Showing posts with label Dystopia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dystopia. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Today's Authtoberfest featured author is JAMES MORRIS!





James Morris is a cool guy. He has won two KindleScout campaigns this year! What an accomplishment. James has written some great reads, people. Check out his links below.
Let's see what James had to say about All Hallows' Eve!



1. It’s Halloween, pick 3 of your favorite writer buddies to paint the town read with and tell us why you chose them.
James says: I’m really not sure. Unlike the zombie apocalypse where survival is at stake, going to a party is a lot more personal. I’d want to know the writers as people first, which is a problem because really, I don’t want to know most writers. Not that they’re not nice people. But if I love a piece of work, and then I meet the writer, and he or she turns out to be an odious turd, then it’s forever going to impact how I read the book. And the book and the person, to me, are separate things. All that to say, I’d dress up in a costume, like maybe Darth Maul where no one would recognize me and let my id roam free.



2. You’re ready to head out with your pillowcase to collect loads of confections on All Hallows’ Eve, what’s your costume and why did you choose it?
James says: I used to love Halloween, but as people got older, there were fewer and fewer parties. I’m talking Halloween bashes where everyone is costumed (and not “as themselves” – seriously, why go to a Halloween party without a costume!) Having said that, my wife and I talked about going as Wonderwoman and Superman. But you know what? I can’t pull off that costume. I think I’d prefer to go as Hugh Hefner.



3. Old Mrs. Robinson opens her door and you’re holding open your pillowcase patiently waiting. “Oh deary,” she says in her frail, little old-lady voice. “I forgot it was Halloween. Don’t know why you kids go begging anyways. Let me go find something to give you.” She shuffles off and finally returns three and a half minutes later with 5 pennies, 2 peppermint candies that look like they went through the dryer, and her deceased husbands dentures. “Take what you like,” she offers, squinting at you.
What do you choose and why.
James says: Hilarious. (I will share, one year while trick-or-treating, a woman gave us peanuts. Like, 3 of them. With the shells on. I thought it was the worst treat ever.) As for Mrs. Robinson, I’d skip the 5 pennies, as well as the peppermint candies and take the dentures. Who knows when I might need them? Bwhahaha.



4. I really love reading Dean Koontz but some of his stuff scares the bejesus out of me. What’s the spookiest book you’ve ever read?
James says: The one most recent was Birdbox by Josh Malerman. I thought that was one of the most unique horror books ever, and I’m kinda jealous I didn’t think of it. The other one that stands out in memory is Stephen King’s “The Shining.” How he made the shrubbery maze – with its topiary animals – scary, was very cool because that idea could’ve gone very, very wrong.
Meredith says: Birdbox was an awesome read. Josh Malerman's interview is on 10/31, stay tuned!


5. You’re a writer by day and supernatural creature by night. (Shed that human skin you sack of bones) What are you and why?
James says: One of my cool elementary school teachers played us Danse Macabre by Saint-Saens during Halloween. And I always liked that story of the skeletons dancing with abandon during that one special night a year, and then returning to their graves during the day. I’m not sure what creature I would be – vampire, werewolf, ghost – they are all so interesting – but I love the idea of capturing the spirit of life, which we unfortunately only really appreciate in the face of, or in the wake of, a tragedy and death.





6. Every author has a bookshelf filled with his or her favorite reads. Run on over to yours and tell us the scariest book you have.
James says: I generally don’t keep books – I give to them Goodwill when I’m done; I just ran out of room one day and thought: will I ever re-read them all? So my shelf is limited. The scariest one right now is THE CHOCOLATE WAR by Robert Cormier because I think it speaks to the entrenched power structures that are in place no matter where you are, which is scary indeed. (My analogy for life is I often think I’m caught in a bureaucracy as a low-level employee, and there are decisions made way above my pay grade, and I have no idea what they are, but whose ramifications continue to trickle down.)



7. We don’t all write horror but there comes a time when you’ve got to surprise your readers and make sure their hearts are still beating. How do you prepare yourself to get in the spooky writing mood?
James says: Scary or sweet, it’s the same. It’s boring, I know, but I just sit. And then I think: what would surprise me? What would scare me? Of course, making sure that I don’t have happy music in the background helps!



8. Stephen King’s front porch light is on but there are no Halloween decorations.
Do you:
a) trick-or-treat and cross your fingers that he’s handing out the good stuff
b) run screaming
c) call your mom to bring your favorite King paperback and beg for an autograph
James says: I’d definitely trick-or-treat. His house during Halloween must be insane.



9. Congratulations, you just won the literary lottery and sold a million books at full price! The royalty check clears on October 28th. What are you buying for the neighborhood kids?
a) an assortment of mini candybars
b) an assortment of cheap, hard candies
c) full size Hershey bars
James says: None of the above. I’m buying them peanuts with the shells on, so that they can remember me years and years later as the guy who gave them the worst treat ever.
Meredith says: I just laughed out loud!



10. Your writer friend calls you with some frightening news. They’re giving up on writing, can’t take the pressure any longer. What do you tell them?
James says: Writing is very personal; it’s like religion or politics that way. I would say I understand why they’re stopping. I’ve said before that writing as a career is not pragmatic at all and filled with heartache. Why we continue to do it speaks to the crazy love we have for it. So, when that love starts to wane, I’d say, take a break. For now. And then see if the passion returns. It’s not a failure. You are not a failure.



Connect with James Morris!



(This is James. I call him Jim 'cause we're best friends. He just doesn't know it yet.)


