APRI PRESENTS: Interview with Lyn Horner

 About Author Lyn Horner

Lyn Horner resides in Fort Worth, Texas - "Where the West Begins" - with her husband and several very spoiled cats. Trained in the visual arts, Lyn worked as a fashion illustrator and art instructor before she took up writing. She loves crafting passionate love stories, both historical and contemporary. Lyn also enjoys reading, gardening, visiting with family and friends, and cuddling her furry, four-legged children. The author's Texas Devlins series blends authentic Old West settings, steamy romance and a glimmer of the mysterious. This series has earned multiple awards and nominations, including Crowned Heart reviews and a Rone Award nomination for DEAREST IRISH from InD'Tale Magazine.

Lyn is a contributor to Rawhide 'n Roses, a Western Romance Anthology. This book is a finalist in the 2015 RONE Awards anthology category. Lyn is proud to be in company with such a talented group of authors.

Jumping from the American Old West to the present day, Lyn is now hard at work on her romantic suspense series, Romancing the Guardians. These books combine her trademark flashes of psychic phenomena with Irish folklore and a chilling apocalyptic theme. Along the way, readers will be treated to thunderous action, terrifying suspense and sizzling romance.

 

APRI: In 5 words, please describe your 'Romance Writing Style'. Steamy, sweet, erotic, Happy Ending – take that last one however you want.

LH: Steamy, suspenseful, fast-paced, thought-provoking, cross genre

APRI: Do your leading men come from any place particular?

LH: Several come from Texas, but not all. The hero of my current project is Colombian.

APRI: What do you do in your downtim?

LH: I read, watch TV, garden and visit with friends and family.

APRI: What genre are your books?

LH: My books are a mix of genres. The Texas Devlins series is western historical romance with a paranormal sub theme, as in psychic siblings. Romancing the Guardians, the series I'm currently writing is contemporary romantic suspense with my trademark psychic characters plus an unlying prophetic (apocalyptic) theme.

APRI: What drew you to this genre?

LH: A combination of factors influence my writing. First, I strongly believe in psychic abilities, having experienced precognitive dreams when younger. Second, I have always loved western historical romance, leading me to write the Texas Devlin books. Third, I'm also enthralled by all things Irish. The Devlin siblings are children of Irish immigrants to the U.S. and are descended from Druid ancestors. Irish mythology is also the basis for Romancing the Guardians. The seven chosen ones trace their lineage to Tuatha Dé Dannan seers who passed down prophesies of the distant future which have been preserved and guarded through uncounted generations.

APRI: While you were writing, which character did you connect with the most?

LH: Probably Lara from Rescuing Lara, Romancing the Guardians (Book One). She is partially disabled as the result of a car accident that killed her uncle, the former High Guardian. I am disabled due to a hereditary disorder, so a lot of things Lara goes through stem from my own life experiences.

APRI: Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process?

LH: Absolutely. I started out doing my own book covers because I have a background in visual arts. However, I cam to realize I'm not a cover designer. Now, I hire professionals.

APRI: Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured?

LH: My best writing times are afternoons and evenings. Mornings are usually devoted to answering email, posting on and twitter, and occassionally writing blog posts.

APRI: Do you have any advice for other authors?

LH: First, learn your craft. Join a writers group that focuses on your preferred genre and a critique group. I learned more about writing from my crit partners than anyone else. Attend workshops and conferences if you can. Hire an editor for your finished book if possible and be willing to make changes if they suggest it. Flexibility is important!

APRI: What is your favorite motivational phrase?

LH: "Put butt in chair and write!"

APRI: What is your favorite book and why?

LH: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. I love the description of 18th century Scotland, the intricate plot and most of all the main characters, Jamie and Claire.

APRI: Where do you see publishing going in the future?

LH: E-book Publishing will continue to grow. It's inevitable in our electronic age.

APRI: What's the best part of being a publishsed author?

LH: I love getting feedback from readers who enjoy my books.

APRI: What's the worst?

LH: Book marketing has been my weak spot for years. My goal is to improve my promotional abilities.

APRI: What's next for you.? Can you give us any clues about what you're currently working on?

LH: I am writing Capturing Gabriel, Romancing the Guardians (Book Three.) It will be released this fall. I may also write a novella for a western Christmas anthology. Not sure yet.

APRI: Can you tell us something readers might find surprising about you?

LH: I once owned six cats. Correction, they owned me. I wrote a memoir about them titled Six Cats In My Kitchen.

APRI: As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

LH: I wanted to be an artist, specifically a fashion illustrator. My dad gave me a painting kit when I was about 10 or 11 years old, starting me on the art school and a career illustration and art instruction. However, I had to give up the visual arts as my hands became unsteady. That's when I turned to writing as a creative outlet.

APRI: What makes you smile?

LH: Petting my feline children ( I have three now) and cuddling my grandkids. Humor in a book or TV program can crack me up, but only if it grows out of drama. I'm not a fan of slapstick comedy.

APRI: What question have you always wanted to be asked during an interview? How would you answer that question?

LH: Question: Why did you give up on being traditionally published? / Answer: Because I got tired of butting my head against the stone wall of New York publishing houses. I was represented by two different agents who liked my work, but they had no luck selling it. I became so discouraged that I pretty much gave up until Amazon introduced Kindle Direct Publishing. My friend and editor, Sharla Rae, pushed me into giving it a try. That was five years ago. During that time I have pubbed eight books and received numerous awards and nominations. I'm also a contributor to a western romance anthology, Rawhide 'n Roses, a finalist in the 2015 Rone Awards contest sponsored by InD'Tale magazine.

