Savannah Hendricks

I'm very excited to share this interview with you all! Savannah is an amazing and talented author that writes children's literature and early childhood education.

What inspired you to be an author?
Great question! I wanted to write books that drew readers in, something that brought readers to love reading and make them want to read over anything else (TV, baseball games, etc).

How many stories have you written?
If I include non-published, about eighty-five. Keep in mind, the first story I wrote (and oddly enough sold) was not until I was twenty-four years old.

Is writing your full time profession? If not, what else do you do and how do you manage both jobs?
No, although I wish I could write full time. I’m a medical social worker forty hours a week. My job can be incredibly draining so it’s often hard for me to write after work. I get a lot of writing done on the weekends, just not a lot of rest. Managing both can be a challenge, but I’ve made it work all these years, fairly well.

What is your writing process?
I actually have to remind myself to only work on one story at a time. I tend to want to have too many projects going at once. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. Recently I was preparing my sweet romance manuscript for querying when I got a revision request on a picture book. So, I worked on both of those at the same time, because it was a must. You can’t miss opportunities like that.
As far as the process, I really just allow the story to develop organically and do what I need to do to make it work. The only thing that is necessary in the writing process for me is stopping at least one hour before I have to sleep, otherwise my mind is still racing with ideas and I won’t be able to sleep.

Why is research so important for writing? 
Research makes a story authentic! Plus, I love research, it gives depth to a story and helps me learn about whatever I’m researching to add to my knowledge bank. Because if I am discussing the story I’m able to go beyond the story with possible information I didn’t need or was not able to include in the story.

What is the craziest thing you've had to research?
The timeline for toilets, from the outhouse to inside the house.

How do you create the world you are writing in?
I love to use graph paper and map out house floor plans and city or town plans. I also create boards on Pinterest. I have Pinterest boards for four of my stories so far.

How do you pull us in with amazing characters?
The best way to create amazing characters is to make them real, make them friends that you might have or want to have, or maybe you want to avoid. Character development is essential even if (for example a picture book with 400 words) the reader does not get to see all of the character.

What authors inspire you to write?
First, Kat Yeh. Her books are amazing!!! I discovered her at the library when I was randomly picking books from the middle grade section to read. The title, The Truth About Twinkie Pie caught my eye, and I’m forever grateful it did. Second, would have to go to the writer community on Twitter. There are SO MANY amazing writers (pre-published and published) who I've connected with and started or developed a friendship with. @StarlaLeAnne is amazing and I can’t wait for the world to read her books. And, I MUST mention @writeralys (Alys Murray) as her and I have recently connected and she has been so kind to me! I’m EXCITED for her book The Christmas Company (Hallmark Publishing) to release on October 16th. These woman help lift me up and that helps me write, drives me to write. (When you have women in your corner who understand the writing business and all the highs and lows, plus offer to help you on so many different levels it's the ultimate best thing.)

What steps do you take in drafting an outline?
Yikes, most of the time I don’t outline. Shhhh, haha. I usually find I will outline if I have an idea without a path or/and if I’m halfway through the story and it feels stuck.

What are your top five tips for aspiring authors?
Read, write, chocolate, read, write.

What are you currently working on?
I’m working on a middle grade revision for a story I started when I first began writing in 2004. I have not touched it since 2012 and I’m more than ready to get it in shape for submissions. I’m also outlining (because I’m struggling with the idea, see I do outline) for my second sweet romance manuscript.

Can you share an excerpt from one of your novels/projects?
Hmm…..let’s look at my current middle grade manuscript.
“Inside the space rested a chubby wrapped package. It was filthy, covered with dust and tiny black spots. I hoped it was not spider poop.”
Is there anything else you would like to share with us before you go?
Thank you for allowing me to talk about writing! It’s something I enjoy and makes me who I am today.


Savannah Hendricks writes stories from children's literature to adult fiction. Her stories have been included in numerous magazines such as Highlights High Five, Fantasy Scroll Magazine, Front Vision (???), Stories for Children Magazine, and Backlog Magazine.
She has worked as a nanny, and with special needs preschoolers. For the last 5 years Savannah has been a medical social worker. She holds degrees in early childhood education and criminal justice/criminology. She has been a member of the SCBWI since 2006.

Author Links:

BLOG

Twitter @AuthorSavannah

Instagram @AuthorSavannahHendricks

Amazon Author Page

Elle Stanley

Check out today's Author Talks with the wonderful Elle Stanley! She has some really great tips for other aspiring authors too! Be sure to check her author links out!


