I have a GREAT interview for you today. Asking a stranger random questions about their work can be a gamble — sometimes you get great answers, sometimes not. This time? Great answers.

First, a little about the book, Heidegger’s Glasses:

Heidegger’s Glasses opens during the end of World War II in a failing Germany coming apart at the seams. The Third Reich’s strong reliance on the occult and its obsession with the astral plane has led to the formation of an underground compound of scribes—translators responsible for answering letters written to those eventually killed in the concentration camps. Into this covert compound comes a letter written by eminent philosopher Martin Heidegger to his optometrist, who is now lost in the dying thralls of Auschwitz. How will the scribes answer this letter? The presence of Heidegger’s words—one simple letter in a place filled with letters—sparks a series of events that will ultimately threaten the safety and well-being of the entire compound.

This one is definitely on my TBR list, but until then, I got a chance to ask author Thaisa Frank some questions about here work…

AotS: I am always fascinated by a writer’s process – how and when and where they write. Do you have any rituals around your writing? Particular places or times of the day that your write, music that you listen to or a schedule that you keep?

TF: About process:    I tend to be a sprinter–that is, I mull over the story for a long time and collect fragments that have resonance until they’ve arranged themselves into a pattern and suggest the sequence and shape of the story. There are blank days in this process, during which I assure myself that the story is gestating and that I’m not just wasting time. (I’m never sure until the story manifests!)

Flaubert said: It’s not the pearls, it’s the way they’re strung together and I guess you might say that I collect the pearls very slowly and then work intensively until they’re strung into a viable necklace.

Rules and rituals: I generally have one writing rule that I stick to:  I don’t take a break until 4:30 on weekdays. This means that I don’t meet people for lunch or schedule writing consultations with clients and I stay at my desk, or in a café with my computer, even if all I’m doing is staring. It’s kind of like being a shopkeeper. I may not have any customers that day but if I don’t show up, I won’t sell anything.

Places: In the mulling-over phase I can work in cafes. I like the ambient noise, the music in the background and the friends who stop to talk. But in the printing phase, I work in my studio–a quiet place with a lot of papers.  I’m compulsive about the music and rhythm in my work, so I sometimes will print a page many times, just to see whether one comma should be taken out.  I turn into a crazed type A maniac when I print and I wouldn’t want anyone to see me!

AotS: Do you generally plot the story in your head and know what you want to write when you sit down? Or do you just pick up a pen (or boot up the laptop) and let fly? Do you know when you begin how the story will end?

TF: I don’t know the plot when I begin a story.  I start with a phrase, an image, a situation, and often a title.  Sometimes I know the last phrases of a story without knowing what the story is about. I often start my stories in longhand and at some point work switch to my laptop.  There’s always an exciting point in this process—the point at which the story seems to be an independent entity, outside my imagination. And then it begins to tell me what to do with it—what to take out, what to emphasize. It’s like catching on to a math problem or a puzzle.  For me, this is on one of the most exciting parts of writing fiction.

AotS: You’ve published two previous books of short stories. How is it different, writing a full length novel? Do you think about the story differently?

TF: I start a novel the same way I start a story.  That is, with an  an image, a title, a sense of place, or  a slightly surreal situation. For example: One element in Heidegger’s Glasses was a vision of a cobblestone street with gas lamps in an abandoned mine. There was a large room in this mine where people were writing letters to the dead. This image was on my mind when I started the novel. The room and the mine became populated with people. As did the title Heidegger’s Glasses.  But a third of the way through, I had to begin to see how these strands related to a larger narrative arc that would carry the story through to the end. So this leds me to thinking about the plot. Short stories seem to resolve themselves on an intuitive level.  In a short story, the pearls turn into something light, something that can be thrown in the air and land in a pattern.   In a novel, two-thirds of the way through, I really have to think about “what comes next.” (more…)

Today I’ve got a special guest post from Alexia Fraser, author of Memories of Mom, the story of caring for her aging mother. The book has gotten great reviews around the web, and I am pleased to be able to share with you her post…

Every Child Has A Mother

“Every child has a mother” was what my mom would always say.  Mom was a strong, dynamic and loving mother.  What a mother she was indeed!

As a child so many things about Mom resonated with me.  One memory that stood out in particular was when handyman Alan stopped by our house to see if Mom had any chores for him to do.  Alan would stop by every now and then to see what work was needed to be done around the yard.  Alan was a very hard worker and Mom respected him for his strong work ethic.  Actually, Mom was a very hard worker herself she greatly respected that trait in others.

