Interview with Marilyn Celeste Morris

Welcome to Marilyn!

Marilyn, could you tell our readers a little about yourself. What are some of the events that have influenced your life as it is today?

I’m an army brat, raised all over the world. I wrote about my life as a brat accompanying my army officer father to places like Seoul, Korea in 1946 (I was 8 years old and got my very own orders from The War Department) and Austria, and back to the States at various posts from 1938 to 1958, when he (we!) retired. So those early years greatly influenced my life, giving me an appreciation of being an American and an understanding of how other people live. I think I developed empathy for others and an interest in what motivates them.

Please would you tell our readers what was the inspiration that led you to write “Forces of Nature”?

I was shopping at a popular local mall one day when I heard the rumble of yet another Air Force jet taking off from the nearby runway. The thought crossed my mind that it would be unthinkable for such a plane to crash into the mall, but on the way home, I heard on the car radio that the area was to expect a severe thunderstorm with tornadoes. So the idea was born. I worked as a temp in the National Weather Service offices and as an assistant to the manager at a local mall, so I took what little I knew about those areas and incorporated them into the story. Also, Howard, the Weatherman, who has dreams of tornadoes the night before they happen, was a characteristic I developed as a teenager in Oklahoma, so I incorporated that ability into his weather forecasting.

Was your life as an ‘Army Brat’ part of the inspiration, as there is
an Air Force bomber that is a big part of the story?

I really wasn’t exposed to many airplanes as a kid, unless you count the flight overseas from Massachusetts to Germany. So, no, I suppose the KC135 tanker came from my imagination and proximity to the nearby AF base.

What makes this book special to you?

Interesting question. Maybe it’s the juxtaposition of the fury of Mother Nature and human nature that makes the book more interesting to me. I think we’ve all felt powerless in the midst of any natural disaster, and we’ve all met people who are like those portrayed in the book. And we like to think that justice triumphs in the end.

Do you write a plot or outline before you start your writing?

It’s not a real outline; I think outlines should be outlawed! I do have a plot kind of sketched out, as to who, what happens, what are the backgrounds of each character, and how do they all tie in together? My books go through countless revisions as I add plot lines or dialogue and background, and the original ending was one I wasn’t happy with, so I re-wrote it. It had been all nicely tied up, but I wanted to let my readers know life isn’t like that, and sometimes lives don’t turn out the way we think they should.

Have there been any Authors in particular, that inspired the writing of this story?

I like so many authors, I couldn’t say. I will say that the old movie, The Towering Inferno, about a high-rise office building, kind of rattled around in my head during the writing of this book.

How did you choose the cover for the book?

My publisher, Vanilla Heart Publishing, offered me four proposed covers from which to choose. Tone was an aerial view of a building left shattered, with a sign hanging drunkenly off the side, in dull, muted colors; another of a whirling, dark tornado funnel, and two were of fiery red skies implying an inferno rather than a natural weather event. Besides, the colors were vivid and eye-catching, something I’ve learned sell better at book signings. So I told her which one I preferred and it was a “Go.”

Could you talk about some of the most positive experiences you’ve had while writing “Forces of Nature”?

Maybe it’s thinking about my characters and how each reacts to life’s events. I think they may have forced me to re-examine some of my beliefs and behaviors and affirmed my faith in a higher power.

How about the negative ones?

Sometimes my characters did not behave in the manner I thought they should. But that’s what makes them interesting, don’t you think? Just about the time you think you know somebody really well, up pops something completely unexpected. And sometimes I even surprise myself.

Have there been any stumbling blocks in your writing of this book?

Not really. I had thought at one time about getting with the Public Information Office at the AF Base and ask for permission to interview a KC135 tanker, but decided the red tape involved would be too lengthy. If I were writing more of a documentary, of course I would have insisted on accuracy and detail, but since this is a fictional story, I knew I could take great liberties with the statistics and probabilities (Would an AF plane REALLY take off in the middle of a severe thunderstorm? Probably not, but in my story, it did, so there!)

What other projects are you currently working on?

I’m working on a sequel to Sabbath’s Room, titled Sabbath’s House, where the magical black cat moves from the isolated farmhouse to a huge Victorian house in town, and you would think all would be well after finding bodies in the cellar of the former residence. Not so…And there will be a historical romance, The Unexplored Heart, and an untitled vampire book. Also toying with a novel titled Fireflies in a Jar, about girls growing up in a small town in the mid-fifties. And, oh, yes, a sequel to The Women of Camp Sobingo, called That Cavanaugh Woman. The world is not yet done with Trudy Cavanaugh, the wealthy and powerful former army wife who lived her young married years in a remote military compound with her husband and who returned to the states with a physically and emotionally crippled spouse and who is then appointed by her father-in-law as heir to the publishing empire.