Tell me a little bit about yourself:
I am an introvert who cares about the world, even though it hasn’t cared about me. Being a twenty-five-year-old black female, certain things in life are not instantly attainable, but I love spending my time and energy getting the things I need. I needed to be an author and, thankfully, after a lot of hard work and patience, it happened. I love reading, writing and learning and always have been fascinated by words and detail, especially since the death of my mother when I was nine. Tragedy turned into reflection and I went on to graduate in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature and then stumbled into three publishing jobs: a history publisher, a physics publisher (where I currently still work) and the fiction publisher who published my first book (who I do some freelance editing work for). Other than that, my life is pretty average.

What first inspired you to start writing?
My mother’s death and J.K. Rowling. For Harry Potter fans, the connection is obvious. My mum used to read The Philosopher’s Stone and The Chamber of Secrets to me and my little brother before bed. After her passing in 2003, my sister and I kept reading and I came to realise all of the things I hope Rowling intended: death shouldn’t be feared and love is everything. Oh, and writing is awesome! So I started reading a lot, taking out the maximum amount of books at the library every week, writing poetry and plays and some really bad fan fiction until I decided to write serious stories about people in challenging scenarios: people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, the rich, the poor and so on. Then I wrote a small science fiction screenplay that led to my first novel.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?
A bit of both. I know my characters, but I wrote the majority of 2051 not knowing how it would end. I think there is joy in letting your characters decide, in a way. Real people have no idea what will happen next week so I kind of let my fictional people live the same experience until I get an epiphany.

Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?
Each character has a little bit of me in there. They’re all a little bit human. One character suffers from depression, another is strong-willed yet sensitive, another can be really rude, another looks similar to me. They are mainly personalities and, physically and mentally, they sometimes change in my head. Places have made more of an impression in my work: Stroud, a lovely countryside district in the Cotswolds, a boarding school I worked at, London, etc., which can all be found in my book.

What book have you read that has most influenced your life and writing?
To save this from being too Harry Potter-oriented, I’m going to say Wuthering Heights. The first time I read it, I hated it. But after reading it six more times (I studied it when I was 16), I realised it was probably one of the best things I’d ever come across literary-wise. I realised that it’s not always about what is written on the page; what’s not written is equally as important. And if it wasn’t for pseudonyms, we wouldn’t have been able to enjoy the Brontë sisters’ work.

Tell us a little about your plans for the future. Where do you see yourself as a writer in five years?
In five years, I hope to complete my trilogy. I just want people to read my books and think ‘Wow, this is making me think a little bit.’

Of all the characters you have created, which is your favorite and why?
Her name is Dolly Mason and she is the Attorney General of England. She is my favourite because she is real. Despite being amazing at her job, ruthless and strong, she is fragile. She cries and worries and breaks down. Then she picks herself up. She is three-dimensional and not the stereotype of a strong woman. She has flaws and isn’t perfect.

Any website or resources that have been helpful to you as a writer?
The Oxford Dictionary site is literally the best (https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/). I use it at work. Kind of obsessed. And my job as an editor has been invaluable. I thought I was good with grammar but that was wrong, even after my degree. My work experience taught me that language is pretty flexible and just because you’re a native speaker, it doesn’t mean you know how to use an en dash.

What do you love most about the writing process?
The backspace button. And re-reading everything.
If you could spend time as a character from your book whom would it be? And what would you do during that day?

My characters are not in the best scenarios but, if I had to choose, it would be a character named Dr India Rissington, a woman who runs a controversial organisation that performs backstreet operations for the poor. I wouldn’t operate or anything like that, but it would be an opportunity to see things from someone else’s perspective. Either her or a character named Briscoe, a lawyer who is pretty positive 90% of the time and always cracks jokes, even in pretty terrible times.

What are some tips you can give other aspiring writers?
No one can tell you how to write. You just have to do it. Read. Write. Repeat.

What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on my second book, ‘2031’, set twenty years before the first.

Can you share an excerpt with us from one of your novels/projects?
The first few paragraphs from the prologue of 2051:

Ever since his wife died, he had wanted to replace her. Before that, even. She never lied when he wanted her to. And as a lawyer, lies were important to him. You didn’t have to mean them, they could be brief or longstanding, but, in his opinion, they were mandatory in order to retain relationships and, more importantly, uphold a narrative or rhetoric.

