Interview with R.J. Mirabal

R.J. Mirabal was kind enough to stop by and answer a few questions for us today on his debut novel, published by Black Rose Writing.

R.J., what is your current project? Please tell us under what genre it falls and give us a short description.

I am currently working on the draft of the sequel to my first published novel, ‘The Tower of Il Serrohe.’ Titled ‘Extreme Dust Storms May Exist,’ it is a southwest contemporary fantasy set along the Middle Rio Grande Valley between Albuquerque and Los Lunas. The story centers on Esther Jiron, a sixteen year old honor student, who is drawn into an alternate valley, the Valle Abajo, which strongly resembles the Rio Grande except for the medieval lifestyles and the presence of a mild form of magic. Once again the clanspeople of the Valle are under the cruel siege of the Soreyes who terrorize and dominate the Valle. Esther is called to the Valle to help the clanspeople fight off this continuing threat, just as they had called Don Vargas more recently and a curandera back in 1905. It is my hope to conclude the saga in a third installment entitled, ‘Zero Visibility Possible.’

Is this your first book? If not, what else have you written?

‘The Tower’ is my first published book. Back in the late 70s and early 80s I wrote a number of stillborn science fiction novels that were neither original enough to publish nor skillfully written. But I learned a great deal about writing novel length stories, character development, plotting, etc.

Who are your favorite authors and what kind of books do you love best?

Since I first could read, I was always more fascinated by stories beyond reality. In Junior High, I got hooked on science fiction and I still admire the icons of that genre: Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clark, Jack Williamson, Kurt Vonnegut, and dozens more. Then along came J.R.R. Tolkien and fantasy was added to my list along with great mystery writers from Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie to many new writers such as Henning Mankell, author of the Kurt Wallander series. Two of my favorite writers are fellow New Mexicans: Tony Hillerman, the famous writer of Navajo detective mysteries, and Rudolfo Anaya, well known author of the Hispanic experience. Both writers have evoked the New Mexico landscape, culture, and lifestyle. I confess one of my all time favorite novels is ‘Jane Eyre’ by Charlotte Brontë who employed that wonderful Victorian style of detail and depth most of us modern writers are reluctant to attempt.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I start out as a pantser once I have an idea that intrigues me. I usually write one or two chapters (not always the first chapters) off the cuff, usually in a torrent. Then I step back and start mulling and plotting in such detail I can copy my notes to the draft and flesh out a few more sentences. Strangely enough, when I’m plotting, I’m still being a pantser because I seldom go back and make drastic plot changes, unless I’ve discovered a logical gap or have a revelation to spark up the story.

What writing rituals do you have, if any?

Unfortunately, life happens and a regular ritual for writing is seldom possible; however, I find I do best if I write after quickly checking email in the morning or first thing after lunch. Once I have my outline/plot notes, it’s easier to jump right in at any time since the hard thought is done.

What hobbies do you enjoy when you are not writing?

I love to travel though I don’t do as much as desired. I have a 4wheeler, which allows me to get out in the wilderness (desert and mountains) almost every week. I also love music and am learning to play the hammered dulcimer. I also volunteer in two organizations: a motorcycle club, and The New Mexico Dulcimer Festival. Watching good movies and engaging television, particularly PBS, is a favorite way to relax.

Please tell my readers how they can get more information on you and your books.

You can find out all kinds of information about me and my books at my website.

I’m also on Facebook, Google +, Amazon Author Central, and Goodreads. My book is available at: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, local bookstores in Albuquerque, such as Treasure House of Books, Page One, and Hastings (if not, ask and they will order) as well as my publisher, Black Rose Writing.

Lonely is the Night (A Shadow Force Novella) by Stephanie Tyler

Book Description:

Reid Cormier is a recently retired Delta Force Operator. He joined his former teammates to work black ops jobs around the world. Although he is busy, he can’t stop thinking about the last job he had because of the special woman who was involved.

U.S. Marshall, Grier Vanderhall, the woman Reid can’t seem to forget, faked her own death without telling Reid about it first. He couldn’t forgive her for her betrayal. When Reid finds out that Grier is in trouble, he can’t think of anything else but rescuing her from her captors. Although he is hoping that he is the able to bring her back, he is unsure if either one of them will make it out alive.

My review:

Reid and Grier are a very dynamic couple in the previous novel, 'Night Moves.'Stephanie Tyler does a wonderful job with her ‘Shadow Force’ series. 'Lonely is the Night' is the closure that was needed between Reid and Grier. They were the only couple that didn’t end up happily ever after in the entire series.

Stephanie’s novels are always thrilling. She usually runs three storylines at the same time that are independent yet related. They are full of excitement and steamy romance, and will keep you turning pages until the very end. In this particular novella, Grier is in charge of watching someone who is a witness to an illegal fighting ring. Without giving too much away, she gets kidnapped and her partner calls Reid, knowing he would want to help find her.

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars only because of the length. I realize that she usually does three storylines and this was only one, which is why she categorized it as a novella. However, this did feel inappropriately short and it was over way too fast. Usually her mysteries and wild rides are longer and more intricate. She is one of my very favorite authors and this book is certainly a must read for ‘Shadow Force’ fans. You will want to see how it ends and they are a great couple. Just wish it was a little longer.

