Michele Shaw

 Michele Shaw writes Young Adult Romantic Suspense novels, short stories, and poetry with representation by Karen Grencik of Red Fox Literary. Her short story A Shot In the Dark is featured in Mystery Times Nine available now on Amazon. Her poetry can be found on her website and you can find her on Twitter. She can be bribed with Tropical Dots and puppies.



7 Questions with Michele Shaw


1. What are your favorite and your least favorite words?

I love almost all words in some way, but a few stand out as exceptional to me. Any word with an X is fun, flux being my personal favorite. Others I like: inspire, guffaw, stupendous, cheeky, love, kisses, rhythm, dodger, slither, scrumptious, catharsis, and harmony.

Least favorite? There really is no worse word than…drum roll please…moist. *shivers*

 


2. What turns you on creatively, spiritually, emotionally?

My creative juices always flow from my own emotions, and I am quite the emotional person. I’ll never run out of material. My moods, life experiences, observations, and how I feel about them burst into my writing, especially my poetry. People watching always gets a story going too. I see people interacting, imagine what they are talking about, what station in life they’re at, wonder at what they’re doing, and many times, they become characters. As to my mysteries, I was (once upon a time) an avid reader of true crime, and bits and pieces of real life cases do tend filter in. After all, real people truly are stranger than fiction. The stories I write are actually much tamer than the real stories I’ve heard.

3. What turns you off creatively, spiritually, emotionally?

I don’t think I ever turn off creatively, but the creativity can get dark when my own emotions get clouded with real life problems and stresses. I try to channel through the writing, again poetry tends to serve that the best, and sometimes this work is something I wouldn’t put out, but it helps me vent serious hurts and frustrations. Occasionally, even the most raw, dark pieces do make it online if I feel they have true merit and aren’t just me griping.


4. What is your principal defect, your biggest character flaw or personal weakness? My biggest defect…hmmm, how to choose? I’d say it’s that I love too much, hold too tight, let people take advantage of my inability to be anything but nice. People see niceness as a weakness and pounce on it. I think I need to toughen up. I have a thick skin for writing critique, but don’t return my text and I’m crushed. I hate it!  



5. What moment or act in your career are you most thankful for?

I’m most thankful for a horrible experience early on. An influential individual (with a non-writing agenda I wouldn’t agree to) called my work “riddled with amateur mistakes” and said I’d never make it in publishing. All just to be spiteful. It really riled me up which motivated me, and at the same time, I learned right away that A. In this business, not everyone is nice. B. People with a little power can let it go to their head. C. Constructive criticism and an outright attack are two very different things.  


6. How early is too early?

No such thing…and I don’t drink coffee.



7. Assuming heaven exists, what would you like to hear God (or Allah or Yahweh or Odin. Generally the Supreme Being of your choice.) say when you arrive at the pearly gates?

You did well.

You did indeed. Thanks Michelle! And thanks to you for reading!

John Mierau

A podcaster, an author of novel-length, serial and short fiction, John aims above all else to entertain. John has worn many hats through the years, analyst, consultant, instructor, author and audio producer and somewhere in there he has found time to be a husband, father and chief dogwalker. His website - Serving Worlds - serves as an outlet for his particular brand of intense science fiction as well as a place to meet and listen to other authors. In short, John Mierau does it all.

And now:


7 Questions with John Mierau:

1. What are your favorite and your least favorite words?

Favorite:

Love.

Least favorite:

Bored.

 2. What turns you on creatively, spiritually, emotionally?

My kids, my wife, a creative challenge. Deadlines for my own work but not other people's.

3. Turns you off creatively, spiritually, emotionally?


Other people's deadlines when I'm not invested. Eating too much or not exercising enough. Meanness puts me out of tune too (my own or others).

4. What gets you up in the morning?

My kids! LOL 3 beautiful kids under 6.

5. What is the closest you have ever come to giving up your craft? 


Needing to feed my kids. It makes it hard, but when cash is lean, to take time for my own pursuits. Some may say it's greedy but I always save a bit of myself for making things.

