Author Spotlight: INTERVIEW Shadow Stalkers Renee Scattergood

Aussie, and fantasy indie author Renee Scattergood latest episode (7) Bound by Fate from her epic Shadows Stalkers series has just be released! And I got the awesome privilege to interview her about writing, and of course Shadow Stalkers Series: Bound by Fate.

JC: Episode 7: Bound by Fate, the latest chapter in the Shadow Stalker Series, has just been released. How did you give birth to this amazing series?

RS: Originally I intended to write it as a series of novels (which is still in the plans). I came up with the idea for it back in 2006 I think it was, after reading The Celestine Prophecy. The character, Kado, just came to life in my mind. I knew from the beginning he wouldn't be the main character, but maybe the main character's mentor. The story slowly developed over the next few years after that.

JC: Where did the idea come from to do this series in a serialized format? You know Stephen King did the same with Green Mile.

RS: Actually, yes. It was Stephen King who originally inspired me to write a serialized version of the story. I wanted to do it like a TV series though, rather than publishing chapters. That's why I call them episodes. Like I said, originally I wanted to write novels, but I was afraid to put all the effort into a novel that wouldn't do well. I felt like I needed some practice in the self-publishing world before taking on such a huge venture, so this seemed the best way to do that. It's been a great experience for me and now I finally feel ready to write the novels.

JC: The series seems to slowly creeping down a darker path as we progress. Will there be a light at the end or can you not reveal that yet?

RS: It's going to get darker, but yes, there is a bright light at the end of the tunnel. :-D

JC: I’ve asked other authors this question before and now it's your turn. How do you come up with character names? Do your character names mean anything?

RS: Actually, I cheat. I use name generators. Sometimes I change the spellings of the names I find, but I would never get anything accomplished if I had to come up with the names on my own. They don't have any special meaning or anything. I just choose names that sound good to me.

JC: The Shadow Stalker Series is of course fantasy. What is your draw to fantasy?

RS: I've loved fantasy since I was a kid. It was the only thing I really enjoyed reading. The first fantasy novel I ever read was The Hobbit, and I was hooked ever since.

JC: A lot of issues with some people is finding time to write. How do you find time to write?

RS: I just write when I can really. Every spare moment I have during the day, I spend writing. I have to go to school with my daughter 4 days a week because she can't go on her own. I volunteer in the library there and 4 hours a day while I'm there is dedicated to writing as well.

JC: Everybody can write. We learn to write in school. Do you believe though it takes a special person to be a quote: “Writer?”

RS: No, I believe anyone can be a writer. All it takes is desire and lots and lots of practice. Learning to be a great writer is a lifetime endeavor. I think anyone who is willing to put in the effort can do that. I think it's been said that it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert or master at something. So just strive to spend at least 10,000 hours doing the thing you love and you will be great at it. :-D

JC: Now time for my famous fun question segment! Ready?

RS: Absolutely!

JC: Paperback or digital?

RS: Both, digital for a new book, paperback if I really like it and intend to read it over and over and over…

JC: Computer or notebook?

RS: Computer for my actual writing, but a notebook for working out story ideas and doing timelines and stuff.

JC: Coffee or Tea? Yes random I know.

RS: Depends on my mood and the weather. Generally speaking I like tea in the summer and coffee in the winter.

JC: Favorite Author?

RS: It changes regularly, but right now it's Lindsay Buroker.

JC: Worst book you ever read?

RS: I don't remember the title, but it was a freebie on Kindle. I didn't even make it through the first chapter, and that's saying something with me. If the story is good, I can usually overlook bad grammar and stuff, but this one was just bad all around.

JC: Have you ever fallen asleep reading a book?

RS: Yes, quite often. And when I'm reading on my tablet, it tends to be very painful if I'm lying on my back.

JC: Ever fallen asleep writing?

RS: No, I can honestly say I've never done that. I daydream a lot though.

JC: Best interview you’ve EVER done, huh?

RS: It was a lot of fun, yes! :-D

JC: Thank you Renee for taking time to sit down with me.

RS: No problem! I hope your readers have enjoyed it and will consider having a look at my blog and signing up to my newsletter: http://reneescattergood.com. I have a bad habit of giving away a lot of freebies. ;)

DON'T forget to get hooked onto the Shadow Stalker Series! Check out all past issues, and the new release of Shadow Stalkers Episode 7: Bound by Fate! Available now FREE at smashwords.com! 
enter CODE: YH88R
　

　



Auren escapes the Dark Isle to find things are worse on Appolia than she imagined. Very few have survived the invasion of the Galvadi Empire, and even her best friend, Jade, has gone missing.

While attempting a rescue, Auren is captured and faces abuse and torture at the hands of her enemies. She knows as long as she can hide her true identity, she might succeed in helping the Coalition, but one of the Galvadi knows she is the delohi-saqu. For his silence, she is forced to pay the ultimate price.
　

