Welcome to the Author Spotlights Page
Jack Croxall Why Science and Fiction Are Total Bros
Jaimie Admans Where dreams come true…?
Steampunk ComicBoston Metaphysical Society
Nikki McDonagh The Chronicles of Mayer – prequel to The Song of Forgetfulness Sci-fi/dystopian/action adventure series.
Boyko G. Ovcharov Interview
Nicole Saunders Author Update-Nicole Saunders
Rosemary A Johns BLOOD RENEGADES
Rose MontagueMeet Jade Smith, a magical mutt with a mission.
C J SuttonDortmund Hibernate
I would like to introduce you to C J Sutton who is a new Facebook friend. I have not read his book Dortmund Hibernate, but I am a sucker for a horror film. If you are into horror which has a detailed plot, then this maybe the book for you.
Here is what C J Sutton says about his writing.
When I started writing Dortmund Hibernate I didn’t have an ending in mind. It started with an asylum, which I filled with nine of the sickest characters I could create. I delved into their backstories of death, destruction and chaos by applying my greatest fears and references of pain. I’ve had a long obsession with asylums and the criminally insane, simply because their lives reach murky depths we’re not quite sure how to comprehend. Next, a protagonist walked in and became the new psychologist to these nine condemned minds. His task was to make a recommendation on each case: because the world is moving on from the ‘asylum’, do they receive a transfer to maximum-security prison or given a death sentence under a new government act? Our psychologist is somewhat of a prodigy in his field, a young idealistic man with the confidence to make a difference in this mentally sick world of ours. That’s when the story began.
Dortmund shares a name with a popular German city, but this Dortmund is a rural Western town located hundreds of miles from the closest city hub. The locals are shut off from the swell of traffic, the skyscrapers, the technological phenomenon and the politically-correct culture. Here they rely on a pub to wash away their woes and the mountain views to protect them from 21st century madness. But the madness resting in the asylum on the hill watches over them, and they are never as safe as they believe. Dr Magnus Paul arrives with little information about the nine patients but is well versed on the most notorious man of all; Jasper James, a former leader of a cult biker outfit who has turned into legend through the details of his crimes. The other cases challenge Magnus, but Jasper is the proclaimed ‘Rockstar’ by the guards at the facility.
Walter Perch is the unofficial lead guard, a weary man constantly prepared for a mass breakout. He walks the cavernous hallways of Dortmund Asylum as laughter cackles around him. He is supported by the ageing and alcoholic Carter, a giant teddy bear in Brian and hardly-a-rose-between-thorns Shirley. These are the four people separating the nine from society, and they know nothing of Magnus’ task.
Each patient presents to Magnus from their cell. They enter the days of their worst crimes and explain their actions in explicit detail. An animal-worshipping murderer who kept a pet anaconda in a playpen, a sadistic and sexually-charged high school teacher, a drug kingpin, the self-proclaimed brother of Jesus Christ committing foul deeds in the name of his family; these are but a few of the souls we see open up before us.
But what happens if these patients were to escape the confines of their cells? What if there are conspiracies in Dortmund that reach into the town’s core? What if our protagonist is tempted towards a new life of crime by the devilish tongue of a man so insane that he can’t wipe the smile off his face?
You’ll have to wait and see. But for now, you can pre-order Dortmund Hibernate on Kindle from mybook.to/dortmundhibernate
Dortmund Hibernate by C.J. Sutton
Psychologist Dr Magnus Paul is tasked with the patients of Dortmund Asylum – nine criminally insane souls hidden from the world due to the extremity of their acts.
Magnus has six weeks to prove them sane for transfer to a maximum-security prison, or label them as incurable and recommend a death sentence under a new government act.
As Magnus delves into the darkness of the incarcerated minds, his own sanity is challenged. Secrets squeeze through the cracks of the asylum, blurring the line between reality and nightmare, urging Magnus towards a new life of crime…
The rural western town of Dortmund and its inhabitants are the backdrop to the mayhem on the hill.
It’s Silence of the Lambs meets Shutter Island in this tale of loss, fear and diminishing hope.
