Category Archives: Interviews/Guests

I Get Real with Fantasy Author Cindy Young-Turner and We Kill Hill Giants and Talk Dodecahedron Dice

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Cindy Young-Turner lost a bet and was forced to let me interview her. Or she pulled the shortest straw. Or there was some diabolical deal that was made. (CYT: It was a dark and stormy night. I met the devil at the crossroads. He offered me the chance to be a brilliant guitar player or… do an interview with Aaron. Guess which one I picked?) I don’t know, but we chatted, and it was a delight!

She is a writer’s writer. Lives in Maryland because that’s where cool folks live, and for a day job she works on proposals for health and development projects in developing nations across this big, blue marble where we live. And she writes and belongs to two, count ‘em, two critique groups. Her first novel, Thief of Hope, came out in May of 2011 from Crescent Moon Press.

What is Thief of Hope about? I’m glad you asked.

Sydney, a street urchin and pickpocket in the town of Last Hope, has managed to evade the oppressive Guild for years, but there is no escaping fate when she’s sentenced to death for associating with the resistance. After she’s rescued by a wizard, Sydney is forced to accept that magic–long outlawed throughout the Kingdom of Thanumor–still exists, and the Tuatha, a powerful faery folk, are much more than ancient myth and legend. When the wizard offers a chance to fight the Guild and bring Willem, bastard prince and champion of the Tuatha, to the throne, Sydney embraces the cause as a way to find her own redemption. But Sydney’s fear of the Guild, distrust of authority, and surprising connection to the Tuatha threaten Willem’s success. Can she untangle the strange threads that entwine her life not only to the fate of the kingdom, but also to Willem himself?

It’s fantasy time, m’lords and ladies. Polish off the swords, grab a spellbook or three, curl up with a Beholder, and let’s get to it.

Aaron Michael Ritchey: Okay, when we chatted, we talked about Dungeons and Dragons. And boom, I figured this was as good an excuse as any for me to come out. To be open. I am a former gamer. A graph-paper gamer. Lead miniatures. Dodecahedron dice. Big Gulps and cheap pizza. Yes. I did it. I’m not proud of the countless hours I spent gaming, nor the role-play I did in grocery stores across Northern California, but there you have it. It’s out now. Good. Cindy, I think we need to embrace our history of fighting umber hulks and stirges ‘til four in the morning. The question, now, is this. How did your experiences as a gamer prepare you for the awesome task of writing a fantasy novel?

Cindy Young-Turner: You’ve twisted my arm. I’m coming out of the gaming basement with you. I began playing D&D in college. I’m not sure if that makes me more or less geeky. Saturday nights were spent with soda, pizza, powdered doughnuts, and slaying orcs and giants. I loved it. And it introduced me to fantasy. Honestly, I hadn’t read much fantasy until I went to college and my friends started giving me fantasy books to read (and lured me into the diabolical world of D&D). I was hooked. In fact, I’ll even admit here that the main character of Thief of Hope began as my very first D&D character. In some ways, role playing is a writer’s dream because you get to act out the part of a character. Um, isn’t it? Okay, I’m putting the gaming dice in the drawer now and backing away.

Aaron: I’m a morning gamer…er, writer. So for me, I have a time limit. I write until I have to go to work. As a night writer (not to be confused with David Hasselhoff, Knight Rider–nevermind), when do you call it quits? When do you shut off the computer when you don’t have any set time limits?

Cindy: I’m definitely a night owl. I’ve always been a night person. Being frantically busy, sadly I can’t quit my day job just yet, means I write when I can, and if I have to stay up to the wee hours of the morning, that’s what I do. When I was working on the final edits for my novel there was at least one time where I was literally falling asleep over my laptop. That’s a sign it’s time to call it a night. If I’m on a roll, though, sometimes I’ll just stay up another hour. The only problem is that with a three-year-old there’s no making up sleep like I used to be able to do. I’m getting old. Can’t do those all-nighters any more.

Aaron: What are the high fantasy elements of Thief of Hope? How J.R.R. is it? What are the low fantasy elements of your novel? How ghetto fabulous is it?

