Saturday, August 27, 2011

Local News Review



Local News: Tabloid Pictures from the Los Angeles Herald Express 1936 - 1961Local News: Tabloid Pictures from the Los Angeles Herald Express 1936 - 1961 by Diane Keaton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Not much info with pictures but interesting stuff, seeing life unfold from a candid view point. They say a picture is worth a thousand words so I guess that makes up for the brief captions. I love to look at old photos and make my own stories out of them.

View all my reviews

Friday, August 26, 2011

The Kensei: A Lawson Vampire Novel Paperback $1.97 Jon F. Merz





What a deal Jon F. Merz The Kensei: A Lawson Vampire Novel only $1.97 in paperback

Sunday, August 21, 2011

A new 5 STAR review for my FREE book on Kindle





5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! Weird, Disturbing, Awesome!August 21, 2011
By 
J. P. Wilson (Americus, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Closing My Eyes Helps Me To See Clearly (Kindle Edition)
Look, I'm like many other Kindle readers, I'm suspicious of free books. I think if they're free, there's a good chance they may be poorly written, badly formatted, etc....Kipp Poe totally changed my mind with this collection of two shorts and two novel samples. I noticed a one star review on the book, and I think the reason why that reviewer disliked the book is the reason I enjoyed it. 
Yes, the book is very dark. 
Let me discuss "Gas For Grass" first. This is splatter punk to the ninth degree. A bloody mix of gore and erotica, I can't help but be reminded of Richard Laymon's work. I don't want to give anything away, but there's a cool scene with a weed whacker. Pick up the "free" book if you'd like to know more. And yes, you will want to know more. Guaranteed awesomeness. Be aware that this story contains adult content. 
Okay, let's look at the first tale, "Closing My Eyes Helps Me See Clearly." This is an almost about face from "Gas For Grass." In this short, nothing is what it seems. Yes, this is a weird one, but it's a good one. I'm reminded of L. Ron Hubbard before he turned to Scientology. A man wakes up in a place where solids become liquids and everything is out of place, out of character. I can't go into this one any more. There is a surprise twist. You'll enjoy it if you've read L. Ron Hubbard's older works or enjoy bizarro or science fiction. 
The novel samples were also awesome! I'm going to read both complete novels as soon as I can and review them. Pick this guy up, he's something new and knows how to tell a tale. 
I'm reading more of his work right now.



Sunday, August 14, 2011

POLICE STORY coming to DVD $25.99





Editorial Reviews

Created by ex-cop-turned-author Joseph Wambaugh (The Onion Field), Police Story is an anthology series detailing the lives of LAPD officers in a collection of realistic and gritty accounts of what it meant to be a cop in 1970s Los Angeles. The series became the archetype for many critically acclaimed shows that followed, including Hill Street Blues, NYPD Blue and Homicide: Life On The Street. The series distinguished itself from its predecessors by a multidimensional portrayal of its protagonist: these cops were flawed, not cartoonlike heroes. From week to week, gripping episodes addressed difficult issues such as police corruption and the stresses and hell that can come with leading a cop’s life.

With no regular cast, the show featured different stars each week, as well as a rotating acting ensemble including James Farentino (Jesus Of Nazareth), Tony Lo Bianco (The French Connection), Don Meredith (NFL Monday Night Football), Laraine Stephens (Matt Helm) and Vic Morrow (Combat! ). Season One stars included Ed Asner, Lloyd Bridges, Angie Dickinson, Dean Stockwell and Kurt Russell. All 21 Original Episodes from 1973 74

Special Features

Slow Boy: Pilot FilmBig John Morrison: Movie of the Week
Cop Talk: New interview with show creator, author and former LAPD Detective Sergeant Joseph Wambaugh



Saturday, August 13, 2011

Jenna Anderson 5 STAR review OFF LEASH




5.0 out of 5 stars Short, sweet, and filled with emotionAugust 13, 2011
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Off Leash (Kindle Edition)
This may clock in as a quick read but you get a lot of story and rich well created characters. This short little book does it right, introduces you to the characters and painting a perfect picture in your mind without a lot of wasted words. I really liked how she gives you a few comical rules to live by at the beginning of each chapter that gives you a hint of what is to come. 

Growing up in a house where my mother is a Shitzu breeder I was able to really relate to the quest of Candice to get her dog to the prized stud. I really liked how you really fell into the story of how nothing at all went right but maybe that is the best things that happen to us. I have to admit I might of been a little choked up at the end. 

