Takeover Tuesday! World Building WIth Stacy Overby, Author of Tattoos...

Hello all and welcome once again to a Takeover Tuesday here on the Ol' Mountain Caller. Now with the great scent of pine for your additional enjoyment. Hehe. Today, our guest is Stacy Overby author of the Sci-Fi thriller Tattoos, coming to your hot little hands on December 15th. We've had Stacy here before, and I'm pleased to have her back(Guess I didn't annoy her enough to run her off last time. Heh) Let's check out the back cover blurb...

One hushed cry in the middle of the night, and Eli Thorson's life unravels. A highly trained Black Ops specialist, he is used to danger, but Eli's path forces him to confront the illusions he’s been taught his whole life -- ones that make him question all the good he thought he was doing.
Unable to work for a command that defiles the oaths he swore, he works to untangle the web of lies and deceit he finds woven throughout his worlds. The tattooed marks of his profession run more than skin deep. As a Specialist it is his duty to protect the people, the laws, and all the United Earth Government stands for, even if it means taking down the entire Black Ops division to do it.

Sounds pretty damn cool to me, gentle readers. Anyway, Stacy very kindly agreed to stop by the main offices of Mountain Caller Media, broadcasting to you from an undisclosed location, to give to you guys some tips for building worlds of your very own! So without futher guilding the lily, take it away, Stacy!

I had an interesting time with the world building aspects of my novel, Tattoos. Some things were great, others were a bit more challenging. Here’s are five things I wish someone would have told me when I created the Black Ops world.

1.      I don’t have to use a Judeo-Christian base to the world.

What does that mean? Hint, it’s not what you think. The most prominent piece of this actually comes from a rather entertaining aspect to the Black Ops world—the cursing. See, in the first draft, I used the curses I’m used to hearing. You know, standard American swear words. How many other military-esque novels and movies use standard American English curse words? But I had a dear friend and beta reader offer me a great piece of advice. Standard American English curse words are based in a Judeo-Christian worldview. Hell is derived from this religious structure, as is Christ, when used as a curse. That, my friends, is how much of the cursing in Tattoos is in Greek instead. There is some Standard American cursing because we are talking about multiple cultures and worlds, so it is conceivable these curses also survived, but they weren’t the only ones.

2.      Speaking of language, think about languages.

Even though the dialogue in Tattoos is in English, I did put some thought into the languages being spoken. There is a standard or universal language, which is essentially the English the characters use. But, through implication, and directly in later books, other languages show up. This is really about making sure readers are aware English is not the only language being used in a world where there are multiple planets and cultures. I would argue you don’t have to go so far as to invent new languages, like J.R.R. Tolkien did, but at least write as if those languages exist.

3.      Create new creatures.

This is something that should go without saying. After all, this is one of the things I love the most about writing in the speculative fiction genres. We get to create whatever we want, and it doesn’t have to be even close to real. But that being said, we do need to pay attention to ensure there is consistency and logic to what we create. That’s what makes these fantastical realms believable. If you create a massive creature, but then argue it’s as light as a feather, you’d better have a good explanation for it that carries through other parts of your world as well, or readers won’t be propelled into the story. Same thing goes for building creatures that are completely invincible. Everything has weaknesses, so make sure your creatures do to.

4.      Don’t get lost in the technology.

While Tattoos has some awesome technology in it, you’ll notice I did not make this a big part of the book. There are several reasons for this, but one of which is that it’s so easy to get lost creating all this cool technology that can do so many things. Think of the scene in Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy where Trillian is showing Arthur around the Heart of Gold spaceship. She’s so excited by all the different technological gadgets that didn’t exist on Earth. While they’re cool, they are not what’s going to keep readers hooked into the book and they are not generally going to be the pieces that propel the story forward. So, even if you’re writing a hard science fiction piece, the technology still needs to be balanced with things like characterization, plot, and settings.

5.      Write it all down as you invent it.

This is probably the biggest thing I wish someone would have taught me before I got as far as I did with the Black Ops world. I found myself in the unfortunate position of having to constantly go back through the book looking for references to planets, to different pieces of technology, and even the curse words I mentioned earlier. This is even more important if you’re going to write more than one book, which I am in the Black Ops universe. Taking good notes about all the world building will save you a lot of time with making sure things are consistent within the book and across books.

            Bonus Tip: Science Fiction world building is a lot of work.

