Inside John's Brain: an author interview

Welcome John D. Payne to my blog, author of 

Joined in Silence a story from the steampunk anthology, A Mighty Fortress!

Let's see what's in his brain and what he reveals about his writerly antics. Ready? Here we go!

1) Tell us a little about yourself. 

I'm a full-time dad to four small children, including a newborn who recently won Best in Show at the county fair. My previous job was assistant professor of security studies, for which I taught classes on terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, and homeland security. One of the big surprises of the last few years has been discovering the small, but non-zero, overlap between those two knowledge bases. 

I grew up on the prairie, but now live with my wife and family in southern New Mexico, where I’m learning all about the wonders of the desert. (Did you know there are cactus that will shoot needles at you? Ever hear about werewolf mice?) I’m also learning to appreciate how lovely, green, and temperate our town is compared to our nearest neighboring city, El Paso. 

I know what you mean, John--I grew up in El Paso and it is very brown there. Very brown.



2) What started you on the writing path? 

I've always had creative outlets of various kinds. When I was in elementary school, I did a lot of creative writing, played a lot of Dungeons and Dragons, and made a bunch of delightfully violent comic books with my best buddy. Also a Garfield / Star Wars mashup that I think Disney will be optioning any day now. 

For one semester in college, I was an English major. Then Orson Scott Card said writers should learn to write by writing, and should study something else so they have something to say about the world. So I changed majors, but kept writing. 

That's smart advice, John! Thanks for sharing that.


When I started my doctoral program, I thought I had better focus, and so I gave up fiction writing completely. But that made me miserable, and didn’t help me get my degree faster, so I returned to writing, like a dog to his yummy and very appetizing snack that is definitely not vomit. 

Lovely visual, John. Thanks.


So that’s where I am now, writing fantasy fiction and role-playing games. Hooray! 



3) Do you believe personal experience has influence over your writing? If yes, in what way has it manifested? 

Well, I write a lot more stories with babies in them than I used to. 



4) How was writing this story different from what you typically write? What challenges did you face as you did? 

This was a weird one. I thought it would be a two or 300 word coda at the end of another story (“Strange Pilgrims,” published in the first Mormon steampunk collection, All Made of Hinges). But then the story just kept growing and growing. 

Hey, I have a story in All Made of Hinges as well! It's "Avenger's Angel". Glad to have you join me in A Mighty Fortress as well!


One challenge for me in writing this piece was that the viewpoint character is a real person who lived and wrote hymns and had descendents who might read this book. I didn’t want to do him an unkindness, so I read as much as I could about him. In the end, though, the real Hans Henry didn’t live in a world of Juggernauts and Automatons, so I hope his progeny can forgive me for taking a few liberties with their honored ancestor. 


5) Have you written steampunk before? What do you like best about it? Least?

I’ve published one other steampunk story (see above), and I really enjoyed creating the world. I certainly hope I get the chance to revisit it in the future. I love my Helvetic machines! 


6) What is the title of your story in which anthology? In a few lines, what is your story about? 

My story is called “Joined in Silence,” and it’s about the secret origins of a hymn. It features an escaped labor robot, two Danes, and a mystery guest, debating in the middle of the night about who can be a child of God. Also, there is a baby that at first is crying and later is not crying anymore. 

Ooh, this is fascinating. Delving into the human mind in relation to the mechanical man. I wonder what he has to say about it as well?



7) What factors influenced the plot, characters, and setting?

 Well, basically the whole story is a re-telling-- or, re-imagining, if you will-- of Die Hard, mixed with the creation myth found in the Popol Vuh. So every element had to be chosen carefully to fit the source material. 

Just kidding. I don’t know how to answer this question. 

Hehe...



8) Who is your favorite character and why? 

My favorite character is actually never seen in the story, at least by the protagonist. He’s a house-gnome named Mr. White, and like all his kind he hides from humans. He’s actually the one who wrote the words to the hymn, and he’s lurking under the floorboards during the whole conversation. The little sneak! 

Um, not sure if I can believe you on this one. I suppose I'd just have to read the book to find out! 



9) If you got sucked into your story, what would be the first thing you’d do? Be honest: do you really think you’d do well with your current skillset? Explain. 

First off, I think I’d have to explain how I got into Hans Henry’s house, and that would be a tough job because it’s the middle of the night and he’s already got uninvited guests. But if I could talk him out of showing me to the curb, I think I could help him work out some harmonies for the song, at least for the men’s parts. 



