Thursday, April 3, 2025

Pen Dames Pointers! Tips to Jazz Up Your Writing 2025-4-3


 


A passion of Pen Dames is to help other writers by sharing tips and insights we have learned along the way. We hope you will find the pointers beneficial to your writing process.

Katherine Eddinger Smits


Seven Reasons Why Authors Should Judge Contests

Have you ever considered judging a writing contest? I regularly judge for the Florida Writers Association Royal Palm Literary Awards. When I was invited to judge, I felt honored but unsure of my qualifications. However, I decided to give it a try, and I’m so happy I did! Here are some compelling reasons why you should consider it too:

1. Giving Back to the Writing Community

Every writer benefits from the support of others—whether through writing associations, critique groups, or informal networking. A rising tide lifts all boats, and by helping fellow writers, we strengthen the literary community as a whole. Judging a contest is a meaningful way to give back, offering aspiring authors valuable feedback that can improve their work.

2. Sharpening Your Own Writing Skills

It’s easier to recognize strengths and weaknesses in someone else’s writing than in our own. By evaluating multiple entries, you become more aware of what makes a story effective—or where it falls short. Contest rubrics require judges to analyze elements such as plot, pacing, character development, and premise with precision. Providing constructive, example-based critiques is challenging but invaluable. With every evaluation, you deepen your understanding of the craft, sometimes more than in formal writing classes.

3. Enhancing Your Writing Credentials

Adding “Contest Judge” to your resume or bio is a valuable distinction. It demonstrates industry involvement, a strong grasp of storytelling mechanics, and the ability to critically assess writing. For editors, agents, and publishers, this experience is just as noteworthy as publication credits.

4. Expanding Industry Connections

Judging contests introduces you to fellow authors, contest organizers, and industry professionals. These connections can lead to new opportunities, such as speaking engagements, panel invitations, or collaborative projects. The more you engage in the literary world, the more doors open.

5. Learning What Makes a Story Stand Out

When you evaluate multiple submissions side by side, patterns emerge. You start to see what captures attention and what makes an entry fall flat. This perspective is invaluable when preparing your own submissions, helping you craft stories that resonate with readers and judges alike.

6. Boosting Confidence in Critical Analysis

Assessing contest entries strengthens your ability to evaluate writing objectively. As you practice giving clear, constructive feedback, you’ll gain confidence in critiquing your own work with the same discerning eye.

7. Finding Inspiration for Your Own Writing

Exposure to different storytelling techniques, genres, and voices can spark fresh ideas. Sometimes, a unique premise or an interesting narrative choice in someone else’s work might inspire a new approach in your own projects.

Judging a contest isn’t just about helping others—it’s about growing as a writer and becoming more engaged in the literary world. If you ever get the opportunity, take it. You might be surprised at how much you gain from the experience!


Barbara Cairns

Creativity

Did you know that as creative people, we are known as ambiverts? That means that unlike most people who are either introverts or extroverts, we combine both personality types, being both expressive and withdrawn, sociable and quiet. We are fortunate to be not only creative right brain thinkers, but also analytical and logical left brain thinkers.

Our common characteristics include the following: curiosity, playfulness, open mindedness, flexibility, independence, risk taking, sensitivity, intuition, attention to detail, ambition, objectivity, and perhaps most of all, passion.

Albert Einstein stated that “Creativity is intelligence having fun.” But, we writers know that it can also be challenging, ambiguous, and often discouraging. We must be motivated and have self-confidence. It takes a great deal of effort and persistence to maintain creativity.

Creativity comes in many forms. Whether it’s painting, writing, playing a musical instrument, it’s the ability to produce original ideas, themes or techniques that are useful and adaptable.

Being creative is good for our brains. We all know that lots of things are good for brain training such as reading, working puzzles, getting enough exercise and sleep and eating healthy foods. But the arts also should be added to that list. Writing, playing a musical instrument, drawing, painting, dancing…all these creative activities can benefit us. Practicing or just enjoying the arts can change your brain and your behavior. Those changes can improve both mental and emotional health.

Creative energy is a reflection of who we are, the sum total of all the bits and pieces we’ve collected throughout the years. Our creative projects have evolved from filled notebooks, photos, audio files, clippings, highlighted book passages, notes and articles, snippets from conversations, images of art, advice from mentors, lessons from nature and spiritual connections.

