Today I had the pleasure of visiting the home of the badass Billy Purgatory for a one-on-one interview with the author of #badassary Jesse James Freeman for his 11 Questions of Badassary. JJ and I chat it up to discuss some of the real important topics facing our world . . . like yetis. Click on the Billy Purgatory image below to be transported for a nice dose of badassary and kick ass entertainment.
Welcome to Season 2: Episode 1 of Chumming with Sharky™ where viewers from every corner of the deep blue sea are treated to a small taste of talented authors from a myriad of genres. Today, it is my pleasure to welcome Steven Montano, author of the über popular Blood Skies series, to chat it up talk show style. Now, on with the show…
Steven Montano
Sharky: Ah, it’s great to back in the studio again, but there’s just something not quite right about the décor. Where are the sharks? And what are those funky looking fish with the long curved teeth protruding from their lower jaws? They’re eating all of my exotic fish! And what about the sharks? The shark tank is supposed to have . . . um . . . sharks!
Video source: YouTube, user: predatorfish UK. More videos here
Producer: You ordered the vampire fish last week for the show, remember? And regarding the sharks, somebody forgot to feed them their weekly dose of surfers over the holidays. However, Anchor did stick around to make the drinks.
Click to see larger pic
Sharky: Ahem . . . well, um . . . it’s a good thing that hammerhead shark has a weird appetite for galvanized nails and Home Depot shoppers. Anyway to start this season of Chumming with Sharky™ allow me to introduce today’s first guest (okay, our only guest). He’s a San Antonio Spurs fan (and used to eat basketballs for breakfast), star of “The Good Doctor” (No, not that one, Karen) in high school, a wannabe cyclops, an accountant, and he wrote this little series called Blood Skies when he wasn’t busy slaying real vampires and hellhounds. He is the one and only Steven Montano.
Steven Montano, author of the Blood Skies series, recently tagged me for this cool little blog hop called “The Next Big Thing” where I get to tell you a little bit about my current work in progress (WIP). I would also like to recognize S.G. Lee, author of the working title A Penny Saved, A Murder Earned, who also tagged me a while back with a very similar post, so since I wasn’t able to get that post done before this one, I’m going to kill two birds with one stone (sorry for the cliché). 🙂
Update (Nov. 20, 2012): The lovely Marina Martindale also tagged me for this blog hop recently, so I’d like to also give her a shout out. You can read her post HERE.
The Next Big Thing blog hop started on She Writes, and has been circulating around the web for a while now, and I’m happy to take part. Here’s the rundown of how this works:
If I tagged you, use this format. Include an introduction to your interview post and a link to the person who tagged you to participate. Answer the ten questions about your current WIP. Include some pictures if possible. Tag five other writers/bloggers by sending them an email and then add their links to the end of your interview post. Their answers should go up the week after. Sound easy enough? Of course it is! So, now that I got all of the details out of the way, on to my responses.
1. What is the title of your book (or work in progress)?
Now available. Click on the cover image for more information.
The title of my current novel is Devil’s Nightmare. (Update: Released Jan. 6, 2013)
2. Where did the idea come from for the book?
The general idea for my book was inspired by a personal experience I had when I was around eleven or twelve years old. Some friends and I would make Ouija boards to talk to spirits, and while we all accused the other of pushing the marker, I’m not convinced it was simply a game. We had heard the stories that you should never play with a Ouija board by yourself or else risk being oppressed by demons. We all dismissed it as a bunch of crap, of course, but I think we were all curious. I was the only one stupid enough to actually do it.
For weeks I would play with the Ouija board by myself out of pure fun, asking childish questions about fame, fortune, girlfriends, etc. I didn’t know if I was actually summoning spirits with the Ouija board or if it was just my mind playing tricks on me and causing me to subconsciously move the marker with my fingers. It didn’t matter; I was having fun with this Ouija board.
