Happy Hour by Anne Mitchell

Happy Hour is a great romp of a chick-lit book.  It follows the story of Jane who turns out to be a lookie-likey of a very famous American chat show hostess who goes in for some secret plastic surgery and so Jane gets roped in to be her double for a little while and mayhem ensues.

It was a very good read from a new author.  The formatting was a bit off, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006ZXSPM6

Bernard and the Bibble by Carl Ashmore

I absolutely adore Carl's The Time Hunters series.  Bernard and the Bibble seems to be aimed at a slightly younger audience.

It kind of made me think of Willy Wonka - the fact they were travelling through different areas and the flowers were particular tastes.

This is a shortish book but a very satisfying story.  Carl is truly a talented children's author

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004U7GIB4/

Interrogating Jim Chaseley

My 6th interview is with the mysterious man (?) known as Jim Chaseley.  Nothing is known of him  ..... until now

How do you strike the balance between writing something you want to write and writing something that people want to read, in terms of the compromises you make, if any?

Simple. There is no balance. I can only write what I want to write. I find writing difficult enough as it is, so I can only do it if I’m totally into it. However, since releasing my first novel, I’ve found that I do want to change a few things here and there, based on feedback. But I’ve got to realise, if I do that, I’ll eventually be stuck in an endless loop! An endless loop, an endless loop an endle-


What excites, attracts or appeals to you about the genre(s) you write in.

That’s a toughie, because I don’t really think about genre when I’m writing. I just start writing something from the seed of an idea, and, last time, it just happened to be science fiction. You yourself said that Z14 could work even outside of sci-fi, and I agree. My next-up project is (sort of) historical fiction, unless I do my one that I suppose is fantasy, because it’s about a giant, next. I’d write a western if I thought of a funny story about a cowboy, and I sure as heck don’t read westerns.


Do you have a box, drawer, folder etc where you keep thoughts and ideas for future stories? Such as names you have come across, bits of dialogue, ideas, characters - even if you have no idea when you might use them?

That would suggest a level of organisation I just am not cut out for. I keep notes, sure, they’re all over the place, including notes in places I’ll never look at again, or in the middle of a chapter I’m writing for a completely different book. Oh, and I’ve got a Word document on one of my three different Google Docs accounts, called “Notes About Z14”, which is actually chapter three for an unwritten novel about a giant. Just last week I found an email I’d sent myself in 2006, and never read, which said “Don’t forget about the airship that goes down like a let-go balloon.” I have no idea what that’s about, but it sounds fun...and it kind of started me thinking about a completely different idea…

I horrified myself at work the other day, by firing up a technical design document I was writing and hidden in the middle was a Z14 joke about robotic hamsters. I knew I’d left something out of Z14.


How much of you is in your characters? Which of your characters is the you that you’d most like to be? Or be with ?

Hopefully none! If you ever like anything about any of my characters, then it’s that one, okay?


Do you become so wrapped up in your writing that your spouse wonders if they're married to you or one of your characters?

Ha! No. Quite the reverse. I don’t talk about my writing while I’m doing it. Not to the people who are truly close to me, although I seek approval from, and continually bother friends about it. It’s blatantly a security and fear of failure thing. Although, actually, I did ask my wife some strange science-based questions while I was writing Z14 (when she didn’t have a clue what I was doing, because I was too afraid of her not liking it). She’s got a PhD in biochemistry, so I’d try to just casually start a conversation about stem cells with her in the middle of Corrie, and get a really funny look (and then a really good answer, too, of course).


What type of book do you like reading? Is it the same genre as you write?

Reading’s taken a backseat to my writing, of late. I just don’t seem to find the time to read much at all anymore (Sorry Davie! I am making progress with A Sword For Hire!). I love it when I do find or make the time to plough through something, however, and I’ll read quite broadly when I do. From Cormac McCarthy’s amazing The Road straight to some god-awful Star Wars book or other. I’ve got a bit of a weakness for computer/video games, though and that steals a lot of reading time. And then there’s so much amazing TV, too (The Wire, Breaking Bad, The Sopranos, Game of Thrones…on and on…).


What lengths do you go to to convince us readers that your book has the X factor?

No great lengths. I don’t think my book does have the X factor, really. It’s a good, fun book, and I’d love for people to give it a try, but it’s not amazing. Promoting my book is a terribly onerous task. I just do not like waving my filthy wares under people’s noses. I have to, and do do it, but not a lot. At times, I’ve even gone to greater lengths to dissuade people from reading it, if I think a particular person I’m engaged with won’t like it, or is planning to read it for the wrong reasons (like, to get a back-scratch review, for example). Still, I’ve learned from publishing a book that you can’t judge a reader by their forum profile! Some people who I’ve really thought would hate my book have loved it, and then others I’d presumed would like it have been less impressed (or not at all!).

