Butterscotch Jones, hero of “Due North” by Melanie Jackson

Who are you?

My name is Butterscotch Jones. That isn’t the name I was born with but it is who I am now.

Where do you live?

I live in a small bit of woods in Manitoba, known locally as McIntyre’s Gulch. You won’t find it on any map. We don’t exist on the tax roles. We don’t exist at all– not as far as the government is concerned. No phones, no electricity, no doctors, no government services of any kind. It’s a curious place for many other reasons, but the one that strikes the rare visitor the most is that everyone in town has red hair. The next is that every person there is named either Jones or McIntyre. There are good reasons for this.

Are you the hero of your story?

As much as anyone can be a hero in these circumstances. We are, after all, everyone of us in the Gulch, outlaws. That is because we have no laws to live within, but also because we found this place at the end of the world when we had nowhere left to run.

What is the problem in your story?

An airplane and a dead pilot. Usually when a plane falls out of the sky, it attracts a lot of attention. But not in the Gulch. Not when it’s been storming and the wind is screaming like the damned. It was days after the storm when I was out walking with my dog and found it up on Potter’s Ridge. The pilot was past prayers. There was a large duffle bag full of money in the passenger’s seat, and another one on the floor with a broken zipper that seemed to contain jewelry and some kind of bonds and stock certificates. Of course I took them. But you know what they say about there being no free lunch? Well, it’s true. And those two bags brought all kinds of trouble to our little town and threatened to make us known to the authorities.

Do you have any special strengths?

Only the ones that everyone else here has; endurance, inventiveness and loyalty to my chosen family.

Why did you decide to write this all down?

Because one day, maybe soon, I will be gone. Since I will never have children and don’t even have my real name anymore, I could be one of those whose name was ‘writ on water’. I want someone to know what happened before I vanish from the earth.

Where can we read about your adventures?

Bless the modern age! You can read about me in ebooks or print. Just look for Due North or The Butterscotch Jones Mysteries. My pen name is Melanie Jackson. Everyone thinks these books are fiction. Here is a links http://www.melaniejackson.com/butterscotch.html From there you can get to your favorite books stores.

If you were at the store now, what items would be in your cart?

Kerosene, batteries, tea and books. No TV in the Gulch so we read.

What were the last three books you read?

The Secret Staircase, Moving Violation and The First Book of Dreams: Metropolis

Tom Rizzo, Author of “Last Stand At Bitter Creek”

What is your book about?

Last Stand at Bitter Creek is about a burned-out Union Army spy who gets lured into one, last assignment –the routine surveillance of a battle-hardened Union Army officer and finds himself entangled in an intricate conspiracy involving a ruthless massacre, the heist of a secret gold shipment, and the theft of a priceless US historical document.

How long had the idea of your book been developing before you began to write the story?

A magazine article I wrote several years ago about the first train robbery in the United States triggered the idea. Since the crime was never solved, I asked myself: “What if something was on the train that no one knew about?” The answer produced a few ideas that I was eventually able to develop into a novel.

How long did it take you to write your book?

I wrote the book in nine months. It was nearly 85,000 words long. But after a long process of revising and rewriting, and having it professionally edited—even before I sought a publisher—I trimmed the book to 70,000 words, which improved the pace of the story considerably.

How much of a story do you have in mind before you start writing it?

I prefer creating a compelling main character, and an equally compelling antagonist, who lead the way to a story line. Conflict, of course, is everything. The plot – or story – emerges from how the characters deal with the problems I give them. Conflict creates character. Good characters—lifelike characters—are made up of a combination of contradictory characteristics. The challenge is to keep everyone on stage in character.

Did you do any research for the book? If so, how did you do it? (searching Internet, magazines, other books, etc.)

Research for a period novel – in this case, mid-19th century – proved challenging because I had learn how characters dressed, what they ate, how they traveled, and how they communicated with each other. How many miles could horse-and-rider travel in a day? How long did it take to get from point A to point B? I learned about hotel accommodations, furniture, and the price of a cup of coffee. There are many details involved in a story like this. And even though I didn’t use them all, I had to know the answers.

How do you develop and differentiate your characters?

Mostly by their actions, and how they react to each other, or to specific situations.

Do you have specific techniques you use to develop the plot and stay on track?

There are two ways—at least to my way of thinking—to get into a plot, or the story. Begin with the plot and fit the character to it. Or, as I prefer, begin with the character and provide an appropriate plot.

How (or when) do you decide that you are finished writing a story?