This is a book i would recommend and look forward to more from Jenna Anderson.


http://www.amazon.com/Off-Leash-ebook/dp/B0058W5CJY/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_1

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/off-leash-jenna-anderson/1104300974?ean=2940013612426&itm=1&usri=off%2b%2bleash

Friday, August 12, 2011

J. Christopher Cortez Interview




1: What is the most productive time of the day for you to write?


I like to write in the morning, hopefully after working out, but that doesn't happen too often. Sitting down, typing by the computer with a tall cup of coffee... it's rather relaxing! 

2: Do you start your projects writing with paper and pen or is it all on the computer?

A lot of times I get ideas while I'm driving or just before I fall asleep. I'll write them down in a notebook and extend the initial idea as much as I can. Sometimes I write an outline or draw an illustration. Usually I just come up with some quotes or an image of something I think is special. I take it later to the computer to actually write it out though.

3: What do you draw inspiration from?

I'm a big fan of comic books and ancient myth. I think they're able to depict human truths in such a simple and elegant way that you just can't get in other genres. They tap into our collective subconscious and pluck these marvelous symbols that describe the fundamentals of our human psyche. I think that's why they're so popular. I've tried to incorporate this concept into my fantasy work and, as a result, it's really become an existential allegory for the current political climate of ideological extremes. But you know, comic books and ancient myths-- they're just so much fun!


4: Do you set goals for yourself when you sit down to write such as word count?

Usually I try to write a chapter a day. I make sure they have some kind of beginning, middle and end. I think that makes a story more rewarding and engaging. Sometimes I get stuck and I just have to take a break. It happens. 

5: Are you a published or a self published author and how do you come up with your cover art?

I'm a self-published author. Most agents and publishers are simply not interested in the fantasy genre anymore. I blame the Eragon books.

I considered commissioning a professional artist to produce a cover, but I've tried to keep my cost as low as possible. I've studied art in school and and have dabbled in computer drawings, so I tried to come up with some illustrations on my own. I picked my favorite and turned it into a cover. I was trying to evoke the nostalgic feelings from those old 80's fantasy covers. I'm happy with the result. It looks a lot different than the other covers out there, but I think in a good way. 

6: What drives you to choose the career of being a writer?

Well, I wouldn't call it a career just yet, but here's hoping! I did a lot of research for my novel, and one of the things I came across was this bit about writing by Ray Bradbury. He compared being a writer to being in love, and I think he's absolutely right. When you start working on a project, it really is like being infatuated with someone: you think about them all the time, you're laying bed thinking about them late at night, you want to talk about them all the time. It becomes a real priority!

7: Do you own an ebook reading device?

Not yet. But I'm definitely considering getting a kindle. Those ads on TV are very convincing! “Real books are so 1999!” Books are so expensive nowadays, aren't they? However, I confess. I still get the newspaper delivered to my door. I don't think that's going to last though.

8: Who are some of your favorite authors and What are you reading now?

Ray Bradbury and Anton Checkov are two of my favorites. They write with such rich sentimentality, it's just such so charming and emotional. It really hits you. Chuck Palahnuik and Alex Garland write good stuff too. They take normal people struggling with their place in the world and then they put them in over the top situations that go far beyond the everyday. Their work is so fast-paced and engaging, you just have to keep reading. Lately, I've been reading some ebooks though. I found a real good one called Xenolith by A.Sparrow. It was a free download, and it was very well written. Very impressive for a free, self-published author. I've read stuff published by big companies that weren't as good as his work.

9: What do you think of book trailers and do you have any plans to have any?

I think they're cool! Especially the professional ones. I don't have the resources yet to make one, but if I did, I'd try to make one like a music video.

10: How did you come up with the title of your latest book?

I listen to a lot of rock music. The title of my book, “Torches” actually came from an instrumental track by a band called the Dears. Their music gives me a lot of inspiration too. This idea of bearing a torch, a flame, an aggressive passion, a legacy is one of the reoccurring themes in my book.

11: What are you working on now that you can talk about?

I'm working on a sequel to my first book. I've got a few chapters already, and I like where it's going. However, once summer's over, I go back to teaching. But that's ok. I'll be doing passive marketing on my days off until next summer.



