There's no creative talent who fits the above better than Stan Lee. So many of my friends and peers keep saying he saved their lives. My own experience was different.

I'm getting personal in this post to talk about the effect his work had on me. It's not what I expected when I started writing about it. 

Stan Lee's work didn't save my life. I grew up in a community where "girls can't read comics" so his stories didn't reach me until I was an adult and had fled that swamp. I was taught to use everything and everyone to my own advantage, look for the next best person or thing and grab it, no matter who might get hurt. And I was starting to get worse. 

I'd just gotten power over the direction of ​my own life. Where I'm from, you either stand up by stepping on people or take whatever you can grab and then run. I knew nothing at all of responsibility. And then I picked up a Marvel comic.

Stan Lee didn't save my life. He saved the people who walked into it. His work showed me another way to be. That there's always a choice, that people who grew up surrounded by cruelty, pain, and loss can choose to do good instead of harm. 

Cycles can be broken. Anyone can be a hero. Kindness is a form of strength. We're stronger together. Keep going, even if the way seems impossible. 

Those ideas come naturally to so many people. I wasn't one of them until I got help. That wouldn't have happened without Stan Lee's worlds and characters opening my mind to empathy. Even a kid raised to be cruel and indifferent can choose a different path later in life.

What impact did Marvel Comics have for you?

So I haven't been getting out as much as I'd like. It makes me a little batty. If only that looked as cute as the picture above. But it doesn't so I've got to do something. And that thing is for me to blog more, Blogdor. 

Expect to see more posts here, probably every two weeks but possibly weekly instead. I'm aiming for Monday to get something up. You could see all sorts of posts, like pictures at past events, book recommendations, or bits of lore I've researched for works in progress.

I'll also be updating the site with more information on the worlds in my books. Like any good ex-DJ and recovering performance artist, I take requests. Just email me at drperry@drperryauthor.com with ideas of what you'd like to see here. I'm happy to talk about, where ideas come from (not the stork), what a typical writing day is like, et cetera.

This is going to be a busy summer. Will I find time to breathe? Who knows? I'm working hard on Clerical Error. I hope to get it out by the end of this month. Kallisti: A Collection of Poetry will release next week. July 13th is the date I hope to have Body Count out in the world. 

I'm not sure what comes later in July or in August but I will need to be ready to travel to Dragon Con on the 30th. Maybe I'll take a break and not publish anything that month. If Counting Stars is done, that will complete Valentino's 3-book arc in Supernatural Vigilante Society, so we'll see.

The book after Clerical Error focuses on a different character but likely won't be ready until September or maybe October. That's okay because I have a second book of poems slated for one of those months. And sometime in the fall, the third La Famiglia book will drop.

At least I can say I'll meet my goal of publishing nine works in 2018. Whew! 
​
Anyway, thanks for being here. What are you up to? Tell me in the comments.

Are you looking for something new to read? Click the picture below to see some releases for May, 2018.

​“I have to kill you. You're too good.”

​Now that Providence Paranormal College is done, I have been working on this. It's a new trilogy about kids from an Alternate Timeline version of the 80s who get stuck in a virtual reality game. Here's my elevator pitch: 
Kids go missing all the time and are never found. But six of them end up stuck in a game instead of dead in a ditch. Can they convince a misguided GM to let them go home to their families by beating the game? Do they all want to? Find out in this Retro GameLit adventure.

I'll release some of it over on Patreon but remember, it's still in draft form. Elements and events are subject to revision. This trilogy might also connect to other books down the road. $5 and up Patrons get to see it a few days earlier than the rest. The cover's only temporary, but Jim has some ideas in mind for this one.

Today, I'm here with J.D. Cunegan, author of the Superhero meets Sci-Fi Jill Andersen series. 

D.P.- You're ready to write and have your pen and paper or computer or microphone ready. What else do you need during your session?
J.C.- I almost always have to have a hot mug of something – either coffee or tea, depending on the time of day – at the ready, and something I can use for background noise. I have music I like to listen to, the heavier the better, or sometimes I’ll put a TV show or movie I’ve already seen several times on in the background. I can’t write in silence; I have to have something going on in the background to get me going.

D.P.- Tell us one thing you don't want to put into your stories.
J.C.- All the typical sexist trappings normally found in genre fiction; e.g., needlessly skimpy clothing, awkward revealing poses, storylines that rely on sexual violence (or the threat thereof), character backgrounds that also rely on sexual violence (or the threat thereof). Female characters in genre fiction, the headlining heroes in particular, are not props, but fully-formed people with their own agencies.

D.P.- If I only had time to read one of your works, which one should it be?
J.C.- Bounty, because moreso than anything else I’ve ever written, that book exemplifies who I am and how I view the world. Jill is, in a lot of ways, the sort of person I wish I could be, and being able to use the world she inhabits to examine problems, both real-world and hypothetical, in a grounded and personal setting is one of my greatest triumphs as an author. I love what I wrote in Notna, but Bounty is more true to who I am and what I believe in – and as the first book I ever published, it’s the volume that made everything since possible.

​D.P.- Tell us about a time when you almost gave up on a project but decided to keep on going anyway.
J.C.- I’ve lost count of how many times I almost gave up on Notna. It’s been a lifelong labor of love, something I’ve plugged away at for over two decades. I’ve lost count of how many times I would rage-quit, walk away because I was convinced the plot didn’t work, the characters didn’t work, or I simply felt I wasn’t good enough. When I was in college, I was in a dark period, one in which I didn’t do anything, didn’t care about anything… and during that time, I stopped writing. Period. But upon discovering the TV shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, the spark to write came back – and the first thing I tackled was Notna. The fact that I finally published that book is a tremendous source of pride.

D.P.- What's new with you?
J.C.- My latest novel, Behind the Mask, is now available in paperback, Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Apple iBooks, and other digital outlets! Also find the first three books in the Jill Andersen series -- Bounty, Blood Ties, Behind the Badge -- on those same formats, as well as the contemporary fantasy Notna. Coming spring 2018: Betrayed.

​You can follow J.D. on Patreon, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads, Author Central, and at his website. 
He's also started a newsletter for exclusives and the latest updates. 

Thanks for reading about J.D.

We're here today with Janet, who is a freelancer with one published work and several more to come in the future. Speaking of which, she writes about the future, also alternate versions of the past. I've had the privilege of beta reading some of her work. Here's a bit more about her.