6. What is the most fun you have ever had?

Writing something that takes me out of my own head, or performing something where I forget about my thoughts and follow the thread of the fiction.



7. Assuming heaven exists, what would you like to hear God (or Allah or Yahweh or Odin. Generally the Supreme Being of your choice.) say when you arrive at the pearly gates?

As an atheist my first thought would be: "Why did you make it so hard for people to believe in you? Why did you change the rules randomly so we couldn't prove your existence? We could use a reliable supreme being we could all get behind!" Which is probably why I write: to answer questions and actions that make no sense.

Brilliant! Want to talk to John yourself? You can find him at any of the following links:
Website: http://www.johnmierau.com
Twitter: johnmierau
Facebook: Facebook profile
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/john-mierau/13/79b/a45
Blog: http://johnmierau.wordpress.com/

Thanks again to John for taking the time to do this and thanks to you for reading!
Next time: Author Michele Shaw.

Lani Rhea

It's Christmas, it's cold outside, so lets get a little steamy with Erotic Romance author Lani Rhea. Lover of coffee, Lani lives in the heart of Oklahoma. She has four children and loves animals. Lani is always up for a challenge and enjoys mixing romance with all genres that spark her interests. You can find her either reading or writing. 

Now:


6 Questions with Lani Rhea: 


1. What are your favorite and your least favorite words?

Least favorite is racial comments. We are all human and bleed red. My favorite to use is awesomeness, coolness, or laters! lol

2. What turns you on creatively?

Creatively—ideas that just pop out of nowhere. I always like to play the “What if…” game.

3. What is the closest you have ever come to giving up your craft?

I gave up once. Many, many moons ago back in 2004, and then later picked the pen back up in 2010. Now I have several things published, and many more in the upcoming year. =) Sometimes when I get really frustrated with a piece I do think about laying down the pen again.

4. What is the strangest thing you have ever done while creating?

I would have to say when I talk to myself. My kids look at me strange. LOL I then have to tell them that I’m making sure the dialogue sounds okay. heh

5. Supposing that you are going to be reincarnated and you have your choice would you come back as animal, vegetable, or mineral?

An animal. I would love to be a bird. To fly away whenever I wanted, because it would beat the cost of airline prices. LOL

6. Assuming heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you come knocking at the pearly gates?

You’re brother has been waiting for you. 

Lani would love to hear from you. Find her on Facebook at http://facebook.com/authorlanirhea. To catch up with her crazy blogging visit her at http://lanirhea.blogspot.com and on Twitter.


Thanks again to Lani and thanks to you for reading!

L.M. Preston

L.M. Preston was born in Washington, DC.  She loved to create poetry and short-stories as a young girl.  A Techie and Educator for over sixteen years, she started writing science fiction under the encouragement of her husband who was a Sci-Fi buff and her four kids.  She has an obsessive desire to write and create stories of young people who overcome unbelievable odds.  She loves to write while on the porch watching her kids play or when she is traveling, which is another passion that encouraged her writing. In addition to being an author, she's also a Moderator for Yalitchat.ning.org, 2012 Vice President of Mid Atlantic Book Association and 2012 co-chair for the Maryland Writer's Conference.

(This bio is quoted verbatim from the author's website which can be found here.)

Now,

6 Questions with L.M. Preston:

1. What are your favorite and your least favorite words? 

Unfortunately my favorite word is 'snap' and I make sure to edit it out of my works :-D Oh and my least favorite is 'look' because as hard as I try that word sneaks its way into all of my first drafts.

2. What turns you on creatively, spiritually, emotionally? 

Traveling or the day dreaming I do at work when I have long boring meetings.

3. What profession other than yours would you most like to attempt? 

 If I could live my life over again I would've pursued medicine. I have an obsession with this show 'Mystery Diagnosis' and love people. Seems my day gig as an Engineer fuels my creativity, but it lacks in my extrovert tendencies.

