The Fantastic Blog Hop: Introducing…

WRITE STAR

RACHEL RUEBEN

Author Bio:

Rachel Rueben went to school to become an administrative assistant but instead, wound up an author.  In her defense, she tried freelance writing, virtual assisting, and blogging to pay the bills, but creating worlds was her one and only passion.

This past summer, Rachel entered the sacred order of authorhood with the release of her first novel “Hag” which made it to #10 on the Amazon’s Women’s and Girl’s Literature list.

To find out what Rachel is up to you can check out her new site at: http://www.rachelrueben.com

A little Q & A with WRITE STAR Rachel:

1. What was your favorite chapter to write and why?

My favorite chapter was chapter 8 because it was the part where my heroine has to accept her new life as a vampire.

2.  What old/new author has garnered your attention the most?

I would say Mark Twain he was simple and honest in his work.  He taught without preaching down to the reader.

3.  Which author do you feel your stories are most like?

I have no clue, I would like to believe my work is a culmination of all the books I’ve read.

4.  Did you learn anything from writing your book(s) and what was it?

I learned to not force things and definitely not to chase trends.

5.  What is your writing process?  Do you follow a regular routine?

Yes, I generally write in the morning and  afternoon.  I also make sure all my chores and errands are done before I begin.   I don’t want any excuses .

6.  Tell me about your muse?

My muse is a funny little creature that likes to wake me up in the middle of the night with the darndest stories.  And when I’m wide awake she loses the ability to speak.

7.  What was the hardest part of writing your book?

My book was an abandoned work, a starter novel if you will.  So the hard part was picking up the pieces and reworking the project.

8.  Do you have any advice for other writers?

Yeah, this takes time as with any other career, you need to learn, practice and even explore.  Also, the business aspect is just as important as the artistic part.

9.  Are there certain characters you would like to work with again, or a theme/idea you’d love to work with?

I would love to work with Apollonia, she was probably one of the most outrageous characters I’ve ever dreamed up.  I would like to go into her past and see what made her what she is in Eternal Bond.

10.  What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author?  What has been the best compliment? 

The toughest criticism was when someone called me an amateur which I was at the time, but what surprised me most was that it came from another author.  Needless to say, I was disappointed that someone felt the need to do that.

The best compliment was when someone said they loved my book so much that they wanted to give it to their daughter.

To keep up-to-date on this WRITE STAR and read more of her work, please follow RACHEL RUEBEN on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorRachelRueben

Website:   http://www.rachelrueben.com

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/RachelRueben

Blog: http://www.writingbytheseatofmypants.com

GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5786176.Rachel_Rueben

To learn more of Rachel’s stories click here:  http://rachelrueben.com/my-books/

    Coming Soon in 2013    

I interviewed with each one these amazing authors.

Check out their blogs to learn more about me.

 

Dellani Oakes: http://writersanctuary.blogspot.com/

Kristen Duvall: http://www.kristenduvall.com/blog.html

Ruth Davis Hays:  http://jorthusbooks.wordpress.com/

Juli Morgan:  www.julipagemorgan.com/blog

Karen Vaughan: www.karenwritesmurder.wordpress.com

Karina Gioertz: www.friedgatortail.wordpress.com

 

Advertisement

The Fantastic Blog Hop: Introducing…

WRITE STAR

S. A. HUSSEY

 

Hey wait…that’s me! 

That means I am on tour!

Today I am guesting (hopping) on the other WRITE STARS blogs.   Check me out and my interviews (each will be different) on their blogs below:

Dellani Oakes: http://writersanctuary.blogspot.com/

Kristen Duvall: http://www.kristenduvall.com/blog.html

Ruth Davis Hays:  http://jorthusbooks.wordpress.com/

Juli Morgan:  www.julipagemorgan.com/blog

Karen Vaughan: www.karenwritesmurder.wordpress.com

Karina Gioertz: www.friedgatortail.wordpress.com

Rachel Rueben: http://www.rachelrueben.com

Related articles

• The Fantastic Blog Hop: Introducing… (sahussey1.wordpress.com)

The Fantastic Blog Hop: Introducing…

WRITE STAR

KARINA GIOERTZ

Author Bio:

Although Karina Gioertz has been writing for most of her life, it never quite registered with her as something out of the ordinary or worth pursuing, because it was so closely connected to who she was. It wasn’t until she became a stay at home mom and finally took the time to write an entire book from beginning to end, that she understood what all of those ideas she had been jotting down all those years were really for. Since then, she has written several books, including Country Girls, Lucky In Love and Blood Bound.

While writing and motherhood have become her main focus over the years, she also enjoys many other creative activities such as painting and photography. Most sunny days she can be found in her courtyard working feverishly at painting and refurbishing old furniture…that is, of course, only if it wasn’t a suitable day to spend at the beach. 😉

Karina resides in sunny Florida with her family and two dogs.