We can rejoice as creative people, knowing that we are innovative, inventive, imaginative, talented, gifted, original, ingenious, trailblazing, groundbreaking, and pioneering visionaries. According to research, creativity involves “a complex interplay between spontaneous and controlled thinking.”

Maya Angelou reminds us with this quote: “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” So, my fellow writers, keep that creativity going!


Jennifer Taylor

Keep Them Reading!

A very wise and talented mentor, Loretta Rogers (part of the Pen Dames!), once spoke of using television as a way to help with pacing and plot. If I'm not mistaken, she suggested observing a show that's in the genre you're writing. Isn't it inevitable that the scene ends for a commercial at a suspenseful part? So you have to watch when the commercial is over. Likewise, each scene and chapter in your book must end with the reader wondering what's going to happen next. 

Another example: I am in the process of working on a Rom-Com. There are doctors and nurses in the story, so I have been carefully watching the very funny comedy, Scrubs. I take note of the sight gags, the one-liners, and the way the scene ends, usually with something funny that makes you keep watching. It's very helpful. The characters are complex, with history and their own unique quirks. 

Thanks again, Loretta, for your suggestion--years ago!--and a shoutout to all the Pen Dames.


Flossie Benton Rogers

Character Response to Loss

As loss elicits various reactions in real life, so should it for the characters we write. Almost every character will have suffered some degree of loss and grief, from small to overwhelming. Does time actually heal all wounds or does dealing with loss bring about a constant recalibration of a person and how he or she responds to life forever after? Does a catastrophic loss suffered years ago change the way your character deals with certain ordinary situations? Does it bring forth traits that weren’t in evidence before or cause formerly observable traits to now be completely closed off? Does your character’s behavior change according to various challenges met during the course of the book or series?

Whether you approach such questions overtly in your story or consider them as background and backdrop, how your character responds can add layers of complexity and authenticity.

In my cozy mystery WIP, Pumpkin Patch Murder, the heroine’s backstory includes the loss of her brother in war, compounded by the death of her parents. Some of the changes to her behavior include a reluctance to enter hospitals and an avoidance of her old hometown and the memories associated with it. There are also hints of a lack of commitment and a tendency toward a rudderless life. Her main interests are studying history and leading cemetery tours, but her unusual ability to communicate with spirits has, thus far, provided little inner satisfaction.

In the book she is challenged to return to her hometown, take charge of a landmark tearoom under renovation, and use her unusual ability to help solve a murder. I look forward to seeing how her response to loss develops and changes during subsequent books in the series. How does grief or loss affect the current focal character you’re writing or reading about?


Loretta C. Rogers

Why Research is Crucial to Writing

Not all writers are naturally drawn to research, and some may find it tedious or uninspiring, especially if the topic doesn't genuinely spark the writer’s interest.

However, authors must remember they are writing for a wide range of audiences. Readers are smart. They can tell when a writer has threaded accurate research throughout their story in a believable way, or when a writer hasn’t researched at all. The trick is to be sure the information doesn’t read as regurgitation from an encyclopedia.

No matter the genre, from Historical to Sci-fi, Mystery to Romance, research is crucial to writing because it ensures accuracy, inspires creativity, ultimately leading to more compelling and impactful writing. Research also helps create more authentic and believable characters, settings, and narratives.

Lastly, create a ‘research’ file. Save the url’s for each researched topic. Creating such a file can be a valuable source, and a time-saver when writing about previously used topics e.g. horses, weaponry, certain countries, flora or fauna, and other relevant information.


Did these suggestions resonate with you? Let us know, and also tell us of any writing questions you have and topics you’d like us to cover in these Pointers.
Thanks for stopping by, and happy writing! Cheers from the Pen Dames.

Friday, March 7, 2025

Interview with Author Amy Vansant


 

Welcome to the Pen Dames March 2025 blog! This month we are interviewing the bubbly and super funny author Amy Vansant. She is the author of the Pineapple Port Mysteries, Shee McQueen Thrillers, Kilty Urban Fantasies & Romcom Collection: He’s Got to Go being the latest. You can find her on her website:
https://AmyVansant.com


You can buy her books at: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Amy-Vansant/author/B001K8WXV0

Read on for the interview with Amy and a contest for her upcoming release or a Kindle reader, plus get three free books!