I think the greatest length I went to was getting you to review it, Joo. And that turned out okay! ;)


How do you feel when a reader points out the spelling mistake(s) you have made?

Well, I thank them profusely and then glow red with shame for a while before excusing myself and mentally going into a shed and doing an impression of Darth Vader, finding out his gerbil’s just died. A terribly hammy, “Nooooooooooooooooooooo!”


What do you like most about visiting KUF?

The hidden porn sub-forum? Either that, or just keeping an eye on the Kindle, and by extension eBook, world, really. Even if I don’t post much, I’m keeping tabs on what everyone else is up to. It’s one of only a couple of really nice communities I’ve found, where I want to hang around, rather than “having to”, for the publicity grind.


What is on your near horizon?

Whether the horizon is near or far, it’s a 360 degree thing, and I find myself surrounded by my ideas. I’m bobbing around on a little rubber dinghy and they’re bearing down on me from all directions. If I pick one and focus on it, I start to wonder what the others are up to; how they’re doing without me. They start to creep up on me from behind…so I constantly flit back and forth like an indecisive, hyperactive moth in a floodlit stadium. I’ll either end up completing five things at once, or spinning, spinning spinning, until I create a whirlpool that sucks me down to oblivion.

And when I’m down there, I’ll start a story about that, too.

But, if I remain on-course and don’t become distracted by a) another idea, b) shiny things, or, c)….sorry, where were we? If I remain on-course, then next up is something pretty different to Z14 (which is sci-fi humour). It’s a fun medieval story about two men who become rather unlikely friends - and even more unlikely knights - who end up getting sucked into a madman’s nefarious plans.


Where can we find you for more information?

More information? Try MI5’s secret file on me. Or my currently somewhat neglected website: http://www.jimchaseley.com - If I’m not in my mental head-shed, going “Nooooooooooo!”.


You can see my review of Z14 here: http://joobook.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/z14-by-jim-chaseley.html

The Seventh Seal by Alan G Brown

This book is a medical thriller - bad guys want to take over the world, good guys have to survive and overthrow them.

In the main this is an enjoyable story, however I did get confused about who was who and who was related to who in the bad guys family and group.  As the story went on I got used to who was who, which was good.

I like this type of what I call "chase" book and even though this wasn't the best I've ever read, it kept me interested until the end, but I had to force myself to stick with it for a bit at the beginning.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006O1OFAK

Interrogating Shaun Jeffrey

My 5th interview is with Shaun Jeffrey, author of many a scary book.  Although to be fair, The Kult and Killers aren't horror books, they are serial killer books, which apparently does make a difference.

How do you strike the balance between writing something you want to write and writing something that people want to read, in terms of the compromises you make, if any?

I always write what I want to write. Whether people want to read it doesn’t really cross my mind, because if it did, I guess I’d try to jump on some bandwagon to catch the latest wave of whatever’s in vogue. If I didn’t write something I wanted to write, then I guess I wouldn’t feel so inspired. To lock yourself away and write is hard at the best of times, so it has to be something I enjoy doing, especially as it’s not my full time career.

What excites, attracts or appeals to you about the genre(s) you write in.

I love the fact that writing in the thriller and horror genres, I can write fast paced adventures that will hopefully introduce the reader to terrifying situations that will put a chill down their spine or keep them awake at night. But having been brought up in a house in a cemetery, I guess my fascination with the darker side of life is in my roots, so I was never going to write romance novels. But ultimately there’s nothing like being transported to another place by a piece of fiction and if you get totally engrossed in the story then the author has done their job.

Do you have a box, drawer, folder etc where you keep thoughts and ideas for future stories? Such as names you have come across, bits of dialogue, ideas, characters - even if you have no idea when you might use them?

I do have a scrap book, but I haven’t updated it for a while. I went through a stage of writing things on bits of paper, but they invariably got lost and I also sometimes have trouble reading my own hastily scribbled notes, so perhaps I should be a doctor. I also make notes on my computer, and at least I can read what those say.


How much of you is in your characters? Which of your characters is the you that you’d most like to be? Or be with ?

I guess I put a lot of myself into my characters as I draw from my own experiences to try to make their experiences seem as real as possible. In that regard the characters Prosper Snow and Wolfe from The Kult and Killers are the two main ones that I have put most of myself into. If I had to be one of them, then I suppose Wolfe is the man to be. He’s reckless, rich and attractive but deep down he is very supportive of his friends, well the few that survive that is!


Do you become so wrapped up in your writing that your spouse wonders if they're married to you or one of your characters?

Not really. I keep both things completely separate. If my fiction was ever to intervene with real life there would be problems. I mean, I write about serial killers and monsters, so if my better half was to think I’d become one of my characters, I’d hate to think which one it was.


What type of book do you like reading? Is it the same genre as you write?