The ending, in my opinion, is always the most difficult or challenging part of a story—at least for me. It has to appear as a natural progression of the story itself, and in a way that follows reader expectations of the characters. In this case of LAST STAND AT BITTER CREEK, I had the ending in mind before I started, which made the process a bit easier.

What is your goal for the book, ie: what do you want people to take with them after they finish reading the story?

My goal is to entertain readers with a good story that is driven by interesting and complex characters, who try their best to grapple with daunting problems, or conflicts, who get up off the floor after they’re knocked down, and keep pushing, and persisting until they find the answers they’re seeking. And, it would be nice to hear a reader say—after completing the last chapter—”Wow, when can I get this guy’s next book?”

How has your background influenced your writing?

I’ve been writing most of my life. In high school, I worked at a radio station where I wrote news and sports, and obituaries. After a few years living in England, I returned to broadcast news. I spent several years as a correspondent for the Associated Press before deciding to write fulltime as a freelancer, writing everything from magazine articles to advertising and promotional and website copy. Along the way, I’ve interviewed a number of fascinating characters —from politicians to CEOs, sports figures, to the ordinary man and woman on–the-street, And because I enjoyed creating profiles, I paid close attention to the way someone talked and their mannerisms, how they responded to difficult questions, and how avoided questions they didn’t want to answer. This kind of background proved invaluable in writing fiction.

Do you have a favorite snack food or favorite beverage that you enjoy while you write?

Coffee. Is there any other?

What are you working on right now?

Another story set in the American West, about a complicated character who was forced to disappear because of a risky choice he once made –a choice that brings him to a day of reckoning that will put him and his entire community in danger.

What advice you would give to an aspiring author?

Read—not only for enjoyment. Treat your reading as a study lab, taking note of how the writer lures you into the story, how characters are introduced, and what makes you like or despise them. Reading soaks the brain with ideas and possibilities. And write, of course. Don’t wait for inspiration. Just write. If you need to kick-start the creative juices, choose five or six words at random from the dictionary, give yourself five or ten minutes, and write something that includes all the words you chose. Sometimes, you’ll be surprised at what you create.

What one word describes how you feel when you write?

Exhilarated.

Where can people learn more about your books?

Learn more about me and my novel, LAST STAND AT BITTER CREEK, at http://TomRizzo.com, or at my blog, http://www.tomrizzo.com/blog/ Buy buy the book at: http://www.amazon.com/Last-Stand-Bitter-Creek-ebook/dp/B007Z5XZRS/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1

Judith Woolcock Colombo, Author of “Night crimes”

Welcome, Judith. I’m glad to have you here. Is Night Crimes your first book?

Night Crimes is my second novel. My first novel, The Fablesinger, was a fantasy set in the Caribbean.

Are you coming to writing from another career?

Yes, for over twenty years I was an adjunct English instructor at various colleges in New York City. In fact both The Fablesinger and Night Crimes were written while I was teaching.

What motivated you to write a mystery thriller like Night Crimes and set it in New York state?

I have always enjoyed mysteries and being married to a police officer meant that I was daily immersed in the world of police work and crime. We lived in New York City at the time and had a vacation home in Upstate, NY, so that became the natural setting for the story.

In Night Crimes, you have two separate mysteries going on at the same time. Did this pose research problems?

The stories were both clear in my mind, and I knew how I was going to bring them together, so they really didn’t pose a problem research or otherwise.

Can you give us an idea of what these two mysteries are about and how they shape the story?

Sure. Lara Bello is a New York City artist and art teacher who is convinced that someone is following her, watching her every move. But no one believes her, not even her loving husband Sergeant Tony Bello. Why should he? There is no reason why someone should want to follow an art teacher.

But the man in the blue baseball cap is pursuing Lara. He goes everywhere she does. He keeps vigil outside her Brooklyn Brownstone while she, her husband and three sons sleep. He follows her into her classroom, and tracks her to her farm upstate where she flees to escape him.

At the same time, Tony is also caught up in his own mystery. Someone is poisoning derelicts and leaving their bodies for him and his bicycle patrol squad to find.

These are the two stories that begin the world of Night Crimes. But it is how this ordinary husband and wife and their children act and think when confronted with such extraordinary circumstances that really shapes the narrative.

What were some of your sources?

I interviewed my husband, who was a sergeant and some of his colleagues for NYC police procedure and methods. I also interviewed a New York State Police Line Sergeant about State Police procedure, and I used the internet and the library as my other sources. Also, I am extremely familiar with all the places, in the city and upstate where the story’s action takes place.

Why will people relate to the characters in Night Crimes?

