Meet Chris Mentzer !!

Welcome back to another Monday Mention. Today we are meeting and interviewing Chris Mentzer an amazing author and overall great guy. As usual, stay tuned at the end of the interview for a treat.

INTERVIEW:

 1. Tell us what a day in the life of Chris Mentzer is like.

I go to work and then I come home. Not much to it really. Somewhere in all of that I managed to write three novels and I’m still marveling at that some days.

 2. What made you want to start writing?

 An assignment for my freshman year in high school gave me inspiration to become a writer. I read a lot of Fantasy in junior high and so the desire to write it came along. I really wasn’t very focused until 2005 when a good introduced me to the National Novel Writing Month.

50K words in 30 days. I had a friend who told me that there was no way I could ever do something like that. If I had taken his advice, I wouldn’t have written my trilogy. Grant it, I didn’t accomplish the 50K the first time out, but I did try. It’s better to try and fail in thirty days then to spend the next eleven months wondering if I could have.

3. If your writing style was a four-course meal, what would it be?

I’ve never considered this question before. I’ve never looked at my writing style as individual courses but rather a large family-sized casserole. Plenty of servings and you walk away full.

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

Both. It depends on the time of day that I’m writing. Right now the house is silent and I’m enjoying the peace of an empty house. However, in the evenings I can tolerate background noise of my family while I’m writing. My daughters inspire me with what they say and do.

5.  Morning person or night owl?

I’d have to say morning person since I go into work for the early shift. 5am or 6am. On my days off, I have no knowledge of the phrase “sleep in”. It used to be because my kids get me up early but nowadays it’s simply to utilize a quiet house for a little social media or writing. I’m too old to try and be a night owl.

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

I need a schedule. That’s probably why I don’t accomplish a lot on vacations. Without a schedule I can function all that well. That’s not necessarily a bad thing when you’re on vacation but if you want to write, you have to try and set a schedule.

7. If you were granted the skills of a great wizard, how would it impact your daily life and your writing?

{laughs} I probably dispense with writing and do other things instead. Not that I don’t like writing, mind you, but as a wizard I’d probably just create the finished book from just a few ideas and not have to worry about the writing or editing process. The challenge just wouldn’t be there and I’d lose interest.

Going to work would be a breeze as well. Not just the travel there and back but the labor involved. I work in retail and one the biggest challenges is finding space for everything that arrives on the truck. As a wizard I’d created dimensional pockets and store merchandise in there so our warehouse area was always spotless.

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

For the last couple months I’ve become obsessed with Twitter. I used to despise the concept until I realized that as a writer, it’s a great place to meet other writers. Facebook used to be my obsession but nothing happens on there anymore except for the Bitstrips and those are super fun!!

9.  Do you make an outline or just write?

A little of both. My outlines would probably scare the average writer because they aren’t really outlines. I usually write a paragraph or just a couple of sentences and then wing the rest. And I don’t write in order either. If I’m writing along and get stuck, I skip ahead to the next section and go from there. Since I know what characters will be involved in each section, I can get away with it and then go back later and fill in what’s missing.

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

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

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

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

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

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

10. How do you come up with your ideas?

Mostly from reading. Certain ideas that were used grab my attention and then I’ll take it in a different direction. I used to play Dungeons and Dragons in the late 80s. A lot of characters in my stories are former adventurers from my role-playing days. I also get ideas from watching movies and even lyrics from music.

11. Tim Burton just called and asked for the rights to make your book(s) into a movie. Do you jump at the chance or hold out for a different filmmaker (and if so, who)?

No disrespect to Mr. Burton, but I’d hold out for a different filmmaker. His films are a little too dark for my trilogy. My choice of filmmakers would have to be Sam Raimi. His latest work can be seen in Oz, The Great and Powerful. Since The Askinar Towers are inspired by The Wizard of Oz, I would want a similar feel for the silver screen. Mr. Raimi could do my story justice and bring realism to each realm that is featured in the books.

12. Speaking of movies, if you were to choose songs for the soundtrack of your series what would the songs be and why?"

I’ve always wanted to do this! Here’s my list of songs and why...