In her opinion, his tie was always too blue or his shoes too dirty. The house was spotless, yet they needed to call the cleaner back again. Dinner plates were on fire or ice cold. On most days, she would be home when he arrived, and worst, she would be awake and waiting for him while their daughter slept, only to gripe and chastise when he headed straight to the study in his offensive brogues. The door closed behind him a little bit easier every time and it practically shut itself after nine years. his punishment was silence and hers was conversation.

Some candied deceit would have been welcomed, a brief kindness, pitiful intercourse or aesthetic commentary on his dress or demeanour could have meant that each torturous moment of his life could have been sweetened, although, he never knew what that was like. That was, until about a year after she left them. His first thought was, How dare you? Brilliant. Leave me to raise our teenage daughter. Perfect, perfect timing. Congratulations.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us before you go?
Without any support or encouragement, I bettered myself. With support, I became even more than I ever imagined.

L. Stanley started reading and writing at the age of nine and began writing her dystopian, science-fiction drama 2051: The Emancipated Synthetic, at the age of eighteen. She graduated with an English degree from the University of Birmingham and works in publishing. She lives in Gloucestershire with her partner, Andrew, and her cat, Sulu.

Author Links:
2051: The Emancipated Synthetic (2018) is available worldwide in ebook and in paperback in Europe on Amazon
The paperback is also available on the Ghost & Ribbon Publishing website

Elisa Stryker

Today I'd like to introduce to you the amazing and beautiful Elisa Stryker! Be sure to visit her blog as well, it's listed below!

Tell me a little about yourself:
I was born and raised in Arkansas by my mother and two great-grandparents. I’m the oldest of four children and the mother of a very intelligent son. Although I lived in Arkansas my entire life, most people say I don’t talk like it. In the south, I have a northern accent. Up north, I sound horribly country. It’s weird how my dialect changes but it helps with creating character voice.

What inspired you to be an author?
I used to read manga when I was younger. I always wanted to create my own world. My imagination took me wherever I wanted but I wanted others to experience it as well. A few years ago, I started writing a Naruto fanfic with my brother. That soon became its own creation after my brother got bored and I took over. Since then I’ve tinkered at the story adding more and more unique details.

Is writing your full time job? If not, what else do you do and how do you juggle both?
No writing isn’t my full time job but I hope it will be soon. Right now I’m self employed selling weight loss products through an online store. I have nearly all the time in the world to write.

How many stories have you written? (You can include published and non published works)
I’ve written too many short stories to count. Most of them were wrote down in notebooks back in middle school and are long gone now. So far I’ve only finished two full manuscripts, both in the same series. Neither are published yet, but an older version of one can be found on fiction press (it’s embarrassing so I won’t link it haha).

What is your writing process? 
I’m not sure I have a process. At first I was a panster, making things up as I go along. I was strict against outlining due to my own laziness haha. But now I brainstorm a basic outline/plot with a writing friend and fill in gaps as I write out the scenes. I still make up some things as I go along, especially if I run into a plot hole. I tend to underwrite the first draft and come back later to fill in details, world building, subplots, etc.

Where do your ideas come from?
Most of my ideas come from day dreaming. I have an over active imagination and spend a lot of time playing out different scenarios in my head. Some of them turn into story ideas while others stay floating in my subconscious. I was also really into zombie video games and movies. Like Left 4 Dead, Dawn of the Dead, and Resident Evil. That plus older anime like earlier Naruto and Inuyasha played a big part.

What is your writing Kryptonite?
I’d have to say self-doubt. It leads into procrastination and I miss deadlines. I failed at a lot of things in life and writing is my last chance to “make it.” I don’t want to mess it up so I tend to judge myself too harshly.

What advice do you have for other aspiring authors?
My advice: have fun. I know everyone says that and I’ve rolled my eyes at it too. But writing what you love and having fun with it makes the journey a lot easier.

What authors inspire you?
Suzanne Collins is my biggest inspiration. The Hunger Games was an amazing trilogy full of so much voice. Marissa Meyer is another inspiration. The blend of fairytales, androids, and cyborgs made me want to write a world as great as she did. I haven’t read past Cinder but I plan to pick up the other books soon.

Fiction or non-fiction? Which is easier?
I think fiction is easier since anything goes. You can create worlds filled with magical creatures and create your own rules. If something doesn’t work, change it. It’s simple.
There are too many rules to follow with non-fiction, in my opinion.