The characters are ordinary people like you or I who live normal lives until they get caught up in extraordinary circumstances. Even the villains appear, on the surface, like people we are acquainted with and meet every day. That’s one of the reasons why the terror becomes so real because the reader can imagine themselves experiencing it.

Which Character is your favorite?

I loved each character and relate to some, like Lara Bello, more than others. However, I enjoyed creating The Death Angel, the mysterious killer of derelicts, the most. I found this person fascinating. There are so many layers to this character, all intriguing.

Are the problems in your book based on real cases?

No, the story isn’t based on any specific case  or cases. But women do get stalked in real life, and homeless people do get murdered. Also, I was followed home one night from the subway and that gave birth to the story.

Like some other mysteries, Night Crimes has a husband and wife team. What is unique about your husband and wife team?

They are unique because they both come from diverse backgrounds and move daily in worlds which are very different. They each bring to their relationship contrasting experiences and methods of coping with the events in their lives .Lara comes from a Caribbean country, Jamaica, and is an artist and art teacher. Tony comes from an Italian-American background and works in a world of law enforcement surrounded by crime and brutality. But despite this, probably because of this, they make a great team.

How long did it take to write Night Crimes.

JWC.

It took me, on and off, about seven years to write because I was teaching in three different places at the time.

Who influenced you as a writer?

I have many different influences, my various life experiences, the different literary material I have been exposed to. I read a variety of fiction and non-fiction works. Some of my favorite fiction authors are Toni Morrison, Jane Austin,  Anne Perry, Edgar Allen Poe, Ruth Rendell, Stephen King, Walter Mosley, Faulkner, Shirley Jackson, and Isabel Allende to name a few.

Do you have any advice for new writers trying to get published?

Just write for yourself. Write what you enjoy, and rewrite it until it’s the best you can do. Then send out manuscripts to agents & publishers and keep sending out until someone recognizes the value of your work and accepts it.

Are you working on anything now?

Yes I am working on a new mystery with a female detective as the hero. It’s mostly set in a psychiatric hospital where she is undercover as a patient.

Where can Night Crimes be purchased?

Night Crimes can be purchased online at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com or any of the other online bookstores. You can also purchase it from the publisher, Publishamerica.com or order it from your local bookstore. Readers can email me at judithcolombo1@hotmail.com

Thank you for answering my questions, Judith.

It was my pleasure. Thank you for having me.

Megan Held, Author of “Murder Never Dies”

What is your book about?

Oh my, it is difficult to describe. It is about a detective that had worked a case two years prior than the novel begins where she nearly died and killed the murderer. She is contacted by her old boss and lover, to come back and assist when the same murders are happening again. She has to try and catch the murderer she had killed. That is the best short summary I can give.

How much of yourself is hidden in the characters in the book?

I am hidden away in the main character. Some of her qualities and outlooks are similar to mine. She is braver and able to think more objectively than I can.

How long did it take you to write your book?

I went through a tough break with this book because I had to complete my university degree. It took me over 3 years to write it, sadly.

How much of a story do you have in mind before you start writing it?

I think about the story idea for a few days. Once I get a feel for it and can dream about it I begin to write it down on scrape pieces of paper. If I get past fifteen pages I move it into a journal so I can keep writing it.

What was the most difficult part about writing the book?

Deciding on who I wanted to murderer to be. It is always tough to have to do that, but it needs to be perfect to shock people.

What has changed for you personally since you wrote your first book?

I have become addicted to writing. Plan and simple. I haven’t stopped writing since I started and completed my first novel at the age of 12. Going on 12 years now.

How does your environment/upbringing color your writing?

My father and stepmother were both police officers, so I grew up with them. I would listen to all their stories to help ease their minds. All of them have helped my writing because I got the feel of being a police officer/detective and hearing about horrible criminals. Plus, I am from Canada so we have some pretty famous murderers, unfortunately.

What are you working on right now?

I am working on a YA novel. It is about 14 year olds getting recruited/selected to be a part of an elite group. They hear rumors. They get trained to be assassins and spies, losing any option of having a life. That is how far I have gotten so far.

Does writing come easy for you?

It does, but it doesn’t. Some days I can write more than five-ten pages, others I struggle to get a sentence out.

What’s been the most surprising part of being a writer?

The amount of people that seemed amazed I could do it. To me writing is a part of my life, while to some people it is a talent. Also, the great feeling of accomplishment after finishing a book. I have written seventeen and I still felt excited about finishing that one just like the first one.

What writer influenced you the most?

Tough call, but Iris Johansen for adult and I am a big fan of Veronica Roth and Suzanne Collins for my YA. I adapt and change if I find other writers that I like. Who knows, someone from this site could be.

