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Paul Harry: The 5 Moons of Tiiana
Paul, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. Let’s discuss your book first, and then dive into the interview.
Book title: The 5 Moons of Tiiana
Genre: Science Fiction
Buy links: Amazon, my website (www.5moons.com)
Publisher: Sphere Publishing, LLC
Cover artist: .R. Bale
Length: 159,007
Heat rating: PG13
Blurb:
The 5 Moons of Tiiana is a science fiction narration on a soldier caught in the middle of an interstellar war, faced with rescuing the princess he loves, and solving a 2000 year-old mystery that just might yield the secret to bringing peace to both sides of the galaxy.
What are your main characters’ names? Occupations? Ages?
Rez Cantor / Captain of the Shadow Guard / 36 yrs
Leanna / Princess of Melela / 16 yrs
Philip Golan / scientist / 38 yrs
Oolat / Solula / age unknown
Ahska / Motula / age unknown
Interview with Paul T Harry
How did you get your start in the industry?
I first got into writing about forty years ago. I had read a story in the historical book that so intrigued me I felt the story need to be fictionalized and expounded upon. That was my first foray into writing a novel. Needless to say, that was way before the web and way before self-publishing and when I finished the book I couldn’t get anybody to read it. That was extremely disheartening and did little to soothe my ego.
Sometime later I was reading the Sunday paper and the little news blurbs they use for filler. One of the blurbs was a short article on the EPA investigating something or other and shortly below that was an article about Arnold Schwarzenegger starting to film Terminator two. It was then that an idea struck, and I began to wonder what would happen if the world’s ecological systems collapsed and someone, say from the future had to return to the past to save the world. I was really taken by that concept but I knew a story wouldn’t do it justice.
Now my background in high school and college was theater. In fact, I had written a rock opera in college with two other friends, and we obtained some moderate success with it, but I had never written a screenplay before. So I got a book by an author by the name of Sid Fields on screenwriting, and I went to the University library, and I began looking at screenplays and how they were formatted. Taking that knowledge I wrote my first screenplay and I entered it into the Nevada screenwriting competition. To my surprise I took third place and suddenly doors began open. It was so much easier to have Hollywood open to looking at my material than a book publisher. So for the next 30 years I spend most my time writing screenplays.
Now fast-forward to the present. Everybody and their brother wants to write the next hit movie; the field is cramped with screenwriters and the competition is stiff. And, to make matters worse, Hollywood now is less willing to take a chance on an unknown—so what’s a writer to do? Well for me, the answer was simple. Get back what you do best—write a killer story and use today’s technology to put it out to the public. So that’s what I did.
What is the most important thing you do for your career now, as compared to when you first started writing?
As I stated earlier, when I started writing, computers were comprised of a small six-inch screens with green lettering. There was no Word or WordPerfect, and the Internet was a fledgling baby. Now today, we have a world filled with Internet connections, social media, and the means to advertise to millions. So for me, it’s learning how to master all these new social happenings like Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, and Pinterest.
What websites do you visit daily?
Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, KDP, CNN are just a few.
If you could change something about your first book, what would it be?
The opening. I was never satisfied with the way my first book opened. But ironically, thirty years later I ran across something that gave me a technological inspiration, and I’m thinking of revisiting that story and making a few changes. We’ll see if it works.
What do you enjoy most about life?
Figuring out why we do it. Why do we come here? And what are we supposed to learn? I believe that there’s a reason for everything. For me, just getting up each morning and counting my blessings is enough. I have a terrific family and a decent life. Sometimes that’s all you need.
If you could give the younger version of yourself advice what would it be?
Don’t smoke the pot, stupid. It’s a waste of time.
Do you have a muse? Describe this person, please.
I can’t say that I have a muse per se, but I did have a very good friend who passed away from cancer several years past. He was my sounding board. I could runs ideas passed him, get his feedback, and he wasn’t afraid to give me the truth whether I liked it or not. I miss him.
What does “balance” mean to you as a writer?