Yep, it is. Even though it’s a cool way to world build because you don’t have to worry as much about making sure specific details to real life places are accurate, it’s got its own challenges. See, because you can literally make it all up, there’s a type of paralysis that happens with it. A feeling of being overwhelmed by choices can happen. This means you have basically two approaches you can use. There’s the careful planner who will spend quite a bit of time detailing out all the aspects I mentioned and more before ever starting the story. Then there’s people like me. We just start writing and pray to whatever higher power that we don’t make too much of a mess with it. While the first method may produce elaborately detailed worlds and may resolve some of the consistency issues, the second can help generate a much more organic feel to the story. It also can help authors get to the story faster, though it does mean doing some research on the fly. Just make sure you don’t go into the story thinking science fiction world building is easy simply because you can make it all up. It’s perhaps some of the most challenging world building for that very fact.

So, there you have it. Five things I wish I would have been told while creating the Black Ops universe. I even threw in a bonus tip for you. Science fiction world building is great fun, but also challenging. I hope what I offered here helps and, as always, let me know how it goes!

Awesome. Thanks, Stacy! *MAKES NOTES* So once again that's Tattoos by the Splediferous Stacy Overby, available for preorder now, releasing on Dec. 15th published by our good friends over at Our Write Side Ink.

You can get your hot little hands on a copy from Amazon Kindle HERE, from Smashwords HERE, and from Draft 2 Digital HERE.

Want to follow Stacy on the various Social Medias and let her know what a Hoopy Frood she is? Sure you do. You can do that...

                Website: www.thisisnothitchhikersguide.com

                On Facebook at: www.facebook.com/thisinothitchhikersguide

                On Twitter at: www.twitter.com/dontpanic2011

                On Google+ at: https://plus.google.com/+StacyOverby

                On Instagram at: www.instagram.com/mamawisper78

                and on Pinterest at: www.pinterest.com/dontpanic2011

That's going to do it for now. Hope you guys enjoyed this Takeover Tuesday. We'll see you next time here on the Mountain Caller when I find something else to ramble about. Hehe.

Carry On Smartly, My Friends.

Author Takeover! Rebekah Jonesy Interviews Pitch From the Upcoming Clay and Blood!

Afternoon, all. Today here on The Mountain Caller, we're going to do something a bit differently. Today, the splendiferous Rebekah Jonsey is making a return appearance as part of her blog tour for the upcoming Clay and Blood, Mab's Doll Series book 2. But hey, why should I have to do all the work around here? So today, Beks is going to be interviewing one of her characters, the Kelpie Pitch. Should be fun. So take it away, Beks!

Hello everyone, my name is Rebekah Jonesy and I am here today on Mountaincaller to interview Pitch the Kelpie. To start things off I have to let people know that “Pitch” isn’t his real name. It is a name he has accepted to use during this time. Because you won’t give us your real name, will you?

*Pitch shakes his massive head, mane flapping around the room hitting the ceiling.*

Ok instead of having to crane my neck up to see your massive Clydesdale like head up there, could you maybe lay down or

*eyes go wide as Pitch shrinks in size and shape to resemble a small Greyhound dog*

*Pitch wanders around the entryway sniffing at shoes that have been placed neatly by the door before disappearing behind a cloak hanging from a hook on the wall*

Ok yeah, you could do that too. Uhm, what was I saying? Oh, anyway, we don’t know Pitch’s real name so we will stick with his username for the purpose of this interview.

*Pitch appears to think about it, then nods his head sagely before walking off slightly*

Ok, so, another thing about Pitch, he doesn’t talk. While kelpies can talk, they prefer not to do so. Right?

*Pitch looks over and sticks his tongue out and lifts his lip in disgust*

I’m taking that as a yes. That’s why I am doing most of the talking here. Having a bit of experience with him, I thought I would do a better job talking with and understanding Pitch. Or maybe translating is a better way of putting it.

So Pitch, you are a friend of Gillian’s the hero of the story Clay and Blood. Can you tell us why you came on this journey with her?

Pitch?

*Pitch lifts his head, just his head, up from behind the couch where he has wandered off to*

Did you hear what I said?

*Pitch nods and I have to wonder where his neck is*

Are you going to answer? Or give me a hint at least?

*With a snickering laugh Pitch shakes his head violently in denial, doing a good impression of a tea kettle being shaken on a stick as I finally see his pencil thin stretched neck*

Is it because Danu asked you to come?

*more snickers waft out from behind the couch along with some snuffling sounds*

I think that might be a no-

*more snickers*

Or a yes?