Have you written any other books?

Yes, seventeen. I have self-published two others through http://www.lulu.com and http://www.smashwords.com. Just search for my name or the book titles of: 1440 and Unknown Caller.

Do you keep a pen and notepad on your bedside table?

I sleep with it and carry it with me everywhere I go.

What genre are your books?

Mystery/Suspense and Young Adult.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about yourself or your books?

Not really. You can find anything else about me through my blog and facebook page. Here are the links:

http://meganheld.blogspot.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Megan-Held-Author/164551533569426

Ace Collins, Author of “Reich of Passage”

What is your book about?

Reich of Passage is a modern “save the world” adventure where the bad guys are now leaders in most of the major countries of the world. As crazy as it sounds these men come from a different era and were literally frozen and thawed to accomplish their mission. The only way to beat them is throw the use of two others from the era who are also brought back to live 70 years after they supposedly died. One of these is the actress Jean Harlow.

What inspired you to write this particular story?

I am fascinating by people who die young. I have long wondered the “what ifs” if they had lived longer. Jean Harlow is one of the most interesting people of her era. She was bright, well read and intelligent. The fact she died at the top of her game at the age of 26 in 1937 made her the perfect just to put into medical hibernation. Bringing her back to life in a time when everyone she knew is dead was the perfect way to examine the real Harlow, her coping skills and her ability to adapt. It also gave me a chance to let readers realize how lonely being “out of your time” really is. Thus the challenge is giving her a calling in a modern world.

How much of a story do you have in mind before you start writing it?

The plot, as fantastic as it was, were completely conceived. There were twists and turns that the characters actually wrote as I developed them. And while I knew the full elements of mystery, action, adventure and intrigue as I wrote, I think they romance snuck up on me.

Did you do any research for the book? If so, how did you do it?

I was writing about people from a different time, so I read magazines, biographies, looked at old newsreels and studied films from the 30s and 40s. Then I also spent a lot of time studying the dialogue of that era and how it would sound in a modern context. One of my favorites parts of the books dealt with characters saying something they thought was clear but having those listening view their words in a much different context.

What is your goal for the book, ie: what do you want people to take with them after they finish reading the story?

The main goal of any book has to be entertainment. If the reader is hot having fun, if the ideas they find in the text do not excite them, then the story is flat. So goal is to create a plot so involving and characters with such appeal that the reader is actually said when the story ends.

How has your background influenced your writing?

My writing is influenced by my interests. I love music, movies and classic cars, so they find their way into my books. I am curious my nature and want the story behind everything. And I have always been a people watcher and so my characters have to be as interesting as the people I meet in my real life. In fact a lot of quirks I see in my friends show up in my books.

What’s your writing schedule like? Do you strive for a certain amount of words each day?

I write between 3,000-8,000 words and day and also edit and rewrite those words several times each day before I quit. So that makes for long days. But once I am on a roll I can’t sleep anyway. The story and characters keep me awake. Then when I finish the entire book, I go back and rewrite it a couple of more times before sending it off to the publisher.

Do you prefer to write at a particular time of day?

I rewrite and edit in the morning and write in the afternoon. I am most creative then. To stoke my fires I consume sweet tea.

Have you always wanted to be a writer?

Wrote my first short story in third grade, so writing has always been there. The last three decades of being able to do what I love has been a real blessing.

What is the easiest part of the writing process?

Story creation is very easy for me. I have hundreds of plots written in my log book.

Have you ever had difficulty “killing off” a character in your story because she or he was so intriguing and full of possibility for you, his or her creator?

I have had readers get mad at me for killing off a character, but never had any trouble doing it. Death moves story lines and brings out emotion. Those things enrich the reader’s experience.

What, in your opinion, are the essential qualities of a good story?

The most important element is having characters who have depth who readers want to get to know. Once you have that link the rest is gravy.

Where can we learn more about you and your books?

From my website acecollins.com

Liam Mulligan, Hero of “Cliff Walk” by Bruce DeSilva

Who are you?

My name is Liam Mulligan, but just call me Mulligan because I don’t like to use my given name. I was named after my maternal grandfather, a Providence, R.I., cop who was murdered by the mob when I was a kid. Whenever I hear the name “Liam,” I picture the chalk outline of his body on a cracked Federal Hill sidewalk. I played basketball as a walk-on at Providence College. For the last 20 years or so, I’ve been an investigative reporter for a dying Providence newspaper, and I’m darned good at it. In “Rogue Island” (Forge, 2010), I figured out who was behind an arson spree that had the cops baffled. In “Cliff Walk” (Forge, 2012), I uncovered a murder-and-political-corruption conspiracy behind the state’s thriving sex trade.