For more information about Lyn Horner see links below:

Lyn Horner on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Lyn-Horner/e/B004CY506Y/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Lyn Horner's website:

http://www.lynhorner.com

Lyn Horner on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/lynhornerauthor

Lyn Horner on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lyn-Horner/161787403863487

Lyn Horner on Goodreads:

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4639926.Lyn_Horner

Lyn Horner on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/pub/lyn-horner/38/16b/136

Lyn Horner (contributing author) on Sweethearts of the West:

http://sweetheartsofthewest.blogspot.com/

APRI PRESENTS: Interview with Author James Glass

 About Author James Glass

James C. Glass achieved the rank of Command Master Chief before retiring after 22 years in the United States Navy. He is a graduate of the Senior Enlisted Academy and the Command Master Chief School. This is his first book. He was born in Pensacola, Florida and enlisted in the Navy in 1989. He completed tours aboard the USS Mobile Bay

(CG 53), USS Yosemite (AD 19), USS Monterey (CG 61), and USS Thomas S. Gates (CG 51). He also completed tours at Shore Intermediate Maintenance Activity, Mayport, Florida, Naval Air Station Brunswick, Maine, and Mobile Security Detachment Two-three in Portsmouth, VA. Finally, James completed two tours in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

After retiring from the Navy, he and his family moved back to Florida. He's been married for 22 years and has two children. James and his wife welcomed their first grandson in November. James has a Bachelor's Degree in Applied Management from Grand Canyon University.

APRI: First off, tell us how you got into writing crime fiction?

JG: I was an investigator in the United States Navy. After I retired, I felt the urge to write. Since my background is in criminal justice, I started writing crime thrillers.

APRI: What do you think crime fiction lovers are going to love about your book?

JG: To be able to delve into the story and get lost with the characters. The killer is a psychopath who is very charming until you see what he's really about. The protagonist is a detective with great insight and the innate ability to track serial killers. This is the kind of book that will keep you up late at night.

APRI: What inspired you to write crime fiction?

JG: The love of writing keeps me going, I have so many stories floating in my head, it's difficult to figure out which one to write next. I have found when I finish writing a novel, I have to start off writing three separate stories. As they progress, the one that tugs at me the hardest wins out.

APRI: Are you a crime fiction reader? Who are you favorite authors?

JG: Yes. I've been reading crime fiction for years. My favorite authors are Nelson DeMille, Michael Connelly, and Patricia Cornwell. I've recently started taking a liking to Julia Spencer-Fleming. I also enjoy Stephen King's Mr. Mercedes series.

APRI: Which music, books or films have floated your boat recently?

JG: I love music. Doesn't matter what type or generation as long as it's good. I don't watch many movies. The last one was Gone Girl. I love books though. I recently read The Bone Tree by Greg Ilse. What a great storyteller.

APRI: When did you know that you were born to be a writer?

JG: Recently. I started writing shortly before retiring from the Navy. Once I started I couldn't stop. For me, writing isn't a hobby, it's something I have to do everyday. I go a little stir crazy if I don't write after a few days.

APRI: If you were a traveling genre salesman, going from door to door and trying to interest people in a specific genre, what would be your sales pitch for CRIME FICTION?

JG: Crime fiction isn't for the weak-minded or faint of heart. They're the stories you share with your friends to keep them awake at night.

APRI: Is crime in something you have researched, studied for your book? Is it something you have to do, or does your imagination provide enough fuel for the fire to write crime fiction?

JG: Although I have experience as an investigator, I still research my writing. For my last book I solicited the help of a medical examiner and a retired FBI agent. They provided a wealth of expertise. Although it's a work of fiction, as a writer, you must stay true to the technical aspects of the story.

APRI: What's the most difficult part of being an author?

JG: For me, it's starting a new story. When I complete a novel, I go a little crazy from not having a new story to delve into. To counteract this feeling of craziness, I start three stories. As they begin to take of, the one that captures my imagination the most wins.

APRI: What are you working on currently and do you have any upcoming projects you can tell us about?

JG: I just finished my third crime thriller, Things Not Forgotten. It's being read by several beta readers before I send it off to my editor. I'm currently working on three stories. We'll see which one wins out in a few weeks.

APRI: What conditions help you with your writing process?

JG: I have to be in an environment where I can delve into the story. It used to be that I had to be in my recliner at home with absolute solitude. Over the years, I've been able to hone the craft and although I still need solitude, I can write outside of the recliner.

APRI: What's the biggest mistake you've made as a writer?

JG: When I finished my first crime thriller, Things Left Behind, I joined a local writer's group. I had it in my head this was the greatest crime thriller ever told. Boy, was I wrong. As I read the first several chapters, the feedback I received by the group was anything that was wrong with writing, I had in my manuscript. Head hopping, first person mixed with third person. Grammatical errors. I could have let this discourage me and quit writing, but I humbled myself, rewrote the story and the end product was better than I imagined. What a great lesson to learn as a writer.

APRI: What do you do in your spare time?

JG: Read, spend time with the family, watch my grandson three days a week, run swim.

APRI: What do you hope people take away from your writing?

JG: To enjoy the ride.

APRI: Can you tell me about some of your strengths that really helped you in writing?

JG: I pull lots of information from life lessons. Most of my characters have some kind of trait, I used to draw them up from people I know, or people I've meet. I also have a great knack for dialogue. It helps to read it out loud.

APRI: How would you describe your writing style?

JG: That's a great question. I've never really thought about it. I guess it's a combination of Michael Connelly and Patricia Cornwell. Maybe a dash of Stephen King, but that might be a stretch.

APRI: What would be your ideal working environment?

JG: To make my living as a writer. If the income paid for my lifestyle, I'd love to be able to write full time. As it is, I write from 4-6 every morning and from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. every Monday and Wednesday.