Cindy: I wikipedia’d high fantasy vs. low fantasy to make sure I got it right. High fantasy is set in a made-up world (like Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings), so my novel falls into that category. On the other hand, it’s not the kind of fantasy with elves and dragons and unicorns. The town of Last Hope, where my heroine lives, is a dark, gritty place. Think inner-city Baltimore crossed with medieval Edinburgh. Thieves, prostitutes, drug addicts. So there’s a bit of real world realism, just translated to a fantasy realm. It’s not really the kind of place Frodo Baggins would stop in for a pint, although there are some decent parts of town as well as the slums where you’d better watch your back.

Aaron: Your day job is working on proposals for projects in developing countries regarding health and development. Do any of the aspects of your job filter into your novel? If so, what is an example?

Cindy: I think the aspects of my novel that might relate to my job are more just part of who I am. Self-empowerment, freedom, and fighting against oppression are important themes in the novel, and they are also things I’ve felt strongly about for a long time. It’s neat to be able to say that in some small way the work I support makes a difference in the world. I never intended to put those things into the novel, but somehow they crept in. And I like that. I hope it gives the story more depth and more relevance to issues we are dealing with in the world today.

Aaron: Favorite Dungeons and Dragons memory? Sorry, sorry, sorry. But do you have one? Last D&D question. I promise.

Cindy: You had to ask! There is one night in particular that comes to mind. A room of 30 or so hill giants. About 10 of us adventurers. We actually came up with an elaborate plan and everyone followed through. Which is amazing because if you’ve ever gamed with a group of people you know there’s always one who’s out there throwing fireballs or whatever at random. It’s the first and only time I’ve gamed until the sun came up. And the only time I drank six cokes in one night. My hands were actually shaking from the caffeine. But we kicked some hill giant butt and the battle became the stuff of legends. And I’m sure I sound like a total dork for gushing on about it.

Aaron: I too belong to two critique groups. How do you generally use them? For me, I try to have each group look at a different project. But now that Thief of Hope is out, and you are working on the sequel, what is your general practice? How do the two groups fit into your writing routine? If it’s too secret, lie. We’ll never know the difference.

Cindy: I can only focus on one project at a time, so both of my critique groups review the same thing for me. I get different feedback from each group, though. One is all genres (I’m the only fantasy writer) and the other is primarily SF/fantasy. Each group has a different vibe and gives me a different perspective. I tend to procrastinate a lot with my writing, so often I write in spurts before a deadline to send things to my groups for review (see the staying up ’til all hours question). I need something other than myself to keep me motivated. And with the first novel published, I have even more incentive to finish the sequel.

Aaron: Okay, Thief of Hope really was a labor of love. You’ve spent years and years working on it, and finally, it’s out there. Going forward, what lessons did you learn from writing that novel that will help you with the sequel?

Cindy: One important thing I learned is how to plot and create a story arc. You need a good story to begin with, but it also has to hang together. If only I could outline, but I’ve tried and it just doesn’t work for me. I have to write in order to find out where the story is going. I feel like I’m a much better writer than I was when I first started Thief of Hope, but you always need feedback and criticism so you can continue to improve.

Aaron: Your heroine, Sydney, starts out as a street urchin. If she were to come to your door, would you let her stay with you, like on your couch? Or would she be too scary?

Cindy: Hmm, that’s a tough one. I might take pity on her and let her have the couch, but only if she took a good long shower first. And I suppose I’d hide our valuables. Just in case. She is a thief, after all.

Aaron: Okay, now we all know that being novelist is a life filled with fame, fortune, money, offers of seductions, lots of seducing and money and leisure time. Okay, none of that is true. It’s a life of grueling, lonely work and missed sleep. If there was a drug that could cure the writer of this burden to write, would you take it? No more writing. No more of the desire to write. Would you take such a drug? Why or why not? And give us the juicy details.

Cindy: It’s tempting, but I don’t think I’d want that kind of drug. I do envy the non-writers out there, people who can come home from work and don’t have that creative monkey on their back saying write write write. But writing is so much a part of me that I don’t want to give it up. I’ve always told people I wanted to be an author when I grew up and being able to say I did it and followed my dream is the coolest thing. Now where’s my fame and fortune? LOL

Aaron: Last question. What if. What if the Tolkien estate came to you and asked you to write a new Middle Earth novel, would you do it? If so, what might such a book look like? Would it be more Tom Bombadil or more Shelob’s Lair?