*a tiny rat shape trundles out from under the couch and wanders over to the bookcase*

I really hope that’s you, Pitch

*the shape on the floor stops and looks over a me, growing slightly in size until I can see the red vapor wafting around the eyes*

Yup, that’s Pitch. Unless Drew is using a very interesting and possibly radioactive bait for mutant rats. Ok if it wasn’t Danu that asked you join Gillian then why did you join? And how did you know where and when to meet with Gillian and Mab at the pier?

*Pitch’s grin stretched back farther than his face reached*

Are you going to tell --

*Pitch’s nose is now big enough that I realize he is growing it larger on purpose*

Oh you smelled them? You sniffed them out so you knew where they were.But how did you know that they would-- Pitch? Where are you-- Pitch I don’t think Drew would like that.

*Pitch stops pawing at the books on the bookcase to turn a baleful gaze on me*

Those are his books Pitch. His stories. That is how we humans share information and pass them on.

*Pitch turns back to the books and sniffs at them delicately. With a pleased smile he leaves them alone and walks off to wander around a desk*

Ok so back to … uhm. Oh, you and Gillian swam to shore in New Jersey where you met Officer Brown. He was the one that first suggested your usename. What did you think about him?

*Pitch sits down on his haunches to think about it. After a moment he lifts both front legs with his paws facing up in a way that proves that despite his shape his is no dog. He moves alternates both paws up and down as if he is weighing something.*

So not good or bad?

*Pitch goes back to sniffing around the desk*

Ok, how did you feel when you learned that he was being controlled by a siren?

*raucous laughter erupts from under the desk*

Why is that funny?

*Pitch struts out from under the desk. A gold championship belt is wrapped around his middle.*

Where did you even find that?!

*Ignoring the question Pitch grows in size and rears up on his hind legs until he is taller than I am when standing. Sitting he now towers over me as he flexes his front legs in an exaggerated pose framing the championship belt he has somehow managed to wear on his waist*

What are you doing?

*Pitch snarls and stomps around on his back legs, continuing to make silly strong man poses which look even more bizarre on his contorted canine shape then they do on humans*

That’s Drew’s trivia championship belt. We shouldn’t mess with that.

*Pitch laughs and shakes his head*

What do you mean no? That’s his. He made it, and won the rights to wear it.

*Pitch shrugs and nods*

So it’s his.

*Pitch shakes his head again.

Yes it is. This is his place. All of this is his.

*Pitch shakes his head again*

How is it not? We’re at his place doing this interview now --

*Pitch shrinks in size, the belt sliding off. Using his back feet he scrapes at the carpet, kicking the belt away and continuing to scratch at the floor*

“I’ve seen my dog do the same thing when another dog has been in the… yard… Pitch.. Oh no. Tell me you didn’t.”

*Pitch laughs uproariously and prances around the room scratching at the floor near every place he has stopped*

“You’re removing his scent. Which means you used your own scent to mark… Oh. Oh no.”

*Pitch dashes around the room, jumping on furniture and laughing his fool head off*

“Please tell me kelpies mark like cats with their cheeks and not like dogs!”

*Without responding Pitch laughs again and races to the door, knocks the door handle down, and bolts outside. His laughter can be heard fading into the distance*

Uhm so that’s all we have time for, folks! We’ll get out of Drew’s lair here, hopefully before he gets back. And before I have to pay for a carpet cleaning. Uhm, in case anyone is wondering… uh… being marked by a kelpie is considered good luck. Yeah! Yeah it is. Yup. Let’s not tell Drew about that just in case he doesn’t know though. Ok? Ok. So thanks for listening, watching, whichever, I’m not really sure what happened here and if you would like to read more about this and the others characters, I promise Pitch isn’t making any more stops in anyone else’s homes this tour, please check out my book Clay and Blood.
books2read.com/u/mqZk6v

And please join me on the rest of the stops on my book release blog tour for Clay and Blood. I did a lot of fun interviews, different flavor for each one. I also wrote character spotlights and articles that I thought were a lot of fun. So check out ourwriteside.com for those links or my blog http://rebekahjonesy.blogspot.com/ for the list, that’s also where I post glowing reviews on all of JD’s works so far. I will also be posting the links on my reader group on Facebook where I let my geek flag fly proudly and talk about my books and writing. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1214371635362864

Dang it, you guys! It's a mess in here! Hmmm, I may have to rethink letting other people in here. Well anyway, check out Rebekah online and go get Clay and Blood when it comes out on Halloween! And be sure to check out the other stops on Beks' Blog Tour. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go find the carpet steamer...