I primarily like reading thrillers and horror but I will read anything if it appeals to me. The main criteria is that I don’t like stories that drag and if the author drones on and on with little happening in the story then I switch off. Life’s too short and there are too many other books to discover.


What lengths do you go to to convince us readers that your book has the X factor?

I don’t go to any lengths to convince readers of anything. If people like what I write that’s great. If they don’t, well there’s nothing at all I can do about it. Perhaps that’s why I haven’t yet become a superstar.


How do you feel when a reader points out the spelling mistake(s) you have made?

What spelling mishtakes? Seriously, I appreciate the time anyone takes to let me know if something is wrong. Nobody’s perfect. Mistakes creep into most books, even those published by the major publishing houses.


What do you like most about visiting KUF?

It’s a friendly place populated with people who like good books. Some of them even like mine! But forums and groups like KUF can be fantastic places for authors to hang out as there are always going to be a few readers who might be interested in what you write.


What is on your near horizon?

I’m always working on something. Currently I’m working on a novella called Dark Seduction. I’m also outlining another Prosper Snow novel. I’m also keeping my fingers crossed that the film of The Kult is eventually released. There has been some further work done on it and the production company are in talks with a distributor, so hopefully it will be released eventually.


Where can we find you for more information?

I have a website, which is in dire need of updating: http://www.shaunjeffrey.com and I’m on twitter @ShaunJeffrey and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=665480388

Goodnight Dear: The Unsentimental Diary Of A Bereaved Husband by Darren Humphries

Darren's usual genre is surreal sci-fi parallel universe type of thing, full of humour and madness.  I have read 2 of his books and they make me smile and giggle.  This one made my sob my eyes out.

The simple summary for this book is that it's his diary of his life after his wife died suddenly and unexpectedly at a heartbreakingly early 39 years old, leaving him with his two children, an 8 year old boy and 16 month old girl.

This is no heartstrings pulled sentimental tale.  It's just life as Darren came to know it.  Yes, I cried my eyes out at points, but I'm like that at sad scenes on the telly.  It's not really a how-to book on how to cope either.

People on the forums have been saying "I can't read it, I'll cry".  Well I say "just read it and cry"  Set aside some "me time", tell your family that you are going to look ugly for a bit with blotched cheeks and puffy eyes and get on with it.  It's not a mammoth read, but is well worth reading, even if all you get out of it is an appointment to sort out your will or life insurance. 

We all die, we all leave someone behind.  If you die first, how will your family cope?  If your family dies first, how will you cope?  Read this book and see how Darren coped.  It may help you in the future.

But don't think this book is all sadness and tears.  There are happy moments and Darren is a fantastic writer who has invited you along his personal journey.

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007OMTFAI/

Interrogating Ken Magee

My 4th interview is with Ken Magee, author of Dark Tidings.

How do you strike the balance between writing something you want to write and writing something that people want to read, in terms of the compromises you make, if any?

I write fantasy and people who read that genre don’t place too many restrictions on the writer. There was one scene that I was writing for the Dark Tidings sequel that involved a naked wizard and a couple who had snuck off to be alone in a secluded tavern (don’t ask how that all came about!)... I had a lot of fun writing it, but when I read it again, I decided it needed to be toned down a bit. I may ask Joo to read the revised scene to make sure it now qualifies as ‘decent’.

What excites, attracts or appeals to you about the genre(s) you write in.

I generally write fantasy novels. Well, maybe ‘always’ is more accurate. I’ve written one novel and it’s a contemporary fantasy. I love writing the genre because you can let your imagination loose and take the story and the characters wherever takes your fancy. There are pretty much no limitations and there’s no need to do exhaustive research (which is just not my thing). Dark Tidings is an amusing novel with, I’ve been told, a good sprinkling of laugh-out-loud moments... I adore humour so I may, sometime in the future, try my hand at a pure comedy novel.


Do you have a box, drawer, folder etc where you keep thoughts and ideas for future stories? Such as names you have come across, bits of dialogue, ideas, characters - even if you have no idea when you might use them?

I couldn’t do without all the above. I am constantly jotting down ideas on scraps of paper which then end up scattered all over my desk. Every so often I have to tidy them away into a box file or transcribe them into an ideas document.

Recently I got myself an LED pen which now lives on my bedside table with a notebook. If I get inspiration in the middle of the night, I can use the pen to make notes without having to put the light on and disturb my wife. She loves my pen!

How much of you is in your characters? Which of your characters is the you that you’d most like to be? Or be with?

There’s always going to be something of me, and the people I know, in the characters. I would, of course, never tell the real people who they inspired although I’m sure a couple of them know exactly who they are in the book. I think having real people in your head when you’re writing helps give life to the characters, but I wouldn’t let it limit how a character develops.

And I guess I’d like to be Tung, the slightly roguish medieval time-traveller, he’s a lot of fun and he’s got two things that I haven’t... youthfulness and hair.