Cindy: I. hate. spiders. With a passion. There was nothing more frightening than seeing Shelob on the big screen. I am partial to Tom Bombadil, though. I’d be deeply honored if Tolkien’s estate asked me to write a new Middle Earth novel but I don’t know if I’d feel up to the challenge. Tolkien fans can be rabid. These are people who can recite the genealogy of Middle Earth and can read and speak elvish. I haven’t even read the appendices of LOTR. But there are so many facets to Middle Earth that maybe I could find an obscure character to write about. And Peter Jackson, if you’re reading this, I have a great fantasy novel for your next movie project.
Thanks so much for putting me through the wringer, er, interviewing me on your blog! Now who’s up for fighting some trolls?

Give it up, ladies and gentlemen!  A big round of applause!  I had such a nice time with Cindy.  And I love that her first published book comes from her experiences gaming.  Bravo!  It’s so sweet.  Not the first, not the last, but still, so sweet.  And for all you graph-paper gamers out there.  Keep your swords sharp, your spellbooks dry, and check out Cindy’s website andThief of Hope on Amazon.  And, and, and, you can purchase the print version of Thief of Hope on B&N.  You lucky, lucky halflings.

I Rush into the Wasteland with Lynn Rush and her First Book, Wasteland!

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Lynn Rush works it like a dog on ice. That’s a lot, for those who don’t know about husky dogs and the Iditarod. Or if you haven’t read Jack London. She’s White Fang dynamic.

Her first book, Wasteland, came out in September, 2011 from Crescent Moon Press, and the sequel, Awaited, is due out in May, 2012. We even have a sneak peek of the cover for book #2.  It’s wicked cool, yo. She’s a former speed skater and Minnesotan, and she’s lived in Castle Rock, Colorado for four years. Now she works at a bookstore, writes, and works it like a Saint Bernard in the Yukon.
Lynn’s bio.

Her book, Wasteland, is full-on demony:

Bound by the blood contract his human mother signed four centuries ago, half-demon David Sadler must obey his demonic Master’s order to capture fifteen-year-old Jessica Hanks. But as he learns more about her, he realizes she may be the key to freedom from his dark enslavement.


So, here is the interview. I interview. You interview. He\she\it interviews.

Aaron: Lynn, so you came to the writing game a short five years ago. Tell us what happened. What was the first day of writing, in your life, as a novelist, like for you? Were there angels singing? Dogs barking? Tea brewing?

Lynn: Ha! Angels singing! That’s a good one. I barely remember writing that first novel other than just typing like a mad woman. Seriously. I just know that in late November 2007 I had an 87,000 word novel with NO CLUE what to do next. It was a blur. Now, the second book, that I remember. Because I had finally found a writers group, so I was going on a critique or two by then, so I had some directions.
Angels might have sung on that one. ((LOL))

Aaron: How do you handle the overwhelming amount of work? Writing, social media-ing, editing, et cetera? Any tricks? Tea? Coffee? Illegal substances that I can’t spell?

Lynn: I try and lay off the illegal substances since I’m a recovering former Addictions Therapist.  For the most part, I have TONS of extra time because I don’t have kids. I’m not sure how I would navigate all the demands if I did have little munchkins to chase around to tell you the truth! Plus, I only work about 30 hours a week at my “day” job, sooooo, I get to spend a lot of time doing what I love. WRITING!

Aaron: You write all the time, but is there a time you prefer for writing? Under the dark of the moon? In the morning’s red glare? In the rocket’s red glare?

Lynn: Anyone who follows my Facebook or Blog knows I LOVE sunrises and sunsets. I tell ya;, though, with writing, I’d have to say sunset on my patio. I just love the serenity involved with that type of setting. But you’re right when you say I write all the time. Really, if I have an idea, pretty much it’s GAME ON and I’m writing every free minute to get that story done. Otherwise, the voices in my head just get too loud and keep me up. And I get grouchy without sleep!

Aaron: Which do you prefer? The rough first draft or the three hundredth edit? And yes, there are people who love to fiddle with every word for the three hundredth time. You know who you are.