About this author:

James Morris is a former television writer who now works in digital media. When not writing, you can find him scoping out the latest sushi spot, watching 'House Hunters Renovation', or trying new recipes in the kitchen. He lives with his wife and dog in Los Angeles.


Sunday, October 4, 2015

Today's Authtoberfest featured author is Lindsey Winsemius







1. It’s the zombie apocalypse and writers have got to stick together to survive. Pick 3 authors to be on your zombie apocalypse killing team and tell us why you’d choose them.
Lindsey says: Max Brooks; he's got the big picture concept of what's going to happen in the world. Jaq C. Reed; she's going to keep us positive when we're about to lose all hope. Robert Swartwood; he knows what the Zombies are thinking...



2. If Stephen King and J. K. Rowling were drowning in a river, who would you save first? And now you have to tell us why.
Lindsey says: Neither; less competition for the rest of us. Just kidding. They wouldn't need help; they are both creative genius' and could save themselves. They'd probably end up rescuing me...



3. We authors are voracious readers. My TBR list is approximately 8 miles long. What are you currently reading?
Lindsey says: I am just about to sit down and begin One Second After by William R. Forstchen (I know, I can't believe I haven't read it yet, either). It has been on my list for awhile, and I finally loaded it onto my kindle.



4. What is the one book that you could read a million times and never get bored with?
Lindsey says: Don't tell, but while I am totally addicted to Post-Apoc / Dystopian / Futuristic Sci Fi, my first love is romance. I have probably read Lisa Kleypas' Blue Eyed Devil at least thirty times. Although, Max Brooks' World War Z is a close second.



5. Last year my favorite read was The Martian by Andy Weir. What was your best read of 2014?
Lindsey says: I need to remember all the way back to 2014? Hmm. Daryl Banner's excellent post-apoc The Beautiful Dead was hilarious and so creative, I almost cried when he announced he was following it up with a sequel (or two) which are now the Beautiful Dead series, all phenomenal reads.



6. This year my favorite read has been The Dog Stars by Peter Heller. What’s the best book you’ve read so far in 2015?
Lindsey says: While I've read some really excellent books, like Kaitlyn Davis' The Shadow Soul, I think I might have to go with Jaq C. Reed's The Ungoverned as my fav. While it was her debut novel, it was a strong book with a great environmental angle that I loved and I think we can all relate to.



7. You’re a writer by day and a superhero by night. (Take off those geeky glasses Superman) What’s your superpower?
Lindsey says: I go by the name of Supermom; I don't need to sleep. Apparently ;) My second choice? I've always envied Matilda the power to move things with her mind.



8. I have writing spots all over my house: my desk, my couch, the patio, and my bed. Where’s your favorite spot to write?
Lindsey says: I feel like I should say something exciting like the beach (which is a great place to write, but I get so distracted) or a local tea shop (which is also nice, but the Internet can be too spotty for research), so my favorite place is in my home office at my desk. With a window cracked, my music on, and a glass of wine...



9. We’re supposed to love all of our children equally, but there are some scenes I’ve written that really stick out in my mind. Tell us your favorite scene from your book Reaper.
Lindsey says: I think I had the most fun writing the scene where Aerina and Marcus, my main characters, head "outside" of their carefully protected city-state and do some really fantastic off-roading over the mountainous terrain to get to the outpost towns. It reminded me of my adventurous youth...



10. Sometimes a little too much of myself slips into my characters. Which one of your characters most resembles you?
Lindsey says: I have two characters that both share equally my traits: My main character, Aerina, who is too opinionated and tends to offend people, and is also a little too worried about fitting in; and also Lina, a secondary character (and the star of my current book in progress) who is a pleaser, and tends to be nervous about trying new things. I love to write my characters overcoming the weaknesses I find in myself and struggle to overcome. But dang them, it is always so easy for them...



11. I’ve always got tunes rocking while I’m writing. Tell us five songs that are on your playlist.
Lindsey says: Yes! I was hoping for this question. I love to create soundtracks for my books. Reaper always included Bastille's Pompeii, Little Talks by Of Monsters and Men, Imagine Dragons' Radioactive, Avicii's Wake Me Up, and Ella Henderson's Ghost.



12. If you could tell an aspiring author one tiny tidbit of information, what would you say?
Lindsey says: Can I pick two things? 1) Don't worry too much what other people think. It can be so tough to put your book out there, with your whole heart in it, and hear negative feedback or even crickets. This brings me to my second thing: 2) Be tenacious. Don't give up because you only sell three copies of your first book. Keep marketing, keep promoting, and KEEP WRITING! And I hope to hell you enjoy it all, because it might be awhile before you make any money from it.


Connect with Lindsey!





About the Author:

Lindsey Winsemius learned from a young age that books hold the key to new worlds. As a young adult, she was often caught with forbidden romance novels under her mattress.

After studying Psychology and Anthropology at Michigan State University, Lindsey began working as an editor and marketer. Her passion for reading has led her to become part of an initiative to promote independent authors and literacy called Frantic Froggy. She lives in Grand Haven, Michigan with her husband and two young children. She is often at the beach with a book, or making up stories featuring her children.

"Writing about myself is much more difficult than writing a novel. It is easy to craft characters. I'm still learning about myself.

I don't know what I want to be when I grow up. In the meantime, I keep busy taking care of my husband and two children in West Michigan. I enjoy short summers on the lake and survive the long winters by hibernating inside, dreaming up stories. Some of which I actually write.

I'm a freelance editor, a part-time digital marketer, and full-time supermom. I'm very passionate about education, literacy, and supporting independent authors, which is why I am part of FranticFroggy.com.

Connect with me on social media or join my mailing list to keep in touch!"