CrimeScape comes to Kindle True Crime





I found a new collection of great books based on True Crime (CrimeScape)



Mom: The Killer (Crimescape) [Kindle Edition]


Product Description

Over a period of fourteen years all of her children, one was just nineteen days old, died suddenly while in her exclusive care. One by one, each baby died a quiet and mysterious death while everyone around her, friends, family, neighbors, doctors and police seemed powerless to stop it. She showed up at the funerals, the image of a broken-hearted, caring mother who seemed overwhelmed by unexplainable events. But some believed she had systematically murdered her nine children and then tried to convince others that it was some sort of genetic curse on her family. A stunning tale of denial, neglect, and murders unsolved. Mom: The Killer is one of the most bizarre and unique cases in the history of American justice.

Mark Gado was a detective with the City of New Rochelle Police Department in New York for the twenty-nine years and also a federal agent assigned to a D.E.A. Task Force from 1997 to 1999. During that assignment, he received the International Award of Honor in New Orleans, LA. Mark was named Investigator of the Year 2000 and received dozens of other awards and commendations during his long police career.

Mark Gado's first book, titled Killer Priest: The Crimes, Trial, and Execution of Father Hans Schmid was published by Praeger in March, 2006. Killer Priest is the terrifying true story of the only Catholic priest in American history to be executed for murder. His second book, Death Row Women: Murder, Justice, and the New York Press, was published by Praeger in November, 2007.

As a writer for over twenty years, his award-winning work has appeared in numerous publications and websites, including truTV’s Crime Library.


Crimescape is a RosettaBooks collection of compelling short nonfiction crime books by the best true crime authors in the business, many of whom have seen their books made into major motion pictures. Taking readers into the dark heart of the criminal mind and the tense hunt to bring perpetrators to justice, Crimescape authors stand apart from other true crime writers because they are selected for their experience in crime investigation, whether as police detectives, investigative reporters, forensics professionals or criminal psychologists. Riveting storytellers, our Crimescape short nonfiction writers give readers all the information they need to understand relevant clues and the interwoven influences in each criminal case. Crimescape is edited by Marilyn Bardsley, former executive editor and founder of Time Warner's truTV Crime Library, the premiere true crime site on the Internet. Marilyn Bardsley has written extensively on true crime and is an expert on serial killers.

“What makes for a good true-crime story? Interesting characters, an engrossing plot, situations that often teeter between life and death. But here’s the MacGuffin about true crime: What you’re reading actually happened. Sometimes truth really is more compelling than fiction. And that’s why you will enjoy reading Crimescape’s true crime series.”
—Paul Alexander, # 1 bestselling author of the Kindle Singles Accused and Murdered







Immortal Monster (Crimescape) [Kindle Edition]



Product Description

Contract killer, lethal scam artist, loving father, abusive husband, abused son, convicted murderer, jailhouse schemer, liar, TV star. The man they called “The Iceman” was all of those. In 1988 he was sentenced to life for four gruesome murders, but this was just the tip of his iceberg. He had a taste for esoteric methods of death─favoring a cyanide solution in a nasal spray bottle─and body disposal─freezing one of his victims to disguise the time of death. At one point he bragged that his personal body count was over 200, seven times the more likely number. Still, he has huge following, and a biopic based on his life is about to start shooting this fall. The Iceman told his story in three extremely popular HBO documentaries, which are still broadcast regularly. Why does the Iceman's story continue to fascinate the public five years after his death and 25 years after his apprehension? And how much of his legend is truth?

Anthony Bruno is an expert on the Iceman after researching and corresponding with him for over two years. His full-length book The Iceman: The True Story of a Cold-Blooded Killer is the basis for an upcoming feature film set to roll starring James Franco, Benicio Del Toro and Boardwalk Empire’s Michael Shannon as the Iceman. Bruno is currently serving as executive producer for The Iceman feature film.

Anthony Bruno is also the author of The Seekers: A Bounty Hunter’s Story with Joshua Armstrong, which was nominated for an Edgar Award. Bruno has authored over 50 articles for TruTV’s Crime Library and 14 published crime-related books. Bruno also assisted with film adaptation of his novel, Bad Apple, for Turner Network Television. He acted as consultant to the producers and wrote key scenes.


Crimescape is a RosettaBooks collection of compelling short nonfiction crime books by the best true crime authors in the business, many of whom have seen their books made into major motion pictures. Taking readers into the dark heart of the criminal mind and the tense hunt to bring perpetrators to justice, Crimescape authors stand apart from other true crime writers because they are selected for their experience in crime investigation, whether as police detectives, investigative reporters, forensics professionals or criminal psychologists. Riveting storytellers, our Crimescape short nonfiction writers give readers all the information they need to understand relevant clues and the interwoven influences in each criminal case. Crimescape is edited by Marilyn Bardsley, former executive editor and founder of Time Warner's truTV Crime Library, the premiere true crime site on the Internet. Marilyn Bardsley has written extensively on true crime and is an expert on serial killers.