What are you currently working on? 
Right now I’m doing another round of edits on a Science Fantasy manuscript titled SACRIFICE ONE. It’s book 1 in my series. It’s dual POV following two teens who discover their childhood friend is the first to be immune to a man-made virus. It’s based on the question “would you sacrifice one person to save many more?”

The world mixes magic and science in a futuristic setting, but without much tech advancement. I sent out a few queries and received some requests. The editing never seems to end, though.

Can you leave us with an excerpt?
“If it can be created, it can be destroyed,” I mutter, staring at the data filling the holographic panel.
Then again, I’m sure the gods said the same about us.

The intercom emits a loud beep. A calm, almost robotic voice pages one of the many doctors to the emergency room. My assigned lab is isolated on the sixth floor, away from the coughing patients and scurrying medical staff. I prefer it this way. Cultivating a cure for the virus ravaging our island requires me to tuck away the disease’s deadly horror in a dark corner of my mind and move on with my work.

Blowing my bangs out of my face, I grab my notebook from the drawer. I tap a pen against my lips as I let out a long breath. None of my stress exhales with it.

A date circled in blue at the top of the page catches my attention. June 19, 2181. The second anniversary of my father’s death. The day I became the daughter of another victim of the Konadai Virus. I can still feel his icy hand on mine.

And before you go, is there anything else you'd like to say to our readers?

Thanks for letting me share a part of my crazy writing world! If you’re writing, keep at it. You never know what you might come up with.

I’m an African American female born in Little Rock, Arkansas where my biggest accomplishment was being an extra in two of my high school’s musical performances. I have a son who is starting his freshman year at my old high school.

Before writing seriously, I spent my time creating short stories based on teen slasher movies and Naruto fan fiction.

In February 2018, I was accepted as a mentee in Justina Ireland’s Writing in The Margins mentorship program. My mentor, Scott Reintgen, helped me mold the first draft of SACRIFICE ONE into something much better. I also completed the 1st 5 Pages workshop in June hosted by Erin Cashman.
Check out her Blog: http://elisastryker1.blogspot.com
Da'Norris Searcy Jersey

The Hope of Azure Springs Book Blitz

THE HOPE OF

AZURE SPRINGS 

by

RACHEL FORDHAM

Genre: Inspirational Historical Romance  Date of Publication: July 3, 2018 Publisher: Revell

Number of Pages: 336

ABOUT THE BOOK: Seven years ago, orphaned and alone, Em finally arrived at a new home in Iowa after riding the orphan train. But secrets from her past haunt her, and her new life in the Western wilderness is a rough one. When her guardian is shot and killed, Em, now nineteen, finally has the chance to search for her long-lost sister, but she won’t be able to do it alone.

For Azure Springs Sheriff Caleb Reynolds, securing justice for the waifish and injured Em is just part of his job. He’s determined to solve every case put before him in order to impress his parents and make a name for himself. Caleb expects to succeed. What he doesn’t expect is the hold this strange young woman will have on his heart.

Welcome to the charming town of Azure Springs, Iowa, where people care deeply for one another and, sometimes, even fall in love.

CLICK TO PURCHASE

Baker Book House * Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Christianbook.com * Kobo * Books-A-Million

PRAISE FOR THE HOPE OF AZURE SPRINGS: “In her promising first novel, Fordham assembles an endearing cast of characters in the rugged Midwest plains for a tale about surviving and thriving. . . .Fordham depicts heartbreaking emotional and physical suffering, while beautifully illustrating the power in simple acts of kindness to foster healing, hope, and happiness.”

—Booklist

EXCERPT: PROLOGUE FROM THE HOPE OF AZURE SPRINGS

Iowa, 1881

     She dead?”

     Em heard a man’s voice from somewhere above her. A strange thumping pulsed through her with each word he spoke. Her throat burned, screaming for water, but she could not cry out.

     “There’s life in her. Not much of it though,” a second, raspier voice answered. She felt a hand press against her throat and then move over her body, gently probing. “She’s bleeding pretty bad.”

     “Gunshot?” the first voice asked.

     If only her eyes would open, and she could see them. Straining, she struggled to pull her heavy eyelids open. Finally, bits of light darted in front of her eyes, but she could not focus. The faces above her were fuzzy and indiscernible.