APRI: Do you outline your stories before you write them or do you let the plot and characters lead the way?

JG: Sometimes I have an outline. Usually, the plot comes to me, I'll write some of the major pieces of the main story and save it as a file. Then the story unfolds. My stories are puzzled pieces I have to put together. I don't alway write the story in sequential chapters. Some chapters I write don't get used, and the ending always changes. The latter has happened three times.  Usuall, I write the ending about halfway through the story. By the time I get close to the end, it always changes. That's what's great about writing. The unexpected.

APRI: What do you love about writing?

JG: I love seeing the plot play out, the characters come to life and see what unfolds. It's exciting to see what happens, because the story is a living, breathing piece of work.

APRI: What do you hate about writing:?

JG: The second and third revisions to the story.

APRI: What is your advice for writers just starting out?

JG: Once you have a story in your head, start putting it on paper. Don't let it sit in the archives of your mind or the story will never get told. The first draft is just that. Write your story from start to finish and don't worry about it being perfect. No writer has ever written a perfect story on the first draft. This is where the revisions come into play.

Make sure you find a sanctuary to write. Distractions will hinder your ability to write. Also, find a local writer's group. They can provide great feedback.

APRI: What question have you always wanted to be asked during an interview? How would you answer that question?

JG: The previous question.

For more information about James Glass see links below:

James Glass on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/James-Glass/e/B00B1XI25K

James Glass on Good Reads:

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7406701.James_Glass

James Glass on Smashwords:

http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jamesglass

APRI PRESENTS: Interview with Author R.V. Johnson

For more years than he cares to recall, R.V. Johnson has wanted to write a good story – an epic tale chock full of wonder and imagination on a rich, planetary scale. He's wanted to show a fantastical adventure where the characters come as alive as the new world they travel through, one that he couldn't read fast enough to sate his hunger to discover what happens next, like he used to read. And he wants it for everyone. He hopes he has succeeded.

R.V. Johnson's “Beyond the Sapphire Gate” is a grand, epic fantasy with science fiction roots where two sisters and their father struggle with life's hardships as they hold the fate of a world in their flawed, unknowing hands.

Currently, he is writing the second in this series, and a science fiction novel. He writes that if you don't like imperfect, lovable characters struggling to use magic, telepathic canine-like creatures, Dark Lords, and Users of flowing magic both dark and light, then perhaps, this is not for you.

APRI: Was Science Fiction always your chosen genre?

RVJ: Fantasy and Science Fiction have always fascinated me, I love reading about wondrous worlds, high technology, the characters, and the way the magic works. If written well, one could believe such power is attainable. The great ones would end with me wishing for a power of my own.

APRI: Do you develop the world of a novel fully in your mind before beginning to write?

RVJ: Not fully for the first one in a series, though I do have a grand picture of it in my mind from the start, the cultures of the people, the technology or the lack of it, and how the magic system must work. There are rules powerful magic has to follow or the bad people would destroy the world it took the whole novel to build… in one paragraph. However, I did sketch out a map of the geography of Astura beforehand. It’s a rich, diverse world, I didn’t want to get lost.

APRI: What is the first book you read that made you think, “I have got to write something like this someday!”

RVJ: There were three and all of them series: J.R.R Tolkien’s The Lord of The Rings , Roger Zelazany’s The Chronicles of Amber , and Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time . They raised my sense of wonder, imagination, and adventure, in that order.

APRI: Tell us a little bit about yourself. How long have you been writing? What genre do you write?

RVJ: I’ve written on and off for over eighteen years, (only working on it occasionally, as I focused on my children and their education after losing my wife eleven years ago) the last four years have seen steady writing, as much as my free time allowed. Most all of it is in the fantasy genre with some science fiction elements.

APRI: Who has influenced your writing the most?

RVJ:Besides the big three already mentioned David Eddings, Belgariad series, Anne McCaffrey, The Dragon Riders of Pern series, among others.

APRI: Where do you get your inspiration from?

RVJ: My family. I’ve always had a firm belief in family values.

APRI:   What inspired your first book?

RVJ: I used to tell stories to my late wife. Invariably, she's say, 'go on, you've got my attention', we'd talk until the sun began to rise.

APRI: If you couldn't be an author, what would your ideal career be?

RVJ: To own an island paradise resort.

APRI: Is there a message in your novel that you hope readers will grasp?

RVJ: Nothing specific, though I do hope to peak a sense of wonder.

APRI: Do you have a scene in the story that was your favorite to write?

RVJ: There were many. Three come to mind immediately. Early on this scene where Crystalyn first practices her symbol power as she's dying. A few chapters after that, Jade uses her ability on a newfound ally attempting to survive a dark place, a monstrous telepathic assault occurs soon after. Later on, Garn's amazing dance with his twin longswords flowed from my fingertips without much prompting; all were a joy to write.

APRI:  Tell us about your creative process, from initial idea to published manuscript.

RVJ: The initial idea began two decades ago, though back then, I hadn't expected it to take place on two worlds. It began again four years ago by wanting something more traditional to read. There haven't been any great epic fantasy series available in the third person perspective lately and I'd read those, so I developed Beyond the Sapphire Gate from notes on the three main characters. After four years of writing, revising, attending writing groups, and revising again, I wrote an ending that didn't change much, and hired an editor. Then the manuscript went through a range of proofreaders and beta readers. After that, I queried a mix of around ten agents and publishers but quickly lost patience with those that didn't bother to send a polite 'I'll pass' letter. I published it solo.

APRI: How do you feel about the popularity of ebooks?

RVJ: I still love printed books. E-readers are nice too, though I do see a prosperity to store books and not have time to read most of them. I have done it.

APRI: Is there and aspect - of writing you don't like?

