Monday, September 30, 2013

Meet Tania Penn!!

 Welcome back to another Monday Mention. Today we bring you the talented Tania Penn. We hope you enjoy her interview and glimpse into who she is. Be sure to check her out on facebook.


Interview:



11.)   Tell us what a day in the life of ____________________ is like.

Well, I reluctantly wake up at 6:45, drag myself out of bed, stumble to the kitchen, trying not to trip over my blind and deaf 14 year old Italian Greyhound, whilst brewing then pouring a cup of ambition….wait, that’s part of a song, right?  After my Dolly Parton moment, I try to shake awake my very loveable night owl of a 7 year old, to get him ready for school.  Anyone with kids knows it’s a daily struggle…Of course, inexplicably, he wakes up at 7 on the weekends when mommy needs to sleep in!  I drop him off at school, then fire up e-mails and check facebook and do some writing.  Then, because I don’t have enough on my plate, I am looking into opening my own kickboxing facility, so I’ve been researching demographics, potential locations, and trying to secure funding for my ninja training endeavor!




22.)   What made you want to start writing?

I’ve been writing stories for as long as I was able to string words together, around 6 years old.  One of our class projects in the 2nd grade was to create a book (writing and illustrating).  Then we laminated it and it was sent to our school library.  My book was about the “Magical Pegacorn”, you know, a unicorn/Pegasus hybrid.  I was so excited, because it was always getting checked out!  I decided then and there that I was going to become an author one day.  I continued to write some craptastic pieces, with my English teachers telling me I should become a writer.
  
3.) When writing, do you prefer silence or some kind of background noise?

Definitely silence.  I turn into Achmed the Dead Terrorist if anyone chatters or makes any kind of noise during my creative moments…”Silence, I keel you!!!!!”  (Jeff Dunham, anyone?)

4.) Morning person or night owl?

A little bit of both.  My mind is constantly brewing with ideas for stories, so I’ll be up late.  Then I have to wake up early.  I don’t think I’ve slept more then 3-4 hours a night in over 7 years!

5.) Do you prefer to have a schedule or wing it?

I definitely wing it.  I tried to have a schedule but then I get distract…..SQUIRREL!

6.) When you have downtime from writing, what do you like to do?

I love to ride my bike on the trails out here.  Well, I did, until some jackass cut the lock on it off my bike rack on the back of my SUV and stole it last week!  I also live a mile from Six Flags Magic Mountain, (and yes, I do walk there,  I ain’t paying the $18.00 park your car fee!)  My family has season passes, so we’ll go on a Saturday or Sunday.  When we lived in Washington two months ago, I would do a lot of kayaking and hiking as well.  Just outdoorsy stuff J

7.) Do you make an outline or just write?

I make a very loose outline, mostly of the characters, the setting and a general idea of where I want the story to go.  I’m too ADD and/or impatient to do an outline, though I probably should!

8.) What advice would you give aspiring writers?

Just keep writing!  You’ll have some people who may not like your story, but don’t listen to them.  If you love what you write, that will shine through!  If you love to write, then just keep doing it!

9.) How do you come up with your ideas?

Martini infused dreams, most definitely!  Sometimes, I will just hear or see a word or phrase and my mind will take it from there, and it will develop into another potential story.

10.) Do you like to base your characters on pure fiction or is there a little of real friends in them?

I wouldn’t call them friends….Those who suffer a terrible death in my books are definitely inspired by people who have ticked me off!   ;)   The other characters I’m nice to or like have qualities, habits, physical attributes and sayings that my dear friends do.

11.) Do you have a favorite author and why?

I am completely, utterly, irrevocably obsessed with James Patterson.  I love that he writes YA, thrillers, has series books, etc.  Love, love, love him.  It’s on my writers bucket list to one day co-write a novel with him.


Bio: Tania Penn is the author of debut young adult novel, The Morning Star, soon to be released through Tiger Dynasty Publishing, as well as  an MA novel, Catching Frogs.   And, because she's  loco in the roco, Tania has about 28 more story ideas on the back burner. When  not writing she can be found kayaking, hiking, ninja-training, traveling, and taking a ferry over to the San Juan Islands to search for the elusive creature known as the "Orca." She is also constantly adding ridiculous wants, needs, must-see's and do's to her  ever expanding bucket book.  Yes, book, not list!

