Author Spotlight
Author, Diane Major in the spotlight!!

Hello. Thank you for visiting my blog today. I’m Rebecca Scarberry (@Scarberryfields on Twitter), and author of Messages from Henry, Rag Doll, Jumper, Jumper Bounces Back, and Where Love Takes You. I’m thrilled to spotlight Diane Major (@DianeMajor1 on Twitter). I love her books and could hardly wait to get her answers to my questions. She has just released a sequel to Like Hell Itself,  and it's fabulous!

 

Rebecca: Would you please tell us where you live and a little about it?

Diane: Hi Becky, and thank you for this spotlight. I live in the North East of England and am fortunately surrounded by my family. The North East was a coal mining area which has declined since the pit closures and now the recession, but life goes on!

Rebecca: Who or what inspires you to write fiction?

Diane: I’ve always wanted to write, but life got in the way. What with, marriage, then children, and a busy career, it was impossible to fit it in. As a child I wrote a fantasy adventure book which has long since gone. However, my mum can still remember it.

Rebecca: Would you please tell us what books you’ve published, what genres they are, and what your favorite genre to write is?

Diane: I have published books for adults, young adults, and children. The genres include fantasy adventure, a dystopian novel, science fiction, as well as ghost stories. The books are:

Children of Fury - adult – paranormal romance/fantasy

I Am Nine – adult/young adult –dystopian/fantasy

Enmitus and Enmitus The Children – adult – science fiction/fantasy

Flint and Amorphous – adult/young adult – science fiction/fantasy

A Very Complicated Molecule – adult/young adult – science fiction/paranormal/fantasy

The Mason and Bess Series (3 books) – children – fantasy adventure

Like Hell Itself (2 books)

 

 

 

 

 

 

As for my favourite genre, all of my books have an element of fantasy adventure. Therefore, I enjoyed writing all of them. I did, however, find the children’s books a welcome change to the much longer more mature novels.

Rebecca: Can you please tell us who some of your favorite self-published authors are?

Diane: Ha! Well, I love your books, especially Rag Doll. John Dolan is very talented, and if you’re looking for fantasy, then there is Ruth Watson-Morris. There are so many really good indie authors about that I couldn’t possibly name them all!

Rebecca: Do you have a favorite time or place you write most of your books?

Diane: Now that’s an easy one. I write whenever I get the chance. I sit at the kitchen table as it gives me the best access to lots of coffee. I sit there with my daughter’s cocker spaniel at my feet when I’m dog sitting.

Rebecca: If and when you get writer’s block, what do you do to get past it?

Diane: Well, a couple of glasses of wine or some vodka or diet coke usually work. ◕‿◕

Rebecca: If you could ask one question of any author that’s dead or alive, what author would you ask, and what would you ask?

Diane: Which author? My answer is . . . I have no idea. Lol. Hmm. The question I’d like to ask all current authors would be about motivation. Yes, I have written and published several books, but sometimes I wonder if all the time involved in publication is worth the effort. And is all the time marketing worth the effort? Then I tend to think, but this is what I want to do. So, how do all of you other indie authors remain motivated in this world of publishing?

Rebecca: Do you aspire to become traditionally published?

Diane: Yes, deep down I suppose I do. However, it isn’t of any great importance. It’s just a bit of a dream.

Rebecca: You have a wild imagination and this is one reason I love reading your books. Have you had this great imagination of yours since you were a child?

Diane: Absolutely! As I said previously I actually wrote a book. It was also usually me who organised the other kids when it came to games and the like. ◕‿◕

Rebecca: Do you have any advice you’d like to give aspiring fiction writers?

Diane: I think you have to be brave. If it’s what you want to do, go for it. It’s unlikely you’ll sell many books, make any money, become famous, or see your book turned into a TV/film, but if you enjoy writing do it for yourself. You might face criticism. Take it. Not everyone likes all genres or even individual stories. Some readers pick up on what might be perceived as small errors and make a lot of them. That’s their prerogative. Learn from it or if you feel it’s unfair, ignore it. You might not have much cash for editors, proof readers, and covers. If this is the case, use your contacts. I have to say there are people out there who will help. You just have to find them. If you feel, as an individual, that you have no more stories to tell; then you can always put down your pen. There are many authors out there and you’re up against traditionally published authors, people in the know, famous people, etc, etc. You have to be realistic about your expectations. 

Rebecca: Thank you so much for answering my questions, Diane. Such a pleasure to know you and have you on my blog. Marketing is very stressful, but we can't stop now. Our fans are waiting for us to publish another book. Ha! Ha!

Diane’s Links:

Amazon author page: http://smarturl.it/tpvonm

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/232241813520751/

goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard 

 

 

 

NEW RELEASE

Thank you for visiting my blog today. Today I've released the 2nd book in my Jumper series of children's picture books. The book is in ebook format and paperback. It's called JUMPER BOUNCES BACK. It was written to be read to age four through seven. Age eight and up seem to be able to read the book without any problems. Children and adults alike think it's an action packed, humorous story about a red beach ball that escaped from a toy store enclosure. Jumper is the red beach ball and he's telling the story. Many parents are telling me that their children would love for Jumper to be made into a television program. I'll be pursuing this after I publish book three in the series.