4. What decision, professional or personal, are you most thankful for? 

My decision to live my bucket list to the fullest. Had I not been willing to take chances I wouldn't have become an author and have over four published books out. Writing has opened an entirely new world to me that includes meeting amazing people, having fun, and creating worlds I'd only daydreamed about.

5. What is the most fun you have ever had? 

Well I'm pretty much a fun-loving goofy kid trapped in an adult body. So the most fun I have is playing hiding seek with my kids and blasting them with nerf guns.

6. Assuming heaven exists, what would you like to hear God (or Allah or Yahweh or Odin. Generally the Supreme Being of your choice.) say when you arrive at the pearly gates? 

Well done, my faithful servant. You have survived the many test, trails, and hurdles thrown at you, become stronger, surer in your strength, you have touched the heart of many, inspired the lives of many, and enjoyed this playground I've built for you.

Well done indeed. Thanks LM for taking the time to do this. You were gracious and patient and I truly appreciate it. Now, dear reader, do you want to know more about LM? Please visit any and all of these fine links:

lmpreston.com
Blog
Tweet
Facebook

Or, how about checking out some of the artist's work:

Explorer X - Alpha, The Pack, BANDITS, Purgatory Reign

Want Excerpts?

The Pack, Bandits, The Pack-Retribution, Explorer X-Beta, Flutter Of Luv, Purgatory Reign  

Thanks again to L.M. Preston for doing this and thanks to you for reading!

Colfax

Colfax is a heavy rock outfit that spawned from Brockville, ON, interuptting calm and unexpected audiences with their syrup-drenched rock n' roll served by way of full-frontal nerdity.

In 2010, their debut album, "Keys to the Midway", earned the band a distribution deal with Universal Music Canada via Blue Sapphire Records. Hundreds of self-booked shows across their country quickly ensued. Of these shows, many consisted of the band's self-made program designed to support the dwindling music education in Canada; a presentation the band affectionately dubbed "The EducaTOUR". Colfax created Fax-Ops (a novel fan-appreciation program based on their affinity with video game culture) in the process.

"One Big Quicksand", their sophomore release, was recorded and produced by up-and-comer Jayson DeZuzio (Coheed and Cambria, My Chemical Romance, Four Year Strong) in Hoboken, New Jersey. Since it's release, the band has rigorously touring Canada and the United Kingdom.

 

Brock Tinsley, guitarist for Colfax, was kind enough to answer my questions.

Now,

6 Questions with Colfax

 

1. What are your favorite and your least favorite words?

Out of all the words I know, I tend to say "beast" the most frequently. My favorite, though, is "jalopy". My least favorite is "cool-beans".

2. What turns you on creatively, spiritually, or emotionally?

Cool, sweater weather around Halloween. One of my most memorable nights was walking in fog so thick you can hardly see in front of you with some friends, just kind of being lost on purpose for a while. I've experimented in all kinds of scenarios to keep me creative, only because songwriting isn't a cumulative exercise. Just because you wrote song X doesn't mean you can follow the same process and end up with songs Y and Z.

3. What is the closest you have ever come to giving up performing?

Luckily I haven't got there yet. Strange as it may seem, I've been fortunate enough to endure as much obstacles as I have when it came to making my band work, only because it really does challenge you and make you push harder. Just having the ability to persevere really is as cheesy as all musicians say, but there's a reason they all say it, I guess. Don't stop. Stay frosty with it.

4. You have to erase one moment or act from the past ten years of your life. Which one would you miss the least?

When I had my wisdom teeth pulled out, the medicine they gave to alleviate the pain didn't play so nice with another dose of medication I had been prescribed  I didn't know that the previous medication was the culprit at the time, so until I had figured it out I was left with a full-body crippling affliction that had me visiting clinic after clinic, leaving specialists and physicians dumbfounded as to what happened to me. Not exactly a high point.

5. What is the best thing you ever ate?

Curry from Mr. India in High Wycombe, England. That replaced childhood memories in terms of what I'm going to remember in my final moments.

6. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God (or Allah or Yahweh or Odin. Generally the Supreme Being of your choice.) say when you arrive at the pearly gates?
 