A little Q & A with WRITE STAR Karina:

1. What was your favorite chapter to write and why?

Hm…that’s a tough one…well, chapter 16 – The Art Of Possibilities was fun (see excerpt below)! That was when I first heard about whistling pots and nuntius parchment, both of which are pretty cool.

2. What old/new author has garnered your attention the most?

Most recently, Judy Schachner has been fun to read. Now, keep in mind, most of the reading I do these days is with my 5 year old, but you can’t find better bedtime entertainment than Skippyjon Jones. I mean, really, a Siamese cat that thinks it’s a Chihuahua?! That’s nothing if not brilliant!

3. Which author do you feel your stories are most like?

Honestly, I haven’t a clue. Some reviewers have compared my writing to Fanny Flagg and Kristan Higgins…but they were two completely different books.

4. Did you learn anything from writing your book(s) and what was it?

Are we talking ‘personal growth’ learning or ‘I was researching the layout of a prison cell’ learning? ‘Cause I’ve learned plenty either way

5. What is your writing process?  Do you follow a regular routine?

It seems to be evolving lately. When I first started, I had several steps I followed, starting with notes before moving on to writing out the story in primarily dialogue and then going in and really fleshing out the story. Recently I’ve figured out that I’m ready to skip step number two and go straight from notes into writing the book.

6. Tell me about your muse? Life is my muse.

She’s an endless source of entertainment, ranging from drama to comedy and sometimes both at the same time. She never lets me down…although she often gives me more material than I have time to write about…

7. What was the hardest part of writing your book?

The hardest part was telling that negative voice of self-doubt to shut up and go away. It creeps up from time to time, mostly when I’m pushing myself to write things that might be a little out of my comfort zone.

8. Do you have any advice for other writers?

Keep on top of that negative voice. Don’t let it get too loud or you might start to listen to it and that would be a shame. There’s quote, “Be courageous and try to write in a way that scares you a little.” -Holley Gerth I think it’s probably the best advice any writer could follow.

9. Are there certain characters you would like to work with again, or a theme/idea you’d love to work with?

I definitely think I’ll be working with the Wilson Girls again…and the McCarthy boys have been hounding me to make a comeback as well…but right now I’m going for round number two with Lucky and the guys and, of course, everyone from The Final Descendants will be back again for book 2 of the series.

10. What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author?  What has been the best compliment?

I think it’s really hard when a reader totally misses the mark on what you were trying to say with your writing. Obviously everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but sometimes I read a review and I think – what book were you reading?? It doesn’t even have to be a bad review for that to happen, but it makes me wonder if I’m not articulating things as clearly as I would like. But then, when someone says that they completely related to my characters, that’s the best! When I’ve succeeded in making my fictional characters so real that people can connect with them and come to care about them, that’s pretty awesome!

To keep up-to-date on this WRITE STAR and read more of her work, please follow KARINA GIOERTZ on:

Facebook:     www.facebook.com/friedgatortail

Website:        www.friedgatortail.wix.com/karinagioertz

Twitter:          www.twitter.com/friedgatortail

Blog:               www.friedgatortail.wordpress.com

GoodReads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5768892.Karina_Gioertz

To learn more of Karina’s story click the book icon below:

Check back tomorrow as the FABULOUS BLOG HOP stops here again with another WRITE STAR to be premiered…. Author RACHEL RUEBEN

The Fantastic Blog Hop: Introducing…

WRITE STAR

KAREN H. VAUGHAN

Author Bio:

Karen H. Vaughan lives in Peterborough Ontario with her husband Jim and a cat named Sugar. She is the mom of a 23 year old daughter and four grown step children and a 3 year old grandson named Ike. DEAD COMIC STANDING is her second novel. Her first novel DEAD ON ARRIVAL garnered praise from friends, family and online gamers.  She also enjoys doing crafts and other hobbies. Her third  book and sequel to DEAD ON ARRIVAL  is called OVER HER DEAD BODY. DAYTONA DEAD is the third in that series and was released in May 2013. Other than writing Karen loves to read, do crafts and play online games.Currently she co-hosts an internet radio show with Dellani Oakes and will be hosting WRITERS ROUND TABLE starting January the 14th.  She has a quirky sense of humor and show this in her mysteries

A little Q & A with WRITE STAR Karen:

1.  What was your favorite chapter to write and why?

I liked Chapter 7 of Daytona Dead because Laura (my protag got to face off with the annoying cop Dave Meecham and basically put him in his place. It was a very comical moment in the story after she had to deal with her exes death.