You can buy this book just about everywhere. The Amazon links are: http://tinyurl.com/pjylxzo http://tinyurl.com/nluhk3q

UPDATE:

Hello. Thank you for visiting my blog today. I’m Rebecca Scarberry, @Scarberryfields on Twitter and the author of: Messages from Henry, Rag Doll, Jumper, and Where Love Takes You.

Letting all of you know that on August 9, 2013 I self-published my first full-length novel. This is the only book I published with a co-author. He’s British author, Francis Potts. It’s called: WHERE LOVE TAKES YOU and it’s a sequel to MESSAGES FROM HENRY. The original title was THE PRINCE OF PIGEONS. We decided to change the title because many people don’t like pigeons and the book wasn’t getting the same attention as book one. MESSAGES FROM HENRY has over 90 rave reviews (posted on several sites). The sequel is a stand-alone novel and more about love than it is pigeons. Yes, Henry, the hero pigeon is in the book. There’s a very strange phenomenon that actually did take place in England this year and it’s an exciting part of the book.

Links to my books: Messages from Henry: http://smarturl.it/58as19

Rag Doll: http://smarturl.it/9qb5qq  

Jumper: http://smarturl.it/ij1p4x

Where Love Takes You: http://smarturl.it/jjmlsa

Two five star reviews:

Awarded 5 stars:

By SUSAN H. MCINTYRE

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I did not expect to enjoy a book that revolved around homing pigeons! The pigeons were a wonderful way to bring the characters together, yet the pigeons themselves were the main characters. I actually found myself caring about the pigeons as much as the people. There is an event where something happens to one of the pigeons. My adrenalin shot up as they searched for him. Yes, this is how much the story drew me in! The people were real to me as they progressed in the story. The pigeons draw adults together, but also children in the story. This is a fun read that warms the heart as the story progresses. I thoroughly recommend it!

5.0 out of 5 stars Uplifting romantic story October 21, 2013

By ChristophFischerBooks TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Kindle Edition

"The Prince of Pigeons" by Rebecca Scarberry and Francis Potts is a sweet and heartwarming romance that follows "Messages from Henry". Henry is a homing pigeon who was a big hero in said previous book.
In this book Henry brings together his two elderly carers and two men from England but the story is much more involved than that. Henry also takes part in a race and gets lost, a development company is after the ladies farm in Oregon and the romance is filled with people of various generations.
The feel of this book is warm and pleasant, romance is not confined to the young only and once again, Henry is the bringer of happiness and helps to bridge the gap between people who should be together.
It is particularly refreshing to read a book about something as simple as homing pigeon in a world that moves away from nature and towards new technologies and modern advances. Not that I am condemning progress, but there is something comforting and reassuring about "The Prince of Pigeons" that for me brings a little nostalgia and hope.
It can't be a coincidence that the pigeon on the cover is white, the symbol for peace, love and hope.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Hello, thank you all for visiting my blog today. I'm Rebecca Scarberry (@Scarberryfields on Twitter). I'm also the self-published author of Messages from Henry, Rag Doll, Jumper, and The Prince of Pigeons. I have interviewed a very interesting author, Vincezno Bilof (@VincenzoAuthor on Twitter). It's been such a pleasure getting to know him better. I'm certain you'll feel the same. Enjoy!

Scarberryfields: When did you first start writing fiction?

Vincenzo Bilof: I started writing fiction in elementary school. I think that’s where it starts for most people, realistically, but it was something I was encouraged to do. My first poem was published in 2003, and I began selling short stories to SNM Magazine in 2011. In 2012, I released Nightmare of the Dead with Severed Press.

Scarberryfields: When you finish writing and editing a book, do you miss the characters?

Vincenzo Bilof: I don’t miss them, but if a character died, I still feel my heart race when I read their death scene, no matter how many times I’ve read the passage. Character deaths are typically unexpected, even for me, because I allow the characters to dictate the story. I always wonder if there was a way to save them.

Scarberryfields: Have you ever collaborated on any of your books? If so, what was it like?

Vincenzo Bilof: I’m hoping to start collaborating with William Cook on a project in the near future. I feel like my novel Queen of the Dead was a collaboration between myself and readers; I listened to what they had to say about the first book, Necropolis Now. I take critical feedback into consideration, because that series is designed to entertain and tell a story people will enjoy. The Zombie Ascension series is for readers who enjoy zombie literature, and because it’s for them, it was important to hear what they had to say.

Scarberryfields: Do you read ebooks and write reviews for the ones you enjoyed?