When I find it I’ll let you know.
Do things your family or friends do ever end up in a book?
Not really.
What are some jobs you’ve done before (or while) you were a writer?
I grew up in Las Vegas. I spent many years there as a craps and blackjack dealer in a number of major casinos. The stories I could tell would probably curl your hair, but that’s another tale.
Which of your books would you recommend to someone who doesn’t normally read your genre, and why?
I would recommend this one: The 5 moons of Tiiana.
For this story, I did something that I’ve never done before. I wrote it in first person. I did this for several reasons. First, I wanted to emulate one of my favorite authors, Edgar Rice Burroughs. He was the author of Tarzan, and more importantly, John Carter of Mars. His John Carter series was written in first person, and surprisingly, I found it easier to voice my main character in the same way.
I think writing in first person allows the story to flow. It enables the reader to have a personal attachment to the main character as he forgoes the trials and tribulations of his journey. It also allows the reader to learn or discover the story at the time as the main character. I just find it more personal, and I’ve already had a number of readers who normally don’t read science fiction take a chance—to their surprise they’ve enjoyed the story.
Additionally, I’m not an overly abstruse writer. I like to follow everything I learned as a screenwriter. Grab your audience as quickly as possible and hold on to them. I believe this book is a good example of that. I think it grabs you in the first few pages and doesn’t let go—at least I hope so.
What kind of books do you read when taking a break from your own writing?
The books I read are little out there—not exactly your standard fare. I am intensely curious about what our fate is, where we go after here, and the expansion of our lives within the universe. One of my most recent reads was: journey of Souls: Case Studies of Life between Lives by Dr. Michael Newton. You know the old adage, “truth is stranger than fiction.” Read this and you will know why.
What do you think is the future of e-publishing?
I think e-publishing is awesome. I think it opens up a world of incredible possibilities for many many people. Never before have we been given the opportunity to put our thoughts, dreams, and desires out to the general public with such ease. I would equate it with the advent of the printing press, and a revolution in the making.
What was the proudest moment of your life so far?
I could say it was the birth of my children or getting married, (they were great), but honestly, it was the standing ovations I got for the rock opera I co-wrote and produced while in college.
Imagine you get to go on a dream vacation, but you have only one hour to pack and leave, and it starts as soon as you finish this interview. What will you take with you and where will you go?
I would take my wife and daughter to Hawaii with only the clothes on our backs. Anything you need to be bought there and it’s only the memories that mean anything anyway.
What is your favorite holiday and why?
Christmas, seeing my daughter go nuts says it all.
What good book have you read recently?
Destiny of Souls: New Case Studies of Life between Lives by Dr. Michael Newton.
Where were you at midnight, on December 31st when the new century started?
I quit my job at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and went to the Eagles concert at the Mandalay Bay.
What do you like to do when you’re bored?
I’m not sure with the PG rating is on the site, so let’s just say I sleep.
If you were a color, what color would you be?
Red, maybe blue.
Please Fill in the Blanks
I love pizza with spicy stuff.
I’m always ready for (see the bored question).
When I’m alone, I try to get things done.
You’d never be able to tell, but I goof off a lot.
If I had a halo it would be tarnished.
If I could sell a million books I’d quit my stupid job.
I can never stop because it feels too good.