D.P.- What's your favorite thing to cook?
J.G.- I love to cook Thanksgiving, and it's actually been a few years since I've done it on the real turkey day (I've been going to my folks') so it ends up being late December holiday fare. I do the whole nine yards - turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green veg (usually asparagus or broccoli), salad, fruit. We usually don't do the big dessert as that's enough already! Oh and I make bread but it's in the machine. Does that count?

D.P.- Tell us about the coolest writing-related thing to happen for you recently.
J.G.- My coolest recent writing-related thing happened while podcasting. I am one half of a podcast called Semantic Shenanigans. We discuss how law, society, scholarship, and fandom all collide. Because of the kerfuffle about the new Dr. Who being - oh my God! - not a man, we wanted someone on who knew Who (that's hard to say, but you know what I mean). I then recalled a cousin of mine has a podcast, Who Back When, where they review new and classic Dr. Who. We got in touch and had him on, all the way from Oxford. We had a lovely time of it and then at the last 10 minutes or so, he said, "And I also wanted to talk about this compelling book I recently read. It's called Untrustworthy." I hadn't known that he had so much as read it! So that was cool, as he truly had enjoyed it and wants to talk to me about in person but we need to get on the same continent as he's from Sweden and currently lives in Oxford. 
Check out the video below!

As I stand here shivering on the diving board that is the last day of 2017, I hang ten off the edge. It's almost time to make as big a splash as I can but before that happens, I'll take a breath and remember everything that 2017 had to offer. 

Over the winter and for much of the spring, I struggled with a mystery illness. We still haven't pinned it all down but the worst symptoms have been medicated. If you saw me at an event and I fell on my hiney, that's why. I hope I can maintain my balance when it's most important, though. This still-mysterious illness hasn't just dumped me on my butt, it's kicked it into higher gear. If I have to put my bum in a chair, might as well write while I'm there, right? 

Two amazing events bookended my summer; Awesomecon and Dragon Con. I met some of the best writers I know and learned loads from them. A Change In Crime got shortlisted for a Dragon Award and am privileged to say that I lost to Harry Turtledove himself. Maybe I'll get a rematch in 2018 with Wiser Guys. The ballot is already out, so who knows? (I nominated E.A. Copen's Beasts of Babylon in Horror, R.R. Virdi's Grave Dealings in Fantasy.)

Providence Paranormal College is a wrap. As soon as everything's polished and covered, expect book 10, Kindle bundles of books 1-5 and 6-10, and intermission short stories. I'll take a break from the PPC universe after that to work on other projects, but might go back to visit them later on.

The Doctor took a huge leap of faith in this year's Christmas Special, moving on to experience time and the universe in a completely new way. I'll leave this year with his words: Laugh hard, run fast, be kind.

Thank you for sharing some of your time with me in 2017. Now, let's all cannonball down off this diving board. It's getting cold out here. 

I interviewed R.R. Virdi because he's had a ton going on since the last time. Here's the shiny new cover of book three in The Grave Report series, Grave Dealings. Read about R.R. and then check out the description below.

​D.R.- You're ready to write and have your pen and paper or computer or microphone ready. What else do you need during your session?

R.R.- Music (without lyrics) really helps me focus. I'm ADHD, so the constant engagement without distracting lyrics helps me tune out other things and set a constant workflow/pattern. I prefer what some people call, "Epic music." It's bombastic, orchestral, evocative, stuff from movies, games, anime.

D.R.- Tell us about the coolest writing-related thing that's happened to you in the last month.

R.R.- New York Times best-selling author, Larry Correia, gave me these words about my writing: "His stuff's badass." Pretty encouraging stuff.

D.R.- Have you ever been so inspired by a noun (person place or thing) that you finagled it into your story?

R.R.- Oh yeah! Central Park during winter, under full snow, near night time. Ethereally gorgeous. Had to fit it into The Grave Report. So, it feautures into a nice scene in Grave Beginnings. I'd like to return to that and write it again somehow in one of my works. Truly beautiful--magical.

D.R.- If you could talk to any single person, alive or dead, for research, who would it be and what would you discuss?

R.R.- I'm a huge philosophy buff, just thinking/talking about life. I'd love to talk someone like Bruce Lee. He was a student of it, but also put his own into practice in interesting ways. Phisolophy through motion, through his life, so much more. He taught, fought, believed certain things, and loved to enlighten. All of my works touch on some personal beliefs, philosophical views about the world, things in it, people, places, monsters, and good and bad. I think I'd learn loads.

D.R.- What's the coolest fan feedback you've gotten?

R.R.- Fanart. I can't pick one, but I've been blessed to receive all manner/styles of fanart. Truly a wondrous gift and pleasure.

D.R.- ​If I only had time to read one of your works, which one should it be?

R.R.- I'd honestly say, Dangerous Ways. I know it's odd, what, with The Grave Report being a super success, earning rave reviews, award nominations and all, plus having more books out. But...there's something about that one. I poured my heart and soul, like I do always, into that piece too...but, there was something else. Can't put my finger on it. But in writing it, all the time it took on the draft, dreaming it up, it felt like there was more magic going into it. I can't explain it. It just...still feels ethereal to me. Would love for more people to go check it out. I plan on writing the second soon enough.

"His stuff is badass!" – New York Times bestselling author, Hugo-nominee, and two-time Dragon Award-winner, Larry Correia.

Don't make deals with the paranormal. They're better at it than you, and they never play fair.

Paranormal investigator and soul without a body, Vincent Graves, did just that—a deal made in desperation. Now it's coming back to bite him in the middle of a case.
He has 57 hours to investigate a string of deaths involving people who've made some devilish bargains. Too bad devils don't deal in good faith. It'd be easy enough, if he didn't have to deal with things such as:

• Being hunted through the streets of Queens by a dark elf with a motorcycle fetish.
• Ending up the target of a supernatural hit.
• An old acquaintance dragging him to a paranormal ball where he could end up on the menu.
• And having one of his closest guarded secrets brought to light...

Not great for a tight clock, because if he doesn't get to the bottom of this case in time, Vincent and company might just lose their souls.

Dirty deals are never done dirt cheap. And the supernatural always collect—big!

Find the whole series here.

You can follow R.R. Virdi on Facebook, Twitter, or sign up for his mailing list at his website. He's also on Patreon, where you can support him for access to advance content and other cool stuff. 

It's been a long and busy year so far and I am sorry for saying I love you and then making like a ghost. That said, here's a bit of what I have been up to, in video form, from my Facebook page. 

I'll be starting up Winter Writers, where I post about other people who also write books, again in December. Be on the lookout for a post about NaNoWriMo in the near future as well. 

