Author Interview: Sarah Kay Moll

Today I'd like to welcome Sarah Kay Moll, author of the LGBT+ crime thriller Dark City (I can't wait to read it!) She was kind enough to answer some of my questions.

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

As a kid, I wanted to be everything from an actress to an astronaut. It wasn't until I got to college and started writing seriously that I thought of it as a possible career option, but even then I was more interested in becoming a clinical psychologist or a librarian. When I came up with the idea for Dark City, though, then I knew I had found
something that was worth devoting my time to, and I wanted to be the author that would create this book. 

What was your inspiration for Dark City?

My inspiration for Dark City is all over the place. I love all sorts of books, from literary fiction to comic books, and have eclectic taste in movies and video games as well. A lot of the inspiration for Dark City did come from Batman, and the city is very similar to Gotham, particularly as it's portrayed in the Christopher Nolan movies. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara, my absolute favorite book, was also a huge source of inspiration, though there aren't a lot of obvious similarities between her work and mine. 

If you could jump into the world of any book, which would it be and why?

There are a lot of books I absolutely love but wouldn't want to jump into the world of--Game of Thrones springs to mind! But there are some I'd love to visit. If I could, I would jump into the world of the Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss. I would love to just sit in a tavern and hear Kvothe play and tell some stories. 

What advice do you have for aspiring writers?

Most writing advice is really just personal preference. The beauty of writing is that you can do just about anything, in just about any way you want to, as long as you do it well and with enough confidence. The only two rules a writer must follow are that you must write and that you must read. If you don't read, your stories and your prose will become stale. 

What is your favorite and least favorite thing about being a writer?

My favorite thing by far is that feeling I get when I'm writing. When the words are flowing and the story is shining, it's so intoxicating it's almost like being high. I chase that feeling every day when I sit down to write. My least favorite thing has got to be the marketing. It's really, really hard to sell a book. I understand this because as a reader I'm pretty skeptical when I go to buy, but as an author it's very difficult to get your work out there and find an audience, particularly when you write in an ill-defined genre like I do. 

What are you currently reading?

I am currently reading three books, which is about normal for me. The first is Metro 2033, which is translated from the original Russian, and is a post-apocalyptic thriller about a world where humanity has been driven underground and struggles to survive in the Moscow Metro. The second is called Sonny Montes and Mexican American Activism in Oregon. It's nonfiction about the Chicano movement as it arose from farmworker communities in western Oregon, right near Portland, where I live. I work for a small nonprofit that serves farmworkers (among others) here in the Portland metro area, so I've found it really interesting. The third book I'm reading is called Amigos, and it's a romance novel and (hopefully) the first "grown-up" book I'll finish reading entirely in Spanish. 

About Dark City:

Jude has a tender heart. Yet he was born into a criminal empire and groomed from childhood to step into his father's violent footsteps. To survive, he created a second personality. Ras is everything Jude isn't--cruel, remorseless, and utterly without fear, as incapable of love as Jude is of malice.

But when Ras meets a ruthless socialite, he begins to feel a strange stirring of emotion, a brush of Jude's passion against his own dark heart. Meanwhile, Jude finds himself with a knife in his hand, the evil in Ras's soul bleeding into his own.

As the walls between them crumble, they could lose everything--their lovers, their family, and their hold on the dark city itself.

Coming together could break them...or make them whole.

Check it out on Amazon

About Sarah Kay Moll:

Sarah Kay Moll is a wordsmith and an amateur homemaker. She's good with metaphors and bad with coffee stains, both of which result from a writing habit she hasn't been able to quit. She lives a mostly solitary life, and as a result, might never say the right thing at parties. She's passionate about books, and has about five hundred on her to-read pile. When she does go out, it's probably to the library, the theater, or the non-profit where she works.

Sarah lives in a beautiful corner of western Oregon where the trees are still changing color at the end of November and the mornings are misty and mysterious. She spends her free time playing video games and catering to her cat's every whim.

Disclosure: this post contains links to an affiliate program (Amazon), for which I receive a few cents if you make purchases. 

Author Interview: Kaethe Schwehn

I was recently able to ask Kaethe Schwehn, author of the just-released dystopian novel "The Rending and the Nest" a few questions about her career and new book. She is an award-winning writer and poet and currently lives in Northfield, Minnesota where she teaches at St. Olaf College. The interview in full is below.

I know you have a collection of poetry and a memoir out, is this your first novel?

It's my first published novel. I have another one languishing in a drawer somewhere.

When did you first start writing “The Rending and the Nest?”

Almost five years ago. It took three years to write and then the submission and publication process took almost another two years.

Could you talk a little bit about what your writing process was like for this book?

I write longhand first. I filled up a number of journals trying to figure out the characters and the setting. Once I knew where the story began I started typing. When I finally submitted it to the amazing woman who is now my agent she suggested that I needed to expand the ending. I thought she meant I needed to add a page or two.  "No," she said, "I think you need about another 20,000 words." She was absolutely right.

Are you currently working on any other projects?

I'm in the beginning stages of an historical novel set in 4BCE.  

What is one piece of advice would you give aspiring writers?