For more, please visit:
www.cjsutton-author.com
Twitter – https://twitter.com/c_j_sutton
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/cjsutton.author
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18027302.C_J_Sutton
BOSTON METAPHYSICAL SOCIETY – THE COMPLETE SERIES
Boston Metaphysical Society Comic is a steampunk supernatural six issue mini-series. All six issues are now available the trade paperback. The trade will include a brand new ten page sequential art short story called Hunter-Killer.
The trade paperback is written and created by Madeleine Holly-Rosing, art by Emily Hu, colors by Gloria Caeli and Fahriza Kamaputura and, lettering by Shawn Aldridge and Troy Peteri.
The story is about an ex-Pinkerton detective, his spirit photographer partner, and a genius scientist who battle supernatural forces in late 1800’s Boston.
Think “Steampunk X-Files.”
Full Synopsis:
The year is 1895…An evil from a parallel dimension escaped and now roams the city of Boston. Faced with a new century and new steam technology, the social and political status quo is turned on its head. People are uncomfortable with change and, in fact, many people fear it. That fear and the violence which follows causes a psychic rift to puncture the veil of space and time allowing the entity known as “The Shifter” to escape. Feeding on the resentment and fear between the rich and poor, “The Shifter” triggers a rash of murders. Four of the greatest minds of the time have banded together to try and stop this malevolent entity. Known only as B.E.T.H., they are: Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla and Harry Houdini. They fail.
Against their better judgment, they look to a man driven by revenge – SAMUEL HUNTER.
For the one mistake The Shifter made was killing Samuel’s wife. An ex-Pinkerton detective, Samuel gathers his unlikely team of… Caitlin O’Sullivan, Medium and Spirit Photographer:
and Granville Woods, Scientist Extraordinaire:
They are the Boston Metaphysical Society.
Their job: Stop The Shifter before Boston tears itself apart.
Social Media:
Website: http://www.bostonmetaphysicalsociety.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BostonMetaphysicalSocietyComic
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mhollyrosing
Tumblr: http://www.bostonmetaphysicalsociety.tumblr.com
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+MadeleineHollyRosing/posts
Reviews for The Complete Series:
The Root Beer Party: https://rootbeerparty.wordpress.com/2017/07/20/comic-collection-review-boston-metaphysical-society-by-madeline-holly-rosing/
Hannah’s Novel Notions: https://constantcollectible.com/2016/11/20/hannahs-novel-notions-a-review-of-boston-metaphysical-society-by-madeleine-holly-rosing/
Fanbase Press: http://www.fanbasepress.com/index.php/blogs/steven-w-alloway/item/6186-boston-metaphysical-society-1-6-comic-book-review
Boston Metaphysical Society Creator Biographies
Madeleine Holly-Rosing: Writer/Creator – A TV, feature film, and comic book writer, Madeleine is the winner of the Sloan Fellowship for screenwriting, and the Gold Aurora and Bronze Telly for a PSA she wrote and co-produced with Women In Film. She has also won numerous awards while completing the UCLA MFA Program in Screenwriting. Having run a number of successful crowdfunding campaigns for her graphic novel, Boston Metaphysical Society, Madeleine now teaches a crowdfunding class for independent creators at Pulp Fiction Books in Culver City as well as having guest lectured at Dreamworks Animation, Scriptwriters Network, UCLA Professional Programs, as well as other institutions. She has also published the book, Kickstarter for the Independent Creator.
Boston Metaphysical Society comic is the recipient of an Honorable Mention at the 2013 Geekie Awards and was nominated for Best Comic/Graphic Novel at the 2014 Geekie Awards. The comic has also been nominated for a 2012 Airship Award as well as a 2013, 2014, and 2015 Steampunk Chronicle Reader’s Choice Award. Her novella, Steampunk Rat, was also nominated for a 2013 Steampunk Chronicle Reader’s Choice Award.
Boston Metaphysical Society: The Scourge of the Mechanical Men is a standalone continuation of the six issue mini-series.