Blogside Chat: Stacy Overby, author of Scath Oran,,,

Back once again with the blog behavior, friends. And today we have another Blogside Chat with a really cool author I know. Today, our guest, hitchhiking in from beyond that Gagralacka Mind Zones is Stacy Overby, author of the upcoming fae poetry collection Scath Oran, available on September 22, 2042. No, wait, I meant 2018. Hehe. Anyway, let's get to it!

-What got you into the world of pure imagination that is writing?

                A childhood of avoidance. Writing is an ultimate form of dodging things. Seriously, I was pretty introverted as a child and grew up in a family where books and writing played a big part. My dad taught me to love sci-fi and fantasy through the books he bought and passed on to me to read. My mom would come into my elementary school classrooms with stories she’d written for whatever recent holiday. The stories would feature all the kids in the class. I loved it. These things probably didn’t help my introverted tendencies much. Getting old and ornery did a much better job of addressing those introverted tendencies.

-Tell us a bit about Scath Oran.

                This poetry collection takes readers on a journey through the Otherworld. Some of the denizens there you may recognize, such as the banshee and the fae themselves. There are others, though, who are not quite as well known, such as cait sith and the merrow. Even Death himself puts in an appearance before you find the doors back into our world, safe on this side of the Veil. The question is, what will you find when you take this journey?

-What inspired you to write Scath Oran? One too many viewings of Labyrinth? Kidnapped by the Fae as a child? Fae Curse?

                No picking on Labyrinth! I love that movie. I don’t think I was ever kidnapped by the fae as a child, though if I grew up a Changling Child, would I know it? I do sometimes think there are some fairies I pissed off somewhere that have cursed my life—you know that whole “May you live in interesting times” thing. Wait, that’s a Chinese curse. It still applies, though.

                Shoot. I did it again, didn’t I? Squirrel moment. Anyway, Scath Oran came about as a cross between poetry lessons and a challenge I couldn’t back down from. An amazing classical poet friend was giving lessons in things like meter and form—stuff I struggle with since I am a thoroughbred pantser—in one of my writing groups. About the same time someone else threw out a challenge of seeing through an entire project. Throw in the love for all things Celtic I hold, and I ended up with what would become Scath Oran. Which, at least from what I could find online, is a cross of Irish and Scots Gaelic for shadow song.

-When you sit down to write, what’s your process for getting yourself into the groove?

                *Hangs head and cries while muttering “why do I always get asked this???* Wait, you heard that? As you can tell, my process is rather minimal as an organized process. Between running a teenage co-occurring treatment program and a six-year-old at home, processes tend to be impossible to keep for long in my life. I write in between meetings, during swim lessons, while staying up way later than I should. You get the picture. One trick I use, though, is music. I have a variety of playlists for different stories and such I am working on. So, while I’m in the car to and from the various places I need to be, I have that on. Let me tell you, it’s pretty cute to hear my son singing most of the words to songs from the likes of Shinedown, Linkin Park, and Breaking Benjamin. I also tend to compose quite a bit in my head and pray to the writing powers I don’t forget what I’ve got worked out.

-Do you know where your towel is?

                Always! As with all good hitchhikers, I never leave home without it. Never know when it may come in handy. Just ask Ford and Arthur.

-What is your favorite Fae creature?

                Oooo. Tough call. I love the origin stories of the banshee, but cait sith and cu sith are cool. Though, the selkies tend to draw me back. There is something about the way the shapeshifting takes place with the selkies that fascinates me. I’m not sure I’ve run across a shapeshifter who, as a natural part of the process, dons or shed skin to transform. Plus, rather than being this terrible or cursed existence, the selkies tend to be one of tragedy. However, there is one variation I used in Scath Oran. This myth talks about the selkie wife who returns to the sea when her husband’s ship is wrecked in a storm. She gives up her happy life on land to save his life. I know this is still somewhat a tragedy, but there’s a brighter ending in that the selkie saves her husband’s life. I think some of the unusualness of the selkie myths—the tragedy rather than horror and trickery, the gentleness rather than blood and war—are what hold the selkies apart for me. Plus, they’re not a very common creature to read about in fantasy right now.

-When the mischievous Fae descend on you and steal your motivation, what do you do to get your mojo back?