How do your friends see you?

They think I’m a stubborn s.o.b. with a smart mouth that often gets me into serious trouble.

How do your enemies see you?

They also think I’m a stubborn s.o.b. with a smart mouth that gets me into serious trouble. They also tend to underestimate me.

How does the author see you?

Bruce DeSilva? That clown thinks he IS me. I’m an investigative reporter; he used to be. Neither of us do well with authority. And we both get a lot of complaints about our smart mouths. But he’s not me. He’s 25 years older and eight inches shorter. He’s a grandfather, for Chrissake.

Do you talk about your achievements?

DeSilva likes to brag about the Edgar Award and the MaCavity Award he won for “Rogue Island.” Me? I never talk about stuff like that. Never! DeSilva ratted me out by telling readers I once won a Pulitzer Prize, but journalism awards are crap. You just stick them in a drawer and move on to the next story.

Do you have any money troubles?

I work for a dying newspaper in a small city. What do you think?

What do you believe?

I believe in defending the powerless. I believe in exposing public corruption and organized crime — which in Providence is pretty much the same thing. Although my job as an investigative reporter is to expose the bad guys, I see nothing wrong with placing a bet with my local bookie or paying a small bribe to get my decrepit Ford Bronco through the DMV inspection. I’ve learned that in Providence, graft comes in good and bad varieties, just like cholesterol. The bad kind enriches powerful politicians and their rich, greedy friends. The good kind puts braces on the teeth of the children of underpaid state workers. Without the good kind, not much would get done in Rhode Island and nothing at all would get done on time. I’m a lapsed Roman Catholic. I used to think I knew what I believed about religion and sexual morality, but after what I saw as I dug into the state’s sex trade in “Cliff Walk,” those long-held beliefs have been badly shaken.

Has anyone ever betrayed you?

Hell, yeah, but if you want to know who you’ll have to read the books.

What was your childhood like?

I grew up on the second floor of a three-story walk-up in the working-class Mount Hope section of Providence with a younger sister and a younger brother. My father was a milkman. Cancer took him when I was still in high school.

What is your most prized possession?

A June, 1935, issue of the pulp magazine “Black Mask” with the first printing of Raymond Chandler’s short story, “Nevada Gas.” Why? Because after the separation from my banshee of a wife, Dorcas, it’s about all I’ve got left.

What is your favorite music? Why?

The blues — Buddy Guy, Son Seals, Jimmy Thackery and the Drivers, Koko Taylor, Tommy Castro. It’s the soundtrack of my life.

If you were at a store, what ten items would be in your shopping cart?

Killian’s Irish Red beer, frozen pizza, Maalox, and cigars. Who has money for ten items?

How do you envision your future?

I work for a newspaper. Newspapers are dying. And I’m not any good at doing anything else.

Where can we find you online?”

http://brucedesilva.com

http://brucedesilva.wordpress.com

Jerry From the novel “Tangled Ties to a Manatee” by Kalen Cap

Who are you?

I’m Jerry. I work at the Court Jester Coffee Shop. I clean it good. I get to work by riding my bike my Aunt Vera gave me. I’m the only one in the group home with my own bike.

I like animals a lot. My favorite animal is a manatee named Ankh. By following the directions written out beside my computer, I can watch her on the zoo’s webcam each day for a little while.

Where do you live?

Like I said, I live at the group home. They teach us stuff so we can one day live on our own. At least I hope I get to. Aunt Vera says I have to study hard and behave for them at the group home. Aunt Vera’s the one that took care of me once my mom passed away when I was sixteen.

Do you have any handicaps?

My body’s okay. I’m slow in the head though, but not as slow as others in my group home. Except for Caroline. Mrs. Washington, she works there, she says Caroline can “give me a run for my money.” I think Mrs. Washington’s wrong about that though. I don’t like Caroline much. But she never chased after me for money that I can remember.

What do you want?

What I want is to be treated just like a regular guy. I want to be able to be on my own. But, there’s still stuff I don’t know how to do by myself yet.

I went to this different place for my haircut yesterday and I think nobody there could tell I had “special needs.” ‘Course, they could just been being nice and pretending they didn’t know. But nobody there treated me funny. I liked that.

So, being a regular guy on my own, and being treated regular. That’s what I want.

What was your childhood like?

When I was a kid, school was hard. I didn’t get it. Now, they’re teaching me how to work around some of my learning problems. So, learning the easy stuff is better, but they got me learning harder stuff now.