Book 1: Nexus of the Worlds

1.     Blind Guardian—Imaginations From The Other Side

(The girls enter the fantasy world through portal found in a mirror. Everything occurs on the other side.)

2.     Dio—Otherworld

(The great Ronnie James Dio! This song shows that they are no longer in the world they know.)

3.     Blackmore’s Night—Journeyman

(This is a traveling song that could be heard throughout the story in between each of their stops.)

4.     Tyr—By The Sword in My Hand

(Sir Talbot’s song as he rescues the damsel in distress with unexpected results.)

5.     Dio—Mystery

(Toward the end of book 1, the girls find themselves involved in a mystery of scandal between rival mayors.)

6.     Skiltron—Skiltron (Closing Credits)

(As book 1 draws to a close things are not the same as they started and as this play people wonder what just happened.

Book 2: Sibling Rivalry

1)     Symphony X—Set The World On Fire

(As the second book opens the girls are in competition…with each other!)

2)     Crosswind—Eye of The Storm

(This song is the height of the sibling rivalry as the girls go to war!)

3)     Elvenking—The Wanderer

(The girls resolve their differences and once again are on the road.)

4)     Wizard—Midgard’s Guardian (Kill The Troll)

(In a fantasy town, the girls encounter a group of trolls who want a fight.)

5)     Dream Evil—Back From the Dead

(As if sibling rivalry isn’t bad enough, now they contend with undead.)

6)     Tarja—I Walk Alone (Closing Credits)

(As book 2 concludes, the girls find themselves face to face with their nemesis and without companions.)

Book 3: Always Darkest Before the Dawn

1)     Symphony X—The End of Innocence

(Book 3 opens with this song implying that the girls have come a long way since leaving their home)

2)     Rush—Witch Hunt

(Back in the towns of the rival mayors, the girls face charges of witchcraft!)

3)     Epica—Chasing The Dragon

(Every fantasy story should have one dragon and mine has a unique one!)

4)     Validor—The Dark Tower

(Although this song is inspired by Stephen King’s series, this song is appropriate as the girls enter The Fifth Tower.)

5)     Visions of Atlantis—New Dawn

(As the book draws to a close, the girls see their lives better enriched for their amazing adventure)

6)     Edenbridge—What You Leave Behind (Closing Credits)

(The final track allows you to think of how much impact these two little girls had on the lives of the people they met.)

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

As it happens my two main characters in the towers trilogy are based on my own daughters. They’ve inspired me to write stories as I want them to read my books. They argue a lot, as siblings do, and I try to convey that in the story without it becoming the focus. Of course by book 2 their arguing gets extreme to the point of them facing off hence the subtitle, Sibling Rivalry.

I try to make all of my characters fictional but I will base some traits off of friends or co-workers.

14. Do you have a favorite author and why?

My current favorite author is M. C. Beaton. She writes the Hamish Macbeth series. The way she writes her characters and the little town in northern Scotland is so realistic that it’s a place you want to go and visit for a time. I hope that my writing can be that real to get readers to say, “Hey, how do I get into the Askinar Towers?”

15. Writers - born, made, or crafted? Do you feel that anybody can be a writer? Is it something that can be taught, or does something have to be there from the start?

Wow, tough question. Personally I would say that anyone can be a writer. One of the problems I see is a lack of confidence that people display in regards to writing. Online I see glimpses of peoples’ talent for writing when they respond to a question or a post. I suggest that they write a story but they give excuses about not having time or the talent. The talent clearly is there, they just lack the confidence to seek it out. Most have a fear of failing before even trying.

16. What advice would you give aspiring writers?

Read. Read. Read. They only way you become a better writer is if you read. And don’t just read in the genre that you write. Read other genres to see how authors tell their stories. In my current WIP, I’m working on a Fantasy story in which the MC becomes a town guard and ends up solving mysteries. So I started reading mystery novels, but not just any mystery. I focused on mysteries that took place in a small town or village because that would be the focus of my story.

BIO:

Chris has been interested in writing ever since 1982 when he was given an English assignment in the 9^th grade. He had to write a paragraph using a lot of detail. Although he wasn’t sure if he completely understood the assignment but he wrote a scene in a bank where a guy was coming out of the bathroom and witnessed a robbery in progress. The detail portion came in when the witness described the robber to the police. From that moment Chris decided he wanted to be a writer.