Of the books that you have written, which is you favorite?

I love The Women of Camp Sobingo. The four women were so diverse, three of them so strong, and one who carried so many demons in her soul that she chose death in that remote country. Their backgrounds, their childhoods, formed their characters to either cope or crumble under the enormous pressures of their lives. How was Maggie from Chicago different from Nell Martin from West Texas? Why did the beautiful yet fragile Leah Damon think so little of herself even though she had been a famous model? And how did the shy Trudy Cavanaugh gain the favor of her husband’s father and battle a family scandal?

Which was the hardest to write?

Even though I used pages from my personal journals in writing my book about lupus, Diagnosis: Lupus: The Intimate Journal of a Lupus Patient, I hesitated to reveal my “bad” inner self where I cursed God, felt suicidal at times, fell into a slobbering self-pity, and in general was probably pretty unlikeable, but I realized I was expressing only honest human emotions and that this book may help others to realize they aren’t alone in their emotional upheavals. And there is a light at the end of the tunnel, acceptance and even serenity amid the wreckage of this disease or any other chronic illness, such as cancer or MS. So this book was harder to put into print.

Do you write to make money or for the love of writing?

I’m laughing at the money part. I think the last royalty check I got bought me a Happy Meal at McDonald’s. So I’m definitely not writing for the money! I think it’s the satisfaction of doing what I always dreamed of doing. And when my 9-year-old granddaughter was at my house and picked up my latest book and read the back cover with my picture on it. She looked at me, eyes wide, and asked in awe: “Grandma! Are you famous?” You can’t get any kind of money for that!

Could you share some of your ways of marketing you book?

I’m just learning to market. And I hate it. The time I spend in marketing my books takes away from writing, and that makes me cranky. But market I must. I’ve been on talk radio, on television (local cable) and given speeches at civic and church groups. I I’ve had book signings and attended writer’s conferences where I’ve sold my books. I blog, I’m trying to learn to Tweet and am posting on Face book and My Space. I troll the Internet looking for markets (free, of course) where I can post my books, and since I have six of them at the moment, that’s time-consuming. And exhausting.
But I can’t give up, and maybe it will pay off in the long run. I subscribe to Google Alerts where they send me lists of anytime one of my books or my name is mentioned in press or blogs, and I’m always surprised when I see some blogger has one of my books listed as having read it. I always write and thank them and ask if they would give me a review. I have no idea how they found my book(s) but I’m thrilled they did.
I think that’s one reason I love to write. Somebody, somewhere, is reading one of my stories.
And I love it.

Thank you so much Marilyn for a wonderful interview! My readers and I wish you all the best with your writings. I can’t wait to read your books. I know you are working on a sequel to “Sabbeth’s Room”, we look forward and to more!

For More information about Marilyn's books go to her website http://www.freewebs.com/marilyncmorris/

Interview with Marilyn Morris Coming

Don't miss this date, May 4th, a great interview with Marilyn Celeste Morris on her fantastic book "Forces of Nature". Marilyn has written several great reads and is an Editor and Presenter.

Interview with Alistair Forrest

ALISTAIR FORREST "LIBERTAS"

Hello Alistair. Welcome to my blog!



Alistair, please would you tell our readers what was the inspiration that led you to write “Libertas”?

You’ll never believe this, but it’s true. I live slap bang in the middle of a battlefield. When my wife and I moved to Spain, we chose a lovely house in the middle of the olive groves that stretch northwards from the mountain town of Monda. I arrived here determined to find the space, inspiration and time to write my first novel. One of the first things we did was research the history, culture and customs of the area, as you do, and guess what – Julius Caesar was here first! Way back in 45BCE he force-marched eight legions from Italy to do battle with the sons of Pompey the Great and end his civil war once and for all. The two armies clashed at the Battle of Munda, Caesar winning as usual, against the odds.

But that wasn’t the only inspiration. There are several Bonelli’s Eagles living in the surrounding mountains, hunting rabbits and snakes in the olive groves. Eagles have always inspired me, and I began to wonder if man and eagle have always been so distant (more on this later). The people, too, are warm and friendly. Their town is undergoing massive changes now that EU money has built a decent road that snakes up from Marbella on the coast. In the same way, Munda (as it was then called) would have undergone a similar upheaval when the Romans brought their huge economic and social changes to the region in the first century BCE.