                Go have some fun. Fairies will sometimes steal things when you’re in a foul mood. When you let go of that, they’ll give it back. See, they like having fun and music and such—at least the nicer fairies. If it’s the darker fairies who stole my mojo, then it’s a whole different story. They won’t give it back, so I have to conjure more mojo to replace what they stole. Movies and music are good starters for me. I have a whole board of prompts on Pinterest to play with in the hopes of conjuring mojo. I’m also a fidgety person, so going for a walk, riding my bike, cleaning, or most anything where I can move will help as well. Worst case scenario when these things aren’t working? I take a break, conceding the Fae may know more than me at that point.

-Describe your perfect writer's hideout. Cabin in the forest made of enchanted books? Candlelit room in a tall tower? Faery glade?

                All of the above. But they’ll be on the edge of an ocean in a place where the weather cooperates with me most of the time. I don’t like the cold that much, but snow is a must in the winter. It also has to have room for the family, but enough stuff to keep them occupied so that when I’m writing they’re happy and leaving me alone. I’d need a scribe, too, so I can hang with my family but still dictate stuff—ooo, better yet, a mind reader who only can tell what my story is and can get it written down for me.

-Which magical realm would you pick to retire in?

                Hmmm. Tough call. My first thought is to pick Middle Earth because it’s Middle Earth. Nothing else needed to say there. However, there are so many other cool realms to explore. Bishop’s three realms from the Black Jewels series is amazing. Then there’s Narnia with the animals and fairy creatures and all. But I also like some of the more sci-fi worlds like L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time, Stargate-Atlantis, and Star Wars. Can I just build a realm hopping machine so I can visit them all?

-Where can we find you on the interwebs?

                I can be found at: www.thisisnothitchhikersguide.com

                On Facebook at: www.facebook.com/thisinothitchhikersguide

                On Twitter at: www.twitter.com/dontpanic2011

                On Google+ at: https://plus.google.com/+StacyOverby

                On Instagram at: www.instagram.com/mamawisper78

                and on Pinterest at: www.pinterest.com/dontpanic2011

-Lastly, what do you think the question to the Ultimate Answer of Life, the Universe and Everything is?

                Everyone knows the answer is 42, but it’s the question that’s so tricky, isn’t it? I think the Ultimate Question is “How many stuffed animals will it take for my son to settle down and go to sleep?”. Yes, he insists he must bury himself with stuffed animals before going to sleep. Life, the Universe, and Everything depends on that, trust me. (And yes, I know it is really “What is six by nine?”).

Thanks, Stacy! Hope you all enjoyed this latest Blogside Chat! Now, off you go to preorder Stacy's book. And if you read it and you like it, one of the best things you can do is to leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads and places like that. Really, we authors love that! Until next time, Carry on smartly, my friends.

Blogside Chat: Robert Cano, author of The Dark Archer...

Back once again with the Chat behavior. Today, we've got Robert Cano, author of The Dark Archer, coming out on July 26th. So let's get into it, and see what Robert has to say...

-So this book of yours, The Dark Archer. Tell the folks at home a little something about it. And really sell it, get them clamoring to attain a copy!

Well, The Dark Archer is focused on Bene, who we last saw at the very end of The Suffering.  Bene was once a captain of the guard, highly ranked in the Kingdom of Preju.  He held a high station, and he was charged with the protection of the princess whom he helped to raise when she was sent away to neighboring kingdom.  What came of that, we see in TS.

However, what I really wanted to do with TDA was expand out the world.  I wanted the world to start getting much bigger, and not only for my characters, but for my readers.  So often, we find ourselves contented to live out our day to day lives, in our small little corners and neighborhoods, many times never leaving the cities in which we grew up.  Sometime we never leave our neighborhood.  This tale is not about that.  It’s about both the beauty and the danger of everything we rarely, if ever, have the courage to see.

I have long believed that the things most worth fighting for, the things we find most beautiful in our world, are often the scariest, or most dangerous.

In the end, the story is about Bene.  But what we get to see through his eyes, as he sees it...well, I hope it takes your breath away.

-What got you into this whole madness we call being a writer? Were you rummaging around in your grandparents’ attic and discover a strange, dusty old leather tome called “1,001 Weird Fantasy Plot Ideas?” Or did you just think, “Hey, that’d be really cool to do?

Madness is right!  So, my writing began with poetry, at the ripe old age of 19.  Now, I’ve long had the gift of writing, I’d argue, but to think I could actually pen something worth reading?  I think that’s a way different beast.