Mom was a very good cook.  I would sit in the kitchen and watch her as she prepared our meals. On the day in question, Alan was busy doing his usual handyman chores around the yard.  Mom, likewise, was busy in the kitchen preparing a delicious lunch for my siblings and me.  When lunch was almost ready, Mom turned to me and said “Ali, please set the table.” I replied, “sure Mom.”   As usual, I set the table for my siblings, Mom and myself.  Dad was not at home.  Being a musician, he was many times out on the road touring with his band members, as he was on this occasion.

After I was finished setting the table, Mom looked at the table and then looked at me.  Then she said, “Ali you did a very nice job but you’re missing a place setting.” I was puzzled.  I said to her, “What do you mean?” She replied, “you did not set a place for Alan.”   Although I was only a child, and children are generally not taken aback by kindness, I was for a moment surprised. Surprised because family helpers would normally be expected to sit away from the family, usually outside, where they would eat by themselves.  Questionably, I turned to Mom and asked, “Alan is sitting at the table with us?”  Mom firmly replied “Yes! Every child has a mother.  He has a mother too.” I finished up quickly by setting an extra place for Alan.

When lunch was served, Mom called out to Alan to take a break from his work and wash up for lunch.  Alan immediately stopped what he was doing, washed up, and came directly to the kitchen.  Upon entering the kitchen, he paused for a moment, seemingly a bit surprised.  Mom looked at him and said, “Alan, have a seat at the table.”  Alan was stunned.  He looked at my Mom and then he looked at us. Mom repeated, “Alan you may sit at the table.” He slowly sat down, and turning to face Mom, he said, “Ms. Spence, no one has ever treated me with this much kindness. Thank you.” Mom, replied, “You’re welcome.”

We all sat and had a sumptuous, loving, and enjoyable lunch together.  That’s my mom!

Looking back at this memory bring tears to my eyes. (more…)

Another week, another guest post! This week, I’ve got Larry Kahn, author of King of Paine, talking about his new work. There’s info on a big giveaway at the end of the post – a chance to win a new Kindle, just before Christmas! Be sure to read all the way to the end to check it out. While you’re there, check Larry’s website for other stops on this tour to find other guest posts and reviews of King of Paine.

And now….Larry Kahn!

When Eye Candy Fights Back: Adding Depth To a Love Interest

Frank Paine, the protagonist in King of Paine, is a former Hollywood stud who’s recently joined the FBI, a role that screams for a centerfold on his arm. As a former beauty queen and TV starlet, Jolynn Decker could easily fall into the “eye candy” stereotype, a conclusion not contradicted by our first look at her:

Time had faded his memory of Jolynn’s face, one that would drive a caricaturist mad for its lack of imperfections—fair skin, dainty nose, and mirthful, almond-shaped eyes. Her blond mane cascaded over a narrow-waisted, red winter coat like water flowing over a falls.

But as mentioned in previous posts, I rebel against stereotypes. As the story progresses, the feisty Atlantan alternates among suspect, tease, lover, sidekick, and victim, revealing more of her complex motives and nature with each new plot twist. I’m declaring this space a spoiler-free zone, so make assumptions about the order she takes on these roles at your own peril. My goal today is to share some of the techniques used to help Jolynn fight back against the eye candy stereotype.

I view “eye candy” as a character whose principal appeal is physical beauty, whether male or female, and these characters have their place in literature. Much of James Bond’s mojo derives from his legendary ability to snare the sexiest women with a wayward glance. Romance novels are rife with manly hunks with ripped abs and not much upstairs (so I hear). My own first novel, The Jinx, features several strong-willed and intelligent woman who tangle with my ordinary guy hero, but I couldn’t resist giving him one piece of sugar pie for dessert (call it a gift to ordinary guys everywhere).

In King of Paine, though, Frank Paine’s reformed womanizer needed a real femme fatale to tempt him, an attraction deeper than physical beauty, a chick who could drive him to play outside the FBI’s rules, maybe even sacrifice his life. So I gave Frank and Jolynn a passionate history, a true love affair that ended after a kinky Hollywood scandal destroyed her budding TV career but left him unscathed. Although Frank never stopped loving her, they haven’t spoken in three years when his new career in the FBI takes him to her native Atlanta.

Jolynn’s festering anger, the unknown depth of her emotional injuries, makes her reaction to Frank’s presence unpredictable. So when an anonymous online stalker threatens to reveal Frank’s kinky secrets shortly after he arrives in town, he’s forced to confront Jolynn. She expects (or pretends to expect?) an apology, so you can imagine the tension in that reunion when he accuses her of a crime. By building conflict into their history, I was able to magnify Jolynn’s emotional reaction to the accusation.