Between 1982 and 2005, he made several attempts to write a story; it was his goal to write the great American novel, you know the one that everyone wants to own and read. The majority of his work lay incomplete in a personal slush pile in a filing cabinet.

Having read the Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis and all fantasy books by David Eddings, he took a stab at Fantasy with minimal success. Even tried his hand at Science Fiction with a couple of buddies while he was in college. The bottom line was he lacked discipline and the desire to stick with any one project. But that was all to change in 2005.

In November of that year, Chris entered his first writing challenge held by the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) website. Although the goal was 50,000 words, he obtained his personal goal of 25K, which went on to be the foundation of book 1 of The Askinar Towers Trilogy. He later wrote foundations for books 2 and 3 in ’07 and ’09 respecitvely. His inspiration for the towers books came from John DeChancie’s Castle Perilous series and Doctor Who’s Paradise Towers.

Chris lives in Mesa, AZ with his wife and two daughters. He is currently employed in the retail industry working in the produce department. In his spare time, when not writing or stalking the social media streams, Chris loves to hike out in the Lost Dutchman area and Saguaro Lake.

As Promised, here is a blurb from one of Chris's books. Thanks for joining us again today and we hope you have enjoyed meeting yet another of the Tiger Dynasty team.

Enjoy the blurb.

 

Blurb: 

The Askinar Towers Trilogy

Written by Christopher Mentzer

Sara and Erika weren’t looking for an adventure but when but they are given a special key, they find a portal that takes them into a world dominated by four towers. In fact, the towers themselves are the center of every known world. Their quest: To locate the legendary fifth tower, encounter the entity that lives within, and then find a way back home. 

Along the way, they join up with several companions and face many challenges including: zombies, Ogres, Trolls, pirates and retail shoppers. The girls’ most difficult challenge, however, is sibling rivalry. Their arguing threatens them to abandon the search and go their separate ways.

 

Meanwhile a sinister cloaked figure is watching from the shadows and following their every move. Do they want the girls or the special key? Are they ally or foe? Can the siblings put aside their squabbling, ban together, and find their way to the fifth tower? To find the answers to these questions and more read The Askinar Towers trilogy written in the tradition of The Wizard of Oz by new author Christopher Mentzer. 

Meet Danielle D. Smith !!

Welcome back for another Monday Mention. Today we are showcasing the wonderfully talented Danielle Smith, an amazing artist with the Tiger Dynasty Crew. Much like last week, be sure to stay til the very end of this post or you will miss something that NOBODY has sen yet *winks*

Now without further ado.....Let's meet her.

Bio:

DANIELLE D. SMITH (aka Dani Smith)  is both a writer/creator of gritty "outside the mainstream" paranormal tales, and an accomplished artist and illustrator whose visual work has appeared in various public, private, and gallery exhibitions and in national publications. In her career thus far she has studied everything from costuming to tattooing, and she is always on the hunt for the next great artistic adventure. Originally a focused fine artist trained in classical painting and drawing techniques, Dani now works in a more "popular" art style, marrying her two greatest loves, storytelling and visual art. Rights to her popular BLACK DOG AND REBEL ROSE Series has recently been released by Solstice Publishing, and is currently under development as a comics/graphic novel series. Another recently released title under development as a graphic novel is "In The Neon", a darkly romantic horror story reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast. She is also developing a paranormal horror/action one-shot, "The Black Dog Diaries: A Boy and His Beast", based on the early adventures of the popular BDRR Series hero, Skriker.

Other projects on the burner include another creator-owned Paranormal/Dark Urban Fantasy series following a demonic biker gang, to be published as a flagship series for Jagged Jaguar Comics, and work on the 4th issue of PLB Comics' bestselling vampire series, Gideon & Sebastian.

She credits fine artists including Michael Parkes, Luis Royo, the Pre-Rapaelites, Michaelangelo, & Bosch, and comics/pop culture artists such as James O'Barr, J. Scott Campbell, Andrea Sorrentino, Jo Chen and  Lee Bermejo (mentioned together because their work is very "fine art" in itself), Jim Lee, Gabriel Bá, Joe Quesada, Jae Lee, Tom Nguyen, Clint Langley, and scores of her own friends and fellow creatives as her inspiration.