2.  What old/new author has garnered your attention the most?

My fave author has become Janet Evanovich. I love her casual style and how she can pull off comedy in a murder investigation.

3.  Which author do you feel your stories are most like?

I think I write like Janet Evanovich and I have been told the same. Our characters are quirky and sarcastic and I think we both love the humor aspect. My stories are 90% comic relief.

4.  Did you learn anything from writing your book(s) and what was it?

That I am getting more and more warped and sarcastic with every book I write.

5.  What is your writing process?  Do you follow a regular routine?

No not really; I seem to write when the flash of brilliance hits me. I try to sit down twice a week when I choose to take a break from my real life and create. Sometimes it feels forced and I don’t do my best work

6.  Tell me about your muse?

My editor seems to play that role and when she doesn’t think I am writing enough she sends me pictures in my emails of stick figures hold guns to the heads of other stick figures write the $%^& novel—she even personalized that one on a t-shirt—or QUIT PIDDLING AND WRITE !  My muse is a task-master!

7.  What was the hardest part of writing your book?

I hate editing! That task a necessary evil.

8.  Do you have any advice for other writers?

Just keep to the writing. Don’t let people or rejection   letters discourge you.

9.  Are there certain characters you would like to work with again, or a theme/idea you’d love to work with?

I would love to work with the characters from DEAD COMIC STANDING again. It was a fun book to write. I got to mix the comedy with the acts of a serial killer.

10.  What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author?  What has been the best compliment?

My editing sucks and that I should fire my editor. However, people think my writing is hilarious.

To keep up-to-date on this WRITE STAR and read more of her work, please follow KAREN  H. VAUGHAN on:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Karen-H-Vaughan/432730506846324     AND

https://www.facebook.com/FansOfOverHerDeadBody?notif_t=fbpage_fan_invite

Website: www.karenvaughanbooks.com

Blog:        www.karenwritesmurder.wordpress.com

Twitter:   http://www.twitter.com/karenvwrites

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1378692.Karen_Vaughan

To read Karen’s story click the book icon below:

Check back tomorrow as the FABULOUS BLOG HOP stops here again with another WRITE STAR to be premiered…. Author KARINA GIOERTZ

Monday…Monday

Bah-da bah-da-da-da; Bah-da bah-da-da-da
Monday, Monday – Can’t trust that day.

Haven’t heard that song in quite some time but it’s ringing through my head. Stop..STOP I say! Why do random songs like that pop into one’s head? Huh? Things that make you go hmmmm.

Just noticed it’s been almost a month since I last blogged. I am so bad at keeping current…somedays I feel like a mole. Pop your head up from underground take a look and go Naaaaaaaaaah nope no way! LOL

I have been busy on Remembrance and I’m almost there, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel but (there’s always a but) I think I scared my muse. No, really, I think I did. She’s used to my laziness, unorganized and unorthodox style of writing and the fact that I actually have an outline written (and typed) right up to the very end, along with a short epilogue and promo for 2nd book and that I’ve been sitting at the computer daily welllll, I think I scared her. Either that or she’s fainted and in shock. I’m not exactly sure which.

I keep looking at my outline, stare at the wall, look at the outline again and nothing, nada, zilch comes. (I met him at the candy store..He turned around and smiled at me….?) My fingers sit patiently waiting for something… anything. Instead of tapping out words on the keyboard I hum songs recorded long before I was ever born. Isn’t that fantastic? What a unique gift. I’m so special (shhhh don’t tell anyone – Who would I tell? – Stop talking peeps, I’m trying to hear Daydream Believer by the Monkee’s).

Ok that song is over…now I have that blasted hum in my ear from listening to the music too loud. LOL You get that hum too, right? Like I was saying I’m not sure where my muse went but she better hurry up back – I have 5 more chapters calling, aching to be finished. I’ve looked everywhere for her and trust me, she’s not in or, on that white wall in front of my computer. Hmmmmm Nope she’s not. (Paperback Writer…Dear Sir or Madam, will you read my book? It took me years to write, will you take a look?)

Ok so maybe…Eureka! Of course (smacks head). Muse chick could be lurking around going, yeah sure Steph YOU think you have it outlined YOU think you know your end. Mwahahahahahaha…think again my pretty. (my muse can get very sinister – she likes the cookies and candy given to her on the dark side).

The more I think about it-yeah I’m pretty sure that’s my muse. I get it now – she doesn’t like the organized Stephy. So here’s what I’m going to do. I’m putting away the outline and doing what I always do – write away and see what comes; she (my muse) always comes then. It’s worth a shot, right?

And, well…if that don’t work. A plate of thin mint cookies, Easter candy (jelly beans mmm) and a pot (what am I saying make that 3 pots) of coffee should lure her out of hiding.

Off to write…right after Mack the Knife stops playing.