 

What can you tell us about YOU that will allow us to get to know you better—where you live, your background, jobs, interests, etc.?

I was a freelance writer for years and East Coast Editor of Surfer Magazine back in the early nineties, which was funny because I was also freelancing for Modern Maturity Magazine at the same time. Slightly different audience between those two!

I’d started building websites when websites were new, and because it was easier to make money doing that, I put writing on the back-burner and started a web development company. One morning I woke up and realized I was supposed to be writing!

 

What books were your favorites as a child? How and when did your writing journey begin?

Pooh. When I was little, I actually wrote “Winnie the Pooh,” complete with crayon drawings. I was about six years old, so the prison sentence for plagiarism was relatively lax. With time out for good behavior, I was free before naptime.

 

What genre is your book? What do you like about writing in that genre?

I bop around to keep from getting bored. I write cozy mysteries (Pineapple Port Mysteries), action thrillers (Shee McQueen) Romances (He’s Got to Go & Slightly Stalky) and urban fantasies (Kilty). The common thread is humor. I’ve tried writing very dark serious books but it just never works. I keep adding jokes.

 

What inspires you to write?

Always felt like I had to. I used to write books for the girls at the barn where I took riding lessons and sold them their own stories for 25 cents each.

 

What is the setting of your book? Please describe it.

Most of my books take place near the beaches in Florida—Pineapple Port was based on my mother-in-law’s place on the west coast. Shee is in “Jupiter beach” where I live in Jupiter on the east coast. He’s Got to Go was in Miami. Kilty was in Los Angeles.

 

Why did you choose this setting?

I grew up in Sea Isle City, NJ, a small beach town, so I’m a sucker for beaches!

 

 Is your book part of a series or a standalone?

All series.

 

Which of your main characters is your favorite and why?

I’m in love with whatever characters I’m writing. I particularly love a lot of the characters in the Kilty series—Broch, the time-traveling highlander who’s obsessed with modern showers, Kilty’s Con and then Uncle Seamus in the Pineapple Port series are my Irish rogues. I loved writing Stephanie my serial killer’s daughter in Pineapple Port… Usually the most badly behaved characters are my favorite.

 

If you could spend an afternoon with any of your secondary characters, who would it be and why?

Mariska from Pineapple Port is literally my mother-in-law, so I actually do hang out with her. 😊

 

What writing projects do you have on the horizon?

I’m working on a new thriller series I love so much I don’t even want to share details yet. It’s about a girl named Cricket—and oh boy, does she have some secrets!!

 

What is your best advice for aspiring writers?

Keep Writing. That’s the only way you get better and make any money.

 

What is your favorite book marketing tip?

Build your own newsletter list. It’s the one thing over which you have control. Social media comes and goes—changes, blows up, makes it harder and harder to be found/heard. Your list is YOUR list.

 

And now for the contest!   Amy Vansant Contest and Free Books

 


We hope you enjoyed this interview with Amy Vansant and we’re sure you’ll love the three free books she has for you! Good luck with the contest. If you win, please let us know.

 

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Pen Dames Featured Valentine's Books

Valentine, be sweet to yourself. Buy books! 

 Mind Your Goddess 

 Flossie Benton Rogers 

 Love - razzle dazzle - cool jazz and hot kisses...

  Buy Link



Murder in the Mist

Loretta Rogers

Murder doesn't happen in the quaint seaside village of Cole Harbor. Now a psycho is killing women.

Buy Link



Abbie's Attraction

Barbara Cairns

Buy by email to Barbara Cairns: wordpainter@tampabay.rr.com or at a local event.



Echoes of the Moon (Rhythm of the Moon Series)

Jennifer Taylor

Buy Link



Witch Trial Legacy (The Cassadaga Collection Book 1)

Katherine Eddinger Smits

Where Romance Collides with Supernatural Suspense

Buy Link


Saturday, December 7, 2024

'Tis the Season...

 

All I Want for Christmas is…

Have you ever wondered why books make the best Christmas gifts?

1.     Books aren’t perishable.

2.     The best stories never grow old.

3.     A book is pretty much a gift for life.

4.     Books are the gift that keep on giving.

To help with your selection we have a few suggestions:



Witch Trial Legacy

by Katherine Eddinger Smits

Buy link: https://amzn.to/4aHgOUE

Sybilla Sanborn must break a centuries old curse before everything she cares about goes up in smoke.