Dani lives in San Diego with a large number of books, indie flicks, and documentaries. She is a tomboy, usually spotted wearing motorcycle boots and wife beaters, although she does enjoy some feminine pursuits, including fine scented bar soaps and rose tea. Her stories appeal to dreamers, troublemakers, dark romantics, horndogs, and general escapists who are tired of the same old thing in paranormal fiction world. She is of Anglo-Celtic (Irish, Scottish, Welsh, English, French), Scandinavian, Russian, and German Jewish descent. She is the proud mother of a lovely little son named Ryker and the owner of several beautiful tattoos, the number of which just keeps growing. She is proud to say she is 110% one-of-a-kind, sweeter than she looks, easy to work with, and loyal to a fault. :-)

Interview:

1. What was your favorite comic/comics growing up, and how did those titles influence your current work? 

I was always really big on “indie” comics from smaller presses. The two biggest influences on me as a comics artist would have to be “The Crow”, by James O’Barr, and the “Elfq Quest” series by Wendy and Richard Pini. I adore O’Barr’s gritty—and at times brutal—inks and paintings, and Wendy Pini’s beautiful, semi-realistic fantasy style. I think you can see how both artists influenced me from an early age in my own work.

2. When did you know that you wanted to pursue comics as more than just a hobby? What steps did you take from that point on to make a future in the industry?

I think I realized that comics were a good fit for me because I could merge storytelling with art and enjoy both at the same time. I also was drawn to comics because the prose novel and fine art industries have fallen short in recent years, whereas the comics industry is still alive and kicking, and a place where even an indie creator can make a living doing what they love.

3. If you could have any superpower, what would it be, why do you favor that ability, and would you use it for the greater good or visceral villainy?

Oh, shit! Hahaha. That’s a tough one. I think I’d like to be able to control some kind of element, like water or fire. And I definitely would use it for good—I’m a mom, after all, and need to set a god example for my young son. ;-)

4. Who is your favorite of all your characters? 

If I could only pick one, that would have to be Skriker, from my Black Dog and Rebel Rose Series (publisher pending). He’s just so fun and easy to write AND draw. He’s both the tattooed bad boy and the kindhearted hero—and the fact that he’s half-demon who can sprout fangs, claws, and a spiked tail makes him fun to play with. ;-) As far as my Sheol City (with Jagged Jaguar Publishing) stories go, I have two favorites: Ashe, the “lancelot” hero-figure who is caught between loyalty and pussy (*wink*), and his motorcycle club’s Prez, Antiochus Drake, who is just so bad it’s FUN.

5. Which of your characters has the best power in your opinion? 

Probably Alexius, the angelic father of my Nephil heroine, Rose. He’s, well, an angel, and they’re powers are pretty much Numero uno, after the Creator’s.  Alexius lost his wings for love, but still maintains a lot of rockin’ powers: healing, “ether speaking” (telepathy), the ability to travel great distances in the blink of an eye, mastery of sword and lance and angelic fire. You can’t get much more powerful than that.

6. If you could write a comic without any limits on anything what would you write it about? 

Hahaha, I already feel like I am with the Sheol City series! Demonic biker gangs, drug-addicted angels in City Hall, a werewolf police force, faeries in the ghettos and slums…yeah, already doing it!

7. What was your inspiration for your upcoming comic book series, Sheol City? 

Sheol City is my “go all out and wing it” series. I wanted to take a facet of criminal culture (in this case, outlaw motorcycle clubs) and put a supernatural/paranormal spin on it. Think of the Sons of Anarchy if they had horns, fangs, claws, and would eat human bikers for breakfast.

8. If you could pick one comic book character to come to life so that you could question their choices, who would it be?

Probably Rose, the heroine of my Black Dog and Rebel Rose series. Being a Nephil, she is a very fragmented creature, and can be very difficult to figure out, even as her creator. I would want to ask her about her true feelings for Skriker, her half-demon companion—sometimes those come through as…fuzzy. She definitely has a lot of growing to do, and if I could meet her in real life, I could really pick her brain about everything she chooses to do, as well as what some of the answers to the Universe’s mysteries are. Naturally, Rosie would be privy to some pretty unique information, being an angel’s daughter.

Now....as promised......Thank you for staying till the end, we hope you enjoyed learning about yet another of our lovely crew. 

For your prize in staying you will get to see something NOBODY has seen yet..... 

Right now, Danielle is working on an amazing project....It's called Shoel City, and it is the first Comic to be released with Tiger Dynasty Publishing!!!

Today, right here and now, you will get the first look and the cover. This is a NEVER SEEN BEFORE item and we are proud and glad to be sharing it with you today. 

Thank you again for being here, remember to check back next Monday for yet another team member.

Meet Gabrielle Franchetti !!

Welcome back to another installment of "Meet the Author" We are pleased today to bring you, our very own Fire Sprite Gabrielle Franchetti for your reading pleasures.
We talked to Gabrielle for a bit, asked her some tough and not so tough questions, and even have a special treat for you at the end, so stay tuned the whole way through.

Interview: 

§                          1. If dragons were alive and well in the here-and-now, would you fear them or befriend them?

I would of course fear them but also respect them. I would love to befriend them, however; only if they wish it. If dragons were alive today I fear they would be misused for their power, strength and abilities. They would most likely not want to befriend any human. It would take time and patience to befriend one of these amazing creatures. I would need to first regain their trust. 

§                            2. You suddenly find yourself in the world of the Crimson Rose novels; what is your weapon of choice?

This is a difficult question to answer. The world is infused with different weapons that can be wielded. It would depend on what my goal or purpose was for being there. If I was a warrior I would have both a bow and a broad sword. I would also carry a ghost blade (a blade forged with dragon scales).  I do not want to say anything else as it would give away much of this important tool.

However, if I were to have to pick just one, it would be a ghost blade. 

§                            3. Did you read comics when you were growing up and, if so, which comics would you attribute as being the biggest influences on you as an artist?

I read comics with my father since he introduced them to me. I read most of the superhero comics like Superman and Justice League. The art did not intrigue me but the vast dialogue did.  Comics sparked my interest in screen plays and novels. Artists Amy Brown and Nene Thomas were my biggest influences on me as an artist. I would draw a replica of their art but add my own flare to the piece. It wasn’t until I had been drawing for seven years that everything came together for me as an artist. My art work somehow evolved into a talent I did not recognize. 

§                           4.  What is your favorite medium to use when working on your artwork?

I grew up using traditional graphite. I preferred mechanical pencils because of the sharp thin tip. It was not until I was older when I became introduced to oil pastels, charcoal, different shades of graphite pencils and black ink drawing pens. I love charcoal, however; my shading is still a little rusty. I know in time I will master the techniques needed to use charcoal as a medium fully. 

§                           5.  If you could only draw one thing for the rest of your life (i.e. people, animals, etc) what would you choose to do your artwork on?

I am very meticulous about how I draw dragons/want them to look.  So sadly, it would not be them. If I could draw one thing, it would be my character in my stories. Doing them helps me develop them and to fully picture them.

§                            6. What was the first thing you drew/created that started you on your artistic path?

The first thing I drew was a drawing from Amy Brown’s art book. I drew a fairy holding a staff with a crescent moon at the top. The fairy was clothed in a deep blue cloak with a wolf sitting beside her. 

§                            7. What advice would you give aspiring writers?

Write often and never stop. The best advice I ever received was from my cousin Patrick. He told me to write about anything even if it was just about what happened during the day.

Take anything you see in the world and place your own interpretation onto it.  This allows you to take anything and turn it into a story. Having an open mind throughout your day opens a whole other world of opportunities. Having an open mind also allows you to see stories waiting to be told that can stem from one simple event or object in everyday life.  I see writers as the interpreters of the world. Do not be afraid to tell any kind of story.

Also, enjoy writing. Do not get caught up in editing while your creative juices are flowing; that takes place later. Enjoy the story you are within and telling from the inside out without the worries of editing.

§                            8. If you had to choose vampire or werewolf which would you share your life with?

I would choose a werewolf probably because one of my best friend’s characters that I am in love with is a werewolf. I also have my own character as one but with a different twist. I enjoy their protective instincts and toughness. I have always favored werewolves over vampires out of preference for as long as I could remember. 