Madeleine also has an anthology of short stories and novellas called Boston Metaphysical Society: Prelude (in print as well as eBook) based on the Boston Metaphysical Society universe available at all major online retailers. The Boston Metaphysical Society short story, Here Abide Monsters, is part of the Some Time Later anthology from Thinking Ink Press. She is currently writing the first novel based on the series and was hired by SFC Comics/Evoluzione Publishing to write a four issue mini-series based on the SFC character, Kasai.
The Art Team for The Scourge of the Mechanical Men
Gwynn Tavares – Artist/Colorist for Boston Metaphysical Society: The Scourge of the Mechanical Men (A Granville Woods and Nikola Tesla Story) Gwynn starter out her art career as a sculptor. After a few years working on movie special effects, she decided to go into sequential art and was the artist for Amelia Sky. Majoring as in illustrator, Gwynn is also an accomplished comedian and lives on a sailboat in San Francisco Bay.
Troy Peteri – Letterer. Troy is a Los Angeles based letterer whose credits include Amazing Spider Man, Iron Man, and roughly 98% of all the comics from Top Cow Productions for the last 10+ years. He also co-wrote and lettered Abattoir, a mini-series for Radical Comics.
The Art Team for Boston Metaphysical Society – The Complete Series
Emily Hu – Artist: Emily is a graduate from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. She has been drawing ever since she was little and it’s been her lifelong dream to make it as a comic book artist. Her main influences are Eduardo Risso, Becky Cloonan, and Ito Junji. She works freelance and has created covers for BOOM! is her Boston Metaphysical Society first comic book series. She now works at Marvel as a storyboard artist.
Gloria Caeli – Colorist: Based in Jakarta, she has worked for Avicom Advertising and Stellar Labs. Her most recent projects are Boston Metaphysical Society and VOODOO. She like anyone else enjoys music, photography, travelling, and reads a lot of genre related books.
Fahriza Kamaputra – Colorist: Based in Jakarta, Fahriza is a sefl-taught comics and concept artist. He worked as a colorist on VIENETTA AND THE STUPID ALIENS which led to his work on the webcomic ROKKI with Stellar Labs.
Troy Peteri – Letterer (Chapters 1-3, 5 and 6): Troy is a Los Angeles based letterer whose credits include Amazing Spider Man, Iron Man, and roughly 98% of all the comics from Top Cow Productions for the last 10+ years. He also co-wrote and lettered Abattoir, a mini-series for Radical Comics.
Shawn Aldridge – Letterer (Chapter 4) Shawn is a Portland based writer and letterer. He’s best known for his awarding winning creator-owned sci-pulp series, Vic Boone. He also writes and co-created GoGetters from MonkeyBrain with artist Christopher Peterson. His work has also appeared in FUBAR, the NYT bestselling anthology series.
Boston Metaphysical Society – Author Q&A
- How did you develop Boston Metaphysical Society? What were your inspirations?
The story and the world were developed through an odd confluence of ideas and research. I had written a script called STARGAZER (A Sloan Fellowship Winner) while at the UCLA MFA Program in Screenwriting. It was a true story based on the life of an astronomer by the name of Mina Fleming who came to Boston from Scotland in 1860 (or thereabouts). Obviously, I had done a ton of research on that time period to write the script, but I’m also a huge science fiction, steampunk and supernatural fan. At one point I realized there had to have been a team of paranormal investigators before Mulder and Scully. So I started to develop a TV Pilot with the characters of Samuel Hunter and Caitlin O’Sullivan. That’s when it hit me and I came up with the tag line for Boston Metaphysical Society…
“Before Mulder and Scully, there was Hunter and O”Sullivan.”
It was later on that I adapted my TV Pilot into a six issue comic mini-series. However, I also wanted to delve more deeply into the world and characters than I could with the comic so I’ve been writing companion short stories and novellas based on the Boston Metaphysical universe. They are prequels and do not contain any spoilers to the webcomic. (Available on Kindle, Nook, Smashwords and DriveThruFiction)
- Emily Hu does the art for The Boston Metaphysical Society. How did you two meet? What is it about her art style that drew you to work with her?
