Author interview with Mary M. Forbes

Mary M. Forbes is a member of the Alberta Romance Writers Association and has been writing since she was a teenager.  She is the author of two other books, Alberta Wild Rose and Hawk’s Gift, both historical romances.  An enthusiast of everything country western, Forbes also thoroughly enjoys history and crafts.  She has completed certified coursework in a wide variety of fields including writing, computers, accounting and weather observing.

Forbes currently resides with her husband in a beautiful mountain town in the Canadian province of British Columbia.

1. Tell us about your latest book.

One Dance with a Stranger is a story about Wade, a country music superstar who gains success too young and Emily, raised on the streets and now determined to follow her mind and never her heart in order to obtain the life she craves.

2. How did you get started as a writer?

I always knew I wanted to write when as a teen I avidly read all the romance books around and other stories including literature. I was the only student that put my hand up when the teacher asked who liked Shakespeare – it was embarrassing at the time, but it was the truth.   I wrote poems, short stories and won awards .  I enjoy learning and research and always ‘critique’ books and movies saying ‘what if…’ or correcting glaring errors or weak plots.

3. What does a typical day look like for you?

I need my morning coffee, then answering e-mails, writing, researching or outlining stories and sometimes playing games.  Occasionally I go on trips with my long-haul truck driver who travels all over North America.  I try to take walks along the river at least once a day.  I spend time with my grandson and my daughter most days as well.

4. Describe your workspace.

I have my desk/computer in my kitchen beside a patio door.  I have a large yard full of hills and pine trees, close to a river and usually see the deer and squirrels and birds just outside the window. Once I even saw a bear.  I am usually alone as my husband is on the road.

5. Favorite books

My favorite books are Something Wonderful – Judith McNaught,  North and South

– John Jakes and War and Peace – Leo Tolstoy.

6. Tell us 3 interesting/crazy things about you

I love ‘debating’ (some call it arguing) and will research and question everything.  I often see humor when someone gets too intense.  I don’t believe in Global Warming.

7. Favorite quote

Only God can Judge me or It’s amazing how much people believe beauty is goodness (Leo Tolstoy – maybe not exact quote)

8. Best and worst part of being a writer

Best – going into a world where I can be/do whatever I want.

Worst: – Being interrupted when everything is falling into place and then after forgetting ‘the place’ you were in.

9. Advice for other writers

Don’t take yourself or your characters too seriously.  Humor goes a long way to make stories interesting and enjoyable.

10. Tell us a story about your writing experience.

When I published my first book and was so proud of, I met with the author Bev Jones who had inspired me to do it, for lunch.  The waiter saw the book and started talking to me about his wife loving romance.  Bev Jones stepped between us and started ‘selling’ her book.  I realized I was not aggressive enough (like she was) to sell myself – and I realized sometimes when you think someone is helping you maybe they’re helping themselves?

Where can people buy your books?

My books ‘Hawk’s Gift’ and ‘Alberta Wild Rose’ are available on my website

http://www.marymforbesauthor.com (paypal) as well as contacting me directly at marymforbes@hotmail.com.

‘One Dance with a Stranger’ is available on my website, through Authorhouse, Amazon, Barnes & Noble as well as e-published on Kindle(Amazon), Lybrary(Authorhouse),  shortcovers (Indigo/Chapters)

(Note from Wendy: found this on Craigslist, but don’t know any more about it)

“New Christian publishing company is seeking writers of Faith. Email

gigs-urbsn-1487507662@craigslist.org

Poetry Writing Contest: “Winter & Poems”

 December 1, 2009 to January 15, 2010

Key Facts:

• Anyone registered at our BookRix.com website can join the contest for free (except citizens of Germany, Austria and Switzerland).
• Poets and readers can enter the competition for free and win cash money.
• Enter a selection of poems that you have already written and published or write some new – the first poem will have to be a winter poem.

