It’s week two of the tour. Drop by for interviews, excerpts from Toxic Relationship, book reviews and a promotional giveaway for readers of the blogs — a $10 gift certificate for Amazon. Yeah, cool. So come along for the ride. The stops this week are:
For the next four weeks, I’ll be on a blog tour sharing Toxic Relationship with readers. There will be interviews, excerpts from Toxic Relationship, book reviews and at a number of stops along the way, we’ll have a promotional giveaway for readers of the blogs — a $10 gift certificate for Amazon. Yeah, cool. So come along for the ride. The stops this week are:
January, thanks so much for being with me today. You’ve had quit an exciting few weeks with the release of your first novel, FOREVER MAN. At the end of the interview readers will get a chance to win a free copy, but more on that later. We all want to know more about the novel, but first, let’s talk about you and your writing.
I’m always curious about what jazzes creative artists. Where do you find the inspiration for your writing?
Everywhere! The world abounds with stories. My only regret is that there is not enough time in one human life span to write them all…
On a more concrete level, I do find movies often work as muse. Forever Man was inspired after watching The Green Mile, a wonderful Tom Hanks movie about the power of healing and redemption.
What are you reading right now? What’s an all-time favorite read?
I just finished reading a gem of a novella from Rita Bay titled Into The Lyons’ Den and currently reading Jude Johnson’s Dragon’s Legacy. She is a real wordsmith and I am really enjoying the journey. Toxic Relationship is on my must-read list and I am looking forward to reading your esteemed book, Richard. I’m always impressed by the quality of writing at Champagne Books so my list keeps growing of what to read. My current goal is to read one by every author…
Yes, I agree January. We’re in pretty good company at Champagne Books. What do you find to be the most challenging thing about being a writer? And how do you cope with that challenge?
Having to have a day job! No, I do like teaching but it does drain one of vital energy by the end of a day, so I like to write in the early mornings with a fresh perspective and commitment and that helps with the process. I have found to my astonishment that I am rather a prolific writer.
What do like the most about being a writer?
Writing down words that become paragraphs that become scenes that ultimately fill a novel with a story. The journey is everything!
If you could go anywhere, do anything, where would you go and what would you do?
Back in time (to have more time). Perhaps that is why I wrote, The Time Key, a science fiction book about going back in time to “fix” the past to make the present possible. I think that is also why I like to write about immortals as they get the full gift of forever time. Just imagine what you could accomplish!!!
Tell us about FOREVER MAN, your novel now available for purchase online?
Here’s my back cover description:
From Bluewater California to Nome Alaska, Ellie Hightower has made the journey looking for a fresh start.
Her new found gifts of telepathy and healing are frightening her, and driving her to want to find a normal life in the very place her beloved Gran talked about all her life. But the last thing she was expecting was to fall in love with Mike Stone, her new boss.
Their amazing love story has only just begun when Katrianna, a beautiful vampire, comes along. Her sexy antics upset the women of Nome, and Ellie most of all, as Katrianna is soon looking to have Mike all to herself and destroy her new found happiness.
Where did the idea come from? I remember it as clear as if the moment had just happened: I was watching The Green Mile, and was mesmerized by the idea that the gentle giant, imprisoned unfairly in jail for a crime committed by an another, could heal others by taking on their illness and then just letting the evil flow back into obscurity by exhaling through his lungs. I coveted that gift with every fiber of my being. I had just lost two beloved brothers to cancer and had to stand by and watch it happen. My heroine, Ellie Hightower, was going to have it so much better than me! She was going to have the gift of healing and save those she loved. I know why I write romantic stories—the happy, guaranteed ending.
And Ellie has it going on! She’s a young woman led by her heart who takes others under her wing. I hope she touches your heart as she has mine.
I know I get attached to my characters. Which of your characters in FOREVER MAN is your favorite? Why?