Vincenzo Bilof: I can read anything. I don’t always get to leave reviews, especially when it comes to a more popular author; I feel like those authors don’t need my help to sell books. When I do reviews, I take into account that other readers may find something enjoyable about the story, even if it wasn’t necessarily for me. I think a critical review explains why the book would appeal to a certain audience; reviews are not supposed to be love letters to authors, nor should they be designed to insult an author. Nobody benefits from reviews that are insulting.

Scarberryfields: Does writing benefit you in any way and if so, how?

Vincenzo Bilof: Indeed! I write because I can, and because it’s fun! There really isn’t anything I’d rather do in my free time, besides play with my two daughters. Writing is an exploratory exercise, a way to challenge yourself to see what your mind can create. I’m often surprised at the glimmers of intelligence that dare to show themselves when I write something down.

Scarberryfields: Are any of your books traditionally published? If so, which one?

Vincenzo Bilof: I haven’t self-published any work, but I think the idea of a “traditionally” published work is different than what it meant in the past. With the emergence of so many small presses, these publishers offer a service at the cost of an author’s willingness to represent the brand. Professional editing, cover design, and formatting aren’t cheap. Most authors are used to marketing themselves, so I believe there are benefits to working with a brand, and there are benefits to working on your own. When I think of a traditional publisher, I think of one of the bigger companies, like Random House.

I’ve worked with Severed Press and Bizarro Pulp Press, and I’m currently working with Dynatox Ministries.

Scarberryfields: Do you write full-time or do you have another job too?

Vincenzo Bilof: Writing is a fun activity, but I have no desire to accumulate vast amounts of wealth and live in a glorious mansion. I have the greatest job in the world right now; writing and money can’t possibly fill the void that would be left in my life if I wasn’t an educator.

Scarberryfields: What is the last book called that you completed and published?

Vincenzo Bilof: Queen of the Dead, the sequel to Necropolis Now, was released in August, 2013. In the same month, I released a novel that is written as a series of poems called, The Horror Show, and July saw the releases of Gravity Comics Massacre, which is a bizarro title. I mention all three because it was sort of a busy summer…

Scarberryfields: Where can readers go to find your books?  

Vincenzo Bilof: I’m on Amazon! Amazon can be a bit confusing, however, since I’ve also been published in several anthologies. My blog features all the links that take you directly to specific novels.

Links:

Blog: http://vincenzobilof.blogspot.com/

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Vincenzo-Bilof/e/B005Z62FMU

Twitter: http://twitter.com/VincenzoAuthor

Bio:

From Detroit, Michigan, Vincenzo Bilof is the recipient of SNM Horror Magazine's Literary Achievement award in 2011. A member of the Horror Writers Association, Vincenzo is the author of The Zombie Ascension series and “Nightmare of the Dead”. His latest book happens to include aliens; “Gravity Comics Massacre”, available from Bizarro Pulp Press. A novel written as a collection of poems, “The Horror Show” is another one of his nonsensical works.

When he's not chasing his kids around the house or watching bad horror films, he reads and reviews horror fiction, though his tastes are more literary. He likes to think Ezra Pound, T.S. Eliot, and Charles Baudelaire would be proud of his work. It’s possible the ghosts of Roberto Bolano and Syd Barrett are playing chess at his dining table. Forthcoming projects include “Japanese Werewolf Apocalypse”, and “Vampire Strippers from Saturn”. When he’s not writing awful biographies in third person, he works as an editor for Bizarro Pulp Press. You can check out his blog here: http://vincenzobilof.blogspot.com/ Gonzo is his favorite Muppet. 

Author Interview

Hello. Thank you for visiting my blog today. I’m Rebecca Scarberry, @Scarberryfields on Twitter, and self-published author of Messages from Henry, Rag Doll, Jumper, and The Prince of Pigeons. I have interviewed a very good poet, G.P.A. aka The Greatest Poet Alive (@gr8estpoetalive on Twitter). I’ve enjoyed learning more about him and certain you will too.

Scarberryfields: Can you tell us a little about your nationality and where you live?

G.P.A. I’m from Chicago, specifically the Southside. I have lived here all of my life.

Scarberryfields: Have you ever been interviewed over the radio?

G.P.A  Yes. From am to fm, blogtalk radio to talkshoe and beyond are the various stations that I have been interviewed on. And I must say that I am electrifying.

Scarberryfields: Do you have a part-time or full-time job?

G.P.A.  If so, what is it? Poetry, both writing and performing, is my full and part time job, plus my love.

Scarberryfields: What are some of your hobbies?

G.P.A.  I love to play video games, walk with Scooter the Beagle, workout, read, and cook.

Scarberryfields: Does writing and/or recording benefit you in any way and if so, how?

G.P.A.  Writing Poetry is not only therapeutic, but it also fulfilling. It is always a blessing to find something that gives you purpose.

Scarberryfields: When you’re writing or recording, do you shut-off all social networks?

G.P.A.  Actually, I have everything on, especially Youtube Playlists. But when it gets down to finishing a book, I do my best to focus on the task, but I need music.

Scarberryfields: What have you found to be the best marketing tool for your works?