Links:


Facebook like page - Tania Penn - Author
   
Twitter - @TwistedTanita  
 
Google plus - Tania Penn
 
 
Thank you for joining us yet again. Be sure to check back next Monday when we bring you yet another author from Tiger Dynasty Publishing. 

Monday, September 23, 2013

Meet Wendy M. Schuffert aka Perci T. Brooks!!!

Hey there, welcome back to another Monday Mention. Today we bring to you the very talented Wendy M Schuffert, who goes by Perci T Brooks in her wonderful books. Please enjoy her interview, and stay tuned after for a blurb from one of her books. 



Interview:



1.) Tell us what a day in the life of Perci T. Brooks is like.

2.) What made you want to start writing? 

The author R.L. Stine. I read his books when I was younger and I wanted to do that. I also wanted to write like him, but it never came out right. So my sister noticed I write young adult. So that’s in the same area as him.

3.) When writing, do you prefer silence or some kind of background noise?

I prefer to have background noise. Either the TV being on or listen to music.

4.) Morning person or night owl?   

Mid-day person with heavy leanings towards night owlery.

5.) Do you prefer to have a schedule or wing it? 

I like to wing it.

6.) When you have downtime from writing, what do you like to do? 

I enjoy reading (that includes also reading manga), cross stitching, hanging out with my sister, talking to my girlfriend, listening to music (such as Adam Lambert, Queen, Gackt, Dir en Grey, Super Junior, NU’EST, SHINee, Malice Mizer, Versailles, Jupiter, Kamijo, Moi dix Mois & many more) and playing with my cats.

7.) Do you make an outline or just write? 

I make an outline. I need to make notes for the things I write. It’s better that way for me.

8.) What advice would you give aspiring writers? Never give up on your dream. No matter what others may say.

9.) How do you come up with your ideas? I can easily get inspired by what I listen to and most of the time something just pops into my head. I just go with it.

10.) Do you like to base your characters on pure fiction or is there a little of real friends in them? 

Most of my characters are pure fiction and a select few are modeled after some of my friends.

11.) Do you have a favorite author and why?

 I got a few of them. 1: R.L. Stine, the man opened my eyes to writing and all I did was read a few books of his Fear Street books and that was what I wanted to do. I wanted to be an author like him, 2: Stephen King…The man got rejected so many times and he never gave up. He’s such an inspiration and 3: Lynn Flewelling of the Nightrunner Series. Her main 2 characters Alec & Seregil end up together as male/male couple and that inspired me to get mine published, because I wasn’t going to do it. I thought people wouldn’t read what I write.

Bio:


Wendy M. Schuffert (who goes by Perci T. Brooks) is a California native who lives with her family, 4 cats & 2 dogs. She’s been writing since a young age & her older sister was the one who noticed her talent. Writing has helped her cope with her being hearing impaired & other medical issues. She’ll write what others won’t touch & has been told she’s ahead of her time, but her family & friends support her. She writes in the areas of young adult, paranormal, romance, LGBT & romance suspense.
 
Links:

Real Life Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/mimiukyo (friend me)

Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/perci.brooks (friend me)

Author Like Page: https://www.facebook.com/PerciTBrooks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WritingHime

Live Journal: http://writinghime.livejournal.com/

Blog: http://percitbrooks.blogspot.com/

Perci's Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/23607963-perci-t-brooks




Blurb:
Forced into sexual, submissive slavery at age 12, Mika, a half incubus/half vampire hybrid has only known humiliation and pain at the hands of his master. A powerful warlock capable of commanding the darkest magic, Douché will use any means necessary to keep Mika under his thumb.
Shrouded in mystery, Echo Delgado has kept a close eye on Mika for years,even feigning a friendship with the dastardly Douché. Timing is everything and this master vampire is far wilier than the demented wizard. But will he act in time to rescue his own destiny or will all be lost?

Thank you again for joining us, and stay tuned next Monday for more.  We hope you enjoyed this glimpse into another of our authors.

Monday, September 16, 2013

Meet Angela O'Brien

Welcome to today's Monday Mention. Today we are bringing you the talented Angela O'Brien. We hope you enjoy the interview and learn new things.