Do you become so wrapped up in your writing that your spouse wonders if they're married to you or one of your characters?

Yes, so much so that I mentioned it in the dedication. On the plus side though, it keeps me out of her way.


What type of book do you like reading? Is it the same genre as you write?

I like a lot of genres, but my heart sits squarely in the fantasy world. My favourite author is Terry Pratchett and reading his books has, no doubt, influenced my style of writing. I also love Harry Harrison, Douglas Adams and Grant Naylor (the name used by writers Rob Grant and Doug Naylor when they wrote the fantastic Red Dwarf books).

As an example of other genres, one of my favourite books is McCarthy’s Bar by Pete McCarthy. It tracks his journey along the west coast of Ireland and in it he introduces us to his ‘Rules of Travel’... rule 8 being ‘Never pass a bar that has your name on it.’ I follow that rule on my travels, but luckily there are not too many Magee pubs.

What lengths do you go to to convince us readers that your book has the X factor?

I find marketing very difficult and convincing readers that Dark Tidings has the X factor is part of the process that I struggle with (or rather, with which I struggle!). I guess the first thing is getting the blurb right. I also like having a tagline which I can use when there isn’t time for the full blurb. For Dark Tidings I use ‘What happens when ancient magic meets the internet? One thing is certain, modern life will never be the same again.’ After that, all I can do is talk enthusiastically about the book that is my baby.

But maybe I’d like to throw this one back to the readers by asking ‘What do I need to do to convince you that Dark Tidings had the X factor?’ I really would welcome suggestions.

How do you feel when a reader points out the spelling mistake(s) you have made?

I’m very happy to have a mistake pointed out, because that means I can fix it... part of the magic with Kindle and eBooks in general is that you can get errors sorted quickly. Having said that, I am always very disappointed to find that I missed a mistake in the first place.

At the proofreading stage, my biggest problem was with compound words. A simple example is... hair dryer, hair-dryer or hairdryer? Apparently I had adopted a very 'relaxed' style, which meant I spelt words in the way I felt made it easiest for the reader. I actually liked the style, but my publisher wanted formal spelling rules to be followed... and there are lots of rules. I’m much better now, but I still need to be careful with the likes of spot check and spot-checking.

What do you like most about visiting KUF?

I am a member of a number of bookie social media sites and I try to participate without being a pain about mentioning my own book too much... I hope I have found the balance. What I like most about KUF is the people and the constructive natures of the forums... you rarely see any nastiness, unlike a lot of other places. KUF is a problem though because I can spend way too much time enjoying myself there.

What is on your near horizon?

I am writing the follow on to Dark Tidings, the working title is The End of the Tunnel and it should be published early in the summer. I’m hoping there are lots of readers of the first book who’ll want to know what else could possibly happen to the main characters... and I hope they care what happens to them.


Where can we find you for more information?

I do have a Facebook page, but as I said before about marketing, I find it difficult to know what to put there! Amazon is a good place to find out more about Dark Tidings - it has the full blurb plus a bunch of reviews. I’m also happy to answer questions at ken.magee@gametheworld.com or, of course, you can always find me on KUF.

Revisting The Time Hunters by Carl Ashmore

The Time Hunters was the first book I bought on my Kindle and the first book I reviewed.  So why am I revisiting it?  Because Carl has issued a new and improved version.
As I understand, he's with JK Rowling's agents which is why there's a re-write and who knows where this fantastic book will get to.

Did I say the word "fantastic".  Oh yes.  This book is quite simply a fantastic read.  When I heard this new version was available, I emailed Amazon to ask for the update and had it within a few hours.  I have load of books I want to read, so I wasn't going to read it quite yet.  But it was looking at me.  I thought "just the first chapter".  Oh dear.  There's no such thing as "just a chapter".  I finished it in two days.  It's quite literally unputdownable (I only put it down as it was past midnight and I needed to sleep)

What are the differences?  I'm not sure.  I'd read it a year ago and I'm no good at remembering stories.  All I can say is fantastic (again, lol)

This may technically be a children's story, but there's nothing childish about it.  I also bought the book for my 8 year old nephew (apparently he's been reading Harry Potter with a torch under his duvet in the nights) and my sister-in-law asked was it suitable as Becky is a teenaged girl - I think she thought it might be another twilight type book.  Well I can't think of anyone who this book wouldn't appeal to or be suitable for.

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0045OUPZC

Interrogating Sibel Hodge

My third Interview is with the lovely Sibel Hodge, author of some of the best chick-lit around

How do you strike the balance between writing something you want to write and writing something that people want to read, in terms of the compromises you make, if any?

Personally, I think you need to write from the heart, and that means writing something you want to write. If you're just writing something because it's in a trendy genre and you think it will sell a lot of books, then your passion won't be there and it will shine through in your work. 