G.P.A.  I am a gorilla marketer. The only bad marketing is the one you have to pay a lot of money for. Online is awesome. There are so many opportunities to gain exposure that cost nothing.

Scarberryfields: Do you feel social networking, as a marketing tool, is beneficial?

G.P.A.  Social networking helps tremendously. I can reach people and touch places that I wouldn’t be able to do otherwise. And the use of search engines to improve your brand is phenomenal.

Scarberryfields: What is the last work you completed?

G.P.A.  Revenge of the Orgasm is my latest work, and when I say that it is scintillating, I might be understating that fact. Really outdid myself with this poetic masterpiece.

Scarberryfields: Where can people go to listen or read your works?

G.P.A.  Website: www.iblowyourmind.net, YouTube: hchise22, Reverbnation: greatestpoetalive, and Facebook: G.P.A.(Greatest Poet Alive)

Snippet from my sequel for Messages from Henry.

Hello. Thank you for visiting my blog today. I’m author, Rebecca Scarberry (@Scarberryfields on Twitter). Have now published 3 ebooks, Messages from Henry, Rag Doll, and Jumper. The following snippet is from the sequel to Messages from Henry, the novella so many love. I took on a co-author for the sequel, Francis Potts (@FPotts on Twitter) because I sent 4 main characters to England. I’ve never been there. Please take a few minutes out of your busy schedules to read more about Henry, the hero pigeon. Francis and I hope to publish this romance story very soon. The cover will be revealed when published.

                                                  THE PRINCE OF PIGEONS

Chapter 1. Henry goes to school.

“Tammy, I received the most wonderful letter in the mail!” Evelyn shouted over the phone to her long-time friend and neighbor.

“Who’s the letter from?”

“It’s from the president of the Parent Teachers Association. She says the children attending Pickford Elementary school were learning about carrier pigeons when word of Henry saving my life, hit the local news. She says they have an award for Henry and want me to bring him to an awards ceremony.”

“That’s so lovely, Evelyn. When is it?”

“Hang on. I’ll look at the letter. October 2nd. It’s a Saturday. Will you be able to come too? After all, without you to read the messages, I’d be dead.”

The thought made Tammy shiver. “Of course, I’d love to come with you. I’m trying to picture what they could have possibly made for him.”

“I don’t care what they made. Henry is going to love their attention.”

Tammy showed up at Evelyn’s beautiful, large farmhouse an hour before they had to have Henry at the school auditorium. She was dressed in a casual pastel orange dress that complimented her red curly hair and azure eyes. Her high heels matched her dress perfectly.

As soon as Evelyn opened the front door, she looked at Tammy’s shoes and said, “Well, I guess I’ll be going out to give Henry a quick grooming by myself. You certainly can’t walk through the mud in those heels.”

“I could just slap you, Evelyn,” Tammy teased. “I was expecting a compliment and Henry all ready to go.”

Evelyn laughed and then said, “No, he’s not ready yet. I’ve been fussing with my out-of-control hair for half an hour. My hair is the same color as yours, but it certainly isn’t as controllable.”

“Your hair looks beautiful and you look so pretty in that light green dress. Have to tell you though; you’re going to have to lose the house slippers.”

Evelyn laughed as she removed the slippers, and replaced them with black rubber boots.

“Oh, those look much better,” Tammy joked.

Evelyn looked back at Tammy and rolled her eyes, as she headed for the backdoor. Once she arrived with Henry, in a nice clean cat carrier, she placed him on the kitchen floor.

Tammy looked at Henry, staring up at her. “Hello, Henry. Why you look beautiful. Your pure white feathers glisten, and your yellow eyes look brilliant, as usual.”

“I wiped him down a little bit, but I agree he looks beautiful. Like his girlfriend, Cecilia, he likes to keep his feathers in pristine condition. Let me put my heels on and we’re ready to go.”

The traffic held Evelyn and Tammy up. There had been an accident on the freeway earlier, and traffic hadn’t normalized.

Once the two entered the crowded auditorium, many of the children in the back rows turned to see who had entered. They immediately rose from their seats and began to clap. Once the others within earshot heard them clapping, they stood to see what it was about. Before Evelyn and Tammy took another step, the auditorium was filled with the sound of hundreds of people applauding. Evelyn looked down at Henry and found him bobbing his head. It was as though he was thanking them. She smiled big and raised the carrier above her head, for all to see.

A chubby, gray-haired woman in her fifties came up behind them and patted Evelyn on the back. “Come this way, Mrs. Bury. We have a seat for you on stage.”

Evelyn set the carrier on the floor next to her wooden chair, on stage. Once Evelyn sat down, proceedings began.

A tall, thin woman in her thirties stood at a podium and began, “Good afternoon. I’m Sharon Batista. Thank you all for coming this evening to honor Henry. Evelyn, we all want to thank you for bringing your hero to meet all of us tonight. We read in all the newspapers and saw your story on the local television news. We were all rooting Henry on, and praying you would be saved from death by the hands of your kidnapper. With each message Henry delivered to your dear friend, Tammy Wade, we were hoping that would be the one message to lead the authorities to you. I also want to add, we are so sorry for the loss of your son, Scott. We know he was trying very hard to pay the ransom and save your life. I don’t want to put you on the spot, but I’m wondering if you’d like to say a few words”.