Definitely Ellie. Forever Man is very dear to my heart. I coveted the gift of healing that my character Ellie Hightower had in spades. I got to live, through her fresh eyes, the experience of healing others of deadly disease. Can’t imagine a better gift to have—to be able to heal others. Now add the gift of time and the two blessings together would be the ultimate. I guess we could call that, I’ve just been hit by a thunderbolt, Richard, Forever Healer. See how the muse can hit just out of the blue…
Thanks for sharing yourself with us today. Is there anything you’d like to add?
Sure, the next book in the series, FOREVER WOMAN, is coming October 1st from Champagne books. Though all the series are also standalones, this book takes the reader into brand new territory. We are now going to see the world through vampire eyes and that changes everything!
And it is my pleasure to offer a copy of FOREVER MAN to one of your commenters. Thanks so much for having me here today, Richard, it’s been a blast!
Thanks January. So here’s the deal readers. I’ll select a name at random from everyone who comments on the interview. Get those comments coming! You can purchase FOREVER MAN today at Amazon, Champagne Books and most online bookstores.
A few years ago on my journey to become an author I decided to boldly claim the dream. In those casual conversations we all have, at a party in the neighborhood, in a grocery store line, in a barber chair with a guy wielding sharp scissors standing over me, as my dog does 360’s around me with a neighbor’s dog on the sidewalk — yeah, those conversations. Sooner or later The Big Question comes up — “So, what do you do? ” The question isn’t meant to be a spear, or in the spirit of the Olympics, a javelin hurled in my direction, but instead is asked probably part out of curiosity, part self-interest (the networking gods must be fed) and part searching for something to fill the conversation. “So, what do you do?”
In my professional life as a leadership and management development consultant, I had a clear answer. In fact, those five words implied an invitation for a little sales pitch and a shared understanding that I would return the favor by asking the same question of my conversation partner. Who knows? I’m a consultant and you might be the CEO of an international conglomerate looking for someone to coach your execs. It could happen. Although usually either nothing happened or one of us knew a friend who had a colleague who knew a buddy who had a client who needed some help developing managers. I can’t say this was my favorite conversation. No one would accuse me of being much of a salesperson. But asking and answering The Big Question was part of the job.
One day I decided I’d answer the question differently. I’d tell people not simply what I did, but instead, what I did that I loved — writing.
“What do you do?”
“I’m a writer.”
“Oh.” (pause to take in the meaning while searching for a reasonable follow-up question) “What do you write?”
At this point in my shifting strategy around The Big Question I would tell people I wrote “some fiction” which seemed to confirm my claim of writing, but without sufficient commitment for the other person to want to explore in more detail.
Time passed and I upped my game
“What do you do?”
“I’m a writer.”
“Oh, what do you write?”
“Novels.” (Okay, I’ll admit I was hoping to impress a bit with that one, but then the follow-up slammed into me.)
“Have I read any of your books?”
I want to say, “Are you out of your mind? Do you have any idea how difficult it is to get published these days? And are you implying if you haven’t read my book then maybe I’m a poser?” (Yeah, I know. I sound a little defensive. But if you write thousands upon thousands of words and query over and over again in writing and in person, well, it takes a toll. Neurosis sets in, whether you like it or not. I wish I could remember who said this, I think it was Andre Dubus III (House of Sand and Fog) giving a key note address. He commented that every writer’s secret fear is that they’re not good enough. And especially as you’re trying to get your foot in the door the fear creeps up on you. Yes, yes, rejection doesn’t mean I’m not good enough, only the agent doesn’t need that story, the market’s not ready, etc. However, in my gut, I work to keep the fear from overtaking the dream. So what do I say to “Have I read your books?” I admittedly stubbled many times before I got to a place of peace within myself about the answer…
“Not yet, but working on it. Writing is an art. Publishing is a business. In my heart I know I have to create the work, irregardless of the business. But hopefully one day, you will get to read my work.”
Yes, I’ve actually said things along those lines. What I like about the response is that I own my writing, my art. Business has its own agenda which I can’t control. I can control the space I give myself to be creative and to work on my craft.
Now I’m published. Amazing. And The Big Question has once again morphed, but this time in many directions.