What excites, attracts or appeals to you about the genre(s) you write in.

I mostly write in the quirky, fun chick lit genre and I guess it's my personality that attracted me to that because I'm slightly nuts. Life is hard, and it can be stressful and difficult at times in the modern-world, which is why we need to take time time out to have fun. Laughter is the perfect way to de-stress!

Do you have a box, drawer, folder etc where you keep thoughts and ideas for future stories? Such as names you have come across, bits of dialogue, ideas, characters - even if you have no idea when you might use them? 

I've got a big book with all my notes in it at home, and I always carry a notebook around in case I get hit by a sudden jolt of inspiration. I just hope the police never find it when I'm planning the perfect murder!

How much of you is in your characters? Which of your characters is the you that you’d most like to be? Or be with ? 

All of my lead female roles have got bits of me in them. I've been unlucky in love and I'm accident prone like Helen in Fourteen Days Later. I can be sarcastic and feisty like Amber Fox in my comedy mystery series. And since The Baby Trap is based on own my experiences with infertility, I'm a lot like Gina in the book. All of my male leads have bits of my hubby in them, too! 

Do you become so wrapped up in your writing that your spouse wonders if they're married to you or one of your characters?

OMG, yes! When I'm stuck in my zone I ignore my hubby. He'll ask me a question and about an hour later, I'm going, 'Hmmmm? Did you say something?'


What type of book do you like reading? Is it the same genre as you write?

I love many different genres - chick lit, autobiographies, thrillers, cozy mysteries, true crimes. Last year I was doing two Indie Books Reading Challenges and I read a lot of genres that I wouldn't normally read so it was nice to open up my eyes. It depends what mood I'm in as to what I want to pick up next. 

What lengths do you go to to convince us readers that your book has the X factor?

Well, hopefully, I've got a good blurb and attractive covers that will entice you. I think reviews are important, too. A lot of readers look at reviews before they decide to buy so I do spend time trying to get some nice reviews from book bloggers and indie friendly readers. 

How do you feel when a reader points out the spelling mistake(s) you have made?

I'm really grateful. Even when you've had your book edited and proofread some of those pesky oopsies will always get missed. 

What do you like most about visiting KUF?

It's a really friendly forum that has some great people contributing. What's really nice as an author is that a lot of readers like interacting with us and it's not a "them and us" situation. It's all about the Kindle Lurrrrrve!

What is on your near horizon?

There will be a fourth Amber Fox mystery, plus a romantic comedy, and I'm going to  delve into another psychological thriller, too. 
 

 Where can we find you for more information? 

You can find me hanging out in cyberspace at:

My website: http://www.sibelhodge.com/

My blog: http://www.sibelhodge.com/my-blog.php

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sibel-Hodge-Author-of-romantic-comedy-and-comedy-mystery-books/246194485016

Or Twitter: @sibelhodge

Thanks so much for having me! :)

Have a super fab day 
Peace and Love ♥

Sibel 

For reviews and purchases of my latest novels: http://www.sibelhodge.com/
Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/sibelhodge

Emotional Geology by Linda Gillard

Emotional Geology by Linda Gillard is kuforum’s March 2012 choice for bookclub read of the month.  This is another book with a lot of hype that I wondered if it was my type of read.

Well the answer to that is “not quite”.  I found I was struggling to get into it.  Once I was in, it was a pleasant enough read about a new life on Uist.  The present day story doesn’t really go anywhere, the story was more in the flashbacks of the characters getting to where they are now.  In fact you could precise the book in about half a dozen sentences.    There were a lot of heavy issues, but not dealt with in a heavy way.

At first the swapping back and fore of perspectives got on my nerves, but I soon got used to reading one moment from Rose's perspective, the next what Rose or others are doing, then again in the past in a flashback.

I see this book has lots of 5 stars on Amazon and I'm not saying those people are wrong.  It's just this is not my normal reading fare.  If you like “this kind of book” then you’ll probably love this one

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0055T357G

Interrogating Anne Brooke

In the second of my series of author interrogations, I interview Anne Brooke. Anne writes in a multitude of genres, some of which you wouldn't think were compatible.

How do you strike the balance between writing something you want to write and writing something that people want to read, in terms of the compromises you make, if any?

I think more than anything I actually write for myself. I don’t think you can write for other people, in the sense that the only story you can really tell is your own, in many and varied ways. That said, when the initial draft is there, I’m more than happy to respond to editorial advice from my publishers as they’re the ones who know the market far more deeply than I do. Every writer desperately needs a good editor to help make the book the best and most accessible it can be. You can’t fully edit your own work.

What excites, attracts or appeals to you about the genre(s) you write in.