Evelyn rose from her chair, Sharon stepped away from the podium, and Evelyn adjusted the microphone. “Thank you, Sharon for your kind words. Tammy and I have been looking forward to this night for weeks. I’m thankful my dearly beloved husband trained Henry so well. Had it not been for Henry’s special abilities, and my loving friend Tammy, I never would have been found. Thank you all for coming to meet him.” As she walked back to her seat, the crowd applauded. Sharon returned to the podium, “Thank you, Evelyn. I would like to introduce you to one of Henry’s dearest fans, six-year-old Martin Quinten. He has the award, he made himself, and one-hundred and fifty students agreed was the perfect award for your special bird.” 

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Thank you for visiting my blog today. I’m Rebecca Scarberry (@Scarberryfields on Twitter) and Indie author of Messages from Henry and Rag Doll. I have interviewed another multi-published author, Rick Nichols (@RickNichols3 on Twitter). I’ve enjoyed learning more about him and I think you will also.

Scarberryfields: Can you tell us a little about your nationality?

Rick Nichols: I’m mostly Scotch-Irish with a little English thrown in.

Scarberryfields: When you finish a novel, do you miss the characters?

Rick Nichols: I do, especially those in my Logan series. It’s strange, but they seem very real to me, which is why I love writing them so much, I suppose.

Scarberryfields: While writing, if you need help with punctuation, grammar, etcetera, where do you turn?

Rick Nichols: Well, there is always the function on Word but we all know it’s not always right, so I have my Strunk & White The Elements of Style to help me out.

Scarberryfields: With the number of hours spent writing, do family members support you or complain about the time spent away from them?

Rick Nichols: My family is the best! My kids are grown now, but they used to understand when I was writing and supported me, and my wife has always managed to put up with my writing bug. Since I have a “real” job outside of writing, the demands of writing, especially when things are going well, can keep me pretty busy, but my wife is a craft person so she will usually grab her yarn or quilting hoop and let me do my thing.

Scarberryfields: Does writing benefit you in any way and if so, how?

Rick Nichols: I’ve always said that writing is much cheaper than therapy; in actuality, writing relaxes me and I forget about the stresses of my other job when I’m involved in creating stories. I get a great deal of satisfaction seeing an idea of mine come to life on paper.

Scarberryfields: When you’re writing, do you shut-off all social networks?

Rick Nichols: Absolutely! I prefer nice and quiet when I write with no distractions and social networks are a big one for me. If I do listen to music when I write, it has to be soft like classical or smooth jazz.

Scarberryfields: Did you use any family members as Beta readers for your debut novel?

Rick Nichols: My daughter read the first draft of Survivor’s Affair and gave me some good advice and insight on the story. Other than that, no. I find that family and friends are usually more kind than they should be. I used fellow writers from a writer’s group that I attended for those first few reads.

Scarberryfields: Do you feel social networking as a marketing tool, is beneficial?

Rick Nichols: It can be I suppose if you know how to harness it. Unfortunately for me, I’ve never been a great salesman and promoting my own stuff is still hard for me. I hate having to go on Facebook to my friends and say “Hey, my new book is out, buy it!” But that is part of the business these days and I’m trying hard to find a balance between promotion and being a pain to everyone. I admire those who do it well.

Scarberryfields: What is the last book called that you completed and published?

Rick Nichols: It’s called Into the Magic Night. It’s the fourth book in the John Logan series and has just been released by Seven Realms Publishing.

Scarberryfields: What are all of the books you’ve published called and where can readers find them?

Rick Nichols: I have four books in the John Logan series: Survivor’s Affair, The Affairs of Men, The Sheltering Tree, and the latest, Into the Magic Night.  In addition to those, I have two Ebooks out, part of a fantasy series that I’m doing called the Eastlander Chronicles. Part I is called Wintertome and Part II is called Winterwall. Part III, The Hounds of Winter, is being worked on as we speak.

You can always check out my website at www.ricknicholsonline.com

Here is a link to INTO THE MAGIC NIGHT on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Night-Logan-Thriller-ebook/dp/B00DIDAFYC/ref=tmm_kin_title_0

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Thank you for visiting my blog today. I’m Rebecca Scarberry (@Scarberryfields on Twitter) and Indie author of Messages from Henry and Rag Doll. I have interviewed another multi-published Indie author, Lee Gliddon (@Neon2k12 on Twitter). I’ve gotten to know this author fairly well over the last month. I often beta read for him and I enjoy it. Please read further and get to know him a little better as well.

Scarberryfields: Can you tell us a little about your nationality?

Lee Gliddon: Yes I am 100% pure welsh. Although there might be some Irish in my blood going back a few generations.

