There is a new style version of Emily and the Enchanted Wood out on Amazon Worldwide, and it is even cheaper than the original version! It’s a popular children’s fantasy tale. Check it out by following the link here:

Amazon UK

Here’s a great author interview I was offered by ‘Me, My Books and I’ about my latest book!

Click here to read interview

Here’s is an exclusive interview with Crimson Cloak Publishing!

Click here to read post

Buy on Amazon UK

Buy on Amazon USA

Is it difficult to write for children, you might ask? Surely it must be easier than writing for adults. The books are shorter, the words used are easier to understand, and will children even notice if you make minor errors?

Oh yes, they’ll notice. And so will the publisher you are hoping will publish your book. Writing books for children is just as difficult as writing any book. Maybe the process is even more difficult. Why do I say that? Because children have short attention spans, therefore if you don’t grab their interest early on in the story, and keep it throughout, your book will soon find its way to the ‘boring’ pile.

They Need A Happy Ending

Writing for children should be fun, as should any other writing. If it becomes a chore, then the reading will have the same effect so this is a no win situation. If you are enjoying what you are writing then there is far more chance of keeping your readers interest. You must also love your characters and build them throughout the story, or they too will fall flat.

The role of writing for children can be quite opposite to writing for adults in some aspects. In writing adult books you can give your opinion and try to impart your own points of view on your readers. You can try to get them fired up about the things that matter to you. Young readers are quite different. Your role here is simply to gain and hold their attention from beginning to end by providing enjoyment in the story you are telling. Make them laugh, take them on adventures, give them a challenge. Character association plays a major role in children’s literature, so create good, strong characters that deserve the attention. You want your young readers to experience all their favoured character goes through, the highs, lows, difficulties, and the ultimate triumphs. Your stories must be magical, enthralling, exciting, but never cause any harm or upset to the young reader. In general, they need a happy ending. No matter what happens throughout the book, what trials and tribulations keep your reader wanting to know more, the ending must be a good, happy, gentle one.

Keep It Simple

The main thing to remember in writing for children is to keep it quite simple. If they have to pause to work out what you mean, then the thread will be lost and they will give up. You were a child too once. What did you like to read? What didn’t you enjoy? Why? Use your own experiences to guide you when writing for children. No one can enjoy a good story quite as much as a child, because they don’t just read books, they live them. They don’t just like characters, they become them. If a child wants to be your main character, then you are on a winning streak.

Start With A Short Story

Is all this difficult to achieve? Yes, it is. But if you really want to write for children, you will get there. Create a story that grabs the attention from the first page, flows through the middle with excitement, set-backs, achievements, and then rushes to the final page leaving your young reader almost breathless in their excitement to read more. When you have learned to do all this, your next book will be much easier to write!

Published by Reader’s Gazette, April 2016.

See original article here

Here is a new advertising ‘poster’ made for me by Crimson Cloak Publishing!

Thanks very much for the great interview provided by Paula Roscoe on her blog. Why not go on over and check it out? Paula welcomes all authors to appear on her fascinating blog.

Guest Author Blog

Please check out this new book trailer for my children’s humorous fantasy, ‘Be Careful What You Wish For’, released on St Patrick’s Day by Crimson Cloak Publishing!

Click here to watch

The release date for my children’s humorous fantasy, ‘Be Careful What You Wish For’ can now be revealed as St Patrick’s Day, Thursday 17th March 2016! The perfect day for the release of a children’s story about an unlucky leprechaun!

And here, for the first time, is the cover of my latest children’s humorous fantasy to be released during 2016 by Crimson Cloak Publishing!

In need of a bookmark? It’s easy enough to make your own in word. Use the cover of your favourite book, and with some minor adjustment here’s what you can come up with!

Happy New Year to all those of you who have supported me in so many different ways throughout the year. 2016 should be a new beginning for me with my new publisher Crimson Cloak Publishing, and I’m hoping for a happy and successful relationship with them! Several books to be released this year, new as well as re-releases. Exciting times.

Here’s a great way to share your Christmas message!