Lynn: FIRST drafts are my FAVE! There’s nothing like the rush of sitting before a blank page and typing CHAPTER ONE…LOVE that. I really enjoy the editing, too. Like, when I get a crit back from one of my crit partners, I’m all shaking and stuff while I open it, crazy excited to see what they said. I know it won’t all be sunshine and roses, but that’s okay, because I know it’ll help my story get better. And that is the point! To make our stories shine!

Aaron: What was the inspiration for Wasteland?

Lynn: While I was writing it, I never really thought about it to tell you the truth. But I looked back once I got asked that question by an interviewer once and this is what I came up with. It was December 2009. I was in my fourth month of unemployment. I didn’t asked to be laid off from my job. Didn’t want to. Couldn’t control it. As I looked back, I noticed that DAVID, the hero in Wasteland, is in much the same situation. He didn’t ask to be half-demon. He couldn’t control his mother’s actions (selling his soul) before he was even conceived. And mostly, he didn’t WANT to be half-demon tied to the devil to run souls. So, I could see some similarities coming through there.

Aaron: Did the Wasteland series colonize your head all or at once, or was it book by book? Put another way, was it War of the Worlds all encompassing, yes, I have all the books in my head. Or was it more like Invasion of the Body Snatchers, piece by piece, bit by bit, you imagined the books? Or did you forget the original question with the sci-fi references?

Lynn: ROTFLOL. Believe it or not, I remembered the question! But yeah, I’d go with Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Don’t laugh, but I don’t always know if a book will be a standalone or trilogy. I write books as they come to me. I don’t think I’ve ever written a first book, then the second, then the third right after one another for any of the trilogies I’ve written. I just start with the first then as I go along, if more ideas come in, I’ll write that second and third book.  I have four trilogies done. Two are contracted for publication, the other two are not. One might be battling dust bunnies under my virtual bed because it was one I wrote WAY WAY in the beginning (it’s really bad).
Aaron: If Wasteland has an antonym, what would it be? For example, for my novel The Never Prayer, the antonym would be those cute, chubby, naked, cheruby angels you see on greeting cards. Yeah, my novel, the exact opposite. What is an antonym for Wasteland? Could be another book, a movie, an image, or an idea. You’ll be graded on accuracy and originality.

Lynn: Fluffy white clouds, cute little puppy dogs, and shimmering rainbows.

Aaron: Okay, for this next one, big lead-up. Picture your typical movie-type biker bar on the outskirts of Barstow, California. Whiskey dark and leather tough. Okay, the hero, the heroine, and the villain of Wasteland walk into that bar separately at midnight on random Saturday nights. What would happen to them? To the bar? To Barstow?

Lynn: Okay, so you said separate. So, if they don’t meet up with one another, all would be well. If they happen to…”mingle”  Have you ever seen that little mushroom cloud from a nuclear explosion? You know like in Terminator 2 when Sara Connor has that dream? That’s what I envision happening. **just kidding** sort of. Guardians and demons don’t mix. Lots of swords swinging and some heads rolling. But Beka would be working to preserve human life through it all.

Aaron: Are you more demon, or more angel? Would this change for you in your home versus if you were in a biker bar, outside of Barstow, California, on a random Saturday night?

Lynn: Angel. Nope. I’d stay with the Light through it all. There’s strength in that and I’d kick some demon butt right beside Beka!

Aaron: Last question. Make it a good one. Hit me baby one more time. Would you want to live in the world of Wasteland? Why or why not? You’d be there as a character, living your life; however, the paranormal aspect would be in full swing. Could you deal with it? Could you turn and face the strange?

Lynn: Their world is pretty much this one. Same technology, luxuries, etc. But to be a part of their supernatural battles…hmmm. That’s a little scary. But if I could have Beka’s confidence, sword handling skills, and strength in battle, I’d say BRING IT!

Thanks to Lynn for being a willing victim…er, participant! Check out her awesome, ubiquitous web presence at these links!

Lynn’s website.
Lynn on Facebook.
Twitter.
Goodreads.