The fun and games ended after I started having nightmares, and then late one night I woke up and could not breathe. I tried to get up from my bed, but I could not move. I felt something pressing against my chest and then I saw the eyes floating above me. Those hideous eyes will forever be embedded in my brain. They were almond shaped and a pale yellow. They narrowed and grew closer to my face. I wanted to scream. I wanted to get out of my bed and run away, but my body froze. The pressure in my chest continued to constrict my breathing. All I saw were those horrible eyes among a shadowy figure.
Finally, I could breathe and I screamed with hysteria, but I still could not move. Moments later, my parents rushed through my door and turned on the light. The eyes and shadowy figure disappeared. I then shot up from my bed with my shirt drenched in sweat and my face flowing with tears. I ran to my mother for protection crying about the demon that I had just seen. It was the most horrifying experience I have ever had in my life. Was it a dream? Was it my imagination? Or was it truly a demon oppressing me because I had broken some spiritual rule of the Ouija board? I don’t know for certain, but I can tell you this . . . that Ouija board went in the trash the very next day and I have never messed with one ever since.
3. What genre does your book fall under?
Devil’s Nightmare is a supernatural thriller with horror elements.
4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
This was a tough one that took a lot of thought. I put together a PDF document of my hypothetical cast for Devil’s Nightmare, which includes Christian Slater playing the lead character “Detective Aaron Sanders.” Click here for the rest of the main cast.
5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
I find it hard enough to write a regular paragraph synopsis, so you can imagine how difficult it was to come up with a one-liner, but in the spirit of this blog hop, I’m going to give it a shot:
Detective Aaron Sanders investigates the brutal deaths of three youth and two adults, and the evidence leads him to an evil force that cannot be defeated without unthinkable consequences.
6. Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
At this time I plan to self-publish, but I have considered submitting Devil’s Nightmare to a small publisher. I just haven’t made up my mind yet. (Update: I decided to self-publish. Released on Jan. 6, 2013)
7. How long did it take to write the first draft of your manuscript?
The first draft took me just under nine months to complete.
8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
I don’t like comparing my work with other books due to simple respect of the creative and unique efforts of those authors. However, for the sake of this post I will say that one of my beta readers recently compared my writing to Stephen King. That was an unexpected compliment that really boosted my confidence, and while I would never try to compare my writing to the King of Horror, I did find it very flattering and encouraging. This also sets up my response to the next question.
9. Who or what inspired you to write this book?
Stephen King inspired me to write Devil’s Nightmare. I’m a huge fan of the horror and thriller genres and have always wanted to take a stab at a horror novel and finally decided to go for it this year. Stephen King’s non-fiction book On Writing is probably the biggest inspiration to me as a writer. It was after I read this book that I shifted my thoughts of writing novels from simple aspiration to heartfelt dedication. If you’re serious about writing a novel, I highly recommend that you pick up a copy of On Writing by Stephen King.
10. What else about your book might peak the reader’s interest?
I think fans of the thriller and horror genres will find that Devil’s Nightmare is a unique story that will hook you from the very beginning. I wrote Devil’s Nightmare without an outline for the sole purpose of trying to avoid making the story predictable. I found that if I didn’t know what was going to happen next as I wrote it, then it would make for a more enjoyable experience for the reader. I believe I achieved that and found it very challenging and rewarding writing in this fashion. Now I obviously had a general idea of the story’s direction throughout the writing process, but there were many times where I found my characters pushing me in a different direction . . . and I tend to listen to them. After all, it was their lives on the line.
I wrote most of Devil’s Nightmare late at night with the lights off and was very pleased that certain scenes gave me cold chills that ran up my entire spine. It is my desire to share that same experience with my readers. Devil’s Nightmare is available in print and ebook.
MORE rules:
If I tagged you, your blog post should be scheduled to publish between Sunday, Nov. 4 to Saturday, Nov. 10. If you are on She Writes, you put the post up there too. Your blog post should be labeled: The Next Big Thing Blog Hop (and not The Next BEST Thing Blog Hop, like I originally labeled it. I’m such a dork!) :-).