Find Me Here
Website: http://www.5moons.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/RezCantor
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Character Interview: Tunney Nichols (Jean Joachim)
Today on Romance Lives Forever we’re featuring a character
interview with one of Jean Joachim’s heroes, Tunney Nichols of The Renovated
Heart. Jean’s allowing him to be interviewed by Adora Smutz, so we’ll step out
of the way and let her take over!I’m lucky today to have Tunney Nichols, hero of The
Renovated Heart here with me for an interview. Leave a comment with your email
address and Tunney will select a name at random to win a copy of “The Renovated
Heart.” Sit in that chair over there, Tunney, would you like some coffee? *Jean
pours coffee*. First question.Are you upset your
name is not in the title?No, not really. The house I grew up in is on the cover, so
I’m happy. I’m not that egotistical, no matter what that crazy lady
interviewer, Adora Smutz, might be telling you.Is your love interest
the way you pictured her? Or would you have preferred someone with a different
hair color?Are you kidding? Better. Kit is better than I could have
imagined. Her beautiful hair, shining in the moonlight, her big…soft…round…fits
so well. *blushes*. She’s perfect, Jean. Good job, I wouldn’t change a thing,
even that little beauty mark on the inside of her left thigh. Hey, did I just
say that? *Puts his hand over his eyes.*Sunny Days,
Moonlit NightsDo you have any
annoying habits your author did not share with us in your book?Yes, I do and I’ll be damned if I’m going to share those
with the world here! I’m not stupid.Any hobbies we might
be interested in knowing about?Nope, just lovin’ my beautiful woman. ‘Spose that’s more of
a regular activity than a hobby. Tunney snickered.Are you happy with
the profession your author chose for you or would you rather be working at
something totally different and why?I love building. Almost as much as I love Kit. Like
reclaiming and saving old things, like my house…and my life! *laughs*Would you like to be
taller, blonder, thinner, or smarter than you have been portrayed?Nah. Jean caught the sexy beast in me just right! Not that
I’m bragging or anything. But Kit seems happy with me. That’s enough for me.The Marriage List Now for a personal
question. Is there enough sex in the book for you? Would you have liked more?Hey, show me a guy who says he wouldn’t like more and I’ll
show you a liar! If she had put any more in the book, it would have crossed
over from steamy to erotic. Kit and I like to keep some things to ourselves. *wiggles
his eyebrows*Did you author handle your “love” scenes the way you like or
was she too explicit or not explicit enough?I’m okay with her descriptions. Did I say that okay, Jean?
*grins*Is you’re heroine a
good kisser?Kit? Oh the best. She’s great in the sack…wait. I think I’m
not supposed to say that. Don’t tell Kit, okay? *whispers*Are you happy with
the setting? Did you want a bigger house or car?I love that old house but I could have used a fancy sports
car. Win some, lose some.Now and Forever 1 How many re-writes
did you have to live through?Jean made me promise not to tell. And I’m expecting a
hundred bucks in my bank account by tomorrow, Jean. *winks*Did your author
listen to you when you tried to redirect her?Jean didn’t need direction from me. Is that the way you
wanted me to say that, Jean?Did your story end
too soon?My story will never end. My fairy tale with Kit will last
forever.Who was your favorite
supporting character?Zoe was. The kid’s got guts.Did you fight much
with your author or did you two see eye-to-eye?Now and Forever2 No one fights with Jean and gets away with it. Oops, is that
TMI? Seriously, she wrote me just the way I am. Turns out that for a writer,
she’s a pretty good listener, too.A bit about the Renovated HouseCan a broken heart be renovated like an old house? Kit’s
life came to a halt when her husband slapped her with a divorce. Finding
herself without a job or a place to live, she’s forced to take Tunney Nichols up
on his offer of cheap rent for his parent’s house. The catch: she must allow
him to renovate while she’s living there. Out of fear, Kit tells a lie she soon
regrets as she is drawn to the sexy man plastering and painting his way into
her heart.Now and Forever3 Can Sarah forget the abuse from her late husband? Can she
fix her heart and the hearts of her children? With her two children in tow,
Sarah relocates to be near her sister, she meets Jim, a neighbor and English
professor. A mutual interest in writing, paves the way for a friendship that blossoms
into romance. But is Jim the right man for Sarah or does another man from her
past still light her fire?Find the eBook here(paperback coming in a couple of months):Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-renovated-heart-jean-joachim/1112214883?ean=2940015017380Are: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-therenovatedheart-891099-149.htmlBookstrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/the-renovated-heartMy website: http://www.jeanjoachimbooks.comStop by Jean’s Facebook page for latest news of her books. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jean-Joachim-Author/221092234568929 -