To add to her mystery, their story is told only from Frank’s point of view. Like Frank, you hear Jolynn’s words and gauge her actions, but her real-life erotic cat-and-mouse game with him eerily resembles the tactics employed by the stalker taunting the FBI. Her shrouded motives make her seem capable of both love and revenge, and she’s a clever enough actress to fool the Bureau–and maybe even you. Jolynn’s ever-changing role in Frank’s investigation and in his life places her at the heart of the story, not just on Frank’s arm and in his bed.

On tomorrow’s tour stop, The Enchanted Book will host my guest post “What Can You Expect From A 99-Cent E-Book?” My answer might surprise you. A library of bargain e-books could fit on your new Kindle Touch 3G, but even if you don’t win the grand prize in the King of Paine Kindle Giveaway Contest, you might still take home an Amazon gift card before Christmas. Enter today and improve your odds!

You all know that I love guest posts, right? I love reading what authors have to say about their writing and process and their inspirations. Today, I’ve got Greg Messel, author of The Illusion of Certainty. He answers a really interesting question: what is your book about? I know that several times I have requested a review copy and the book I got doesn’t seem to resemble the description I got. (I’ve also gotten to the end of a description and thought, “What is that all about?”, but that’s a different question.)

Now, be sure to read clear to the bottom — at the bottom of this post, you’ll find info about how you can get a free copy of Greg’s new book! Don’t miss out on that!

So, what is the book about? Read on to find out….

WHAT IS YOUR BOOK ABOUT?

That IS the question. It is a question that as an author you usually need to answer in less than 30 seconds.

I have watched potential customers and readers at bookstore signings and book festivals. I’ve observed their actions and their faces. They often pick up the book and look at the cover. Then they flip it over and read the summary on the back. I know I have just seconds to make the case which will convince them to not put the book back on the table.

As I watch them read the jacket or the back of a paperback copy of my book, I think of the time I’ve spent trying to craft a concise, yet interesting summary of my story.

I once had a boss who said you always need to have your “elevator speech” ready. An elevator speech is needed to quickly explain a quick concept. When I enter a elevator to ride to a higher floor, what would I say if someone said, “what is your book about?”

I now have less than a minute until me or the person asking the question, will get off of the elevator. There is no time to hesitate, no time to hum and haw to get your thoughts going. It’s the essence of your sales pitch. “Why should I buy your book?” they are asking.

You must find a happy medium between an extended, long-winded summary of the plot and a quick but uninformative answer such as “it’s a love story.” My three novels are “love stories” but they are much more. Why should a reader want to spend their time reading my book out of all of the choices there are out there? I’ve been to the LA Festival of Books and had signings at book stores where you feel that you are in the presence of people who love books.

However, I remember two book signings at Costco. It was then I really felt like a commodity. I was sitting at my table full of my books smiling and saying hello. A shopper comes by with a shopping cart full of toilet paper, bug spray for their rose bushes and a package of 48 frozen burritos. They stop and pick up my book. They look over the cover and then flip it over to read the summary.

To the author, this book is a piece of your soul. I’ve spent almost a year, carefully writing and re-writing this book. I’ve agonized over the title and cover design. I written more summaries of what this book is about then I can count.

It now comes down to this–the person looking at the book jacket is wondering, “why should I give you 14 bucks for this book?” Is there something about my book which is going to make it worth it or should they pick up another of the hundreds of books piled on shelves directly behind me? Or should they forget the book and just buy a new sweatshirt?

When I watch a potential reader or buyer carefully looking over the outside of my book, it makes me glad that I have a well-designed cover or a good summary on the back. The clock is ticking. What will they decide?

My second book, “Expiation” is set against the backdrop of the politics and turmoil of the 1970s. I have noticed a positive reaction when I add that tidbit of information. This grabs the interest of certain demographics such as Baby Boomers

A good quick summary of “Expiation” is contained in an ad in the New York Review of Books. It reads, “In this romance that spans 30 years from the turbulent 1970s in San Francisco, two former sweethearts reunite and try to reclaim their love.” Good elevator speech!

Now I’ve published my third book “The Illusion of Certainty.” What is it about?

The book has three parts. It takes place in Portland, Oregon, Seattle, London and Paris. It is about unexpected events which shape people’s lives and test their mettle. One overriding theme is the book is “the only certainty in life is uncertainty.” I have some twists and turns in the plot which I do not want to reveal in my summaries and “elevator speeches.” So what am I going to say? I can’t be uncertain about that. Hmmm.

I need to figure that out before you get off the elevator.