“Who’s your publisher?” “What’s your novel about?” “What’s the first line?” “Can I buy it?”
I’m finding people in general have a deep curiosity about the work and life of an artist. I know I do. I could spend all day talking to a glass blower or a performance artist or a musician about their work. The Big Question, at first a challenge and at times annoying, has shifted into an invitation to explore what I love to do — write.
Richard’s novel (glad you asked) Toxic Relationship is available now from Champagne Books and your favorite online bookstore. Follow Richard on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/RWHacker and Twitter at @Richard_Hacker
Seems like everyone puts out a book trailer for their novels these days, so I decided I’d add a trailer to my promotion plan. First step — gather all of my Hollywood insiders to put together an incredible team of producers, directors, videographers, all the way to a caterer using only locally sourced, organically grown produce. Okay. I don’t have a network of Hollywood insiders, so I settled from my laptap and my time. For those who have never created a book trailer the process looks daunting. What software do I use? Do I use video and if so, do I shoot it? Do I use stills or graphics and if I do, where do I find something not resulting in a copyright lawsuit down the road when my books have made me fabulously rich and famous? And once I’ve created this trailer, how do I get it out to the world?
My first stop concerned the software. I use a Mac and mine came with iMovie, which happened to have some template trailers. Sweet! So I played around with the software for, well, hours. I located a action movie style trailer which I figured if I did this right would fit the lightly tongue and cheek nature of Toxic Relationship. I found clips of video from vacations to slip into the places between the templated graphics. Then I learned how to change the graphics to match my storyline. A job well-done. Except now I had an action movie trailer featuring me rolling down a hill, some kids blowing out birthday candles and a Mustang P-51 doing a roll at an airshow. So I put the project to the side in order to focus on writing.
As publishing day approached the trailer haunted me. Maybe I could ressurect it, use stills, put something out there visual to promote the novel. I put together a simple storyboard, mapping out what kind of images I wanted after each graphic element. Then I pulled the trailer up on my laptop and began my search for still shots. I knew I needed to find photographs I owned or that were public domain or creative commons. I’m definitely not a copyright attorney, so don’t base any of your decisions on what I am about to say. But from my understanding, public domain pics are just that — copyright free photographs you can use at will. Creative commons photographs allow the photographer to define the copyright use of the photograph. I used Fotolia, but there are a number of sites like Flickr allowing the download of creative commons photos for a fee.
With pics in hand, I build the trailer. I placed each photo, decided if I wanted any visual effects such as black and white, raster (so it looks like a television broadcast) and many more. Then I defined the “Ken Burns” effect which gives a still shot movement. Finally I set the length of time the still would be visible in the trailer. The most difficult part, probably due to my lack of understanding about how to use all of iMovie’s features, was adjusting the timing of clips and graphics to match the music and make the graphics readable. After much tweaking and fiddling, I learned how to change the timing for the graphic elements.
iMovie makes it easy to share a video with a button for YouTube which automates the upload process. Since I already had a google account, all I had to do was add a YouTube account and I was good to go. I first chose to keep the video private, in order to share with my publisher to be sure I wasn’t doing anything they thought would be a copyright issue and with a few friends for feedback. Then I posted the video as a public YouTube. I immediately got some feedback from several colleagues that my graphics moved to quickly for them to read. So I went back to my crack Hollywood team, yeah, me, and did my best to fix the issue. Then I reposted on YouTube.
You probably will notice the thumbnail for the trailer is two flaming hands. Ideally, I wanted the title of the book and assumed having the title as the thumbnail would be a simple matter. Turns out, YouTube grabs three screenshots at various timeframes in a video and you get to choose from those three. If your desired image doesn’t show up at the prescribed time for a screenshot, then you won’t have the image as a choice. Having spent probably too much time getting the images and the music aligned, the idea of moving things around just for the thumbnail image didn’t strike me as something I wanted to get into. At least not now. DIRTY WATER, the sequel to TOXIC RELATIONSHIP comes out in June, 2013. So I have a few months to play with the software for the next trailer.