HALF: Interview with Elise VanCise
Elise, welcome to
Romance Lives Forever! Let’s jump in and learn details about your book, Half.Genre: Paranormal ThrillerBuy links (you may list several):Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/206978Literary Emporium http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/elisevancisePublisher:Cover artist: Elise VanCiseLength (words): 39,570Heat rating (as for movies, R, PG13, etc.): RTagline: Which HALF will win?Blurb: Guarding CEO Alex Blazen during a charity gala was an
easy job for Valeska Gorstef…until all hell breaks loose…literally. Forced to
face her own darkness, Valeska may lose her only chance to live a human life. Two
sides of her soul will be at war. Which HALF will win?What are your main characters’
names?Valeska Gorstef, Alex BlazenOccupations?Valeska owns Black Knight Securities and works as personal security
for clients. Alex is CEO of Blazen Enterprises. A conglomerate of different industries
and businesses including medical research.Tell us about your latest
book, including its genre. Does it cross over to other genres? If so, what are they?HALF is a paranormal thriller, with dashes of action, horror,
and of course romance. HALF centers around Valeska Gorstef. When she takes a job
as personal security for CEO Alex Blazen, Valeska is forced to look at the dark
half of her soul she’s tried to keep buried. She may be forced to make choices that
will lead herself those she cares about most deep into that darkness. Her fear is
not being able to come back into the light. Which HALF will win?What do you enjoy most
about writing?I love the process of creation. Seeing the world in my head unfold
and grow as it falls onto the paper. Falling in love or hate with the characters
as they become three dimensional.If you could give the
younger version of yourself advice what would it be?Don’t let others instill doubt, be confident in who you are.
Be the square peg in the round hole.Is your muse demanding?She can be very demanding at times. To the point of being in
a shop and having to stop in the middle of it, pull out pen and notebook to write
down the idea pouring out.Are your stories driven
by plot or character?I believe both, I think of it as planting a garden. The characters
are the seeds and the plot the soil, water, and sun. You see and feel the characters
grow with the foundation of the plot goal and the events that surrounds it guiding
the growth until they finally bloom.What are some jobs you’ve
done that would end up in a book?I’ve had a couple of interesting jobs. The ones that might make
it into a story in one variation or another would be administrative secretary for
a school, medical records researcher, clerk for supervisor of elections office.What do you hope readers
take with them after reading your work?I hope they were able to feel like they were part of the story.List two authors we would
find you reading when taking a break from your own writing.Elmore Leonard, JD RobbA biography has been written
about you. What do you think the title would be in six words or less?Yes, She Did.If money were not an object,
where would you most like to live?If money were no object I would have a huge luxury house boat.
I could dock anywhere I wanted for as long as I like, then try some place new.Picture yourself as a
store. Considering your personality and lifestyle, what type of products would be
sold there?I’m a casual kind of person. I can dress up and be fancy when
the occasion calls for it but mostly comfy jeans and a soft tee, other products
would be DVDs I keep a stack handy on my desk to pop in while I’m working. Mugs,
I have an addiction to mugs and coffee cups, and peanut butter Oreos.Do you play any online,
board, or role-playing games? Which ones?I’ve not been playing a lot of games as of late. On Facebook
I play The Ville, Family Farm, You Don’t Know Jack. And on G+ I love Gangs of Boomtown.Please Fill in the Blanks
I love pizza with extra pepperoni.I’m always ready for an adventureWhen I’m alone, I read, write, or plot JYou’d never be able to tell, but I am near sighted in one
eye and far sighted in the other. It really messes with my perception sometimes.If I had a halo it would be crooked.If I could win the lottery I’d travel to all the places
on my list.I can never change a light bulb because I’m so scared
of heights I won’t get on a step ladder.Find Me Here
Website: http://elisevancise.webs.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/EliseVanCiseTwitter: http://twitter.com/elisevancisePinterest: http://pinterest.com/fictionrulz/ -
Interview with Synithia Williams
You Can’t Plan Love Synithia, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. Let’s talk about your new book. Tell us about You Can’t Plan Love.