About the Author:
Renee Scattergood, author of the fantasy series, Shadow Stalker, and novella, Demon Hunt, lives in Australia with her husband and daughter. Aside from writing, she loves reading (Fantasy, of course), watching movies with her family, and doing crafts and science experiments with her daughter. Find out more about her, and sign up for her newsletter on her blog: http://reneescattergood.com

Connect with Renee at:

Renee Writes: http://reneescattergood.com/ - my personal website and blog.

Renee's Author Spotlight: http://reneesauthorspotlight.blogspot.com.au/ - a blog where I feature indie and small press authors.

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00NTJY1W2

Smashwords Author Page: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/rscatts

Social Media:

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/reneescatts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ReneeScatts

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/118427336236369690813/+ReneescattergoodAuthor/posts

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　


　

SPOTLIGHT: Interview With Romance Author Nat Hobson

Joining in on the Winchester Brothers Blitz Tour! I got to interview indie romance author Nat Hobson!

JC: So, what sparked the Winchester Brothers Series?


NH: It’s weird, but I think it was probably Chris Moyles - a radio DJ here in the UK. He presented the Radio 1 Breakfast Show from 2004 to 2012. I can’t begin to tell you how many mornings he brought a smile to my face – no easy task when stuck in rush hour traffic on my way to work! At some point a character began to form in my head, a woman named Adrienne Baxter. Her radio personality shone through, and she made me laugh. When I let her out to explore, she introduced me to her friends! The Davies brothers soon followed – two in particular, Sebastian, and Chris, who were nicknamed the Winchester Brothers at university. The name stuck.


JC: After writing Addy’s Choice (Book 1 in the Winchester Brothers series, free on Smashword! Use CODE TM47S), did you know this was going to be a series, and not just a one-time book? Or did you know before you even started?


NH: I didn’t have any plans to write a series when I started the project. Addy is a strong character and I enjoyed our journey together. Spending time with the Davies brothers, and Tyler in particular (from Heart of Fire), pushed me into continuing their journey.


JC: How do you come up with the names for your characters? Do you have a special process? Use names of people you know? Throw a dart at a name board?


NH: Throw a dart at a name board – I like that! I usually ask one of my daughter’s because I am terrible with names. That said, the main characters, those who shout the loudest in my head – I know who they are, almost from the start. I’ve always been able to see my characters vividly so, if they don’t yet have a name, I flick through a list (random), and wait to see which one ‘fits’.

　
JC: What are your thoughts on affairs of the heart? Do you think we are all guard our hearts like Adrienne does in the book?


NH: I think that depends on life experience. The caution is a protective instinct, and it’s difficult to let that go sometimes – especially if we’ve been hurt in the past. But, one of the things I love about the romance genre, is the hope; that simple connection we have to our readers. It might be the most beautiful thing in the world, but love is never easy. I don’t think it’s meant to be.


JC: Okay, now for the fun portion of the interview! We authors all have a writing process. What is yours?


NH: My plots are usually character driven. I start by letting a character out to explore their surroundings and, as they do, their world begins to take shape. In the beginning, there isn’t much planning involved. But as the story grows I have a strong sense of where I want it to go. If I’m writing a series, planning involves character history, background, habits, that sort of thing. I don’t plan by chapter, I let the story unfold naturally - at least in the first draft. When I go back through it, that’s when I see what needs fixing and the real fun begins!

JC: Favorite book?


NH: I always find that a difficult question because the book which immediately springs to mind is The Hobbit, and yet I’ve read so many wonderful stories since I took my journey with Bilbo Baggins. It is the first book I remember reading as a teenager, and I haven’t been able to stop reading since.


JC: Favorite author?


NH: My favorite romance author is, without doubt, Nora Roberts. I’m lost as soon as I open the first page.

　
JC: Which do you prefer? Paper or Digital?

　
NH: I prefer paper, but find myself turning to digital more and more. Carrying a Kindle (or similar device) is so much easier than filling my bag with books. That said, I am never without a paperback.


JC: Have you ever fallen asleep reading a book?


NH: No I haven’t. Though, and here’s a random fact, I once fell asleep in the middle of a conversation! But back to the question – I’ve had a few close calls – the times I’ve only just managed to close the book, before face planting in my pillow from simple exhaustion! I’m sure most readers can relate to that.

　
JC: What is the perfect companion to a good book?


NH: Silence!


JC: How do you prefer writing? Computer or notebook?


NH: I always start with pen and paper (unless it’s a short story), and I don’t think that will ever change. My edits (and there are many) are all done on the computer, though at one point I printed the pages and brought out my red pen!


JC: Oh yes I remember the red pen days! Okay so writers block? Do you get it? How do you handle it?


NH: I don’t get writers block, but that doesn’t mean I always know what to write. When I reach an impasse; either because my characters are not communicating well, or there’s something I’m missing, or I lack motivation - I handle it by stepping away from the project. I usually have more than one on the go, so I just switch to something else. If I don’t feel like writing (which happens from time to time), I read and give myself a break.