Scarberryfields: When you finish writing and editing a book, do you miss the characters?

Lee Gliddon: Sometimes the stories I tell are so emotionally draining, that it's better to leave the characters and move on.

Scarberryfields: While writing, if you need help with punctuation, grammar, etcetera, where do you turn?

Lee Gliddon: Jason Sinner from eprintedbooks.com is the guy to go to for all of that.

Scarberryfields: Has there ever been a time where you have lost your writing spark?

Lee Gliddon: Yes, for quite a while I lost the will to write. I never felt I was good enough and with no one being interested in my work, that creative spark just seemed to vanish. Until of course it was ignited again by one single moment. I was watching the singing talent competition "The Voice UK" when a guy by the name of Karl Michael came on the stage and started singing. His voice and performance moved me and inspired me so much, I felt I had to help him in any way I could. By coming up with a twitter hashtag and designing a few pictures to support him, my creative spark was back and I was ready to write again. Remember his name he deserves it all. Unbelievable talent and gent.

Scarberryfields: Do you read ebooks and write reviews for the ones you enjoyed?

Lee Gliddon: Yes I believe a review is everything to an author. It provides essential feedback for the author, which can be rewarding or disheartening. I believe it’s common courtesy to write reviews for the books you enjoyed.

Scarberryfields: Does writing benefit you in any way and if so, how?

Lee Gliddon: I love writing, whether it's poetry or a story. Regardless of the genre, I love to move people, as I love to be moved.  A story that is not shared is a story that does not live.

Scarberryfields: When you’re writing, do you shut-off all social networks?

Lee Gliddon: If a story is flowing out of me, I don’t have a spare second to even look at a social networking site. But if the story isn't writing itself, then I can't resist tweeting.

Scarberryfields: Did you use any family members as beta readers for any of your works?

Lee Gliddon: No, but looking back, I wish I had. At the time I was too shy and personal about my writing. I guess I had the fear of being judged.

Scarberryfields: Do you feel social networking is a beneficial marketing tool?

Lee Gliddon: Yes. I think social networking is a fantastic way of marketing your work. I use twitter as my number one social networking source. I also have my bio and books on The Writers Room: http://www.thewritersroom.co.uk/page/lee-gliddon-writing-to-heal

Scarberryfields: What is the last book called that you completed and published?

Lee Gliddon: Writing To Heal. It’s a fictional short story.

Scarberryfields: Where can readers go to find your books?  

Lee Gliddon: My ebooks are available on both amazon sites.  I also have Poems and Writing to Heal on goodreads.

Scarberryfields: Thank you for answering my questions, Lee. I wish you the best and look forward to your next collection of poems. 

AUTHOR INTERVIEW:

Thank you for visiting my blog today. I’m Rebecca Scarberry (@Scarberryfields on Twitter) and Indie author of Messages from Henry and Rag Doll. I have interviewed another multi-published author, Jeff Jones (@JeffJ_64 on Twitter). I hope you enjoy getting to know him as much as I have.

Scarberryfields: Can you please tell us a little about your nationality, and where you’re now living?       

Jeff:  I’m English although there’s a little bit of Welsh hiding in there somewhere from my dad’s side of the family, hence the surname Jones. I was born in Hampshire on the south coast of England, but after a trail of new jobs and redundancies, I ended up in East Anglia where it rains and snows a ridiculous amount.

    Scarberryfields: What types of books do you publish?

Jeff: My first two books are adult fantasy books as is the one I’m writing at the moment. However, this week I have been fortunate enough to also have an anthology of my short ghost and horror stories published. Many of my short stories have also been published in various anthologies, both here and in the US.

Scarberryfields: Do you feel you spend more time writing your books, editing them, or promoting them?

Jeff: That’s a good question and at the moment, I feel like I’m spending every waking moment trying to promote my new book to the detriment of everything else. However, if you’re an indie writer and want success you’ve got to put in the effort. Generally, though I’d say that I spend most of my time doing the editing. I’m a great believer in just getting the thing written and then worrying about plot kinks, pace and continuity. I think I ended up re-writing my first book or at least parts of it, seven or eight times until I was finally satisfied. In an ideal world, I’d spend most of my time writing, but the days of big publishers doing all the promotional work for you are long gone, except for the lucky few. On the plus side though, being responsible for the promotional side of things has meant that I’ve had to learn several new skills, which can’t be a bad thing. It’s been a hard but interesting learning curve.

    Scarberryfields: Do you write full-time or do you have a day job?

Jeff: Neither unfortunately. I’m currently unable to work because of a serious back condition which prevents me from doing much of anything at all and that includes sitting at a desk all day. Like most other writers, I guess, I dream of becoming a full time writer, but that’s all it is at the moment – a dream. In the meantime, I sit and write for 20 minutes at a time whilst doing what I can to contribute around the house. It’s very frustrating but hey, you’ve got to work with what you’re given.

Scarberryfields: Do you feel authors, writing erotica are discriminated against in any way?