§                           9.  What would you tell young girls who want to become writers?

Same thing as above. I do not see young girls differently from anyone else. They should not feel pressure or inferior to a male writer. Take chances with your writing; after all it is YOUR writing and YOUR interpretation of the world you see or wish to see around you. Write from your heart. 

§                          10.   Have you ever wanted to base your life on one of your stories or someone elses?

Of course I have. I believe every writer would love to life within their stories, however; us writers tend to take a perfectly good character and see what they can do to make their life a living hell. Knowing that, I would still love to base my life off my stories or someone else’s because it’s the adventure that I am after. 

§                           11.  What makes your character, Crimson, so important to you?

Crimson is very dear to my heart despite how frustrating he is. He demands everything to be about him when he clearly knows the story is about others as well. He is very difficult to write because I am so close to him. I see Crimson as an extension of myself. I see him as all the mistakes I have made and all the dangers in my life that I fear. Crimson is all my phobias into one along with forbidden temptations of everyday life.  He is the part of my mind that goes wild when I walk around in the dark to say just take the trash out. He is also a haven or comfort for me. Crimson is my rational thoughts of reason. He is my decision maker when I am stressed or frazzled. Crimson is all that I love, all that I hate and all that I fear. 

§                          12 . If you were to write a Tell All book, what would you include? What wouldn't you include?

I would write about how to market your own novel from self-publication.  Not all writers are fortunate enough to have a publisher to market and turn their world into something more. Marketing a book is hard work and not everyone knows the proper way to go about this.

Bio:

Born in New Jersey, Gabrielle was raised around a slew of artists that only aided her overactive imagination and was fully brought to life from her love of books, storytelling, drawing, and movies. At the age of twelve, Gabrielle moved to live with her mother and younger sibling.
Unlike most children, she adored middle school and high school because this is were her writing career first began to flourish. Gabrielle spent her days sitting at her desk and her head firmly within the stories she wrote as her teachers went along their daily activities for the class. With the help of inspirational teachers, they were able to guide her work and mind set in the right direction to pursue her dream of becoming an author. The birth of her Crimson Rose series sprouted while she daydreamed within her torturous math class.
As most characters grow in stories, Gabrielle slowly began to ease from the comfort of herself. There were always many paths before her, however; none took kindly to her heart. Her love began to reside in her stories instead of finding hope in another as a partner. Nonetheless, when she wasn't looking when her loving fiancé, Vincent appeared in her life. He helped to motivate her when blocks hit her and was there to bounce ideas off of. With Vincent's encouragement, she was able to finally finish her series as well as reach her dream as an author. Like any good shifting story, Gabrielle had to quickly adjust to the pros and cons of being in a military relationship.
Gabrielle continues to write many years after her early beginnings sitting at a desk in middle school with a handful of notebooks to accompany her. Her work stretches far beyond her series now with short stories, poems, sketching out her characters and much more.

Links: 

https://www.facebook.com/CrimsonRosegf

https://www.facebook.com/GabrielleFranchettiAuthorFiresprite

And now...as promised we have a special treat.  On December 31st, 2013 Gabrielle's first novel will be hitting readers everywhere. Her book titled Crimson Rose will be available on Amazon among other places, and just for you, lucky readers, we have some special words form the author herself.  We hope you enjoy this tasty tidbit, and will run out...or type whichever the case is, and purchase our lovely Fire Sprites amazing words in print. 

Blurb from Crimson Rose:

When Alachia learns that children are mysteriously vanishing for an unknown reason, she must fight with a burning force growing stronger inside her as she unravels the explanation of this pandemic.  Death and creatures only heard in stories torment her along her quest while being haunted by the lives lost in her old home. They long for a life instead of laying waste to the dead kingdom and Alachia makes a hefty promise to them.

While carrying the murdered souls, Alachia must make sure her own changing nature does not disrupt them. Questions swarm her mind wandering if she will make it in time for her lost people and the children. Alachia must choose between a path of destruction, or one of everlasting peace. An eerie man makes the decision for her and sets her off on an unforgettable journey to the possible demise of her friends and herself.