Click on the link below to find out how.

Solve the puzzle to read the Christmas message!

All the best for Christmas and 2016, everyone! (The message you can solve is not this one!)

Would you like to know more about my new publisher and my books? If so please check out my author page!

Lynne North at Crimson Cloak Publishing

1)  Do you write books as a career, or are you currently still juggling your author time with a full or part time job?

I have a full time job as a Therapist. So the writing is very much part time.

2)  Have you always wanted to be an author, or did some time or event in your life set you on the path?

I can remember writing little stories when I was very young. One in particular was about a pony called Star. When we brought our daughters their first pony many years later he was already called Star.

 3) Do you always write in the same genre, or do you sometimes like a change of theme? If you haven’t already, is there another genre you would like to write?

No my stories are for both  children and adults. Some are fantasy, some paranormal, some romantic . I only do short stories though, I have no ambition to do a full length novel.

4) As a writer, what is the best thing that has happened to you, and what is that most exciting thing that could happen to you?

Being accepted by CCP. I would love one of my children’s stories to be made into a film

5)   How do you view the promotion, book signings etc. Is it something you enjoy, or do you prefer the writing stage?

To be quite honest I have no time at all to do any promoting. I love the writing and seeing the books in print very much.

6)   Could you tell us something about your published books, and let us know what they are about and where they are available?

I write Fairy Tales. Find me on Facebook, Crimson Cloak publishing , Smashwords, and Amazon.

Tha Magic World of Bracken Lea on Amazon

The Magic World of Bracken Lea on Smashwords

Thanks for taking part in my interview, Esma. Best of luck with your writing!

Lynne North.

Check out the book trailer for this fantasy adventure for children!

When in the enchanted wood, Emily finds she has a surprising connection with her little dog and all of the other animals.  When she discovers she needs to help rid the wood of marauding goblins, she must work with the animals to bring peace back to the woodland realm.

View on YouTube

Interview Rosita Bird

Hi all. Are you ready to meet another ‘Crimson Cloak Publishing’ author? Today, we meet Rosita Bird.

 1)    Do you write books as a career, or are you currently still juggling your author time with a full or part time job?

I am retired from Childminding and working at a nursery. I am hoping this will be a new career for me.

2)    Have you always wanted to be an author, or did some time or event in your life set you on the path?

No. I had a mental breakdown in 2005 and as part of the therapy I went to a writing group which was mainly poetry. I enjoyed this. I then wrote my first book ‘Vegetables Count.’

3)    Do you always write in the same genre, or do you sometimes like a change of theme? If you haven’t already, is there another genre you would like to write?

Yes. Most of my books are for young children aged between 3 – 7. I am hoping to write two in the future about my journey through mental health. Also a true story about my parents, how they met. This will need some research as it involves my grandfather who was taken to a camp by Nazi’s during the Second World War from occupied Holland.

4)    As a writer, what is the best thing that has happened to you, and what is that most exciting thing that could happen to you?

I think possibly meeting John L. D. Barnett was good as he helped me get in with his publisher. He was originally going to do illustrations for me but he had a lot on and we had different ideas on illustrations for children. I have been congratulated by Jamie Oliver’s team for my healthy eating books for children and on their Pinterest site. I have also been endorsed by Simon Weston OBE. I have done two books for charity one local Animal Rescue Centre and Care After Combat.

5)    How do you view the promotion, book signings etc. Is it something you enjoy, or do you prefer the writing stage?

I am quite shy and uncomfortable with that sort of thing. I have done it locally. Navigo (Mental Health in Lincolnshire) supported me on my first launch.

6)   Could you tell us something about your published books, and let us know what they are about and where they are available?

 The Rabbit Who Wore Glasses   Smashwords link

Emma Tate and The Magic Plate (series to follow)

Link to Smashwords

Vegetables Count

Link to Smashwords

Link to Amazon

Fruits Count

Link to Smashwords

Link to Amazon

Charlie the Crocodile Who Couldn’t Catch A Cold (The Ark Animal Rescue)

Mummy Still Loves Me (a gentle book for children on mental health)

All these are in process with Crimson Cloak and presently with North Wall Publishing.