Jeff: I’m sure there are people out there who think that authors of erotica are some sort of deviants, but I’m not one of them thank goodness. Some people have pre-conceived ideas about all sorts of things. I’ve certainly come across people who have looked down on me because I write fantasy, presumably because they don’t consider it a real genre or think that the people who write it are people who have never grown up. I admire people who are liberated enough to write erotica – I certainly couldn’t do it.

Scarberryfields: Do you read books by those you follow on Twitter? If so, do you write reviews for those books you enjoyed?

Jeff: I’ve got to be honest and say I’m terrible at this. Firstly, I don’t seem to get much time to read anyway, but I rarely leave a review when I do finish a book, which I know is criminal. However, since I’ve become a published author I’ve tried to change all that. I still read fiction by established authors but I’m also trying to read more work by indie authors, because we all know that there are some very good ones out there. I’ve got a presence on Shelfari and Amazon and will be making more of an effort over the coming months to leave reviews on all of the books, which I read. After all reviews is the lifeblood of an indie writer.

Scarberryfields: If refunds are requested for any of your books, do you remove the book(s) from publication?

Jeff: It hasn’t happened yet and I hope that it doesn’t, but I can’t see me doing that anyway. Everybody has different tastes and not all books are to our liking. I know that I’ve bought several books, which have really disappointed me, though I can only think of a couple that I didn’t bother finishing, but I never asked for a refund. Put it down, move on and read another author.

    Scarberryfields: Do family members read your books?

Jeff: None of my direct family has read any of my books. My wife doesn’t read much, my daughter isn’t into fantasy and my son says that he’s waiting for them to be made into films (I wish). However, my sister and her husband are prolific readers and have given me honest and sometimes brutal feedback. They’re my biggest fans as well as my biggest critics.

Scarberryfields: When you’re writing or editing, do you shut-off all social networks?

Jeff:  I’m not a prolific user of social networks and probably don’t use them anywhere near as much as I should, mainly because I resent the time I lose updating and checking them during the day. Still though I can’t seem to bring myself to turn them off when I’m writing which probably means I’m more hooked on them than I care to admit.

Scarberryfields: What are the books you’ve published, and where can readers find them?

Jeff:  To date I’ve written 2 novels and am furiously working on the third. I’ve also, as I mentioned earlier, just had an anthology of some of my prize winning short ghost stories published. My first 2 books, Destiny of the sword and Redemption of the sword, are part of the Chronicles of Arkadia series and can be classed as heroic fantasy.

All 3 are available from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk as well as a number of online retailers.

    Please feel free to visit my website/blog at www.jeffajones.blogspot.co.uk

http://www.amazon.com/Tales-Terror-Dark-Night-ebook/dp/B00D48YXDK/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370441664&sr=1-1&keywords=tales+of+terror+for+a+dark+night

http://www.amazon.com/Destiny-Sword-Chronicles-Arkadia-ebook/dp/B008BKEX1S/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370441712&sr=1-9&keywords=destiny+of+the+sword

http://www.amazon.com/Redemption-Sword-Chronicles-Arkadia-Book/dp/1909224227/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370441755&sr=1-8&keywords=redemption+of+the+sword

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tales-Terror-Dark-Night-ebook/dp/B00D48YXDK/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370441812&sr=1-1&keywords=tales+of+terror+for+a+dark+night

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Destiny-Sword-Chronicles-Arkadia-Jones/dp/1909224006/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370441849&sr=1-1&keywords=destiny+of+the+sword

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Redemption-Sword-Chronicles-Arkadia-Book/dp/1909224227/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370441885&sr=1-1&keywords=redemption+of+the+sword

Scarberryfields: Thank you so much for answering my questions, Jeff. I wish you the best!

Hello. Thank you for visiting my blog today. I'm Rebecca Scarberry, @Scarberryfields on Twitter, and author of Messages from Henry and Rag Doll. I have interviewed a young, very talented author. I've enjoyed learning more about Farid-ul-Haq (@tempest071990 on Twitter) and certain you will also.

Scarberryfields: Can you tell us a little about your nationality?

Farid-ul-Haq: Well I am from Pakistan. My grandparents migrated from India and my maternal grandparents migrated from the beautiful valley of Kashmir when Pakistan got its Independence way back in August of 1947. So, I am half-Kashmiri and half-Indian which I think is very cool!!

Scarberryfields: When you finish a novel, do you miss the characters?

Farid-ul-Haq: When it comes to writing a story, which I know won’t be getting a sequel, then, yes, I do feel kind of sad. Writing a character is a relationship that’s quite intimate. You create a character, allow it to grow and give it a proper ending. It’s more or less a bittersweet experience because you know you have helped the character accomplish what he or she wants and now it’s time to say good-bye.

However, when I’m writing a sequel, then the characters keep swimming in my head until I am able to give them a proper ending. These characters are like my friends (I think using the word children would be weird) who stay with me until the end of their journey. But whatever the case, the sense of parting is always there and I think that every author remembers the characters they have created even if they appear for a moment in their works.