What excites and attracts me are the characters first and foremost, and then the story. Though these two are very closely linked – every character creates their own story by the decisions they make and the paths they follow. Because of that, I’ve ended up writing in a wide variety of genres, both for the paperback and ebook markets. I’ve written romantic comedy, crime, psychological thrillers, a fantasy series, plus literary fiction, biblical fiction and gay & lesbian erotic short stories, the latter being my bestselling genre. All these genres appeal to me because of the characters in them.

Do you have a box, drawer, folder etc where you keep thoughts and ideas for future stories? Such as names you have come across, bits of dialogue, ideas, characters - even if you have no idea when you might use them?

If I get an idea I create a file on the computer and put notes, story beginnings and character lists in there. However, it’s very rare I come back and look at these, so I don’t spend too much time on doing it. When one story is finished, I’ll take whatever appeals to me next, whether it’s new or something I’ve thought of previously, and go with that. I’m a bit of a fly-by-night writer in that respect!

How much of you is in your characters? Which of your characters is the you that you’d most like to be? Or be with ?

I think all my characters are essentially me. I can’t write anything else, and I don’t think any other writers can, when it comes down to it either. Each of us has a myriad of personalities and possibilities inside us, and the trick is to key into the one with the strongest voice at the time and run with it. The character who’s most affected me while I’ve been writing, and beyond, is Michael, my hooker/talented artist from psychological thriller, A Dangerous Man. He has a very powerful voice and he lived in my head for quite a while, which was both scary and liberating, sometimes at the same time. Of course that voice is also mine, and a very effective way of expressing the things I can’t – or am not allowed to - express as a late-forties middle-class woman living in Surrey. Strangely, I still hear his voice today when I need it.

In terms of which character I’d most like to be, I think that’s Annyeke Hallsfoot, the acting First Elder of Gathandria from my fantasy novel The Gifting. She’s got a whole lot of attitude coupled with a very warm heart, and I think that combination is just amazing. Wish I had half her charm and strength!

Do you become so wrapped up in your writing that your spouse wonders if they're married to you or one of your characters?

On occasion, yes. When I was writing Michael (see above), I became more like him than I have done with any of my characters. For the eighteen months I took to write that novel, my husband on occasion found it very tricky – though, being the patient generous man he is, he didn’t say this until after I’d finished the book – as he’d ask me something and I’d reply as if I were a gay male prostitute obsessed with drawing. It certainly gave a whole new slant on the “for better or for worse” promise in the marriage service!

What type of book do you like reading? Is it the same genre as you write?

I love reading. Reading is far more important than writing, and it’s the foundation and essential joy no writer can be without. I read anything and everything I can get my hands on, including cereal packets if I have to. I love reading crime, thrillers, literary novels, women’s fiction, contemporary fiction, biography, short stories, Christian books, poetry, and gay erotic fiction. I always have at least five books on the go – one fiction, one biography, one Christian book, one poetry book and an ebook, which is usually in the gay/gay erotic genre. The only subject I don’t really like is horror.

What lengths do you go to to convince us readers that your book has the X factor?

I try to make the book the best it can be. This involves working closely with my editors in terms of my short stories as I have a close business relationship with them, and in terms of my novels the in-depth involvement of an independent editor whom I trust implicitly. This is because, for the novels, I want them to be as close to what they should be before I submit them anywhere. Quality counts.

When it comes to marketing, I find it very hard, but I have a Facebook and Twitter account, and I also try to seek reviews for any books which come out as best I’m able to. Many of my publishers also have a very strong relationship with reviewers, and this has helped build up my readership very steadily over the past three or four years, and I’m very pleased with that. I’ve also recently taken part in my first blog tour which was quite successful, and I’m always happy to write articles (hence this one) if asked to so people can get to know me as a person as well as a writer. I hope they’ll see I’m not as scary or strange as many assume I am because of the hard-hitting stories I tend to produce, but it’s hard to tell really!

How do you feel when a reader points out the spelling mistake(s) you have made?

I feel very stupid indeed. There’s always something that – as Wodehouse has it – makes you leap like a gaffed salmon with embarrassment on your pillow at night. But I’ve learnt to live with it by realizing that no book is ever perfect and some error will always slip through. But both my editors and I do our best to catch them …

What do you like most about visiting KUF?

It’s a very friendly place, and it’s great to link up with other writers and readers without feeling the need to compete. Plus I love my Kindle and it’s nice to be somewhere where I don’t have to keep explaining why they’re so wonderful all the time! – which is something I do on a regular basis off-line J

What is on your near horizon?

In terms of writing, I’m editing the third in my Gathandrian trilogy, The Executioner’s Cane, at the moment, and preparing for the publication of Book Number Two, Hallsfoot’s Battle, later this summer. All three books are published by Bluewood Publishing and are or will be available in Kindle and paperback.