My imagination is always running.  I remember being a kid in middle school, where I spent the majority of my time grounded, in my room, without even being allowed a book to read if it wasn’t for school (my parents knew reading for me was an escape, a passion, so they could never use it as a punishment).  And so, because my time was spent staring off into the blankness of four walls, I had to conjure a way to make it through… and that’s exactly what I did.

-What got you into fantasy? Did a wizard show up at your door and make you cook for a bunch of hungry dwarves? Did an owl drop off a mysterious letter? Did a dragon steal your lunch money? What are the deets, man?

Definitely the wizard.  That doggone Maia came at me bro.  I fell in love with The Hobbit at a very young age, thanks to my mom.  That led to reading everything I could by Tolkien, and this led to a lifelong love of fantasy.  

However, I read all sorts of genres.  Some of my favorites being The Vampire Chronicles, by Anne Rice, particularly those stories where we go back in time, like Blood and Gold, or the Vampire Armand.  I love Thomas Harris, Steinbeck, Hawthorne, and many others.  And I would have to say that each of these authors have contributed to my writing in one way or another. But fantasy is the one thing I always came back to.  I read through Tolkien’s works every year.  I enjoy Sanderson, Brooks, Jordan, McCaffery and many others.  I love comics, where the idea of superheroes really lends itself to thinking big.  And then there is one of my first loves, mythology.  The myths and legends of our own world are so rich and diverse and extraordinary, that using them just made sense.

-If you could form a dream team of fictional archers, who would get the nod and be drafted by Team Cano?

First one?  Bene.  Hands down.  The bow and arrow isn’t necessarily his only weapon, as he’s proficient in many weapons, but with his skills as a wraith… he don’t miss.  Second would have to be Green Arrow.  Then Legolas.  And then Sylvanas Windrunner, of Warcraft fame.

-What would your ideal Writer’s Fortress of Solitude look like? A lonely room at the top of a tall castle tower? A roadside inn? A nicely appointed cave in the middle of the Fae forest? Paint me a word picture.

I’ve always dreamed of having a tower with a view.  With tempered glass making the walls of the tower, up to a circular office space with 360 degree views of the world around me, complete with a decent balcony all around.  Perhaps one, perhaps not…  But that would be amazing.  And this tower can be jutting out of the top of my home, resting above the second or third floor, depending on what I decide to do.

-If you could go live in the fictional world of your choice, where would we have to forward your mail to?

Obviously, Arda is on that list.  For those who aren’t as massive Tolkien lore nerds as I am, that’s the world where Middle Earth can be found.  Valinor is the other huge continent, which is also called the Undying Lands. 

I also wouldn’t mind GRRM’s world, as long as I’m not too far north.  Or a part of a major family.  Or in the politics at all.

I hope you and many others will want to adventure in my world of Arduil.  In The Dark Archer, we get to see a glimpse of Tylirion, which is one of the continents (one which we will get to see more of later), and we spend the most of our time in Aariad.  Even with expanding the world, there are great swathes of land we will yet have to get to.  Tales coming.

-Apart from being a writer, what’s something that the folks at home and out there in Webland should know about you?

I am actually an archer myself.  I’m a father, a job I take super seriously, and I enjoy probably more than anything.  My girls are my world, and some of my biggest fans, even if they can’t read my works just yet.  I also love to teach both poetry and writing, and I do a fair bit of editing.

I’m pretty easy-going.  I just love to live life, enjoying my time with my girls.  While I would say I have a good number of friendships I’ve cultivated over the years, people I’ve come to love and admire, it is like pulling teeth trying to get me out of my house.  I much prefer to be behind my screen, writing, or watching a good movie, or just having a quiet night, uneventful and without craziness, or, much like you, escape to books, since reality sucks.  The addled life of an introvert.

-When those wicked, tricksy and false Doubt Hobbits steal your One Ring of Inspiration and hot-foot it towards a volcano to chuck it in, what are some of the things you do to cut those nasty little flat-foots off at the pass and get your mojo back?

Simple answer?  Live. Let me explain.  I’ve found that when the well runs dry, it’s either from doing too much not associated with getting my creative juices flowing, or it’s from running out of things to write about.  So I go out and live a bit.  I taste the world again.  I chase down those nasty hobbitses and have a riddle battle with them, maybe enjoy some potatoes with them. 

Our world, our universe, is all the inspiration I really need, but sometimes us writers get stuck and forget to go visit the world beyond our windows.  So I’ll take time off from writing.  I’ll learn, I’ll live, I’ll put it all together and figure out how to better myself.

-If we were to give you the bow of your dreams, what would you want? Old English longbow? Mongol Warbow? The God Gorgon of Brave Raideen? Choose your weapon, sir.