Scarberryfields: While writing, if you need help with punctuation, grammar, etc., where do you turn?

Farid-ul-Haq: I mostly do all of that on my own. However, I sometimes turn to my sister, who’s a year older than me, when I have completed writing something and she seems interested in reading it. She has done her Masters in English Literature and that’s why her input is always appreciated if she is willing. If not, then I do the work myself and I have to say that I’ve become quite good at it. Having a good foundation in English (I thank Mom for that) and trying to make university assignments as good as they can be, help a lot when it comes to knowing about the correct grammar, punctuation, etc.

Scarberryfields: With the number of hours spent writing, do family members support you or complain about the time spent away from them?

Farid-ul-Haq: My family members do know that I love to write. However, Mom didn’t approve when I used to write, years ago, and told me that I should be doing homework. I started writing seriously when I was eleven years old and I guess my mother thought that I wouldn’t give enough time to my studies. I guess she was right because when I feel the need to write, I keep writing and don’t even know where the hours go. I just sit down at my table and write until I have the whole story out of my head. This means that I don’t go out and meet relatives or friends. My younger brother doesn’t like it because I don’t sit down and play games on the computer with him. I guess I am good at time management because I was able to complete my honors in Biotechnology and Psychology while writing the stories I wanted. But when it comes to family members, they sometimes complain that I don’t spend as much time with them when I write.

Scarberryfields: Does writing benefit you in any way and if so, how?

Farid-ul-Haq: Yes, it does, a lot. For me, writing is a way for me to free myself from what’s going on around me for a few hours. If allows me to take everything off my mind. When I have a story, it keeps bumping in my head, trying to find a release. Even my body doesn’t feel comfortable. I just want to grab a piece of paper and write everything down. It also helps me look at things through various perspectives, meaning that I can talk about the same thing in a different manner through different characters. I guess that helps in broadening a person’s mind. I am open to sharing chapters of my work if anyone is interested. Writing and sharing my work gives me pleasure and I think that’s why I love to write.

Scarberryfields: When you’re writing, do you shut-off all social networks?

Farid-ul-Haq: I don’t really use such things a lot. I use my twitter account for a few minutes after three or two hours, whether I am writing or not.

Scarberryfields: Did you use any family members as Beta readers for your debut novel?

Farid-ul-Haq: I actually used almost the whole of my grade 10^th class when I finished my first work “Colville: The Beginning”. It got published as a paperback after a few years in my country and then I put it up for free on the internet as an eBook as well. The feedback I got at that time and the things I learned as I grew older helped me mold it into a better piece of work. The only family member who I can consider as my Beta reader is my sister. She’s an avid reader. Her interest lies in classic African-American Literature so her feedback was important because I knew I had to write something good in order to keep her interested.

Scarberryfields: Do you feel social networking as a marketing tool, is beneficial?

Farid-ul-Haq: Yes, it is. Almost everybody has a presence on the internet. People discover new things and get to know about new recommendations through various social networking sites. I think it’s a good idea for authors, or anyone who wants promotion, to use social networking as a marketing tool. It helps you present your work to more people and you actually get to connect with them and know their response. It’s simple, easy and free.

Scarberryfields: What is the last book called that you completed and published?

Farid-ul-Haq: The most recent book that I completed and got published, by Beau-to-Beau Books, is by the name “Somerville Mysteries - The Missing” and it came out this year, on the 21^st of May. It’s the first in the mystery series that I’m writing and I think it’s quite a good book. The story revolves around a teenage boy named Jerry Mathews and his friends who try to solve a case regarding a missing woman. You will also get to see Jerry coming in terms with his sexuality and how the story helps each character grow.

Scarberryfields: Where can readers go to find your books?

   

Farid-ul-Haq: “Somerville Mysteries – The Missing” can be found at these links

Amazon: as an eBook and print form

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=somerville+mysteries+-+the+missing

Barnes & Noble

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/somerville-mysteries-the-missing-farid-ul-haq/1115382253?ean=2940016528694

Rainbow eBooks

http://www.rainbowebooks.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=10932

All Romance eBooks

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-somervillemysteriesthemissing-1214500-176.html

OmniLit eBooks

https://www.omnilit.com/product-somervillemysteriesthemissing-1214500-251.html?oid=3

Apple iBookstores (U.S. Link)

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/somerville-mysteries-missing/id650421817?mt=11

Just change /us/ to any two digits corresponding to the country you are in

Beau-to-Beau Books: My publisher

http://beautobeau.weebly.com/index.html

It will be available in a couple of days in Google Play, Kobo, Coffeetime Romance and Sony Reader Sore.

“Colville: The Beginning”

http://www.obooko.com/obooko_teenya/bookpages/tya0067_free_ebooks_colville1_farid_ul_huq.php

“Colville #2: The Swamp”

http://www.obooko.com/obooko_teenya/bookpages/tya0068_free_ebooks_colville2_farid_ul_huq.php