An interview with Black Rose Writer Kerin Freeman

Kerin Freeman has agreed to speak with us today about her new release, 'War and Chance.'

Tell us a little about your latest release. Under what genre would you say it falls:'War and Chance' falls under historical fiction. It’s set in the city of Southampton, England, where I was born and grew up. During WWIIthey experienced a lot of bombing. Southampton’s a very old city and still has the remains of buildings and walls built hundreds of years ago. Because I love the history of the place, and because I had just written the biography of the Earl of Suffolk & Berkshire, 'Jack Howard’s War,' I wondered what it would be like for a young naïve boy of eighteen, who was being conscripted into the army, to go and fight a war on foreign soil; a war he didn't believe in, seeing as his father did the same in WWI.

Sounds like an interesting plot. What’s next? Are you writing a sequel or something new? My next project is something completely different. It’s a true story about a young man who sails from England in the early 1950s to Australia, then onto New Zealand (where I live now). There he finds work and the love of his life. She finds out he is still married to a girl in Australia. She leaves him and the protagonist winds up heartbroken. He decides to win her back and comes up with a foolish plan. Only it backfires on him and the girl dies. At the age of 27 the NZ government decides to hang him for manslaughter. The day before he is due to hang, he is taken into hospital for appendicitis. He is operated on and sent back the following day to be hanged. My book is called 'The Quality of Mercy.'

Can’t wait to find out how it turns out. Is this your first book or do you have previous novels? I have a manuscript, 'Jack Howard’s War,' which is yet to be published. I’m currently very active in finding a publisher. It has taken me four and a half years to research and write. It basically tells the true story of a young man who became an earl at the age of eleven, a sailor at 17 on one of the last big sailing ships that sailed from England to Australia in the late 1920s, a sheep farmer in Australia, a scientist in pharmacology with first class honors, a British spy for the government who went on a Top Secret mission to Paris, and a pioneer in Bomb Disposal, saving many lives. He and his secretary Beryl and his chauffeur Fred became known as 'The Holy Trinity.' He received, posthumously, the George Cross medal.

How about your writing rituals? Is there something you do every time you sit down to write? I do have a ritual. Something I can’t deviate from, try as I might. The first thing I do when I get up in the morning is boot up my computer, then do the usual; breakfast, shower, walk the dog, come home, get myself a drink, sit down at the computer and check my emails to see if any research I’ve been waiting for has come in. If I didn't do this, I’d feel out of sorts all day. I go over what I’ve written the day before then begin to write. I write for an hour solid, take a break, get a cup of tea minutes later back at keyboard, and repeat the process. I do that because I’m prone to getting Repetitive Strain Injury in my wrists from typing too long.

Are you a plotter or a planner? How long does it take you to complete a novel? I’m a planner really. Once I decide on what I’m going to write about, I do an awful lot of research into my subject. I usually end up with mounds of it, just like I did with 'Jack Howard’s War.' It helps me get the feel of the era and characters I’m going to write about, and the story in my head. It also helps me to get inside the main character I’m writing about, much like an actor learning his part in a film or play. If I can’t feel the characters, my readers won’t either.

Do you have any favorite authors? What is your favorite genre? I don’t know whether I have a favorite genre. When I’m not reading or researching, I love to read psychological thrillers. I enjoy reading about what makes people tick. I enjoy biographies. The last book I read, 'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society,' was superbly written and a complete joy to read. The characters were so real that you thought of them as your friends. It’s written in a form of letters from an author to people who lived in Guernsey. It was a true pleasure to read from cover to cover. I borrowed it from a friend but once I had finished it, I bought a copy for myself. I also love bookslike 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' 'In Cold Blood,' and Jodi Picoult books. She has this amazing ability to get inside her characters.

What are you reading now? At the moment I’m reading Barbara Kingsolver’s novel 'The Poisonwood Bible,' which is excellent. It is full of the prickly threads of religion, politics, race, sin, and redemption in the Belgian Congo. It will be another favorite of mine.

Do you take any of your storylines from your true life? In War and Chance there is a character called Freddie Murphy. Growing up in Southampton, England. I knew many people like him. He was a bit of a wheeler-dealer, kind hearted, bit of a scrooge and always after a bargain. Yes, some of the characters in there I’ve known. With 'Jack Howard’s War,' I know the type of kindhearted people who worked for the 20th Earl of Suffolk & Berkshire. Jack Howard, the earl, however, took time to gel. Once that happened, it was like we had become firm friends. That may sound weird but I lived and breathed Jack Howard for four and a half years so it’s not uncommon to truly feel your main character.

If you could do anything else in the world besides write, what would you be doing? If I had my time again, I’d be a historian or an archaeologist. I love history. At the moment in England there is the excitement of Richard III being found. I find that thrilling and want to know everything about it. England has such a rich history that goes back hundreds and hundreds of years. It’s in my blood. So I like my books to be set in an era I can research, like the one I am writing now, which is the hanging of a young Liverpuldian, set in the 1950s in New Zealand.