So I got thinking, and the story of a local youth of Phoenician extraction, Melqart, began to take shape, especially his relationship with the Celt-Iberian mountain people, and of course the impact of Roman intervention. There were times when I felt as if the story was writing itself, such was the inspiration – does that sound weird? It was certainly an exciting feeling.





What made you give up your career as a journalist in Britain and move to Spain?

I love the story of the two journalists chatting. One says, “I’m writing my book” and the other replies, “Neither am I”. In my career I have written zillions of words, and when you get home after the intense day job you don’t feel like writing a book. But the passion has always been there.

It was a family decision to move to Spain, and fraught with difficulties. But once we arrived, my wife and I enjoyed a glass or three of Rioja on the terrace and I just knew that now I could let go of the remaining freelance work and concentrate on writing.

Could you describe some of the most significant events in your life that have influenced your writing?

Yes there are several. I was brought up in the Middle East (though schooled in the UK) and I have been strongly influenced by Arabic culture and Mediterranean life. Syria, Lebanon and the Gulf have such rich histories and by being immersed in these different cultures, I always felt I would have a head start.

Then, at school, I discovered a flair for writing. This didn’t always work in my favour, because I was ticked off for being too descriptive in my English Literature essays – it was usually my way of disguising the fact that I didn’t know the answers! One teacher who was particularly critical of my essays was Patrick Cormack, now Sir Patrick the Parliamentarian, and I’m delighted to say that he had a good chuckle when I sent him a proof copy of Libertas and he gave me a good mark this time around! For the back cover, he gave me a quote to the effect that I was a natural storyteller.

My first job was as a trainee journalist with the South Wales Echo, the leading evening paper in Wales, and I started more-or-less at the same time as one Ken Follett. He sat at the desk opposite me. Not long after I moved on to other newspapers, I came across Ken’s first novels on his road to becoming an international best-seller. His success has been an inspiration to me, although I’m obviously a late starter!

What makes this book special to you?

So much historical fiction, written by men, features a muscle-bound sword-wielding hero. My hero, Melqart, is nothing of the sort. Pitch him one-to-one against the baddie (which happens twice in Libertas) and he’ll come second every time. But ask him to come up with a better way of doing things and he’ll surprise you. He’s a thinker. He invents things. But he’s on the losing side, so how will he handle that?

Furthermore, he’s spiritually and socially aware. For example, he doesn’t believe that Rome’s politics and expansionism makes all Romans bad. Indeed, he becomes very good friends with Sextus Pompey who is destined to become the Captain Sparrow of the 1st Century BCE, a charming and adventurous pirate operating out of Sicily after the death of Caesar.

Melqart also has a strange encounter with the eagles, and out of his respect for them an unusual partnership evolves, leading to what I hope is an intriguing climax to the story.

I have tried to do far more than your usual historical ‘sword and sandals’ thing. My wife says it works – I’ve never seen a non-fiction-reading Capricorn so enthusiastic! Much as I value her opinion, I’d love it if a complete stranger gushed about it too, especially on Amazon.

Have there been any Authors in particular, that inspired the writing of this story?

I am a huge fan of Bernard Cornwell, particularly his Arthurian and Uhtred series. I also loved Conn Iggulden’s Emperor series about Julius Caesar. I can’t say any of these books inspired the writing of Libertas, but after I had started writing I returned to Conn’s books where I read, in his author’s notes, that he had decided to leave out Caesar’s campaigns in Africa and Spain. I guess that opened the door for me, especially as I was unable to find any author since Caesar himself, Appian and Cassius Dio who had written about the Battle of Munda at any length!

Another author who inspired me while I was writing is Carlos Ruiz Zafon. I read Shadow of the Wind which is such a beautifully told story set in 50s Barcelona. I’m thinking of starting The Bruised Sky Club for authors who have pinched his phrase (as in ‘under a bruised sky’) – and there are several!

Finally, I also met Salley Vickers on a transatlantic cruise to New York in 2007, and promptly read Miss Garnet’s Angel. I confess that there is a character in Libertas by the name of Uriel who was created at around the time of reading this book, but it is entirely down to the reader to determine whether he is more than a wise hermit!



How did you choose the cover for the book?

I have a designer friend by the name of Phil Reuben who has an advertising design business called Novum Grafik. Phil had designed a temporary cover while I was searching for an agent and/or a publisher, so when Quaestor took Libertas on, I asked the publisher, Roger Bennett, if Phil could work this up to final artwork. To be honest, you should never do business with friends, because I messed Phil around something rotten by changing the brief every five minutes! In the end, we had the eagle (very relevant) and some fire and brimstone (irrelevant), but no reference to Romans to anchor it in history. That’s why Phil put a reflection of Caesar in the eagle’s eye (but you have to do more than just glance at it!). Food for thought, I hope. I’d recommend Phil to any publisher or author, though I doubt he’ll be too keen to take a brief from me for my next book.