At the same time, I’m preparing for the publication of my gay romantic e-story, Angels and Airheads, from Musa Publishing at the end of March, and my gay erotic e-story, Where You Hurt The Most, from Riptide Publishing in May. Beyond that, the next in my gay erotic ménage e-series, called The Delaneys at Home, will be published by Amber Allure Press on 3 June, and my literary horror e-story, The Gift of The Snow, has just been accepted for publication by Untreed Reads Press, so it’s going to be a very busy summer! All these will be available on Kindle.

I’m also working on a stand-alone gay fantasy novella, The Taming of The Hawk, but that’s very slow-going at the moment. I’m definitely enjoying the ride, however. J

Where can we find you for more information?

I have a website, a regularly updated blog, a Facebook page, a Facebook fan page and a Twitter account. Specific genres which people might find interesting can be accessed at The Gathandria fantasy site, Biblical Fiction UK and Gay Reads UK. Visitors are always welcome and I make exceptionally good cake!

Earth Magic by Linda M Priestley

Linda M Priestly is also know as Linda Gruchy author of the gritty Death in Spiggs Wood.  Even though that book has the word "wood" in the title, that's as close as it would get to this book that's full of flowers and weeds and vegetables and planting in an allotment.

Earth Magic is rather a magical tale of two young people who come across each other unexpectedly and help each other where they thought no one could help them.  That sounds a bit soppy, but this story is not soppy at all.  It's just lovely.

If you picked it up recently, bump it to the top of your pile.  It's not a long story, which is good as once you start, you won't be able to put it down.

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007JLNGRC/

Z14 by Jim Chaseley

This is another book that I'd whinged about the price. And now I've just been asked was it worth the price. The answer is yes.  

The name of this book had caught my eye "Z14" Short and sharp. It's the story of Z14 who is a killer cyborg. Now before you all switch over, I'll tell you that I'm not a fan of overblown sci-fi. This wasn't overblown sci-fi. Yes, obviously, killer cyborgs come under the remit of sci-fi :), but this is more of a humorous tale. Does Z14 still have human tendancies? He certainly has human sarcasm.

I thought the story was well told and the writing very easy to read. Certainly a page turner for me. It's certainly not high fiction, but who cares about that. I like a good story and this was a good boisterous story.   

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0075YUGNK/

Interrogating David Wailing

In the first of a series of author interrogations, I posed my questions to the lovely David Wailing, author of Fake Kate and Bang: Memoirs of a Relationship Assassin 

How do you strike the balance between writing something you want to write and writing something that people want to read, in terms of the compromises you make, if any?

I must want to write it. That’s always top priority, much more so than writing for other people. I’ve got to enjoy writing it, even if it’s hard work! And it’s common knowledge that if you write for everyone, you fail to reach anyone. I write for me, and then invite everyone to the party!

Recently I stopped rewriting Cupid’s Warhead, an older book of mine, for precisely this reason. I’d put months of work into it but it was becoming a slog, and I wasn’t enjoying it any more. So even though a few lovely people were keenly awaiting it, I decided to stop and move onto something I would enjoy. It’s really important for me to stay excited about whatever I’m writing, otherwise the motivation fades away, and all the distractions take over.

Having said that, I do try to keep in mind how commercial a book might be, or at least whether there’s an existing audience for it. I have done a few things from time to time to broaden the appeal, such as reduce the amount of swearing. But I see them as improvements rather than compromises, as long as my original story or characters are not weakened as a result.

Just thought of a perfect example. Scott, the main character of Bang: Memoirs of a Relationship Assassin, is a man who splits up couples for a living. I knew some readers would be appalled by this, and refuse to read the book. I considered changing his personality but that would have completely ruined the entire story. Instead I added a short introduction by the publisher of his memoirs, which makes it clear he is going to be changed by his experiences, and is just as susceptible to romance as the rest of us. So Scott remained intact, but readers knew he wasn’t going to remain the heartless swine they expected. Afterwards I felt an introduction helped give his story context and feel like more of a personal memoir, so again, an improvement rather than a compromise.

What excites, attracts or appeals to you about the genre(s) you write in.

This is an odd question for me because I don’t think of ‘genre’ until the book is written. Usually at the point when I’m categorising it for Amazon!

Recently I’ve found my books fitting into the Mystery and Thriller genres, which is fine, but I’ve also had people tell me they should be classed as Humour, or Drama, or even Chick-Lit! There’s a little of everything mixed up in there.

More appealing to me than genre is theme, and I’m still excited by the theme of identity. In one way or another, I think every single thing I’ve ever written is based around the idea that we all have multiple sides to us. I’m interested in characters pretending to be something or someone they’re not. There’s just so much potential for drama, conflict, and gags too! So that’s my main attraction, rather than genre.

Do you have a box, drawer, folder etc where you keep thoughts and ideas for future stories? Such as names you have come across, bits of dialogue, ideas, characters - even if you have no idea when you might use them?