You can find more information about Kerin and her books at,

website

Amazon.com

Black Rose Writer, Claudio Tapia, and his debut novel, ‘The Hand of Yemanjá.’

Black Rose Writer, Claudio Tapia, was kind enough to stop by and chat with us today about his new release, ‘The Hand of Yemanjá.’

that I launched it in Amsterdam, where I live.

Obviously, the path to a debut is always a long one. I chucked several manuscripts before I was able to write this one. I have been writing since an early age and gone through spells of obsessive key-crunching ever since I can remember.

I understand that you just got picked up by a literary agency. Tell us about this wonderful news.

Before I started this project, a friend of mine said to me that if I write this story down, it would become a book that is read by all. The story is set in an interesting period in history and talks about the current topic of migration. The Raimondi & Campbell Literary Agency, operating out of London and Milan, now represent me in selling the translation rights around the world. There is little I can really say about the status at this time, but obviously, the Spanish-speaking markets are really interesting for me. I will keep you posted.

Are you a plotter or a pantser? Explain.

I definitely am a pantser, if what you mean is that I don’t often know what I am going to write until it spills unto the page. I think my biggest motivation to write is that I love to read, and I try to write the book I feel is missing on my shelf. I like to be surprised as I write, and if the story is able to move me, I know it will do the same with others.

What writing rituals do you have, if any?

I think I am still trying to discover what rituals are best for me. ‘The Hand of Yemanjá,’ I wrote mostly at night. But the reasons for that were that my kids were smaller at the time, and I was also working fulltime. There wasn’t any other time to write.

At the moment, going for a run in the morning, having my coffee and smoke, my shower, and then sitting down to write for a couple of hours works well.

Are you writing anything new? What are your plans for publication?

I am currently working on two new projects. Both are top secret, as they should be at this stage, but just between the two of us, one of them is the second part of ‘The Hand of Yemanjá.’

As far as publication, I try not to think about that too much. As I said, I want to write something that will be an addition to my own shelf before I distract myself by thinking what my audience might want. The only thing I know, is that when the work is worth reading, it will find its way; the hand of fate thing again, I suppose. Lit-Cinema is also a project I want to continue with. I narrated the first twenty pages of the book and illustrated these recordings with black and white footage, which I was able to pull from different archives. I think the cinematic element fits well with literature and also gives writers the chance to perform their work live on stage.

What hobbies do you enjoy when you are not writing?

I discovered running last year during a mild burnout and it has become meditation for me. It helps me to focus and has become a part of my work mode. Another form of meditation is shutting down the computer at the end of the day, popping open a bottle of wine and disappearing into the kitchen for an hour. I also love to cook.

Please tell my readers how they can get more information on you and your books.

Visit my website, which I try to update as much as I can with developments about the book. Also the entire Lit-Cinema series is on there. I am on Facebook a lot too.

The book is available via:

• Amazon.com
• Barnesandnoble.com
• Smashwords

But also check out:

• Raimondi & Campbell Literary Agency
• Black Rose Writing

‘Becoming Mona Lisa,’ by Holden Robinson is a true piece of art

What is the title of your latest release and what is it about?

'Becoming Mona Lisa,' follows the journey of Mona Lisa Siggs.  Mona has barely spoken to her husband in five years; she looks like a train wreck, and is basically dying of monotony.  Mona gets a makeover, books a romantic getaway, and recommits to her landfill of a marriage.  Cue the mayhem.  What happens next is reserved only for the most ridiculously hilarious, romantic comedies.

What inspired you to write this book? Do you have a muse?

I was inspired by my best friend's experience, being surrounded by black birds.  I set out to combine a hilarious story line with a poignant message, and if early reviews are any indication, it seems to have worked.

Tell us a little about yourself. Is there any truth to any of your novels?

My first novel, which remains unpublished, is the agonizing story of a mother who loses her young son.  I created the storyline to help myself heal from the loss of my father.  I knew if I could guide my protagonist through unimaginable grief, I would be better equipped to cope with my own loss.

Sometimes the best works come from pain and heartbreak. What is your favorite genre and who are your favorite authors?

I love a good romance, crime novel, or comedy.  I adore James Patterson, Patricia Cornwell and Janet Evanovich.

Sounds like some pretty great authors there. Are you working on another project right now? Tell us about it.

 I have several projects in the works.  My favorite project at present is a poignant story of animal rescue titled, ‘And Her Name Shall be Beloved.’

Just for fun, tell us some non-related book “stuff.” What do you like to do when you’re not writing? Any favorite hobbies?

I am a drama queen. I adore the moments I spend on stage with my fellow thespians, and it is there, on the stage, where I have met some of the finest people with whom I share my life.  I am also an avid animal lover and activist, and my ultimate dream is to reach enough readers to fund a rescue for senior cats, which I plan to call Tenth Life Sanctuary.

Your heart is certainly as big as your stories. What a wonderful plan. Tell our readers where we can find more information on you and your books

Readers can visit my website at www.holdenrobinsonproductions.com and find my books online at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Black Rose Writing.