Today, I’ve got a special guest post from Sidney Ayers, author of Demons Like It Hotand Demons Prefer Blondes. Sidney is making the rounds for her newest book and I got a chance to ask her about one of my favorite guest post topics: Tell me about your writing process. I love hearing about what authors do — how they get inspired, where they do their writing, what little rituals they have to celebrate or motivate.  Today, Sidney gives us a peek at what gets her creative juices flowing — some of my friends could have used this at the beginning of NaNoWriMo!

Sidney Ayers

I never quite thought of my writing process. I usually just get an idea or a character pop into my head. I can be doing anything—watching TV, getting a pedicure at the local day spa, cooking dinner. One even decided to interrupt my bath time. It pretty much happens anywhere. But I have noticed over the years, that real life situations and people do manage to manifest themselves into my stories. In the first book of the Demons Unleashed series, Demons Prefer Blondes, there was a rather interesting dinner scene with the heroine and her mom. At the time, my mother had been arguing with me about something. (Whatever it was we were arguing about has since slipped my mind. Either way, it ended up being a pretty funny scene with Lucy dealing with a rather naggy mother. I guess it was therapeutic relief from the stress of the argument. Did I mention that my mom is my beta reader? Oops. Luckily she’s a good sport.

I do find myself at the mall people watching. Who doesn’t do that? It’s a great way to get my creative juices flowing, especially if I’m in a slump. It’s fun to come up with stories to match the look on their face or the bounce in their step. Then there was the time I saw a young woman make a wish in the well. I came up with a whole story for that one. Every person you see is unique. It’s that uniqueness that makes a great story.

I try to keep my story as realistic and unique as possible. Demons Prefer Blondes stars a half succubus hairstylist and my December release, Demons Like It Hot stars Serah SanGermano, a caterer with the ability to sniff out the bad demons. I haven’t seen too many paranormals involving Hair stylists and caterers, so I just knew I had to go for it. The next book, however, stars a tattoo artist demon, so it’ll be a little more edgy yet still retain that snarky humor.

Also, Connolly Park, where most the action in my books occurs is actually loosely based on my hometown. It’s a small Midwestern suburb of a moderately sized city. There’s a mixture of urban and rural that gives it an eclectic charm. I mean you can go clubbing one minute and cow tipping the next. I’ll have it known that I have never cow tipped. Not because it’s cruel, but because it just isn’t possible. It’s a myth after all. There is no way to tip a sleeping cow. On the contrary to popular belief, cows don’t sleep standing up. Then again, even if it were possible, the idea of pushing a poor defenseless cow over holds no appeal to me.

The rural part of the town will be examined in further installments of the Demons Unleashed series. Actually, now that I think about it, I’ve already incorporated the rural “aroma” since some of the bad demons have been known to smell like the scent of the fields getting spread, if you know what I mean.

So I guess I have an eclectic process. I do whatever it takes for each story to be magical in its own special way.

Okay, we’ve got a special mid-week guest post this time around. M.J. Rose, author of The Hypnotist, is stopping here on her tour and she’s got a guest post about the inspiration for her latest story. This is an amazing guest post! Gave me the chills.

Check out more stops on the tour
Check our her website, mjrose.com
And keep an eye out for more information on Twitter at #TheHypnotistVirtualBookTour

M.J. Rose

If you go the Met, please go visit Perneb’s tomb. And if you see a little girl there with long blonde hair and a blue school uniform… ask her if her name is Veronica… and if it is, thank her for me.

Today, I’ve got a special guest post from author Lars Guignard, talking about his new book, Lethal Circuit. It’s the story of Michael Chase, an American backpacker who becomes the focus of an international manhunt. The book is set in China, which I think is a great backdrop for a thriller: it’s exotic, distant, full of interesting languages and customs and characters. Why did Lars choose it for his setting? Read on…

Why China?

Why did I set my thriller Lethal Circuit in China?    China is always in the news these days.  It’s supposed to bail out the world economy.  It’s where all the jobs went.  It’s eclipsed the USA as a superpower.   Every headline you read is China, China, China.   So why did I set Lethal Circuit there? The answer is not for any of the reasons above.

I got the idea for Lethal Circuit while in Hong Kong working on a TV show.  I think I need to back up here.  Awhile back I flew from Los Angeles to Hong Kong for the weekend.  It was a long way to go for a short visit, but my wife needed some samples delivered from a Chinese factory and believe it or not, buying me a ticket to accompany here was the quickest and cheapest way of getting them back in time.  So I went to Hong Kong for the weekend with every intention of being back bright and early Monday morning.