Emily and I met through a mutual friend. It took me many months to find her, but it was worth the wait. She does Victorian really really well and I like that her characters are not cartoonish or abstract. Not that I don’t like that style, it just wasn’t what I was looking for in this particular project. Emily also brings subtle emotion to the characters she draws. I think that’s what sets her apart from many other artists. Plus, her sequential art is terrific. She’s always able to visualize exactly what I’ve written. Every once in a while she’ll ignore my panel sequencing and turn in something even more amazing. I love that she can surprise me.
- Who, or what, was your biggest influence behind this comic?
I was very fortunate in that I took Nunzio De Fillippi’s Sequential Art Class at UCLA Extension. Not only is he a fabulous teacher (and now a friend), but he really believed in the project and gave me terrific advice and sent me on the path I’m on now. I was also fortunate in having amazing classmates all of whom gave me valuable advice and guidance. Christina Strain, writer of The Fox Sister and former colorist at Marvel, taught me about finding and working with an artist as well as the ins and outs of working at a Comic Con. George Wassil, another classmate, and I ended up traveling to Cons together and we were both nominated for Best Comic/Graphic Novel at the 2014 Geekie Awards. George won and I was thrilled for him, but it’s fun to think that we developed our stories together and gave each other notes. Another mentor and now friend is Dave Elliott of A1/Atomeka Press. I met him through a mutual friend and he arranged for my colorists, Gloria and Fahriza. His advice has also been invaluable. My point is mentors are important and I was fortunate to have a number of amazing ones.
- The new story, The Scourge of the Mechanical Men, tell us about that.
It is 34 page standalone continuation of the series featuring Granville Woods and Nikola Tesla. I decided a while ago (for time and budget reasons) that all future comics will be 32-34 page standalone stories focusing on two of the main characters from the original storyline. This particular story is about how Granville and Tesla must stop a virus that is turning men into machines. It will be a 44 page perfect bound book which includes lots of extras like a map of Boston and character bios. Gwynn Tavares is the new artist on board and she’s doing a fabulous job.
It will launch on Kickstarter on Jan. 31.
- In portraying historical characters, are you more inspired by real-life accounts or previous fictional portrayals? (Particularly with Tesla!)
I’m more inspired by real-life accounts than previous fictional portrayals. In fact, I don’t pay attention at all to fictional stories that include any of my more notable characters and I don’t think anyone should pay attention to mine when writing their own stories. If you’ve seen the TV show Sanctuary, Tesla was portrayed as an arrogant over-the-top vampire played by a short actor. (Tesla was a very tall lanky guy.) I preferred the David Bowie version in The Prestige, but I didn’t use it as inspiration.
When I integrate real-life characters into a story I try to use who they were thematically. However, for dramatic purposes I might alter commonly held beliefs about what a character was like. What you don’t know as a reader is that I might have a larger plan to come back closer to the “real” person in a later series as part of their character arc. (Hint, hint.) What I think is important is using some of the real-life disagreements these particular guys had with each other. It leads to nice organic conflict.
For example, we all know Edison and Tesla had grievances with each other, but what most people don’t know is that Granville Woods sued Edison twice for stealing his patents – and won! (Granville Woods was a notable African-American engineer.)
- You’ve done four Kickstarters. What was it like to not make your goal on the first one then be fully funded in 48 hours on your second? And any advice for those looking to launch a Kickstarter?
Running a Kickstarter is not for the faint of heart. It is probably the hardest thing I have ever done in my life and I’ve done it three times now. Gah! When my husband and I sat down to crunch the numbers for the first one, we made a number of assumptions that turned out to not be true and on top of that Kickstarter backers had evolved as well. Meaning, Kickstarter (“KS”) was no longer new and shiny and many backers were tired of getting burned. In the first KS we were looking to fund production of our last three issues. What we didn’t realize is that KS backers were no longer backing many production runs in comics anymore. They were looking at KS as a pre-order mechanism for comics that were either completed or close to completion. I can’t really blame them for that, but it was disappointing to me. So for the second KS we decided to just fund a print run of chapter three, but we did so well we were able to fund the print run of chapter four. (That was our fourth stretch goal.) The third KS we took a bit of a risk and looked to fund the production and printing of chapter five. We were successful, but it took a bit more strategizing.