Insert coin and press start to continue.

Thanks Brock!

Do you want to know more about Colfax? Do you want to hear Colfax? Check these out:

YouTube

Facebook

ReverbNation

Colfax at ZenCart

Twitter

Tumblr

or, just go here and get it all:

COLFAX

Thanks again to Brock Tinsley and Colfax for participating and thanks to you for reading!

Elaine Calloway

Elaine Calloway fell in love in junior high school. Not with the football captain, but with writing and the magical power of words. Words, like humans, make us feel. Words build us up or tear us down, take us on exciting adventures through exotic lands, calm us after a long day or make us shiver with eerie delight. It was all these things and more that made her destined to put pen to paper, and she's never looked back.

Originally from New Orleans (she can still do a decent Cajun accent upon request!), she spent her youth surrounded by delectable seafood, old steeples, cemeteries, and exposure to a melting pot of people. She is currently working on a paranormal series, where the four Elementals (Water, Fire, Earth, Wind) protect humans from evil forces. The first book in this series, Water's Blood, will be available for purchase on February 1, 2013. Visit her website for more information: http://www.thewriterscanvas.com/

And now...

6 Questions with Elaine Calloway:



1. What are your favorite and your least favorite words?

My favorites are probably muse, serendipity, loquacious, leisurely, moseying, and any others which instantly create a picture in someone's mind. Some words just sound like what they are, you know? Veranda (specifically in the South) brings a fresh image immediately.

On that note, I will tell you my least favorites. Vomit ranks number one. Why? Because it sounds like what it is. Anything descriptive that sounds and creates a disgusting view in the mind ranks for my least favorite - vomit, regurgitate, necrosis, flesh-eating, etc. As you can probably guess, I'm not a big fan of horror movies where these things are shown in vivid detail :)    

2. What turns you on creatively, spiritually, emotionally?

Great question! I will say that the things which inspire my spirit tend to be the same across creative, spiritual, emotional lines. So my answers could probably be applied to all three :)
Works of art, particularly beautiful works of art, seem to reach into my soul and inspire me to join in the band of artists who have been plowing their way through rejection for years. A painting with bright and unique colors; a photograph which has a unique angle and captures something emotional; a soulful movie that does everything right and makes me smile for hours afterward, a book with language so beautiful it makes me cry -- these are all examples, but there are many more.

Music is a big part of my creative process. I create soundtracks for each manuscript since each book has certain themes. Sometimes there are just general songs for the book itself; other times there are specific songs for specific characters. Listening to these book soundtracks helps put me in a writing place much faster. I wish I could explain how I know which songs to pick and which ones to delete. It literally is a feel-it-or-not process. Sometimes I'll hear a song on the radio and go home and purchase it because I know it would be great inspiration for a character. Other times I'll add in songs I enjoy, but as I'm writing, it just doesn't feel right. So I remove those and add others. This entire thing has always interested me because I know some writers who prefer absolute silence. I can write that way, but it's much better to jump right into something which sets the mood.

The best part about the creative process for me is the magic. That moment in which I surprise myself and little threads tie together in ways I never expected.

3. What gets you up in the morning?

An alarm clock. LOL. Nah, seriously, I like to try and think of every day as a stepping stone toward a goal. That could be a finished book, a project for my family, etc. 
The writer Isaac Asimov once said, "If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn't brood. I’d type a little faster." I like to try and view each day as an opportunity to keep moving forward with something.

4. What is the closest you have ever come to giving up your craft?

There were many times, but the closest was when my new laptop (let me stress again: NEW laptop) gave me the blue screen of death as I was finishing my first book. While I had backups of my material in various phases, I didn't have a recent backup of everything I had worked so hard on. In total, I had to retype 100 pages (I had a print backup but not electronic) and worse, I had to completely recreate the last 60 pages of the book from memory.

It took me six weeks after the computer crashed, after learning from expert recovery firms that my hard drive had melted and there was nothing that could be saved, for me to even try to return to that book and finish it. Very difficult time. Those weeks made me question why I had bothered to do anything.