     Fear swept through her, suddenly waking her battered body. Afraid the men from before had returned, she opened her eyes wide, finding strength that only moments before she had lacked. With thrashing arms, she flailed at the men. Her arms flopped about but offered little defense—she was too weak from blood loss. And then they moved no longer, subdued by large, strong hands.

     “Easy, girl. We aren’t going to hurt you. We just want to help. Take you into town, that’s all. There’s a good doctor there.” The man’s deep voice sounded gentle, but still she did not trust him. Voices could be deceiving. Arms could hurt as well as help. She knew these things well.

     Soon she felt her body being raised above the ground, and moments later the hard planks of a wagon became the resting place for her injured frame. Too weak to move, she lay looking at the sky, wishing there were a way to end the agony, but knowing that for Lucy she would fight on.

     Once the wagon lurched forward, she lost track of everything again. The wheels bouncing over ruts made her pain so intense that everything closed around her and then faded to black.

Click here to read Chapter One of The Hope of Azure Springs

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Rachel Fordham started writing when her children began begging her for stories at night. She’d pull a book from the shelf, but they’d insist she make one up. She hasn’t stopped since. She lives with her husband and children on an island in the state of Washington.

WEBSITE   FACEBOOK  

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Railyn Stone

I'm very excited to introduce to you all Railyn Stone! Railyn is an author from North Carolina! Check out her interview below and be sure to connect with her on Facebook and Twitter!

How long have you been writing?
I have always liked writing and I started at a young age. I actually wrote a book in 2nd grade, of course it was a short story, but I fell in love with storytelling from there. I wrote for years just on my own, starting and stopping stories and finally finished writing a full-length novel. Once I did, I started querying literary agents in 2008 and learning more about the publishing industry. I participated in a contest for aspiring authors in 2013 and made the top 50 finalists, and that gave me more confidence to keep writing and pursuing publication, which first happened for me in 2014.

Where is your favorite writing spot?
I spend a good amount of time in my office writing at my desk, but I get the majority of my ideas in the shower. I need one of those dry erase boards in there so when an idea pops into my head I can just write it down there. LOL

Tell us a little about your plans for the future. Where do you see yourself as a writer in five years?
I honestly didn’t know I would be at this point in the four years that I’ve been published. I’ve met a lot of great people, authors and readers and I’ve been able to participate in some author events. I would like to have at least two more books published in the next five years and I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’d like to be at USA Today or NY Times Bestselling status or both. That would be a dream come true.

What literary world would you love to visit for a day? 
I think if I had to visit a specific world it would have to be Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. I love the whimsy of his writing and the imagination that went into creating such a magical world. It would have been fun I think to head down that rabbit hole with Alice.

Any website or resources that have been helpful to you as a writer? 
There are so many websites and resources to help writers such as Publisher’s Weekly and Publisher’s Marketplace, but a lot of the things I’ve used have come from joining groups on Facebook, especially Indie writer groups. I’m a little bit of an introvert and one Facebook page I’ve found extremely helpful with tips on social media is LaShaunda Hoffman’s page. She’s a writer, but also teaches other writers how to come out of their cocoon and become a social butterfly. She has a lot of great tips.

What would you say is the easiest aspect of writing? 
The easiest aspect of writing for me is the freedom to make up my own worlds and escape from reality if only for a little while. It’s one of the most freeing and most enjoyable feelings I get when I’m creating.

Do your novels carry a message? 
I love my family and I feel that family is really important, whether it’s your biological family or a “piece-meal” family. It’s important to stay surrounded and grounded by the people who love you most and I try to put those feelings and influences in each of my books. I also believe that love doesn’t have a color hence the tagline for my first book, The Christmas Tree Guy. You can’t put a color on love. I truly believe that people should appreciate each other for who they are and love them for who they are.

Have any new writers grasped your interest recently? 
I wouldn’t necessarily say new writers have grasped my attention lately, but maybe a writer that is new to me that I’ve started reading is DL White. I’m currently reading her book Brunch at Ruby’s and I’m enjoying her writing style and the rhythm of the book. It has a great flow to it.

Do you have any tips for other writers? 
Write what you like. Write what you want to read and don’t compare yourself to anyone else unless you are writing a query letter. LOL! Seriously, enjoy it and believe in yourself. If this is something you want to pursue, try your best to learn everything you can, but also be open to criticism. Working with really good editors can be an amazing opportunity if you are open to what they have to say. It’s okay to fight to keep your words the way you want them or to keep a scene that you particularly love, but make sure you listen to the editor to see the angle they are coming from as well. It could be the difference in good book and a great one.