My advice to anyone looking to run a Kickstarter is to get your social media and email list set-up long before you launch. You must have an email list of people willing to back your project the very day you launch. Having a fan base before you start is extremely helpful so take the time to build that up before you start whether you develop it online and/or at Comic Cons.
I’ve also been teaching a class twice a year on crowdfunding for independent creators at Pulp Fiction Books in Culver City as well as been a guest lecturer at Dreamworks Animation, UCLA Professional Programs, and other institutions.
Boston Metaphysical Society – The Complete Series by Madeleine Holly-Rosing
- Art by Emily Hi
- Coloring by Gloria Caeli and Fahriza Kamaputra
- Lettering by Troy Peteri and Shawn Aldridge
Story: An ex-Pinkerton detective, a spirit photographer, and a genius scientist battle supernatural forces in late 1800s Boston.
Buy At:
Storenvy: http://bostonmetaphysical.storenvy.com/
Tagline: “Before Mulder and Scully, there was Hunter and O’Sullivan.”
- Publisher: Brass-T Publishing
- Pages: 156
- ISBN: 978-0-9964292-2-1
- Released May 2017
Praise for Boston Metaphysical Society
“Women and people of color take center stage in the Boston Metaphysical Society comic, written by Madeline Holly-Rosing, with art by Emily Hu. Inspired by fantasy and the art of storytelling, Holly-Rosing uses her imagination to create a fantastic story that is both well-written and fearless.” – Valerie Complex (Fansided)
“If you have a taste for an intelligent, well written, elegantly illustrated award winning independent book, you can’t go wrong with Boston Metaphysical Society!” – Alex Yarde (The Good Man Project)
“This very inventive series posits a totally believable Steampunk world that is populated by appealing characters who act (and react) in believable manners to the extraordinary events that swirl around them.” – Robert Sodaro (Comic Reviewer at Examiner.com)
Additional Media:
Website: www.bostonmetaphysicalsociety.com
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/hollyrosing/boston-metaphysical-society/
Video (On Kickstarter): https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/488929101/boston-metaphysical-society-trade-paperback
Social Media Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BostonMetaphysicalSocietyComic/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mhollyrosing
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madeleinehollyrosing
Boston Metaphysical Society: The Scourge of the Mechanical Men (A Granville Woods and Nikola Tesla Story) by Madeleine Holly-Rosing
- Art, inking, and color by Gwynn Tavares
- Lettering by Troy Peteri
Story: Granville and Tesla are in a race for time to save Boston from a mysterious disease that turns human beings into machines. (It is a a standalone continuation of the six issue mini-series.)
Sneak Peek at the Prologue:
Failing to defeat The Shifter, a distraught and almost insane Tesla flees Beacon Hill leaving Samuel, Caitlin, and Granville to face the creature from another dimension on their own. They are successful, but Boston still reels from the aftermath of the destruction caused by Tesla and The Shifter. Happy they are still alive, the team’s celebration is interrupted when Granville’s niece, Sarah, arrives insisting Granville come home to Liberty Row, the Negro neighborhood of Boston. At first, Granville thinks he’s returning for a surprise family reunion, but soon discovers what awaits him is one of the greatest challenges he will ever face.
Launching on Kickstarter January 31, 2018. (Link available after Kickstarter launches.)
- Publisher: Brass-T Publishing
- Pages: 34 page story in 44 page perfect bound book which includes character bios, and a map an alternate history map of Boston.
Additional Media:
Website: www.bostonmetaphysicalsociety.com
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/hollyrosing/boston-metaphysical-society/
Video: Will be available after Kickstarter launches.
Social Media Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BostonMetaphysicalSocietyComic/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mhollyrosing
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madeleinehollyrosing
The Chronicles of Mayer – prequel to The Song of Forgetfulness Sci-fi/dystopian/action adventure series.
I began the Chronicles of Mayer simply because I received quite a few emails from readers who wanted to know more about the history of NotSoGreatBritAlbion, the setting for my Sci-fi/dystopian/post apocalyptic book series, The Song of Forgetfulness.