JC: Lastly, rate this interview! (A)Awesome had the best time! (B) Strangest interview I have ever done. It was awesome!

NH: A – I had the best time J

　
Addy’s Choice is available now FREE NOW FOR LIMITED TIME on Smashwords! Enter CODE:TM47S also available on AMAZON


Synopsis:
Sometimes the hardest thing about lowering our defenses is the fear of how far we might fall.
That fear had been Adrienne Baxter’s driving force most of her life. It was far easier to hide behind her radio personality, feeding from her audience, than to risk exposure.
She had James, her brother by choice if not by blood. It was enough – most of the time.
As the co-host of the early morning breakfast show at Music 101, Adrienne is the confident, sassy presenter with the silver tongue and fast-talking wit.
When she meets Sebastian Davies, the station owner’s son, her carefully applied facade begins to slip. He presents a new kind of danger, because this time she could lose her heart.

 

 

 

Followed by the new release - Heart of Fire Book 2 in the Winchester Brothers Series Available 3-20-15 Available on AMAZON


Synopsis:
Tyler Davies was eighteen when he met the fiery beast he would later battle on a regular basis. Seduced by the beauty of her flaming touch, he had looked right into the heart of the fire and known she had claimed him.
It was the second time he’d seen his future. The first was the day he met Lilly-May Saunders, a girl who burned so bright he was blind to anyone else. If it hadn’t been for her friendship with his brother, a relationship he didn’t truly understand, he would have confessed his feelings. But when his friend dies in the line of duty, and Tyler discovers the truth behind the accident, everything changes. Those he loves are in danger, and the one who owns his heart is at the top of the list.


 

　

　

　

　

　

　

　


　

About the Author: Nat Hobson is a pseudonym of Melissa Barker-Simpson. Publishing under Nat, she concentrates on her passion for writing love stories, focusing on contemporary romance. Although there is an element of romance in all her novels, this is usually interwoven in tales of crime, fantasy or science fiction. By writing as Nat, this allows her to write everyday stories of love, and friendship for a specific audience.

Links:

Nat’s Website~ 　https://nathobsonwriter.wordpress.com/


Melissa Barker-Simpson~ http://mbarkersimpson.wordpress.com/



(this site is reserved for work under my own name. It is also where I do most of my blogging, so pop on over and visit!)
 Featured Fiction~ http://featuredfiction.wordpress.com/



(this is a writing prompt based site, aimed at readers and writers. If you enjoy taking part in writing contests/prompts, follow the link and join us there.)
 Writing Room 101~ http://writingroom101.wordpress.com/


(As the name suggest, this site is for all things literary related and includes; interviews, reviews, author spotlights, articles, and information on new releases.)

Facebook~ http://www.facebook.com/melissabarkersimpson


Twitter~ http://twitter.com/mbarkersimpson


Goodreads~ http://www.goodreads.com/mbarkersimpson


　

　     

Book Review: The Grimm Chronicles:Pretty Things By Christine Haggerty

Book reviewing has never been so fun with Pretty Things!


Synopsis: "When Maddie’s father catches her with a boy, he hauls her into town in a pig wagon and finds her a husband. But Peter’s cabin in the woods promises something very different than Maddie’s happily ever after. 
Pretty Things, a retelling of “The Robber Bridegroom,” is the first novella in the Grimm Chronicles series. Warning: not your granny’s fairytales!"


Review

When a book leaves you breathless within the first three lines you know this book is not going to disappoint! The Grimm Chronicles: Pretty Things is a twisted little fairytale take on the Robber Bridegroom by the brothers Grimm. As the first novella of what is to be the Grim Chronicles “Pretty Things” is leading us off to a good start.

Maddie, the Millers daughter learns the hard way when you mess with the fires of temptation you may end up getting burned, and is there such a thing as a good Stepmother?

Pretty Things is a wickedly sinuous tale filled with a bit of life learning lessons along the way if you’re alert, just as the old Grimm’s fairytale’s of yore. In this retelling though there’s no virtuous maiden. Today the maiden is a spoiled temptress that cusses like a sailor. Though her father’s reaction to his daughter’s naughtiness is typical, cold, and a bit hilarious.

Overall View

I got hooked on the first sentence! Haggerty retelling of this aged old fable was priceless! She still keeping true to the Grimm’s age old recipe, which I loved. BUT! She also spiced it up a bit with some modern sexy sass! I think the Grimm brothers would’ve approve!

Purchase The Grim Chronicles: Pretty Things 

http://amzn.to/1CfSCpw PRICE: .99



About the Author

Christine Nielson Haggerty grew up in rural Utah with three brothers, a sister, several chickens, a goat, and an outhouse. She always loved the escape of fantasy and the art of writing, and her passion for life is to craft stories of strength and survival.

As a former high school language arts teacher and a black belt in karate, Christine has found a niche in combining those skills to help authors write effective fight scenes.

An award-winning young adult author, she is now launching her dark fantasy fairytale novella series The Grimm Chronicles.
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