For your viewing pleasure, here’s how the final product turned out…
So how do I feel about the time put into this project in relation to the payoff? I’ll have to give this some time to see how much traffic actually views the trailer. To be honest, if I pick up ten or twenty readers with this, I’ll be happy. After I posted my first version, I had three hits at the end of the day. On the news that night I heard about some kids who posted a video on YouTube rapping about Hot Cheetos and Takis with 1.3 million hits. Hmmm. I think my next novel should be about junk food.
So what’s your experience with book trailers, whether you’re an author, a reader or both? Do trailers lead you purchase an author’s book? If you’re an author, have you seen much success with your trailers?
With the publication of TOXIC RELATIONSHIP, a phenomenon has occurred which I suppose I should have expected and yet, I feel surprised. I have written in one form or another for years. Those first short stories I read during “show and tell” in Mrs. Meredeth’s third grade class, my bitingly witty (to a 13 year old) Jr. Hi “radio show” about a drama played out among bathtub toys, countless papers for high school, college, graduate school, sermons from my brief career as a minister, workshops, training materials, professional papers…I could go on and on. In all of those years, while many of the writings had a purpose designed to shift thought, spur emotion, get a laugh, I held something back, something, well, sacred. I protected myself, not revealing my mind in the raw. Instead, I kept several layers above and I think I managed to master sounding like I was at my core without actually revealing that part of myself.
If you’ve read TOXIC RELATIONSHIP, you might be a bit puzzled by this post. I offer the story up as light entertainment, something to read on the plane, at the beach, just before bed. You’re not going to have nightmares or lie awake in bed pondering the meaning of life. However, even in a story intentionally written to be entertainment, bits of my inner life float to the surface, exposing what I’m really thinking. We all have an inner life, that ongoing dialogue in our mind filled with thoughts which our filters of culture, belief, manners and social customs let only a tiny percentage dribble through. A person without those filters in our society is considered either mentally ill or a one off artistic eccentricity. Most of us, most of the time, keep most of the inner dialogue to ourselves. But when a writer fills a world with characters, those characters must come from somewhere. “Somewhere ” is the inner world of the writer.
Publishing a work of fiction then, is a bit like taking your clothes off in public. All those sticky outty bits, rolls of fat, moles, hairs — all of it, exposed for others to see. One of my encounters with this level of exposure occurred on an online critique group a few years ago. My scene involved a character masturbating — trust me, it made sense in the context of the scene. A critique partner could only see pornography and clearly, anyone who would write something like that, a depraved, immoral creep. Yes, really, she pretty much said those words. Initially I felt stung and hurt, then panic. “Am I a depraved, immoral creep? Have I accidentally let the cat out of the bag?” Then after a few deep breaths (maybe more) I realized her reaction was more about herself and less about my words.
As a writer, I have to write what comes into my mind. If I start to filter myself (that’s too violent, too sexual, too weird, too perverse) then I severely limit my creativity. A writer, by nature, must let his or her freak flag fly. Do you then publish all of your craven, crazy, bizarre thoughts? Of course not. The only reason to use something that by whatever current standards might within bounds or seem a step too far (and those standards are a moving target by time and location) is because those words, the line, the scene move your plot effectively within the genre and the audience the book is designed to reach. For example, my aforementioned scene didn’t make the cut. Why? Because a reader thought it perverse? Because I was afraid someone might think I knew a bit too much about masturbation? No. Because it didn’t contribute effectively to my story. It just didn’t work. But I had to write the scene in order to get to the story I did want to tell.
So what about you? What have you found that stops you from putting down in writing what is in your head?
I want to thank Cathy Coburn and Duaine Neill for joining me today. These writing partners have an adventurous streak — zip lining, scuba diving and oh yes, doing jumps in four wheelers off sand dunes! When they aren’t risking life and limb, they’re writing. Their novel AFTER THE MIST released by Champagne Books is currently available at your favorite digital bookstore.