I pondered on how to do this, as it is quite a big subject. I didn’t want it to be just a dry, matter-of-fact account with dates and power points saying things like, ‘In the year 2078 viruses, storms, tsunami’s and plagues, wiped out most of Europe and Great Britain, leaving only the mountainous regions of Scotland habitable…’
I decided to pick a character, The Moocow Monks of Mayer, briefly mentioned in the books, and use her to tell the story as it happens. So, The Chronicles of Mayer was born and I found myself writing about Buddhist monks trying to save their sacred cattle from the flooding by marching them from Suffolk to the Trossachs, whilst staving off hungry survivors who want to kill and eat their holy cows.
It wasn’t easy. Still I did it and published The Chronicles of Mayer in August of this year.
Blurb:
A story of survival and courage in a devastated world.
Adara needs to know about her past if she, and everyone else, is to have a future. The Moocow Monks of Mayer have the answers. Inside their subterranean archive, Adara sits and watches the history of NotsoGreatBritAlbion unfold before her eyes.
As a catastrophic flood wipes out most of the population of Great Britain, cow herds, Gopi Jnanamaya Kosha (Mayer) and Gopala Arjuna Bhutapanchaka, of Mahabharata House, a Buddhist community, are forced to flee, taking the cows with them.
With water levels rising at an alarming rate, and terrifying storms endangering their pilgrimage, Mayer and Arjuna must battle not only the elements but hungry survivors and rogue soldiers intent on butchering the holy cattle.
Can they build a sanctuary in the mountains of Scotland to secure the survival of mankind if disease, brutal attacks, and infertility threaten to wipe out all human and animal life?
Will the traitors who defect to the enemy and construct a stark Metropolis, where sinister experiments take place behind closed doors, stop Mayer from saving not only the sacred herd but all who have sought refuge?
Can love prevail in a world if artificial insemination is the only way to procreate?
Find out in – The Chronicles of Mayer
“…a unique plot that caught me from the very beginning”
This is an accompaniment/prequel to The Song of Forgetfulness Sci-fi/Dystopian/Action Adventure series.
You can purchase it here for only 99c: http://myBook.to/ChroniclesMayer
You can view all of my books on my Amazon Author Page: Author.to/BooksonAmazon
Find out more about the Song of Forgetfulness: https://www.thesongofforgetfulness.com
Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesongofforgetfulness/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/McDonaghNikki
Blog: https://nicolajmcdonagh.wordpress.com
I am proud to host Jack Croxall, I am a huge Fan of his work. I feel that his is book Tethers is a modern classic. Everything that he writes is extremely interesting and from a fresh view point. He is knowledgeable about science, physics and the planets, and is always happy to share his wide range of ideas though his many published works. I have always passed on his books as I want everyone to read him. So please read on and share this fascinating piece.
Why Science and Fiction Are Total Bros By Jack Croxall
‘I don’t know.’ This is the default position of science. If you ask any decent physicist how the universe came in to being, they will probably say: ‘I don’t know, but here are some theories.’ Likewise, if you ask any biologist what colour a baby Triceratops was, they will probably say: ‘I don’t know, but I can speculate.’ This lack of absolutes is what makes science so awesome, and what makes the scientific process so encompassing and so (mostly) open-minded. By a happy coincidence, it also leaves a lot of mystery and a lot of room for guess work, and this is where our good friend fiction comes in!
Because our scientific understanding is far, far from complete, authors can take a scientific concept and flesh it out however they want. In 1963 a physicist named Hugh Everett published his theorem, The Many Worlds Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics. His radical new idea proposed that, thanks to some incredibly clever calculations and observations, our universe must not stand alone. In fact, Everett’s ground-breaking theory proposed that there are actually an infinite array of other universes existing parallel to the one we call home. Whilst the theory was criticised at the time, it has since gone on to gain a huge following with notable scientists likening the significance of Everett’s work to that of Einstein’s.