“What makes for a good true-crime story? Interesting characters, an engrossing plot, situations that often teeter between life and death. But here’s the MacGuffin about true crime: What you’re reading actually happened. Sometimes truth really is more compelling than fiction. And that’s why you will enjoy reading Crimescape’s true crime series.”
—Paul Alexander, # 1 bestselling author of the Kindle Singles Accused and Murdered





After Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (Crimescape) [Kindle Edition]



Product Description

John Berendt’s runaway bestseller Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil put the grand historic city of Savannah on the map. Tourists flocked to see the gorgeous mansion where flamboyant designer and antiques dealer Jim Williams shot to death his young gay lover. While Berendt described the natives of the city as remarkably decadent, exotic characters, he seemed to miss the amazing dark side of Jim Williams himself.

Savannah owes Jim Williams an enormous debt of gratitude for his remarkable restoration of historic houses. A brilliant and intensely interesting, charismatic figure, he brought a style and sophistication to the city that it did not have before. Rich and famous people, like Jacqueline Onassis and Rockefellers, made special trips to bargain for his extraordinary antique treasures. However, he was also a smooth predator who robbed and exploited a number of the wealthy socialites who provided him with the status and money he craved. He was lucky that he never faced charges of theft, fraud, exporting stolen goods, and procuring underage boys for prostitution.

The wonderful world of Jim Williams came crashing down on him one night after he shot Danny Hansford. Williams stood trial four times for premeditated murder. With a passionate and dedicated prosecution and the best defense lawyers money could buy, what really happened that night is still a mystery.

Marilyn Bardsley is the editor of Crimescape, a collection of compelling short nonfiction crime books by the best true crime authors in the business, many of whose books have been made into major motion pictures. She was the former executive editor and founder of Time Warner's truTV Crime Library, the premiere true crime site on the Internet. Marilyn Bardsley has written extensively on true crime and is an expert on serial killers. Before starting the Crime Library, Ms. Bardsley was a telecommunications marketing executive for several multibillion dollar companies and an Internet investment consultant for large Asian multinational companies.


Crimescape is a RosettaBooks collection of compelling short nonfiction crime books by the best true crime authors in the business, many of whom have seen their books made into major motion pictures. Taking readers into the dark heart of the criminal mind and the tense hunt to bring perpetrators to justice, Crimescape authors stand apart from other true crime writers because they are selected for their experience in crime investigation, whether as police detectives, investigative reporters, forensics professionals or criminal psychologists. Riveting storytellers, our Crimescape short nonfiction writers give readers all the information they need to understand relevant clues and the interwoven influences in each criminal case. Crimescape is edited by Marilyn Bardsley, former executive editor and founder of Time Warner's truTV Crime Library, the premiere true crime site on the Internet. Marilyn Bardsley has written extensively on true crime and is an expert on serial killers.

“What makes for a good true-crime story? Interesting characters, an engrossing plot, situations that often teeter between life and death. But here’s the MacGuffin about true crime: What you’re reading actually happened. Sometimes truth really is more compelling than fiction. And that’s why you will enjoy reading Crimescape’s true crime series.”
—Paul Alexander, # 1 bestselling author of the Kindle Singles Accused and Murdered

"Finally! The real story of one of the most bizarre cases in modern crime history. Marilyn Bardsley has nailed it. The movie was Hollywood. The book was...a stretch. After Midnight is the unvarnished truth."
—Chuck Hustmyre, bestselling crime novelist and screenwriter, A Killer Like Me and House of the Rising Sun




The Vampire Trap (Crimescape) [Kindle Edition]



Product Description

"A young woman and her nineteen-month-old daughter visit a child's clothing store and that is the last time anyone sees them alive. A troubled young man’s dark obsession with the vampire culture’s larger-than-life charisma becomes the center of the police investigation. The current fascination with vampires makes some people identify with supernatural figures who dominate and take whatever they want. The killer’s story opens a window inside the fringes of this subculture, where people act out violent aspects of the vampire figure."