Sybilla is a nurse gifted with the ability to heal with her touch but cursed with visions of future tragedies she cannot prevent because no one heeds her warnings. With help from the mediums of the spiritualist town of Cassadaga, Florida, she learns she is descended from both the first person executed for witchcraft in this country and the man who accused her.

Conn Ahern is an Iraq war vet dealing with pain and PTSD while working as a paramedic and struggling to save the ranch his grandmother founded. He’s an atheist who wants nothing to do with the people of the town.

When Conn and Sybilla meet, sparks fly, but not always in a good way, and their relationship fans the flames of jealousy and revenge in someone who doesn’t want them to work things out.

                                                            Runes (Wytchfae 1)

                                                   by Flossie Benton Rogers   


Buy link: Amazon.com: Runes (Wytchfae Book 1) eBook : Benton Rogers, Flossie: Kindle Store

Wytchfae Kelly O’Day’s job is to transition ghosts to the afterlife. The last thing she expects is to fall for one of them -- sexy Viking Ingvar Hrothson. Cursed to roam the earth as a restless spirit, Ingvar is hell bent to destroy the sorceress responsible. His war plan doesn’t include spending time with a bewitching flesh and blood woman like Kelly. With their attraction approaching supernova, the couple must battle sinister forces and master manipulators of the unholy dark arts. More than lives are at stake. Will hell give them a chance?


Echoes of the Moon
by Jennifer Taylor

Bethan Owen would give her life for her identical twin. With the care of Elunid’s troubled mind resting on her shoulders, she knows the love of a man will never be possible. But she can’t fight her attraction to the mystifying Henry Stephens, who, despite his lowly occupation as a night soil man, captivates her with his courtly manners and vitality.
Henry’s entire life revolves around building a fulfilling life for his mentally challenged son. When the vibrant and beautiful Bethan captures his heart, his world changes, but the secrets he harbors remain. Will he be able to give himself completely to the one he loves?
When Elunid’s behavior becomes more unstable, she makes a vicious enemy. Bethan is forced to make the greatest sacrifice, exchanging her life for her sister’s. Can Henry save Bethan and keep their love alive? Or will the dangerous adversary destroy all that is dear to them both?





Bitter Autumn
by Loretta C. Rogers


Flame-haired Birdie Mae Dix has no idea what tomorrow will bring. Kidnapped by the Pawnee and traded to the Comanche, she is now in the custody of the US Cavalry.  After eighteen years of loss and cruelty, she trusts no one; not even the handsome captain who’s piercing blue glare fills her with apprehension…and unwanted desire.

Pledging his life to a military career, years of war has hardened Captain Ford Thackery. He swore never to consider a life with a wife and children until he rescues an emerald-eyed, half-starved beauty. He knows he must earn Birdie’s trust as well as find a way into her heart.

Abducted by a renegade Pawnee cavalry scout, Birdie once again finds herself a captive. If he can’t possess her then no one will.



As we gather for another holiday season, whatever you celebrate, Pen Dames wish you, peace, happiness, love, and a prosperous New Year!


Thursday, November 7, 2024

Author Interview with Paula J. Braley

 

         November Greetings to all you Pen Dames Readers!

        You're in for a real treat this month with a visit from Paula J. Braley, who also writes as P.J. Braley. Today, we're featuring her stand-alone book, but also part of a series, 

FINDING PERSEPHONE


               BOOK BLURB

                 Caroline Taylor is very good at pretending.

                The polished surface of her life appears perfect until the morning when a smitten grad student brings the cracks in her illusions into sharp focus. No longer willing to live a lie, Caroline's journey of transformation sets her on a collision course with Dr. Grant Gates. Blinded by his quiet power, good looks, and impressive credentials, Caroline fails to see that Grant is also very good at pretending.

                Created from flesh and fire, Grant has a past he would like to forget, an assignment he cannot reveal, and a forbidden obsession with his newest client whose beautiful eyes miss nothing. As the enforcer of an underground brotherhood, he must protect their secrets at any cost, but Grant is determined that Caroline will not become his next victim. Striking a devil's bargain to keep the woman he has been searching for safe from his brothers' plans, Grant struggles to hide who - and what- he is until he becomes her only hope of escape . . . but will he let her go?