Fast forward to 1995 when Philip Pullman, inspired by Everett’s work, published the first edition of His Dark Materials. The series takes place across a host of parallel worlds with the central duo being able to cut openings in the air and travel between them. Now, Everett’s theorem says little about what any of these parallel worlds are actually like, and so Pullman was able to imagine them however he wanted. Daemons, armoured bears, witches; all of Pullman’s sublime creations would not have been able to light up the world of fiction if Everett had not published his ideas thirty-two years beforehand.
So, at a glance, it’s perhaps easy to think of science and fiction as poles apart but, in my experience, this is far from the reality. In fact, it was Pullman’s work which inspired me to start writing fiction and simultaneously helped fuel my love of science. Are Pullman’s ideas anywhere near the truth? Well, I don’t know. What I do know, however, is that our world is all the better for them.
Jack Croxall is an author/scriptwriter living in Nottinghamshire. You can view his books by clicking here.
https://jackcroxall.co.uk @JackCroxall
Boyko G. Ovcharov from Bulgaria, but am also a UK graduate.
latest news?
I am looking forward to publishing my next book by the end of summer ort early autumn/fall.
When and why did you begin writing?
Back in 2012, when I felt I had a story to share, although to be a writer used to be my childhood dream. I know it may sound a bit cliched, but it is true.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Still in the process, but maybe when I received more than a couple of dozen good and serious reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.
What inspired you to write your first book?
Basically, some personal and professional experiences that I wanted to analyse and share with others.
How did you come up with the title?
Very creatively, but somehow naively, because sometimes I do realize some people before us had come up with similar titles and ideas.
Do you have a specific writing style? Is there anything about your style or genre that you find particularly challenging?
Readers tend to say my style is a bit poetic, which I definitely like. Of course, finding the right, but not the same words and phrases every time the author wants to give life to their various characters is always a challenge. However, it can also be a great reward in the end.
How much of the book is realistic and are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
I try to make my writing realistic and convincing, but also appealing to a larger group of readers
To craft your works, do you have to travel? Before or during the process?
I usually rely on my everyday interactions, musings, findings and memories.
Who designed the covers?
Honestly, myself with the help of my girlfriend and some Amazon templates.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Never give up searching for your better self, the better in others and the world. And here, I do not want to sound populist by any means. I mean that this message will inevitably assume very specific forms in different people’s lives.
Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest? Who is your favourite writer, and what is it about their work that really strikes you?
There are many of them and what strikes me about them is their freedom of expression and even courage.
Outside of family members, name one entity that supported your commitment to become a published author.
Other indie authors around the world.
Do you see writing as a career?
One should never stop dreaming and aspiring.
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
Maybe not, the process of creativity needs refinement but not too much restriction.
Did you learn anything during the writing of your recent book?
Many new things about humankind in general and our way of thinking as individuals.
If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?
Perhaps a newly discovered cast of talented actors.
Any advice for other writers?
Be yourselves as much as possible and tell others what you have learnt in life in the appropriate way or genre to that matter.
Anything specific you want to tell your readers?
Be ready to be surprised and learn something new. Do not always expect to read anything comfy, casual and cozy.
What book are you reading now?
As usual, full of popular science and adventure.
Do you remember the first book you read?
Either Treasure Island or Alice in Wonderland.
What makes you laugh/cry?
Human wisdom and stupidity in either order.
Is there one person, past or present, you would love to meet? Why?
Stephen Hawking comes to mind, because he seems to know a lot about present-day life and writes so cleverly.
Do you have any hobbies?
Yes, walking in nature and physical activity.
What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?
Detective stories and police tv series, representing universal justice.
Favorite foods, colors, music?
Tasty food, stylish colors and rhythmic music.
Imagine a future where you no longer write. What would you do?
Teach as I still do.
What do you want written on your head stone?
Hopefully, in the distant future, something more modest like: ‘He was a wise and respected man.’
Do you have a blog or website readers can visit for updates, events and special offers?
https://www.amazon.com/Boyko-Ovcharov/e/B009T5LXX0
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6885811.Boyko_Ovcharov
https://www.facebook.com/boykoovcharovauthor
I am please to welcome Nicole Saunders to my spotlight page. Nicole is not only a very talented Author but also reviews books and a all-round nice person.