I’d probably go with the Crimean Tatar bow.  It was a composite bow, recurve design.  There were other types of recurves, but the longer design of this particular recurve allowed for more kinetic energy.  The kinetic energy output from a bow is different from the speed.  We’re talking about penetration power vs pure speed. 

Compound bows are okay, but they’re created for speed.  What I want is for my arrows to shatter bones, should they come into contact with them.  With the right broadhead, my quarry will bleed out in short time with just a decent shot...doesn’t even have to be perfect.

And I’ve won tournaments with my shooting skills.  hehehe.

-Do you listen to music while you write, and if so, what’s your favorite writing playlist?

Yes!  I kinda have to.  I have ADD, and the music helps me focus.  With that said, I usually pop on YouTube and listen to the Mixhound Chillstep 24/7 livestream.  Most of the time the music is exactly what I need to get my fingers flowing. 

Specific artists that I love include: Ferven, Michael FK, AK, Phaura, Skrux, Headphone Activist, and many others.

-What can we look forward to in the future from your fingers and brain?

Well, I have this series I’m working on, with the sequel to TDA, The Shadow Cult, coming hopefully next year.  The Shadow Cult continues the adventures of one or more of our heroes from TDA, and it explores in more depth the darker elements that had left us with only questions at the end of TDA.  

Also coming from that world are:  

The Fall
The Great War
Aurelle
Reyvyn’s Dance
Reyvyn’s Song
Reyvyn’s Sorrow

From my science fiction series:

A Mother’s Love
A Daughter’s Hate
Death’s Widow

-Lastly, let the folks know where they can find you on the InterTubez.

You can find me on my blog at www.shadowyembrace.com

Twitter and Instagram are both @shadowyembrace

And feel free to follow me on Facebook, at www.facebook.com/RobertECanoII/

Awesome. Thanks for being here, Robert! Remember to check out The Dark Archer on July 26th. And thanks to all the folks at home for tuning in and checking out another Blogside Chat. Hehe. Until next time...

Blog Tour stop with Rebekah Jonesy, Author of Moss and Clay...

Hello again, friends. Once more, we journey into the breach of the mind of one of the author folks I know as she's doing a blog tour. Today, our guest is the splendiferous Rebekah Jonesy, and, well, without further ado and/or gilding the lily, let's just go ahead and jump right into it. Take it away, Beks! And, um... Me. 

-So this book of yours, Moss and Clay. Tell us something about it. Justify its existence!! Hehe

Lilian told me to write it. So I did. She made me do it! *sobs*
For reals though, Lilian and I were chatting one day and this concept came up. Of a crafted fae warrior sent to America to sort through all the crazy mixed up ghost stories, urban legends, myths and creepy pasta that exists here and see if any are fae related. Which evolved into this amazing story line and series that I just can’t stop writing.

- So what was it that made you take the boat down the terrifying rainbow tunnel into the world of pure imagination that we call writing?

Reality bites. The worst part is, no one really knows the truth of it either. Instead we all have our own versions, our own perspectives. Ever since I was a little I tried to figure out the why and how of people’s perspectives. My brain always likes to come up with “waht if” (This is why I need Heidi RedPen Angell) situations. And after a time I realized that if I honed those ideas, and got a good editor, I could have a good story of “What if a character like this was put into a situation like that? How would they react? How would the world be influenced? Why would someone end up in a situation like that?” Instead of the random ideas that floated around in my head nonstop that never developed real form on paper.

And to be perfectly honest I wrote my first, and my last, book as a clapback to the 50 shades BS.

-If you could form a literary super-team of authors, each having powers based on what you think their strengths as writers, who would be on your team, what would their powers be, and of course what would you call your team?

My first thought was of course Joshua Robertson. Then I thought about what his power would be and immediately dropped him from the team. I know what he does to heroes. Same with Robert Cano. But…

Lilian, the Sassinator Oake, she adds sass and joy to all the things.

Diane “Revealer” Duane, shows how even the most mundane things like cars can have a magic all their own.

Andy, the Worldbuilder, Peloquin, he can make anything epic and fit together.

R.A. “Righteous Attitude” Salvatore, makes sure all the heroes are on righteous paths.

Anais Babygirl Chartschenko to bring heart, love, and feeling to all the works.

And of course Heidi “RedPen” Angell, to make sure all the words are right and true.

By their powers combined, they are Script Squad.