​I'm going to get a little bit personal here for a second. Okay, maybe more than a second. And yes, I want to talk about love today.
People keep on writing about being a ditchable prom date; "this day isn't for me. I'm alone." Hold my beer, you idjits.

Somebody loves you, somebody cares. But everyone's an idjit some of the time. I'm an idjit, too.

Some idjits close their mouths and never say how they feel. Some look down at their empty hands instead of offering them in friendship or brotherhood. And some of these idjits try to drive Baby all the way home in reverse instead of looking forward. I've done all these things, because I'm a natural-born idjit.

You are loved. Somone cares. You are not "alone" on Valentine's Day. Idjits are all around, being their idjit selves and thinking no one cares about them because they're not out on dates or whatever. 

But love isn't about dates or even figs, idjits. There are so many ways to love and be loved it's damn near idjit-iotic. Own your feelings. Embrace your inner idjit. 

We're in this folly together, you know the one: the folly of assuming no one cares because the trappings aren't there. Don't let those red roses and pink ribbons snare you like you stepped in a bucket of syrup. Yes, we're all idjits. And that's what makes us human, what lets us love, and what makes us loveable. 

Now get out there and tell your friends you love them. Your family, too, if you're lucky enough to have them. Here, let me start.

I love all of you idjits. You make this world better just by being in it. 

Back on Halloween, I interviewed Author Madeline Dyer. She's got a shiny new cover on her book, Untamed, as well as availability on multiple platforms! Check out her interview with new updated links, or click one of the images to buy a copy. 

I have a consummate artist here today. You might remember Lia from her Friendly Neighborhood Friday feature as a designer. Well, she's written a book as well and it's been released today! Read on to learn what her book's about and after that, check out her book trailer and author interview.

This is what happened when something devastating crashed into an unusual mind.

When I suffered a brain injury at the age of 19, I was not told what I had. The
world became a dreamlike haze. I was cut off from my own thoughts and memories.

Instead of receiving medical treatment, I was sent into psychotherapy. So began
a ten-year battle to recover my lost self. This memoir is a window into the
surreal internal landscape of a brain injury survivor striving to find reality
once more.

Positive thinking and pills couldn't fix me, but a bizarre and cutting-edge
field of medicine just might.

D.P.- Share a guilty pleasure with us.
L.R.- There's a snack called Wild West beef jerky which I love. It's literally just
dried meat, sweet vinegar and spices. It's insanely expensive - you get a small
scraping of it in each packet - and the texture is like chewing on leather. I
also adore sushi and huge blocks of those cheeses that smell like your feet
after two weeks' camping.

D.P.- What's your favorite song for writing?
L.R.- Ah, now you're talking. I've always loved music. My actual book is stuffed with
musical references - the chapter titles are existing song titles. (Author tip:
titles aren't copyrighted, but lyrics are!) I actually made a playlist for the
book. It's alt-rock meets electronica, rounded off with some Pink Floyd.
But "music to write to" is a very small subsection of the music category. The
current state of my brain is too befuddled to write with anything distracting in
the background, so chillout, electronica, classical and film soundtracks have
taken the place of the loud rock and raucous pop I used to love. I appreciate a
quiet, melancholy mood, interesting musical textures, and not having to get up
in the middle of work to put another album on (yes, I still think in terms of
albums).

D.P.- What's the funniest book you've read and why?
L.R.- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. People dismiss it as science fiction, but
that's the mask it wears. It's a hilarious satire on the absurdities of human
psychology and politics. Pick it up if you haven't already.

D.P.- Beach or woods?
L.R.- It's winter here in England, so I'll say the woods. My ideal place to live would
be near a deep dark forest, where a person could go at any moment to be alone
with a book. I'd spend entire nights lying under the branches, looking up at the
stars, and sleeping under the quiet trees. Obviously there'd be no wild animals
in this fantasy wood, or random dog poo.

D.P.- Which genres do you write and what's your favorite one?
L.R.- I've been a science fiction fan from the start of my reading life. Fantasy can
be amazing too, but I'm allergic to epic good-versus-evil and pseudo-medieval
settings, and it's a little difficult to avoid those in fantasy. Once I fix my
brain, I have a science fantasy trilogy to write: The City That Dreamed. The
heroine, Beth, lives in a futuristic city where humans mingle with creatures
spawned from the imagination. Searching for her missing sister, she uncovers a
religious conspiracy and starts to learn the secrets of the city. The idea was
born during my aimless wanderings and inspired by the surreal sensations and
rootless nature of the post-brain injury world.

D.P.- Tell us about your plans or ideas for the future.
L.R.- There's this idea for a concept album called Infinity Mirror. It would be my
musings on individual freedom and human potential. The title is inspired by
those beautiful, cleverly designed mirrors that reflect an endless series of
lights into the distance. That's the way I see personality and culture - a long
chain of reflections and projections bouncing off each other, with the
impossibility of finding anything fixed and true. But no less beautiful for
that.
I won't completely abandon the subject of brains. There'll also be "Normal Is
Irrelevant: The High IQ Brain Injury Book", about what exactly happens when
people of above-average intelligence suffer brain injuries. There's a serious
need for this book. I've seen it in the community, and when I mention the idea
people say "Write it NOW". Ideally, it should be written by a rehabilitation
professional - someone with qualifications and years of knowledge in the field.
But if anyone's writing it they certainly haven't told me, so I'm taking up the
challenge. It'll be more journalistic and less "memoirish" than the one I've
just written.

D.P.- Breakfast, brunch, or lunch?
L.R.- Lunch. I like it so much that I also eat it at breakfast time. Cereal? What's
that?

OMG, I have a Dragon Award Nominee on my blog! This is amazeballs! His hair is bigger and more awesome than mine. And what better interviewee for Winter Writers than a guy who has just released book one in a series called The Books of Winter? No better, that's what! Okay, so here's a bit about Mr. Virdi for those who don't already know. 

​R.R. Virdi is the Dragon Award—Nominated author of The Grave Report, a paranormal investigator series set in the great state of New York. He has worked in the automotive industry as a mechanic, retail, and in the custom gaming computer world. He's an avid car nut with a special love for American classics. 

There are rumors that he wanders the streets of his neighborhood in the dead of night dressed in a Jedi robe and teal fuzzy slippers, no one knows why. Other such rumors mention how he is a professional hair whisperer in his spare time. We don’t know what that is either.

You can sign up as a minion and read stories at R.R. Virdi's website, and follow him on Twitter.

D.P- ​What's your favorite song for writing?
R.V.- I don’t listen to songs per say while writing. I listen to music without lyrics.

