The Fifth
Issue! My how time does fly! While I continue writing the occasional blog
posts, this newsletter covers a variety of subjects. This month I’ll talk about
creating characters, the release of my latest story, an interview with a talented
new author and music. Let’s Rock!
WRITING
Creating
great characters is vital to any good story. It’s one of my biggest challenges
to develop players in my work that readers can identify with. They need to be
able to make a connection with the characters, to care about them, to raise
their curiosity to learn if my cast can get beyond the conflict they’re facing.
It’s more than just a name and a description. These characters become real
people in my imagination.
Years ago I
developed a character profile, to help me keep the details straight. One of my
most memorable and difficult people is Jefferson Chene. It took months of tweaking his background to
make him someone unique. His name is the starting point. Chene was abandoned at
birth. He was found at the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and Chene Street in
Detroit, by two Catholic nuns out for an evening stroll. When the police arrived to take a report,
they inadvertently listed the intersection as the child’s name.
Chene ends
up in an orphanage and is raised in the Catholic school system. As a result, he
has trust issues, sporadic experiences with women and difficulty developing and
maintaining relationships. A skeptical nature makes him a natural for police
work.
THE RELEASE
Well, this
was a surprise. When the June issue was done and posted, I figured there was
ample time to prepare for the release of “Magic & Mischief” the Inkspell
Anthology that contains “Don’t Mess With the Gods” my collaboration with Elle
Nina Castle. A week went by and I got
the news. We were going live on July 13!
In short
order a number of the authors were able to get together for a video conference
call to talk about our stories. Radio
interviews were conducted, a press release was written and as the great
comedian Jackie Gleason would say “And Away We Go!”
There are
nine novellas in this big book, over 600 pages if you opt for the print
version.
AUTHOR INTERVIEW
It is my
pleasure this month to introduce you to my writing partner, Elle Nina
Castle. Before we get to know her a bit,
it’s only appropriate that I explain how this all came about. Last September, Elle received a copy of “Why
319?”. After reading it, she wrote a wonderful review. We traded emails
occasionally and I caught a glimpse of her talent. She’s got a sharp sense of
humor and a fresh perspective on writing.
When I heard
about the anthology and the idea of focusing on paranormal stories, I was
intrigued. This was not my normal genre. Yet I wanted to try something
different. Somewhere along the line, I
pitched the idea of a collaboration to Elle.
Several facts continue to amaze me.
First, Elle agreed to the project.
Second, we’ve never actually met. Elle
lives in Australia and I’m in the US. We hadn’t even spoken at that point. It
was December when we started writing this tale.
Third, with a combination of emails and
Google Docs, we were able to put together the first draft of the story by my
self-imposed deadline of March 15. That night, I submitted it to Inkspell for
consideration, along with an explanation of the collaboration.
Fourth, on March 16, yes, one day later, we
received notice from Melissa at Inkspell that she was accepting the story. One
day! One freaking day! This has never happened to me before.
Now that you’ve
learned a little background, let’s chat with Elle, who by the way, is a little
camera shy.
Where are
you from?
I’m
from Mumbai, India but currently live in Australia.
What’s your
‘someday’ or dream vacation spot and why?
My
dream vacation spot is Iceland. There’s just something magical about their
natural landscapes not to mention the aurora borealis which is eye candy for
days. There's a simplistic, minimalistic allure this country.
What’s your
favorite thing to do for relaxation?
I’m
an avid reader and love to get lost in a story.
Any favorite
hobbies?
I
enjoy cooking and trying out new recipes along with watching Netflix or Amazon
Prime and board games! I love listening to music and podcasts too.
How long have you been writing?
How long have you been writing?
A
journal has been a constant companion throughout my life, so I'd say a good ten
years. A disclaimer – another human being has read none of these words. I’ve
recently started writing fiction and it all began in December 2019.
Are you able
to write full time or do you also have a job/career?
I
believe in dealing with the hand I’ve been given. I work part-time at my
university assisting them on a long-term project. I’m a full-time student and
I’ve completed 90% of my course. So, my work and studies come first, before I
have time to write.
Is there a
particular genre that you write? Or more
than one? What led you to there?
I'm
drawn to romance, but I find that there's a mix of paranormal associated with
my writing. I believe that it stems from my mindset of finding magic in the
mundane. I hope to write a mystery or a thriller novel eventually.
Do you use friends or family as characters in your work?
Do you use friends or family as characters in your work?
Yes,
sometimes. Everyone is unique, and individual traits stand out. If I’m
developing a character and a memory of a friend or family comes up, I'm
definitely integrating that trait, emotion or reaction into the story!
What authors had an impact on you growing up and as an adult?
What authors had an impact on you growing up and as an adult?
Enid
Blyton. She was my guiding spirit in the school library as one of my earliest
memories of reading are "The Famous Five" and "The Secret
Seven" books. Agatha Christie is another who opened the doors to the
mystery genre. Val McDermid has made my jaw drop with her psychological
thrillers. Jane Austen, who added an intellectual flair in romance and
instilled a love for taking note of the natural surroundings and having
fictitious boyfriends. Colleen Hoover’s books are full of heart and in the end
I often resembled the theatrical expression of drama and comedy.
Has anyone
in your life influenced you or encouraged you to pursue your interests of
writing? (teacher, family member, friend)
My
mum and dad have been incredibly supportive. Mum was the one who picked up my
love affair with words in Grade 5, and that encounter is ingrained in my
memory. I have to say you because you've always given me encouraging feedback
and have patiently answered around one million questions that I keep asking!