Here are the authors I am tagging. I hope you will be able to participate in this fun blog hop, and I look forward to reading your responses.
Eden Baylee, author of Fall Into Winter and Spring Into Summer
Karen Einsel, author of The Good Dr. Grant
Spencer Brokaw, author of The Impenetrable Spy series
Dannie Hill, author of In Search of a Soul and Death’s Door
Jessie James Freeman, author of the Billy Purgatory series
Be sure to check out their blogs and their books. They are all awesome and great writers. Also, be sure to comment below. 🙂
Cheers!
vV””Vv
Inspirational author Teresa Morrow recently interviewed me on her website. Click on Teresa’s image below to visit her site and read the interview where I talk a little bit about my writing and also give some advice to writers just getting into the business. Enjoy!
Click the image below for the interview:
Welcome to Chumming with Sharky™ my blog series where viewers from every corner of the deep blue sea are treated to a small taste of talented authors from a myriad of genres. Today, it is my pleasure to welcome the talented Justin Bog, author of Sandcastle and Other Stories, to chat it up talk show style. For the complete interview click on Justin’s Name or photo below.
vV””Vv
I met Justin Boblanovich… um, Bogladanvich… Blagojevich… Bogbanostich… um… I met Justin Bog through the “Indies Unite for Joshua” campaign that Eden Baylee spearheaded earlier this year to help fellow author Maxwell Cynn’s son Joshua with his battle with Leukemia. It was a very successful campaign where we were able to raise over $10,000! Everyone who donated to the campaign had the option to receive various perks as a thank you for their donations and my friend Wyatt McIntyre was kind enough to donate one of his perks. My staff then received a call from Mr. Bog with a special request to be featured on an episode of the highly popular Chumming with Sharky. Okay, okay, I got a tweet from Justin with the request, but that simply did not sound as exciting.
Click Here to Enjoy This Edition of Chumming with Sharky™
vV””Vv
Chumming with Sharky™ is a special spotlight series brought to you by Robert “Sharky” Pruneda, author of Victory Lane: The Chronicles and The Devil’s Nightmare. If you would like to be a guest on Chumming with Sharky™ or you know someone who you think would like to be featured, please send an email to: ChummingwithSharky (at) gmail (dot) com or contact me via Twitter @SharkbaitWrites.
Welcome to the first edition of Chumming with Sharky™ :-), my new blog series where guests from around the deep blue sea make a visit to the realm of Sharkbait Writes to chat it up talk show style. Most guests will be authors, but other artists may make guests appearances too. I hope you enjoy this new series and keep coming back to meet my future guests. Now, on with the show…
Karen Einsel
Karen, thank you for being my guinea pig first guest on the new blog talk show called Chumming with Sharky, where viewers from every corner of the deep blue sea will be treated to a small taste of various authors who write in a myriad of genres. Please take a seat by the sea cucumber and let the mermaid know what you would like to drink.
Well when it comes to drinks, I am quite boring 🙂 Black coffee please. Only fill it ¾ of the way with coffee and ¼ with water. I like to be able to drink it without waiting for it to cool.
Black coffee it is then. I’ll take a Ninja Turtle, Ariel, and tell Hammerhead to make sure it’s light on the tequila. I don’t want things to get too crazy on my first airing of Chumming with Sharky. vV””Vv
Okay, now that Anchor the Hammerhead Shark has made our drinks, we can get started. We’ll start off with some basic questions about you as an author.
Thank you Anchor. It’s perfect! And thank you Sharky for inviting me to this wonderful under the sea world. This is amazing!
Thank you, Karen! We spared no expense. Just make sure you don’t spill your drink. Jacques gets a little upset when we get a bit messy. Those pacific cleaner shrimps are real neat freaks!
Anyway, back to the interview. Word around the coral reef says that you’re a contemporary romance author. What is it about this particular genre that interests you the most?