Interview:
 


1.) Tell us what a day in the life of ____________________ is like.
 

HECTIC! It needs to be in caps it's that full on. A Lazy day for me involves cleaning the house, caring for my infant daughter while my son is at school, managing an online business which includes website management, ebay store management, facebook page management, photographing and cataloging stock AND outsourcing new products, oh and since I handmake the jewellery for the business, I also do that too. And remember, I said that was a lazy day. You don't want to know what a busy day is like haha.


2.) What made you want to start writing?
 

I've always enjoyed writing, even as a kid. I don't think it's the 'writing' that I enjoy so much as it's more of a case of me just enjoying creating something that other people enjoy, whether it's books, poems, songs, jewellery, paintings or simple interior design, I love to create magic.


3.) When writing, do you prefer silence or some kind of background noise?
 

I have four children, one of which is autistic and one of which is 8 weeks old. Silence isn't really an option.


4.) Morning person or night owl?
 

Night owl. Although my mornings start at about 5:30am so my night owl energy boost kicks in at about 2pm lol. 5.) Do you prefer to have a schedule or wing it?
 

In some aspects, I have to have a schedule, in the case of having a pedantic autistic son, routine is kind of a must but I just do what I feel like at the time. If I want to spend a whole day on web design, I'll do that and let everything else; even the housework, go to the wayside.


6.) When you have downtime from writing, what do you like to do?
 

I manage my business, Moan Clothing and Accessories.


7.) Do you make an outline or just write?
 

I've tried the whole outline thing, it's never ended well. If I had outlined Katerina's book, I never in a million years would have had the finished product I ended up submitting.


8.) What advice would you give aspiring writers?
 

If you hit writers block, go back to page one and read your work. It re-familliarises you with your characters and you dive into their lives, following them on their journey. Let the characters lead you, don't force them to do things that they don't want to do. Sounds bizarre when put into that context, but anyone who has ever written a book, or even read one, knows what that sentiment means.


9.) How do you come up with your ideas?
 

I don't. Does that make sense? I don't 'come up' with anything. I pick one character, one name and then I introduce myself to them, ask them to show me their world and they do. For example: Called to Kill, a story about a call girl named Kitty Kat who doubles as an assassin. That was all I had. There was no backstory, no progression of any kind, until I introduced myself to Kitty Kat and she removed her mask, removed her contact lenses, told me her real name and showed me her life.


10.) Do you like to base your characters on pure fiction or is there a little of real friends in them?
 

I'm sure a little of it is based on reality, but it's subconscious. Except in the case of Kitty Kat's love interest. Looks wise he's my boyfriend down to the finest detail, personality and sexually he is what every woman wants her man to be.


11.) Do you have a favorite author and why?
 

I have three; Richelle Mead, Cate Tiernan and L.J. Smith. Why? Because I have read their series, connected with them and shed tears for the characters. I'm not much of a reader so if I read the first book completely and then purchase the second, third, fourth etc, then it's a damned good series. Richelle Mead especially, her books inspired me to get back into writing after a good few years so when I become famous, I'm going to invite her for coffee and thank her in person. That's the dream anyway. 



Bio:

Angela OBrien is an Australian born and bred mother of three biological children and one she inherited upon meeting her current partner, Daniel. She currently lives in the south Victorian coastal town of St Leonards which gives her plenty of time for hobbies because there isn't really much else to do. She writes, make handmade jewelry and runs MOAN Clothing and accessories; an online business specializing in fashion and accessories, with a close friend.
Angela shamefully admits to never being much of a reader, never able to find things to get into. That is until she stumbled upon Cate Tiernans Wicca series in a library and fell in love with them, even shedding tears when a main character vanished, presumed dead in book fourteen. Then came the vampires. Not the Nancy boy, sparkly variety but real vampires in the form of Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy and L.J.Smith's Vampire Diaries. Vampire Academy is also what reignited Angela's love for creative writing. For someone who didn't read, Angela's imagination and love for creating something she would read, made her an exceptional writer. In high school she got her only A+ in ninth grade English. Essay writing. Everyone else wrote the required 1000 words before putting their pens down. Angela wrote a novella.



