as with just about everything in my life. I have always been involved in the arts though. I was a portrait artist for many years but after getting a taste of how many changes people wanted for their images, more hair, straighter teeth, smaller nose and fewer wrinkles, I moved on to drawing and painting animals. Pets are not so particular and never insist that you remove their freckles.

Long ago, back in the late 1900's :) I woke one morning with an idea for a story in my head. I tried to forget about it but my mind is very insistent, especially in the mornings. I often hear it say, "oh good, you're awake!" before it begins its tirade of obscure ideas. I gave in after a few weeks of obsessive thought-lashings about it and sat down at my computer to drain my brain. Nine months later, 'In The Rough' was born. This romance novel was eventually published by Loose-Id in digital format but is only available through my website now,www.venitalouise.net  

Heidi:

What are you working on now?

Venita:

Actually, it is a mystical/supernatural novel, sprinkled with humor and lessons I have learned from my own challenges and transformation. It takes me a little longer to finish stories now. Aside from working full time, I sing lead in two bands that my husband and I put together. The original band is called, White Smoke. We perform all of our original music that we have written together, the other is a cover band called Meridian, very eclectic and covering popular songs from the 30's to current songs on the pop chart. Needless to say it I have to juggle my time. 

Heidi:

Who is your favorite character in your stories?

Venita:

I love the character I am writing now, Xoni, she's funny, doubts herself a little and is struggling to believe the strange and mysterious things that are happening to her. Of my previous works, I would have to say I like Tom Trask, a 1940's hard-working, hard-drinking, lady-loving detective. His humor is dry and a little sarcastic but when he falls in love it's the forever kind and Olivia is a lucky girl. 

Heidi:

Do you see yourself in any of your characters?

Venita:

Most of my characters love excitement and surprises. I'm more of a routine kind of person, not exactly rigid but more introverted than they are. We do share the same type of humor though. Without humor, I would have been dead a long time ago. 

Heidi:

Where do you write? Describe your workspace?

Venita:

I have a little nook in one corner of my living room where I write. My desk is usually cluttered with notes, reference material and Diet Pepsi cans. My husband tells me if I would simply get organized, my writing would flow more freely. I just laugh and explain that it is my 'comfort clutter' that helps me to write in a feasible manner.  

Heidi:

Who are your all-time favorite authors?

Venita:

I love the descriptive writings of Jack London. I belonged to The California Writer's Club for over five years which was founded by Jack London. I like Stephen King when I feel like having the bejeebers scared out of me. Erma Bombeck and Loretta LaRoche have had me doubled over at times. I also like Mary Roach who wrote, Stiff and Gulp, stories of cadavers and gastric systems. Her writing could almost be considered a mystery writer's reference guide because of her detail to science, but her humor keeps it quite readable. 

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?

Venita:

You bet I did. I don't think I will ever think I have it conquered. It's just something that is necessary if you want to be published. I feel better about a query letter that describes the story without a personal opinion of it, or myself. 

Heidi:

What advice do you have for a writer aspiring to be published?

Venita:

Don't give up. When you have enough rejection letters to paper a room, consider yourself a professional. 

Heidi:

Would you like to acknowledge someone for their help/assistance/faith in you?

Venita:

First, I would like to acknowledge Dawn Carrington and Vinspire (formerly Vintage) Publishing for believing in me.

My son, Joel, may he rest in peace, he always encouraged my creativity. Bernice Bowers for her continued enthusiasm for my work and of course to my husband, BJ, for his help and faith, but most of all for understanding that writers need quite a bit of alone time.

Thank you, Heidi, for giving the writers at Vinspire more exposure and the opportunity for readers to know them better.

Heidi:

Absolutely! I enjoy it immensely.

Venita Louise invites you to visit her at:

Meridian

Check out 'Just For Laughs'

BookTrailers

Facebook

H. Schussman's Interview With A.J. Cattapan

H. Schussman's Interview With A.J. Cattapan

Heidi:

First, Amy, tell us a little about yourself and your upcoming release.

Amy:

I'm a middle school English teacher who lives and works in the Chicago area and writes under the name A.J. Cattapan. I like to use my initials as a nod to some of my favorite authors, such as J.K. Rowling and L.M. Montgomery. I've always enjoyed writing but didn't get serious about trying to get published until ten years ago. After years of "small successes," such as short stories and magazine articles, I'm finally getting my first novel published!

My debut novel is a young adult story called Angelhood about a teenaged guardian angel who needs to watch over a suicidal fourteen-year-old girl. It's a little like "It's a Wonderful Life," except my poor guardian angel Nanette not only doesn't have her wings yet, she also doesn't have a tangible voice or body. That makes it pretty hard for her to communicate with the girl she's supposed to watch over! Plus, Nanette is haunted by memories of her own tragic death and is not sure she could convince anyone that life is worth living.

Heidi:

What genre do you write?