D.P- ​Do you have a writing routine?
R.V.- I used, I need it back again. My life has been abhorrently disruptive of late. I used to write 2k a day without a break.

D.P- ​Beach or woods?
R.V.- Beach

D.P- ​Coffee or tea or something else?
R.V.- Tea

D.P- ​Share a guilty pleasure with us.
R.V.- I like lying down to day dream a lot. 

D.P- ​Cake or pie? 
R.V.- Yes

D.P- ​Breakfast, brunch, or lunch? 
R.V.- Yes.

D.P- ​Who is your favorite TV or movie character and why?
R.V.- TV, animated batman, or, John Constantine. Movie, I honestly don’t know. And, why? Because animated batman...nuff said.

D.P- ​Who is your favorite character of all time and why?
R.V.- Batman. He’s a normal man who’s pushed himself to be the absolute best. Speaks dozens of languages, mastered so many martial arts, is a genius level person and a polymath having studied nearly every discipline known to man.

D.P- ​What's the scariest thing your villain of choice has done?
R.V.- Clichéd, but, trying to end the world. Think about that for a second and what it entails. It’s comical because of how much it’s been done...but trying to end all life on the Earth!? That’s terrifying and cold.

D.P- ​What's the funniest book you've read and why?
R.V.- Spiderman comics.

D.P- ​What's the food or drink you always tell other people to try?
R.V.- Bubble tea, taro slush with bobba

D.P- ​What book do you recommend the most?
R.V.- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

D.P- ​Where is the one place you think everyone should go?
R.V.- To bed ;)

D.P- ​Who is one person you'd like to meet from any point in history and why?
R.V.- Tesla, honestly, I don’t know why, I just do.

D.P- ​Which genres do you write and what's your favorite one?
R.V.- I write most genre fiction, but urban fantasy is my favorite.

D.P- ​What do you do if you see your idea has already been done?
R.V.- Do it anyways. No one can do it like you can.

D.P- ​What's the best advice you've gotten about writing?
R.V.- Write anyways.

D.P- ​Tell us about your plans or ideas for a new-to-you genre in the future.
R.V.- ​Finish my current novel. At the moment my life’s so stressing I can’t think past that. 

R.R. Virdi has a YouTube channel where he talks about writing, does what we like to call "the motivates." and plays video games. Here he is unboxing the hardcover version of Dangerous Ways! 

Today we have another Winter Writer, Daniela! She has a lovely Instagram, an excellent blog, and a book, of course! Here's a bit about her. 

"Fiction and well-being writer. Author of Loveandpizza.it, Founder of "The Writing Shed", the "go to" online magazine for women searching for wellbeing, empowerment, and to regain their self-esteem and confidence. Avid reader of chick lit, crime and historical novels. Amateur photographer. Believes that writing can help heal broken hearts, build up self-esteem, and empower people."

D.P.- What's your favorite song for writing?
D.P-A.- It depends on the part of the story I’m writing. When I wrote “Loveandpizza.it”, I created a playlist with Italian songs that would put myself back in Napoli, and set the mood to the love stories, and mishaps, and also the tense parts. When I am writing my courses or articles for The Writing Shed Magazine, I like to listen to classical music or country music ballads.

D.P.- Do you have a writing routine?
D.P-A.- Not really, as I work full time and only have evenings and weekends to write. But when I sit down to write, I forget about the world. My husband usually says that “I’m in the zone”, and that the world could fall apart around me and I wouldn’t notice.

D.P.- Dancing or singing?
D.P-A.- I love both, but I guess I sing more than I dance. I love music and I’ll sing along (and loud!) to the ones I like, even if I get all the lyrics wrong.

D.P.- Beach or woods?
D.P-A.- Definitely the beach. I am an ocean lover! Everything about beaches fascinates me. When it’s sunny, when there’s a storm, rough or calm sea. I just love it. The sound of the waves breaking at the shore, the salty smells. That’s why a house at the beach, where my writing space would have a panoramic view of the ocean, with a golden retriever by my feet while I write, is my ideal place to live!

D.P.- Coffee or tea or something else?
D.P-A.- Coffee. Always. Although I won’t say no to a gingerbread latte, or a glass or two (or three, or four) of Baileys!

D.P.- Share a guilty pleasure with us.
D.P-A.- I’ve recently finished a Gilmore Girls Netflix marathon!

D.P.- Who is your favorite TV or movie character and why?
D.P-A.- Alicia Florrick (The Good Wife). She’s an amazing character, and I believe has so much to offer in terms of the “model” of a chick lit heroine. She has so much to teach women about resilience, and focusing on her goals and keeping to her values, all while being a good mum and a good professional.

D.P.- What book do you recommend the most?
“D.P-A.- Tuesdays with Morrie”, by Mitch Albom. This book was the first book I read as “self-development“ material. My father recommended the film, and I found out about the book later on. Morrie’s lessons touched me deeply and made me aware of things about myself I never knew existed. Feelings, fears, love for some people that had gone way too long unshown. This is a book I usually buy people as a gift. :)

D.P.- How do you get ideas for stories?
D.P-A.- I tend to get ideas from my surroundings. People I meet, situations I am a spectator of. Sometimes things in my own life. I don’t write as if it were me, because that would be too tacky, but I find a character straight away that could relate, and react and develop even the tiny situation into a funny short story or a novel. My next novel, which I’m writing at the moment, was inspired on the fact that one day, tired of feeling down, I went and bought a sewing machine by impulse, so I could make pretty things. I guess I went as far as four cushions and a pair of curtains for our bathroom!

D.P.- What's the best advice you've gotten about writing?
D.P-A.- I can’t remember where I read it, but it stuck with me: keep writing, no matter what. While writing my first novel, there was a long period when I just couldn’t think about what to write. I literally put the half-finished thing aside. It wasn’t until I did NaNoWriMo, in 2015, that I brought it back to life. I guess that the “pressure” of writing 50,000 words in a month gave me that emergency of finishing in a way that I’d be happy to call it a “complete first draft”. From then on, you became much easier. I edited it myself, and sent it to my beta readers. It was a lot of hard work, but the novel was finally published on 13th February 2016, exactly three years after my mother passed away, as I had wanted to pay a homage to her with my first published novel.

This week's Winter Writer is Andrew D. Michaels! We're going to get some bonus questions and answers from Andrew this week, but here's a bit about him in his own words.

I write mostly horror/fantasy stories but I dabble into most other genres. My main project at the moment is the Black Bridge series and the Whispers of Dragons series.

Andrew also invited you all to ask him questions in the comments below his interview. Awesome! Oh, and he just got a shiny new cover. Check it out!