                There's not a chance in Hell.

                A contemporary retelling of the Greek myth of Hades and Persephone with a conflicted yet compelling male protagonist and a voice-driven narrative from the woman's perspective. Finding Persephone is the twisting tale of an alien assassin's search for mercy and the woman whose love lies at the heart of his redemption.

Short Excerpt

            "It's dreaming time," I said.

            "I don't understand."

            "Early evening. It's my favorite time of day. . . I call it dreaming time. The day hasn't surrendered the light, the night hasn't quite conquered the day. It's best in the summer, when it lasts for hours, lots of dreaming time."

            "What do you dream of Caroline?"

            "What did I use to dream of, or what do I dream of now?"

            "You dream differently now?"

            "Oh yes," I said, smiling slightly. "Before I dreamt of how wonderful it would be if Dan came home and just once said, "Hey sweetheart, what would you like to do tonight?" and I would imagine the things we would do together. . . silly things, romantic things, you know, just sharing the joy of each other in the ease of half-light. But, you know," I swallowed back sudden tears, "he never did."

            "Fool, then, to have missed one moment with you."

            "No, blind. He never wanted me in his life, only my role in it. It hasn't been a marriage so much as a semi-successful stage play."

            He held my hand next to his eyes. "And now?" he asked.

            I turned my palm next to his face. "I don't have to dream it, Grant. I live it." I brought my lips just close enough to him to feel their warmth.

            "Grant, will you do me a favor?"

            "If I can."

            "Tell me when it's okay to love you," I said softly. "I don't want to miss one moment of you."


What's your writing space like?

                Just imagine the messiest stacks of books, papers, and random dog toys all squished together in a bay window, and you've got it!

Do you wish to donate one of your e-book titles to a randomly selected winner?

                I would be happy to donate both The Fire Slayers and Finding Persephone to either one or two winners.    

What can you tell us about YOU that will allow us to get to know you better-- where you live, your background, jobs, interests, etc.?

                I live in Inverness, Florida, where my husband, Jim, and I moved after we retired.  Unfortunately, our plans clashed with COVID-19, which made everything more difficult. To complicate matters further, Jim was diagnosed with cancer, and the logistics of not only moving, but also his healthcare, became my sole responsibility. It was the hardest year of my life. Jim passed away about eight months after we moved into our new home, so I have spent most of the last two years forging new friendships.    .                                                                                                                                                   Soon after our move to inverness, I was blessed with finding Citrus Writers - a group of wonderful, kind, and patient writers who were helpful and encouraging at a time in my life when I didn't care if I ever wrote another word.  The last twenty-five years of my administrative career, I was the Senior assistant to the Director of the International Studies Program at the University of Dayton. While I worked there, I finished my B.A. and went on to earn a master's degree in English. It had always been my plan to write, and one day, I realized I could put it off no longer. Luckily, I took a lot (really, a lot) of writing classes at U.D., and with the feedback I received from my professors, I felt prepared to transition into a second career as a writer.                                                                                       

     My first book, The Fire Slayers, was published by Between the Lines Publishing at the height of COVID in November 2020. My second novel, Finding Persephone, was published just after we moved to Inverness in June 2022. I am happy to add that the third book, Persephone's Children, will be released in mid-November, 2024. I also have two manuscripts (book four of the Fire Slayers series and a stand-alone about 1940s, Tampa) that will be released next year.  I love living in Central Florida, and when I'm not writing, socializing, or working with the wonderful authors at Citrus Writers of Florida, I am either reading, having tea with friends, playing with my two rescue mini Aussies, Nymeria and Kaela, and counting my blessings.   

      What genre is your book? What do you like about writing in that genre?   

             The Fire Slayers series is a science fiction love story that explores the different sides of love, such as romantic love and family love, and how they contrast with duty and responsibility. The eternal struggle between deciding whether to follow your heart or your mind -- and the results of those choices.  Writing science fiction is a good fit for me for a couple of reasons. One is research. I love researching subjects I have never read about before and have found many of them endlessly fascinating. In The Fire Slayers, I learned about the geography and people who live in Northern Africa; I researched the bloodlines and history of Arabian horses, and the traditional clothes people who lived in the Levant wore in the 1980s. While writing Finding Persephone, I learned about genomes, testing, and anatomy.  Those are not the main reasons, however. I chose science fiction because it is the best genre to represent my theme: how other species see climate change, the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and the growing human population. I expanded on that theme by creating a secret underground alien society that is (one) fully aware of the fate of the planet if the current course is not corrected, and (two) are not afraid to do something about changing the future. Another reason I like writing science fiction instead of fantasy, for example, is because genre relies on scientific facts to carry the narrative and not enchanted elements or superpowers. This reliance on facts lends, I believe, a certain validity to the theme.

