Voices of Fiction - Influences on Life/Writing - Part One

Welcome to another edition of Voices of Fiction.

Over the next few weeks, our wonderful group of authors will be discussing those who have influenced them in both life and in writing.

Please welcome our guests.


 Terry W. Ervin II is an English and Science teacher who enjoys writing. He’s an editor for the speculative fiction magazine MindFlights and his short stories have appeared in over a dozen anthologies, magazines and ezines. The genres range from science fiction and fantasy to horror and inspirational.
In 2009 Gryphonwood Press published Terry’s debut fantasy novel FLANK HAWK, and released BLOOD SWORD in 2011. He is busy working on the third novel in the First Civilization’s Legacy series. Website, Blog

Pembroke Sinclair - I write fiction under the pen name Pembroke Sinclair, and I have had several short stories published. My story, “Sohei,” was named one of the Best Stories of 2008 by The Cynic Online Magazine. I have novellas and a short story collection forthcoming from Musa Publishing and eTreasures Publishing. I have two novels, Coming from Nowhere (adult, sci fi) and Life After the Undead (YA, horror), that are available from eTreasures Publishing, as well as Death to the Undead (YA, sequel to Life After the Undead), which is forthcoming. Under my real name, Jessica Robinson, from March 2008 to January 2011, I wrote scientific articles for Western Farmer-Stockman. I have a nonfiction book, Life Lessons from Slasher Films, scheduled for release in July 2012 from Scarecrow Publishing (an imprint of Rowan and Littlefield). Blog, Link, Link

Catrina Barton is a reader and writer of YA and Paranormal Romance, who enjoys being surrounded by the stark beauty of mother nature - whether it's a moon lit starry sky, or a picnic by a peaceful waterfall cascading from the mountain side. She is a proud member of Nano, RBRU, SheWrites and PNRWriters. She is an active participant at Critique Circle and several other crit groups. Blog, Facebook, Link



Carole Ann Moleti is a nurse-midwife in New York City, thus explaining her fascination with all things paranormal, urban fantasy, and space opera. Her newest fiction is featured in Haunted: Ten Tales of Ghosts and Bites: Ten Tales of Vampires.Website, Blog, Twitter



Cherie Reich is a writer, freelance editor, book blogger, and library assistant living in Virginia. She is a member of Valley Writers and the Virginia Writers Club. Links – Website, Blog, Facebook



Welcome Authors! It’s wonderful to have you back for another round.

Now the question is: Who has been the biggest influence in your life? in your writing? 

Terry W. Ervin: The biggest influence in my life was my father. Not in a literary sense. He didn’t write and he only read the newspaper, but that he did every day. Writing wise, it would have to be a combination of reading and studying the works of Roger Zelazny, Steven Brust and Stephen R. Donaldson. I could go into pages detail and specific examples, but mainly from Zelazny’s works I learned about description, pacing and revealing plot details. From Brust I learned about dialogue and action, and from Donaldson, about epic-scale and world building. From all three I learned about characterization and overall storytelling. They and others provide solid written and literary examples to recognize, study and learn, and for me to modify and implement in my own stories and writing style. To this day continue to study and learn.

Pembroke Sinclair: My mom has had a huge impact on my life. Although we don't always see eye to eye, I see so much of her in me. In my writing, there have been several influence. In high school, I had an awesome English teacher who was incredibly supportive and encouraging. My friend Tamara has always been a huge source of inspiration, and I don't think I would be where I'm at if it wasn't for her. But I also have to include all the readers who enjoy my books and expect me to write more!

Catrina Barton: Life: That's a tough one, there have been so many. If I had to choose just one I'd have to say my grandpa Jesse {may he rest in peace.} He always made everyone around him smile or laugh, no matter how moody or upset they were. His insatiable energy just spread to everyone around him and he was so full of life. I really miss him a lot. Writing: My readers. I started out writing fanfics. While some were harsh, most have been incredibly supportive and even offered ways for me to improve my writings. It's because of them and their encouragement that I found the courage to plunge forward and try my hand at writing novels. They continue to support me even now and it's the best feeling in the world, next to knowing my husband is behind me all the way.