Prizes for poets:
First Prize: $800
Second Prize: $500
Third Prize: $300

Prizes for readers:

10 Amazon vouchers each worth $20 will be raffled for free among all readers taking part in the voting process.

The contest starts on December 1, 2009. Authors must register their poetry books for the competition by January 15, 2010, 12 pm (EDT) / 9 am (PDT). At least one poem must have anything to do with winter. The poetry books must not be shorter than 20 BookRix pages. Until January 15, 2010 readers can vote for their favorite poetry books. Readers’ votes determine a selection of the best 10 books, “TOP 10″. Afterwards this selection of the best rated 10 poetry books will be given to an independent jury consisting of Georgia Writers Association, a Professor Emeritus and a professional writer who works for BookRix as a freelancer. The Jury will choose the best three poetry books out of the final 10 books. All winners will be announced on or before February 1, 2010.

INFO & ENTRY HERE: 

http://www.bookrix.com/precontest.html?show=BX_1259321737&sub=0

CHARLOTTE NEWBERGER PRIZE FOR POETRY; Dec. 21 deadline; 100 lines max; $150 prize ; no entry fee

Info & entry here:  http://www.lilith.org/writers.htm

SCRIBOPHILE NANOWRIMO CONTEST; Dec. 7 deadline; prizes are $50 and $25 gift certificates to Amazon; No entry fee

Info & entry HERE: http://www.scribophile.com/contests/nanowrimo-09/

BOOKRIX TRAVEL STORIES CONTEST; Nov. 30 deadline; Short Stories & Nonfiction; prizes are $1,00o, $500 and $300

 You must register (free): http://tinyurl.com/ydgraho

EDGAR AWARDS; Nov. 30 deadline; 

All books, short stories, television shows, and films [and

plays] in the mystery, crime, suspense, and intrigue fields are

eligible in their respective category if they were published or

produced for the first time in the U.S. during this calendar year.

Books from non-U.S. publishers are eligible if they are widely

distributed in the U.S. and are readily available on the shelves in

brick-and-mortar stores for the first time during the judging year.

Works should be submitted by the publisher, but may also be

submitted by the author or agent.  

http://www.mysterywriters.org/?q=Edgars-Forms

Author interview with Laura Hayden

1. Tell us about your latest book.

My latest books is RED, WHITE AND BLUE, the second book in the “America the Beautiful” series from Tyndale House.  It’s a novel about the rise and possible fall of the first female President, told from the perspective of her campaign manager, later to become the White House Chief of Staff.   The first book asks, “How far would you go to become President?” and the second book asks, “How far would you go to STAY President?” 

2. How did you get started as a writer?

Like most writers, I started scribbling as a kid.  I was an early reader and literally ran out of kids books in the local library by age 10.  I switched to adult books and never looked back.  By thirteen, I was writing what we now affectionately call “fan fic” and short stories, but my school only really recognized poetry as creative writing so I was never labeled a writer in their eyes.  (I was a math and music geek, instead.)  I got a degree in engineering which meant I have no time for reading, much less writing.  A decade or so later, my military husband had a one year assignment in Washington DC and we had two small children.  There was no job opportunities for an engineer in town for eleven months and needing major child care.  So I stayed at home.  It didn’t take long for my imagination to demand more than a constant diet of Sesame Street  and the Disney Channel.  I turned back to writing.  I got serious about novel writing in 1990, finished my first book that year and finally sold it in 1993.   

3. What does a typical day look like for you?

I try to write in the mornings and do edits in the afternoon.  Around this I work the rest of my life—my online bookstore  takes some time (Author, Author!  http://www.author-author.net) and I’m involved in several writers groups, president of one.  And then there’s the family obligations which includes my husband, a son off at college and four, count them, four dogs.    

4. Describe your workspace.

My workspace is a mess of books, dogs, more books, boxes of books, and lots of empty Caffeine Free Diet Coke cans.  It’s not a pretty sight.  But the dogs don’t mind as long as there is enough floor space for all of them to go to sleep.