Could you talk about some of the most positive experiences you’ve had while writing “Libertas”?

The flow. Once I saw the story in my head, well most of it, it just happened. At every point in my original plot, the story developed of its own accord. I so hope this happens again and again.

Perhaps a high point was when I showed the first few chapters to my son, Seb. Within a few hours he emailed me to say he was in love with the girl character, Leandra. I told him she was make-believe. He said that didn’t stop him dreaming about her. Now I’m worried…

Next, I put the first draft up on YouWriteOn.Com, a website funded by The Arts Council of Great Britain for new writers. It was under an earlier title, but it was the same story. It went to Number Two in the Top Ten of thousands in the blink of an eye. That’s when I knew it was ‘getting there’.

Then, my wife, Lynda, finally read the manuscript. Remember, historical fiction is not her scene. She had delayed because she was scared that she might not like it, and as a Capricorn, she would have to shoot from the hip.

She stayed in bed all weekend and read the whole damned thing, all 130,000 words. She loved it. Now she wants more. What more can I say?

How about the negative ones?

Agents. Almost to a man (or woman) they have a pile of rejection slips, which they sign in their sleep. I would still like an agent because I don’t have one. But I have a publisher. Ha!

I understand that your wife is also a writer. What is family life like with two writers in the house?

She’s not just a writer, she’s an artist. I am going to have to live with the fact that, writing and painting as The Menopausal Gardener, she is always going to be more successful than me. That’s cool. As long as she buys me a beer and a sandwich and doesn’t complain when I need to watch sport on TV. I’m happy to be her secretary.

Do you have any other projects that your readers can look forward to?

Oh yes. I’m writing ‘Goliath’, the real story of David and Goliath, right down there in the dust and grime of the Hebrews and Philistines three thousand years ago. Then I’ve got ‘False Prophet’, the story of an Assyrian diplomat in the court of King Hezekiah (and a madman called Isaiah), the Libertas sequels, a couple of stories from the fantastic history of Malta, and if that’s not enough, a modern angle on what happens when your wife’s ex-husband gets shirty about your move abroad. Four Weddings meets Notting Hill meets Kramer Versus Kramer.

Could you share some of your ways of marketing you book?

Please could I ask anyone who knows how to do this to email me? It would be so appreciated by a guy who lost touch with technology back in the days of Remington and Olympia typewriters, way before faxes….



Who is your favorite Author?

Just the one? OK. Here’s a shock and a blast from the past. Mary Renault.



Any final thoughts before you fall off the edge of the world?

Please read Libertas and, above all, tell me what you think. Only then will I decide whether to become a retired journalist-cum-bricklayer or continue as an author. I really do want to know what people think. And I’m not fishing for compliments – one can always improve!

Thank you for a great interview Alistair. I’m sure our readers will look forward to reading Libertas, as I do!





HERE ARE SOME GREAT LINKS FOR ALISTAIR'S WEBSITE WHERE TO BUY HIS BOOK AND SOME FELLOW AUTHORS.





Alistair Forrest http://www.alistairforrest.com/
My Amazon.com page http://www.amazon.com/dp/1906836078?tag=alistforre-21&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=1906836078&adid=0PFFAE1MJ6SNYX73VYN0&
My Amazon UK page http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1906836078?tag=alistforre-21&camp=1406&creative=6394&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=1906836078&adid=1ZCWJZBJ1SWT1X1S95Q9&
Publisher – Quaestor2000 http://www.quaestor2000.com/
Sir Patrick Cormack http://www.epolitix.com/mpwebsites/mpwebsitepage/mpsite/sir-patrick-cormack-fsa/mppage/home-57/?no_cache=1
Ken Follett http://www.ken-follett.com/
Bernard Cornwell http://www.bernardcornwell.net/
Conn Iggulden http://www.conniggulden.com/
Salley Vickers http://www.salleyvickers.com/
Novum Grafik http://www.novum.co.uk/
You Write On http://www.youwriteon.com/
Lynda Adlington – The Menopausal Gardener http://www.themenopausalgardener.com/

Virtual Book Blog Tour for Alistair Forrest

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL

Hope you will all check in on the 14th and 15th for Alistair's Book Tour. A great interview his new book "Libertas".

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Alistair Forrest

VIRTUAL BLOG TOUR

Libertas by Alistair Forrest

Put these dates on your calendar - April 14th & 15th
Do not miss this great interview and introduction to Alistair's new book.

