Friday, October 25, 2019

Interview with Caldric Blackwell

early chapter book, enchanted river race, easy reader book, easy chapter book

Today we are sharing one of our favorite interviews from the past. This is an interview with Caldric Blackwell, a children's book writer. Today we are interviewing him about his easy chapter book, The Enchanted River Race.

Thanks for doing another interview with us. Today we're talking about one of your earlier works called The Enchanted River Race. Tell us a bit about the book.
It's an early chapter book aimed at ages 7 to 11. The book follows three children who compete in their village's enchanted river race. The main characters must work as a team to defeat magical obstacles.

Who do you think would most enjoy this book?
This book is geared toward children, especially those who like action, adventure, and fantasy, who have graduated from picture books yet aren't quite ready to read novels yet. It has chapters and is easy-to-read, yet also has some illustrations to help beginning readers with the text.

What inspired you to write this book? 
I wanted to write a story that stimulates the imagination - a story that lets you escape from reality while reading.

Do you have a favorite character in The Enchanted River Race? 
Probably the ship's captain, Amy. She is intelligent and quick-witted yet unsure of herself. In a sense, she's forced to become a leader and realize what she's capable of.

Can you tell us a bit about your creative process for this book?
The story started with the idea of a race down a magical river where anything can happen. After I established that, I began toying with different outlines for the plot.
 
Do you think your writing style has changed since when you first started?
I think my writing has become more organic.

How do you feel about the increasing popularity of ebooks?
I like ebooks and physical books. I hope both experience an increase in popularity!

What are your goals as an author for the next ten years?
I'd like to experiment with different genres. I'm actually working on a young adult manuscript, which will be coming down the pipeline in the future.
 
Anything you'd like to add?
Thanks for having me! For anyone interested in my books, please check out my website: www.caldricblackwell.com.

Relevant Links




Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Interview with Scott A. Lerner

fraternity of soul eater, samuel roberts thriller, scott a lerner, egyptian thriller, cult thriller, fraternity thriller, fraternity book

Today we are sharing one of our favorite interviews from the past.  This is an interview with Scott A. Lerner about his book, "The Fraternity of the Soul Eater - A Samuel Roberts Thriller - book 3."

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am an attorney and an author. I enjoy movies, good books and snacks. I have been told I am handsome by people who have consumed a great deal of alcohol. I also strive to be kind to pets and plants.

Describe the plot of your new book, “The Fraternity of the Soul Eater,” in a few sentences.
A fraternity on a large Midwestern campus is sacrificing co-eds to an Ancient Egyptian deity. Sam, a small town lawyer, and his friend Bob want to put an end to this evil practice. It turns out the sacrifices are just the start of a far more sinister plan.
 
Who do you think would most appreciate this book?
Anyone going to college for the first time would enjoy this book. It is certainly a must-read for anyone going to the University of Illinois. But any reader who loves a fun, fast-paced paranormal romp will like my book. My friends and relations might also like it. They will at least buy a copy due to social pressure.

For people who haven’t read the first two books, tell us a bit about the protagonist, Samuel Roberts.
Sam is sort of an average guy facing nightmarish situations. He is calm, smart, and willing to do what has to be done. Sam is extraordinarily in that he is willing to put his life on the line to save others, despite having no superpowers. 

Egyptian lore and genetic engineering are featured in the plot of this novel. Have you always been interested in these topics or is this an interest that developed recently?
Yes, I love both topics. What I enjoy even more is the juxtaposition of the ancient with modern scientific techniques. In my day job I sometimes have to cross-examine witnesses as to genetic identification evidence. I do find it fascinating. I am also a little concerned about genetic manipulation in humans going forward into the future. 

How do you think fans of the first two books will respond to this one?
I hope they will enjoy it. It should be a fun read.

Tell us a bit about your creative process, from initial idea to published manuscript.

It is just a matter of finding the time to write. I enjoy doing it when I have the time. Sometimes I have to wait for an idea to come but once I get started it gets easier.

Is there any aspect of writing you don't like?
It is hard to try and market a book.

What do you have in mind for your next project?
"The Wicca Witch of the Midwest" comes out around Halloween. Should be spooky fun.

Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
Yes, it is fast paced and fun and certainly worth a look. People can read my blog at http://scottlerner.camelpress.com/ they can find my books at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Camel Press web site or wherever fine books are sold. You can also like me on facebook https://www.facebook.com/scott.a.lerner.

Enter a giveaway for "The Fraternity of the Soul Eater"
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Relevant Links

Friday, October 11, 2019

Interview with Byron Neary

dedicated servers, web hosting company, server with /29 subnet, domain registration, yougotthaveit

Today we are sharing one of our favorite interviews from the past. This interview is with Byron Neary is the Managing Director of Yougottohaveit Group.

Tell us a bit about YOUGOTTOHAVEIT.
Yougottohaveit was started in 2005 by Byron Neary as a web development company in South Africa. Yougottohaveit expanded to other horizons in 2009 of which hosting was one. As of 2011 we expanded to the United States and Europe and currently have 4 operational data centers in operation.

What kind of dedicated servers does YOUGOTTOHAVEIT offer?
We offer 2 dedicated servers namely Black Core Dedicated and Blue Core Dedicated.

What are the fees per month?
Black Core Dedicated ($170) & Blue Core Dedicated ($280)

Can you tell us a bit about the specifications for each of the dedicated servers?
Black Core Specifications:
Intel Core i7-2600
16 GB DDR3 Memory
2 x 1 TB Hard Drive
1 Dedicated IP

Blue Core Specifications:
Intel Core i7-3770
32 GB DDR3 Memory
2x 2 TB Hard Drives
1 Dedicated IP

Both available with 100Mbit Uplink and 10 TB Bandwidth

How should someone determine whether they should get the black core dedicated or the blue core dedicated?
Black Core is ideal for web applications, email server, webmail, web api services and all general server purposes Windows and Linux based. The blue core is ideal for corporate applications with excess of 100000 Unique Hits per month.