D.P.- What's your favorite song for writing? 
ADM- Just about anything by Nox Arcana or Midnight Syndicate. After years of listening to them when I was writing for campaign stories for various Dungeons and Dragons games, it's stuck with me and helps me think without getting distracted or lost in the music. 

D.P.- What's your favorite song for editing?
ADM- Lindsey Stirling or Peter Hollens. I have a youtube playlist and I swear by it. 

D.P.- What's your favorite song for reading? 
ADM- This is where music is distracting for me so I tend not to play anything while reading. I get absorbed and immersed in reading and it's like watching a movie happen in my mind and music can take away from that. 

D.P.- Do you have a writing routine?
ADM- Yes, but 90 percent of it is procrastination and whining about my procrastination. It's a miracle I get anything done to be honest haha!

D.P.- Dancing or singing?
ADM- Singing. Singing along to songs is a lot easier for me to do rather than dancing to them.

D.P.- Beach or woods?
ADM- Oh, definitely the woods. Especially if there's a little cabin and a lake involved. Total. Paradise.

D.P.- Coffee or tea or something else?
ADM- Depends on what time it is, what I'm doing, and how recently I've been to the store. Haha! My go-to is milk or those fizzy clear fruit drinks at Walmart.

D.P.- Share a guilty pleasure with us. 
ADM- I have to admit that I'm a total sucker for spaghettios. I will never be tired of them for as long as I live.

D.P.- Cake or pie?
ADM- Does cheesecake count? Because totally cheesecake.  

D.P.- Breakfast, brunch, or lunch? 
ADM- All, and add dinner and desert. I'll even cook. ;)

D.P.- Who is your favorite TV or movie character and why?
ADM- I would have to say Christopher Eccleston playing the Ninth Doctor. Just his attitude, sarcasm, and general shenanigans really speak to me on another level. Plus I tend to be a sarcastic ass as much as he does. Haha!

D.P.- Who is your favorite animated character and why?
ADM- You would ask the hard questions. There are so many to choose from for a plethora of reasons. Although, there are a few shows that I go back to over and over again. Like Rurouni Kenshin, Tactics, and Gunslinger Girl. 

D.P.- Who is your favorite character of all time and why?
ADM- Doctor Who. His many regenerations each can be related to the many sides of my mind, and I think that a lot of people can relate to that. Because whether it's rainy, sunny, or the end of the world, there's always a reason to smile and hug your friend.   

D.P.- What's the scariest thing your villain of choice has done?
ADM- Now that would be spoiling things.... 

D.P.- What's the funniest book you've read and why?
ADM- I do love me some Captain Underpants or Calvin and Hobbes

D.P.- What's the food or drink you always tell other people to try?
ADM- Whatever I've cooked at the time. My favorite things to make are the three meat spaghetti and my mom's empanadas. (Argentine meat pies)

D.P.- What book do you recommend the most?
ADM- Demons don't dream by Piers Anthony. That man is the very reason that I got into roleplay gaming and writing in the first place.

D.P.- Where is the one place you think everyone should go?
ADM- Bed. There is no more glorious a place after a long day than a warm and comfy bed. Especially if you have someone to cuddle with. Cuddles just make things that much better.

D.P.- Who is one person you'd like to meet from any point in history and why?
ADM- I'd really love to meet Zora Arkus-Duntov, and talk with him about his work with Chevrolet in developing the Corvette into the amazing legend that it has become today. 

D.P.- How do you get ideas for stories?
ADM- Mostly random thought process. I'll entertain tangent ideas and some of them develop into concepts so I'll make notes, and if it takes off from there, then I'm off to work haha!

D.P.- Which genres do you write and what's your favorite one?
ADM- I write along the lines of Horror/Fantasy because of how the stories feel when I write them. They feel comfy and confident to me, so that tends to be my usual. However I have dabbled into others such as Romance, Sci-Fi, and Mystery, just to have a little variety. 

D.P.- What do you do if you see your idea has already been done?
ADM- I take the concept down to the bare bones and see if there's a way to make it mine. There isn't much that completely original anymore, so it's hard. But that doesn't mean it never happens. 

D.P.- What's the most unexpected thing that's ever inspired you?
ADM- Ever heard a random conversation that's completely out of context? Yeah. Those can be writing GOLD when you are trying for new ideas. (This does not mean I participate or condone eavesdropping for the record)

D.P.- What's your best writer's block buster?
ADM- Procrastination. Sometimes leaving something and taking a break can give you a chance to reload and tackle the story with a fresh start.  

D.P.- What's the best advice you've gotten about writing?
ADM- There are three kinds of hard for a writer:
1. Starting a story
2. editing said story
3. FINISHING said story

D.P.- Tell me about the biggest surprise your own character, story, or setting has given you.
ADM- I'm surprised every day with all of them. The development is so strong the story is carrying on with a life of it's own. I just hope to keep up well enough that I can get it on paper for people o enjoy the ride along with me. 

D.P.- Tell us about your plans or ideas for a new-to-you genre in the future.
ADM- Well mostly I just want to see how the Black Bridge turns out, but I'm also looking at another story that may or may not develop into a series. Either way I'll not be out of work as far as stories go. Haha!

Thank you so much to D. R. Perry for this wonderful opportunity to answer some questions and feel free to ask your own as well! I love hearing from readers!

Today, we have photographer and visual designer, Krys Maiorca! She takes author photos, and has done cover design in the past. Here's a bit about her in her own words.

​My name is Kristian Maiorca and I was a reader before I was a photographer.  I started writing in middle school and have been writing on and off since then. I actually used to get in trouble during high school for staying up too late writing.  When I graduated high school I turned my interests into other things, like graphic design and photography.  It was very natural for me to turn my interests for reading, writing, and NaNo into wanting to help others, be it my fellow classmates for my degree, or authors.  Korca Designs has been a while in the making, just getting its name in December. 

D.R.- Coffee or tea?
K.M.- Definitely both.  I’m such a coffee person though, my day job is at a college cafeteria where I mostly run food or coffee.

D.R.- What is your favorite color?
K.M.- Serious answer is purple.  The joke answer, also known as the real answer, is middle gray because that’s what the light meter for a camera reads.  

D.R.- Why do you love winter?
K.M.- I love winter.  I love snow, I don’t mind the cold as long as it’s not 5:30 am and I’m walking to work.  There’s just something about the snow that makes me happy.  I started dreaming about snow in July.  And when I woke up on my birthday, in august, I was very disappointed to find no snow.  So, yes, I love snow.