Dr. Katherine Ramsland, who teaches forensic psychology and criminal justice at Pennsylvania's DeSales University, is unique in having extensive experience in researching and writing about crime and the vampire subculture. She holds graduate degrees in forensic psychology, clinical psychology, philosophy and criminal justice. Dr. Ramsland has written over 1,000 articles and thirty-eight books on forensics, serial killers, mass murderers and the popular vampire culture.


Crimescape is a RosettaBooks collection of compelling short nonfiction crime books by the best true crime authors in the business, many of whom have seen their books made into major motion pictures. Taking readers into the dark heart of the criminal mind and the tense hunt to bring perpetrators to justice, Crimescape authors stand apart from other true crime writers because they are selected for their experience in crime investigation, whether as police detectives, investigative reporters, forensics professionals or criminal psychologists. Riveting storytellers, our Crimescape short nonfiction writers give readers all the information they need to understand relevant clues and the interwoven influences in each criminal case. Crimescape is edited by Marilyn Bardsley, former executive editor and founder of Time Warner's truTV Crime Library, the premiere true crime site on the Internet. Marilyn Bardsley has written extensively on true crime and is an expert on serial killers.

“What makes for a good true-crime story? Interesting characters, an engrossing plot, situations that often teeter between life and death. But here’s the MacGuffin about true crime: What you’re reading actually happened. Sometimes truth really is more compelling than fiction. And that’s why you will enjoy reading Crimescape’s true crime series.”
—Paul Alexander, # 1 bestselling author of the Kindle Singles Accused and Murdered






Murder at the Finish Line (Crimescape) [Kindle Edition]



Product Description


For the first time, dozens of exclusive interviews tell the inside story of how a dogged detective spent 12 years piecing together the murder of drag racing legend Mickey Thompson, who was gunned down with his wife on his driveway in 1988 by two masked men who fled on bicycles. Detective Mark Lillienfield’s case would lead to Thompson’s former business partner Michael Goodwin and uncover evidence that Goodwin could have committed three additional murders, including his own brother who was believed to have been involved in the plot. With photographs.


“Lillienfield loved the challenge of being immersed in a pile of cases that seemed unsolvable. Each one had a victim beckoning from the grave for someone who had the tenacity and wits to learn everything about their life until the moment they left this earth. Lillienfield would think nothing of working 100 hours a week, with Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve thrown in. He’d follow suspects, tap their phones, turn their colleagues into snitches, befriend their enemies, dig through their trash and sic the press on them. Heaven help Michael Goodwin.” From Murder at the Finish Line.


This riveting story is told as only insider and Pulitzer Prize nominee Tori Richards can tell it. In addition to working at the prosecutor’s office that first filed this case, she has been a crime writer for 20 years and covered hundreds of cases including Michael Jackson, Anna Nicole Smith and the trials of OJ Simpson and “The Night Stalker.” She has earned 11 national and regional awards including those from The Associated Press and California Newspapers Publishers Association. She has written for The New York Times, Bloomberg, Reuters, New York Post, Los Angeles Daily News and truTV’s Crime Library. She was also a producer at CBS News.




Crimescape is a RosettaBooks collection of compelling short nonfiction crime books by the best true crime authors in the business, many of whom have seen their books made into major motion pictures. Taking readers into the dark heart of the criminal mind and the tense hunt to bring perpetrators to justice, Crimescape authors stand apart from other true crime writers because they are selected for their experience in crime investigation, whether as police detectives, investigative reporters, forensics professionals or criminal psychologists. Riveting storytellers, our Crimescape short nonfiction writers give readers all the information they need to understand relevant clues and the interwoven influences in each criminal case. Crimescape is edited by Marilyn Bardsley, former executive editor and founder of Time Warner's truTV Crime Library, the premiere true crime site on the Internet. Marilyn Bardsley has written extensively on true crime and is an expert on serial killers.


“What makes for a good true-crime story? Interesting characters, an engrossing plot, situations that often teeter between life and death. But here’s the MacGuffin about true crime: What you’re reading actually happened. Sometimes truth really is more compelling than fiction. And that’s why you will enjoy reading Crimescape’s true crime series.”
—Paul Alexander, #1 bestselling author of the Kindle Singles Accused and Murdered


"Great job, very accurate, good detail, terrific storytelling. Kudos!" —Alan Jackson, DA on the Thompson case


“I met Tori Richards when she covered Richard Ramirez "The Night Stalker" as a reporter and I was a lead detective on the case. Through the years, we'd work together on other murders and she was one of the few journalists I would trust with inside information. Aggressive, tenacious and bright—I always thought she'd make one hell of a detective in another lifetime.”
—Lt. Gil Carrillo (ret.), Los Angeles County Sheriff's Dept. Homicide Bureau