10) What is it you hope your readers will take away from your story? 

A desire to sit down at the piano and sing a few hymns with someone you love. 


11) What’s your favorite quote? Any last words? 

Well, here’s a little passage from the story that I like: 

The mechanical man’s face remained fixed in a calm, mildly pleasant expression. Because that was its only expression. “True, my body was created by human beings. But so was yours. After a fashion.” 

Hans Henry shook his head vigorously. “You cannot compare the sacred act of procreation between man and wife to, to…” he spluttered with indignation, “factory workers assembling a machine, no matter how sophisticated.” 

“The process is very different, I will admit…” 

Thanks, everybody! Buy the book!


Clever clever, indeed, John. Thank you for humoring me and answering my questions no matter how odd they might have felt to you. I look forward to reading your story! 

Here are author John D. Payne's links so you can stalk him to your heart's desire! Muahahaha!



https://www.patreon.com/johndpayne

https://twitter.com/jdp_writes

"Hans Henry did not expect the knock in the night, or the self-emancipated labor automaton, Brother Pilgram. A simple request to have a song written has Brother Pilgram, Hans and his wife at odds about what life means."

 

Co-Author Interview with Wendy Swore and Rita J. Webb

Welcome authors Wendy Swore and Rita J. Webb to my blog today! Thank you for taking your time to answer my many questions. I've always found co-authoring fascinating and for the few times I've done it, I found it fulfilling and as wonderful as you both have said it is.

I have discovered that many writers are afraid of co-authoring only because they have never attempted it. It does sound a bit complicated, but with the insight you've provided, I hope to shed light on the adventure and perhaps encourage any writer out there to try it, it isn't as scary as you think!

Without further ado, here I go . . .

♥.•*¨ Author Interview: Welcome Tristi Pinkston! ¨*•.♥

If there ever really was a super, wonder, or alpha woman, it has to be Tristi. She's a published author of six books, a professional editor, a book tour coordinator, a PR sidekick,a compassionate BFF, a Cubmaster, a loving (and adoring) wife, an ignorer of housework, and a stay-at-home mother of four. _. And she home schools too! She loves books and will never approve of anything questionable if she could help it.

Tristi's fun humor shows in her books. I've read Dearly Departed and loved every page of it. Check out her website here. To follow awesome Tristi on her blog, go here and learn more about her writerly powers! To purchase Dearly Departed, go here.

What is an average day like for you?

I get up around nine in the morning.  If it's an A day, I take my daughter down to seminary, and then I check e-mail and start on my morning computer work while she's gone, and then I go pick her up.  If it's a B day, I just start right into the work.  But if it's an assembly day, or a collaboration day, or a snow day, or a snow make-up day, all bets are off.  (Homeschool is so much easier when it comes to schedules.)  My kids are, in the meantime, getting themselves some breakfast, getting dressed, starting some laundry, picking up toys, etc. so they can earn some morning computer time. 

I'm on the computer until around noon, and then we do lunch and school.  Late afternoon, my husband comes home, and I'll either make dinner or delegate that to him, and then I get back to work.  He does a lot around the house to support me.  He puts the kids to bed, and then I'm up working until around 2 am.  That's why I get up at nine - gotta sleep sometime!
 

Whew! What is your day off like?

Day off?  What is this thing you call day off?  Um, my days off are Sundays, and I sleep in, then go to church, then take a long nap.

What are you working on now?

I'm always working on an edit of some kind - my schedule is completely full.  As an author, I'm working on two books.  The first is a YA contemporary, which is totally new for me, and the other is the first book of a series which is a spin-off from The Secret Sisters Mysteries.
 

As an editor, what are the most annoying mistakes writers make?

Everyone makes mistakes honestly, and those don't annoy me.  I just take a minute to correct them and I include a note pointing out the mistake.  What annoys me is when they don't take the time to self-edit before they send it to me.  If they send me something that's not their best work, I feel like it's a waste of my time.  But there are authors who really do send in their best work.  It may still be completely full of errors, but as long as I know they really tried, I know they are invested in the process and they want to learn.

What have you discovered as the most effective marketing tool?

The Internet, hands down, no question.  Get a blog, get a Facebook account, start interacting.  Get your name out there before your book even comes out, and you'll have a built-in audience as soon as the book hits the shelves.  I'm still trying to decide if I like Twitter.  Those who use it regularly love it.  I'm in the experimental phase.