As a kid, I had bullies that gave me a rough time, but I had friends, too. It was kind of hard for me to make friends though. But, mom was good to me. And my aunts too, though they’re not the same as mom.

What is your most closely guarded secret?

I don’t have too many secrets. I do keep quiet about sometimes knowing what animals are feeling, but that’s just because Aunt Vera doesn’t like it. She thinks that’s crazy talk.

My mom didn’t think it was crazy though. She thought it was a gift and said I was supposed to keep it a secret.

Uh oh. I wasn’t supposed to tell you that. It only happens sometimes though, so maybe you could just forget I told you.

Do you have any skills?

I do hide good. Before I got taken out of regular school’s special ed when I was little, another kid taught me how to hide. And I practiced and practiced, and got pretty good at it. Mostly I hid from bullies. But, sometimes I hid at home, too.

Who is your true love?

Janelle is real pretty and smart. She goes to college. She was supposed to volunteer for the zoo trip today, but she got Gavin to sub for her instead.

I was careful not to let no one see, but I teared up when I found out she wasn’t coming today.

What makes you angry?

One thing that makes me mad is getting teased.

I put on some cologne this morning, before I knew Janelle cancelled on us, and Mrs. Washington said it was too much. Then Caroline teased me about it. The others teased me, too. Then, at the zoo, after finding out the manatee building was closed, I got mad. Then, everybody started teasing me about liking Janelle. So, I got even madder and ran off.

What in your past would you like to forget?

I would like to forget getting knocked out by Craig a couple of hours ago. He’s the big guy with Stan. I came across them after I left the group at the zoo. I just wanted to cool off some, but I guess I was snooping around, and I got caught. Craig walloped me hard, so I’d like to forget that. But, I can’t since my head hurts and they got me tied up in this basement.

They say they’ll let me go after this job at the high voltage place is done. But, I got a job, too, and I’m supposed to be at work tomorrow morning.

Are you honorable?

I had to ask what that means. But, if it means doing the right thing because that’s the right thing to do, then I try to be honorable. I work when I’m supposed to work. I do my studies like I’m supposed to. I don’t lie hardly at all. I’m nice to most people most of the time. Oh, except maybe Caroline. She bugs me too much. But everybody else, I’m mostly nice to.

So, I’m not perfect, but honorable enough, I think.

***

Author website: http://kalencap.com/

The novel is available at Amazon.com in paperback -

http://www.amazon.com/Tangled-Ties-Manatee-Kalen-Cap/dp/0985321008

& kindle ebook –

http://www.amazon.com/Tangled-Ties-Manatee-ebook/dp/B0080KIAD6

Anne Lyken-Garner, Author of “Sunday’s Child”

Welcome, Anne. What is your book about?

Sunday’s Child is the inspiring, true tale of a little girl struggling to rise above appalling living conditions, poverty, violence and abuse.

How long did it take you to write your book?

It took me just 28 days to put the content on paper. I edited it for the next year, and it took me all of 8 years to get it published after nearly 100 rejections and a couple of near misses. In fact, a couple of months after finding a publisher, another I’d contacted asked me to send the entire manuscript because they were interested to read it.

Do you have specific techniques you use to develop the plot and stay on track?

Writing a true story is obviously different from writing fiction. I didn’t want to include the mundane parts of my life which no one was interested in. I picked out the parts that made an impact on me (unfortunately, a lot of them were negative) because I felt they would also impact people who were reading it. I mainly used the people involved to tell the story. I used a lot of dialogue to give life and meaning to what they were saying. I also wanted the readers to get a genuine glimpse into the personality of the people involved, so I used the way they spoke to bring this to the fore.

How (or when) do you decide that you are finished writing a story?

I ended this part of the story when the path my life was taking took a turn in another direction. I saved this other half for the follow-up book which will be called, Fair of Face.

What is your goal for the book, ie: what do you want people to take with them after they finish reading the story?

This is an easy one. I wrote this book to all those who feel they’re being held down by their past, whether it’s physical abuse, support deprivation, feeling unloved, downtrodden etc. I want them to see that it’s possible to lift the shackles they think you have to live under, just because they were put there by someone bigger and stronger.

What challenges did you face as you wrote this book?

The obvious challenge was exposing my life story. It’s not and will never be a comfortable thing to do. Once it’s out there, it can be perused by anyone and be open to mockery, disdain etc. People can judge you because they think they can analyse you now that they know so much about your life – even if they’ve never judged you in the past.

Do you think writing this book changed your life? How so?