I Get Lunar With Perigee Moon Author Tara Fuller

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So, Tara Fuller is a Crescent Moon Press writer, and her first book, Perigree Moon just came out.  Get it while it’s hot, yo.  Since she is a newbie, like me, and since she is awesome, like me, and since she has a new book, which will be me, I badgered her into letting me interview her.  After the restraining order didn’t work, she agreed.

 

Her book is all Salem Witch Trials, time travel, smoky teen angst and a boy with dark hair and piercing blue eyes.  As you’ll see.  For the full story, you can check out the full pitch and full bio at Crescent Moon Press.  Fully linked.  Also you can click above, to her website and to Amazon.

But don’t go yet.  Let’s get to it.

Aaron Michael Ritchey: Let’s start right off with the hardest question of all. How do you cope with the brutality that is the writing life? The rejection, the constant self-doubt, the fist-shaking rants at heaven? That’s how I deal with it. Shaking my fist at heaven. And ranting.

Tara: Lol, there have definitely been some fist-shaking moments for me too. Lots of moments when I didn’t think I was good enough. For me, I just remind myself every day that anything worth having doesn’t come easily. And this has been my dream for as long as I can remember. I don’t think any amount of rejection could make me walk away from it. Writing is just part of who I am. I love it.

Aaron: What was the inspiration for Perigee Moon? Was it a sparkly-vampire-type of dream? Or were you walking along, and suddenly, yeah, witches, man, witches.

Tara: Nope. No sparkly vampire dreams for me. I had known for a while that I wanted to write a time-travel story. And then one day I was watching a documentary on the Salem Witch Trials (yes that is the sort of thing I do for fun) and it hit me. Why not combine the two? After about three days of plotting (Definition of plotting: me lying on my floor listening to music and staring at my ceiling fan thinking about witches and kissing) the idea for Perigee Moon was born!

Aaron’s Response: That made me laugh. Witches and kissing. Laying on the floor, listening to music. Great answer. I walk. For me, walking is plotting. Cool.

Aaron: How did you pick the title? I can’t do titles. I used up all my good title ideas in high school and college. I call most of my books by numbers. Yes, I’m working on Book 123. Kidding. Titles, talk to me.

Tara: I’m not great with titles either, but this one was pretty easy. The spell in this book that the entire story in hinged on must take place during a Perigee Moon (the time when the moon is closest to the earth). So this time, thankfully, I didn’t have to pull too much hair out coming up with one.

Aaron Responds: It’s a great title. And interesting. You can google perigree. Dang, you learn something every day.

Aaron: Speaking of witches, what drew you to the whole Salem thing? Do you enjoy the smell of burnt flesh? Please answer both questions. It’s important for our readers.

Tara: I have always been fascinated with history and the Salem Witch Trials were something I loved learning about. It’s really crazy to learn about the events that went on back then. It’s heartbreaking to say the least. As for the second question: the only burning flesh I’ve ever smelled was mine when my flat iron attacked me recently, and no I wasn’t too fond of that moment, lol.

Aaron Bites Back: Had to google flat iron. Okay. Gotcha. And yeah, Salem Witch Trials were fascinating. Those wacky Christians.

Aaron: Rowan Bliss is the name of your heroine, which is awesome. How did you pick that name? And can I use it as my stage name for my transvestite show in San Francisco this summer? Please, both questions, hit me.

Tara: Well, thank you! I love her name. When I name a character I approach it just like I did with my kids. I break out the baby name books. When I found the name Rowan it just felt right. As for your stage name, have at it. I’m sure Rowan would be flattered, lol. 😉

Aaron Ain’t Done: I’ll come out, dressed in black, very witchy woman.

Aaron: So, we talked, and you love music. Love the playlist section of your website. Link here. And yeah, that Snow Patrol “Run” song is awesome. How do you pick the music you write to? Random, or do you have a special way? For example, when I wrote The Never Prayer, I searched my music collection for all songs that had “Angel” in the title. Do you do something similar?

Tara: I am a huge music fan, so when I hear a song that speaks to me or a project I’m working on, whether that be from lyrics or just a melody, I store it away. The console of my car is jammed full of old receipts and scrap paper where I heard a song on the radio and said “Oh! That song is so Finn!” then proceeded to pull over so I could write it down so I wouldn’t forget.