Genre: Contemporary RomancePublisher: Crimson RomanceLength: 78,000 wordsHeat rating: RBuy link: Coming soon http://is.gd/Mwc3QdTagline: Love doesn’t always go according to plan.Blurb:After several bad relationships, Kenyatta Copeland decides to
control her love life with the same discernment she uses in her professional life.Knowing firsthand the heartbreak that comes when desire and emotion
rule a relationship, Kenyatta assumes marrying Brad Johnson will lead to a stable
life. But as much as she believes she can plan her future, it’s hard to ignore the
way her boss, Malcolm Patterson, ignites her passions with just one look. After
Malcolm learns of her engagement, he makes a play for her heart and reminds her
that passion between a man and a woman has its perks … but also its costs. When
Brad suspects there’s more than work between Kenyatta and Malcolm, he works harder
to keep Kenyatta by his side. Torn between her promise to marry Brad and her irrepressible
longing for Malcolm, Kenyatta must decide if she can live her life in a passionless
marriage of convenience or once again trust her heart. Yet Brad isn’t as perfect
as he seems, and by the time Kenyatta realizes this it may be too late.What are your main characters’
names?Kenyatta CopelandMalcolm PattersonAges?Kenyatta 28Malcolm 33Occupations?They both work for H20 Environmental-An environmental consulting
firm with offices throughout the Southeast
United States.Interview
How did you get your start
in the industry?I am a newbie to the publishing industry. I’ve written for years,
but it wasn’t until 2010 that I decided to pursue publishing. I made a goal to finish
one of the many novels I started by the end of 2010, and then made another goal
in 2011 to revise and perfect my novel. The goal for 2012 was to query and see what
type of feedback I got. I still can’t believe my dream came true relatively quickly.What is the most important
thing you do for your career now, as compared to when you first started writing?I continue to research ways to improve my writing. I’ve joined
Romance Writers of America and have plans to start attending my first writing conferences
this year. I’ve purchased several books on character development, plotting and even
writing steamier sex scenes. It’s important to me to get more books out there that
are even better than my first one.What websites do you visit
daily?Outside of Facebook and Twitter, I regularly visit my publisher’s
site http://crimsonromance.com, PubRants
and The Newbie’s Guide to Publishing.What do you enjoy most
about life?That wonderful–yet fleeting–moment when my boys are being sweet
and my husband and I look at each other and smile.If you could give the
younger version of yourself advice what would it be?Take some creative writing classes while in undergrad. My major
was biology, so I took some fun electives (sociology of sex, history of jazz, and
public speaking for example) but I didn’t take a creative writing course.What does “balance”
mean to you as a writer?Balancing my day job, family and writing. When I made up my mind
to try and publish my first novel I thought the hardest part would be finding time
to write. Luckily, that wasn’t hard to do. My kids go to bed at 8:00 every night,
except on weekends. So it was easy to wait until they went to bed then write after
9. But, when you add in the social media aspect, it can impact your life throughout
the day. The need to check Facebook, Twitter and your blog. If I push that to 9
p.m. then I’m not writing until 10 or 11. I’m still learning to balance this so
at the moment I refuse to sign up for Tribbr, Pintrest or Google +.Do things your family
or friends do ever end up in a book?Ha! That’s a loaded question! Indirectly, yes things my family
or friends do ends up in a book. Conversations I’ve had may spark an idea, or interests
of people I know may become interests of my characters.What are some jobs you’ve
done before (or while) you were a writer?My day job is the Environmental Coordinator for my county. Although
working in public service has its difficult days, I really enjoy my job. I help
develop air quality programs and water quality regulations that have a direct impact
on the quality of life where I live. When the bureaucracy gets me down, I get to
do fun projects with other “greenies” that promote green business practices and
personal sustainable behavior change. In 2010 our areas largest paper listed me
as one of the areas Green Queens, and although the title means every time someone
throws away a plastic bottle their calling my name, I love the fact that my efforts
are appreciated.Which of your books would
you recommend to someone who doesn’t normally read your genre, and why?I only have one book right now, so of course I recommend it.