What is the perfect formula for forming a logline?

Who is your character, what are they facing, and what do they learn?  For instance, let's use the example of Little Women.  "Jo March, an aspiring female author in a world dominated by men, learns that true success comes when she focuses on her real passion--her love for her family."  Short, sweet, to the point, emotional ... and pretty darned good, if I do say so myself.  If Louisa May Alcott weren't dead, I'd tell her to hire me.

If you had a perfect day, what would it be like?

It would involve sleeping in, and a nice breakfast I didn't have to make.  I would then leisurely bathe, get dressed in really cute clothes (that are several sizes smaller than clothes I wear regularly, but this is a fantasy) and then spend some time with my children, who are lovingly communicating with each other in dulcet tones.  My handsome husband would come in, his arms full of flowers, carrying the mail, which includes a large royalty check.  I don a frilly apron and effortlessly whip up a tasty, healthy, and beautifully presented meal, and we sit down to eat together.  The children put themselves to bed, skipping all the way down the hall, blowing kisses and calling out, "We love you, dear parents."  Then my husband and I would cuddle on the couch, talking about our day, and I would then stay up to write for an hour, knocking off the first chapter of my next novel, which will, skipping forward in time, garner many awards and bring me much fame and fortune.

Words to live by?

Hmmm.  I don't know if I have any words, necessarily - I do believe in certain credos, such as, holding your integrity as one of your most precious possessions and not sacrificing it for anything.  I believe in being true to your inner voice.  I believe in honing your skills and making them the best you can, and then continuing to learn and grow through further study.  Does that count?

Thank you so much for the fun, Tristi! I learned a lot I from this interview. It's always nice to have a friend over. :)

♥.•*¨Interview, Author S.B. Niccum¨*•.♥

I've had the honor of catching Silvina, author of Veiled, for an interesting interview. I fell in love with her debut novel, and am thrilled to learn more about her and her books!

Bloggie palz, introducing S.B. Niccum, author of Veiled!

Tell us about Veiled.

Veiled is a Supernatural Fiction about life before life.  I call it “The journey of a Soul” because it’s the first of a trilogy that covers the journey of Tess, an un-embodied spirit who is preparing for her mortal life. 

Tess and her clan have been assigned to a planet called Earth.  They are trained by twelve foot tall Cherubs with feathered wings and ten feet tall half-human, half-lion Seraphs.  The spirits are very gifted and together they qualify to become some of Heaven’s most powerful Angels.  But even Angels falter, and Tess’ insecurities about the Veil and its forgetting effects, leads her to wonder about her choice.  Will she be able to accomplish her life’s mission to keep the leader of the Fallen Angels at bay during mortality, and will she meet her soul mate in life?

Veiled is a fun YA story that will entertain anyone who liked “The Chronicles of Narnia” and “The Ghost Whisperer”.  It’s clean and uplifting, filled with adventure, love stories and some deeper thoughts about the choices we make.

What inspired the story?

The scriptures did.  As I studied one morning, I asked myself what it was like, to be there, about to step through the Veil, knowing that the minute we stepped through we would lose all our memories.  I wondered if we were scared at all or even sad to know that we might not remember our best friends.  The excitement mixed up with the anxiety gave birth to the two main characters, and right away I wrote the ending to the book.  Then I made my way forward.

Was there a time when you felt like giving up? Why didn’t you?

Not really.  I’ve always felt pretty certain that this book would someday be in print.  I didn’t know how soon.  I figured it would take years to get it published, but I saw it happening.  …Call it a premonition if you will! 

How did you deal with writers block?

I didn’t really experience writers block.  I read an interview done on Roald Dahl where he said that if you quit writing at a good part in the story you’ll never have writers block.  I kept that in mind.  Also I wrote same time every day.  And I thought about the plot in between, so when I sat down to write I had plenty of ideas.  If I ever came up completely dry, I would go back and edit.  That usually got me un-stuck.

Who is your sounding board?

My head has been my main sounding board. Sunday school was the other, my husband, mom and brothers were also easy targets.  Later, when I saw that this book had a future, I started picking some of my friend’s heads.

How did you handle rewrites/edits to perfect your book?

 I’m probably weird, but I actually didn’t mind editing.  I saw it as a chance to make my work better.  My biggest fear has been making a fool of myself and every time I edited I felt empowered by the process of making my work better.  When someone else proof-read my book I got all exited and couldn’t wait until I saw what they found; every comma and every hyphen meant my work was better than it was before.    