Rosita’s books on Amazon.

Link to Rosita’s books on Amazon

Rosita’s Facebook page

Rosita on Facebook

Books in process of illustrations are:-

Bobby’s Magic Wheels (hopefully a series)

The Elf’s Secret

Witch Wobblyknees and the Wibbly Wobbly Wand

Emma Tate Learns to Skate

Emma Tate and the Wriggly Bait

Emma Tate Gets Up Late

Emma Tate Gets Lost at the Fete

Mummy Still Loves Me to be re-illustrated

Sounds like you never have a dull moment, Rosita! It’s wonderful to have a career that you love so much. Long may you continue to produce such a varied collection of books. Lynne North.

Great new children’s fantasy out now!

Emily lives in the quiet village of Oak Haven with her Mum, Dad and her lovely dog, Toby. Her life is a happy and peaceful one, but there is more to Emily than meets the eye. The young girl has a very strong connection with animals, one that becomes even more apparent when she enters the wood that lies just outside the village.

Strange things happen in the wood, and Emily isn’t convinced whether the wood has magical powers, or even if she herself has special abilities. Whatever the reason, life is never quite the same when she is there.

Emily’s problems really begin when she discovers that goblins have come to her precious wood. They are making the woodland creatures’ lives a misery, and seem intent on staying.

Not if Emily can help it …

Buy it here:

Amazon Kindle UK

Amazon paperback UK

Smashwords

Createspace paperback

Amazon Kindle USA

Amazon paperback USA

Hi all. Hope you’re enjoying the Crimson Cloak Publishing author interviews!

With the release of his great page turner, The Doom Murders, today we meet the author Brian O’Hare

1. Do you write books as a career, or are you currently still juggling your author time with a full or part time job?
No, I only started writing books after I retired from full-time employment as Assistant Director of the Southern Regional College in Northern Ireland. So, no juggling, no career. Oh, that’s not quite true. Some juggling. I have to fit in three days of golf per week around any writing I do.

2. Have you always wanted to be an author, or did some time of event in your life set you on the path?
I have never actually intended to be a writer. When I was writing articles and reports relating to my profession that were being professionally published, it never occurred to me that I could be deemed a writer. Even when, early in my retirement, I was commissioned by the Department of Education and The University of Ulster to write book length reports, I still didn’t think that I was being a writer. I thought of myself as a researcher. I suppose when I wrote an account of my liver transplant – A Spiritual Odyssey – Spiritual Odyssey and found a publisher in Dublin, I thought, “Well, I’ve written a book. Maybe I’m a writer.”
My writing, if it can be described as that, has followed a strangely circuitous path. From writing articles for academic journals, I progressed to writing book length academic reports. From there, after a serious illness, I wrote to two religious books, one an autobiographic memoir, (A Spiritual Odyssey, see above) the other, The Miracle Ship – The Miracle Ship … a strange and incredible biography of a most extraordinary man, a miracle worker. Retired by now, and fancying a move to writing fiction, I was prompted by the widely-reported shenanigans of corrupt clergy in Ireland to write a contemporary fiction novel, Fallen Men. Fallen Men
And then, because my favourite genre for reading over the past several years has been crime thrillers, I thought I’d have a go at writing one of my own, et voila, there appeared The Doom Murders.

And now, there’s something happening in my writing life. I have found a publisher who is willing to publish all my stuff. Crimson Cloak Publishers is owned by a lovely lady called Carly McCracken. Carly liked The Doom Murders with its introspective but perspicacious Detective Chief Inspector Sheehan. She suggested a series. A series? Yeah, a series, and my immediate reaction was, ‘No way that’s possible. I’ve only written one detective book in my life. Where would I start?’