Is your book part of a series or a stand-alone? If it is a part of a series, briefly describe the series.

          Although written as stand-alone books, The fire Slayers, Finding Persephone, and  Persephone's Children are all part of the Fire Slayers series and can be read in any order. Two additional novels, tentatively titled Training Ground and The Retribution, are in final draft form for a total of five. The sixth one is percolating in my mind . . .  but not much has been written yet. The overall narrative of the series tells the story of the three main characters. Novels one through three describes the life of the protagonist/villain, Grant, an alien assassin who tries to balance the love of his human parents and his responsibility to his alien brotherhood; books two through four focus on Caroline, the human woman he loves, and the lengths to which Grant will go to protect her freedom; and three through five describe their son's tumultuous life from his untimely birth to adulthood as a soldier with a human wife amid an alien apocalypse. So, although written as a series, it can also be read as three overlapping trilogies.

Describe your main character -- life, personality, motivation -- whatever you think will make us want to get to know the person.

            In Finding Persephone, Grant seems to personify Shakespeare's "plain-dealing villain," a man who kills without negotiation, mercy, or compassion. It is hard to defend an assassin -- or is it? Although many villains are one-dimensional killing machines, Grant is much more complicated than the word may imply. Plagued by physical and emotional pain from his past (The Fire Slayers), Grant believes the only way to overcome his unending regret is to focus on his new assignment: protecting the colony's secrets by any means necessary.  When Grant falls in love with Caroline, he tries to reclaim what little humanity he has left to become worthy of her, and his attempt at metamorphosis endangers both of their lives. The only thing that keeps Grant from becoming the definitive villain his past would dictate is the price he is willing to pay to save Caroline from his brothers' plans.     

                What writing projects do you have on the horizon?

           As I mentioned earlierTraining Ground  will be released next year as the fourth book in The Fire Slayer  series. It's about the trials and joys of raising four alien children in the Midwest. The narrative is mostly epistolary, told with letters, journal entries, documents, and various vignettes over a period of twenty-five years. Writing in this style was new to me and Training Ground was the hardest book of the series to write because, although it is told primarily from Caroline's point of view, the story is interspersed with different voices. I found keeping everyone's voice progressing in a continuous narrative without branching into digression very challenging.   

   What is your best advice for aspiring writers?

           My advice for aspiring writers is to read as much as possible, write whenever you can, and get feedback. Lots of feedback -- and not from your mom or best friend. Moms and best friends are great for brainstorming ideas, but most do not understand a narrative or character arc, subtext, or world-building. The kind of feedback I refer to comes from professors, other writers, and editors. It is important to grow as a writer, so take classes, join writers' groups like the Citrus Writers of Florida, or the Florida Writers Association, and put your writing out there.

Which authors/books are on your keeper shelves?

            The books I will keep forever are mostly classics from Jane Austin (Sense and Sensibility is my favorite.), Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre (which I have reread many times), and early 20th century novels written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. Those novels sound very staid, but on the other hand, I have every book written by John D. MacDonald, Dave Barry, Tim Dorsey, and Carl Hiassen; they are all occasionally sexy, always humorous, and sometimes downright irreverent! As a Florida native, I cannot help but be a fan of Florida fiction.

 If you could meet any author, living or dead, who would it be and why?

            Desiderious Erasmus of Rotterdam (1466-1536) is well known as the heart, soul, and pen of the Renaissance. Erasmus was one of the first humanists, a monk, a priest, a scholar, a writer, a teacher, the scourge of the Catholic Church -- and its ardent defender -- and his arguments with Martin Luther regarding the concept of free will are legendary (see more at https://pjbraley.com/hello-world/writers-words/erasmus-  es/).  What, you may ask, would we talk about? We would speak of the love and layers of language. Erasmus was a linguist who loved language so much that when he completed his first Latin translation of the New Testament, he continued to research church documents to ensure that his translation was as accurate as possible so that the scholars who came after him would have the best source for translations into common languages such as English, French, and German.  Among many other academic, intellectual, and spiritual pursuits, Desiderious Erasmus spent a lifetime searching for the best words and phrases and wrote with future readers in mind. I think we would begin our conversation there.                                  