D.R.- Where’d you get the idea for your business?
K.M.- This has been about 4 years in the making, it originally started as just book covers since at the time I was a graphic designer and I thought I just wanted to design book covers for the rest of my life.  Then I switched over to photography and got really busy and had to stop with the book covers.  The idea of doing this was always in the back of my mind though.  So, when I started my portfolio class I had the genius idea of starting up a design author stop business again.  I’ve expanded it to be character shoots (those are my favorite), to book shoots, to marketing materials, and book covers.  

D.R.- What genres do you feel comfortable supporting?
K.M.- I feel comfortable supporting any genre.  There are some subject matters that I would not be keen on taking on but there’s nothing that I would not flat out not support.  For me personally, if I wasn’t willing to support all genres then it wouldn’t feel right to me. What do you have to offer authors? I have a large variety of services to offer since my goal is to be able to support them art wise whatever way that they need.  Whether that be with a character shoot or product shoot for their book, marketing materials, a personal logo, etc, I hope to be able to provide.  I have a background in design and photography and I love combining the two, and I hope to really be able to offer that combination.

D.R.- Do you have any services that might benefit readers or other artists? 
K.M.- Not yet, but one of the things that I really hope to be able to do with Korca Designs is to offer some classes for things like a crash course in design basics to help you better talk with designers, how to take a decent product shoot with natural light, and other things like that.  I also hope to be able to really start delving into the stock area of photography and offering my photography services for book cover art.  Finding the right stocks, especially if they’re models, is one of the crucial steps to getting a good cover, and if I can take the photography for it and find the models than that would take out a lot of the stress of getting the cover right and not breaking copyright.

D.R.- Where can we find your services on the internet?
K.M.- My photography business will be at K Maiorca Photography. The design business already lives here at Korka.  Any design or author related photography can be found at Korca.

D.R.- Do you do live events?
K.M.- At this moment, no.  If this takes off than I may consider it.  I do also have to think about time considerations because I want to also work as an automotive photographer, so I may not be able to do live events because of that.  We’re really going to just have to play this by ear and see what happens.  I’m not opposed to doing live events and I think that could be really cool.

D.R.- Tell us about your assistant.
K.M.- ​I have three assistants actually, the main one is my black and white cat Bella who likes to help my set up my lights.  She also loves helping people put on makeup.  I also have my best friend who has made appearances in my photography before.  She’s been my bestfriend since high school and is one of the reasons I got into photography actually.  She helps me out from time to time.  And the last assistant is my boyfriend, who has also made appearances in my photography.  We’ve been together 4 years and he encourages me every day to grow and learn. 

Take a look through the slideshow to see more examples of Krys's photography and some book covers. 

It's the first snow here in Rhode Island and also the first in the series of Winter Writers here on my blog! I'm starting the cozy season off with Katrina LaFond, whose books are definitely something to warm you up on cold nights or days. And, they are also available on Nook and iBooks! Here's a bit about her in her own words.

Over the years, my characters and stories have matured with me. At first, the only characters I met were vampires, but eventually, other characters came to me, and I discovered I had a thing for tall, dark and handsome aliens as well. I spend so much time with my characters that they become real to me, and all my friends and family have gotten used to me talking about them that way. Thankfully, if they think I’m crazy, they keep it to themselves. I’ve also been very lucky in love. For 20 years, I’ve been with the same wonderful man who is very tolerant of the fact that I fall in love with the leading men in my books.

D.R.- What's your favorite song for writing?
K.L.- I don’t have just one song, but the genre I usually prefer to write to is metal – I wrote a lot of The Lockwood Chronicles Episode 1 while listening to the soundtrack of Queen of the Damned. I also love Evanescence and Within Temptation.

D.R.- What's your favorite song for editing?
K.L.- I pretty much listen to the same stuff I listen to when I’m writing.

D.R.- Which genres do you write and what's your favorite one?
K.L.- I write romance, usually of the paranormal or fantasy subgenre. I just like the whole departure from reality and getting away from the problems I’m dealing with in my life. I find that writing is kind of like therapy in that sense.

D.R.- Tell me about the biggest surprise your own character, story, or setting has given you.
K.L.- The biggest surprise was Lucian Davignon in the Lockwood Chronicles – he was supposed to just be a one time character, brought in to fix a problem, but he just wouldn’t go away. And then he became one of the main characters of the series.

D.R.- Do you have a writing routine?
K.L.- I just make sure I’m as comfortable as possible, get a big glass of water ready, and start writing. I wear headphones so that I don’t hear stuff that’s going on around me, and just try to lose myself in the story.

D.R.- Dancing or singing?
K.L.- Both – when I’m alone (lol)

D.R.- Beach or woods?
K.L.- Beach – but I prefer it on a cooler day, slightly overcast. I don’t do well with heat – plus, on days like that, there aren’t as many people around.

D.R.- Coffee or tea or something else?
K.L.- Probably coffee – with chocolate in it.

D.R.- Share a guilty pleasure with us.
K.L.- I don’t think of anything as a guilty pleasure – if I enjoy something, I’m not ashamed of it.

D.R.- Cake or pie?
K.L.- Cake – I’ve never been a big fan of pie crust, but I love frosting.

D.R.- Tell us about your plans or ideas for a new-to-you genre in the future.
K.L.- I’ve considered trying to write a mystery novel, which would be a big departure for me, because a story like that needs planning ahead of time. I generally don’t do much planning beyond having a general idea of where my books are going. Still – I’ll bet it’d end up being a paranormal mystery with a generous dose of romance – I can’t leave it all behind

The Amazon links are in the slideshow, so here are links for Katrina's books at other retailers:
​Caress of Magic on iBooks
​​Caress of Magic on Nook

The Lockwood Chronicles Volume 1 on iBooks
The Lockwood Chronicles Volume 1 on Nook

The Lockwood Chronicles Volume 2 on iBooks
The Lockwood Chronicles Volume 2 on Nook

The Lockwood Chronicles Episode 8 on iBooks
The Lockwood Chronicles Episode 8 on Nook

Kiss of the Dhampir on iBooks
Kiss of the Dhampir on Nook

​And, if Amazon is totally your thing, here is Katrina's Author Central Page.

Hello everyone! I'll be at the RI Author Expo being exposed. Oh! Well, that didn't come out the way I thought it'd sound... Hmm. Anyway, I'll have copies of all my books with me and a pen for signing. Books make great gifts. You can even chat about geekness, or ask me questions about characters and stories. 