Yes. It clarified my story and put the events that happened to me in my childhood in a special place – a place they belong – in the past. Now it’s all written down it doesn’t have to stay in my head anymore. It belongs on paper and that’s where I want it to stay.

What’s your writing schedule like? Do you strive for a certain amount of words each day?

I don’t limit myself to a certain amount of words per day. I’m also a blogger and freelance writer, so I write to earn. I can’t say this is enjoyable writing. I feel that making myself write a number of words per day is like putting a prison sentence on my creativity. I hasten to say that this is merely a personal judgement. I know this kind of thing works well for many writers. I do have a writing timetable, which I try to stick to.

Do you prefer to write at a particular time of day?

Yes, any time of day when the kids are not around

What are you working on right now?

Right now I’m working on a healthy eating programme I will be contracted to write. I wrote it a few years ago, but I want to put some additional information in. I’m also waiting for the go-ahead to put in the final edits on my book about raising children, based on my qualifications and experience as a youth counsellor/worker. Also, after marketing Sunday’s Child I’ll be re-writing the follow-up to get it ready for next year.

Where can we find out more about you?

You can find me on my How To Build Confidence blog. All my confidence-building articles here are gleaned from my life’s experiences, which have taught me that your past doesn’t have to shape who you are today.

Tony Gavel, hero of “Wasted Space” by J. W. Metcalf

Who are you?

My name is Tony Gavel, I’m a private investigator in Big City. I am 36 years old

What are your achievements?

Well, I don’t like to brag but if you goggled me you would know I was a former golden gloves champion at 16, State wrestling champion during college, and the youngest person in the Big City Police Department to ever make detective.

What is your most prized possession?

I have two actually. My first prized possession is my .38 revolver Louise. She has saved my life so many times. I don’t know how I would get through the day if I lost her for good. My second prized possession is a map of Red Valley Falls. I took off a year after college before i joined the force and spent it living off the land in red Valley Falls. I own a hunting/fishing cabin there. During that year of living in the wilderness I made a map of all the secret crevices, caves, mine shafts, etc… I lost it during a case, though that I call Gone Fishing, when convicted serial killer Doogan Ashe cut my climbing rope and dropped me into the rapids 40 feet below me.

What, if anything, haunts you?

My ex-fiance Mary. She was killed during a robbery at a liquor store, while she was getting some wine for dinner, and i was never able to bring her killers to justice. That has haunted me ever since. It has ruined any chance for me to have a real relationship with a female.

What was your childhood like?

Times were hard growing up in a strong Irish community. Not many people in my neighborhood had a lot of money. My dad worked two jobs trying to support my mom and my two sisters and me. We had a lot of thugs and bullies where I lived that would shake me down for my lunch money or just give me a beating because they could. Most of the dads worked so just the moms would be home all day, cooking and cleaning and doing various chores around the house. They never really payed attention to what the kids were doing all day out in the streets.

Then Dwight moved into the house next door to me. He was a big kid back than. Not many people liked to mess with him. He saw me getting a beating one day by three of the street bullies and jumped in to help me. I never saw anyone fight like he did. Most kids in our neighborhood used sticks or what ever they could get their hands on. They would throw wild punches or rocks. They always traveled in packs so that you had no real chance to defend yourself unless you were with other people. Dwight ran in and kicked the guy that was on me and then stood over me in a boxing stance protecting me. The other kids were laughing at Dwight, calling him all kind of names and telling him to get out of here before he gets hurt but Dwight stood his ground. The one kid that Dwight kicked got up and charged Dwight. That was all it took. Dwight was a blur of motion. Throwing Jabs and uppercuts, using his big body to push kids aside if they came at him more than one at a time.

At the age of nine, I started my life in boxing. I trained hard every day with Dwight after school. I started to fill out and get muscles where I never had any before. Dwight and I were always together. No one ever messed with us much after that day. A few times they would try when Dwight wasn’t around and I still got some beatings, but I started to hurt them a lot more than I was getting hurt. By the time I was ten, people left me alone. Dwight and I were starting to get a reputation and no one wanted to mess with us.
My dad took an instant liking to Dwight and he became like a brother to me. He started coming to our Saturday pizza nights. It was the best times of my life. If it wasn’t for Dwight I would never have won the Golden Gloves championship when I was sixteen. He really turned my life around and helped me turn into the guy I was today.

Name five items in your purse, briefcase, or pockets.