If someone hasn’t read a romance within the last ten years then I would say give
this book a try. Romances aren’t full of weak damsels in distress waiting on a strong
man to save them. That idea makes me want to gag. I wrote about the struggle for
a professional woman who’s been hurt in the past trying to pick a man based on reason
instead of romance. Kenyatta is also struggling between choosing her career over
the wishes of the man she thinks is perfect for her. These are real decisions that
women face daily that I think many can relate to.What kind of books do
you read when taking a break from your own writing?I read romance. Historicals are my favorite, but after decided
to pursue publishing I started reading more contemporary romances. Everyone once
and awhile I’ll try something outside of the genre if it’s recommended. But if I
need to just relax and waste an afternoon, I’ll pick up a romance.What do you think is the
future of epublishing?I think it’s here to stay. I was one of those people who once
refused to buy an e-reader because I loved “real” books, bookstores, and libraries.
I still do, but I also love the convenience of e-books. For others like me who’ve
embraced ebooks and the convenience they provide, I can’t see epublishing as a fad
that will go away. Just like we evolved from VCRs, to DVD players to Netflix I think
it’ll be the same with books. The only difference is that some books will still
be worth having in a hard copy on a shelf.What is your favorite
holiday and why?Thanksgiving, because you have all of the eating and family togetherness
of Christmas without the hassle of buying gifts.What good book have you
read recently?Two, the Rebound Guy by Farrah Rochon and Temptation Rising by
A.C. Arthur.If your life became a
movie, who would you want to play you?Angela Bassett, because I love her.Which statement is more
like you:“I am a vacation spa because I am laid back and
relaxed.”“I am a ten-countries in ten-days tour vacation, because
I do things as fast as possible.”Please Fill in the BlanksI love pizza with artichoke hearts and mushrooms.I’m always ready for a get together with friends involving
wine.When I’m alone, I read and watch television all day long.You’d never be able to tell, but I’m shy. It’s difficult for
me to come up with “small talk,” but I’ve had to learn because I do a lot of networking
in my day job. Now I just ask a bunch of questions and try to get people to talk
about themselves.If I had a halo it would be bronze, dented, and tarnished.Synithia Williams If I could only win the lottery I’d have vacation houses
in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and London.I can never skydive because I’m afraid of heights and
just thinking about it makes my palms sweat.My Current BooksYou Can’t Plan Love from Crimson RomanceContestsTo celebrate my first novel, I’m giving away a Reusable Bag filled
with Swag! Details coming soon on my website.Find Me HereWebsite: http://synithiawilliams.comFacebook: http://facebook.com/synithiarwilliamsTwitter: http://twitter.com/synithiaw -
RLF Gems – Blog Stats for July 2012
RLF Gems. I’m proud to present the top bloggers (by page load) for the month ofJuly 2012. There were two ties with the exact number of hits. I checked that twice – and it’s correct.
We had huge hits this month for the articles on MFRW Summer Camp, and readers were enthralled by new releases from Gemma K Murray, Starla Kaye, Kendall McKenna, Elizabeth J Kolodziej, Maggie Brooke, and others. Here are the top five by page hit:
1. MFRW Summer Camp (Kayelle Allen)
2. Gemma K Murray
3. Terri Molina
4. Starla Kaye (TIE)
4. Elizabeth J Kolodziej (TIE)
5. W Lynn Chantale (TIE)
5. Maggie Brooke (TIE)Participants this month in alphabetical order by first name are: Casey Crow, Elizabeth J Kolodziej, Gemma K Murray, Jannine
Corti-Petska, Kendall McKenna, Lisabet Sarai, Liz Borino, Maggie Brooke, MS
Spencer, Ruby Duvall, Starla Kaye, Teri Molina, and W Lynn Chantale.