Does YOUGOTTOHAVEIT offer additional IPs with its dedicated servers?
Yougottohaveit offers /29 Subnet for ($29) and /28 ($49) Subnet as well. We are proud to say that all subnets are instantly approved no questions asked.

How many locations are available?
Texas (USA), Cape Town( South Africa), Amsterdam (Netherlands), Dallas (USA), available.

Is support available?
Yes, we offer an always available (24/7) support service via a ticketing system and email.

Why should someone use YOUGOTTOHAVEIT for their dedicated server needs over other companies?
Yougottohaveit offers a quick setup time, excellent support and unbeaten prices, with latest hardware.

Relevant Links

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Interview with Author Brittney Mulliner

teen romance, teen mystery, suspense, live again, brittney mulliner, YA mystery, YA suspense, young adult mystery,
Today we are sharing a classic interview from the past. This interview is with Brittney Mulliner is the author of the YA novel titled "Live Again."
 

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m a major bookworm! My husband has asked me what I love more, him or my kindle and he didn’t believe me when I chose him first. I have my kindle with me at all times. My motivation to wake up and get to the gym before work is knowing that I’ll have thirty minutes to read while I do cardio. I love becoming so involved in a story that I’m falling in love with the characters, crying with them, rooting for their successes and cringing at their embarrassments.

Describe the plot of “Live Again” in a few sentences.
Live Again picks up where Begin Again left off. We finally know Aubrey’s story and now watch her overcome another huge mystery. She grows a lot and becomes her own person. It’s a coming of age book with the angsts of a teenager mixed with drama and suspense.

Who do you think would most appreciate this book?
It’s a YA book involving high school teens, but there is so much more to the story and I think adults enjoy it, too.

Tell us a bit about the protagonist, Aubrey Tate.
Aubrey may seem like she’s a typical spoiled teen, but as you get to know her you watch her overcome things so much bigger than the average girl her age has to face. She’s strong and independent rather than being a damsel in distress.

In the previous book, “Begin Again,” Aubrey was settling into her new life. Now she’s settled in until a note changes everything. Without giving too much away, what can you tell us about this note?

teen romance, teen mystery, suspense, live again, brittney mulliner, YA mystery, YA suspense, young adult mystery,
Author Brittney Mulliner.
This note changes everything in Aubrey’s life from that moment on. Live Again starts just after she gets it, and the drama picks up immediately.

In “Live Again,” does Aubrey experience the same problems with guys as she did in the first book?
She has a few experiences that help her mature. Boys in high school come and go so quickly and she has to deal with heartbreak, but she makes up her mind and follows her heart this time.



Who was your favorite character to write?
I love Gage. He started out as a character that was only supposed to make one appearance in Begin Again, but I couldn’t leave him behind. He was the friend and comedic relief that Aubrey needed.

What inspired you to write this YA series?
I had a dream about a stalker following me and my best friend around our hometown. When I woke up and actually remembered it (which rarely happens) I wrote it down and over the next few days I added more details and it evolved into the story really, really quickly and effortlessly.

 Are there any authors who have influenced your writing style?
The author that inspired me to start writing is CL Stone. I’m so addicted to her two series! Her descriptions of characters and setting are spot on. Her books made me want to contribute to the world of YA.

Tell us about your creative process, from initial idea to published manuscript.
The ideas come very naturally. I actually have the characters talking out scenes in my head like when I’m driving or exercising or grocery shopping, and they usually don’t go away until I write it out. I try to outline and storyboard early on in the process, but characters have a way of taking control and completely changing my plans. I don’t try to keep things going according to my outline because I’ve found it’s harder to force things to go one way than just letting things play out. Writing dialog is easier for me so I usually write out scenes of that then go back to add descriptions and details. My mom is my first reader and has become my sound board for ideas. When I’m stuck I’ll talk to her about the characters and what’s happening and she always tells me to trust my instincts which is usually just what I need.

How do you feel about the increasing popularity of ebooks?

I swore I would never give up paperbacks. I love the smell, the feel, and even the sound of turning a page…but I’m a big, fat traitor. Having all of my books with me all the time on my kindle is possibly the single best thing that has happened to me in the past two years.

What are your goals as a writer for the next ten years?
My goal is to publish three books a year and hopefully be in a position one day to make writing my fulltime job.

Is there any aspect of writing you don't like?

It can be very isolating. Luckily, I have amazing writing groups that I talk to regularly that help me feel connected to other people in the same situation.

What do you have in mind for your next project?

I’m currently writing book three in the series. It will be from Mckayla’s perspective and takes place a few years after Live Again. I’m really excited to tell her story as well as having the readers see what happens with Aubrey.


An excerpt from "Live Again":
“I need you.”

He closed his eyes for a moment, and when they opened he looked down at me. One step towards me was all I needed to throw my arms open and wrap them around him. I was openly crying now and made no moves to cover it up. I was broken, and he knew what to do to fix me.

Slowly his arms wrapped around me, holding me tight. “I need you too, but I can’t stand back and watch you with other guys. I don’t want to give you an ultimatum, but I need to know that you chose me. I don’t want to just be your friend anymore. I want you to be mine, just mine.”
Relevant Links
Visit Brittney Mulliner's site 
Buy "Live Again" on Amazon
Buy "Live Again" on Barnes and Noble