I love the conflicts and the heart and soul connections that lead to a Happily Ever After.
Ah, yes! I love happy endings. Although, I have read a few books with not so happy endings that actually worked very well. That is a challenging feat for an author to accomplish. And speaking of challenges, when you’re working on your manuscripts, what do you feel is your biggest challenge as a writer?
I have the hardest time Showing and not telling, which means I end up with a lot of revising!
I can definitely relate with you there, Karen! It’s a bit tedious sometimes with the edits, but when we complete the manuscript, it’s time to celebrate. When you finish your novels do you celebrate the accomplishment in a special way? If so, what is it? If not, why not? 🙂
You know…I haven’t. I really haven’t thought about it, but I think I will when I finish the one I’m editing now, because I have been working on it for quite some time. Dinner out at my favorite Italian restaurant sounds really good to me. Everyone’s invited!
I love Italian food! Just name the time and place!
I attend a Twitter Addicts Anonymous meeting every Tuesday night on Twitter and last week the topic of social media marketing came up. One very outspoken swordfish in the group stated that he does not like the fact that Indie authors have invaded Twitterville to promote their work. What’s your opinion regarding writers and social media marketing?
Actually, if it wasn’t for Twitter and indie author’s tweeting their books, I wouldn’t have met so many wonderful people and read some great books! It doesn’t bother me at all. Tweet what you want and I’ll even share and RT. I love to help others. I believe there’s enough people and different tastes in the world that we can all be successful.
I agree with you Karen. Twitter has connected me with some amazing indie authors and some great books. I haven’t read a traditional book in a while because of it. Sorry, Mr. King. You know you’re still my favorite author.
So, Karen, I was sitting in the jury selection room downtown the other day for a trial involving a missing clown fish and a great white shark and something caught my eye. A blue tang fish named Dory sat next to me and began reading a short story titled Kyle & Kelly: The Perfect Party Planner. I asked her what the story was about, but she couldn’t remember and just kept introducing herself to me. Maybe you could help fill us in with a brief synopsis of this short story without giving away any spoilers.
This is the hardest question!
Kyle and Kelly meet the first day of jury duty. Kelly is a party planner and Kyle asks Kelly to meet him for lunch the following day so she can plan a child’s birthday party for him, but when he tells her that he will be out of town for two weeks and he will give Sheila her number Kelly realizes he’s unavailable. Can Kelly keep their relationship on a professional level while trying to keep her feelings for Kyle hidden?
Thanks for the brief synopsis, Karen! And for avoiding the spoilers!
I was at the vet recently to get my dogfish Fluffy’s rabies vaccination taken care of when I overheard the staff talking about one of the other vets in town. I think his name was Dr. Grant, and I heard something about a dog named Peanut. It turns out the ladies were actually talking about a book that you wrote titled The Good Dr. Grant. So, Karen, what is it about Dr. Grant that these ladies at my vet’s office were so giddy about?
Maybe it’s his quiet reserved demeanor, or maybe his gentleness with animals? Nah, it’s his gorgeous blue eyes and the passion that hides in them. For some reason, why I haven’t a clue, women want to unleash that passion. Go figure.
Well, that explains everything. I’ll have to let those nurses know that I had you on the show. They’ll probably be wanting your autograph… or Dr. Grant’s phone number.
When you are not writing, what do you like to do for fun?
Hmmm…Sleep! 🙂 No, I have many interests. I like to read, go camping, do yard work, and I’m a crafter. I enjoy knitting, crocheting, plastic canvas, even some woodworking. I like to work with my hands. There is one thing I don’t like to do, that sets me apart from others.
Want to know what that is?
I don’t like shopping! I don’t like to shop for clothes, gifts, or groceries and I have no problems staying away from the malls.
So, I guess that rules out Black Friday shopping. I would rather spend time at a car show. Which reminds me… you and I both have a love and appreciation for classic cars. If you could own any classic car, what would it be?