RVJ: Yes, and I'll make a supposition most authors - bestsellers do not - do like marketing, I don't. Nevertheless, it is a part of publishing, traditional and independent.

APRI: Do you have any strange writing habits (like standing on your head or writing in the shower)?

RVJ: Suddenly speaking furiously into my phone's voice recorder has earned me many looks...even some frightened ones, if I happened to be describing a creature at the time.

APRI: What is something you hope to accomplish before you die?

RVJ: Seeing Beyond the Sapphire Gate and the rest of the series in 'The Flower of Power' progress to cinema, I love adventure movies with epic struggles for survival. Though convincing The Lord of the Rings producer Peter Jackson to do it might create hardship on whomever I can con into asking. I love those movies, they were exceptionally well done.

APRI: What literary character is most like you?

RVJ: The roguish male who's never fully made it to adulthood.

APRI: Do you have a favorite quote that inspires you?

RVJ: I wrote one for own inspiration and shared it with the world: "Strive to be the gem the dragon hoards".

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

RVJ: Conflict, pacing, amazing characters, and a lush world. Believe in yourself, Write every day.

APRI: What do you in your spare time?

RVJ: Spending time with family. Even if it's writing on the laptop in the same room or outdoors. I've learned to multitask.

APRI: What makes you smile?

RVJ: When a reader mentions how much they loved the novel. When fans discuss the story, I can't stop smiling; connecting with the readers is the greatest.

APRI: What question have you always wanted to be asked during an interview? How would you answer that question?

RVJ: What fans of certain novel(s) would also enjoy reading your book(s)? There are many besides those mentioned in the interview: Terry Brooks, The Sword of Shannara series, Edgar Rice Burroughs, of Mars series, slightly older Harry Potter fans, and all books in epic fantasy rich in imagination to the end. 

For more information about R.V. Johnson see links below:

R.V. Johnson on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/R.V.-Johnson/e/B00URV7U64

R.V. Johnson on twitter:

http://www.twitter.com/R_V_Johnson

R.V. Johnson's direct link to website:

http://www.authorrvjohnson.com

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APRI PRESENTS: Interview with Author Clarrissa Lee Moon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - CLARRISSA LEE MOON

Clarrissa Lee Moon would like to live like a tumbleweed going from different states often. She's an avid reader and owner of more books and DVD's than any used book shop; she also enjoys Martial arts, swimming, riding Harleys and raising pure bred Japanese Chins. She has written as a journalist for two E-magazines and is the author for Memoirs of The Nightwolves Series and Celeste's Nites Novelettes. She considers herself unique, unusual and unconquerable!

APRI: What does your writing process look like?

CLM: First, I get settled with snacks, coffee, writing pad, Thesaurus, dictionary, pens and pencils.

APRI: What do you consider to be your accomplishment?

CLM: Nightwolves: Dawn to Dusk. It's not finished yet, but it will be my best work. So far :)

APRI: Were you always a great writer? Have you always like to write?

CLM: I don't think I am a great writer. A decent writer, yes, but not great.

APRI: Do you have any strange writing habits (like standing on your head or writing in the shower)?

CLM: I throw knives at a board next to my desk when I am stuck or getting stressed at a point in the story. Drives my kids nuts.

APRI: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

CLM: On a beach with white sands, drinking Margaritas and eating Sushi with some young god rubbing suntan oil on me with a look of complete adoration on his face - if not a little hunger too. (and not for the food LOL)

APRI: Where is one place you want to visit that you haven't been before?

CLM: I was thinking Norway.

APRI: What is something you want to accomplish before you die?

CLM: Finish all the series I have outlines for. Finish the songs that keep bumpin' in my head. Finish the poems I have only a few sentences to. Finally, finish the dissertations I have started in several subjects and then  if I have time save the world.

APRI: What literary character is most like you?

CLM: Catrina, def LOL. She is the main protagonist in Nightwolves.

APRI: Do you have a favorite quote that inspires you?

CLM: To thine own self be true. William Shakespeare - The Earl of Literature

APRI: What are the most important elements of good writing?

CLM: Good character development, good plot, continuation consistency. Good flow and can make the reader "feel"

APRI: According to you, what tools are must-haves for writers?

CLM: An up to date microsoft word, lots of coffee and a good Muse.

APRI: Do you have any tips for readers or advice for other writers trying to get published?

CLM: Be very careful of agents and publishers. Check them out very carefully before you sign anything and always have a lawyer look at the contracts and explain them to you in full.

APRI: What was your greatest failure and what did you learn from that?

CLM: One doesn't fail if one gets back up and tries, tries, tries and tries again until one succeeds.

APRI: What do you do in your spare time?

CLM: I work out, take as many classes as I can afford to do and try to stay out of trouble :) Writing helps a lot with that a lot.

APRI: Can you tell our readers about yourself and your writings?

CLM: It's amazing how much truth you can put in a book and still call it fiction.

APRI: What was the most challenging moment in your writing journey so far?

CLM: Nightwolves Dawn to Dusk. I have been trying to finish it for 4 years now but either life's curve balls keep coming out of left field at me or it has been a real hard book to write. But I have vowed to have it finished by the end of the year no matter what.

APRI: What makes you smile?

CLM: Writing or getting this picture in my head of this guy with blond hair, blue eyes and he is always smiling at me. Never met him. I think but he is in my head all the time.

APRI: What is your favorite word? Why?

 CLM: I can tell you words I hate like hunkered and hankered. They drive me nuts when I read them in a book. I have too many favorite words like Awesome,...seriously?...and wishful.

APRI: Can you sum up your life in one sentence? If so what would that sentence be?

CLM: Pretty damn unbelievable.

APRI: Any last thoughts for our readers?