In my wallet I have cash, probably about $500 or so. I carry a lot of money so that I may pay off contacts etc… I have an expandable baton I carry in a secret pocket of my jacket in case I don’t feel like shooting someone and I need to defend myself. Credit cards for when I’m on a case and need to have expenses. My gun Louise, I never leave home without her. My cell phone. It’s a big part of my business.

Where do you live?

I currently live at 19 Orchard Ave, Big CIty, USA. I have a hunting cabin in Red Valley Falls, USA and I had an office in Big City, but it got torched during a case that I call, Wasted Space, so now I am looking for a new one. If you know of a place cheap be sure to let me know.

Are you healthy?

I hope so. I work out at least four days a week. Mostly I use the punching bag and speed bags. I also swim almost every day. It keeps me in fighting shape. The only time I don’t work out is when I’m on a case, with the crap that usually happens to me, I don’t have time for it, but I do make it up after the case is over.

Do you have any skills?

*laughs* Is lock picking a skill? I do have a bunch of different skills. I am excellent at reading peoples body language. I am very tech savvy. I can Box, wrestle and hit a bulls eye with my gun from 50 yards out. I can survive in the wild. I specialize in finding missing persons. There’s more, but I don’t want to tell you all my secrets.

Do you embrace conflict?

As a matter of fact I do. I feel that you will never accomplish anything in life if you shy away from conflict. My problem is that I am usually stabbed, tortured, have broken bones, or got shot when I am trying to face my conflicts.

How do your enemies see you?

I would hope that I have no enemies, but the truth is a lot of people just misunderstand me. I am just trying to do a job and if they don’t like what happens to them, then they shouldn’t have done something stupid. My enemies would say I am stubborn, annoying, relentless.

Do you have money troubles?

I am doing well at the moment. I make a good living doing my job. I get a lot of clients and they keep me busy.

Have you ever had an adventure?

*Laughs* My life is one big adventure. I wouldn’t know where to start with this one.

What is your favorite beverage?

Jack Dawson’s Home Brew. Jack is the bartender/owner of’ Last Call’ in Red Valley Falls. He makes a special apple flavored beer, mixed with moonshine. It has a real sweet flavor, but has a big kick. If you ever make it to red valley Falls you should try it out.

Are you honorable?

I try to be, but in my line of work it’s hard. I have to con and fool people into giving me information sometimes, but I am honorable to my friends and make it a point to never lie to them. My friends know that my word is good and I would never be dishonest to them.

What do you think of yourself?

I think of myself as a hard working, dedicated, caring person that would go to any length helping out my clients.

Was there a major turning point in your life?

Yes, I kinda touched on it before about my buddy Dwight. I wanted to add to that though. He made me look deep inside myself and taught me to take no #$%^^$#@, sorry. Take no crap from people and to stick up for myself and believe in myself. He taught me to never give up and how to excel at whatever I do.

What are the last five entries in your check registry?

Nothing. I hate checks and I will not use them. I pay cash for everything and I do not accept checks from clients either. I have had so many problems with checks that I just stay away from them now.

Are you the hero of your own story?

I wouldn’t say I’m a hero. My clients might say differently though. I am just a guy doing a job that I got paid for. You decide for yourself. Read my Case File: Wasted Space and you let me know if you think I’m a hero.

Kindle Version of my book http://amzn.to/TonyGavelPI
Nook Version of my book http://bit.ly/TonyGavel
My Blog (just starting out) http://authorjwmetcalf.wordpress.com/about/

Mary Rincon, Author of Simply Delicious

What is your book about?

My book Simply Delicious is a diet cookbook on how I lost 80 pounds in just six months the book is designed with Scriptures of healing along with some simply delicious recipes

What inspired you to write this particular book?

What inspired me to write this cookbook is I have struggled on dieting and trying to lose weight method would work I would go to visit my doctor’s only to gain pounds each time I would dread the scale then I learned my pattern and figured a diet that worked for me I could cook meals for my family and eat a good meal with them

What is your goal for the book, ie: what do you want people to take with them after they finish reading the story?

My goal for this book is to share God’s healing Scriptures on how to lose weight and gain support for Simply Delicious meals.

Do you prefer to write at a particular time of day?

I prefers to write and night it’s so quiet and peaceful

Do you have a favorite snack food or favorite beverage that you enjoy while you write?

I enjoy a cup of ice tea water while I write.

What are you working on right now?

I am working on another book another volume of Simply Delicious

Do you keep a pen and notepad on your bedside table?

I keep notes at my bedside and write down any ideas that enter my mind then I exercise the thoughts I have down on paper

Where can people learn more about your books?

You can order my book Simply Delicious by Mary Rincon at http://www.thebookpatch.com