But guess what? I have completed Book Two of the Inspector Sheehan series: The 11:05 Murders. I thought initially I might have enough of a plot for about 50000 words but the final tally was 104500 words. Go figure! I am not sure when Carly will be able to get it out but I am hoping it won’t be much longer than about six or seven months from now. Not a soul has read it, not my wife, not any family members, not even the beta readers who were reading and commenting upon The Doom Murders during the process of my writing it. This time I wanted to hug the new story to myself. Don’t ask me why. Was it because The Doom Murders won a couple of awards and garnered 38 very positive reviews on Amazon.com and I’m afraid to let anyone see the sequel in case it doesn’t measure up? Maybe. Or as it because the plot this time is much more complex and I just wanted to be able to drift back and forward making multiple changes without having to reference them to anyone? That would probably be true. Or did I just want the thing to be whole and complete before anyone came to it? Whatever the reason, I am now totally without feedback. Other writers will recognise that that’s a scary place. Do I want feedback? Of course I do…but I’ll deal simply with Veronica Castle, Crimson’s Cloak’s indefatigable editor, and go by what she says. Fingers dutifully crossed…but that doesn’t mean that I’m not panickin’!

3. Do you always write in the same genre, or do you sometimes like a change of theme? If you haven’t already, is there another genre you would like to write?
As you would have gleaned from the answer to the last question, I have been jumping all over the place in terms of genres. But now that Crimson Cloak have specifically requested that I write a series of mysteries featuring Inspector Sheehan, I would say that I am pretty much settled on the crime fiction genre.

4. As a writer, what is the best thing that has happened to you, and what is that most exciting thing that could happen to you?
I believe that I mentioned earlier that I write in retirement. In many ways, that is a time of life when excitement isn’t a major factor in life. Nonetheless, I find the whole process of writing exciting, the challenge of completing a book and trying to give it that little edge that will make my work palatable to any reader. I got the fist glimpse of the preliminary draft of the cover for The Doom Murders a couple of nights ago. I experienced more than a twinge of excitement from that. Perhaps the most exciting thing that happened in recent times was being taken on by Crimson Cloak and being asked to write a series around a character that I admit I find interesting (even if I still don’t know him all that well.) Oh, I almost forgot. Three of my books have won awards (I won’t go into detail about them here) and one, The Doom Murders, has won three awards. That was a wee bit exciting. Oh, another thing. (That’s what happens when you start approaching a certain age…you start forgetting things.) Carly McCracken of Crimson cloak has asked me to set up a little marketing campaign to coincide with the launch of The Doom Murders (probably within a month from now). Solve the Mystery; Win a Prize. This whole process is exciting and continues to be. I offer now a brief explanation of what it is.
I have sent Carly a scenario that sets up the scene, provides background information, introduces the characters/suspects, and, at the end of this introduction, a murder takes place. This information will be offered to the general public via FaceBook, twitter, and various blogs. Each day thereafter further clues will be provided through a series of interviews with each of the suspects conducted by Inspector Jim Sheehan, one interview per day for five days. At the end of the sixth day, readers will be asked to identify the murderer, explain what clues led them to this conclusion, and write in detail how they believe the murder was carried out. Answers will be sent to a specific email address rather than posted on FaceBook for others to see. The three best answers (along with a complete explanation of how Sheehan solved the crime) will be published a day or so after the competition ends, and winners will each receive a copy of the newly printed The Doom Murders.
I’m a writer now. The answer to the second part of the question is what you Americans call ‘a no brainer’. The most exciting thing that could happen to me is to see people buying my books in numbers. I have had a slight taste of that with one of my non-fiction books, The Miracle Ship. 3000 copies printed and sold in the year or so that it has been in print, and still selling steadily away. Not huge numbers, certainly, but round enough to be vaguely gratifying.

5. How do you view the promotion, book signings etc. Is it something you enjoy, or do you prefer the writing stage?
I have never actually done a book signing. I would be terrified that I’d be sitting there all day and no one would turn up. The stuff of nightmares. Marketing, promotion, and all that goes with it is a chore, often costly, and seldom produces the results that are hoped for. Entering competitions has turned but to be a better bargain than I thought. The books that I have entered have all won awards of some sort. Not Pulitzers by any means, but recognition of sorts. Tweeting (and I have paid for, or won, dozens and dozens of them each week for I don’t know how long now) seems to be much less effective in persuading people to buy books than the ‘professional tweeters’ would lead one to believe. Marketing is hard. I would just love only to write and leave the marketing to the publisher and have nothing to do with it. But that’s not how the game is played. And so we keep trying.