Amy:

I've tried my hand at a number of genres, particularly at the middle grade and young adult level. I've written everything from contemporary to sci-fi to mystery, but my debut novel is a young adult supernatural story.

Heidi:

When did you start writing?

Amy:

I guess back in the third grade because I have evidence of it! I have one of those sheets of paper for practicing your cursive, and on it I wrote a story about a girl named Amy (using my own name was really original, huh?) who grew up and married a boy whose name was exactly the same as one of my classmates! Good thing I've gotten better at naming my characters a bit more creatively!

Heidi:

What are you working on now?

Amy:

I have two projects that need revision: a spiritual travel memoir and a middle grade mystery. Plus, I've got another Chicken Soup for the Soul entry I'm hoping to get published. My first Chicken Soup for the Soul entry appeared in their From Lemons to Lemonade edition.

Heidi:

Who is your favorite character in your stories? 

Amy:

I don't have a favorite, but I do enjoy the way some of them surprise me from time to time. There's a mentor guardian angel that pops up in Angelhood  that I wasn't planning on writing, but when I got to that particular scene, she just showed up as she was. I don't want to spoil anything, so I can't say much. Let's just say I didn't expect her to be quite the way she ended up.

Heidi:

Do you see yourself in any of your characters?

Amy:

Yes. All of them actually. My main character Nanette was a theater geek in high school, and so was I. In fact, I did community theater and one professional acting gig in my twenties. Her little sister is a ballerina. I studied ballet for two years. Nanette becomes a guardian angel who watches over a suicidal girl named Vera who writes poetry a la Emily Dickinson. I wrote some poetry when I was in high school and college, but I think Vera's poetry is better than mine. At least, I hope so! And since I'm an English teacher in real life, I'm sure some of my teaching style seeped its way into that of Vera's English teacher, Ms. Kitchin.

Heidi:

Where do you write? Describe your workspace?

Amy:

Sometimes I write at home sitting on my couch, but often I'll take my laptop and go to a coffee shop or a library. I need "white noise" in the background, and I need to be somewhere where I'm not going to be tempted to take care of a load of laundry or answer the phone. Coffee shops (or tea shops) are helpful because my writing seems to run well on chai lattes.

Heidi:

Who are your all-time favorite authors?

Amy:

If I could write young adult literature like J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter) or L.M. Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables) in which characters are so beloved that people fall in love with them and really want to know what happens to them, I'd be a very happy author.

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?

Amy:

Writing a query letter was a challenge at first. I think I've just kept getting better and better at it. It's almost easier for me to write a query letter for someone else's book than it is for me to write my own. One thing that helped me a lot was reading other people's query letters. Literary agent Janet Reid has an awesome blog in which people submit their query letters and then she explains why they do or don't work. If they don't work, they are welcome to resubmit. For anyone struggling with a query letter, I highly recommend reading through her archives. She really boils it down to the basics: 1) Tell who your main character is, 2) Tell what your main character needs to do, and 3) Explain what horrible thing will happen if your main character does not succeed.

Heidi:

What advice do you have for a writer aspiring to be published?

Amy:

First, don't give up. Second, realize you're in this for the long haul. It's taken me ten years to get to a published novel, but I'm seeing all that hard work pay off. It takes time to learn the craft of writing, and it takes even more time to learn the business of writing. See every step you take as getting one step closer to your goal. In the end, I'm really happy it's taken me this long to get here. It's given me time to learn so much that I can apply as my book launches. If my first novel manuscript had sold, I wouldn't have been ready to handle all the social media demands necessary for promotion, and I wouldn't have had all the wonderful contacts with writers who can help me promote it.

Also, join writers' groups. If it wasn't for my three writing groups, I wouldn't have gotten Angelhood published.  From the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators, I learned a lot about the craft of writing and the publishing business in general. From the American Christian Fiction Writers, I found critique partners who helped me revise Angelhood. From the Mystery Writers of America, I found my publisher, Vinspire! Without any of those three, I don't think this book would have found a publishing home. Also, I now have lots of writing connections, which are paying off as I start to promote my book.

Heidi:

Would you like to acknowledge someone for their help/assistance/faith in you/etc?

Amy:

Definitely my critique partners through ACFW! Their help and support has been amazing. And also, Dawn, our editor-in-chief at Vinspire, for being willing to take a chance on a young adult book that tackles the difficult topic of teen suicide from a hopeful Christian perspective without sugar-coating any of the nitty-gritty details.

I'm also blessed to have a wonderful team of friends who are helping me put together my launch parties and my blog tour.

Heidi:

When is Angelhood available and how can we learn more about it?

Amy:

Angelhood releases on April 30, 2015. I'll be having a launch party on Facebook that day. Follow me on Facebook to hear all the details. We'll be holding lots of games and giving away lots of prizes. So come check it out! You can also visit my website for more info.

Here's where you can find me online . . .

A.J. Cattapan's Website

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Pinterest