5. Favorite books (especially for writers)

In my earlier years, I devoured books about writing.  Now I’m more interested in research books rather than instructional books.  But the books that helped me include THE WRITER’S JOURNEY by Chris Vogler,  TELLING LIES FOR FUN AND PROFIT by Lawrence Block, GOAL MOTIVATION AND CONFLICT by Debra Dixon and WRITING THE FICTION SYNOPSIS by Pam McCutcheon.

6. Tell us 3 interesting/crazy things about you

I’ve playing piano since I was six.  I’m decent at it because I can read music and play by ear.  I like to sing, too and can be valuable in a choir because I can sight read reliably well and have relative pitch.  (A step below perfect pitch)

I worked one summer in a coal mine as an engineer trainee while in college. There’s nothing like mentioning  my summer-long exposure to black lung to liven up a conversation.

I love television.  I mean REALLY love television.  I have two TiVos and a DVR on my computer so I don’t miss my favorite shows which this year includes Heroes, NCIS, Fringe, Top Gear, Torchwood, Doctor Who, Being Human,  Sanctuary, Stargate Universe, Castle, and more.  My guilty TV pleasure that I shouldn’t admit in any public forum are daytime TV court shows.  

7. Favorite quote

“No matter where you go, there you are. “ 
      Dr. Buckaroo Banzai of the Banzai Institute.

(I’m absolutely gaga over this movie.  It is my favorite movie of all time and yes, I have all the t-shirts, patches and several of the posters)

8. Best and worst part of being a writer

Best part:  prose written while wearing pajamas is just as effective and good as prose written while wearing street clothes.

Worst part:  Answering stupid questions about my career. 

• “No, I don’t need any help with the love scenes.  However, I am writing a murder scene…” 
• “No, I don’t pay to have my books published.  They pay me.  No.  Really.  I understand that your brother-in-law paid someone to print his book, but I didn’t.”
• “Thanks, but no thanks.  I don’t want to listen to your idea for a book, then do all the writing and split the profit 50-50 with you.” 

9. Advice for other writers

Learn about the industry from ALL aspects, not just that of the writer and a reader.  You also need to understand more about the agent’s role, publisher’s role and the bookseller’s role so that you can view the industry from all five perspectives.  This will help you have more reasonable expectations and make your efficient and effective when you seek publication.

10. Tell us a story about your writing experience.

The very first project I sold was to a company that was producing original audio dramatic productions with multiple voices but only minor sound effects and music.  The company paid be a flat fee and bought all rights to the novella I wrote specifically for them so that they could have a free hand to edit it during production to change any cadences of the dialogue and so that the hooks fell at the places the tape turned, etc.  I wouldn’t have the right to review the edits since I no longer owned the work. 

One it was released, I was generally pleased with the production except for one big glaring error that had been edited into the work.  I was embarrassed that the editor had make it appear as if I had written the purple-prose description of the characters (“A cupid’s bow mouth…”) and that I had described her as wearing a turtleneck, then in the next sentence, commented on her modest décolletage. 

That was my first taste of publishing and a painful lesson to learn about work for hire projects.  I still do work for hire, but I chose them more carefully now.   

Where can people buy your books and learn more about you?

Visit me at http://suspense.net (Yes, I’ve had this website domain for over 10 years!) and you can purchase my books at http://www.author-author.net or any major bookstore–online or in person. 

Or visit my Facebook fan page. 
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Laura-Hayden/49818881804

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Runners

We prefer stories and poems written in the first person of no more than 1,200 words. Stories should not have been previously published in our books or other major publications. Previous publication in school newsletters, local newspapers, and other small circulation venues is okay.

If your story is chosen, you will be a published author and your bio will be printed in the book if you so choose. You will also receive a check for $200 and 10 free copies of your book, worth more than $100. You will retain the copyright for your story and you will retain the right to resell it.

SUBMISSIONS GO TO http://chickensoupforthesoul.com/form.asp?cid=submit_story.

DEADLINE IS NOVEMBER 30, 2009. Book is scheduled for publication July 13, 2010.

Stories, articles, essays and poems about the ocean; Jan. 15, 2010 deadline; photos too

Info and entry HERE: http://store.oceanmag.org/oceanmagazinecontributorsguidelines.aspx