Welcome to Author Chat. Before we get to AFTER THE MIST, tell us how this writing partnership came to be.
C: Duaine and I both have these weird vivid imaginations coupled with creative ability. I was a wildlife artist for a time but that wasn’t fulfilling my creativity completely. I use to write, stories, poems, brochures, anything that captured my imagination, but I never sought anything further. Then Duaine approached me with a dream he had and suggested we write books together. I was intrigued with the idea, and both of our creative juices merged together to create, After the Mist.
D: Like she said we both have very vivid imaginations. I am blessed (or cursed) with movie style dreams. I started writing down my dreams down along time ago and when the base story of After the Mist came to my dreams I was so excited I had to share it. I knew that my mom would make the perfect partner to help me write it. So here we are.
I’m always curious about what jazzes creative artists. Where do you find the inspiration for your writing? How does your partnership work? Does each of you voice specific characters? Alternate chapters? Talk a scene through and then take turns writing the first draft? How does the magic happen?
C: Hard to say where characters come from. It’s like they’re waiting to escape the prowling of your mind. Sometimes I write something a certain character says, and they seem to object to what I made them say, I have to change it right then and there no matter where I am or what I’m doing or they won’t leave me alone. Okay, now that you think I just a crazy lady I’ll tell you how it works for us. We talk through scenes, either in person, on phone or through e-mails. Then I write and we talk and compare notes again. We get so excited sometimes as to where a chapter is headed we find ourselves talking at the same time and have to take a breath to hear what the other is saying.
D: We find the inspiration to write our books mostly in our vivid imagination and dreams and by putting each of ideas together we come up with some great characters and stories. What do you find to be the most challenging thing about writing together? And how do you cope with that challenge?
C: I find the most challenge is Duaine’s busy life. Fitting into his schedule is sometimes difficult. I found it frustrating at first, then found while I wait for him I can write in another direction, hence, When the Dam Breaks, a Physiological Thriller I just signed contracts for.
D: The most challenging thing for me would be finding the extra time to work with her. The plus side is that it gives us extra time to think of new ideas to make the book better.
It’s always interesting to know what authors read. What are you reading these days? Any favorites?
C: I love getting nervous during a book. I like a book that keeps me up at night, holds me captive until I’m done then makes me long for more. I find the author that does all that for me is James Patterson. I’d have to say he inspires me the most as an author.
D: I like to read motivational books like Tony Robbins and mostly watch a lot of movies. Sci-fi, horror, action are my favorites. From what I saw on your website, the top level answer to this next question is “the sea”.
Given you want to be near, on, in or under the water, if you could go anywhere, do anything, where would you go and what would you do?
C: I’m going to say Maui. They have great food, great beaches and great diving all rolled into one. Give me a little house on the beach, an unending supply of air for my scuba tanks, and a computer for writing and I’d be a happy camper. Oh yeah, better throw in my husband, kids and grandkids . . . now I’m happy.
D: That is a tough question. My wife and I really like Cancun, the beaches, snorkeling, ruins and tours are all great. We would love to just travel from beach to beach and see all the local sites. Before we get to AFTER THE MIST, tell us about you’re working on right now.
C: Just finished up the re-writes and contract stuff for, When the Dam Breaks. Now ready to plunge back into our next in series, currently named, Within the Mist, a lot of people waiting on that one. We’re working on getting that one finished hopefully by the end of the month.
D: We are working on book 2 and soon will start book 3, and maybe a 4th on Luke the beginning, how he came to be on Lived island.
Tell us about your novel AFTER THE MIST.
Mike Reynolds always prided himself on being in complete control, and then his world toppled into the unfamiliar. Disturbing dreams plagued him, leaving helplessness in its wake and his control slipping away. Though adventurous and fearless the young and petite Maggie O’Reilly doesn’t recognize the devastating consequences of staring unswervingly into the black piercing eyes of absolute malevolence. Together, the two, team with five others to forge ahead on a perilous mission that becomes a dire adventure beyond anything they could have foreseen or imagined. They find themselves in direct confrontation between life and death, love and something else, an unlikely place for evil to be hiding or should we say, to be waiting.