Thank you for joining us today, be sure to check back next week, when we bring you yet another Author from our growing company.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Meet Elvira Bathory

Today we meet one of our erotica authors, Elvira Bathory. She is an amazing writer who will have your windows steamed, and leave you wanting more with her words. 





Interview:


1.) Tell us what a day in the life of Elivra Bathory is like.
 
A day in the life of Elvira Bathory is pretty calm. I wake up in the morning and do my morning exercises, have a small breakfast and head into my job as a costume consultant for the local theatres in New Mexico. There I do my best to consult with the costumer makers and directors of small plays to make the costumes as authentic as possible.

2.) What made you want to start writing?

I have always loved reading romance novels. Something about the way a heroine and hero in these novels fight so hard to be together. But I found that some of the romance novels that I would read became a little boring, so I tried my hand at writing a short romance with less plot and more action. I prefer to get down to business when I write my erotica. I know some plot is needed just to make sure that the story line is moving along, but why make the reader wait eighteen chapters to get to the good stuff? 

3.) When writing, do you prefer silence or some kind of background noise?

I prefer to have some sort of sensual type of music playing in the background. I feel that it keeps me in the mood to write any of the steamy scenes that I write.

4.) Morning person or night owl?

Night owl all the way

5.) Do you prefer to have a schedule or wing it?

I have often tried to have a schedule when it comes to my writing and have found that winging it has been a much better practice for me.

6.) When you have downtime from writing, what do you like to do?

I like to read and try to blow my cat’s ear drums with my singing.

7.) Do you make an outline or just write?

Outlines are good when you’re in the idea stages of your pieces, be them shorts or novels, but when it comes to actually writing that glancing at the outline of ideas helps but isn’t absolutely needed.

8.) What advice would you give aspiring writers?

I would advise all aspiring writers to just write. Don’t listen to any rejection letters you may have received since you started writing and don’t listen to any of the nay sayers out there. A good friend of mine always says, “Haters gonna hate” and he would be right.

 9.) How do you come up with your ideas?

My ideas come from everything around me. Watching that couple in the coffee shop in the beginning stages of love, or the couple in the grocery store that have been together for years help inspire all of my romance and erotica writing.

10.) Do you like to base your characters on pure fiction or is there a little of real friends in them?

It depends on my mood actually. Some of my characters have been based on real friends and then there are those characters that seem so real to me that I have to get them down.

11.) Do you have a favorite author and why?

Nora Roberts would be one of my favorite authors because she really knows how to spin a romance story that will keep you reading until the very end.



Bio:



Elvira Bathory is a succubus who preys on the strongest of men. In her 35 years on this Earth, she has seen some of the most carnal acts of passion committed by man, some she has caused herself. Having spent so much time consuming the energy that came from other couples enjoying each other's company, she decided that it was time for her to enjoy someone's company on a more permanent basis. Traveling the world, she chose to settle in a small town in the state known as New Mexico. Still in search of that perfect man, she spends her nights inventing him from her mind onto the pages of her steamy erotic stories.



Links:









http://elvirabathory.blogspot.com/

Elvira Bathory’s Book Links:

Monday, September 9, 2013

Meet Candy Crum !!!

Welcome to another Monday Mention.  Today we meet Candy Crum.

INTERVIEW:


1. Do you believe that Z-day is coming?
My husband would love this question! He would give a big “yes” for it. He is much more of a zombie fan than I am, but I do enjoy certain takes on the creatures – like The Walking Dead. As for Z-Day – that’s certainly a fear of mine! Though I try to convince myself it’ll not be in this lifetime.
 

2.  Do you people-watch as a source of inspiration? Why/why not?
Not as a source of inspiration – though there have been times when someone I’ve seen or someone that has popped up uninvited in my life has become a character in one way or another. But I do love to people-watch just for fun. That’s always a riot!
 

3. When did you first start writing, and what was the inspiration?
I started writing when I was a kid – maybe ten or so. But I didn’t begin true writing until 2009. I hadn’t read in years so the imagination was kind of dead. When I started working as a CNA the girls that I worked with passed around books like candy on Halloween. They were always swapping books or talking about them and it got me back into it. So when I started reading again, my imagination started going again and I felt compelled. So I went for it!
 