If you're not anywhere near Rhode Island, or just want to stay at home in your pajamas all day, you're in luck because I'm making a Facebook appearance as well. Writer's Colony Press, the folks who format and publish all those awesome charity anthologies, have me on at 9PM EST. Other authors will be there, too. If you click the link below, there's a whole list. 

The Expo has a raffle and the WCP event has prizes. I have swag for both events, too. Hope to see you either in person or on the web!

And, if you can't make to either of those but still want great books, check out the sales below. You'll find paperbacks with free ebooks through Amazon Matchbook, ebooks that are just plain free this weekend, and ebooks at sale prices from three great groups of authors by following the links. 

Today, here's an author I've been lucky to work with on the Stardust, Always anthology. It's Debbie Manber Kupfer! 

​Debbie grew up in the UK in the East London suburb of Barking. She has lived in Israel, New York and North Carolina and somehow ended up in St. Louis, where she works as a writer and a freelance puzzle constructor of word puzzles and logic problems. She lives with her husband, two children and a very opinionated feline. Her first novel, P.A.W.S., was published originally in June 2013 and her second book in the series, Argentum, was released in October 2014. In addition she has stories in several anthologies including Fauxpocalypse, Shades of Fear, Winter Wishes, Sins of The Past, Sins of the Future, and Stardust, Always. In February 2015 she published a book of logic puzzles, Paws 4 Logic, with her son Joey. She believes that with enough tea and dark chocolate you can achieve anything!  

D.R.- Do you have a writing routine?
D.M.K.- Only during NaNoWriMo months. In November (and April and July if I’m doing CampNaNo) I set myself a daily target of 2K words and don’t let myself go on the internet until I’ve finished my daily quota. It works well for me. Both my two published works started as NaNo novels. The rest of the year I try to do something creative each day, whether it’s writing a little, editing or creating one of my puzzles. 

D.R.- Dancing or singing? 
D.M.K.- Both – much to the chagrin of my daughter! I get very enthusiastic when we go to concerts.

D.R.- Coffee or tea or something else? 
D.M.K.- Tea – gallons and gallons of hot tea with milk each day.

D.R.- Breakfast, brunch, or lunch? 
D.M.K.- Breakfast – I love breakfast foods. At home I’m most likely to have a bowl of Weetabix, but out and about I adore pancakes, waffles and anything eggy. Plus I enjoy most breakfasts when I travel. In England they have these amazing veggie breakfast platters with eggs, beans, veggie sausage, toast and of course tea. And in Israel I love Israeli breakfasts which are a whole cornucopia of cheeses, salads, fruits, eggs, breads and practically anything you can think of!

D.R.- What's the scariest thing your villain of choice has done?
D.M.K.- That would be my own villain – Alistair – who is a very scary werewolf dude. In his own words: 
“I ate my own father once and it was the best meal I ever had!” 

D.R.- What's the funniest book you've read and why?
D.M.K.- The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams. Adore this book (and pretty much all Adams’ books). I have read it a gazillion times and have encouraged many of my friends over the years to read the books, just so that they get all my weird references. 
What book do you recommend the most?
Apart from the Hitchhiker’s Guide, I think everyone should read The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak. 
There are also a bunch of indie authors that more folk need to know about, Michelle Proulx, M.A. Ray, Misha Burnett and George Sirois to name a few. I always get excited when I discover a new author.

D.R.- How do you get ideas for stories?
D.M.K.- From the “go for a walk fairy” and the “take a shower fairy”. Any time in fact when I don’t have a paper and pencil to write them down. I adore people watching and listening in to snippets of conversation and often times those odd snippets make it into my stories. 
Which genres do you write and what's your favorite one?
My main series is Fantasy – and that’s my favorite to write. I love magic and being able to delve deep into my imagination. I also experiment in other genres in my short stories including so far, horror, humor, sci-fi and contemporary. I like using short stories to explore other genres. 

D.R.- What's the best advice you've gotten about writing? 
D.M.K.- Just get the story down. Editing comes later. Also sometimes it’s good to take a short break between writing drafts so that you can look at them with fresh eyes. Often times when I’m writing I believe everything I write is bad, but when I put it away for a few days and read it back I usually discover that’s it not so awful after all.

D.R.- Tell me about the biggest surprise your own character, story, or setting has given you.
D.M.K.- A couple of things: When writing P.A.W.S. my villain, Alistair, wasn’t even in my original idea for the story. But a few chapters in he emerged and made the story all about him!
Also I’m currently working on book 3 of my series and have discovered a whole shadow world, Umbrae, hidden beneath the surface of our own. Who knew? 
​
D.R.- Tell us about your plans or ideas for a new-to-you genre in the future.
D.M.K.- I’m currently working with a local artist to produce a children’s picture book, Cecilia’s Tale – a little kitty story dedicated to my cat, Cecilia, who found me while I was living in Israel. It’s wonderful watching her story come to life. And I look forward to having a picture book I can share in school 

Today, we have a designer, Theodore Ashford! Theodore is a visual artist whose work helps authors promote their books in a number of ways. He's an award-winning author himself, so he knows what an author needs. 

Theodore Ashford is a writer and designer who is obsessed with the art of words. That love has led him into a path of typography and design, where he has a blast doing cover design and book photoshoots for other authors. The nice thing about book photoshoots is that books don’t get uncomfortable posing for a camera for long hours and don’t need a buffet. Theo has also worked as an editor for the literary magazine Alchemy, and has stared at computers contemplating font spacing for longer than even a robot could stand.​

Aside from writing and design, you’ll usually find Theo playing with his cats, drinking tea, or (if he’s feeling ambitious) failing at something he saw that one time on Pinterest. He lives with his spouse in Portland, Oregon.

D.R.- Coffee or tea?
T.A.- Okay, this is maybe a little bit sacrilege considering I live in the pacific northwest, but I’m going to have to say tea. Almost everyone here is into coffee, (and I grant that it’s some of the best coffee around) but my spouse is really into tea. I learned about all the health benefits of tea, so I really can’t argue with it now.

D.R.- Dogs or cats?
T.A.- I grew up a dog person, but then I fell in love with my little black kitty. Now I’m a cat person. The fact that I don’t have to wake up at two in the morning to take them on a walk is a huge benefit for me.

D.R.- Who or what is your biggest inspiration?
T.A.- When I was a teenager, I was pretty much obsessed with this anime/manga called Fullmetal Alchemist. It was because of FMA that I’ve grown into the kind and compassionate person I am today, mostly because I’m always striving to be more like my favorite characters.

D.R.- What's your Patronus?
T.A.- I would probably be one of those people who has a patronus influenced by the person I love. Probably a tiger, since that’s usually the way I think of my spouse. They’re my big protective floof.