“Murder at the Finish Line is awesome! Tori Richards is a master true crime storyteller. Hands down one of the best in the business."
—Chuck Hustmyre, bestselling crime novelist and screenwriter, A Killer Like Me




Death by Rock 'n' Roll (Crimescape) [Kindle Edition]


Product Description

Marvin Gaye, one of the world’s most beloved singers, was gunned down by his own father on April 1, 1984. A generation later, fans of the fragile, troubled musician still puzzle over how it could be that a man who crooned about peace, love and understanding would meet such a violent end—from his own flesh and blood. But why should we be surprised? The history of popular music is written in blood.


Using Marvin Gaye’s slaying as an abject example of the rock and roll lifestyle, this story pulls together the threads of the violent ends of music stars like John Lennon, Sam Cooke, Tupac Shakur, soul saxophone legend King Curtis, and many others. Between the overdoses and suicides of its often fragile stars,like the tragic case of Amy Winehouse, rock and roll seems to qualify as one of America’s most dangerous professions. Experts weigh in on whether there are patterns to the violence in rock and roll—and whether warning signs were missed in some cases that might have spared lives.


David J. Krajicek is a longtime newspaperman, an author and a former Columbia University journalism professor. He is regarded as one of the country’s best true crime storytellers. He writes The Justice Story, a weekly true crime feature that has been running in the New York Daily News since 1923. He was a special correspondent for truTV’s Crime Library and has appeared frequently on television as a crime expert, including on “The Today Show” and Dominick Dunne’s “Power, Privilege and Justice.” He has written several true crime books and his work has appeared in dozens of major publications.




Crimescape is a RosettaBooks collection of compelling short nonfiction crime books by the best true crime authors in the business, many of whom have seen their books made into major motion pictures. Taking readers into the dark heart of the criminal mind and the tense hunt to bring perpetrators to justice, Crimescape authors stand apart from other true crime writers because they are selected for their experience in crime investigation, whether as police detectives, investigative reporters, forensics professionals or criminal psychologists. Riveting storytellers, our Crimescape short nonfiction writers give readers all the information they need to understand relevant clues and the interwoven influences in each criminal case. Crimescape is edited by Marilyn Bardsley, former executive editor and founder of Time Warner's truTV Crime Library, the premiere true crime site on the Internet. Marilyn Bardsley has written extensively on true crime and is an expert on serial killers.


“What makes for a good true-crime story? Interesting characters, an engrossing plot, situations that often teeter between life and death. But here’s the MacGuffin about true crime: What you’re reading actually happened. Sometimes truth really is more compelling than fiction. And that’s why you will enjoy reading Crimescape’s true crime series.”
—Paul Alexander, # 1 bestselling author of the Kindle Singles Accused and Murdered

Monday, August 8, 2011

Rebecca Forster Interview eBook Giveaway






1: What is the most productive time of the day for you to write?  When I worked corporately, I would write in the evening from about 6 P.M. to 11 P.M. When I quit work, I retrained myself. Now I am at a funky little neighborhood coffee shop writing from 7:30 in the morning and I’ll stay until 2. In the evening I work on editing, replying to emails, working online.

2: Do you start your projects writing with paper and pen or is it all on the computer? My handwriting is atrocious so the answer is computer!

3: What do you draw inspiration from? My inspiration comes from many places. Sometimes a person’s physical appearance or voice will trigger an idea for a character. My plots are inspired by stories in legal and mainstream newspapers, court cases and discussion not just with lawyers but clerks and bailiffs. The trick is to marry the legal procedures with the personal dilemma.  

4: Do you set goals for yourself when you sit down to write such as word count? I used to write until I had 20 pages a day, every day.  The older I get, the less I do in one sitting. Now, I’ll write maybe 5-10 pages and go back and edit. I cherish the days, though, when the writing just flows.

5: Are you a published or a self published author and how do you come up with your cover art? Over 20 of my books were traditionally published by houses like Harper Collins, Penguin/Putnam,Pocket Books and Kensington to name a few.  My books made a number of bestseller lists including USA Today Bestseller (Keeping Counsel) and I now I am an indie published author. Before Her Eyes was my first indie book. I do some of the covers myself and others I have the help of a friend. 