Carole Ann Moleti: Honestly, the biggest influences have been my work and life experiences. I write creative nonfiction, memoir and op-ed as well so there is always a kernel of true life humor or pathos or social commentary in my fiction. Being a history buff engages my interest in particular places and events. My midwifery internship in Boston and on the north shore of Massachusetts, including Salem, has had a huge impact. Also, growing up in The Bronx during the "burning" years, coming of age in New York City during its fiscal and moral bankruptcy, and the feminist movement.

Cherie Reich: My biggest influence in my life is a tie between my mom and sister. I get along with both of them very well, and I like to write things that wow them.

Thank you all for joining us today and sharing your influences in both life and writing.

Readers feel free to ask questions concerning this topic in the comments. Also feel free to send questions to chergreen@chergreen.com Subject: Voices of Fiction Question, and have them answered by the participating authors in later editions.

There’s also room for more authors to participate. Drop me an email, Subject: Voices of Fiction.

(Disclaimer - Bios and answers have been posted as submitted by author) 

The Gravity Trilogy 'Cover Reveal'

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A Persean and a Medusan crash land on a post-apocalyptic Earth and must escape their prison cells in Defying Gravity. An Earthling and an Aresian flee their attacking people and fight for the right to live and love in Fighting Gravity. A Cupidian and an Earthling can’t ignore the pull of love while they battle to save their home in Pull of Gravity.

For more information about these three novelettes and the author who wrote them, please visit Surrounded by Books Publishing.

The covers have been redesigned, and you have a chance to win the complete trilogy.

To enter to win your own copy of the trilogy, leave a comment with your email address below.

If for any reason you are unable to leave a comment, send an Email to: chergreen at chergreen dot com, Subject: Cherie's Trilogy.

One entry per person.

Entry deadline: Midnight August 1st, 2012

Winner of the Gravity Trilogy - Catrina Barton. Congrats. Enjoy the read!

Voices of Fiction - Who's Your Favorite Character - Wrap Up

Welcome to Voices of Fiction.

Over the last few weeks, we’ve heard of wonderful, memorable characters from a great group of writers.

The cast of characters ranged from past legends in the fiction world such as Scarlett O’Hara, to characters created by some of the greats in the writing world such as Agatha Christie and Janet Evanovich, and not to forget a wonderful selection of characters created by this group of writers in their own books.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve struggled over my own answer to this question. I managed to come to a final decision which includes two characters and one group of characters.

The most recent character to steal my heart and attention has been the Graveyard Queen, Amelia Gray. Amanda Stevens created a wonderful character with Amelia. Following her journey has been intriguing for me. I don’t read as fast as I once did and don’t have the time to sit for long periods to enjoy reading as I should. But, Amelia demanded attention and she received it. The first book in the trilogy, The Restorer, grabbed me and I read it in a matter of days. I had to wait patiently, or not so patiently, for the next two books, but when they arrived I dove right in. It’s been a long time since I was sad to reach the end of a book or series, knowing I would miss the characters. Amanda managed to bring this back to me and I am extremely thankful. Can’t wait to see what she comes up with next. Hope she has more plans for Amelia.

Of my own characters, Esmeralda of Escape to Love has been my favorite. In my own writing, I tend to like the supporting characters. When Constance finds herself in a new world, Esmeralda acts as her guide and support system. Without her, I’m not sure what would have happened to my main character.

The characters Stephen King created in the Green Mile have stayed in my heart and mind over the years. The Green Mile, in my opinion, outshines all of Stephen King’s creations. Although, there have been many casts of characters throughout his writing career who have led me to my own writing journey. Some criticize this writer's writing abilities, but anything he lacks he makes up for it with his creating of memorable characters.

Thank you all for joining us as we explored "Who's Your Favorite Character?"

Next week, we'll begin exploring another topic on "Voices of Fiction." Feel free to join in.

Readers send questions to chergreen@chergreen.com, Subject: Voices of Fiction Question, and have them answered by the participating authors in later editions.