6. Could you tell us something about your published books, and let us know what they are about and where they are available?
I’ve probably jumped the gun a bit on this one in my answer to question two. There are two very detailed explanations that offer information about how I came to write Fallen Men and The Doom Murders. It would take too long to recount these stories here. If anyone is interested, they can read them at this link: Blog
Briefly, however, Fallen Men Fallen Men is the story of three priests, focusing on one in particular. He is a handsome young man whose life spirals out of control when long-submerged memories of childhood abuse begin to surface. He seeks solace in a friendship with a beautiful seventeen-year-old-choir girl but this leads to a doomed love affair that ends in disaster. Fallen Men is to be published by Crimson Cloak Publishing in paperback later in 2015. It can be read on kindle, however, right now.
In The Doom Murders The Doom Murders prominent figures in Belfast are being murdered. The bodies are left naked and posed in grotesquely distorted shapes. No clues are left at the forensically immaculate crime scenes except odd theatrical props and some random numbers and letters concealed at each scene by the killer. How are the victims linked? What is the connection between these killings, the bible, and a famous mediaeval painting of The Last Judgement? Chief Inspector Jim Sheehan is stretched to his limits in the quest to unmask and stop this killer. The Doom Murders is out now in paperback from Crimson Cloak for the run-up to Christmas, 2015.

Great answers, Brian! Thanks very much for taking the time to introduce us to your fantastic books. As the proud owner of a signed copy of The Doom Murders I am really enjoying reading it!   Lynne North.

Interview Cynthia MacGregor

Hi all. Here we have another ‘Crimson Cloak Publishing’ author interview! Today, we meet Cynthia MacGregor.

1)    Do you write books as a career, or are you currently still juggling your author time with a full or part time job?

I have been a full-time freelance writer/editor for more years than I can count, but just this year I took on some pretty heavy if part-time responsibilities for a publisher of children’s books, including but not limited to editing, which led to my being named publisher of a new imprint of that company, which aims at an audience of adults.

That said, however, the writing portion of my freelance writing/editing was never just books. I have been hired by clients to write such diverse items as press releases, web copy, business letters, scripts for promotional videos, ads, a marriage proposal (!), poetry, and—logically enough—ghostwritten books. (Whew!) And that’s not a complete list, either.

My editing encompasses both books and other materials, and the book editing I do has been both for authors and for publishers. In spite of all this other work, though, I have managed to get over 100 books published (don’t ask me the exact number—I stopped counting at 100), and, like the Energizer Bunny (whom I’m often compared to), I’m still going.

2)    Have you always wanted to be an author, or did some time or event in your life set you on the path?

I have always loved writing, from the time I could spell C-A-T, but my childhood ambition, up through my junior year of high school, was to act on the Broadway stage. Unfortunately, I had Tourette Syndrome, which was totally misdiagnosed. It wasn’t till I was in my early 30s that I finally knew what my problem really was. So anyhow, in my junior year of high school, I tried out for the junior class play (the junior and senior classes put on plays for fund-raisers; the freshman and sophomore classes sold magazine subscriptions) and lost out on the lead (or any part at all) because of my mis-diagnosed medical problem. Tradition held that the morning the parts were announced, those selected would find a script on their homeroom desk. There was never, however, any recoourse if you were not selected, nor any explanation given. In a break with tradition, the faculty advisor to the play sought me out the morning the parts were given out and explained that although I had read best for the part, they were afraid to give me the part because of my “condition” and had instead awarded the lead to my arch-rival. I got no part at all.

It was a stunning blow. In that one instant I realized that if I couldn’t even get a part in the junior play in high school, I had no hope of making it on Broadway. I knew then that I had to re-think my career choice.

Writing had always been my second love, but resultant from the crush of being passed over for the play, and because I was made fun of by some of the kids in school, my self-confidence sagged. I wasn’t sure I had what it took to be a writer. It took a few years before I started to take my craft seriously and attempt to sell my work.

 3)    Do you always write in the same genre, or do you sometimes like a change of theme? If you haven’t already, is there another genre you would like to write?

Good grief—if you’ll check out my website at www.cynthiamacgregor.com, you’ll see that I’m all over the place in terms of genre. In the first place, I never wanted to be a one-trick pony. And in the second place, I can’t think of any subject on which I could have written over 100 books! I write for both adults and kids, and both nonfiction and fiction—and cookbooks, which are assuredly nonfiction but feel like they’re a separate category unto themselves.

Although my writing is diversified, I think that nonfiction for adults comprises the largest segment of my output.

There is a downside to such diversification, however: It’s harder to build a following when your work is all over the place like that. Just because someone likes my nonfiction for adults doesn’t mean they’re going to want to read my novels, or vice-versa, and just because a parent appreciates some of my books that his/her kids are enjoying doesn’t mean he or she is going to read my nonfic works for adults. Even strictly within adult nonfiction, someone inspired by one of my inspirational/motivational books (e.g. Don’t Quit While You’re Ahead or What’s Stopping You?!) isn’t necessarily going to want to read my humor (e.g. Life Behind the Office, Dust Bunnies Ate My Socks, or Betcha Didn’t Know). And so on.

4)    How do you view the promotion, book signings etc. Is it something you enjoy, or do you prefer the writing stage?

I enjoy meeting the reading public as well as fellow authors and emerging authors, but a lot of the aspects of promo, especially arranging for the promo, are a PITA. For example, I enjoy the book-signings, and public speaking, and talking to the attendees, but I loathe the endless hours spent trying to arrange the signings, readings, speaking engagements, radio/TV spots, and such, and the frequent turn-downs or simply no-responses.

I am on the board of an organization called 4 Authors by Authors (read the “4” as “For”), serving established, emerging, and hopeful authors in South Florida (my home territory), and I have been tapped as a speaker at both of the all-day events the organization has held so far. I enjoy addressing the attendees and giving them talks that are both informational and motivational. These appearances are more likely to land me ghosting gigs or editing gigs than to sell tons of books, but it’s all good.

I am comfortable doing public speaking. (Comfortable? Hell, I enjoy it!)

I guess I enjoy both the writing and the appearances, but not the time spent chasing all those people who might (but probably won’t, in most cases) give me a write-up, a broadcast interview, or a chance to promote my books in some other venue.

5)    Could you tell us something about your published books, and let us know what they are about and where they are available?

LOL—you really don’t want me to list ’em all, do you? Of course, some of my books are out of print by now, but some are in their second lives. Having gone out of print with the rights reverted to me, they have been repubbed in some cases. All the ones still in print or re-pubbed are available on Amazon.com, and you can read more about all of them on my website: www.cynthiamacgregor.com.

Three of my recently published books are:

Don’t Quit While You’re Ahead, motivational/inspirational. Crimson Cloak Publishing. Why stop just because you’re successful or have accomplished what you wanted to in life? There is more success to be had, more worlds to conquer, more satisfaction waiting for you. Grab it—it’s yours for the taking!

Don’t Quit While You’re Ahead

Everybody’s Little Book of Everyday Prayers, non-sectarian religious. MSI Press. Regardless of what your religious affiliation is, or if you have none at all, if you want to commune with your Creator and turn everyday occasions into special occasions and recognize special occasions through prayer, here are the words you are seeking—for both adults and their kids.

Everybody’s Little Book of Everyday Prayers

Heartfelt, the Special Reindeer, picturebook for kids who still believe in Santa. AcuteByDesign. Heartfelt is not only a “special” reindeer, with the power to see inside people’s hearts and know their most heartfelt wishes; she is also a “special needs” reindeer: Her rear legs are way shorter than her front legs, and her back slopes sharply downward. Heartfelt’s own most heartfelt wish is to be a regular member of Santa’s team and not just one of his “backup reindeer,” who join the team only if one of the regulars gets sick. Meanwhile, Santa is very troubled because of a sad little boy named James. Can Heartfelt solve Santa’s problem with her special talent? This heartwarming story introduces a new character, Heartfelt, to the Santa legend. Heartfelt is sure to win your heart.

Heartfelt, the Special Reindeer

All these books and many more are available on Amazon.com or through my website, www.cynthiamacgregor.com

Thanks so much for such an honest and interesting look into your life, Cynthia. You clearly have a great dedication to writing, and such a varied collection! Best of luck for continued success. Lynne North

My book cover has reached the semi-finals in a great competition run by the Authorsdb website. I would be very grateful if anyone would be willing to follow the link to the site and vote for my cover, if you think it deserves it! Thank you very much if you can.

Vote here please!

Out today on Smashwords published by Crimson Cloak Publishing, soon to be released on Amazon Kindle then in paperback. Charity anthology of children’s stories, including two short tales of mine! ALL proceeds to charity. Makes a lovely stocking filler.

Buy here on Smashwords

I’m pretty pleased to find this website. I wanted to thank you for
your time due to this wonderful read!! I definitely appreciated every little bit of it and I also have you book-marked to look at new stuff in your blog.

I am really impressed with your writing skills as well as with the layout on your weblog.
Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself?
Either way keep up the nice quality writing, it is rare to see a nice blog like this one these days.

Hi all. Hope you’re enjoying the ‘Crimson Cloak Publishing’ author interviews! Today, we meet Peter Streitz.

Do you write books as a career, or are you currently still juggling your author time with a full or part time job?

 If you mean by career . . . is writing the only truly productive thing I do then the answer is yes. If you mean is writing what I do for a living and\or income—then the answer is no. HouseHusbandry is my formal occupation. My employer is a female business executive.

Have you always wanted to be an author, or did some time or event in your life set you on the path?

 The person I didn’t know always wanted to be a writer. But the person I did know became a corporate man in the computer industry. Then some thirty years ago the person I didn’t know viciously attacked the person I did know—in a life and death struggle—forcing the known into act of professional suicide . . . only to be saved and resurrected in the world of the unknown. i.e. authorship

Do you always write in the same genre, or do you sometimes like a change of theme? If you haven’t already, is there another genre you would like to write?

 When it’s literary fiction the theme is always me, you, and the other . . . meaning it’s always reality as fiction– which pretty much covers every genre, except cookbooks.

 As a writer, what is the best thing that has happened to you, and what is that most exciting thing that could happen to you?

 Best: that I married an insanely dedicated patron and the fates planted Carly McCracken along my path. Most exciting: make them both happy.

 How do you view the promotion, book signings etc. Is it something you enjoy, or do you prefer the writing stage?

 I’m extremely excited about taking any stage with my writing and signing anything that promotes my hellaciously written words.

 Could you tell us something about your published books, and let us know what they are about and where they are available?

 My book of poetry HELLFIRES SHAKE THE BLUES is verse that kills the poetic flies of fantasy with the cannonballs of the street.

Buy from Crimson Cloak Publishing

Buy from Amazon

Buy from Smashwords

They’re also at Barnes and Noble, Apple through Smashwords, and BooksAMillion and other places by being on Amazon, but there are too many places to list.

My novel PAST OZ is about—where we all end up in our lives—when we’ve had enough life experience to actually decide the direction we have always wanted (consciously or subconsciously) to go regardless of our inherited race, creed, color, coincidences and\or circumstances . . . both fortunate or unfortunate. PAST OZ is one man’s break from what he and those in his sphere, most solemnly, believe to be his lot in life. And going PAST OZ is that second, self-determined, shot at life regardless of all prevailing wisdoms within ones world.

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Thanks for your impressive and amusing answers, Peter. Here’s hoping your success not only continues, but grows too! Lynne North