Write a lot. Read a lot. Join communities of other writers and readers. I guess that was three pieces of advice. :)


About The Rending and the Nest:

A chilling yet redemptive post-apocalyptic debut that examines community, motherhood, faith, and the importance of telling one's own story.

When 95 percent of the earth's population disappears for no apparent reason, Mira does what she can to create some semblance of a life: She cobbles together a haphazard community named Zion, scavenges the Piles for supplies they might need, and avoids loving anyone she can't afford to lose. She has everything under control. Almost. 

Four years after the Rending, Mira's best friend, Lana, announces her pregnancy, the first since everything changed and a new source of hope for Mira. But when Lana gives birth to an inanimate object--and other women of Zion follow suit--the thin veil of normalcy Mira has thrown over her new life begins to fray. As the Zionites wrestle with the presence of these Babies, a confident outsider named Michael appears, proselytizing about the world beyond Zion. He lures Lana away and when she doesn't return, Mira must decide how much she's willing to let go in order to save her friend, her home, and her own fraught pregnancy.

Like California by Edan Lepucki and Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, The Rending and the Nest uses a fantastical, post-apocalyptic landscape to ask decidedly human questions: How well do we know the people we love? What sustains us in the midst of suffering? How do we forgive the brokenness we find within others--and within ourselves?

Find it on Amazon!




Disclosure: this post contains links to an affiliate program (Amazon), for which I receive a few cents if you make purchases.

Author Interview: John Heldt

How did you come up with the idea for Indiana Belle?

I drew inspiration from two movies, Somewhere in Time and Midnight in Paris, and Stephen King's novel 11/22/63. In each work, a man travels to the past on a mission, finds love, and encounters numerous challenges.

Most of your books have to do with time travel. What keeps you coming back to writing about it?

I keep coming back to time travel because I have a never-ending fascination with it. I also like giving my characters responsibilities and challenges that none of us (presumably) will ever have to face. Time travelers have to weigh every action carefully because one wrong move could have a profound impact on others.

What was the hardest thing about writing Indiana Belle?

If I had to pick one thing, it would be describing the era. When you write about a time you did not experience firsthand, you have to rely on other sources to get it right.

What is your favorite thing about being an author?

I'm doing what I love and getting paid to do it. I couldn't ask for more.

Who would play Cameron and Geoffrey in an Indiana Belle movie?

I answer that question in the book. Cameron is compared to the actor Adrian Grenier. Geoffrey is said to resemble Gene Wilder in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Candice Bell, for what it's worth, is described as Holly Hunter in Broadcast News.

What three words best describe this book?

I would say enjoyable, inspiring, and memorable.

Which other authors would you say are your biggest inspirations?

Several authors come to mind, including Vince Flynn, John Jakes, Nelson DeMille, Ken Follett, James Patterson, Stephen King, and Clive Cussler.

 

How much historical research went into this book?

I researched Indiana and the 1920s for three months before writing the novel. I read several books and journal articles, listened to music from the time, contacted librarians and subject experts from around the country, and even paid a visit to Evansville, Indiana – after the first draft was written – to pick up anything I might have missed.

About Indiana Belle:
Providence, Rhode Island, 2017. When doctoral student Cameron Coelho, 28, opens a package from Indiana, he finds more than private papers that will help him with his dissertation. He finds a photograph of a beautiful society editor murdered in 1925 and clues to a century-old mystery. Within days, he meets Geoffrey Bell, the "time-travel professor," and begins an unlikely journey through the Roaring Twenties. Filled with history, romance, and intrigue, INDIANA BELLE follows a lonely soul on the adventure of a lifetime as he searches for love and answers in the age of Prohibition, flappers, and jazz.

AUTHOR BIO: 

John A. Heldt is the author of the critically acclaimed Northwest Passage and American Journey series. The former reference librarian and award-winning sportswriter has loved getting subjects and verbs to agree since writing book reports on baseball heroes in grade school. A graduate of the University of Oregon and the University of Iowa, Heldt is an avid fisherman, sports fan, home brewer, and reader of thrillers and historical fiction. When not sending contemporary characters to the not-so-distant past, he weighs in on literature and life at johnheldt.blogspot.com.

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Disclosure: this post contains links to an affiliate program (Amazon), for which I receive a few cents if you make purchases.

Author Interview: Laney Smith

How did you get the inspiration for your book?
I watched a movie where there was a line that didn't fit the character. It bothered me to the point that I wanted to write a story where the characters didn't have weird or awkward lines. I didn't have a story idea at that point. Then, I think it was the next day that I was driving in my car and a song came on the radio. I don't know what it was about that song, but it opened the flood gate and I couldn't write fast enough to keep up with it. The whole thing just rained down on me. It was a gift. I've always loved writing. But, I believe everything has a "season." Apparently, this is my season. I'm so in love with this story.

Could you talk a bit about your publication process/experience?
For me, it was very easy. I've learned a lot since I started. But, I had an editor and she was really good at catching me without altering my style, if that makes sense. A lot of editors take the author out of the story. So, I was happy to work with her. But, aside from that, I did it through Createspace and I'm not tech savvy. They have a cover creater that helps the author design their book cover. So, the fact that there is a finished product is a statement in itself. If I can do it, anyone can do it. 