What is your
favorite aspect of writing? Your least favorite?
One
of my favorite aspect is expanding on the structure or adding another element
that magically weaved its way. Building on that initial idea always brings a
smile to my face. I have still to discover the least favorite aspect.
What aspect
of writing would you most like to improve on?
I'd
love to work on being more daring and exploring adjectives to convey my thoughts
in a better manner. Also providing the reader with an insight into the mood or
tone of the speaker after a dialogue.
Do you have
any “must haves” with you while you’re writing?
(Food, drink, silence, noise, location, scented candles)
A
bottle of water on my left-hand side and windows where I can look at the sky
are my must-haves. Music is another one, but it depends on the scene that I'm
writing. If it's an intense scene, I like silence. I mostly write in my room
and only like to be interrupted by my two adorable pooches!
Is there a
common theme or item that appears in your work?
I've noticed an element
of hope that's associated with each story. Nearly all of my characters are
driven and very curious about the world that surrounds them.
What have
you learned the most from being in the writing business?
How much space do we have? Haha! It's my first rodeo, and the main things I've picked up is that there be patient with yourself. Another one is don't be afraid to ask for help. Reach out to the writing communities on various social media channels. They are very supportive and helpful. Feedback can be a powerful tool which can help take your writing to the next level.
How much space do we have? Haha! It's my first rodeo, and the main things I've picked up is that there be patient with yourself. Another one is don't be afraid to ask for help. Reach out to the writing communities on various social media channels. They are very supportive and helpful. Feedback can be a powerful tool which can help take your writing to the next level.
Tell us
about your latest work:
This
is my first published work. "Don't Mess with the Gods" is the second
paranormal romance story in the summer anthology "Magic &
Mischief". It’s loosely based on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and
you’ll have to read it to get an idea of the modern twist that’s added.
How did you
decide on your story plot?
I was travelling on a train to work (this was
pre COVID-19), and suddenly a random thought crossed my mind of Snow White
visiting a psychologist. I shared that with you in an email, and we were
unknowingly verbally sparring to develop the plot for our novella. Everything
took off from there.
Describe how this method works best for you. Outline or ‘seat of the pants’?
Describe how this method works best for you. Outline or ‘seat of the pants’?
I'd
like to think that I'm a hybrid. Most of the times, I have a basic outline
which gives me a general sense of the chapter or scene. However, when I start
expanding on this, it's more a 'seat of the pants' as I let my imagination take
flight. I surprised myself because I had a particular image of myself as a
writer. Writing this short story has
been an awakening of sorts, shattering illusions and making me love writing
even more.
Do you have
a favorite scene you’ve written? What makes it special?
When
Solana is at a personal crossroads, and she recollects the advice of her
mother. It's a mix of the elements of Solana immersing herself in her natural
environment, the thoughts that cloud her mind and the lead-up to a decision.
This sets the tone of what happens next in the story. It’s special because
there are times when I recall my mother’s advice and it brings a sense of peace
and clarity.
Blurb:
Two people existing. Leave it to the Greek Gods to help them live a
little.
Solana is troubled by a cruel stepmother who takes great
pleasure in ridiculing the young woman, separating her from a loving father. As
she turns to her friend Imogen for solace and advice, Solana also questions her
own sanity when she begins to hear and see the Greek Gods. She reluctantly
agrees to meet with Dr. Michael Granger, a psychiatrist whose practice has
dabbled in the paranormal occurrence.
Will the Gods revolt at his efforts? Or are there other
powers at work here?
Excerpt:
“Relax.”
The music no longer
played. This was unusual, since the stereo would continue until he commanded it
to stop. There was no power outage, as the dim light in the kitchen was still
on.
“Just relax.”
Was he actually
hearing a voice out loud, or was it only in his head? Perhaps it was nothing more
than the power of suggestion, brought on by Solana’s story. Michael drew in a
deep breath and let it out as slowly as possible. To his amazement, an image
began to take shape before him. Sparkling brown eyes perched over a narrow,
aquiline nose. Dark brown hair cascaded down her shoulders and back. She was
curvaceous and long limbed. She seemed to hover just before him, not even an
arm’s length away.
“Aphrodite,” he
whispered is disbelief.
The head bobbed once
in response. He recalled Snow’s comments that this visitor didn’t talk much
lately. Now he felt a slight pressure as if invisible hands were stroking his
temples, easing his restlessness. This was a new sensation for him. While many
of his patients talked about alternative realities and other worlds, he had
never experienced anything like this.
“Aphrodite, did
Solana send you?”
Book Links
Social Media
Links
Contact:
elleninacastle@gmail.com
MUSIC
While I
enjoy many different genres of music, rock and roll tops the list. As far back
as I can remember (which is a very, long, time!) the Father of Rock and Roll
has always been a favorite.
Chuck Berry’s
career spanned more than 50 years and he delighted
audiences well into his seventies. Here’s a list of my top five, including one
that was released after his death.
Reelin’
& Rockin’: https://youtu.be/ca2jxk6o3Rw
You Never
Can Tell: https://youtu.be/u9l0YBKcGnY
Johnny B Goode: https://youtu.be/Uf4rxCB4lys
No
Particular Place to Go: https://youtu.be/t6OS_ItMGpc
Big
Boys https://youtu.be/MHGxfsHSfDg
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