How did you feel when you were picked up by your current publisher? What did you do to celebrate?

I always celebrate with food!  My husband and I went out to dinner and we had fun speculating about the millions I would make!  (In jest of course!)

What are you working on next?

I’m working on the sequel to Veiled.  Living Soul is about Tess’ life on Earth and how she deals with her gift of discernment as a mortal and how she fulfills her life’s mission.  Like any mortal, Tess has forgotten all about Heaven and her friends and a tragedy lands Tess in foster care.  With all the normal insecurities of a regular teenager and some very unsettling paranormal phenomena; Tess takes on the responsibility of caring for her foster brother, Dorian, and hopes that the cutest guy in school (Alex Preston) notices her.

I’m also jotting down some ideas for the third book “Endless”.  This book will cover Tess’s afterlife as a spirit again who is striving to gain her immortality in Paradise.  This last book I’m really looking forward to writing, I have a lot of ideas floating in my head that I can’t wait to put down on paper.  Some of the topics that will be featured in “Endless” will touch on redemption of the soul, overcoming addictions and perceived self imposed limits to what I like to call ‘evolution of the soul’.  

Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us.

I didn’t speak English until I was fourteen.  Not a lick.  In fact in Argentina, I got terrible grades in English.  My reasoning was “when will I use it?” When I started High School in Utah (West High) I confused a lot of people by my appearance.  The Latino crowd didn’t take me in because they thought I was gringa.  The American crowd thought I was an exchange student from Sweden…. You get the picture.  It took me two years to learn English and I had to do all my homework by looking up every single word and write the translation on the margins.  Then I would re-read it and try to understand!  It was a very hard and lonely time for me, but some good things came from it. 

I turned to books for companionship, and that friendship has been the most lasting of all.

Do you have any pearls of wisdom for aspiring authors?

Write something every day, a sentence or a page, it doesn’t matter.  If you do something for 21 consecutive days it will become at habit, so make it your habit to work every day and feel good about those few words.  Over time they add up, and before you know it you’ll have more than you need!

Thank you for letting me interview you, Silvina! I had so much fun learning more about you and your wonderful books!


See what some readers are saying about Veiled!

***** 

Jody JArvis - See all my reviews

This review is from: Veiled (Paperback)

What if ...... what if we existed before this earth life? What if we knew our friends and family before coming here? What if we chose our trials ahead of time, knowing it would be for our best? Sylvia Niccum asked these questions and then proceeded to answer them in a way that keeps you turning the pages into the night, wanting to know how it all turns out. While this is a work of fantasy, are there perhaps some grains of truth within this story as well? I think there are. Read it yourself and see what you think.

 *****

Erin C - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Veiled (Paperback)

This is a terrific read! The author paints pictures that bring the characters and setting to life and the story is so gripping I couldn't put it down!

This story takes place in an environment that no one has ever written about before but we all know exists. Fascinating - she makes you think in ways you've never thought before and consider things that are mind boggling and new, but at the same time you think, "Oh, that makes perfect sense." Incredibly thought-provoking! It seems like I'm always chatting about this with my husband and friends. It was one of those books that you can't wait to finish but at the same time you don't want it to end. I laughed, I cried, I loved it!

If anyone is looking for a book for a book club, this is the book! You'll talk about it for days!

*****

jmom - See all my reviews

This review is from: Veiled (Paperback)

S.B. Niccum presents not just a great story, but something to contemplate while you are reading and long after. This book left me thinking about what I know and what I may have forgotten. There is love, suspense, laughter, and tears; what more could a girl want? Can't wait for the next one!

Enjoy the trailer, made by the author herself!

♥.•*¨ Author Interview: Introducing . . . Elana Johnson! ¨*•.♥

Bio: Elana Johnson’s debut novel, Possession, will be published by Simon Pulse (Simon & Schuster) on June 7, 2011. Her popular ebook, From the Query to the Call, is also available for download. School teacher by day, Query Ninja by night, you can find her online at her personal blog or Twitter. She also co-founded the Query Tracker blog and contributes to the League of Extraordinary Writers. Elana is represented by Michelle Andelman of Regal Literary.

 

Elana is one of the most cool, motivated people I've met. I decided I wanted to find out more about her and braved asking her for an interview. And she said yes! How cool is that?

Thanks, Elana, for humoring me!


Without further ado, Elana Johnson!

What is an average day like for you?

In two words: Pure insanity.

In more than two words: It’s a lot like everyone else’s, I imagine. I sleep too late, rush to get ready, pack a lame lunch of canned soup (because I MUST eat something hot for lunch), drive too fast to work, work a lot, constantly check email, and return home.

Then I sometimes cook, sometimes clean, sometimes read with kids, sometimes run them to their activities, sometimes watch TV, sometimes laugh, and sometimes write, and sometimes sleep.

It’s exhausting. The only thing that saves me most days is my Google calendar.

What is your day off like?

I clean my house on Mondays. Do all the laundry. Go to lunch, and take my daughter to school. Then I have approximately 1.3 hours before my son gets home from junior high (dang you, short days!), and I commence with the “average day” up above.

How did you develop your keen sense of query-writing?

I studied and printed and evaluated what worked in successful queries. And we all know if something is interesting to read or not. If we’re confused or not. So it just sort of bloomed from there.

What scene did you enjoy writing most in Possession?

Ahhh, excellent question. I rewrote so many of them, that it would be hard to choose. But there’s this one scene with Zenn and Vi that makes me a little weepy every time I read it. I can’t really tell you about it, because it’s sort of a spoiler, but it really shows the depth of emotion between the two of them. And I love that.

What have you discovered as the most effective marketing tool?

Uh… I don’t know. For me, it’s been my blog. But for someone else, it might be their relationships on twitter or the connections they’ve made on Facebook. I think, in the end, YOU are the most effective marketing tool. So just be yourself.

What is the perfect formula for forming a logline?

Well, “perfect” is hard to come by. And I think of a logline as a hook. So the hook should do two things: 1. Sum up your entire novel and 2. Prompt the reader/listener to know more. This can either mean they read more or your query, ask you a question, or go buy your book to read it!

Words to live by?

“Never give up! Never surrender!” ~Galaxy Quest



I had so much fun learning about Elana, thank you so much for letting me interview you!  If you haven't visited her blog, you're missing out. Stalk her right here!

♥.•*¨An Interview of a Different Kind¨*•.♥

source

UPDATE: I will not be interviewing for a while until I get back on my authorly feet.
Sorry for the troubles! 8/31/2015


Hi, gang!

I've just been hit hard by the muse bug, not for my novels, but for yours! I'm so excited, I hope you guys love what inspired me!

I would LOVE to interview your *MCs from any one of your books. If you have 8 books, I could do 8 different interviews per character in there. Or I could your villain--whomever you want. I will post it on my blog along with your site and book. How's that for a marketing promo?

If you would like to join me on this adventure, please send me 1) some strong highlights and basic synopsis--okay, it can be a rough and as unedited as you like, I just need to know what your book/s is/are about 2) along with basic info about the character you want me to interview with your blog/website and 3) book title, and book jacket if you have one along with your e-mail address.

I'll tailor the questions according to your info and email them off to you.

This is a great way for you to connect with your characters as you answer the questions I will send you! I can't wait to get this started!

What reader wouldn't like to get know more about their favorite character behind the scenes?

updated:*This goes for unpublished WIPs, too! ;)

Interview with Alex J. Cavanaugh

CassaStar by Alex J. Cavanaugh

Science fiction/adventure/space opera, Dancing Lemur Press LLC

ISBN Print 9780981621067 eBook 9780982713938



To pilot the fleet’s finest ship…

Few options remain for Byron, a talented young man with a troubled past and rebellious attitude. Slated to train as a Cosbolt pilot, Byron is determined to prove his worth and begin a new life. Much to his chagrin, Bassa, the toughest instructor in the fleet, takes notice of the young pilot. As war brews on the edge of space, Byron requires a navigator of exceptional quality to survive. Bassa must make a decision that could well decide the fate of both men. Will their skills be enough as they embark on a mission that may stretch their abilities to the limit?


“…calls to mind the youthful focus of Robert Heinlein’s early military sf, as well as the excitement of space opera epitomized by the many Star Wars novels. Fast-paced military action and a youthful protagonist make this a good choice for both young adult and adult fans of space wars.” - Library Journal

I have had the honors to catch up with our very own Alex and interview him. It was way fun learning about him!


*ROCKEN' contest, read after interview!

Buckle up and enjoy the ride--remember to keep your arms in at all times!

Here we GOOooo!