A 1956 Chevy two door hardtop with a 454. I know a gas guzzler, but think of the power! I do own a 1983 Chevy Suburban with a 350. And I used to have a 1968 AMC Javelin.
Excellent choice! You won’t get any criticism from me about the gas guzzler. My 1981 Corvette (also with a 350) gets eight miles per gallon… well, that is when it’s actually running!
Here’s a hypothetical scenario just for fun: You’re stranded on a small island and find a magic lamp. You rub the magic lamp and the genie (a great white shark with a mischievous grin) offers you three wishes, none of which can be a way off the island. What would your three wishes be?
I’m a practical person. So what would I wish for? A laptop, electricity, and an internet connection!
Ha ha! What a perfect selection of wishes, Karen! It was a pleasure having you as my first guest on Chumming with Sharky. Before we go could you let the audience know where they can stalk keep up with you and find out more about you and upcoming writing projects?
If anyone has read The Good Dr. Grant, you know I do have the first book in my series, “Chris’ Journey Turning Different Corners” Coming out soon. If I quit procrastinating that is! So watch for it during the first week of July.
Author Bio:
Hmm… Bio? They say you should be able to say one sentence describing your novel and people will recognize your book by that one sentence. Recently I was reading a challenge on another blog and the challenge was describe yourself in one sentence.
So my bio is…
“Karen is a caring, compassionate, go-getter, who procrastinates!”
Thank you Donna at My Write Spot for the challenge!
Oh and my tag line is…
“Treat everyday as a new adventure, because you never know what tomorrow might bring.”
Links:
Karen’s Blogs:
Karen’s Different Corners
Different Corners in My Life
Connect with Karen on these Social Media platforms:
Thank you Sharky for such a wonderful evening!
.
And thank you for being such a wonderful guest, Karen!
.
vV””Vv
Chumming with Sharky™ is a weekly spotlight series brought to you by Robert “Sharky” Pruneda, author of Victory Lane: The Chronicles and The Devil’s Nightmare. If you would like to be a guest on Chumming with Sharky™ or you know someone who you think would like to be featured, please send an email to: ChummingwithSharky (at) gmail (dot) com or contact me via Twitter @SharkbaitWrites.
Today you get to dig into the mind of Sharky on not one, but TWO different sites in cyberspace!
First I have the pleasure of taking a trip all the way to the United Kingdom for an interview with Junying Kirk, author of the “Journey to the West” novels The Same Moon and Trials of Life. Follow me into my homemade transporter by clicking on the link below and you too will be beamed to Birmingham, UK to enjoy my interview with author Junying Kirk.
Meeting Gregarious, Supportive & Ambitious Robert “Sharky” Pruneda
Now that you’ve been transported back (hopefully with all your DNA intact), follow me to my next interview with Denise Alicea at The Pen and Muse
My interview at the Pen & Muse
I recently had the pleasure of participating in my friend and fellow author Eden Baylee’s weekly interview spotlight that she calls “Inside the Author’s Mind” and I had a heck of a lot of fun with it. Eden is also the ‘chief agitator’ of the Indies Unite for Joshua campaign that I have been supporting since January. She is one of the most supportive and awesome women I have ever met.
Check out my interview with Eden Baylee HERE.
I’m excited to announce my first guest author at SharkbaitWrites.com, the lovely and very talented Carolyn Arnold. Carolyn just released her latest FBI thriller Eleven last week (on 11.11.11 to be precise) and has taken her book on the road with a promotional blog tour. Today she’s taken time out of her busy schedule to sit down and share a little bit about herself and her latest book. So grab yourself a beverage and make yourself comfortable. We’ll be back after this promotional video of Eleven.
My interview with Carolyn Arnold:
Carolyn, thank you for stopping by to visit SharkbaitWrites.com to help promote your new book Eleven. I have been anticipating its release since I first watched your promotional trailer back in September. I know you have worked hard at promoting it and have had your eyes set on the 11.11.11 release date for what seems like an eternity. Before we get into talking about Eleven, I have a few general questions.