4. Do you have any bad habits/vices that you tend to do when writing a tense part of a piece of work?
I have bad habits when writing in general. I have the TV on, facebook or twitter up, write when my kids are up so I can’t focus, and all sorts of bad things. I sometimes hide away when writing tense parts in my writing – or I listen to music. But I don’t consider those a bad thing necessarily!
 

5.  If you could have any person in the world read your work, who would be the most *awesome* one on your list to have read one of your pieces?
My books I would have to say Anne Rice – though I’d be terrified to see what she had to say! I’d hope she liked them though! There is a script that I’m working on right now also and there is one particular actor that I’d love to read it. I’m currently fangirling over Tom Hiddleston (Loki from Thor/The Avengers). So that would be my most awesome people right there.
 

6. Do you have any pre-release traditions?
I always try to do giveaways of some kind or really get involved with the fans and engage them in some conversations on the fan sites. I’ve had the most success with that!
 

 7. What is the one thing you hope for when writing?
That it doesn’t suck. Ha! Sounds lame but it’s so true! I really just hope that I don’t hear that it paled in comparison to the last thing that I wrote or that people just flat out didn’t like it. My work is very important to me and I always just hope for the best.
 

8. What do you hope your readers get from your works?
My love for what I do. I want them to feel the passion that I put into my work through my words. I want them to read it and really get involved in it and forget that they are even reading at all. I want them to identify with a character and become that character for the length of the book.
 

9. What would you do if one of your characters ever came to life and you met them on the street?
Oh my. If that happened I would hope it was Khanae or Sayen from The Eternal Series. They are both hella powerful but very sweet and motherly. Khanae is the 3,000 year old Queen of the vampires and Sayen is a nearly 2,000 year old Immortal. Both are very wise and very compassionate. If I were to meet them, I would love to sit down and talk to them about the things they’d seen or the things that they would still like to do – even though they’ve probably done most of it. However – if I met Khia (the 3,000 year old intensely evil Queen of the Immortals) I would run like hell and hope for the best! Though – with her ability to move the elements and pull your very spirit from your body – there isn’t much I could do if she caught me!
 

10. How do you feel about zombie books, movies and/or TV series?
I love Vampires and supernatural creatures because they are just (mostly) good fiction. Zombies however (to me) have an air of reality to them. They terrify me. So when I watch most Zombie movies I’m left feeling paranoid and depressed rather than excited. I know that’s strange! But The Walking Dead zombies for whatever reason don’t bother me at all! I really enjoy that show – though I don’t follow it religiously. I haven’t ready any zombie books actually – but I’ve watched multiple movies and they usually scare me!
 

 11. If you ever came face to face with a zombie, what would you do?
I am one of those unlucky souls who do not have the luxury of knowing what kind of person they are. I tend to lean toward the idea I might be the one that freaks out. But then the other half of me thinks that I’d be the one to really shine and surprise everyone – including myself. So this is actually a tough question for me! I would like to think that I would come through for my family/friends or others that I meet. I’d like to think that I could see a zombie and then look at whatever is in the room/area and MacGyver the hell out of it into a badass weapon.  Paperclips and tea bags… I got this.



BIO:


Candy Crum is the author of The Eternal Series (The Eternal Gift, The Eternal Echo)as well as the creator of The Dark Compendiums (The Withering Darkness), anothologies focusing on the work of "yet-to-be-known" authors as a way to give back to those who helped her. She lives with her husband and two children in Indiana and spends the majority of her time playing with her kids, writing, reading, or listening to music.


LINKS: 



Eternally Forsaken (An Eternal Series Novella Vol. 1.5)


The Eternal Echo: An Eternal Series Novel (Volume 2)


The Eternal Gift (The Eternal Series)


Eternally Bound (An Eternal Series Novella Vol. 2.5)


Haunted Moon (A Moon Coven Series Novella)


Impending Rayne (Adult Edition) (Rise of the Ivory Army)


The Vampire Damien (The Rogue Chronicles: Vol. 1 - Ed. 2)


The Awakening (The Rogue Chronicles: Vol. 1 - Ed. 1)


The Withering Darkness: A Paranormal Horror Compendium: Dark Compendium Series


Bella Morte Anthology


Candy Crum’s Pages

https://twitter.com/TheEternalGift