I think I had a book geekgasm just thinking about that. *shivers*

-What would your ideal writing cave look like? Old Irish pub? Room in the Library of Alexandria? An actual cave? Set the scene!

I already have this planned out. I live on 5 acres of mostly wooded property. About ⅔ of the way back there is a natural clearing. It’s surrounded by cedars, poison ivy, and trilliums of all things. It’s half in shade, half in sun because of the tree canopy. I want to build a writing cave in the middle of that. It will have giant barn doors, a clear roof that retracts or folds back. It will have a bench with a thick cushion to lay on and tons of pillows and that awesome 360 desk that is completely adjustable and holds your keyboard and everything in place no matter how you set it. And of course a massive 5 gallon coffee maker, bar, fridge, and microwave for food.

-If you were granted the chance to retire in the fictional book world of your choice and live out your days there, where would I have to go to come visit you and get you to make me some coffee? Hehe

Midkemia, one of Feist’s worlds in the Riftwar saga. I like the balance he created with his world and cultures. The magic system is also amazing and I would hope I would have some magic ability. Also, dragons.  But not your normal dragons. Oh no. These are dragons that evolve as they age. Not to mention they have coffee and cigarettes there. hehe

-So apart from being a writer, what’s something else that the folks at home should know about you?

I am one hell of a cook. For the last few years, since I moved back down to near sea level, I have been experimenting with cakes. I make super awesome cakes now. I used to run a catering gig to a Naval base too. And pilots would find reasons to land at the base to get some of my food. It caused quite an issue. But the officers were also stopping by to get food so we never got in trouble for it. Quite a few people have told me that I should open a catering business because my party food is off the chain.

-Marvel or DC. Which is best in life?

As comics I prefer Marvel. The story lines and stories were on point. The characters were well developed and complex. They often touched on real world issues, including ones that were hard to deal with. Sadly, the movies do not live up to that. The characters are all wrong. I don’t think any of the actors even read the comics that the movies were based on. For sure the directors didn’t. It’s just very sad and really pisses me off that they got so much wrong.

So as movies I would say DC. Just because they held true to the original characters and stories a little bit better.

-When the Doubt Mongols come screaming over the horizon, what do you do to vanquish them and keep yourself motivated?

Put on my cranky or sassy pants. I have three older siblings.  I’m used to being criticized and doubted. It stopped bothering me a long time ago. So when doubt pops up, I ignore what it says and bang out even better work. If anything it motivates me to do better every time.

-If you listen to music while you write, what sort of music lives in your writing playlist to make your brain rawk out?

I actually don’t listen to music. Or anything. I put on noise cancelling headphones and kinda bebop to the story in my head.

-Anything else coming soon from your fingers and brain?

All kinds of stuff. I have a bdsm billionaire romance coming out that mocks 50 shades. It’s already written and just needs finishing touches on covers and whatnot. I am finishing up writing book 2 of Mab’s Doll. I have a few short stories I plan to write. Some about Gillian of Mab’s Doll, some are a new silly thing I am playing with I am calling unRomances. I take “romantic” tropes and stereotypes and see how they would play out in real world situations. I’ll give you a hint, a lot of people end up getting slapped, dumped, and having charges filed. For that I will probably set up a Patreon account so I have someplace useful to post it all. And of course gobs of reading for research and fun. I have a readers group, Bekah’s Books,  and we’re about to start discussing urban legends and their origins. I’m really excited to see what people from different regions have as their local stories.

-Let us know where people can find you on the Interwebz so that we can bombard you with Words With Friends and Candy Crush requests.

You can find me at any of these places

https://twitter.com/dirtyrjonesy

https://www.facebook.com/authorRebekahJonesy/

http://rebekahjonesy.blogspot.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8292001.Rebekah_Jonesy

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/RebekahJonesy

http://www.amazon.com/Rebekah-Jonesy/e/B00NQ5Z1CS

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1214371635362864/

 Or sign up for my Newsletter to get it all condensed and delivered to you.

-Say good night, Rebekah.

Good night, Rebekah.

Awesome, thanks, Beks! So that's going to do it for another blog tour stop(I need to come up with a better name for these things. heh). Thanks to Rebekah Jonesy for stopping by, and thanks to all of you for stopping by. Be sure to check out Beks' book, follow her on the Interwebz, read the book leave a review, generally be cool. Heh. Join us again, at some point probably, for a blog tour stop. In the mean time, I'll probably be rambling about random topics. So we've got that going for us, which is nice.

Carry on Smartly, My Friends.