There’s also room for more authors to participate. Drop me an email, Subject: Voices of Fiction.

Voices of Fiction - Who is your Favorite Character - Part Four

Welcome to another edition of Voices of Fiction.

We have another great group of writers here to discuss their favorite characters.

Please welcome our guests.


Joylene Butler is the author of Dead Witness and Broken But Not Dead. Links – Website, Blog




Cindy Huefner Cromer, formally a New Jersey resident, now resides in Stuart, Florida, with her husband, son, and daughter. Cindy works as a laboratory scientist and executive. As the president of a laboratory network, she has written numerous laboratory procedures and research documents. Driven by a passion for suspense and mystery novels, she dreamed of becoming a writer. Her dream turned into reality with the release of her debut suspense novel, Desperate Measures. She is currently working on her second novel, Desperate Deceptions. Plans are in place for her third and fourth books.  Website, Link, Link

 
Thea Landen writes erotic literature, frequently in a sci-fi/fantasy setting. When she's not writing, or thinking about writing, her hands and mind are occupied by either yarn crafts or role-playing games. Blog, Link, Link




Jared Gullage, an English Language Arts teacher in Alabama, is the author of Drinna, The Dustfinders, and The Afterknight. Through his father's introduction to books like The Hobbit, Great Expectations, and works by Ray Bradbury, Jared discovered a universe within his own imagination. Jared put his vision to work through role-play games and then storytelling. Following his father's words, "paint pictures with words", this compulsive writer plans to leave his mark upon the writing world, one dent at a time.


Children’s Picture Book author, Clara Bowman-Jahn, of “Annie’s Special Day” is living the life of her dreams an hour at a time. Link, Blog, Link
Welcome Authors! It’s wonderful to have you back for another round.


Now the question is: Who’s your favorite character? (can be yours or someone else’s)

Joylene Butler: I really loved Dolores in Bleeding Heart by Marilyn French, author of The Women's Room. Dolores represented everything I felt as a woman, fear, anxiety, rage, power. She encapsulated what I was searching for in my understanding of life and what I was up against. Because strange as this sounds, as a young woman, I felt as if it was me against the world, not the world working with me.

Cindy Cromer: In Desperate Measures my favorite character is Barry Solerno. I’m particularly proud of how I introduced him and cast him as an older lady’s man then peeled off the layers of his past and revealed what made him tick. I love the character, Emma Harte that Barbara Taylor Bradford created in her “Woman of Substance” series. Emma is strong, comes from nothing, and builds an empire. She sort of reminds me of Lukas Bucklin in my novels but Lukas had a bit more to work with when he started Bucklin Enterprises.

Thea Landen: Oh dear, this is a difficult question! I'm going to go with Vera Claythorne, from Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None". For a short book with a large cast of characters, she's so well-developed, and her journey through her realization of her guilt into the trap of insanity is fascinating. (Minor spoiler alert! I hate how her story was changed in the film versions of the book. I want my Miss Claythorne tough, yet fragile; competent, yet crazy; and above all, capable of cold-blooded murder!)

Jared Gullage: Hmmm. For me, I've had a few. Right now, I'm liking characters from current books, including Tyrion Lannister and Arya Stark and some of the characters invented by Patrick Rothfuss in his ongoing Kingkiller Chronicles. I liked Miri in Princess Academy. I really liked Katniss Everdean, too.

Clara Bowman-Jahn: Mowgli from Rudyard Kiplin's Jungle Boy - I loved how he was raised by wolves and had jungle animals for friends. I think Tarzan was a takeoff from that and so many other books and ideas came from that character. I have always been enchanted with wild children and in the take that they needed to become civilized to fit into our society.

Thank you all for joining us today and sharing your favorite characters.

Readers feel free to ask questions concerning this topic in the comments. Also feel free to send questions to chergreen@chergreen.com Subject: Voices of Fiction Question, and have them answered by the participating authors in later editions.

There’s also room for more authors to participate. Drop me an email, Subject: Voices of Fiction.

(Disclaimer - Bios and answers have been posted as submitted by author)