Before you go, can you leave us with an excerpt?

Here’s an excerpt from Love and Loopholes my book that will release on August 6th! I’m so excited for everyone to meet Channing and Kirby. I hope you like it.

Handsome wasn’t the word to describe him. She honestly didn’t think there was a word in Webster’s Dictionary, or the Urban Dictionary for that matter, to describe the magnificence that was this creature. He was the epitome of tall, dark and handsome. He was as aloof and debonair as the main characters that graced the television screen in the old black and white movies she loved. The suit he wore fit his agile build.

She quickly turned in her seat and adjusted the gray jersey maxi dress she wore wishing she’d at least taken a moment to excuse herself to freshen up. When he arrived at their table, she looked up and as his eyes locked with hers. She could feel the sweat forming in her hands. She absentmindedly wiped them on the soft material of her dress.

“Kirby, I’d like you to meet the proposition. Channing Lucas, meet Kirby Allen. Your new wife.”

“Excuse me?” Kirby nearly choked looking at Bryant with wild eyes. “Wife?”

“Yes. That’s the proposition.” The look he gave her was as if he’d expected her to know marriage was part of the deal. She’d never imagined that’s what she was there for and her throat tightened. Swallowing hard, she glanced back and forth between the two.

“Hold on a minute. You said I wouldn’t have to worry about money or anything anymore, you never said anything about being a mail order bride.” Kirby shook her head feeling her heart inching its way up to her throat. She had to get a rein on her thoughts and get back to the task at hand.

“Channing is your way of not having to worry about anything. And I promise, you won’t be a mail order bride. I’ll leave you two to talk.” She saw Bryant grin at Channing before he stood and exited the lounge.

She turned to see Channing staring at her and a warm feeling flowed through her body. His gaze was enough to melt away every stitch of clothing she wore and she felt a rush of tingles roar across her skin.

“It’s obvious Bryant didn’t really go into detail about why you’re here.” Kirby nearly dissolved through the floor listening to the honey-coated baritone voice caressed by a sweet southern lilt emanating from the perfect face of Channing Lucas. When he spoke, she caught the slightest glimpse of a set of dimples hiding in his freshly shaven cheeks. Just looking at him she was mesmerized by the blazing swatches of gold in his tiger-eyes.

“Uh, he said I wouldn’t have to worry about anything anymore, but he didn’t mention marriage.” She strained barely hearing her own voice as she spoke. Marriage had always been a dream of hers, but she’d never imagined this kind of scenario. What the hell is going on?

Railyn Stone, author of The Christmas Tree Guy, A Secret to Keep, Restored Hearts, and Lest We Aren’t Forgiven lives in North Carolina with her husband. When she’s not behind the screen of her laptop, she’s usually enjoying time with her family. The only child of two educators, she learned early on just how magical words can be.

Author Links:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/railynst
Instagram: www.instagram.com/railynstone
Website: www.railynstone.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/railynwrites
Email: railynwrites@gmail.com
Amazon Author page: http://amzn.to/1WPuUu2

Got Mythical Creatures?

What mythical creature would improve the world most if it existed?

That is a perfectly good question! I think the world would most benefit from a dragon, especially in my world. There are several reasons why a dragon would be the best pick for this question. Here are my reasons why:

1. Dragons can breathe fire! This will come in handy in the winter when it's freezing outside and he needs to make me a fire!
2. My dragon would be the perfect babysitter for Brenden. He would keep him warm, rock him to sleep, and learn how to feed him a bottle!
3. Transportation! My dragon could take me to work! Can you imagine showing up to work in your totally rad dragon? Or going through the Starbucks drive thru to get a coffee?
4. If we are traveling, my dragon would be the perfect thing to lay on or snuggle up against. Not only is he instant transportation, but he makes a comfy pillow as well.
5. I would use my dragon for pet therapy! Kids will line up to pet and play with my pet dragon!
6. I could practice my sword fighting skills against its tail!
7. Dragons like gold right? If I had a pet dragon he/she will bring me loads of treasure!
8. We would get manicures together! My dragon will LOVE getting his/her nails done!
9. Dragons would make good guard dogs. No one would mess with me or my dragon.
10. My dragon will be the ultimate weather protector! Against rain, snow, and to shield me against the hot Texas sun! A must have in this crazy weather here!