Yes, I’m constantly storing nuggets that might be useful in future. In the old days I used to scribble all my notes in exercise books called Dave’s Big Book Of Really Great Ideas! Now they’re kept as various Word documents and so on.

Quite often I will think of something (or overhear some priceless dialogue) at work and then email it to myself. So I’ve got an email folder full of nameless characters saying hilarious things to each other!

How much of you is in your characters? Which of your characters is the you that you’d most like to be? Or be with ?

With primary characters, I think there’s always some element of me within them. Since I have to think like they do, I must be able to properly live inside their heads, so naturally they can’t be totally alien to me. The problem is trying to make them more unlike me – I don’t want everything I write to feel autobiographical!

The character I’d most like to be is Ben, the Kiwi traveller dude from Fake Kate. He’s just so happy and upbeat and excitable, always wanting to have adventures and enjoy life to the full. I’d love to be more like that. Plus a lot of readers have told me how much they fancy Ben and would kill to get their hands on him!

The character I’d like to be with socially is Scott, the relationship assassin, purely to observe him. Scott’s something of a mystery even to me... he’s the ultimate mask-wearer, and as someone fascinated by identity, I would want to get to know someone with his abilities.

As for who I’d like to be with romantically... well, I wouldn’t trust any of them. They’re all two-faced one way or the other!

Do you become so wrapped up in your writing that your spouse wonders if they're married to you or one of your characters?

I do get very wrapped up in writing. I’ve been known to deliberately ignore my phone and doorbell and, once, the fire alarm. But my OH is a teacher and even more busy and work-obsessed than I am!

What type of book do you like reading? Is it the same genre as you write?

It’s more the style of book that I like reading rather than genre really. I like modern, urban stories, because as a Londoner I can relate to them well, but the characters have to be believable and the plot intriguing. I used to read a huge amount of science fiction and fantasy, and can still be tempted, but again they have to be believable in some way. I’m not so keen on books firmly set within a professional world, like police procedural or legal fiction, because everything always feels locked in a pattern. I’d be willing to give anything a go as long as the initial premise was exciting, and there was potential to be surprised. A little unpredictability goes a long way!

What lengths do you go to to convince us readers that your book has the X factor?

What a question! I suppose there are two sides to this. One is to make the book itself as attractive as possible, which is no mean feat. I think the key is to have an interesting central character and an intriguing hook into the plot. (I see them as one and the same – I don’t think character and plot are two distinct things.) But that’s much easier to say than do!

The other side is the promotional and marketing stuff, which if you’ve done the first bit well, is much easier. One reason all my book covers feature a human face is that I want readers to see whose story it is, to meet the protagonist, and hopefully be drawn into their world. I think people respond to images of other people more than landscapes or abstract illustrations.

Something else I do is build fictitious websites which are then featured within the book itself, to make the world it’s set in feel more real. For example, the company Infidelity Ltd from Bang has a corporate site at www.infidelity-ltd.com, and all the online dating profiles used in Fake Kate exist at www.otherhalves.com. I see them as bonus material, to be discovered by readers as nice little extras!

How do you feel when a reader points out the spelling mistake(s) you have made?

I feel like this: nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnngh! That’s the sound of me grinding my teeth together. I’m genuinely grateful if anyone takes the time to point out errors, and if nothing else it shows they’re properly reading my book! But I’m frustrated that I didn’t spot it first, and get annoyed with myself for being unprofessional. Hence the nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnngh.

What do you like most about visiting KUF?

I like joo the best. She’s my favourite. I only come to KUF to be near her really.

But there’s lots of other reasons! It was a turning point for me to discover KUF, and realise what a fantastic place it is for both indie authors and readers. It felt like walking into a bar and realising they play your favourite music, serve your favourite drinks, and it’s already filled with your mates. It’s a cliché, but I honestly felt like I’d found somewhere I fitted in without having to work at it, and still feel like that now.

Bearing in mind how hot-headed forums can become, and how shockingly vicious things get on the Amazon forums, I think KUF is truly one of a kind. The moderators do a great job with a light touch, and everyone just goes out of their way to be friendly. The worst thing about KUF is that it’s a massive distraction when I should be writing!

What is on your near horizon?

Two big projects this year. The first is a short story collection called Halves. I wrote two short stories for KUF’s Hearts and Arrows anthology in January, and enjoyed it so much I wanted to write more! Halves will include a full-length novella plus the ’novelisation’ of a short film (hopefully!), and will be out in the summer.

The second is Shot, which is the sequel to Bang and the next in the Memoirs of a Relationship Assassin series. I’m aiming for that to be finished by the end of the year, with hopefully another two books in the series next year. Plus plenty of other ideas for new novels bubbling away.

Where can we find you for more information?

I have a website at www.davidwailing.com, a Facebook author page at www.facebook.com/davidwailing, a twitter account @davidwailing, or you can just email me at david.wailing@gmail.com.