The Mind of a Genius by David Snowdon

Welcome to David Snowdon and his latest book "The Mind of a Genius"

David, could you tell our readers a little about yourself. What are some of the events that have influenced your life today?

As a child I used to write and narrate short stories, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Later on in life, when I started reading novels, I had an urge to write. One day in 1983, I woke up and started writing a book. And that is how it started.

What inspired you to write your latest book “The Mind of a Genius”

I wrote my first espionage thriller in 1984, and I enjoyed writing it. Twenty-three years later, I had an urge to write a contemporary espionage thriller. And thus, The Mind of a Genius, was born.

David, do write a plot or outline before you start writing?

It all starts with an idea. When I get an idea for a story, I write an outline, I do some research and then I start writing.

Has there been any Authors in particular, that inspired the writing of this story?

The James Bond films that were the adaptations of Ian Fleming’s spy fiction novels initially got me interested in espionage movies as a child. But that isn’t why I wrote the book. I wrote, The Mind of a Genius, because I felt like writing a modern-day, espionage thriller.

What makes this book special to you?

Two things make it special. It’s my second published work and my first espionage novel to be published.

How did you choose the cover for the book?

It was chosen by the publisher. I just had to approve it.

Has there been any stumbling blocks in your writing of this book?

None that I can think of.

What was the most positive experience in writing, The Mind of a Genius?

I got a lot of satisfaction from writing another espionage thriller, twenty-three years after I wrote the first one. Writing the book brought back some good memories. The funny thing is that if you’ve done something before, the second time around is always easier than the first time.

What other projects are you currently working on?

I’m currently working on my new book.

Do you write to make money or for the love of writing?

It’s good to make some money, but money isn’t everything. And I would still do it even if I wasn’t making any money out of it, for the sheer satisfaction that I get from writing. The ability to create a story, the ability to create a plot, the ability to create characters and the ability to play with words is so wonderful. And I love it.

Could you share some of your ways of marketing your book?

The internet is a wealth of information for book promotion. At the moment, I’m doing a virtual blog tour.

Why did you not have the book you wrote in 1984 published?

The book wasn’t sent to the publishers.

Have you had a good response from the American market being a British Author?

Yes. So far there’s been a certain amount of interest. As far as I’m concerned, people will buy a book irrespective of where the author comes from, if they like the book.

Who is your favourite Author?

I haven’t read a lot of fiction lately, so I don’t have one at the moment.

Thank you very much for your time David andf good luck with your book. We look forward to the next one.

For more information see details below.

The Mind of a Genius by David Snowdon
(The Formula That Could Change The World)

Special Agent, Jason Clay from the MI4 is hired to find a secret formula that was invented by the famous British scientist, Malcolm Prince. The only weak element in Clay’s strategy to accomplish his mission is Laura Prince, the beautiful wife of the scientist, who Clay has to seduce in order to obtain the formula.

But the CIA, the Denmark Intelligence, the Australian Intelligence and many other very determined individuals are also after that formula, and can’t wait to get their hands on it. The competition is fierce, but who’s going to win?

The story develops as a travel through the world; with the action starting in London, then moving onto Copenhagen, Hong Kong and Australia.

Clay appears to be the right man for the job; extremely handsome and a natural charmer, nothing could be easier for him than seducing a beautiful woman in order to obtain a top secret.

For more information visit http://www.the-mind-of-a-genius.com/

About the book:
The Mind of a Genius by David Snowdon
ISBN: 978-0-9552650-1-3
Publisher: Pentergen Books
Pages: 288
S.R.P £6.99/ $13.56

Available from Waterstone’s, Blackwells, Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com and from the author at his website http://www.the-mind-of-a-genius.com/order.html

About David Snowdon -
British thriller writer, David Snowdon was born in London, and lives in London. He started writing in 1983, and wrote his first book, which hasn’t been published in 1984. His first published work, Too Young To die, was published in August 2006. And his second novel, The Mind of a Genius, was published in November 2007.

To learn more about David Snowdon and The Mind of a Genius, visit http://www.the-mind-of-a-genius.com/ and to learn more about his virtual tour in early 2009, http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2008/12/mind-of-genuis-by-david-snowdon.html

Post comments on any of the blog tour stops and be entered in a drawing for a copy of The Mind of a Genius.

Blog Tour for David Snowdon

Virtual Blog Tour for David Snowdon's new Book, "The Mind of a Genius" is under way and will be here in a couple of days. Check out Nikki Leigh's web site for a schedule. Check back here on the 28th for my interview with David.