Aside from being an author, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I’ve been married for fifteen plus years to my best friend, and am a “furry baby momma” to two beagles, Max and Chelsea, who are two and a half years old.
When did you first realize you wanted to be an author?
I used to write as a teenager and thought it would be amazing to write a full-length novel, but it wasn’t until over four years ago that I rediscovered this passion. From this point, writing became a huge part of my life and now I can’t imagine life without it.
What one author inspired you the most to begin writing novels? What specifically about that author inspired you to write novels?
As far as one author who inspired me to start writing, I can’t say for sure. As I mentioned I did have a desire to write a novel as a teenager – maybe writing is just something I’m meant to do?
However, as writing has become an integral part of my life two authors have influenced and inspired me. This is David Baldacci and Sandra Brown. Both of these authors have inspired me in different ways.
Baldacci writes rich character description, background and motivation. I learned from his example words used to develop and strengthen characters is not only a good thing but integral.
Brown pushes the edge of where I would normally dare venture and I love that.
When you’re not making the keys smoke on your keyboard, what do you like to read?
I love mysteries and thrillers.
When you write your novels do you use outlines, note cards, and intricate planning, or are you a seat-of-the-pants kind of writer… a “pantser”?
Panster! Before I start I have an idea how it’s going to end, but the journey there is with my characters. Before I set out to write, I interview them and get to know them. I find this process helps immensely in rooting out backstory. I also know them better from the first word I write in the book.
Now on to your latest novel…
Eleven published on 11.11.11. Tell us the significance of the number 11 in your latest novel?
Eleven factors into the number of intended victims. Eleven is also the number of incisions the killer makes in his victims. Essentially the number and its representation factor symbiotically into the plot of the novel.
What inspired you to write Eleven?
I love the television series “Criminal Minds” for one. Second, there is this small abandoned home outside of the city I live it. The idea for underground burial chambers just hit me when I saw it one day.
With that said, I’m going to give you the spot light to tell us about your latest thriller Eleven…
Eleven Rooms. Ten Bodies. One Empty Grave.
Brandon Fisher never expected this when he signed up as a Special Agent for the FBI. Working in the shadow of Supervisory Special Agent Jack Harper of the Behavioral Analysis Unit his career seemed set. But when the team is called to a small rural town where the remains of ten victims are found in an underground bunker, buried in an unusual way, Brandon knows he’ll never return to his normal life.
With one empty grave, and the case touching close to home, he fears he’s become the target of a psychotic serial killer who wants to make him number eleven. Only thing is, everything Brandon thinks he knows is far from the truth.
Carolyn, this book sounds awesome! I am definitely going to be adding this one to my collection. I look forward to seeing this book rise to the top of the Amazon best sellers list. It has been a great pleasure having you as my first guest author at SharkbaitWrites.com and a part of the Eleven Blog Tour.
Rob, thank you for having me as a guest on your site.
Brief Author Bio:
Carolyn Arnold is the author of several novels in the mystery, thriller and suspense genres. TIES THAT BIND, the first in a police procedural mystery series surrounding Detective Madison Knight, was her debut novel and published May 2011.
Carolyn was born in 1976 in the rural town of Picton, Ontario. While her passion for writing dates back to her teen years, it wasn’t until 2008 that she completed her first novel. She lives with her husband and her two beagles in Southwestern Ontario
Where to connect with Carolyn online:
Amazon Author Page
Website
Blog
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads
Email
Carolyn Arnold’s Books:
A note to my guests: Thank you for visiting SharkbaitWrites.com and I hope you enjoyed my interview with Carolyn Arnolds. Be sure to visit Carolyn’s web site by clicking here, and if you haven’t done so already, you can get your copy of Eleven here.
Sharkbait Writes 
You must be logged in to post a comment.