CLM: Some would say get out in the world and live life - live it to the fullest. Easier said than done for some people and books are a great way to see other worlds, other lives. To be someone else for a few hours or a whole day - depending on how fast one reads. I say, yes go out and live life if you are able, but bring a good book with you :)

APRI: If you had to convince a friend or colleague to read your work, what might you tell them?

CLM: I would say, forget the blind date read one of my books. It's like watching a movie with high octane action in some parts, touching love scenes and characters you either love or hate. You usually go wrong with a blind date but can never go wrong with one of my books.

APRI: Which writer would you most likely have a drink with and why?

CLM: Oh that's easy. William Shakespeare so I can ask him how he wrote like one plays a symphony. He makes his words literally play notes with metaphors, oxymorons and similies. His is a work of art like the Mona Lisa and I would love to learn how he did that back in those days so well. No one has ever come close since and probably never will.

APRI: What question have you always wanted to be asked during an interview? How would you answer that question?

CLM: Are you single? Yes, LMAO. Sorry couldn't resist this.

For more information about Clarrissa Lee Moon see links below:

Website for Clarrissa Lee Moon: http://www.clarrissaleemoonauthor.webs.com

Author Clarrissa Lee Moon @ World Castle Publishing:

http://www.worldcastlepublishing.com/author-clarrissa-lee-moon.html

Clarrissa Lee Moon on Goodreads:

http://www.goodreads.com/ClarrissaLee

Clarrissa Lee Moon on Smashwords:

http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ClarrissaLeeMoonjeta

Clarrissa Lee Moon Books on Amazon:

click on name to go to Amazon -- Clarrissa Lee Moon

APRI PRESENTS: Interview with Author Jeta Vojkollari

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - JETA VOJKOLLARI

Jeta Vojkollari was born and raised in Tirana, Albania. She studied Economics at the University of Tirana. Jeta has won awards for several long lyrics, two of which became hits. Her experience and passion to write has led her to this book. She lives in Toronto, Canada with her husband and works for the City of Toronto. The Devil I Paid For Advice is her first novel.

APRI: Do you have any advice for up and coming writers?

JV: There is more to writing a book that putting thoughts on a piece of paper. i would advise any new writer to fully understand the whole process:

         1. Write a first draft. This is the exciting part which every creative writer looks forward to.

         2. Edit it once and then edit it again. Not every sentence is right the first time around. Editing

is very meticulous but very necessary. Edit your draft several times until there is no sentence

in the book, you are not in love with.

3. Publish it. Traditional publishing is ideal but many distinct writers are taking charge by

self-publishing their creations.

4. Market and promote it.  Promoting your book is very important and this is where

the process gets creative again.

5.  Keep Going. Repeat 1-4 for your next book.

APRI:  What authors do you like to read? What book or books have had a strong influence on you or your writing?

JV: Reading was my favorite pastime. The books that had a strong influence on me growing up were:

- as a child: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, The Count of Monte Cristo by

Alexandre Dumas, etc.

- as a teenager: Les Misérables by Victor Hugo, A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway, etc.

- in high school and after: Martin Eden by Jack London, War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy, Arch of

Triumph and Three Comrades by Erich Maria Remarque, Amok and other novellas by Stefan Zweig, etc.

The first book I read in English was East of Eden by John Steinbeck, when I came to Canada.

In general, I like to read literary fiction, but time after time I entertain myself by reading books of different genres. Today I read: Ismael Kadare (famous Albanian writer), Margaret Atwood, Julian Barnes, Jonathan Franzen, Jodi Picoult, etc.

APRI: Any writing rituals?

JV: I usually start with the big idea. I think about it and talk to it for some time. If I conclude that it's a good idea, an idea that might scratch the wounds of our society and that my book will convey a good message to the readers, I start writing. I try to write every day, even if it is a single sentence. I don't have to sit in front of the computer and write it. I might scribble it in a piece of paper. That sentence might be enough for me to write a full page or even a chapter later. I pay attention to life. My little ideas which help me fill the story might come all of a sudden from pieces of life: from a random sentence in a newspaper; an angry man talking on the phone; somebody swearing in a low voice; an old woman, whose hands shake while counting coins; or from a child who grabs the toy from another child's hands.

APRI: Tell us some more about your book.

JV: The Devil I Paid for Advice is about big egos and a twisted belief system; it's about the wrong and right ways to break free off abusive relationships; it's about dreaming the pleasure of the revenge and drinking its bitterness; it's about love and power and control; it's about the choice to use a bitter word instead of a sweet one.

The novel is built with many characters whose stories entertwine with each other.

I believe American readers will enjoy reading about a way of life in a small country far away from here, called Albania. On the other hand, despite the Albanian setting, this doesn't necessarily have to be an Albanian story, and the readers will discover this in the pages of the novel.

APRI: What's more important: characters or plot?

JV: I believe both are very important, but I would like to say that characters move the plot forward. The main characters of The Devil I Paid for Advice are multidimensional, they are not necessarily good or bad. Having interesting characters in a book, makes the story unpredictable, and full of surprises. A reader of mine said, "The descriptions, characters and their stories raised me up to the sky and knocked me to the ground; they filled me with air and left me breathless."

APRI: Any last thoughts for our readers?

JV: I believe that reading makes us all better. I would say, don't just read any book that comes your way, read the good ones. Read those books that play even a tiny part in making us and this world better.

APRI: Is there a message in your novel that you want your readers to grasp?

JV: My book conveys a lot of good messages but the most important one would be that domestic abuse takes different forms. It might be physical, verbal, sexual, psychological, emotional, financial, etc; it touches all the strata of society, regardless of education, culture, religion, economical circumstances etc.; it's wrong and we all have to play our role in stopping it.