6: What drove you to choose the career of being a writer? My story is a little different than most writers. I wasn’t a journal keeper. I didn’t dream of writing. I earned my MBA and intended to have a business career. My client was married to Danielle Steele. I made the mistake of saying that “I could write a book, too.” My associate dared me to do it. I thought it was a great dare but I never expected to be published. When it was, I was hooked. Now writing is my passion.

7: Do you own an ebook reading device? Yes, I own a Kindle but I also read paper books. For traveling, though, an ebook device is amazing. This year I was in Germany, Lisbon, Turkey and had an entire library in my purse!

8: Who are some of your favorite authors and what are you reading now? My favorite authors include Stephen King, Wilkie Collins (Woman in White), Dean Koontz, Scott Turow and David Wisehart (an incredible indie author). Currently I’m reading two indie authors: R.W. Graves, Blank Slate and Richard Bard, Brainrush. I think it’s important for indies to support one another. I just finished Dumb Witness by Agatha Christie and Dracula by Bram Stoker. I also have This Much I Know To Be True on my bedside table. I’m kind of an eclectic reader.

9: What do you think of book trailers and do you have any plans to have any? I love book trailers. I’m hoping to do one for the witness series. I have a great idea for Before Her Eyes but I haven’t got a clue how to get what’s in my head onto film. 

10: How did you come up with the title of your latest book? I agonized over that title because I don’t know if it says to people what it says to me. I have always been fascinated by the idea that your life flashes before your eyes when you are about to die. Every character in this book stares death in the face and each has to relive decisions and loyalties and choices – sometimes in the blink of an eye.

11: What are you working on now that you can talk about? I’m working on the fourth book in the Witness Series (Hostile Witness, Silent Witness and Privileged Witness). Like Before Her Eyes, I have split the book into two distinct parts: onsite with the victim and onsite with the investigation. This book will not have the fantasy element of Before Her Eyes.  Expert Witness will explore revenge, self-righteousness, and the question of whether or not people should be held responsible in the present for things they did in the past. I’m hoping to have Expert Witness finished by Christmas.

See all my books or contact me at http://www.rebeccaforster.com
 
Please leave a comment and on August 14 Noon Eastern Standard time I will have a draw two names to win a copy of Rebecca Forster's BEFORE HER EYES eBook. 

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Jimmy M.F. Pudge Interview





1: What is the most productive time of the day for you to write?

I’m kind of like a machine when I write; I can pretty much sit down anytime and punch out a story. But that comes from years and years of practice. When I first started writing, I remember early morning, before sunrise, was the best time.  


2: Do you start your projects writing with paper and pen or is it all on the computer?

I do all my writing on the computer, unless I’m in a doctor’s office or someplace where I have no access to my PC and get the urge to jot down notes. Man, reading my writing from a piece of paper is about a damn nightmare. I was never an excellent speller, and my writing skills were never good in print or in cursive. Hell, I honestly don’t know if I can still write in cursive.

3: What do you draw inspiration from?

I think emotions are key for any writer. I find that a lot of my anger drains away when I write. It’s a form of medication for me, and it feels good to pound the hell out of that keyboard when you’re mad at the world. When you’re elated, depressed, or whatever emotion that happens to be in your head at the time of your writing, I think you’ll find that within your work.

As far as being prolific, I get a lot of inspiration from my past. Lots of hard times taught me to work my ass off. Even when I don’t feel like writing, I put in the time, because it’s very important to me to get that feeling of accomplishment. When I type “The End” after the last word in my manuscript, I feel accomplished every time, regardless of whether or not it’s well-written.

I mainly write horror, crime and dark humor. I guess this also comes from my past. Troubles with the law, prison, poverty, etc… Shit like that tends to make your writing gloomy. I think positively, but I tend to find a lot of negativity running throughout my stories.

4: Do you set goals for yourself when you sit down to write such as word count?

Based on my own personal experience, I find it harmful to set word count goals. I tend to get frustrated and start looking at the word count every other minute and wind up not completing anything. When I have no goals, I tend to breeze by on the story. A lot of people say, “But Stephen King in his book On Writing said . . .”, but damn that man’s just a writer, not a god. You can write 10,000 words a day, everyday, and still never be a good writer. Just write at your own pace and leisure. I’m also surprised at the number of writers who stress constantly reading to become better writers. This is also bullshit. Reading other people’s writings will give you ideas on your own plots and allow you to see different styles, but don’t think constantly reading is going to turn you into a great writer. The secret to being a good writer, in Jimmy’s opinion, is to just be original. Fuck trying to produce something someone wants. Produce what you want, playa. We’re in an exciting new world with the eBook revolution. Self-publish yourself, to hell with guidelines.