However, in the end, I learned a few things. First (and most obvious) is to always back up material, especially when close to the end. Second, even though I didn't crack a book or write a word in those 6 weeks of gloom, I did continue to enjoy other forms of creativity: I saw movies, went to museums, browsed craft galleries, etc. I continued to let my brain absorb what other artists had done. I thought of their bumps along the way, and it inspired me to get over mine.

5. What is the most fun you have ever had?

This question required the most thought, and I still don't have a specific answer. There were many fun times growing up, in college, with family. The one thing that all these memories have in common is that they were shared with other people who I enjoy being around. Friends and family are precious things, and the activities always change, but the happy feelings remain consistent.

6. Assuming heaven exists, what would you like to hear God (or Allah or Yahweh or Odin. Generally the Supreme Being of your choice.) say when you arrive at the pearly gates?

Welcome home. Your table with all your favorite people is over there. 

Hard drive crash. Yep. Been there. Thanks Elaine! Fascinating answers! Want to know more about Elaine Calloway? You can follow her on Twitter, catch her on MySpace or read her Blog.

And that's all for today. Thanks again to Elaine for graciously participating and thanks to you for reading!

Matthew Wayne Selznick

Matthew Wayne Selznick is a creator and creative services provider working with words, music, pictures and people. He's the creator of the popular Sovereign Era storyworld, including "Brave Men Run -- A Novel of the Sovereign Era" and "Pilgrimage," coming in the first quarter of 2013.  He lives in Long Beach, California.


6 Questions with Matthew Wayne Selznick:



1. What are your favorite and your least favorite words?

I'll warn you that I'm not a big fan of absolutes.
I think some things just don't lend themselves to binary
categorization. Words are tools. Answering this question would be like
saying, "This is my least favorite / favorite hammer," when really,
how good a hammer is at driving nails often has more to do with how
one holds it, or how good one's aim is.
My favorite word is the right one at the right time.
My least favorite word is entirely my fault for using it at the wrong
time, so my least favorite word is really my least favorite choice,
and it occurs too frequently to pick just one. It may have just
happened, in fact. Several times.

2. What turns you on creatively, spiritually, emotionally?

Intelligence and compassion, both intrinsic and expressed.

3. What turns you off creatively, spiritually, emotionally?

The only thing that really could turn me off creatively would be...
me! We're all responsible for our own creativity. If you're turned off
from creating at a particular moment, it's probably because you're too
distracted, fatigued or scared. Get with it.
As for spiritual and emotional turn-offs, pardon the shortcut, but an
absence of intelligence and compassion would do it for me.

4. What decision in your career do you regret most?

Letting life get in the way of creative productivity. See the first
part of number three.

5. What is the strangest thing you have ever done while creating?

Strange according to..?

I'm not sure how to answer this one. I don't think anything I do as a
creator is strange. We all do what works for us, so it can't be
strange. Now, objectively, I'd have to say every creator's entire
creative process likely appears to be strange!

6. Assuming heaven exists, what would you like to hear God (or Allah
or Yahweh or Odin. Generally the Supreme Being of your choice.) say
when you arrive at the pearly gates?

Let's run with this:

"Hi. The bad news is, objectively, you're picoseconds away from being
dead. Everything you are is about to end, forever and absolutely.
You've reached the singularity of your own life.
The good news is, just like what one might experience on the edge of a
physical singularity, your subjective experience of time has slowed
nearly to a stop. This is your perceived eternity.
"The really good news is, it's all in your head, it lasts subjectively
forever, and you get to decide how you'd like to spend it.
"So. What'll it be?
Oh -- yes, the truly excellent news is, you can change your mind in a
subjective 'while,' so feel free to play around with the whole thing,
as much and as often as you like."

That was a brilliant answer! If you'd like to know more about Mr Selznick he can be found online at http://www.mattselznick.com or at the online community he administers, Indie Author Marketing Info (http://indieauthormarketing.info).

Thanks to Matthew for doing this and thanks to you for reading!
Until next time!