APRI: What was the hardest part of writing your book?

 JV: In order for me to write the book realistically, I had to put myself into my characters' shoes. I had to go to the darkest corners of the stories, I had to perceive myself what my characters were going through. I believe that if the story is not believable to the writer, it would never be believable to the writer.

APRI: Do you have any advice for other writers?

JV: If you really want to write, do not wait for the ideal moment. Life is very busy for everybody and the ideal moment will probably never come. Just write. Write whatever comes to your mind. It doesn't have to be perfect. You'll perfect it later.

APRI: What do you hope people take away from your writing?

JV: I'm going to answer this question with my reader's voice. I couldn't have said it better.

- "You feel as though you have been thoroughly purified after reading this book."

- "The book left me with a very warm feeling, as despite the bitter reality, you give hope

and a significant message that only with love we can heal the wounds of the past and

can build a better future."

- "Tremulous rays of love symbolize characters of Jeta Vojkollari's novel; her depiction invites

readers to discover the end of love and love with a happy ending."

APRI: Where are you from?

JV: I am from a small country in Europe called Albania. For your readers' curiosity, my name Jeta (pronounced like Jetta) means Life in Albanian. I immigrated to Canada in 2009 along with my husband and two children.

APRI: When and why did you begin writing?

JV: I always wanted to be a writer. I wrote my first poem at nine years old. I remember reading it in front of my class and when I finished, my teacher asked "Did you write it yourself?" I have been writing my entire life, but I never considered publishing a book until now. I wanted to be a writer as I enjoy the process. While working full time for the City of Toronto, I studied the mechanics of writing fiction. While I had vivid imagination, I can create realistic stories which convey significant meaning to the reader. I also read a lot. Reading introduces one to unknown worlds, with wonderful feelings and fantasy. I want my books to transport my readers to a different mindset and excite their imagination.

APRI: What inspired you to write your book?

JV: In the first two years of coming to Canada as an immigrant, I worked as an interpreter for people, who were victims or perpetrators of domestic abuse. I heard a lot of stories. I was fascinated to learn that they were all the same, despite the ethnic group, culture, age, income level, faith or education level. This is what inspired me to write the Devil I Paid for Advice.

In order for me to be qualified for such work, I had to attend several programs on domestic abuse and get the necessary certificates. I attended the individual and group sessions and I received a good knowledge on this serious social issue.

APRI: How did you come up with the title?

JV: The novel is built with multi characters, who come from different strata of society. Their stories intertwine with each other through the psychotherapist, who like her clients, struggle in an abusive relationship. The relationship has filled her with hate and causes her to twist the advice to her clients while living her life vicariously through them. I believe that nothing can be worse than going to sombedy for advice and she leads you the wrong way.

APRI: What cultural value do you see in writing / reading / storytelling / etc.?

JV: I believe that writing / reading not only entertains us, but it opens our eyes to better understand a social, environmental / ethical, political issue; it hels us know our country, our world, our past and our future; it makes us better and it shows us the way to make the whole world better.

APRI: What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

JV: I enjoyed seeing my characters grow and become stronger. Despite the subject of the book, the characters are not victims. They are fighters.

APRI: Who is your intended audience and why should they read your book?

JV: All people 17 years old and up, mostly females.

Some of these readers will find themselves in my book, some will find their friend or neighbor. Not only will they enjoy the book for its plot but also for the strong characters and artistic writing style.

APRI: Is there anything else you would like to say?

JV: Thank you very much for the interview, Marion! I appreciate the fact that you gave me the possibility to introduce myself to the APRI readers and the American media.

Here are a couple of Links where the readers can learn more about me and my novel 

The Devil I Paid for Advice:

www.JetaVojkollari.com

http://www.friesenpress.com/bookstore/title/119734000018904009

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZARLZMU/?tag=friesenpressc-20

APRI: And now, before you go, how about a snippet from your book that is meant to intrigue and
tantalize us?

JV: Two snippets. :)

Tirana in the evening. Modern cafes. Lights. Glamour. High heels and loud voices. Laughter. Girls in low-cut necklines, smooth-skinned. Young men wearing their hair short and styled with gel. Just like the cafes, the young smelled of luxury and modern times.

It was a struggle making one's way through the streets of Tirana without jostling other people - strangers who spoke the same language. Sabrina slipped her arm around Tom's and clung to him as if for protection...

A couple were kissing ferociously right in front of them with thirsty mouths and tongues wrestling there, on the sidewalk, four inches away. One couldn't tell a kiss from a bite, celebration from a fight, birth from murder, love from rape or spouse from enemy. Sabrina wasn't entirely sure how to describe the kissing. Was it love or coercion? Love should be soft, like Tom's body.

Tirana had turned into a vortex of extremes. Life could be highly social, yet grimly isolated. Tirana itself could be so large and so small. Congested. Fighting for breath. On the corner of the residential block you could smell the enticing sweet corn and roasted chestnuts mixed with the stench of dried urine. Expensive Italian shoes tapped along the broken bricks of the sidewalks. Dressed in ostentatious clothes, modern boutique owners came out every now and then to send away beggars that chose to beg at the doorway...