The thing was, once I got to Hong Kong I loved it there.  The place was incredible.  The food, the architecture, the 24/7 neon.  The city was an adrenalin rush and I didn’t want to leave.  I was working in Los Angeles as a screenwriter at the time, but my current assignment had me working remotely on a television show that was shooting in Canada.  I owed them a script, but I didn’t need to show up in the office.  So we figured out the thing with the samples, I kissed my wife goodbye, and I planned to stay on for a few weeks in Hong Kong.

Everything went surprisingly well.  I managed to get my drafts of the show I was working on into the production offices, I read their notes, I even had a couple of phone meetings, and other than the fact that I had to be up at odd hours, nobody asked where I was.  Work wise, it was as though I hadn’t left.

But inspiration wise, I was in hyper drive.  I’d done a lot of traveling after college, going around the world more than once with nothing but the shoes on my feet and the backpack on my back.  I’d set that aside to work as a screenwriter in Los Angeles, but I’d always felt a strong wanderlust.  Now, being back in Asia for the first time, I found myself drawn like a magnet to the legions of backpackers I saw crisscrossing Hong Kong.

(more…)

I’ve got an interesting review coming up and an equally interesting interview today to go with it! Today, I’ve got J. Lee Drexler, author of Fabulous Finds: How Expert Appraiser Lee Drexler Sold Wall Street’s Charging Bull, Found Hidden Treasures and Mingled with the Rich & Famous. There are some great stories in this book and I am really looking forward to it. (I love Antiques Roadshow and shows like it, although I have to admit that I’m amused when their treasures turn out to be trash.) In the meantime, I got the chance to ask Lee some questions about her appraising career:

1. How did you get started in the appraisal business? Did you start off wanting to be involved with antiques and artwork, or is it something you wandered into?

I have a very extensive art history background and my husband (who is the co-author of the book and an estates attorney) suggested I go into appraisal work.

I spent time in Paris studying at the Louvre and at the Museum of Decorative Art. I studied at all the major art museums of Europe and then graduated from Tufts University. Several years went by during which I got married and had children. I then became an interior decorator but wasn’t enjoying it too much. That was when my husband suggested I become an appraiser. I started apprenticing for three years and then started my own business.

I have been interested in antiques and fine art since I was four years old. You will find out more about this in my book!

2. I don’t want to spoil the stories in the book, but what is the most unusual item you’ve been asked to appraise?

The biggest and most unusual item was the Bull on Wall Street.

3. What’s the most common scam you see people fall victim to, or the one thing they should avoid if they don’t want to be cheated?

Paying too much for antiques and buying a reproduction that is called an antique . Buying “Put together” antiques – when two different antiques are put together and sold as one piece. An antique shouldn’t have more than a 20%  replacement.  The biggest scam is buying prints that are forgeries; particularly by Picasso, Miro, Chagall, Calder, and Dali.

4. Do you collect anything yourself? Do you stop at yard sales or thrift stores and look for treasures?

I collect many different things including miniature clocks. I think they are unique, interesting and beautiful. Each one is different from the next, representing different eras.

I occasionally stop at yard sales but generally speaking I don’t think there is anything of value there anymore.  I do go to auctions and buy at auctions.

5. What’s your favorite museum to visit? Do you have a particular work or gallery there that you love to re-visit?

I love the Metropolitan, the Louvre and the Tate in London as well as the Musée Marmottan and its Monet exhibit. I enjoy Impressionists and American paintings the most.

6. Do you watch shows like Antiques Roadshow, just to check the work of their experts?

Yes, I do and I enjoy it. However, I don’t always agree with the pricing.

Boy, now I wish I had the chance to ask some follow-up questions on the pricing!

Coming up on Sunday, I’ve got an interview with J. Lee Drexler, author of author of Fabulous Finds: How Expert Appraiser Lee Drexler Sold Wall Street’s Charging Bull, Found Hidden Treasures and Mingled with the Rich & Famous. I love the antiques shows, the auction shows, and I can’t wait to read the book! Check back on Sunday for her answers!

Today, I’ve got a really interesting guest post from K.J. Steele, author of No Story to Tell. In it, a chance meeting shakes up Victoria Lackey’s life. I asked KJ a question I love to ask: What has writing fiction taught you about reality? There are so many ways an author could attack that question and I was really interested in seeing what KJ decided to tell us…

What has writing fiction taught you about reality?

Writing fiction has been a wonderful teacher in terms of candidly reflecting reality back to me. And, like most teaching, not all of the lessons have been easily learned, or appreciated as I went through them. They have, however, proven to be invaluable guideposts for me as I traverse through life.

K.J. Steele, November 2011