What is your favorite marketing tip?

           I have only one marketing tip: never shy away from an opportunity to get your work, your name, or your brand out in front of the reading public's eye. I know you would rather be writing than talking about writing, but regrettably, the days are gone when writers can ignore the importance of every promotion opportunity. Remember, even Stephen King has an X (formerly Twitter) account.

Your website/blog and social media links ---

http://pjbraley.com

@pjbraley

paulajbraley@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/PJBraleyAuthor

Buy links for your featured book ---

https://www.amazon.com/stores/P.J.Braley/author/B08MZ3WVNN?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

 Thank you so much, Paula, for taking time to join us at Pen Dames.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                           

Sunday, October 20, 2024

                                                       

                                           AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH CHERIE COLYER


Greetings, Pen Dame Readers! Halloween is the perfect time of year to visit with Cherie Colyer, multi-talented and prolific author of middle-grade fantasies and adult novels.  

Today we're featuring this middle-grade (8-12)  fantasy:


          I had the privilege of reading this fun book. This is delightful for kids and adults alike. Atticus is a likable, kind, character, who finds himself in a bit of a bind.  This is a perfect choice if you're looking for a scary, but not too frightening, fantasy for a child or grandchild. Now on to Cherie:



What can you tell us about YOU that will allow us to get to know you better—where you live, your background, jobs, interests, etc.?

A few fun facts about me:


1.     I can’t start my day without a good cup of coffee. My mind just doesn’t wake up until I have caffeine in me.

2.     I work full-time in a technical job. A magic wand would come in handy most days.

3.     Every sorting hat test I’ve taken placed me in Gryffindor.

4.     I have a sixth sense that allows me to feel others’ emotions. It’s great when people are in a good mood. Not so much when they’re sad, but then I know when someone can use a little cheering up so it works out.

5.     I’m pretty sure I’ve seen faeries in my backyard. They’re welcome to visit anytime they’d like.

6.     I hate to sew, but I have a sewing machine.

7.     My guilty pleasure is curling up on the couch and binge-watching my favorite TV series. Some of my favorite shows include Friends, Charmed, Vampire Dairies, and Downton Abbey.

8.     I’m just as happy at home as I am with friends.

How and when did your writing journey begin?

I always enjoyed writing. When I was in grade school, I enjoyed writing essays. In high school, I wrote poems. But it wasn’t until I was an adult that I considered writing a book, and I have my husband to thank for the push. I used to tell him about ideas I had of fantasy creatures living in our world. One day, he asked me why I didn’t write a book. So, I decided to write down one of my ideas. I loved plotting and being the director of my characters’ lives so much that he got me my first laptop, went with me to hear other authors speak, and encouraged me to pursue publication. He’s a great guy.

What genre is your featured book? What do you like about writing in that genre?

Atticus Everheart, Fifth Grade Tutor and Monster Hunter? is a middle-grade, fantasy/mystery. It's Hotel Transylvania meets Sherlock Holmes, equal parts friendship, humor, and mystery.

As a reader, my go-to genre is middle-grade fantasy. Whenever I’m in a reading slump or want an escape from reality, I know I’ll find my escape between the pages of a middle-grade novel. The magic is bold, the dreams are big, and the adventures vivid, wild, and exciting. I love visiting the different worlds and seeing the wonders, the magic, and the friendships. Especially the friendships. So, for me, it wasn’t a surprise that the first book I penned was a middle-grade fantasy. That wasn’t Atticus’s story. His came many years later.

Describe your main character—life, personality, motivation—whatever you think will make us want to get to know the person.

That would be Atticus Everheart. There isn’t anything remarkable about Atticus. In fact, he’s about as ordinary as ordinary can get. He’s child number three out of five Everheart children, small for his age, and non-athletic. But being ordinary has never bothered him. He has his books (and sometimes his brothers’ special stash of books, but let’s keep that between us because his brothers hate when he touches their things) to entertain him. Atticus is happy as long as there is no mention of monsters. He would rather brave endless tea parties with his little sister, Evie. Or listen to his other sister, Abigail, go on and on about the things for sale in the newspaper (a guilty pleasure of hers for as long as Atticus can remember) before facing anything that might go bump in the night. His fear of monsters is his brothers’ fault. They’ve threatened to feed him to the beastly creatures on more than one occasion. Imagine his surprise when he goes to work for monsters!