D.R.- Why do you love winter?
T.A.- I love the prettiness of winter. Christmas is one of my favorite times of year with magical lights in the trees and quiet snowfalls. I love winter despite the cold. It’s a magical time of year.

D.R.- Where'd you get the idea for your business/goods/services?
T.A.- It mostly just started out with a love for books and words. I had a librarian for a grandmother, so I was raised around shelves and shelves of books everywhere. I grew up loving not just the way the words on the pages looked, but also the covers. As I got older, I kept experimenting with making my own covers, and eventually took classes at school on design and photography. I didn’t really think much about the skill I had cultivated until someone offered to pay me to make promotional materials for their books, and said they would promote me to all their friends if I gave them a link.

D.R.- What genres do you feel comfortable supporting?
T.A.- I’m most comfortable with Young Adult books, especially ones with a magical twist. I’m also a fan of anything with heavy typography, since that’s a big interest of mine. I honestly just enjoy challenging myself as often as I can manage.

D.R.- What do you have to offer authors?
T.A.- I do custom and pre-made covers for books, as well as design for marketing materials, logo design and book photography—that is, taking promotional pictures of books.

D.R.- Do you have any goods/services that might benefit readers or other artists?
T.A.- Yes! I’m also working on co-authoring a coloring book with my spouse that we’re hoping to have out later this year.

D.R.- Where can we find your goods/services on the Internet?
T.A.- The most information is currently on my website, though I also post lots of pictures to my Facebook page, Ashwords Design. 

Comicon! In Rhode Island! I will be there! So, I guess I'd better show you all what I'll have and how to find me. I'll have all the books in the gallery below, plus handy links for you to get ebooks, other volumes, or anything I run out of. There will be some PPC swag as well as the Island of Misprint Books at a discount.  

I should also mention that I'm going in costume. I won't say much more about that because some Rivers shouldn't be crossed. 

I'll be there with other Rhode Island authors. Check them out, because they're a great bunch of writers. 

Worried about how to find me? Worry no more! Simply check out the handy map and graphic below to see our table numbers and location inside the Convention Center. 

You can also stay updated and see my pictures from ComiCon on my Instagram, Twitter, and Author Facebook page. 

Today, I'm interviewing the lady who interviews other authors and even their characters. This isn't madness. This. Is. Kelly Blanchard!

​Known as The Muse within her writing circle, Kelly Blanchard first became serious about writing at age twelve and worked hard to learn and fully comprehend the numerous elements of writing. She tutored and assisted teaching in college while she studied for her degree in English. After graduation she continued tutoring children and even taught several classes. Now she’s established an online community to assist fellow writers in understanding their craft.

Outside of writing, Kelly enjoys baking her world famous chocolate chip cookies, and she takes great pleasure in the company of her two cats and her Doberman Pinscher. From a family of five sisters and four brothers, she uses her experience with the family dynamic in her writing. She also practices Martial Arts, fencing, and archery—all important knowledge to have in order to write more accurately.

Writing and stories are important to Kelly. Stories are a reflection of reality, and she tries to capture that reflection in a way that sparks the imagination even if it means bending a few rules and blending several genres.

D.R.- Who is your favorite TV or movie character and why?
K.B.- I’d have to say John Reese from Person of Interest because he’s a soft-spoken individual but still has this dry sense of humor. I hope to write a character like him one day.

D.R.- What's the food or drink you always tell other people to try?
K.B.- Food: my homemade chocolate chip cookies! Drink? Promise Land chocolate milk. Honestly, they’re the best.

D.R.- Who is one person you'd like to meet from any point in history and why?
K.B.- I’d like to meet King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem. He was the Leper King during the Crusades and became king when he was just thirteen. He inherited a kingdom at war. Although his leprosy spread throughout his body, he still went out and faced Saladin in the battlefield. He faced odds other men would run from. He knew his reign would be short and that he would suffer greatly due to his illness, but still he did everything in his power to rule well and provide a future for the kingdom. It would be interesting to have a chat with him.

D.R.- How do you get ideas for stories?
K.B.- I get my ideas from Anywhere and everywhere. Sometimes it’s a song. Other times it’s a line someone said. Sometimes merely paying attention to what is happening in the world around us, questions arise, and I ask ‘what if?’.

D.R.- Which genres do you write and what's your favorite one?
K.B.- I’ve written historical fiction, but my favorite genres to write are fantasy and science fiction.

D.R.- What do you do if you see your idea has already been done?
K.B.- It depends on how much I like the story. If it’s already done, sometimes I dismiss the idea and move on to another one. Otherwise, if I REALLY love the idea and think I can do something different, I twist it to make it unique.

D.R.- What's your best writer's block buster?
K.B.- Have a buddy to brainstorm with, so you can talk out all the different possibilities and get encouraged to either press on through it or alter it a bit.

D.R.- What's the best advice you've gotten about writing?
K.B.- You can always go back and fix the mistakes...even after you’ve published the book. That’s reassuring because once you publish a book, if you or a reader finds an error, you might feel like, “It’s going to be stuck that way FOREVER!” but that’s not the case, and it’s a huge relief.

D.R.- Tell me about the biggest surprise your own character, story, or setting has given you.
K.B.- See, I can’t tell you because that would be major spoilers for my series...but let’s just say, my reaction was definitely eyes widening, then a smile crept across my face, and then I started laughing because the idea was just awesome and unexpected.

D.R.- Tell us about your plans or ideas for a new-to-you genre in the future.
K.B.- My plans for writing is to try to publish four books a year—two of my own series and two from series I’ve co-written. At the same time, I plan to keep writing to stay ahead of myself, and I would love to teach some workshops about writing and self-publishing, but that opportunity hasn’t come up yet. We’ll see if that ever happens, but for now, I plan to write, write, write, and publish! 

 I got 0 words written on any project yesterday, but it was for a good reason. Preparing for Rhode Island ComiCon. I unpacked all my books, got my cards into them, took inventory, tested swag setup. But then, I hit a hiccup. Every single copy of Better Off Undead looks like MissingNo Pokemon. Gotta catch em all some time, I guess.

Apparently, the file got corrupted going from the CreateSpace website to the printer, and green for that last third didn't get printed. I called them and the tech team is quadruple checking the file in order to make sure the 15 replacement copies they send print correctly. Will they get here in time for ComiCon on Friday? I've got no idea. They're awesome for replacing these, though! 

Looks like I have 15 new souls for the Island of Discounted Misprint Books. Poor Lane. It's just his luck for something like this to happen with the book he stars in.