***

She, too, was asleep now but restlessly asleep. Two hands had seized her by the throat and were squeezing her tightly. Mark's hands? Not nice of him, strangling her in her sleep. In the morning he would repent and scream in pain but whe would be gone by then. She would be sleeping peacefully, like the character she played in the movie. Mark's grip got tighter, stronger and she was almost out of breath. She could feel the water caressing her shoulders and her chin. The water reached her mouth. When Mark finally let go of her throat and she opened her mouth to breathe, the water entered her body with a rush. She was trying to swim, wriggling frantically. Her head came above the water. She caught Mark's piercing eyes. "What are you doing, Mark?" "You were sleeping, baby," he told her, and reached out to caress her cheek. Rakela jumped out of the water to dodge his hand. She backed away and spat out the water that had filled her mouth. What on earth was happening to her? Closing her eyes while lying in the bathtub was not a good idea at all. Rakela Kato got up slowly, and wrapped herself in the soft white bathrobe she had bought at a beauty centre in Pari. Still wet, she walked around the house, looking for Mark. She remembered it was Tuesday and Mark would be teaching till ten. Something was off with Mark lately.

APRI: What question have you always wanted to be asked during an interview? How would you answer that question?

JV: Question: Long unpaid hours in front of the computer, talking to your characters. You're not rich or famous after all and chances are you'll never be. Was it worth writing the book?

Answer: Absolutely! When I hear how much my readers have enjoyed my book, my heart is filled with joy, and the tiredness melts away. What remains is fulfillment and gratitude.

For more information about Jeta Vojkollari see links below:

Jeta Vojkollari on Linkedin: 

https://ca.linkedin.com/pub/jeta-vojkollari/1a/875/639

Website for Jeta Vojkollari: http://www.jetavojkollari.com

Jeta Vojkollari on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jeta.vojkollari

Amazon link for Jeta Vojkollari

http://www.amazon.com/The-Devil-Paid-For-Advice/dp/1460262093

          

APRI PRESENTS: Interview with Author Steve A. Manolis

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - STEVE A. MANOLIS

Steve was born and raised in Chicago. His first exposure to poetry was learning to write haiku as a sophomore in high school. In the mid 80's he delved into performance poetry collaborating on two poetry plays with a small group of three other poets. This lead to poetry slams at the renowned Green Mill in Chicago, as well as other venues such as Weeds, Adolph's and The School Street Café.

Steve published his first two books of poetry, Agnostic Sins and The Silence Still Screams earlier this year, a collection of 23 poems, available through his website, and online through Amazon and Kindle.

The Beast is his third book of poems. The theme here is focused on love and nature with some exceptions. The poetry also includes two German poems (with translation). All poems are written in 2015.

Steve continues to write and post poetry in online websites and magazines. He has over a dozen poems published in various online anthologies and in magazine form.

You can contact Steve through his website, http://www.stevemanolis.com he would love to hear from you.

Steve, now retired from his marketing career, currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona with his wife, Susan and their family of rescue dogs.

Steve Manolis
Contact: esstathios@gmail.com
Phoenix Arizona, 2015 


 

APRI: Why is poetry important?

SM: Poetry is a form of art, no different than the various styles of painting, poetry is one form of written art. More than that though poetry, like paintings, becomes a record of history from the perspective of the artist / writer. As what we have taken away from Michelangelo, or Chagall, or Tanguy in painting we can also take away from Alan Ginsburg, or Shakespeare, or Milton.

APRI: When did you start writing poetry and what moved you to start?

SM: I started when I was a sophomore in high school, in an English class. English is not a strong subject for me, and I was very bored in school so I never applied myself. I felt restricted in many ways (you'll see that in my writings) and then one day the teacher told us to write a report about a book, any book; well that was different and eye-opening and I started to pay attention, because I liked her style. A few weeks later she was teaching about different forms of poetry and the most interesting forms for me was Haiku, and as you can imagine Haiku is restrictive in form, but the challenge of writing Haiku was because of the restrictions. I am not a very good Haiku writer, but it later became a vehicle for the form of poetry I use today which is free verse. Haiku became an exercise for ideas, much like a few pushups, to keep me in mindset of writing.

APRI: How does a poem begin for you - with an idea, a form or an image?

SM: It begins with an idea that strikes me when I least expect it. I rarely sit down and say, "Today I am going to write" unless I am doing my "Haiku pushup". I often see a word or visual image and then it starts to flow, the poem. Sometimes I dream of a poem. Other times, when I am most prolific, it's just being around other poets and ideas just bounce around.

APRI: How do you choose the form of your poems?

SM: 90% of my poetry is free form. I guess I should say I don't worry about the form, but if I am reading a lot of haiku, I get inspired and write haiku. One summer I read all the Shakespeare plays and wrote a sonnet or two.

APRI: What conditions help you with your writing process?

SM: Silence, or I just shut myself off from everything else, even in a bar with friends and other poets, I can remove myself and be with the poem, or at least my thoughts and just let things come in. I don't edit my thoughts in my head, they either come or they don't.

APRI: Where do you write?

SM: I almost always write at home, in front of a computer, that's not to say the thoughts can come earlier, they often do, but the actually composing is in a third bedroom my wife and I converted to a library and a Bowflex that collects dust.

APRI: Has your idea of what poetry is changed since you began writing?

SM: My poetry has changed, my idea of what poetry represents has not. And I was cleaning the pool just now to take a break, and thought about this in an earlier question; my idea of poetry, and what it represents is similar to being in an art gallery, everyone there is in silent contemplation of what was going on in the painter's head when they painted, the idea of poetry is similar...contemplation of the writer and that interpretation of the writing, what was going on in the head and in the world.

APRI: If you had to convince a friend or colleague to read your work, what might you tell them?

SM: I don't tell them anything really, I want their interpretation to be unbiased. Again, like the painting, poetry can have many interpretations and, a very important and, the poet needs to allow for the readers interpretation. If the reader wants to know what was in my thought process I will tell them, but not unless they ask or read the poem first. I want their experience to be the first kiss and that first date.

APRI: When did you realize you were a writer?