 

If you could spend an afternoon with any of your secondary characters, who would it be and why?

This is a tough question, but if I can choose only one secondary character from Atticus book, I choose his younger sister Abigail. She’s smart, interesting, and has such a positive outlook. Plus, she’s also always with her little sister, Evie, who attacks situations in fun and imaginative ways.

What is your best advice for aspiring writers?

Read a lot and read wide. You’ll learn about flow, character development, plot, etc. 

A huge thanks to the ladies at Pen Dames for having me here today!

We’re so happy to have you, Cherie!


1.     Book Blurb for Atticus

Nothing frightens Atticus Everheart more than monsters, thanks to his older brothers, who often threaten to feed him to the beastly creatures.

Fearing that’s what they will do if he doesn’t replace the book he accidentally ruined, he takes a job tutoring a boy in his neighborhood.

Although nervous about the job, Atticus soon discovers there’s a lot more in store for him than teaching. Never in a trillion years would he have imagined he’d be hiding from monsters, working with ghosts, or searching for werewolves and witches. He’s not brave, and he has no plans to change.

Until he’s forced to.


S   Short Excerpt:

“Great day, isn’t it?” said Atticus as he trailed behind Frank.

“If you enjoy excessive sunshine,” grumbled the butler.

“Doesn’t everyone? You haven’t had enough caffeine yet, have you?” Frank shuffled down the hall, so Atticus rattled on. “My mom can’t handle conversation before her first cup. Dad usually needs two. Three if he has a busy day ahead of him.”

Frank stopped, turned, and glowered at Atticus.

“It’s a three-cup morning for you, isn’t it?” said Atticus. “No more chatter from me. No, sir. Starting now.” Atticus mimicked turning a key in front of his mouth.

Frank grunted and lumbered forward.

“This place is amazing.” Atticus stared openmouthed at the iron chandelier above them. “Are those real candles? Oops, sorry!” He relocked his lips with a second imaginary key.

In the absence of conversation, the creak of someone moving around upstairs and the slap of Atticus’ shoes hitting stone tile echoed off the walls. He made more noise than Frank, whose shoes were bigger than his, Abigail’s, and Evie’s combined. In an attempt to be just as quiet as Frank, Atticus trod lightly, making a conscious effort to place each foot down without making a sound.

To keep his mind off his collywobbles, he took in the collection of pictures nailed to the wall along the grand staircase. There were several of Ms. Zaleska and the boy with slick black hair. Mixed in with the color photographs were black-and-white pictures of Frank with a man in a lab coat and faded photos of a woman with kind eyes like Ms. Zaleska’s. Atticus stared at the photos, which seemed to stare back.

“No way,” he muttered, so distracted that he walked right into the suit of armor. The armor’s arm shifted, sending the long medieval poleaxe sailing straight for Atticus’s head.

Atticus screamed and ducked. When the sharp blade didn’t scalp him, he glanced up. Frank’s chubby fingers gripped the handle of the ax.

1.      Website /blog and social media links-

Website - https://cheriecolyer.com/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/cherie_colyer/ 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21748654.C_L_Colyer

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/C-L-Colyer/e/B09C6JPT3X/

Bookbub author page: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/cherie-colyer

1.     Buy links for Atticus Everheart:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Atticus-Everheart-Fifth-Monster-Hunter/dp/1509246118/

Barnes & Noble:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/atticus-everheart-fifth-grade-tutor-and-monster-hunter-c-l-colyer/1142093808

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/atticus-everheart-fifth-grade-tutor-and-monster-hunter/id6443330146

Universal link: https://books2read.com/u/bzVLPE

Indie Bound: https://www.indiebound.org/search/book?keys=atticus+everheart+fifth+grade+tutor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62309386-atticus-everheart-fifth-grade-tutor-and-monster-hunter

Bookbub:  https://www.bookbub.com/books/atticus-everheart-fifth-grade-tutor-and-monster-hunter-by-c-l-colyer

 

  

 



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