5: Are you a published or a self published author and how do you come up with your cover art?

I am both. I’ve had many short stories published in magazines and anthologies under a pen name. These weren’t necessarily my best works because I was producing content that I felt those markets would find suitable. When I turned to self-publishing, it’s like a huge gust of relief blew right over me. I could finally write beautiful stories for horrible people. Slimy, greasy stories with humor and sex and all those things that make reading on the toilet so enjoyable.

Cover art is very easy for me. I ask myself, “Jimmy what type of book would you buy? Would you buy one with a tattooed fist holding a knife?” “Yes.” “Would you buy one with a naked woman on the cover?” “Yes.” I choose my covers based on my greasy taste.

6: What drives you to choose the career of being a writer?

I feel I must write. I remember when I was child, looking at E.B. White’s Stuart Little. The book had pictures in it, so I wrote a story to go with it. Didn’t read White’s tale until after I wrote my own. White’s was much better, but I’ll never forget the feeling it gave me to produce something on paper from my mind. Writing also seems like a pain killer for me. When I write, I can get all the demons out of my head.

7: Do you own an ebook reading device?

Yes, I recently received a Kindle as a gift. Before owning the Kindle, the idea of self-publishing never even crossed my mind. I was like these other writers who believed going the traditional route was the only way. Ha, ha, ha! If you go that way, you better either be really lucky, a damn William Shakespeare, or very good at networking. And I’m telling the truth about this one.

8: Who are some of your favorite authors and What are you reading now?

Tough one. I like many authors. John D. McDonald was always my favorite author. I’ve probably read most of what he’s written, and that’s a lot of books! Louis L’Amour was also a writer I enjoyed. If you’ve ever been to jail, you’ll notice that L’Amour, along with dirty Romance novels, are the most common books to be had. Usually, there can be six books in a cell at one time. Three for each inmate. I’ve read a shitload of Louis L’Amour, Zane Gray, and Max Brand westerns.

9: What do you think of book trailers and do you have any plans to have any?
I think that’s an excellent way to get your name out there. YouTube is a huge marketplace. You can bring in dozens to thousands of readers to your website for more information on your book. Now, as far as book trailers go, some of them can be pretty boring. I’m in the planning stages of one right now, but it will be live action. I won’t have photos or illustrations moving the book trailer. I think it’s critical to keep your audience’s attention, and I don’t believe the traditional book trailer—images flashing with music—is always the best approach. But then again, it depends on who your audience is. I know my audience, and they want humor and action. I fully plan on giving it to them in the near future.

10: How did you come up with the title of your latest book?
I felt Yo A$$ Is Gra$$: Tales from a Rednek Gangsta expressed what my stories were about. You’ll see lots of horror, some crime and even one science fiction story in the mix. So, in a sense, this collection is pulp fiction and I needed a title that could express this. I also wanted a title that would not draw the wrong type of audience to my work. If you like PG fiction, then Yo A$$ is Gra$$ is not for you. I can promise you this anthology contains some pretty gory shit, dirty sex and greasy characters. I needed my title to express this because I don’t want to make a sale by misleading someone.

11: What are you working on now that you can talk about?
Several projects, my friend. My editor is currently finishing up her edits of Yo A$$ is Gra$$. The book should have dropped on Amazon today, but it looks like it won’t make its debut until Wednesday. I’m okay with this. I’d rather release a book late, than produce a steaming pile of shit for my readers. Yo A$$ is Gra$$ will also be .99. It’s not because I feel the book’s quality isn’t good. Quite the opposite. I think it’s a highly original work of fiction that is well-written.  The reason I’m pricing it so low is because Jimmy appreciates a good deal, and he’s a broke mothafucka, just like I’m sure many of his readers will be.

As far as works in progress, I’m in the final revisions of my novella Bad Billy. It’s the tale of a poor, inbred child who is taught he’s an abomination and completely evil. After being chained down in Mama’s basement for years, he finally escapes and goes on a killing spree. The character evolves as the novella progresses. I think it’s original and will make good reading. This should drop on Amazon next month.

I’m currently in rough draft stages of a crime novel that I hope to turn into a series of books. My character Benjamin Franklin is a convict who is told by his counselor that he has sociopathic tendencies. Determined to prove her wrong, he decides to investigate his cousin’s murder. I’m truly excited about Benjamin Franklin.