Yes, I think the world would be so much better with a dragon! What about you? What mythical creature do you think would make the world a better place?

LM Devlin

I'm eager to introduce to you all the lovely LM Devlin! Be sure to check out her interview, and if you would like to connect with this amazing author, her media links are listed below!

What first inspired you to start writing?

I always loved reading, but it's wasn't until I got into creative writing at school that I started writing in earnest. I loved being able to create new worlds and explore my inner feelings in a way where there would be no judgement.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I think I'm a plantser! Honestly, I do a bit of both. I always have an overall plan for my books and short stories. However, I don't get down into the nitty-gritty of exactly what happens in every chapter. Sometimes I surprise myself with what I end up writing!

Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?

I tend to avoid basing characters on other people as I think that could be disrespectful. Also potentially dangerous if someone reads it and discovers what you've done! A lot of my characters are based on facets of myself. For example, my main character Emmy has low self-confidence. This comes directly from me. Another character Zecha feels like he doesn't fit in with the role expected of him in society. Again, this comes from me.

What book have you read that has most influenced your life and writing?

I think it has to be Maya Angelou's autobiographical works. I found so much inspiration in how she kept going despite all the harshness in her life, and then how she became such a vital figure in her later life. I also love her poetry. I'm not sure if she influences my writing except in that I've realised the best writing comes from your own truth.

Tell us a little about your plans for the future. Where do you see yourself as a writer in five years?

Hopefully in five years I will have finished the Darkwitch Trilogy and will have moved on to some of my other standalone novels. I'd like to be more well-known and, if I'm being honest, I'd love to have landed a traditional publishing deal.

Of all the characters you have created, which is your favorite and why?

My favourite character is Rel, the magician Bomsoi's assistant. She's brave, honest, caring, a great warrior and also an effective healer. She's struggled with fitting into her society and ran away because of discrimination. But through it all she has kept a good heart.

Any website or resources that have been helpful to you as a writer?

Attending writing groups and residential has definitely been the most helpful resource. The act of writing outside of your comfort zone or your big project is very helpful. I've produced a huge amount of poetry as a result.

What do you love most about the writing process?

I love re-reading my work and thinking, "You know, this is pretty good!" I'm a huge self-doubter and when I came give myself genuine crept for something, it feels great!

If you could spend time as a character from your book whom would it be? And what would you do during that day?

I think I would be Zecha. While he has his issues and problems, he is so unendingly positive. I can be so negative. I'd love to feel that positive and happy for a day!

What are some tips you can give other aspiring writers?

I know this is what everyone says but it's the most important thing: write. Write your novel. Write short stories. Write poetry and drama. Write in different genres. Write stuff that you know is bad. Write stuff you think is good. Write in a journal. Free-write. It really is the best thing you can do.

What are you working on now?

I'm working on the sequel to Rise of the Darkwitch. It's called Darkwitch Unchained and it follows on exactly from where Rise ended. I'm onto the third draft of the manuscript (I think). I'm just about to start a major overhaul!

Can you share an excerpt with us from one of your novels/projects?

Here's a little excerpt from Unchained:

He watched. He waited. Soon, they would be in his sight.

It was the same every time he did this. Pausing, he wiped the sweat from his brow. Then he renewed the strength of his grip.

The sword came from his first kill in his new life—a captain. Killing was nothing new. In his past, he’d killed kings. But that was behind him. That life, that family, was nothing but dust on the wind.

Mantos pressed the leather hilt into the palm of his left hand. It was smooth. With his right hand, he gripped the bough of the tall tree. The sensation was the opposite: gnarled under his fingertips. Around him, leaves rustled, kissing the back of his neck.

Below, his prey came into view.

He’d done this a hundred times. Perhaps two hundred, three even. I have to, Mantos thought. I have to do something for these poor folk.

Every time, the dance was the same. Letting go of the branch and drawing his hood low, sword still in hand, Mantos prepared to strike.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us before you go?

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this interview! Feel free to connect with me across my social media accounts. I love a good chat!

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About the Author:

Born in Belfast on the seventy-fifth anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, Ziv Gray writes for inclusion.

Passionate about issues of mental health and LGBTQA+ rights and representation, Ziv seeks to highlight social issues - but can't resist the allure of sci-fi and fantasy.
Ziv lives in Northern Ireland with husband Barry, daughter Alexis, rescue Lurcher Andromeda, and their two guinea pigs.