Author Update-Nicole Saunders
My author journey with my first novel, Disposable, has been thrilling. In October, I released the Ebook version of Disposable. The sales were modest. I searched for answers.
Then, I decided to be proactive. I reached out to my potential readers to see what they wanted from me as an author. The answer was loud and clear: a print book.
So, I went to work. I spent almost all of my free time researching how to transform an Ebook to a print book. I soon realized that doing so was a huge undertaking. There were so many rules! Formatting rules. Cover art rules. Editing rules. Just rules. And, all of them were crucial to creating a correctly-formatted book. One misplaced tab or superfluous space could completely ruin my formatting and force me to start again.
It took over 5 months for me to transform Disposable from an Ebook to a print book. But, it was well worth it.
Since I released the print version of Disposable, my sales have quintupled (5X the sales)! I even made a bulk sale where I sold over 20 books to a single buyer. My Amazon reviews have seen a significant increase.
Thus, all of the hard work was worth it.
Along with producing a print copy of the book, I’ve focused on increasing my social media presence. I actively follow other authors and social media influencers. So far, I have amassed over 300 Twitter followers to my Nickifixnwriter page.
My author journey has just begun. But, so far, it has been an exciting, frustrating, and beautiful ride.
ROSEMARY A JOHNS – BLOOD RENEGADES
Rosemary A Johns – Award-winning Bestselling Fantasy Author
Meet Jade Smith, a magical mutt with a mission.
For a limited time you can start this series for only 99 cents….
Teaser:
4 LOLs, 5 WTFs, & 6 OMGs
Surprises, plot twists,
& shockers keep coming ♥
Blurb:
Meet Jade Smith, a magical mutt with a mission. A detective partnered with a shifter named Rolfe, she’s on the case to solve a slew of murders: Vamps are killing humans, and nobody knows why. When London Jane, the most powerful vamp in town, is implicated in the murders, Jade knows something isn’t right. Together with Jill, the Winter Queen of Faerie, Jade and Jane take their investigation underground. On the run, with nowhere to hide, they uncover a secret that could destroy Faerie, as well as the human realm. Will Jade stop the killer in time? Or will she be the next victim?
Magic, mayhem, and mystery abound, and the odds are stacked against them; it’s three against three hundred.
Buy on Amazon:
US http://amzn.to/1QXLMq7
DE http://amzn.to/1WZfNNa
CA http://amzn.to/1Xk5cNx
AU http://bit.ly/1VSn16U
UK http://amzn.to/1qcp8UV
B&N (Nook) http://bit.ly/2m3wjOw
iBooks http://apple.co/2m3BwFX
Google Play http://bit.ly/2mmHmEV
Kobo http://bit.ly/2m3yHES
About Rose Montague….
My Goal: To have fun writing fun books to read.
My Writing Style: Not much pretty prose or flowery fluffiness, pretty much non-stop action and fun.
My Dream: To be able to write full time.
Reading Order: The chronological order is Jade, Jane, & Jill followed by the Norma Jean’s School of Witchery series, Jewel and Ghost School. Jill bridges the gap between the Three J’Amigos and Norma Jean’s School of Witchery. The way I have written these books you can however, start with Jewel & Ghost School and then read the Three J’amigos series to get the back story on Jewel’s adoptive parents, Jade & Jane as well as her Godmother, Jill.
Rose has worked both in a library as well as several bookstores. Rose lives in Elon, NC and is currently working on a Sci-Fi/Urban Fantasy book called Wiznewski James.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RoseMontague
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Rose-Montague/100000712227923
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7393094.Rose_Montague
Website: http://fantasyfunreads.blogspot.com/
Jade is now available on audio!!!!
Amazon, Audible, iTunes links to Jade (audio book)…
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Jade-Three-Jamigos-Book…/…/B0741STLGL
Audible https://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/Jade-Audiobook/B0741Q42G6
iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/…/jade-three-jamigos-…/id1262038654
AmREADING AmWRITING 
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