SM: That happened with my first public experience, in my mid-thirties; prior to that I was writing for myself. I was scanning an alternative newspaper, The Reader in Chicago, and came across a personal section from a poet looking for others to put together a poetry play/performance. I submitted a few poems and got a call. Ultimately we were a group of four poets and we produced two plays based on our poetry. I really got into the performance part of it and then we got turned on to Slam Poetry, which had just taking root. That was in 1986-87, and was introduced to Marc Smith who started it all.

APRI: Tell us about your process: Pen and Paper, computer, notebooks...how do you write?

SM: I have a plastic storage box full of paper and notebooks. My wife has a binder she keeps of her favorite ones when we were dating (those don’t get published). Today it’s all on computer. I am converting the paper and notebooks ones to computer and in the process re-writing some of them. The paper is getting worn and yellowing.

APRI: Which writer would you most like to have a drink with and why?

SM:  Without question, Jack Kerouac, 2nd and 3rd Alan Ginsburg and Gary Snyder. The beat poets and writers were and are my biggest influence for many reasons. They really emphasize my point about writers being historians, I really don’t think we would have totally understood what America was about if it weren’t for the writings of the beats. I also believe many people today have a greater understand as to what was going on in the 50’s and 60’s without understanding the writings of those writers. They definite freedom of expressions and innocence at the same time, I would have loved to go back and live in that era just to see it firsthand.

APRI: What's the biggest mistake you've made as a writer?

SM: Ha, not paying enough attention to grammar in school, grammar is by biggest weakness. I jokingly tell people there are two reasons I write poetry; first I cannot put together a grammatically correct sentence, and second, I cannot sustain a thought longer than a poem.

My other big mistake is one day sitting in my apartment in my mid 20’s and burning all my poems I wrote up to that time, maybe a hundred or so. Only one was saved because I gave a copy to my sister. I still have it. I don’t know if it was so much a mistake or a liberation of my past…a little of both.  

APRI: Can you tell our readers about yourself and your writings?

SM: The easy answer is read my poetry; you will read over 30 years of writing. (it would have been over 40 if I had not burned those others).

OK, what about me, obviously I have a passion for writing, and it spans a wide range of subject. My wife and I watch Cops, which is important to know as I write about the human condition and the influences of communicating with the world around us.

We are dog rescuers, love dogs, they have a wonderful live of running around naked and un-afraid.
I would go to the airport, that’s when one could go and sit at boarding gates, and just watch people come and go, and I would write about those experiences, how people interacted.

APRI: What do you do in your spare time?

SM: I retired a couple years ago, well forced out of the BIG CORPORATION, best thing that happened to me. We travel a lot in a RV, I read motorcycles for pleasure and we play pickleball…a great game. And rescue dogs.

APRI: Do you have any advice for up and coming writers / poets?

SM: Yes, do not think what your writings are lousy, other people will tell you that…haha.

Really though, write from your heart, don’t worry about form, or acceptance, or critique. A poem is never wrong if it is your experience or truth. It need not be shared, sharing your poems is the scariest part, so it’s ok to be scared, you are opening your guts out and spilling them across the paper, and the internet. Your success comes from just one person saying ‘this struck me and inspired me’, that is when it becomes a successful poem.    

APRI: What do you hope people take away from your writing?

SM: Their own interpretation and they are inspired. I hope I write thought provoking poetry.

APRI: I see that you have done many things over the years. What was your decision for changing from one to the other and then to writing?

SM: To grow and continue experiencing life.

I started out repairing copy machines, changed jobs to a company I worked for many years doing electronics repair in the machine tool industry. That company had no marketing manager and I like to write. One day I asked to work towards becoming the marketing manager. I didn’t have the experience but offered to not take a raise if they paid for my education, to my surprise they agreed and I spent the next 8 years going to college on the weekends in the 30’s. I took classes in philosophy as electives which lead me to reading about the existentialist, free will and the beat generation, it turned out that was the piece I was missing to move my writing to a point of maturity and strength.   

APRI: What is the measure of success as a poet?

SM: For me it’s fairly simple, if one person comes up to me and says, “Your poem inspired me” that’s my measure. Hopefully it’s not followed by, “…to tear my eyes and ears out”
I want to effect change (or is it affect).

APRI: What makes a poem “good”?

SM: A good poem achieves the same as above…without the eyes and ears being torn out.

APRI: When you have time to sit back and relax, what do you find yourself doing?

SM: Napping, well my wife finds me doing that.☺

APRI: When was the first time that you felt “Wow, my work actually has an impact on someone else?”

SM: The first time when I burned all my poetry and my sister got mad at me, ok, the really first time was when I started to do performance poetry in Chicago. To watch the audience and talk to them afterwards, wow, I thought, I’m a poet.

APRI: What question have you always wanted to be asked during an interview? How would you answer that question?

SM: Question: What is the role of the poet and why write?

Answer: I think in some ways I may have answered this, but more specifically I think the purpose of poetry is this: How one interprets the art of poetry is an immensely personal endeavor. Your interpretation may not be mine, but that is the great thing about poetry and the written word. You will take from it what you want, or simply just leave it.

My view on poetry is simple...I liken it to the experience of a window to be broken, I write to not hear the window shatter, but to examine the shards of glass and occasionally draw the shards across my arm to feel the pain, to watch the blood flow, to live in love anguish or pain.   

 For more information about Steve A. Manolis see links below:

Steve Manolis on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevemanolis

	Website for Steve A. Manolis: http://www.stevemanolis.com

   

Steve Manolis on HubPages: http://www.stevemanolis.hubpages.com 

Link for Agnostic Sins: Poetry of Personal Sins on Amazon: Agnostic Sins: Poetry of Personal Sins 

Link for The Silence Still Screams: A collection of original poems on Amazon:

The Silence Still Screams: A collection of original poems