Sounds like a great read! Thanks for joining me today. You can check out Cathy and Duaine at their website http://www.cathyandduaine.com/ and Cathy’s blog at http://catcobu-afterthemist.blogspot.com/. And please look for their novel at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other digital booksellers. I hope you both have great success with AFTER THE MIST and the many great novels to come. Before we finish, Is there anything you’d like to add?
C: Thank you Richard. I wish that same success for you and your new book, Toxic Relationship and all the great novels to come. Thank you also for the great interview.
D: Thank you Richard for taking the time for this interview. We wish you the best.
In a few days I’m going to be taking a break from writing, researching, critiquing, dog walking, dish washing — you get it. A break. It’s called a vacation. Something we Americans don’t do as often as we should. I’m looking forward to a couple of weeks of rest and relaxation. Oh we have plans. Kayaking, hiking, biking, scootering, wine tasting, a bar tending class, lots of great food and plenty of unscheduled downtime. While I’m away, TOXIC RELATIONSHIP should be hitting the online bookstores. So on my return, I’ll make a big announcement, celebrate the moment and probably share a few stories of the journey to get the story published by Champagne Books.
You might also notice that I’ve merged my website and the blog — or maybe you didn’t, which is better because I hoped it would be a seamless deal. I attempted to do the deed DIY, but as is often the case, at least for me, with the online world, I ran into some difficulties. I posted a cry for help and several of my friends contacted me with a lead. Then I remembered I knew someone in the biz who helped me with a business website a number of years ago. Lucky for me, my contact info still worked. A special thanks goes out to Terri Gray, the President of AustinWebDesign. She did the hocus pocus she does and saved me a ton of time and heart ache. Thank you Terri!
One last bit of news. I signed a contract with my current publisher, Champagne Books, for the second installment in the Nick Sibelius series. DIRTY WATER will be coming out in June. I’ll wait for a later date to talk more about Nick further adventures. Funny, I lived in Austin for years and it was never quite as crazy as Nick’s life. He must attract the strange and the quirky.
The pic? My Dad took this picture when he was stationed at Hickam Field on Oahu. Love the photo and it reminds me of travel. Speaking of that, if you could go anywhere and do anything for a vacation, where would you go and what would you do?
A few days ago I did one of my favorite things about being a writer — research. In the middle of the week and the middle of the day, I hopped on my scooter, riding through downtown 
Seattle to the Museum of Flight. My goal: tour the interior of a B-17. This aircraft had a special appeal because of the level of restoration. It looked like its crew of ten had just returned from a mission, headsets at the ready, oxygen bottles in place, even two Stanley thermos bottles behind the cockpit.
I could easily get carried away about what I saw, but for this blog, I think I’ll focus more on why I’d take time to look at this plane. Am I planning on setting my next novel in a WWII bomber? No, but, I never know when an idea for a story might pop up or a B-17 will come in handy. Think of the possibilities:
A skeleton crew ferries this aircraft across the Pacific to Hickam Field on Oahu, only to be intercepted by a raging storm, a squadron of Zeros, a jet fighter from the future, an alien spacecraft taking the aircraft and crew for further study, a fold in time which puts them in the present or flying over Gettysburg in the 19th century.
A young man leaves the farm, college, a wealthy Senator father, a pregnant girlfriend, a trail of serial killings (take your pick) to be a waist gunner in a B-17 over Germany. He bails 
out over Berlin fighting his way back to safety or he’s captured and imprisoned, or he finds an underground resistance, or he falls in love with a farmer’s daughter who is in a relationship with a German officer….
You get the idea.
So, given a B-17 as your starting point, where would you go? Have some fun. I’d love to hear your ideas.
Richard’s novel TOXIC RELATIONSHIP, a finalist in the 2011 Writers League of Texas Literary Contest, due to be release by Champagne Books, August 2012.