Aaron’s Quip: That’s so sweet. Having a playlist really helps me, especially during the re-write process.

Aaron: Can you write without music? Can you revise with music? How do your writing routine and music intertwine?

Tara: I can write without music, but I usually don’t. It’s a very useful tool for me in the writing process. When it comes to revising I can go to the song I had on while I wrote that chapter and it helps take me back to the tone and mood of that scene.

Aaron Shamelessly Agrees: Me too. Same, same.

Aaron: Last music question. You will be judged on style and content. If suddenly your MP3 player was taken over by demons, and you could only choose ONE band/artist to write to for the next fifty years, who would it be? If you say Justin Beiber, I will love you forever. Others will judge. Oh Lord, will they judge.

Tara: Lol! I’m sorry to say that Justin Beiber wouldn’t be my choice. I would have to go with “City and Colour”. They are too amazing for words and have actually inspired a lot of the current series I’m working on (Kissed by Death).

Aaron Acts Out: I’ll have to check that “City and Colour” out. Because I’m completely self-centered, I must say, my answer would be Moby. And not just because he’s a hardcore vegan Christian.

City and Colour; Comin’ Home

Aaron: At its heart, what is Perigee Moon about? What transcendent human truths does it contain? In other words, theme. Crush me with theme.

Tara: At its heart, Perigee Moon is a story about growing up. Rowan is dealing with loss, falling in love for the first time, and finding out who she is and what her place is in life. She’s really not different than most teens. They are going through all of this too. She’s just going through all of this under extraordinary circumstances.

Aaron’s Muttering: Ah, coming of age. Traversing rocky waters.

Would you date Alex, the love interest in your book? Or would it merely be a physical thing? No blushing. But don’t go into anything beyond PG-13 rated descriptions.

Tara: Would I date Alex? Well, if I wasn’t married and was ten years younger of course! Alex is a good-looking guy but he is so much more than that. He is a character that broke my heart. But in a good way. He is strong, caring, intelligent, and just a little bit broken. And when he loves someone he does it with his whole heart. Even if that person doesn’t deserve it. Alex believes in family and respect. He’s an old-fashioned kind of guy.

Aaron Risks Embarrassment: What a great answer. I might be crushing a little. If I wasn’t married, twenty years younger, and well, you know, into guys with black hair and piercing blue eyes…

Aaron: What aspects of Perigee Moon did you draw from your own teenager years? For me, the answer is simple. I can’t remember that far back. I just steal everything from the Gossip Girls, since, of course, that is so totally reality.

Tara: One of the things I loved about writing this book was being able to draw from those memories. Feeling lost, not knowing who you really are yet, or what you’re going to be. The awkward moments when you finally meet a boy that you can’t walk away from, but don’t know how to act. The wonderful butterfly sensations of first love.

Aaron’s Second Shameless Agreeing: Me too. Same, same.

Aaron: You’re a late night writer. Can you write during the day if forced to? Or do you draw power from the night like a vampiric H.P. Lovecraft? What is the latest you have stayed up? Any all nighters? All funny stories welcome.

Tara: I do most of my writing at night because I have two small kids. But I write whenever I get a chance. On the weekends, I escape to a local coffee shop to write during the day. As for all-nighters? I’ve had plenty of those. Too many to count. I have sacrificed sleep for finishing up a chapter or reading a good book or catching up on True Blood more times than is probably healthy, lol.

Aaron’s Sleepiness Showing: In insomnia terms, I’m an early waker. But yeah, understood. It’s great your spouse is so supportive.

Aaron: For question 13, if you could be someone in Perigee Moon, who would it be? And why? How long could you stand being your villain? Or is that too many questions in one question? Pick one and love it. And thank you so much!!!

Tara: If I could be anyone in Perigee Moon it would be Rowan. Obvious choice I know, but she is so much stronger than I will ever be. The things that she manages to overcome in this story inspire me. I admire her. Plus she gets to kiss Alex. I mean, who wouldn’t like that? 😉

Aaron’s Final Finale Finally: Well, thanks so much to Tara Fuller! Great answers to what I have to say are great questions. Greatest. Interview. Ever.

To read the greatest review ever of Perigee Moon by Sam at Falling Books, go here: