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by Dre Grigoropol

New York City based cartoonist Jess Ruliffson presented her collection of comics for her upcoming graphic novel at The Drawing Center in Soho on February 13th 2013. Though her comics are biographical, they are not about her own life. She documents the real stories of people who have survived life-threatening situations and has interviewed hurricane survivors, veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and soldiers who are still enlisted. At The Drawing Center, she presented her accumulated work, which has been associated with the Joe Bonham Project since 2010. This project involved Ruliffson visiting wounded veterans at Walter Reed Military Medical Center and documenting their stories in comics form.

Ruliffson works in a genre of comics-journalism, which isn’t as popular as other varieties like autobiographical comics. That is probably because her work focuses on topics that are serious and often tragic. This type of work gives reader a rare insight of what stories these people have to share.
Ruliffson kindly agreed to answer some questions for The Beat about what inspires her work.

Dre Grigoropol: What gave you the idea to write comics about veterans?

Jess Ruliffson: I read a great book by Sebastian Junger called War. He and the late war photographer Tim Hetherington also created the documentary Restrepo––I highly recommend them both––they are about time they spent at a remote outpost in the Korengal Valley in Afghanistan. There’s a bunch of young men living day to day and doing their jobs as soldiers, and it’s crazy. The thing that struck me about both pieces was that they were pretty objective and still so powerful. Junger and Hetherington went there and just reported what was going on without much of a slant. I never read nonfiction like that before. It’s surreal that there are people that do this stuff. It just woke me up. I didn’t know what to write about when I tried to make comics before, and it seemed like a good way to work, by listening to other people tell stories. 

DG: Where do you go to find the people you interview?

JR: I asked friends-of-friends and just started being more inquisitive. Some of the veterans are friends from high school, but many are new acquaintances. I met one veteran in the School of Visual Arts silkscreen lab. The first person I interviewed for the project, I heard him in an interview on my banjo teacher’s podcast, Down Home Radio Show. He’s a gifted storyteller and I knew as soon as I heard him I had to meet him. By luck, he was playing at the Brooklyn Folk Festival a few months after I had the idea, so I asked my banjo teacher to introduce us. He ended up being a really great guy. I’ve been recently working with veterans participating in the NYU Veteran Writer’s Workshop, I met them through Peter Catapano. He was a panelist at the Joe Bonham Project opening in Washington D.C., and invited me to a reading these writers were putting on later that week. So, some of it is luck, but a lot of it is just putting yourself out there and seeing what you get. 

DG: How do you curate what goes in the comic?

JR: I usually gather interviews via email or transcribe audio recordings. Once I have all that material, I go through and highlight things that seem very visual or very interesting ideas, or some main theme that keeps recurring. Then I figure out how to put those interesting parts together in a narrative arc that seems somewhat chronological. I do my best to quote directly and let the oral histories speak for themselves. 

DG: Why is sharing the stories of veterans important to you?

JR: I was one of those people who thought I was anti-war, and then I realized I was just apathetic, which isn’t the same thing. Once I read War, I really wanted to do something. It just all of a sudden seemed really important to me. I decided to go to art school, and at the same time many of my peers decided to fight in wars. I realized that just because I wasn’t participating didn’t mean the wars didn’t affect me. I felt responsible and convicted after ignoring it for so long. It also seemed that a lot of these stories weren’t making the news. A lot of veterans are activists, musicians, writers, and artists, and not the one-dimensional, pro-gun, all brawn/no brains combination I had come to think was requisite of veterans.

DG: Did you foresee the path of comics journalism as the path you would take in the past? Or did it happen haphazardly?

JR: I didn’t know what comics journalism was until I started making comics. I read Josh Neufeld’s A.D. a few years ago, which I found so thoughtful and kind.  It really made me feel good that a New Yorker cared about my home and wanted to report about it. I moved to NYC from Biloxi, Mississippi the day the hurricane hit in 2005, and it felt like no one really understood the devastation. I think when people take an interest in other people’s stories, that’s when good journalism happens. I didn’t see myself as a journalist until recently, because I’m not formally trained. I guess I started making these pieces and then hearing about other creators making nonfiction comics. I got in touch with Josh Kramer who edits The Cartoon Picayune and Erin Polgreen, who edits Symbolia, and have met a lot of nonfiction comics creators through those outlets. It’s been cool discovering that the community is much larger than I ever thought, and that lots of my comics peers are excited about this stuff. I feel like I showed up to the party at the right time!

DG: Are there any comics that are in the category of comics journalism that you would recommend?

JR: I love Joe Sacco but have never read an entire book of his, I always check them out from the library and just look at the pictures. He’s incredible. I think there’s a lot to learn by just looking at the pictures. I tell all of my writer friends to read David Mazzucchelli’s comic adaptation of Paul Auster’s City of Glass, it’s really abstract and really smart, though fiction and non-comics journalism. I like Guy Delisle’s Pyongang, it’s surprisingly funny. 

DG: Can you tell us a little about your future comics projects?

JR: I just wrapped up a piece for Columbia University, about their duPont-Columbia Awards ceremony, which is the highest honor of broadcast journalism. I attended this year’s ceremony and created a short nonfiction comic piece about it for their website. It was a lot of fun and so inspiring. I’m also working on short, one-page veteran stories right now, as well as a longer piece for Symbolia Magazine. I want to make shorter, funny pieces. I’ve been collecting funny things my friends say. I also had an idea of a comic series where I go on dates with Jesus and he gives me advice about guys. I’ll let you know how it goes, or you can read my blog: callingthedog.blogspot.com.

Jess Ruliffison’s graphic novel is planned to debut in 2014. Keep tabs on this interesting and dedicated artist by visiting her site: jessruliffson.com.

[Dre Grigoropol is an indie cartoonist and blogger. Her work can be viewed at www.dretime.org. Follow her on Twitter at @dretimecomics. Photos by Dre Grigoropol Photographs by James Tehero and Dre Grigoropol Images via Jess Ruliffson]

I’m very excited to introduce Dawn Hanna, artist and photographer. I’ve admired her work for years and am so glad she’s pursuing her art full-time these days. She was kind enough to agree to an interview, and also, to offer a giveaway to my readers! See details at the end of the interview.

Dawn was born in Rhode Island but has lived in the south for many years. She’s recently left a 17 year career in social work to launch Dawning Day Studios, her photography, layout, and design business. She is a freelance photographer for Getty Images and Arcangel and has been published in Artful Blogging and Time magazine. Currently, Dawn is working on a soon-to-be-published e-book of artist self-portraits from around the world.

So, Dawn, how did you get started with photography?

I have been an artist my entire life….I think I came out of the womb staring at the colors and shapes around me. I picked up a Brownie Instamatic camera when I was 11 years old. From there, I learned how to develop and print in a darkroom (during prehistoric times…yes I am old!) in high school. In my early adult years, I worked a lot in the darkroom at The Light Factory in Charlotte and showed in juried shows here and there. Then life took its course and I found myself a mom and growing a family. I bought my first digital camera in 2007 and learned Photoshop from a dear friend of mine. Digital expanded my mind into the kind of work that I had always wanted to do and found myself totally immersed in it from that point on. I joined flickr and found daily inspiration from fellow photographers and artists who fed and continue to feed my soul on a daily basis. With the exposure and power of the internet…..I gained recognition for my work from book designers, art directors and stock photography agencies. It has been a steady and amazing growth since then.

What do you do when you get low on inspiration?

I have found that getting in the car and traveling somewhere does the trick for me. Sometimes I think our eyes get tired or they overlook the beauty in everyday that a new perspective can regain.

What do you recommend for someone who’s just getting started in photography?

I would highly encourage you to jump onto the many photo sharing websites such as flickr, instagram, google + or 500px and see what the world is doing with a camera these days. There is infinite inspiration on these websites and people are generous and encouraging to all. When I first joined flickr, I was scared out of my mind to put my work out there, but I will tell you that it has been nothing short of an incredible journey and led to my growth as a photographer and an artist.

What are you working on currently?

Currently, my partner and I are working on a book layout and design for an upcoming publication that is near and dear to both of our hearts. It has been a labor of love and we can’t wait for the book to be published.

Current obsessions?

I would have to say that my current obssession, like many others…is exploring the world of iphoneology. The possibilities are absolutely endless and it is so exciting to be on the beginning curve of an incredible piece of technology and artistic trend as the iPhone and iPads are.

Thanks so much for agreeing to share with us today, Dawn. You can find Dawn around the web at her Facebook page, her etsy shop, and on flickr. And seriously, follow her on Instagram. Wow!

As I mentioned, Dawn has graciously offered to give a print to one lucky reader from anywhere in the world. To enter, go to Dawn’s etsy shop, then comment here on the blog about which print is your favorite.

You have until 12 noon Eastern Standard Time on March 14, 2013 (one week from today), at which time I’ll use the random number generator to choose a winner. You won’t be added to a mailing list, but I hope you’ll like Dawn on Facebook and favorite her etsy shop.

Personally, I’m in love with the barbed wire piece. You have to go check it out!

Please welcome special guest Nicole Helm to the virtual offices today.  Nicole is here to chat about her new release Seven Night Stand.  She also brought along a $10 Amazon gift card for one of you to win after the interview!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Nicole Helm] I’m a mom of two young boys who writes contemporary romance novels between changing diapers and fielding incessant toddler questions.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Seven Night Stand?

[Nicole Helm] Seven-Night Stand is about a reality TV scout, Vivvy Marsh, who lands at a small private airfield in Kansas to try and find a reality TV show that will work. She’s pretty desperate for Harrington Airfield & Mechanics to be the setting for that show, but small airport owner Nate Harrington has way too many skeletons in his closet to let that happen. What he does let happen is a seven-night stand that turns complicated when feelings enter the equation.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Nicole Helm] I actually wrote the first 1,000 words for a contest where the opening scene had to have a man and a plane. Nate and his airfield were born. The reality TV idea came from something my grandpa mentioned in passing once regarding someone calling him from a TV station with the possibility of doing a show on his business (which is an airfield, although a different kind of one than the Harrington Airfield in my book). It never came to fruition, but it was enough of a seed in my brain for me to use it as a story premise.

The characters themselves came from the idea of wanting a woman to be bowled over by a man and a plane in the first thousand words. Thus, hunky Nate was born. He’s got a little swagger, so I knew he’d need a confident woman who didn’t take anyone’s crap. And that’s how Vivvy came to be.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Vivvy?

[Nicole Helm] No-nonsense, guarded, driven.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Nate had a theme song, what would it be?

[Nicole Helm] Oooh, I love this question! A good theme song for Nate would probably be Guys Like Me by Eric Church. Even though Nate’s a successful businessman, he’s a little rough around the edges, and he definitely embodies his small town.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Vivvy is never without.

[Nicole Helm] Her cell phone–her only connection to the outside world when she’s in Kansas.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Nate’s bedroom?

[Nicole Helm] This is hard. Nate’s a pretty laid back guy, but I’d have to go with a suit, throw pillows, and hair dye.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Vivvy’s greatest regret?

[Nicole Helm] Spending so much of her life fearing connection.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Nicole Helm] Books. I’m a lifelong reader, I was once an English major and then an English teacher, so books of all shapes and sizes influence–not just my writing life–but my life in general. I also love music, especially country music. A lot of story ideas have started from listening to a country song.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Nicole Helm] My iPad, something distracting my kids, and the internet so I can procrastinate when I get stuck.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Nicole Helm] Crazy Thing Called Love by Molly O’Keefe. I think Molly is writing some of the most complex, interesting heroines in contemporary romance right now and this book totally blew me away.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Nicole Helm] I’ve been a reader my whole life. I remember my dad reading me and my sister a picture book called "Pudgy Pals" when we were tiny, tiny, and I remember the first books I read on my own were a collection of Dr. Seuss books, but I have always, always loved to read. I think I was born with it.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Nicole Helm] Spend time with my husband and kids, watch St. Louis Cardinals baseball, hike (if it’s a nice day), bake, and, of course, read.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Nicole Helm] My website: www.nicolehelm.wordpress.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nicole-Helm/125277964228020?ref=hl

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5832703.Nicole_Helm

But the best bet is Twitter because, as my husband can attest, I spend waaay too much time on it. @NicoleTHelm

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

Giveaway Time!!

Nicole is giving away a $10 Amazon gift card!  Please fill out the widget to enter. Earn extra entries by following. Open to US addresses.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can order Seven Night Stand from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the link below.

About Seven Night Stand:

Reality TV scout Vivvy Marsh loves her job, but she’ll lose it if she doesn’t find a hit. When she’s sent to Kansas to scout a show, it looks like a bust…until she meets sexy pilot, Nate Harrington. His family would make the perfect show to save her career.
Nate can’t deny his attraction to Vivvy, but no way can he let this show take off. The Harrington family is riddled with secrets, and she wants it all out in the open. For the next seven days, he’s going to stop at nothing to keep her out of his family’s business, even if it means keeping her distracted in his bedroom.

Nicole’s Bio:

I grew up with my nose in a book and a dream of becoming a writer. Luckily, after a few failed career choices, a husband, and two kids, I get to pursue that dream.
I write down-to-earth contemporary romance over the backdrop of America’s flyover states for Entangled Indulgence and Samhain Publishing.
I live in Missouri with my husband and two young sons, and write my novels one baby’s nap at a time. I’m slightly (okay, totally) addicted to Twitter (nicolethelm), the St. Louis Cardinals, and someday owning a barn.
You can contact me at NicoleTHelm@gmail.com. I am a contributor at the From Fact to Fiction blog and the Entangled Indulgence Author’s blog.
Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nicole-Helm/125277964228020?ref=hl
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/nicolethelm
Website: www.nicolehelm.wordpress.com
Blog: www.nicolehelm.wordpress.com/blog
Seven Night Stand Buy Links:
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/seven-night-stand-nicole-helm/1114300676
Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Seven-Night-Stand/book-ZhbPXJ2v8EumCA_tC8Jdhw/page1.html?s=L2AYTnOAwkuKvZQ48mIjqA

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Rave reviews from across the press, prominent features in the mainstream media, and plaudits from huge names within the industry; this new comic is off to a flying start.

Those familiar with my writing here and elsewhere will perhaps know that the topic of “women in comics” is pretty much my thing. Feminism and comics history informs much of what I write, while the specific history of women creators (and women characters) within the medium is my actual field of research. But I’m not the only one that mixes academia and a love of comics, as the creative team behind My So-Called Secret Identity shows.

Will Brooker, Batman scholar and academic author, is on writing duties, alongside professional artists Suze Shore and Sarah Zaidan, who also has a PhD in the comics field. I first heard from Will last year after he read an article I wrote about Barbara Gordon, and he talked about plans he had concerning a new kind of female superhero. Fast forward to 2013, and the first issue of MSCSI has launched to high praise indeed.

My So-Called Secret Identity stars Cat, a twenty-something Irish-American woman living in Gloria City, a place full of celebrity superheroes. Cat is a nobody, just a student, and a cop’s daughter. Except… Cat is also the smartest person in town. There are shades of Batgirl here, of Barbara Gordon, but on all the bits that are often skipped over in favour of crime fighting. With a cast set to expand rapidly, and a marked difference in how the women characters are portrayed, this is one comic to keep an eye on.

I had a chat with Will to get his take on My So Called-Secret Identity, after promising some challenging questions! You can read the entire first issue here: www.mysocalledsecretidentity.com

In a nutshell, how did the project come about, and in what ways does it seek to address the depiction of women in comics?

Brooker: The project came about through a convergence of various factors around the same time, October 2011. I’d been in touch with Jen Vaiano online, and commissioned her to draw some sketches of a superheroine wearing the kind of clothes you could and would plausibly put together if you were really an urban vigilante: cargo pants, black sweater, solid boots. I’d known Sarah Zaidan for a few years as she was initially my PhD student at Kingston University, completing her thesis on masculinity in the superhero genre. I contacted Suze Shore, again, online after seeing a cartoon she posted criticising Poison Ivy’s skimpy outfit in the Arkham Asylum videogame. So I was exploring ideas around representing women differently in the superhero genre, because of my increasing frustration with what I was seeing in mainstream comics, particularly around the launch of the New 52.

I’d just finished writing a book about Batman, and had turned my attention to Batgirl in a series of articles, both online and in print. I happened to visit a comic shop near my work and was dismayed by the juxtaposition of the glossy cheesecake female stereotypes on the covers, and the group of surly and unwelcoming young men sitting around the store; I then went back to work, where I was leading an induction session for (mostly female) PhD students, and it all came together for me with the realisation that Barbara ‘Batgirl’ Gordon was meant to be a PhD student, but I couldn’t remember her ever being written like one of the women who were actually sitting in the room with me.

That was the spark, from my point of view.

MSCSI seeks to address the depiction of women in a few different ways. In production terms, the creative team is almost entirely female, which reverses the normal ratio in mainstream comics. In terms of visual representation, we’ve aimed for a range of different female roles and body types, and dressed them in clothes that you might actually want to buy and wear. In terms of character, the story is told through Cat, who has learned to hide her intelligence but who decides to embrace it as her ‘secret identity’; and the supporting cast also includes a variety of different, but I think interesting, plausible and strong, female characters.

Cat is an intelligent PhD student, but she does conform to Western beauty standards still (pale skin, slim, pretty, etc). In what ways does she differ from other superhero women characters, including Batwoman and Storm (and more historically, Elasti-Girl and Jenny Sparks)?

Brooker: You’re right of course that Cat fits dominant conventions in a number of ways – you could also note that she’s studying philosophy and literature, which are maybe traditional ‘female’ arts subjects, rather than science. The reason for that is simply that I was writing what I know, and writing someone with experiences a little like my own.

One important aspect of MSCSI is that there is no definitive look for Cat, or authoritative representation. Jen’s sketches of Cat are very doe-eyed, skinny and manga-influenced. Suze’s early portraits of Cat are also very cute and polished. I think of those as Cat on a very good day — we all have very good days, I think, and we all have days when we look rough, and during the course of this story we also see Cat when she’s got bigger things to think about than her appearance, and isn’t looking quite so glossy.

My sense of Cat is that she knows she can scrub up fairly well. In the first issue, we see her meeting her new landlady, then dressing up for a tutorial, and then getting changed for a club with people she’s just met. So she is making an effort in every scene.

In volumes 2 and 3 of the longer Cat story (we are currently on volume 1, and each volume will have 5 episodes) Cat’s body type changes quite dramatically. So she isn’t always going to have that build. We also see alternate-world versions of Cat who are a different ethnicity, size and gender.

I hope it isn’t simplifying things to say that the way Cat is different from Batwoman, Storm, Jenny Sparks and Elasti-Girl is the way that Flash is different from Wolverine, who is different from Batman, who is different from Lobo. They are very different female characters, and I think we should have different female characters in superhero comics.

Most obviously, Cat does not have any special powers apart from her intelligence. And I don’t mean that in the way that Batman doesn’t have special powers. Batman is a billionaire, an Olympic-level athlete, one of the best martial artists in the world, a scientist, an great detective and the boss of an international paramilitary organisation. Cat is a student. She doesn’t have a costume, she isn’t particularly athletic, she doesn’t have any real financial resources. She is just very, very smart and very good at making connections and seeing how things fit together.

Personally I find Cat a more interesting character Rita ‘Elasti-Girl’ Farr, but I’m not claiming she is an objectively better character, any more than Wolverine is objectively better than Flash as a character. We deserve both, and we should have a range to choose from.

There are a lot of women fans of existing superhero comics out there, and a huge swell of support for projects like this and, say, Greg Rucka’s works. Do you think it is fair to say that it is easier for a male writer to push more diverse women characters within the industry?

Brooker: Based on the support we have received so far, I would tend to say yes, maybe it is. I had no idea how the project was going to be received. I was astounded and delighted when we had our first rave reviews. There have been some sniping comments, but overall the reaction has been amazingly positive.

When I contrast that to the reaction that Anita Sarkeesian got to her Kickstarter campaign about sexist tropes in videogames — and there are many, many examples of similar misogynistic responses to female-run, feminist projects — I think we have had a very easy ride, and I think it’s a fair guess that my perceived gender could be part of that reason.

I do think that there’s a tendency for people to feel grateful and relieved when a man says or does anything remotely feminist — or even when he says or does something which is half-decent and not misogynist — and that’s not how it should be, but I suspect that might be the case with us and it might have helped us out.

I’m not entirely comfortable with that situation, because obviously I am unhappy that female-fronted projects are so often subject to hostility, but I think to an extent we used it as a strategy — putting me forward as the front-person — and if it’s a means to an end and it enables us to achieve positive results, then I can live with it for now.

Having said that, the works of Gail Simone, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Anne Nocenti, Amanda Conner, and Marjorie Liu (to name but a few) have all worked within the superhero framework to give us fabulous women characters – this project is perhaps meant as no reflection on their work? (ie, not here comes a man to save the day!!)

Brooker: I would much rather people saw it as ‘here comes a fan’, or ‘here comes a writer, a person with good intentions’, than ‘here comes a man to save the day’; that’s how it’s meant. That there are already very good creators of female characters within the superhero genre doesn’t mean there isn’t room for other people to try, and to do something different.

I don’t think we see Scott Snyder’s Batman as a criticism, inherently, of Grant Morrison’s Batman, just because it came afterwards and took a different approach. There are fewer fabulous female characters in superhero comics, but it would be a real shame if a new one was taken as a criticism of its predecessors, rather than a tribute.

To pick up on just a couple of your examples, Gail Simone’s work with Oracle on Birds of Prey is one of the very few representations of Barbara Gordon I like and admire, since the character’s inception 45 years ago. And Amanda Conner’s art on Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre was the absolute highlight of that series, for me.

However, I do feel that these very talented and dedicated female creators are sometimes limited by the editorial system they’re working within. Gail Simone was entirely committed to making the New 52 Batgirl as good as it could be, but my understanding is that the miracle-recovery reboot was imposed on her and that she was then fired from the job by email (and re-hired, but still). Amanda Conner’s art is lovely, but it is a small part of the broader Before Watchmen franchise, which overall includes a lot of very stale representations of women and some outright misogyny in the Nite Owl series.

When you write a superhero story in 2013, even if you are trying to subvert or challenge some of the conventions, you are standing on the shoulders of giants — and yes, I think we are indebted to the work of female creators and their achievements.

The team of artists on the book is made up entirely of women, was that a deliberate effort or are they simply the best people for the jobs? (I’m foreseeing “tokenism” comments!)

Brooker: There are a lot of people on the art team, if you include everyone who contributed character designs and sketches. At least two of them — Carl Hoare and Clay Rodery — are men. Clay’s depiction of Cat is in many ways more ‘realistic’ and less stylised or idealised than Jen Vaiano’s, so to an extent the representation comes down to individual style, rather than gender.

Clay was on the core art team but had to pull out because of other commitments, so Sarah stepped in on the colours. At the start of this project, some fifteen months ago, I would have said it was more likely that a female artist would understand what I wanted to do in terms of the representation of women within MSCSI, but I don’t know if that’s definitely the case. I still suspect it is probably more likely that a woman would ‘get it’ more quickly.

One of my own issues with the portrayal of women in superhero comics is that criticism often focuses on shaming the women characters that do exist rather than seeking to expand the range of women to encompass all personalities, body shapes, and clothing choices (and sex lives, etc etc). Is this something you’ve been aware of with this project?

Brooker: It wasn’t really a conscious intention on my part, but I think it has worked out that way. Kyla Flyte, for instance, is a blonde, slim, young, white celebrity — I think of her as a cross between Britney Spears and Supergirl. But she is not shamed or criticised within MSCSI, even though she fits the dominant stereotypical mould more than any other female character in the story. In future episodes, we see sides to her personality that contradict expectations and show that she’s as complex and intelligent as anyone else. She wears spangly corsets and has perfect make-up, but that’s because of her profession as a singer, not the extent of her personality.

I think it’s more pertinent and valuable to explore and criticise — and to shame, if necessary — the societal structures that make a woman feel she should dress in certain outfits and be a certain shape and size, rather than to criticise the women who fit that type.

However, again, this wasn’t a deliberate effort; it was more a result of trying to write interesting characters.

The feelings of marginalisation amongst some women readers also intersect with a lack of racial and LGBT representation – is that something the project aims to tackle as well?

Brooker: Not consciously, again; that is, it wasn’t on a tick-list of stuff to include. It emerged organically from what I wanted to do with the characters, and the way they developed in relation to each other.

It would be tokenistic — and not, I think, the right way to approach it — if we’d said we need to include characters from a set of minority groups. My experience of it is that the characters’ ethnicity, cultural background, sexuality and gender orientation just evolved and seemed to make sense. But yes, without making it sound like there’s a tick-list, Connie is African American, Enrique is Latino, and there are characters on the G, B and T spectrums. The one thing that I now realise is missing are any lesbian characters, but as there’s such an established trope of Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy, or Selina Kyle and Batgirl, wrestling and stripping for the sake of teenage boy titillation, perhaps that’s territory I unconsciously wanted to avoid.

What other works served as inspiration or a driving force for this project?

From my point of view as writer, I think there are aspects of Catcher in the Rye, Mrs Dalloway and Ulysses in there, in terms of the wandering in the city and the relationship between Cat and her urban environment. Cat is inspired by Clare Danes in My So-Called Life, combined with a bit of Molly Ringwald in Pretty in Pink.

One of the biggest influences was early Vertigo, under Karen Berger — Sandman, Shade, Enigma, Doom Patrol — and we’ve tried to capture that scrapbook, collage feel throughout the project, from the cover to the lookbook and mind map.

In many ways, the dynamics of the story are an engagement with the Batman mythos — the perennial relationship between Batman and Joker, and the fact that people like Babs Gordon get caught up and injured in the love-hate games between these two antagonists. Urbanite is a little like Batman, a little like Dredd, a little like RoboCop, a little like Vader.

In terms of look and atmosphere, I wanted MSCSI to evoke the tone of Tim Sale’s work on Superman For All Seasons, Spider-Man Blue and Daredevil Yellow — a nostalgic, gentle sense of coffee-shop conversations, sunsets in the city, snatched moments of beauty and tenderness among the action.

There is always (always!) the argument that the depiction of men in superhero comics is similarly beholden to a sexualised power fantasy. How do you address that argument, and does My So-Called Secret Identity feature male characters too?

Brooker: I’m sure you are familiar with the counter-argument to that common argument — that the depiction of men in comics is a male idealised sexual fantasy of men, and that the depiction of women in comics is a male idealised sexual fantasy of women. It is a non-starter as an argument, another attempt at ‘what about the men’ derailing.

MSCSI has male characters, some of whom are sympathetic and likeable, some of whom are less so (although one of the most surprising aspects of the response has been the fact that some male readers see the Urbanite, the city’s self-appointed lawman, as a glorious hero, and at least one has assumed he was female inside the suit!)

From my own point of view as writer, a key theme of MSCSI is that the characters who change, adapt, and manage to be fluid and flexible, come out of it well. The characters who try to cling to the status quo, and are rigid and stuck in their ways, come out of it less well.

So there are a number of sympathetic male characters in the story. I would say what they have in common is their willingness to change and reflect, to accept it when they’re wrong and to consider other points of view.

Cat is a PhD student – are students the target demographic or is this an all ages book?

Brooker: One of the greatest things about the response so far has been the reports from girls aged around 10 and 11 — or their mothers and aunts — who loved the comic and really connect with Cat. I certainly hoped it would be something that younger women and girls could enjoy, and that might inspire them in some way. It’s amazing that it already seems to have had some positive effect.

As a web-based comic, are there plans for a print release in the future? How long-running a title will My So-Called Secret Identity be?

Brooker: We are currently on issue 1 of volume 1; there are five issues in each volume, and three volumes planned. Then we could go back and explore one-shots about supporting characters like Daisy and Dahlia, Kit and Kay — or fill in some of the historical backstory (by that point, too, we will have visited Cat’s ‘future’, which is 2013, so we could return there).

We are aiming for a print release of volume 1 once it’s finished its first run online, but we’re still pretty busy just working on issue 2 right now.

I believe some of the profits are going to charity?

Brooker: Currently, we are donating $100 of the first $1300 to the women’s outreach charity A Way Out http://www.awayout.co.uk/ and raising the total to $1400 to issue two, so we can donate more.

I have a few other charities and feminist organisations in mind that I’d like to donate to if and when we become more successful.

Technically, the project is not for profit: Sarah, Suze and Lindsay, our web designer, are taking a pretty minimal payment for their work, and I’m taking nothing from it financially.

And once again, you can read the entire first issue here: www.mysocalledsecretidentity.com

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Anyone who has ever worked with Fernando Ruiz or benefitted from his teaching skills knows what a seriously impressive contributor he is to the future of comics. From his personal work as writer and artist on ARCHIE comics and a range of other freelancing projects to the intense mileage he puts in as an instructor at The Kubert School training young artists, Ruiz is all about comics. His own passion for the medium bleeds through every aspect of his life and erupts into casual conversation, whether he’s flipping through large format reproductions of the art of Wally Wood or he’s reflecting on the life of one of his personal heroes, the much-missed Joe Kubert whose presence is still felt daily at the school he founded.

[Fernando Ruiz in front of some of his ARCHIE work at the Kubert School]

I had the good fortune to make Ruiz’s acquaintance when I enrolled in some evening classes at the Kubert School and got to witness his virtuosity as a teacher first-hand. From the solid instruction in basic art techniques to student-prodded asides into the vastnesses of comics history, Ruiz displayed his trademark versatility in all aspects of the medium. Delving into his portfolio, particularly, is bound to prompt stunned silence as his sketches vault between styles and genres with a flexibility that seems almost impossible. If it weren’t for his engaging demeanor and unassuming attitude, his students would probably slink away quietly, intimidated by his abilities as an artist. The two sides of his life, private work and public teaching, are clearly driven by an overwhelming commitment to comics, matched only by his work ethic. I knew it wouldn’t be the easiest thing to get Ruiz to talk about his life and work, since he’s a modest person, but thankfully he agreed to field a few questions for us at The Beat.

Hannah Means-Shannon:  I know that you attended the Kubert School and now teach there. What courses do you teach and how long have you been teaching?

Fernando Ruiz: I was invited to teach at the Kubert school in August of 1995. I’d graduated from the school a year earlier in 1994. I started by teaching the school’s Saturday Morning Sketch class, which is largely teaching cartooning to little kids. In 1996, I joined the full time faculty teaching during the week. Over the years, I’ve taught many different classes including Story Adaptation, Design, and Human Figure Drawing. Currently, I’m teaching Narrative Art to all of the First Year students and Basic Drawing to the Second Year students. In addition, I’m also teaching the school’s evening Basic Drawing class and after all these years, I’m still teaching that same Saturday morning class.

HM-S: What do you think are the most essential qualities for someone teaching aspiring comics artists?

FR: Obviously a certain amount of proficiency and knowledge in the area you are teaching is required. Beyond that, a teacher needs patience, flexibility and imagination in order to deal with the particular situation each student might present. Communication skills are also important. It’s not enough to be able to do what you are teaching. You have to be able to clearly explain what you are doing and verbalize it in such a way that your explanation is understandable to a beginner.

HM-S: What’s the most challenging thing about teaching aspiring comics artists?

FR: Each student is an individual and can represent a unique situation.  It can be a challenge to gauge a class’ proficiency and tailor my curriculum to my students’ needs.

HM-S:  What projects are you working on as an artist currently? What projects are you most excited about right now?

FR: Currently, I am penciling the LIFE WITH ARCHIE magazine for Archie Comics. This is a fun project in which Archie and his friends are adults and Archie is married to Veronica. The stories are serialized in a soap opera-like style and written on a more sophisticated level than your average ARCHIE story with more mature themes and sometimes very shocking twists. In recent issues, we’ve seen Archie’s gay friend, Kevin Keller, get married, his partner get shot, and Archie and Veronica very nearly get divorced! It’s a very crazy ride.

Recently, I took over as regular penciler for the U.S. Army’s PS Magazine. This is a magazine that has been worked on by Will Eisner, Murphy Anderson, and Joe Kubert. I’m very honored to follow them with this assignment.

In addition, I’m currently penciling a story for Image Comics’ HOAX HUNTERS. This is a short back-up story that will appear in their next trade paperback. It’s a different type of story than I usually work on so it’s a lot of fun and exciting.

[Ruiz draws The Avengers]

HM-S: How did you decide to become an artist? What influenced you to attend the Kubert School?

FR: I’ve always enjoyed drawing, comic books, and cartoons. I read comics from a very early age and almost immediately made my own with crayons and notebook paper! As I grew older, I knew I wanted to try for a career in comics but I wasn’t sure how practical or feasible that was. I attended Caldwell College in Caldwell, NJ where I became a Fine Arts major. After graduating, though, I was still attracted to the world of comics. I really wanted to give it a shot. I learned a lot about the fundamentals of art at Caldwell, but I didn’t feel I knew enough about the technical aspect of producing commercial art suitable for reproduction. This led me to enroll at the Kubert School, the best learning institution around for comic book art.

[Ruiz draws The Ultimates]

HM-S: What comics have you found inspirational in your work? What creators have influenced you the most?

FR: You can’t be an artist for Archie Comics without studying the work of all the great artists who came before you. I looked at guys whose work I enjoyed as a kid. Even before I cared to look for their names in the credits, I was studying and copying the art of guys like Dan DeCarlo, Samm Schwartz, and Harry Lucey. When I first started at Archie Comics, I was very fortunate to live close enough to their offices that I could deliver my work in person. Victor Gorelick, Archie’s Editor-In-Chief and the guy who hired me right out of the Kubert School, would ask Dan DeCarlo to sit with me and go over my pages, and give me pointers on how I could improve. Dan was a kind, generous guy and I can’t state enough what a helpful experience that was.

I also learned a lot from other guys who’s work I was reading and copying from as a kid. Among these guys were Steve Ditko, George Perez, Alan Davis, Kurt Schaffenberger, and the great Curt Swan, whose Superman remains my favorite comic book character.

[Ruiz draws Nova]

HM-S: What motivates you to commit your life to so many aspects of comics creation?

FR: I love comics. They’re the perfect storytelling fusion of writing and art. I’ve enjoyed comics ever since I was a kid and nothing makes me happier than being able to make a living creating them. I not only get to draw comics all day but I also get to spread my passion for the medium in my classes.

[Ruiz's work on EPICS]

HM-S: Are there any upcoming projects you want to spread the word about?

FR: In addition to my work on LIFE WITH ARCHIE and PS Magazine, I’m working on a self-published project called EPICS. This is an anthology comic I started with three of my fellow instructors at the Kubert School: Anthony Marques, Bob Hardin, and Fabio Redivo. We each wrote and illustrated our own original six-page story. The first issue was published in September 2012 and we will be publishing our second issue later this year. Working on a completely original story like this where it’s my own creation and I’m handling both the writing and the art makes it extremely satisfying and personal for me. I’m having a great time working on it. We got a lot of praise and attention for our first issue and we can’t wait to put out our second!

[Ruiz's work on EPICS]

HM-S: Where can comics fans find your work?

FR: Folks can check out my work at my website.

[Ruiz's work on EPICS]

HM-S:  How can readers find out more about your classes?

FR: Visit the Kubert School’s website to keep up with upcoming courses and events!

HM-S: Do you have any advice for new artists who wants to work professionally in comics?

FR: Be versatile. Learn how to draw everything in every possible way. Don’t just learn how to draw Batman because you’re a Batman fan. If those very few Batman jobs out there are taken, you’re going to have to know how to draw something else. The more you can draw, the more employable you become!

HM-S: Ruiz is a tough act to follow, but he inspires his students to approach comics with respect and a certain amount of grit when it comes to pursuing personal success. He’s an asset of the highest caliber in the classroom, and I wasn’t surprised to learn, asking around, how many comics artists I know who have studied with him and gone on to influence the direction of comics. We wish the best of luck to him on his upcoming projects, hopefully showing off that range of style that makes such an impression on students. If you happen to see him at The Kubert School open house coming up on April 20th, feel free to embarrass him by praising his work and contribution to teaching!

Hannah Means-Shannon writes and blogs about comics for TRIP CITY and Sequart.org and is currently working on books about Neil Gaiman and Alan Moore for Sequart. She is @hannahmenzies on Twitter and hannahmenziesblog on WordPress.

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One of the ways many people stumbled onto their first comic was through the promotional comics that used to come bundled in with action figures. You know the ones – you buy a He-Man figure, and in the box comes a comic which shows him in action, fighting against all the other characters who coincidentally also have action figures available too.

Well, if you do remember those comics, then here’s a kickstarter for you – Michael Moreci, Steve Seeley, and Tim Seeley’s MINI COMICS INCLUDED.

Mini Comics Included will be a set of six mini-comics, which replicate the sort of comics which used to come packaged in with action figures and board games. Each drawn by a different artist, with Moreci and the Seeleys writing all six issues. And if you pledge towards the project, you can get your hands not just on the comics – but also on action figures which have been custom made to go along with the comics.

I spoke to Michael Moreci about the project, and how it came into existence.

Steve:  Mini Comics Included are based on the comics that used to be enclosed in the box whenever you bought toys like He-Man action figures, or Transformers. What are your memories from those mini-comics?

Michael: I have such amazing memories of Christmas morning, unwrapping presents with my older brother and revealing glorious He-Man action figures. We were into other stuff as well—I was especially a fan of the Super Powers figures—but He-Man was the alpha and omega of my childhood. Rick, my brother, and I would play with these figures all day long, making up stories, designing our own cartoon ideas, and acting them out. We’d cut up comics and paste new panels together that made little sense, but the stories were ours.

As a matter of fact, I really think that’s the beginnings of my love of storytelling in general, the ability—and encouragement from my parents—to make stuff up on my own. To wonder, to imagine. I read so many comics—mainly the minis that accompanied He-Man figures—and watched so many cartoons that the structure of stories got ingrained in me at a young age.

Specifically, with the comics, I was always hooked by the curiosity “what’s next?!” factor. Because, let’s face it, a lot of those comics were simply rad catalogues. Their whole purpose was to show off the next villain or weapon or whatever. Like, He-Man would suddenly bust out this underwater gear and, as an adult I’m like “where the hell did that come from? Dude’s  wearing a loincloth and nothing else…” But as a kid, my mind was immediately set to “must have!” mode. Luckily, my mom worked at a toy store, so I had a hook up.

The comics were cool because, yeah, they were sometimes promo pieces, but they were also simple stories. They were just cool stories that enhanced the experience of being a He-Man fan, or a comic fan.

Steve: Why recreate that style of comic, in particular?

Michael: A lot of the discussions the three of us have regarding comics—and a lot of people have about comics—is the lack of fun, just pure, raw, fun. Guys like Kirby, Mantlo, Toth, you name it, were all exceedingly enthusiastic and had these wild imaginations. And that doesn’t exist all that much anymore. We’re too serious of an industry, like we won’t be regarded enough if we allowed our work to do all those wonderful things comics are capable of doing.

Getting back on point – Steve, Tim , and I have all had this itch to do something that harkens back to this particular comic/cartoon/toy era that we love so much and influenced us so heavily. And we wanted to do it right—nothing watered down, nothing compromised. We want to take readers back to a time when comics were something to enjoy, pure and simple. You read them because you were like “oh my God, who is this new character?! Is he good? Bad? What does this mean?!” But, again, so much of comics, right now, is set in its ways. Stories have to be told in a certain way, for a certain audience, in a certain format. We’re breaking all those rules because, one, we want to do something fun and original and totally unique; and two, we absolutely know people want this. These are the comics we love, but they’re also the comics people want.

Steve: You’ve worked with Steve Seeley frequently, with the current Hoax Hunters series at Image being one of the most high profile works. How did you all come together on this project in particular, and realise it was something you wanted to try and make a reality?

Michael: Steve and I, and Tim, share a similar affinity for this era of nerd culture, that late 70s early 80s cartoon, comic, toy, etc.  I mean, we’re three 30s-ish geeks, how could we not?

It’s not just that, though. We’re also creators who like to think outside the box, creatively and professionally. And doing a Kickstarter has been on our minds for awhile, but we wanted to do it right. Meaning, we wanted their to be a reason we were doing a Kickstarter, not just some cash grab to make good on our names. That’s lame.

So, one night we were drinking—as we are wont to do—and kicking around ideas. We had something there, like we were scratching the surface. We knew we wanted it to be inspired by those comics and toys we loved, but that wasn’t quite enough. It still didn’t have that “okay, but why?” factor. And Tim hit it: Mini comics. Everything took off from there, making them a certain size, getting the toy designers on board, even the weird incentives. Because, truly, this isn’t something we could do anywhere else. Not like this. That’s is what makes it a perfect project for Kickstarter—we’re not just giving away art or head sketches or whatever. We’re all in on this the mini comics theme, and the drive is a ton of fun because of that.

Steve: How has the process of working with the Seeleys been? Both on Hoax Hunters, and now with Mini Comics Included.

Michael: Tim and Steve are like brothers to me. We work really well together because we share both common interests and common values. We’re workers, we’re that prototypical Midwestern no-frills get-the-job-done type professionals. We love what we do, but the cornerstone of how we operate is grounded in dedication to the work.

Yet, as similar as we are, we’re also very different. We each bring something different to the table and, out of that, we refine the best possible product. That’s how Hoax Hunters is—Steve and I often have different sensibilities and have to find a middle ground; the process of doing so makes us really understand where we’re coming from on a story level, and the book is better for it.

Steve: So, to the comics in particular – how did you decide which characters to use for these stories? Did you have some of the characters in mind already, or did you create them just for this project?

Michael: For the most part, yes. These were kind of pet projects that we knew, to some degree, would not thrive in the Direct Market system. This was an opportunity for us to cast off those shackles and say, “okay, we’re doing these stories right here, right now.” Steve and I have been chipping away at Prime-8s, and we had done an Omega Family short for Double Feature Comics awhile back. Tim had done a Colt Noble one-shot with Image awhile ago as well. His other two ideas are just exercises in weird and crazy stuff that Tim digs. So, beware.

The main requirement, though, was to align the stories with the spirit of the project. This isn’t one big excuse for a vanity press—some stories didn’t make the cut. We were looking for a specific type of playfulness. For instance, Literary Commandos is a G.I. Joe riff; Prime-8s is kind of He-Man meets Ninja Turtles; Colt Noble has He-Man written all over it. The feel of the book matters. Without that, it doesn’t matter what size it is or what toy you may have purchased; the story, and art, has to function. Speaking of, the artists on these titles are incredible. Paul Tucker, Brent Schoonover, Sean Dove, Clint Hiliniski are all absolutely killing on these books, and we selected them because they’re such perfect, perfect fits.

Steve: How long are each of the issues?

Michael: Sixteen total pages for each comic.

Steve: Are there any characters you’re particularly fond of? I couldn’t help but notice there is a frog cyborg, and I immediately need to know everything about this character, please.

Michael: Ha, well, that’s actually a frog totoro, though easily mistaken as a cyborg. He’s the leader of the hyper-evolutionaries who make havoc for the Omegas. That’s all Paul Tucker—his design sensibility and playfulness are out of this world. Watch that name, he’s going places.

Hmmm… favorites. Well, Dracula Man (from Superbeasts) is one of the most ridiculous things I’ve heard in a while. I love the Prime-8s villains, Dogtastrophe (you know, a play CATastrphe, get it?) and the K-G-Bee. And what’s not to love about a four-armed gorilla named Fourilla? There’s Marksman Twain, that’s a good one. Kikintha Balls…oh, and Daxxis from Omega Family. Love that Woolly Mammoth…thing.

Steve: BUT! Has it been difficult to create characters who can match up to the might of The Street Sharks?

Michael: Where would democracy be without them? And Battletoads?

In terms of raw power, I’d need to wrap up Travis Bickle with Driver with a mutated dinosaur to enter the arena. Those were some badass sharks.

Steve: How tongue in cheek will the comics be? Looking back now, we’re aware that the comics were a way to try and sell more toys to kids – are you going to play with that, at all, or are you playing things straight? Is it tempting to try a more satirical approach with the stories, and wink at the readers?

Michael: We sort of play with the stories. As mentioned above, we’re totally aware that these comics were often promo pieces, and that’s that. But one thing we absolutely did not want to do was get ironic with this. Nobody enjoys nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake. So we had to walk a fine of embracing the  idea too much and making it a sell aware wink at the tradition. I think the balance we have is a good one. We embrace it and honor what we’re working with, but make it our own as well, in a very loving way. Again, we want to recapture that feel of the time, and the best way to do so, we think, is to make it somewhat contemporary but retain the best sensibilities

Steve: How do you see the project moving on, if this Kickstarter is successful? Could we see a second wave in the future?

Michael: Oh boy…that’s like asking a woman who’s crowning if she’s thinking of having another kid. Okay, maybe not QUITE like that, but I’ve already had nightmares about the launch, and I’m writing this before actually doing so. I’m so thrilled about the project, but it’s also going to be a massive undertaking, from start to finish. I would love to do six more titles and make this a thing, and I think Steve and Tim would also. Right now, I’d say I’m hopeful. After all, we still haven’t told the story of the Blasteroids!

Many thanks to Michael for his time. So, one last mention – you can find Mini Comics Included on Kickstarter here. You can also find Michael on Twitter here!

Laurie Boyle Crompton is visiting the virtual offices today to chat about her new release BLAZE.  Please give her a warm welcome!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Blaze?

[Laurie Boyle Crompton] Blaze is a seventeen-year-old comic geek who is sort of stuck in her life driving her younger brother and his friends around in her turd-brown minivan (AKA: The Subatomic Sweatmobile of Doom). She loves drawing comics and is determined to snag her crush but when she does things don’t really go as planned.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Laurie Boyle Crompton] My step-dad has an amazing collection of vintage comics that I had the privilege of reading through as a teen. I became an instant comic geek girl and this was before a lot of the superhero movies came out so there was zero cool factor to my obsession. Besides loving comics in general, I loved the way reading them made me believe in a greater truth. When people weren’t exactly being kind to me it was nice to read about a world where the good guys always come out on top.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Blaze?

[Laurie Boyle Crompton] Talented Kickass Geek

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Blaze’s locker?

[Laurie Boyle Crompton] A notebook that’s not covered in doodles.

A boy band poster.

A vanity mirror.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Laurie Boyle Crompton] Vintage superhero comics were a huge influence in writing this book. It was really a fantastic experience to be reading through all these old issues and seeing the ways that Blaze was inspired by the various characters. It was like I was experiencing the comics through her eyes.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Laurie Boyle Crompton] Time, time, time! I would do it every second of every day if I could, but of course there are basic day-to-day things that need to be taken care of. Thankfully, some of the things I DON’T need in order to write include; clean laundry, home-cooked meals, scrubbed bathrooms and clean floors. When I’m on deadline none of that stuff happens.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Laurie Boyle Crompton] I recently read THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER because I wanted to read it before I saw the movie. I know that if I see a movie the odds go down that I will go back and pick up the book (exceptions abound, including WHIP IT by Shauna Cross which was awesome). I’m so glad I did read PERKS first, although I suspect I would’ve picked up the book afterwards anyway.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Laurie Boyle Crompton] I love to be outdoors. Hiking, biking, cross-country skiing – anything that gets me moving through nature. I’m a movie fanatic and also enjoy going for long rides in our Jeep with the top down. The perfect combination of these two is when we take the Jeep to the drive-in during the summer. *sigh* *thinks longingly of summer*

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Laurie Boyle Crompton] Twitter https://twitter.com/lbcrompton

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/laurie.b.crompton

Website http://lboylecrompton.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13345957-blaze

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

You can purchase Blaze from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the links below:

About the book:

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For a webcomics platform to reach the ripe age of seven years in the daily-changing world of the internet is a remarkable accomplishment, and for it to keep producing  original, fresh, and engaging work even more of a triumph that accounts for its survival. Founded by Emmy award-winning artist and comics creator Dean Haspiel in 2006, ACTIVATEcomix, formerly known as ACT-I-VATE, is a comics collective devised to showcase original work and provide a platform for direct interaction between creators and readers. Many of its featured creators, and the works that have appeared on ACTIVATE, are award-winning, illustrating the benefits of creator-owned collective platforms, and the collective also generated a print volume, THE ACT-I-VATE PRIMER, in 2009. Upon reaching its sixth anniversary, ACTIVATE released a sixth “new wave” of material and member Simon Fraser took on the job of directing its future course.  Several current ACTIVATE members joined me for an interview to ring in its seventh anniversary, including Simon Fraser, long-time member Jim Dougan, and sixth-wave newbies Neil Dvorak, Gideon Kendall, and Cristian Ortiz. Fresh from a celebratory DARE2DRAW event featuring ACTIVATE’s seventh birthday, here’s what these ACTIVATErs have to say about their experiences working with a collective webcomics platform, what they see as the site’s biggest accomplishments, and what the future holds for this one-time experiment, now exemplar, in web publication of creator-owned comics.

Hannah Means-Shannon: What motivated you to publish your work on ACTIVATEcomix?

Simon Fraser: Primarily exposure, but a certain kind of exposure. I think that my work looks better in context with the variety and quality of the other work on ACTIVATEcomix. I like the eclectic world-view of the collective. Part of my initial desire to be a part of ACTIVATEcomix was a desire to avoid being pigeonholed. Frankly I like hanging out with these people, I love their work and I feel that being in a group like this ups my game and keeps me from getting complacent.

[Simon Fraser, photo by Seth Kushner]

Jim Dougan:  It’s always great to find a larger audience and to me ACTIVATE was always the cool place to post webcomics. Not only because there was a lot of really excellent work posted there from creators I liked and respected, but there was also a culture of mutual support and collective spirit.  When I got the invitation from Dean Haspiel and Dan Goldman, I jumped at the chance. They liked the short-form stuff I was doing at The (now defunct) Chemistry Set and challenged me to tackle something longer-form. Luckily I had something in mind, and wanted to work with Hyeondo Park more, and he was ready to do it, too.  “It” was SAM & LILAH, and here we are nearly five years later.

[Jim Dougan]

Neil Dvorak: I met Simon Fraser at MoCCAFest 2012.  He just happened to be sitting next to me doing critiques at the Dare2Draw table.  Finally at the end of his incredible hours-long stint he took a look at my work and invited me to his studio in the coming weeks.  In the meantime I researched ACTIVATEcomix and was immediately drawn in by the breadth and depth of work.

[Neil Dvorak]

Gideon Kendall: I’d seen so much good work on there over the years by artists (too many to mention them all, but special shout-outs to Mike Cavallaro and David Klein who I knew in non-comics professional capacities beforehand: Mike and I worked together as animation designers on Codename: Kids Next Door and David and I are both illustrators and we used to live in the same building) that I respect that when I had the idea for WHATZIT, ACTIVATE was the first place I thought of to present it. I also thought that the community and the format would help keep my on track towards completion of the project.

[Self Portrait by Gideon Kendall]

Cristian Ortiz: I had the chance to meet Simon at the Thought Bubble Festival in England last year and he was kind enough to invite me to join ACTIVATE. The idea of having my work among all the experienced and talented ACTIVATE creators is motivation enough to publish my work on the site.

[Cristian Ortiz]

HM-S:  How has creating for ACTIVATEcomix influenced your production style and methods?

SF: Doing the one page a week format has forced me to learn to write episodically, rather like an old movie serial or a newspaper strip. It’s a great discipline and forces you to be really rigorous and unsentimental with your storytelling.

JD:  You’d have to ask Hyeondo Park how it affects him (on SAM & LILAH), but when it comes to writing, it means that I try to have each update of two or three pages be a meaningful story beat or narrative chunk.  So I’m not just writing for the overall scene or story arc, but for something that makes a least a little bit of sense to read in installments, but that hopefully won’t seem weird when read in a collected form.

[SAM&LILAH by Jim Dougan and Hyeondo Park]

ND: Deadlines.  Style and methods?  Who cares…I’m so happy to get comics DONE.

GK: As a first-timer in comics, the whole thing has been a learning process. I have nothing to compare it to, but as far as illustration it’s a refreshing change from the world of print (see my other answers!)

CO: Having to publish pages every week gives me a structure to follow where I have to calculate how many pages I need to create every month to be able to keep a buffer between publishing and production.

[THE GOLDEN CAMPAIGN by Cristian Ortiz]

HM-S: What do you think the benefits are of creating on a web platform? Do you find it intersects more with social media than print format?

SF: I think people are more likely to casually stumble across the work, which is part of my plan. I want to build an audience that’s a little wider than the 2000AD readers, who (despite being collectively a very discerning and attractive bunch of people) are a very niche, localized market.

[FlyGirl art by Simon Fraser]

JD: The benefits are the immediate feedback and the ability to have multiple opportunities to interact and communicate on a regular basis.  That might also be the case with creators who are on monthly books, but that’s not usually the case for indie creators, so this is what we’ve got.

ND: The benefits for me are entirely logistical.  I.E. moving panels or characters, the undo button, and some subtle computer fx (ie motion blur or glow) make the work flow in a different way than on paper.  Not better, just different.  Yes, creating on the web makes for a smoother transition to social media.  There are less formatting steps to deal with.

[EASY PIECES by Neil Dvorak]

GK: Again, this is my first real foray into comics so I don’t have much to compare it to, but the social media aspect has been very helpful as far as spreading the word and getting feedback. Being able to click on a link and see the work is much more immediate than having to remember the title when you’re in a comics shop. The downside obviously is that no one is paying you for your work, but hey what else is new?

[WHATZIT by Gideon Kendall]

CO: The benefits of online comics to me is that are easily accessible to many sorts of readers all over the web that print format can’t reach, also making it easier to share and spread, making the amount of exposure increase to a different level.

HM-S: What impact does it have on you as a creator to be part of a collective?

SF: It helps me immensely, both in getting the work done and in keeping me honest. I know I’ll get called on anything I post that is sub-par. Also knowing that people are expecting me to do the work is a huge motivator.  I have the advantage that I do tend to interact with everyone on the collective as I am kind of in the middle of it. I’d like to make more situations where we can all get to hang out together more often. It’s difficult when we all have such busy lives and are so geographically dispersed.

JD:  I enjoy the shared sense of purpose and camaraderie that comes from being a part of ACTIVATE. Even if I don’t have much in common with other ACTIVATErs, we have ACTIVATE in common.  That support really helps considering comics is something that’s done in isolation.

ND: It’s nice to have some pressure to keep the work up to snuff and get it done on time.  There are so many amazing creators on that site who are turning out world-class comics every week.

[EASY PIECES by Neil Dvorak]

GK: It gives me a sense of pride. As a newcomer to comics it’s amazing to instantly feel like a “real” comic artist. It also is great motivation to keep getting the work done. If I was on my own, it would be a lot easier to lose the focus and the ambition that it takes to see a story through. Plus, there’s not wanting to be embarrassed in the company of such accomplished pros.

CO: It gives you a sense of belonging and makes you feel like you are part of a big family who are passionate about making comics. I want to keep on improving my craft and the quality of my work to do my part for the collective.

[THE GOLDEN CAMPAIGN by Cristian Ortiz and Daniel Martin]

HM-S:  Does it make a difference to you to know that readers can access your comics so soon after production? Have readers played any part in shaping the direction of your work?

SF: Absolutely. I’ve made the analogy to live Jazz many times. You can feel the response to the storyline and working with that expectation, or against it, can be very exciting.

JD:  It absolutely makes a difference, and I always look forward to reading comments from our readers.  We have a couple of SAM & LILAH readers in particular who pay attention so closely that they keep me on my toes as to what’s going on and being communicated, and they like to speculate as to what will happen next, so I’m mindful of that going forward. I’m not sure they’ve influenced the direction of the story specifically, but certainly knowing someone out there is following it so closely makes you want to do your best to be very clear in your intent. Or be very -unclear- if that’s your intent.

ND: My stuff has always been web-based first.  So that immediacy isn’t novel for me.  The fact that a couple people have come out of the woodwork to email me to tell me my work helped them through a tough time really threw me for a loop.  It’s an interesting thing to continue creating when you know your work might be therapeutic for someone out there; it always is for me, but you don’t expect that.  Now that seed is in my head as I create, and it makes me want to be as honest a creator as I can be.

GK: As someone who primarily does illustration for print, where it can be months or even a year before the work is published, its really exciting to get it out there and get feedback right away. The encouraging comments definitely help me find the energy to keep going and I also had at least one instance where a critical comment led me to refine and improve a certain aspect of the story.

CO: It’s great when you publish pages and you can get instant feedback from readers making you feel inspired to carry on working on more pages and volumes. There are parts of my work that have developed and adapted to improve issues in narrative mentioned by readers and fellow creators alike.

HM-S: What projects have you produced on ACTIVATEcomix and what projects are you currently working on?

SF: My main body of work has been LILLY MACKENZIE & THE MINES OF CHARYBDIS and there are a couple of shorter pieces too. Right now I’m gearing up to start working on the sequel to LILLY, though I keep hitting problems. That can be a benefit though as I’ve had a long time to work and rework the storyline and I think it has improved immeasurably. I should be back onto this very soon (as I’ve been saying for several months now).

Otherwise I’m doing several pitches for some very diverse projects. Some very much in line with what I’ve done before (one with my NIKOLAI DANTE collaborator Robbie Morrison) and some that are radically different. Also I’ve got a sci-fi tale that’s been written by Alex DeCampi and will be published through Dark Horse that I really need to get back to.

[LILLY MACKENZIE by Simon Fraser]

JD:  SAM & LILAH has been, is, and will be my project at ACTIVATE for the foreseeable future.  I’ve posted comics created elsewhere on the site, but the only comic I’ve done specifically for ACTIVATE is S&L, and it’s likely to remain that way for a while.

ND: EASY PIECES.  EASY PIECES.

GK: As of right now (and for the foreseeable future, because it’s so freaking’ huge) my only ACTIVATE project is WHATZIT. I do a lot of illustration work and animation design, so one epic, unwieldy, and self-indulgent graphic novel is all my sanity can maintain.

CO: I’m currently publishing GOLDEN CAMPAIGN Volume 1. I’m also working on Volume 2 at the same time to be able to publish it right after. I want to publish some small stories at some point but I think my main priority at the moment is GOLDEN CAMPAIGN.

[THE GOLDEN CAMPAIGN by Cristian Ortiz and Daniel Martin]

HM-S: So, Simon and Jim, how does ACTIVATEcomix handle submissions? Can creators approach ACTIVATEcomix about joining the collective?

SF: They can send their proposal to me ( public@simonfraser.net ). If I like it then you’re in. We used to have a very democratic procedure for admissions, but it caused some problems so for the moment we’re a benevolent dictatorship. That could change, but nobody has gotten angry with me … yet.

JD:  Basically, people reach out to Simon. (Sorry Si!) Unless it’s a no-brainer (like an Igor Kordey or David Klein or Ellen Lindner) he’ll send around the submission to a few of us to discuss and vote “yea” or “nay”.  We are always looking for unique and compelling points of view and the comix stories that arise from them.

[SAM&LILAH by Jim Dougan and Hyeondo Park]

HM-S:  What do you think ACTIVATEcomix’s biggest accomplishments are?

SF: I think we’re one of the longest lived webcomics collectives, certainly one of the biggest in terms of membership (over 50 this year) and quantity of work (nearly 100 strips). We’ve managed to maintain a really high level of quality too, not just as a webcomics group, but I think we can stand tall even among serious publishing houses.

We have published a book too, The ACT-I-VATE Primer is a beautiful thing. I’ve got a lot of books in print through 2000AD and others things, but I think I’m most proud of that one.

JD:  First of all, surviving at all.  While many other webcomics have been around as long if not longer than we have, not many webcomic –collectives- have been.  I know this from experience, considering that The Chemistry Set (of which I was a co-founder) doesn’t exist anymore, not even as an online archive.  But more importantly – and part and parcel of the survival – is providing an ongoing platform for personal work.  If you look at the archive on the site (http://activatecomix.com/comix), there is a –staggering- amount of great comics there, from some very prestigious folks.  Some of it has led to greater exposure or work or publishing deals for the creator(s), but even when it hasn’t that extensive, unorthodox, diverse, and ambitious body of work is under the ACTIVATE umbrella something to be proud of.

HM-S: What’s up and coming for ACTIVATEcomix at 7 years?

SF: Well the most pressing concern is the branding discussions we’ve been having for the past 8 months or so. That is leading on to a website rebuild, in the nearer future. We’re determined to take the time we need to get it right. I’d very much like to put ACTIVATEcomix in a position where it can expand and thrive for another 7 years.

JD:  More great comics!  For free! Simon is probably better positioned to discuss what’s in the pipeline, but the fact that we’ve got new LILY MACKENZIE coming is something to look forward to from my point of view, not to mention the return of Pedro Camargo, David Klein, and Ryan Roman to the ACTIVATE fold.  Add to that Ellen Lindner coming aboard with her new book THE BLACK FEATHER FALLS, and newcomers like Cristian Ortiz’s THE GOLDEN CAMPAIGN and Neil Dvorak’s EASY PIECES…there is literally more good stuff happening than I can keep up with.  And that doesn’t even include Igor Kordey and Darko Macan’s THE TEXAS KID, MY BRO, which is like my favorite comic right now.  There is as much – if not more – good stuff happening, more good comics being posted on a regular basis right now than there has been at any time in ACTIVATE’s seven-year history.  And that’s a very exciting thing! So give us a look – there’ something for everyone.

HM-S: Hearing from these ACTIVATE members has reminded me again of the working paradox that seems to exist at the heart of this collective project, a paradox between the depth of personal experiences that creators bring to the platform which renders their works so distinctive, and the respect for the medium that creates a single entity out of so many perspectives. Looking back at seven years of ACTIVATE, it’s a vast and varied panorama, and we certainly hope that as ACTIVATE grows and changes, it continues to be a touch-stone for what collective comics projects can accomplish. Thanks very much to Simon, Joe, Neil, Gideon, and Cristian, for sharing their thoughts with The Beat!

Hannah Means-Shannon writes and blogs about comics for TRIP CITY and Sequart.org and is currently working on books about Neil Gaiman and Alan Moore for Sequart. She is @hannahmenzies on Twitter and hannahmenziesblog on WordPress.

Amanda Renee dropped by the virtual offices to chat about her debut novel, Betting on Texas.  Please give her a warm welcome.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Amanda Renee] Risk taking, no holds barred author who believes dreams really do come true if you work hard for them! No regrets, no apologies. Just do it!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Betting on Texas?

[Amanda Renee] Miranda Archer buys the Double Trouble Ranch sight unseen at the urging of her best friend and unwilling upends Jesse Langtry and his plans for the ranch.  Believing he can chase the city girl back where she came from, he bets she won’t make it one month working on the ranch like everyone else.  If she wins, he goes away quietly, if he wins, she sells him the ranch.  It’s a 30 day battle of wits and determination.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Amanda Renee] Miranda and Jesse live in my dream town.  The characters throughout Betting on Texas are the people I would want for neighbors, but that’s not to say there aren’t a few bad eggs in the bunch.  Life in Ramblewood, Texas is far from perfect. I love the down home atmosphere of ranch life.  It’s hard work, but at the end of the day, you have something tangible to show for it.  Jesse and Miranda never fear the unknown.  Nothing is ever impossible to them and that’s my favorite quality in a person.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Miranda?

[Amanda Renee] Determined, Spunky, Competitive

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Jesse had a theme song, what would it be?

[Amanda Renee] All We Ever Find by Tim McGraw – sums up his feelings for Miranda perfectly.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Miranda is never without.

[Amanda Renee] Her determination! It’s all she needs to get through life.  She never considers giving up on anything, regardless of what it is. 

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Jesse’s bedroom?

[Amanda Renee] Sex Toys (he’s good to go on his own), frou-frou (he keeps things simple), television (if you’re in his bedroom, you’re there for a reason and it isn’t to watch I Love Lucy reruns)

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Miranda’s greatest regret?

[Amanda Renee] Her relationship with her deceased alcoholic mother.  Miranda always wonders if she could have done more to save her from herself.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Amanda Renee] Edward Lear – For his whimsical style of writing and brilliant artistry

Sandra Brown – I aspire to one day reach her level of greatness

Antonio Vivaldi – His compositions inspire greatness

Jonathan Firth – For the emotional depth of every character he portrays

Dave Sabo of Skid Row – His musical creativity blows me away every time

My Grandpa Joe – There was nothing he wasn’t willing to try

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Amanda Renee] Quiet (I’m easily distracted), my netbook (all 1st drafts are written on my netbook so I can easily take it anywhere and the battery lasts the entire day), my dog

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Amanda Renee] Triggerfish Twist by Tim Dorsey – I howled all the way through it!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Amanda Renee] Wow!  I’ve read since I was 3 years old. I come from a family of bookworms.  Dr Seuss started it all – Green Eggs and Ham!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Amanda Renee] I hate to sound cliché but long walks on the beach with my dog, motoring in my Mini Cooper, spending time with family & friends, anything on the water and anytime I can work with animals, I’m happy!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Amanda Renee] My website: www.amandarenee.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/TheAmandaRenee

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AmandaReneeFanPage

Snail Mail: Amanda Renee, PO Box 3251, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582

Thank you!  It’s been a pleasure speaking with you!

[Manga Maniac Café] Thank you!

You can purchase Betting on Texas from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the links below.

About the book:

About the Author:

Born and raised in the northeast, Amanda Renee currently resides on the Intracoastal Waterway in sunny South Carolina. She was discovered through Harlequin’s So You Think You Can Write contest and began writing for the American Romance line. When not creating stories about love, laughter and things that go bump in the night, she enjoys the company of her Schnoodle named Duffy, traveling, photography, playing guitar and anything involving horses. You can visit her at www.amandarenee.com.

Add Amanda’s books to your shopping list!

BETTING ON TEXAS – March 2013

HOME SWEET COWBOY – August 2013

LEGACY OF A LONE STAR – Early 2014

Please welcome Victoria Vane to the virtual offices today!  Victoria is here to talk about her historical romance Treacherous Temptations, and after the interview, you can enter for a chance to win a Treacherous Temptations prize pack, courtesy of Entangled Publishing!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Victoria Vane] Obsessive compulsive writer, insomniac, horse lover, romantic, Georgian junkie

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Treacherous Temptations?

[Victoria Vane] Treacherous Temptations is a dark and somewhat erotic Georgian romance with strong elements of intrigue. (Think Dangerous Liaisons with Jacobite intrigue and South Sea scandal.) It is also, in essence, my personal homage to the classic novels of the 18th century in which virtue vs. vice and the seduction of a virgin were predominate themes.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Victoria Vane] As noted above, it was largely inspired by the book/film Dangerous Liaisons which can be seen in the primary characters of Hadley and Barbara who are closely modeled after Valmont and the Marquise de Meurteil. The innocent Mary is actually modeled after a real historical character by the same name who was also one of the great heiresses of her time.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Mary?

[Victoria Vane] Innocent and unworldly but sensible.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Hadley had a theme song, what would it be?

[Victoria Vane] HA! I LOVE this question! I am tied between two songs:

George Thorogood’s Bad to the Bone:

I broke a thousand hearts
Before I met you
I’ll break a thousand more, baby
Before I am through
I wanna be yours pretty baby
Yours and yours alone
I’m here to tell ya honey
That I’m bad to the bone

or Greg Allman’s I’m no Angel:

So you find me hard to handle … well …I’m easier to hold
So you like my spurs that jingle
And I never leave you cold
So I might steal your diamonds … I’ll … bring you back some gold
I’m no angel

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Mary is never without.

[Victoria Vane] Her common sense, although Hadley surely threatens it at times.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Hadley’s bedroom?

[Victoria Vane]  Hard to say. I don’t think anything is off limits to Hadley!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Mary’s greatest regret?

[Victoria Vane] That even though she is incredibly wealthy, she doesn’t have the freedom to live her life as she pleases.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Victoria Vane] History. Almost everything I write has a strong connection to something real that I read. This includes all of my characters.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Victoria Vane] Besides my computer? Music, caffeine, and chocolate

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Victoria Vane] That’s really a tough one! I really don’t get my socks knocked off easily, but for romance, I would have to say that two similar books really stand out in my mind: Flowers From The Storm by Laura Kinsale and The Madness Of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley. These are both excellent books that feature tortured heroes who are misunderstood by all of those around them. I really loved how these authors showed their respective heroes’ inner struggles. A close third on my list would be Firelight by Kristen Callihan which is a Victorian twist on Beauty and the Beast.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Victoria Vane] I have loved to read as long as I remember. I was particularly addicted to fairy tales and hors books when I was in elementary school, but when I was in the fourth grade one of my teachers read Lloyd Alexander’s The Black Cauldron aloud to the class. After that, I devoured the entire series and even read it aloud to my younger siblings. My next favorite book was Anna Sewell’s Black Beauty. I still cry when I read it!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Victoria Vane] I read, walk my dog, ride my horse, and play the Celtic harp.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Victoria Vane] Email: victoria.vane@hotmail.com , Web: http://authorvictoriavane.com,
Blog: http://victoriavane.wordpress.com, Facebook: Author Victoria Vane
Twitter: @authorvictoriav. I am also very active on Goodreads!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!

Ready for your chance to win a Treacherous Temptations prize pack? Just fill out the widget below. Earn extra entries for following.

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Didn’t win? You can order a copy of Treacherous Temptations from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the link below.

About the book:

Kathryn Fitzmaurice is our special guest today.  She’s here to fill us in about her newest release, Destiny, Rewritten.  Please give her a warm welcome!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Kathryn Fitzmaurice] extremely neat, mostly organized, mother of two boys, dog lover.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Destiny, Rewritten?

[Kathryn Fitzmaurice] Here is a review from Shelf Awareness, written by Jennifer Brown. I think it does a terrific job of summarizing the story!

From Shelf Awareness, (Jan 2013)

Children’s Review: Destiny, Rewritten

Destiny, Rewritten by Kathryn Fitzmaurice (Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins, $16.99 hardcover, 352p., ages 9-12, 9780061625015, February 19, 2013)

Kathryn Fitzmaurice (The Year the Swallows Came Early) creates another memorable 11-year-old grappling with her identity and her passions.

Emily Elizabeth Davis lives with her mother, aunt and cousin in the heart of Berkeley, Calif., where everybody knows everybody. Her mother named her for Emily Dickinson, but Emily prefers romance novels to poetry. She’s read almost half of Danielle Steel’s books, and copies down the happy endings of each of them.

Fitzmaurice portrays a strong bond between mother and daughter, and chronicles the tension that develops between them over her mother’s aspirations for Emily versus Emily’s own interests, and Emily’s growing resentment of her mother’s caginess about the identity of Emily’s father. The woman inscribes a first edition of The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson to Emily: "Emily Dickinson is one of the great poets. The same will be said of you one day." Rather than keeping a photo album for Emily, she records each milestone of Emily’s life next to a poem that ties in; "the road map of your life," she calls it. She wrote Emily’s birth weight and height in the margins of "Angels, in the early morning," and recorded the date of her first steps next to "I’ll tell you how the Sun rose." Just after Emily learns that her mother wrote her father’s name in the margins of the Dickinson poetry book, the heroine inadvertently places it on top of some donation boxes. Suddenly the road map to Emily’s life is gone. For the balance of the novel, she searches the town to find the volume.

Besides confiding in Danielle Steel through letters, Emily also has a best friend, Wavey St. Clair. Wavey is so loyal, she compromises her perfect attendance record to help Emily search for her book. Fitzmaurice possesses a perfect ear for dialogue when it comes to conversations between the sixth graders.

Emily grapples with whether destiny truly does rule her life, or whether, "if you do something every once in a while that’s unexpected,… it might change the way you are." Emily’s search for her book, her internal debate about destiny and the ways in which the heroine makes small changes in her life all come together into a moving climax. Emily comes to realize that sometimes the answer you needed was right there all the time. –Jennifer M. Brown

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Kathryn Fitzmaurice] My grandmother gave me a volume of Emily Dickinson poetry for my twentieth birthday. Inside she wrote, “E.D. is a revered poet. Perhaps one day the same will be said of K.H. Happy Birthday, Love, Gramma Eleanor.” This was the starting point for DESTINY, REWRITTEN. I thought she had predicted my future and then I decided to make this into a story.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Emily?

[Kathryn Fitzmaurice] friend, romance writer

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Emily is never without.

[Kathryn Fitzmaurice] Her notebook filled with happy endings.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Emily’s bedroom?

[Kathryn Fitzmaurice] Well, because Emily tries to change her destiny, she suddenly finds herself inside a messy room, but it really bothers her and she does her best to live with it. But before she became messy, you would have never found a pair of socks thrown on her floor, or things out of order. Everything in her closet was completely organized, even her tennis shoes were in order from lightest to darkest.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Emily had a theme song, what would it be?

[Kathryn Fitzmaurice] This is a very good question. Maybe it would be the song on the book trailer, which is on my website.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Kathryn Fitzmaurice] My grandmother, Eleanor Robinson, who wrote science fiction novels, and any novel written by Gary D. Schmidt and Kate DiCamillo, who are both brilliant authors.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Kathryn Fitzmaurice] My computer, my desk, and a cup of green tea.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Kathryn Fitzmaurice] THE DOG STARS, by Peter Heller. This was an amazing, very well written book that I could not put down.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Kathryn Fitzmaurice] The Little House Books, by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I still have my first edition set.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Kathryn Fitzmaurice] Walk my dog, Holly, to the beach and back. But since dogs are not allowed on the sand, I like to walk on the beach with my friends, barefoot, through the waves.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Kathryn Fitzmaurice] Through my website, there are many ways to connect with me. You may send me an email, or follow me on twitter, or friend me on Facebook.

Thank you very much for interviewing me!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

You can purchase Destiny, Rewritten from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the links below.  Available in print and digital.

About the book:

I'm on Dribbble's blog for one of their "Time Out" interviews. As far as hard-hitting journalism goes, it falls somewhere between being interviewed on "The View" or by a fern.

Growing up in an Italian-American family in Danvers, Massachusetts, Domenica Ruta had a life filled with violence and poverty but also imagination and love. Ruta's mother, Kathi, who "believed it was more important to be an interesting person than it was to be a good one," cycled between welfare and great wealth, helped get her [...]

JM Stewart recently dropped by the virtual offices to discuss her new release Her Knight in Black Leather.  Please give her a warm welcome.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[J.M. Stewart] Writer of contemporary romance, reader, wife, mother, spiritualist, lover of puppies.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Her Knight in Black Leather?

[J.M. Stewart] The story is set in a small (fictional) town on the Oregon Coast. Cat Edwards has spent her life playing the wallflower in an effort to escape the repressive weight of her mother’s tarnished name. Dragged to the local pub by her best friend in an effort to get over a broken heart, she longs to be someone else for the night, but gets in over her head. She’s “rescued” by dark mysterious stranger wearing a black leather jacket and mischievous grin that proves exactly what she needs.

Michael Brant has come home to settle his debts. His first night in town, he’s captured by a damsel in distress with bright green eyes he can’t resist. Cat’s temptation is made all the more alluring when he realizes she has no idea who he is. He can’t resist spending a single night in her arms. With her, he’s only a man, disconnected from his family’s name and the past that haunts him here.

They find freedom in each other, but the next morning, the town erupts with news of Michael’s return. Pictures of them keep ending up in the paper, Cat’s safety is threatened. Michael is desperate to keep history from repeating itself, and offers her his family’s name in order to keep her safe. But the lie spirals out of control as they find themselves caught up in the charade.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[J.M. Stewart] For me, I always say I don’t create my characters. They come to me and they tell me their stories. I just take dictation. I call myself a secretary. That’s about how this story came about. I actually started this story over seven years ago, and the original began as the sequel to my first novel, The Playboy’s Baby. What happens for me is that I sit down and I started to ponder the brother’s book, whose name was Logan. Cat shyly introduced herself.

As I wrote, the story grew beyond the limits of the first book, so I separated the two. I started by changing the hero’s name. It just popped into my head one day, and Michael stepped out and introduced himself. The minute I changed his name, Michael finally came to life for me.

Plot wise, all I knew when I started the book was that they would share a single night. I had help with the plot. Somewhere between critique partners and my agent and a revise and resubmit, the story finally ended up where it is.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Cat?

[J.M. Stewart] wallflower. bookworm. strong.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Michael had a theme song, what would it be?

[J.M. Stewart] Bad to the Bone… No, seriously. This was a tough question. Usually I get one or two songs that represent the story or a character, but I’ve never found one for Michael. Doing a search, though, I found the lyrics to “Unbreakable Heart” by Three Day’s Grace fit for him. Also, “Somewhere I Belong” by Linkin’ Park.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Cat is never without.

[J.M. Stewart] Her keys.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Michael’s bedroom?

[J.M. Stewart] Another hard question. Michael’s a simple guy. It’s a bit easier to say what’s in his room, but for the sake of the question… Anything pink or frilly. Extra pillows—as in throw pillows. A desk and/or other furniture outside of a dresser.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Cat’s greatest regret?

[J.M. Stewart] Letting her fear (of becoming her mother) rule her life.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[J.M. Stewart] Life. And books.  Everything I read, every person I pass or interact with, is all inspiration for me. Inspiration can come from anywhere. Sometimes it’s a song or something I read in passing.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[J.M. Stewart] Oh gosh, I can only think of two that I absolutely need: Coffee and a quiet house. Everything else is negotiable. lol

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[J.M. Stewart] Those Violet Eyes by Vonnie Davis. Her hero, Win Fairchild, is a war veteran, and she had me in tears by the end of the first chapter. He really touched me. I’ve read some great books since, but this one really got to me.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[J.M. Stewart] I couldn’t recall one particular book, but it was those Romana Quinby books. I found one in the school library in I think it was sixth grade and I’ve been hooked since.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[J.M. Stewart] Read. Play games. I’m a sucker for those mind numbing computer games, like Diner Dash. Cause that’s what they do—they numb the mind, so I can shut down for a while.

Also watch TV, and movies. For the same reason.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[J.M. Stewart] Website: http://authorjmstewart.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/JMStewartWriter

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-JM-Stewart/129990420383155

Blog: http://jm-stewart.blogspot.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3159044.J_M_Stewart

Amazon Author Page—http://www.amazon.com/JM-Stewart/e/B004SJPT6O/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/authorjmstewart/

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

Her Knight in Black Leather is out NOW.  You can order it from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the link below.

About the book:

Title: Her Knight in Black Leather

Subtitle: n/a

Author: J.M. Stewart

Editor: Jennifer Lawler

Sensuality Level: Sensual

Author Bio: J.M. writes what she likes to call sweet and spicy contemporary romance. She’s a stay-at-home mom who lives in Seattle Washington, with her husband, two boys, and their two very spoiled puppies. She’s been devouring romances for as long as she can remember. Writing them has become her passion. Find out more about her at http://authorjmstewart.com/

And follow her on:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/JMStewartWriter

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-JM-Stewart/129990420383155

Blog: http://jm-stewart.blogspot.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3159044.J_M_Stewart

Jennifer McQuiston is visiting the virtual offices today to talk about her book What Happens in Scotland.  Please give her a warm welcome!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Jennifer McQuiston] I am a newbie romance author/mom/scientist/veterinarian/wife/critique partner/Girl Scout troop leader. Not necessarily in that order.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about What Happens in Scotland?

[Jennifer McQuiston]   What happens in Scotland is your typical "she woke up married" Vegas story… only based in Scotland. In 1842, no less. Which made it loads of fun to write, and hopefully loads of fun to read.

Lady Georgette Thorold is a widow who survived a disastrous first marriage, and who is determined to enjoy her life now that her self-imposed period of mourning is over. James MacKenzie is a miscreant second son who is starting to build a better life with his own two hands. When the pair wake up in bed together surrounded by the evidence of a night gone wrong, each thinks the worst of the other. The truth is bound to be something unpalatable… especially as the clues start to trickle in. But was it a night worth remembering? Or a mistake they would rather forget?

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Jennifer McQuiston]  I decided to turn the big 4-0 in Vegas, with my husband and some close friends. As I started planning the trip in November of 2011, I was also trying to plot out a new story idea. It occurred to me in a flash of insight that modern-day Vegas was not that different from Regency and early Victorian-era Scotland, at least in terms of quickie weddings. Scotland at the time was the go-to destination for young lovers looking to elope, and more often than not they were married by a blacksmith (yup. I said blacksmith). Preacher dressed like Elvis, anyone? The two life-altering events–birthday and book proposal–merged into an indistinguishable mess in my mind, and the result was What Happens in Scotland.

The main characters spilled out of me from places unknown. I would like to say the yummy bearded hero, James MacKenzie is based on my husband… alas, while yummy, my husband cannot grow a decent beard to save his life.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Georgette?

[Jennifer McQuiston] I’ll describe them in order, as she discovers herself in the book.

Panicked. Resilient. Passionate.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If James had a theme song, what would it be?

[Jennifer McQuiston] Oh, it would definitely be "Viva Las Vegas". And Georgette’s would be Carrie Underwood’s country tune "I Don’t Even Know My Last Name".

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Georgette is never without.

[Jennifer McQuiston] Shoes that would never be described as sensible.

She is always, however, losing her corset.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in James’ pocket?

[Jennifer McQuiston] 1) Enough money

2) Stolen goods

3) Rope (I don’t know why, I just made this one up. But I am guessing he is not into that.)

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Georgette’s greatest regret?

[Jennifer McQuiston] Georgette’s current panic upon discovering she may have gotten hitched during a forgotten night of debauchery is based on the fact that her first marriage (a well-planned affair) was absolutely disastrous, with a philandering, drunkard husband. She regrets having given up so much of herself, and not being the sort of wife she thought she ought to be.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Jennifer McQuiston] I am a scientist by training, so I need all the creative help I can get to avoid spitting out stilted dialogue and backstory that reads like Wikipedia. I love reading excellent authors, and I count Joanna Bourne, Meredith Duran, Cecilia Grant, and Ken Follet among my favorites (that last one is weird, I know. But I swear the man writes Romance).

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Jennifer McQuiston] I get very cranky in the winter when the days get short, and I swear by my Happy Light. I spend two hours every morning writing in its warm glow, and I swear it’s like an IV drip for productivity. Well, that plus the pot of tea I drink every morning. Who isn’t creative on caffeine? Finally, in order to write, I need complete quiet in my busy house, and because I am a morning person, I need that time to be on the early side of the day. Believe it or not, I set my alarm for 4am and write from 4-6 every morning. Which makes me crazy. And more than a little tired come 9pm. But this is the process that works for me, and I am sticking to it!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Jennifer McQuiston] I am going with Winter’s Bone by Daniel Woodrell. I was blown away by its incredible toughness, its no-holds-barred and unsentimental look at the heroine’s struggle. Not very romantic, of course, but it left an indelible impression on my brain. I wonder if I could work a meth lab into a historical romance… will have to give that some thought.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Jennifer McQuiston] Without a doubt, it was Ken Follet’s Lie Down with Lions. I was traveling in Ghana, West Africa working on the polio eradication program, and had stupidly only brought 5 books to last 3 months… I ran through those books in less than a week. Luckily, I discovered a used bookstore in Accra, and this book was one of the first I bought there. I was enthralled by the gut-wrenching description of the conflict in 1980′s Pakistan, and the beautiful love story the author had crafted. I then sought out everything Follet had ever written (and his early WWII spy novels feature the most amazing, tough female leads and love stories you could ever want). But Lie Down With Lions is hands-down my favorite book of all time – if only because it saved my sanity during those long, lonely nights in Africa.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Jennifer McQuiston] Sometimes I can’t believe how busy I am. Writing is my escape, what I do when I am not working at my day job as an infectious disease researcher or yelling at my girls to clean up their messes. My family loves to travel, and during 2012 we visited Mexico, Belize, the Outer Banks, upstate New York, Virginia, and New York City. If I have even a few free hours, my favorite thing to do is take my girls to ride their pony, Mr. Beaux Regard. (ED – Oh, my gosh! I love his name!)

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Jennifer McQuiston] I love hearing from readers on Twitter (@jenmcqwrites) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/jennifermcquistonauthor) . They can also email me via my website, www.jenmcquiston.com .

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

You can purchase What Happens in Scotland from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the links below. Available in print and digital.

About the book:

About the author:

Jennifer McQuiston lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband, two daughters (who got a pony out of mom’s book deal!) and a house full of mostly mammalian pets. A veterinarian and infectious disease researcher by training, Jennifer has always preferred reading romance to scientific textbooks. Jennifer was a 2011 and a 2012 Golden Heart® finalist with two previous novels. She is signed with literary agent Kevan Lyon, and works with Esi Sogah, Tessa Woodward, and the amazing team at Avon.

Ashlyn Macnamara is visiting the virtual offices today to chat about A Most Scandalous Proposal.  Please give her a warm welcome!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Ashlyn Macnamara] Reader, writer, mother, bilingual, cat-lover, escapist, Internet junkie.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about A Most Scandalous Proposal?

[Ashlyn Macnamara] My debut Regency begins when my hero, Benedict Revelstoke, sees his old childhood friend, Julia St. Claire, named as party to a wager in White’s betting book. Neither one of them is sure what’s going on at first, but they piece it together soon enough. Julia’s sister’s long-term crush on has set his sights on winning Julia’s hand in marriage. She only has to find a way to dissuade a man who won’t take no for an answer—which is understandable since he’s already bet a considerable sum on her saying yes.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Ashlyn Macnamara] A couple of years ago, I read two separate historical romances. One was Beverley Kendall’s debut Sinful Surrender, in which the heroine has a long-time crush on the hero. Missy, the heroine, confides a lot in her sister, and that relationship got me thinking about how the angst of a long-standing, unrequited crush might color the younger sister’s views of love and romance.

At the same time, I read Emma Wildes’s Lessons From a Scarlet Lady, which featured two romances. So that got me thinking about telling the story of both sisters in the same book. My working title was A TALE OF TWO SISTERS to reflect the duality of the story.

And then somewhere along the way I realized I was unconsciously riffing on Sense and Sensibility, but that was perfectly in line with my Regency setting, so I went with it.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Julia?

[Ashlyn Macnamara] Loyal, headstrong, devious.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Benedict had a theme song, what would it be?

[Ashlyn Macnamara] Benedict begs I not reveal this particular bit of information, lest the Upperton sisters get wind of it and insist on performing it at their next musicale. They’re certain to butcher anything they attempt. However, they’ll have a job trying to present “Wonderwall” by Oasis on Regency musical instruments. “There are many things that I would like to say to you, but I don’t know how…”

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Julia is never without.

[Ashlyn Macnamara] Unlike her sister, who always has her head in the clouds, Julia is never without the head on her shoulders. Well, unless Benedict gives her a bit too much wine. At that point, all bets are off.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Benedict’s pockets?

[Ashlyn Macnamara] Oooh, let me think about that one.

He’d never carry lumps of sugar to feed his horses as treats. He prefers to give them carrots, as it’s better for them. Plus sugar was a bit of a luxury item in the Regency.

He would most definitely never have an invitation to one of the Earl of Clivesden’s parties. He hasn’t liked Clivesden since they were in school together, and the blow-up over Clivesden’s choice of bride only exacerbated matters.

For the third, I’m going to say a copy of Debrett’s Peerage, because while he is the (younger) son of a marquess, he doesn’t hold much with all the goings-on in London. He much prefers a quieter life in the country.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Julia’s greatest regret?

[Ashlyn Macnamara] This is going to be difficult to answer without introducing spoilers. I think Julia’s answer at the beginning of the book and at the end would be two different things. At the beginning, anyway, she’d have made reference to a traumatic event she experienced during her childhood, which colored her view of love and passionate feelings.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Ashlyn Macnamara] Odd as it might sound, J. K. Rowling. If it wasn’t for Harry Potter fanfiction, I’d never have learned I can write. When I was in school, I never wanted to get anywhere near anything that smacked of creative writing, but maybe that’s because my teachers often forced us to write poetry. Adhering to things like rhythm and rhyme schemes require far too much discipline.

For this particular book, see the reply to the concept and characters question.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Ashlyn Macnamara] An empty house, a broken Internet connection, and at least an idea of where things are going (but I can’t decide this ahead of time—my characters have their own ideas and don’t like to listen to me).

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Ashlyn Macnamara] I’m going to go with Sherry Thomas’s Tempting the Bride, only because it’s her latest. Just about anything she writes, really. I love, love, love her lush prose style.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Ashlyn Macnamara] I don’t know if I can pinpoint one book that turned me on to reading per se. I’ve always loved to read, and before that I loved to have stories read to me. What I recall most is a book of fairy tale we owned when I was a child. I remember asking for “Wassilissa the Beautiful” as often as possible, because, like any good Russian tale, it was the longest in the collection. It was a great way to delay bedtime.

I can tell you which books turned me on to re-reading: the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I read those over and over when I was younger.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Ashlyn Macnamara] Anything that allows me to avoid the housework. I’ve got a teetering TBR pile, so I’m pretty good. If I don’t feel like reading, I’ve got a stash of yarn begging for me to knit it into something. Or I might decide to catch up with the latest goings-on at Downton Abbey.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Ashlyn Macnamara] Through my website: http://ashlynmacnamara.net

On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorAshlynMacnamara

On Twitter: http://twitter.com/ashlyn_mac

Sign up for my newsletter.

And you can often find me blogging with the Dashing Duchesses.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

You can purchase A Most Scandalous Proposal from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the links below.  Available in print and digital.

About the book:

About the author:

Ashlyn Macnamara writes Regency romance with a dash of wit and a hint of wicked. She considers writing her mid-life crisis but reckons producing romance novels is a lot less dangerous than skydiving or rock climbing. She lives outside Montreal with her husband, two teenage daughters and a cat. When not thinking about ballrooms and gentleman’s clubs, she looks for other excuses to neglect the housework, among them knitting, reading and wasting time on the internet in the guise of doing research.

Today, Wendy Sparrow is visiting the virtual offices!  Wendy’s here to chat about Frosted, and then you can enter to win a beautiful sterling silver snowflake necklace with blue and white Swarovski crystals as well as a copy of Frosted!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Wendy Sparrow] Wife. Mother. Quirky. Obsessive and compulsive. Addicted to Mtn Dew. Professional Insomniac. Believer in happily-ever-afters. Easily amused.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Frosted?

[Wendy Sparrow] Frosted is Jack Frost’s love story. Seven years ago, as prophesied, Kate fell through the ice and into his world. Jack is the Peter Pan of winter at the time. He’s giddy that he’s found his queen and doesn’t see any obstacles. Kate, on the other hand, comes from a broken family and she’s never thought anything could last forever let alone have an immortal bond with a guy she’d thought was only part of a song. In return for marrying him, Jack lets Kate go back to the mortal world so she can say goodbye…and Kate runs off to Florida—out of his reach.

Seven years have passed—five years longer than Kate had agreed to—and Jack is done waiting. His kingdom and its king both need their queen back. Frosted is that story. The courtship of Kate by the king of winter.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Wendy Sparrow] I had this dream about a girl, Kate, walking on the sidewalk and avoiding stepping off with a serious determination—she was not going to step in the snow. She looked down into a frozen puddle and saw Jack Frost’s reflection and he’s irked because she’s his queen and she’s out of reach. I typed it down and tossed it in a folder and then a year later, I heard Kate say in my head, “You’re going to have to find yourself a new queen,” and it was time to write it.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Kate?

[Wendy Sparrow] Insecure. Independent. And even though it doesn’t seem like it at times…deep down…she’s hopeful.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Jack had a theme song, what would it be?

[Wendy Sparrow] Let it Snow. Actually, I guess it should maybe be the Christmas song where he’s been tagged as a nose-nipper…but he hates that. Don’t ever sing that around him.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Kate is never without.

[Wendy Sparrow] Seven layers of clothing.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Jack’s bedroom?

[Wendy Sparrow] A roaring fire. A book on dealing with death. A DVD with the stop motion animated TV special Jack Frost.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Kate’s greatest regret?

[Wendy Sparrow] Kate regrets the extra years she took to realize…uhh…I almost spoiled it. Phew. Close one. She regrets running away.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Wendy Sparrow] Does insomnia count? Insomnia and my Obsessive Compulsive Disorder are usually what drive me to write. I can’t sleep if I’ve got a story stuck in my head—and I already don’t sleep much.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Wendy Sparrow] Mountain Dew. Quiet. My laptop. Everything else is negotiable.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Wendy Sparrow] I just read a suspense last month that had a haunted house filled with secret passages on a bayou and some elements of the paranormal. It was just about as much fun as you can have with a book without it getting kinky. The Secret of Cyprier Bayou by Jana DeLeon. Last year, though, I read a lot that were fantastic. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, the False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen, and I, Robot by Isaac Asimov just to name a few.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Wendy Sparrow] Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Wendy Sparrow] When I’m not writing, I’m either reading or on Twitter—I’m fairly addicted to both.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Wendy Sparrow] Twitter. @WendySparrow I will talk to anyone about anything and due to my insomnia…the hour usually isn’t a factor.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!!

[Wendy Sparrow] Thanks for having me on your blog!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

First, Wendy is giving away this beautiful necklace:

Fill out the widget to enter for a chance to win it.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ready for your chance to win Frosted? Just fill out the widget below. Earn extra entries for following.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Didn’t win? You can order Frosted from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the link below.

About Frosted:

About Wendy Sparrow:

At home in the Pacific Northwest, Wendy Sparrow writes for both an adult and young adult crowd. She has two wonderfully quirky kids, a supportive husband, and a perpetually messy house because writing is more fun than cleaning. She enjoys reading with a flashlight under a blanket—the way all the best books should be read—and believes in the Oxford comma, the pursuit of cupcakes, and that every story deserves a happily ever after. Most days she can be found on Twitter where she’ll talk to anyone who talks back, and occasionally just to herself.

Wendy can be reached at the following:

website:  http://wendysparrow.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Wendy-Sparrow/471652932872034

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/WendySparrow

Blog:  http://ladybugsroar.blogspot.com/

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3346109.Wendy_Sparrow

Our special guest this morning is Michelle McLean, author of To Trust a Thief! Please give her a warm welcome.  After we chat about her book, you can enter for a chance to win your own copy of To Trust a Thief!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Michelle McLean] Romance and NF writer, mom to 2, degrees in history and English, total sap in love with alphabetizing, office supplies and big poofy dresses

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about To Trust a Thief?

[Michelle McLean] To Trust a Thief is about a young lady who must team up with a master thief in order to find a priceless necklace that both of them desperately need. Along the way, these enemies and rivals fall in love, and they must decide what is more important – loyalty to those who are counting on them, or the love they have for each other. If they make the wrong choice, they might lose everything.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Michelle McLean] It actually started out as something quite different. A tale of a girl healing from a broken heart who falls in love again and they are together from page one. But there was no conflict to the story, nothing really exciting going on. Then one day I was watching National Treasure and thought how fun it might be to incorporate a treasure hunt into the story. With characters who were rivals who I could pit against one another while they fell in love despite themselves. For Min, I wanted a quirky character, someone who was a bit klutzy, but still strong, determined, and intelligent enough to get herself out of her own jams most of the time. Bryant actually started out as a reformed thief trying to make up for his criminal life. But again, there was very little conflict. I needed a tortured bad boy with a heart of gold so he developed into someone much more dangerous and even more swoon-worthy

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Min?

[Michelle McLean] Intelligent, determined, passionate

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Bryant had a theme song, what would it be?

[Michelle McLean] Oooo, good question. Furious Angels by Rob Dougan. I think of Bryant every time I listen to it

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Min is never without.

[Michelle McLean] Min always has a book stashed somewhere nearby

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Bryant’s pockets?

[Michelle McLean] Hmm Bryant likes to travel light so you probably wouldn’t find anything at all in his pockets lol But I’ll say a Bible, any sort of identification, or a love token of any kind.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Min’s greatest regret?

[Michelle McLean] Hmmm well answering that would be a big spoiler so I’ll just say that it has to do with feeling like she failed someone close to her.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Michelle McLean] Victoria Holt is probably my greatest influence. She was the first historical romance author I ever read and I was hooked from the first page. I loved the historical settings, the danger, suspense, and mystery of her stories and above all the romance.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Michelle McLean] Goldfish crackers, the book’s “background noise” (different for every book…for my current WIP it’s the movie What To Expect When You’re Expecting which is odd For TTAT it was movie scores on Pandora), and a deadline always helps

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Michelle McLean] The Lux series by Jennifer Armentrout. LOVE those books!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Michelle McLean] I began reading very young. My mom said when I was two years old, she was reading Snow White to me and she tried to skip around a bit. I corrected her and told her word for word the lines she had missed I honestly don’t remember ever being without a book, but the first one I remember reading was that copy of Snow White. Fairy Tales in general were my first love

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Michelle McLean] I cross-stitch and play the piano, but mostly if I’m not working on a book, I like to just hang out with my kids. We have a lot of family movie and game nights and my husband is an amazing cook so we like to throw big dinner parties for the neighbors.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Michelle McLean] Come visit me on my blog, website, FB, twitter, Goodreads, the Operation Awesome Blog, Scene 13, and The Naked Hero.

[Manga Maniac Cafe]  Thank you!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!

Ready for your chance to win a copy of To Trust a Thief?  Just fill out the widget below. Earn extra entries for following.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Didn’t win? You can purchase To Trust a Thief from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the links below.

About the book:

Praise for TO TRUST A THIEF:

“This book has everything–chills, mystery, romance, and heartbreak. I loved every single page.” –Cole Gibsen, author of KATANA

“Michelle McLean’s debut historical romance is a wonderful read. Filled with romance, mystery, intrigue and characters I could really care about, this is a fun read.” – Christine Fonseca, author of the Lacrimosa trilogy

About Michelle:

Michelle McLean is the author of historical and paranormal novels, including TO TRUST A THIEF (Entangled Scandalous Jan 2013), a historical trilogy, BLOOD BLADE SISTERS (Entangled Scandalous 2013), and a zombie fairy tale retelling WISH UPON A STAR (Entangled Ever After Oct 2013). She is also the author of the educational non-fiction book HOMEWORK HELPERS: ESSAYS AND TERM PAPERS.

Michelle has a B.S. in History, a M.A. in English, and tends to be a bit of an overly organized mess with an insatiable love of books and more weird quirks than you can shake a stick at. She is also a contributor on The Naked Hero, and the Operation Awesome, Scene 13, and Scandalous book blogs as well as maintaining her personal blog.

If she’s not editing, reading or chasing her kids around, she can usually be found in a quiet corner working on her next book. Michelle resides in PA with her husband and two young children, an insanely hyper dog, and two very spoiled cats.

For More Info:

On Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17267147-to-trust-a-thief

Buy Links:
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/to-trust-a-thief-michelle-mclean/1045656940?ean=2940016034812
Books on Board: http://www.booksonboard.com/index.php?BODY=viewbook&BOOK=1457235&TITLE=To+Trust+a+Thief&AUTHOR=Michelle+McLean
Apple iBookstore: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/to-trust-a-thief/id595225849?mt=11

In 2007, I crossed paths online with author Lauren Baratz-Logsted after reading her first YA novel, Angel's Choice. Six years later, she's published over a dozen books, including THE SISTERS EIGHT, a nine-book MG series co-written by three Logsteds!

Your series THE SISTERS EIGHT was a family affair. What was it like to write with your husband and your daughter?

Writing a series with my husband and daughter was the most amazing experience of my writing career. We originally came up with the idea for the series when we were stranded by a blizzard in Colorado in December 2006. We needed something to occupy ourselves and that became brainstorming The Sisters 8. When we finally got home, it seemed the idea was too good to let go, so I just started writing.

How did you split up the writing duties?

The way it would work was I would write a chapter, then, at the end of the day, when Greg got home from work and Jackie from school, I'd read the chapter. They'd say what was working and what wasn't and we'd all brainstorm what needed to happen next. That cycle carried us through nine books.

Which of the octuplets is the most like each of the writers?

I'm probably most like Annie - a control freak!

My husband Greg's not really like any of the sisters; rather, he's more like Will Simms, the boy in the Eights' class at school they all have a crush on.

Jackie is most like Jackie.

Thankfully, none of us complain as much as Georgia, hide under the bed like Petal, or are as sinister as Rebecca.

What's the premise of your new series, THE HAT CITY MIDDLE SCHOOL SERIES GIRLS?

I got the idea for Book 1, GUYS AGAINST THE GIRLS, from something that happened in my daughter's class a few years back. They had a substitute teacher who so heavily favored the boys, she never called on the girls when they raised their hands and then triumphantly said at the end of class, "This just proves what I always knew - boys are better than girls at math!" My daughter and her best friend were outraged, and from that sprang the idea for a book that starts with that same event, only it snowballs into a vast competition between the guys and girls to see who is better at just about everything.

Book 2 in the series is called ROBBIE KNIGHTLEY and the idea for that came when a boy who read the first book was so entranced with the character of Robbie, I realized he needed his own book. In the first book there are 12 kids and, ultimately, I'd like to do one book for each character.

You have published novels for children, for teens, and for adults. Which audience do you feel the most comfortable writing for - what feels like it's the most natural voice for you?

I'm a very weird writer in that, not only do I write for nearly every age group imaginable but I also write in a vast variety of genres: historical, contemporary, comedy, drama, romance, mystery - you name it. And the bizarre thing is, all those voices feel natural to me. The Sisters 8 and a large part of Book 1 in the new series are written in first person plural ("We did this"; "We did that") - you don't see that in fiction too often! Honestly, with all the different voices floating around in my head, if I wasn't a writer, I'd probably be locked away in a padded cell somewhere, so I'm very lucky I'm a writer.

In our previous interview, you said you'd cast Hilary Duff in the lead role of your first Young Adult novel, ANGEL'S CHOICE. Who would you select to star in your latest YA novel, LITTLE WOMEN & ME?

Hmm...let's see... I'm going to go with Ariel Winter from Modern Family. The age is right, the attitude is right.

I could totally see Ariel in that role... What do you think, readers? Leave a comment below and let us know!

Visit Lauren's official website.

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TweetInterviewing Neal Adams over at the New Statesman in the run up to this month’s London Super Comic Con, we chatted about his legendary role in providing greater creator rights for all within the comics industry, his own start in comics, and pushing comics in a more “relevant” direction. So while I recommend going ahead [...]

Please welcome special guest Coleen Kwan to the virtual offices today.  Coleen dropped by to chat about her Entangled Publishing release Real Men Don’t Break Hearts.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Coleen Kwan] I am a daydreamer. I feel it’s important to unplug every day, especially in today’s world of constant electronic connection.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Real Men Don’t Break Hearts?

[Coleen Kwan] It’s a romance between a reformed bad boy and a good girl wanting to break out of her rut. Nate and Ally have never got along, especially after Ally blames him for her ex-fiancé jilting her at the altar. When Nate returns to his hometown and becomes her new landlord, she’s furious, yet at the same time curiously attracted to him.

Nate has come home because he’s tired of his high-living bachelor lifestyle and wants something different. His efforts to re-invent himself are hampered by his sudden growing attraction to Ally, the girl who’s always despised him.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Coleen Kwan] I’d always wanted to write a romance between a rake and a Miss Goody Two Shoes set in a small town where memories of past misdeeds aren’t easily forgotten. Nate and Ally gradually filtered into my imagination as two flawed people on a journey of self-discovery.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Ally?

[Coleen Kwan] Loyal. Self-effacing. Passionate.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Nate had a theme song, what would it be?

[Coleen Kwan] “Bad to the Bone” by George Thorogood.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Ally won’t leave the house without.

[Coleen Kwan] Her purse.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Nate’s pockets?

[Coleen Kwan] A comb (Nate is not the vain type). A little black book (His Lothario days are over). Cigarettes.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Nate’s greatest regret?

[Coleen Kwan] Getting into trouble and causing his late older brother headaches.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Coleen Kwan] Other writers. My lifelong habit of burying my nose in books has been the biggest influence on my writing and my creativity. Good writing and storytelling always inspire me.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Coleen Kwan] My laptop. A cup of tea. Quiet.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Coleen Kwan] “Fevre Dream” by George R.R. Martin. I started it not knowing what to expect and found it un-put-downable. For days and weeks I was haunted by his tale of vampires on the Mississippi.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Coleen Kwan] The Faraway Tree series by Enid Blyton. Blyton is not very PC these days, but when I was a child she was my favorite author by far.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Coleen Kwan] I try to catch up on my TBR pile or I watch TV. I’m a natural couch potato!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Coleen Kwan] My website is www.coleenkwan.com

Facebook www.facebook.com/coleenkwan.authorpage

Twitter www.twitter.com/ColeenKwan

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

You can purchase Real Men Don’t Break Hearts from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the link below.

About the book

Purchase from Barnes &Noble: http:/tinyurl.com/a9qxs8c

 About Coleen Kwan

Coleen Kwan has been a bookworm all her life. At school English was her favorite subject, but for some reason she decided on a career in IT. After many years of programming, she wondered what else there was in life — and discovered writing. She loves writing contemporary romance and steampunk romance.

Coleen lives in Sydney, Australia with her partner and two children. When she isn’t writing she enjoys avoiding housework, eating chocolate, and watching The Office.

Author Website: http://www.coleenkwan.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/coleenkwan.authorpage

Twitter: @ColeenKwan

GoodReads: http://tinyurl.com/a3pzyaq

Victoria Roberts is visiting the virtual offices today to discuss her book X Marks the Scot. Please give her a warm welcome!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Victoria Roberts] First, thank you so much for having me today. I’m a hard-working mother of two, and I’m married to my own knight for almost twenty years now. Home is in western Pennsylvania, but my heart is in the Highlands.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about X Marks the Scot?

[Victoria Roberts] This story is about Declan MacGregor (Laird Ciaran MacGregor’s bad boy brother from Temptation in a Kilt) and Lady Liadain Campbell (the bloody Campbell’s sister from Temptation in a Kilt.) I think the back cover blurb says it best.

He was a Highland Rogue—Wicked with a Bow and Just as Wicked with the Ladies.

Declan MacGregor hadn’t a care in the world beyond finding a soft bed and a willing woman…until he had to escort Lady Liadain Campbell to the English court. The woman needles him at every turn, but he can’t just abandon her to that vipers’ nest without protection.

She Never Asked for a Bodyguard…

Liadain wasn’t thrilled to be left in the care of her clan’s archrival. It was as if the man never had a lady tell him no before! And yet as whispers of treason swirl through the court and the threat of danger grows even sharper, her bitter enemy soon becomes the only one she can trust…

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Victoria Roberts] Declan’s character formed while I wrote Temptation in a Kilt. He was so good at being so verra bad. I knew instantly that Highland bad boy needed to have a story of his own. I loved the idea of mixing the feuding Campbells and MacGregors.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Liadain?

[Victoria Roberts] Passionate. Patient. Caring.

[Manga Maniac Café] If Declan had a theme song, what would it be?

[Victoria Roberts] Why does the song Bad Boys suddenly come to mind?

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Liadain is never without.

[Victoria Roberts] Compassion. She has to be the most caring soul ever. No spoilers here.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Declan’s greatest regret?

[Victoria Roberts] Declan was so consumed with the idea that he was only a third son and would never amount to anything that he was blinded by sheer stupidity. He missed what was right before his very eyes. But…it’s never too late for redemption, even for an infamous rogue like Declan MacGregor.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Victoria Roberts] Scotland, sword-wielding Highlanders and kilts. lol

[Manga Maniac Café] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Victoria Roberts] Silence. Water. My muse. It’s nice to have all three.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Victoria Roberts] Eliza Knight, The Highlander’s Conquest.

[Manga Maniac Café] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Victoria Roberts] VC Andrews, Flowers in the Attic. Wow and wow. I think that was the first “adult” novel that sucked me in.

[Manga Maniac Café] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Victoria Roberts] Between carting two kids around to basketball, basketball and basketball, I do like to browse through antique stores. I love finding little treasures, especially ones that come with a story behind them.

[Manga Maniac Cafe]  Thank you!

[Victoria Roberts] Thanks so much for having me today. Sourcebooks will give away one copy of X Marks the Scot to a lucky commenter.

Please fill out the widget below to enter for your chance to win a copy of X Marks the Scot.  US addresses only, please.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Didn’t win?  You can purchase X Marks the Scot from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the links below.

Praise for X Marks the Scot:

5/5 – Reviewer Top Pick
"Enthralling Highlander romance. One of the best Highlander stories I’ve ever read. This is one author who just keeps on getting better."

?Night Owl Reviews

“For a complex story brimming over with pride and passion, betrayal, trust and most of all the power to make a bad boy a hero, pick up this read."

?RT Book Reviews/4 ½ Star Review

About Victoria Roberts:

Victoria Roberts writes sexy, Scottish historical romances about kilted heroes and warriors from the past. She was named by RT Book Reviews as "one of the most promising debut authors across the genres" and is also a 2012 Reviewers Choice Nominee for Best First Historical novel for her debut, Temptation in a Kilt.

Her second novel, X Marks the Scot, is available February 2013 and the third, To Wed a Wicked Highlander, September 2013.

Victoria is a member of Romance Writers of America®, Celtic Hearts Romance Writers, Western Pennsylvania Romance Writers, as well as a contributing author to the online magazine, Celtic Guide.

Victoria lives in western Pennsylvania with her husband of nineteen years and their two beautiful children—not to mention one spoiled dog. When she is not plotting her next Scottish romp, she enjoys reading, nature, and antiques.

Purchase/Links:

Sourcebooks: http://www.sourcebooks.com/store/x-marks-the-scot.html

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/x-marks-the-scot-victoria-roberts/1112689759?ean=9781402270093

Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1M27gsMb4Ro

Website: www.victoriarobertsauthor.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/victoria.roberts.395

Celtic Guide: www.thecelticguide.com

Cindi Madsen dropped by the virtual offices to chat about Falling for Her Fiancé, a romance published under Entangled’s Bliss imprint.  Cindi also pens YA stories, so be sure to check out All The Broken Pieces!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Cindi Madsen] Romance writer of both adult & YA who loves writing, reading, music, dancing, junk food & shoes. Also loves her awesome, supportive family.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Falling for Her Fiancé?

[Cindi Madsen] Best friends since college, Wes and Dani decide to fake an engagement to get Wes through his sister’s wedding, where his ex is a bridesmaid, and Dani through a company retreat and hopefully earn her a promotion. Along the way they start realizing there might be something more than friendship between them.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Cindi Madsen] My editors were talking about their wish list for the Bliss line, something I’d talked with my editor about writing, and she said she loved the friends to lovers storyline. Her editing assistant said she wanted a fake engagement. That night when I went to go to sleep, suddenly I was thinking about friends who fake an engagement. I started thinking of how funny it’d be as they lied their way through it, and all the slip ups and forced proximity & faked kissing that had them start wondering how much was fake. I couldn’t fall asleep until I had the whole thing mostly outlined in my head, and got a sense of how the characters played off each other. I knew I had to write it ASAP.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Dani?

[Cindi Madsen] Caring, athletic, family-oriented

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Wes had a theme song, what would it be?

[Cindi Madsen] Interesting question. I’m going with Afterlife by Switchfoot. It’s on the playlist for the book and since Wes is all about being impulsive the following lyrics fit:

And I wonder why would I wait till I die to come alive?

I’m ready now

I’m not waiting for the afterlife

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Dani is never without.

[Cindi Madsen] She played basketball in college, so while she doesn’t carry a ball around, she does have one in the trunk of her car, so she can play at a moment’s notice. And of course she’s pretty attached to her cell phone, especially whenever the “SexyBack” ringtone plays, because that means Wes is calling. (He programmed it in, telling her the song was just “so me”)

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Wes’ bedroom?

[Cindi Madsen] Candles

Folded laundry—his laundry is in piles, or hung up if he’s on top of things

Before Dani came to visit, he’d probably say a dress, especially one that looked backwards. But after he gets a look at the “backwards dress” on Dani, he’s all about it.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Dani’s greatest regret?

[Cindi Madsen] Moving to Arkansas with her ex-boyfriend, following his dreams instead of her own.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Cindi Madsen] Music. I love the way it can make you feel and transport you. I want to put those emotions into my book, which is why I make playlists for my books. Other than that, I read a lot and really well-written movies and TV shows also get my creative juices flowing.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Cindi Madsen] Music

Mountain Dew

My laptop

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Cindi Madsen] Something Like Normal by Trish Doller. That book was recommended to me by a couple of my twitter peeps, and it was AMAZING!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Cindi Madsen] So hard. I’m going to have to go with Anne of Green Gables. I mentioned it in another interview, but one of my teachers, a woman named Shelly Russell turned me onto them when I was in grade school, and I loved them. Then my mom gave me The Witch of Blackbird Pond and that pretty much cemented my love of reading.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Cindi Madsen] Usually watching movies with my husband, or desperately trying to catch up on all the cleaning I let go while I was writing (watching movies is MUCH more fun) We also like to go out to eat as a family.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Cindi Madsen] Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/CindiMadsen

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

email: info@cindimadsen.com

website: http://cindimadsen.com

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!

Ready for your chance to win a copy of FALLING FOR HER FIANCE?  Entering is easy!  Just fill out the widget below.  Earn extra entries for following.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Didn’t win? You can order a copy of FALLING FOR HER FIANCE from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the link below.

About FALLING FOR HER FIANCE:

Buy Links:

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/falling-for-her-fiance-cindi-madsen/1114137785?ean=2940015969276

About the Author:

Cindi Madsen sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she’d be even crazier. She has way too many shoes, but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair, especially if they’re sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music, dancing, and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children.