If you could jump into the world of your favorite book, who would you be and what would you do?
It may sound arrogant, but I would have to jump into Lock Creek. I see this world non-stop and it's so beautiful. It's where I would want to be. The community, the friendships, the setting, and let's not forget Sheriff Derrick Decker! I would give Anne a run for her money and I'd try to steal Derrick away from her. Maybe I would be the new antagonist.

Are you currently working on any projects?
I'm always working on projects. I have so many stories wanting to be written. I have a real problem with how many stories flood in. They start strong and then another one comes up. It drives me insane. I really wish I could finish one before another one starts. 

What is something that surprises people about you?
I'm shy. I can stand in front of a room filled with people and give speeches. That doesn't bother me. I can meet tons of people and I usually remember them. But, if I'm just in my day-to-day life and I attend a party where I only know one or two people, I'm really shy and for some reason, that is a hang up for me.

What section of a bookstore do you go to first?
I don't have a habitual practice. I just roam. I get drawn to different things for different reasons. A bookstore for me is like an art museum. I walk through and stare at the art, picking up things that catch my eye. So, I just meander and wait for something to call to me.

Who's your fictional crush?
Sheriff Derrick Decker from Lock Creek. He's my dream guy. I love that he had a gentlemanly demeanor and he's chivalrous and polite. But, he's not stupid. He's got a cocky edge to him. It doesn't matter how beautiful a woman is, if she's trying to get over on him, he's smart enough to see through her and put her in her place. He's not superficial, and he sees beyond the pretty faces. If there's nothing beyond that, he's just not interested. That doesn't stop him from being polite and respectful. He's just amazing! 

If you could combine the storylines of two books, which ones would they be?

That's a good question. I participated in an anthology about the tenants of a building. Each author wrote about the tenants of each of the apartments in the building. We meshed a lot of the tenant stories, since they were neighbors, and that was very interesting. I'm terribly sorry. This is the first time anyone has stumped me with a question. I can't think of two books I would merge. Good job! You got me!

About the Book:
Lock Creek is a beautiful town. Plush, mature vegetation makes Lock Creek a very airy, cool, comforting bridge between man and nature. The towns’ people have little to no interest in growth. They are content to keep new people and their big corporate ideals out. The memories, the familiarity, and the predictability give the town a special certainty that the residents cherish. On the surface, Lock Creek is the perfect small town. Squeaky clean as it seems, Lock Creek has its share of dirty laundry. Sheriff Derrick Decker was raised in Lock Creek and is loved and adored by most of the people he serves. The majority sees him as a good, patient, honest and loyal man. There is no shortage of adoring ladies, hoping to win his affection. However, not everyone adores Derrick Decker. Some feel he is a con artist who has tricked the people of this community into believing in a fictitious hero. Is the noble Sheriff everything he seems? Or is he as corrupt as the rumors claim? Anne Howard is a shy, but sassy woman. This “girl next-door” is stubborn and loves the thrill of a good challenge. She moved to Lock Creek to be closer to her cousin and childhood best friend, Chelsea Rawlins. Running from her past, Anne sees Lock Creek as the perfect place to hide. Having underestimated this small town, when Anne’s past shows up in Lock Creek, she will be forced to give up the secrets she thought she had buried. After fate steps in, Anne and Derrick start seeing something in each other. Each with secrets from their past, these two people seem meant for each other. Their time together allows them to build a bond, stronger than stone. Like an inferno, their adoration for each other ignites all the right fires. However, Trevor Thomas extinguishes blazes for a living. When he comes to town for a wedding, will he be enough to snuff out the raging fire between Anne and Derrick? Welcome to Lock Creek!

About Laney:

Laney Smith (1974- ) was born in Little Rock, AR and raised in Texarkana, TX until her early teen years when she moved to Aurora, CO. As an adult, she has lived in Walls, MS and currently resides in southern California. She is the oldest of 3 kids and is the mother of two sons. She also has 5 nieces and 1 nephew. She has always had a passion for writing and first contributed poetry to an anthology in 1993-1994. She, later, wrote multiple articles for a local newspaper known as the City News Group. Her current passion is writing fiction - romantic mystery - specifically and is currently working on completing the Time Capsule Series. There is another work in progress for a stand-alone book (untitled at the time of this update). In addition, she has also contributed two pieces to "Tenants of Building 38," an anthology to help raised funds for the American Cancer Society. There is also another piece she submitted for an anthology titled "The Roses," which is another fundraising project for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and is due for release in May 2015

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Disclosure: this post contains links to an affiliate program (Amazon), for which I receive a few cents if you make purchases. 

Author Interview: Joycie Russ

How did you get the inspiration for your book? 
I have a lot of ideas for story lines. As I write things come to me. I may start out with one idea and hit upon something completely different as I begin to write.

Could you talk a bit about your publication process/experience?
 A little scary to step out and do, but all in all it has been pretty good. It is a learn as you go. Each time you learn something new and find that there are other ways of doing things. I am glad that I took the plunge.

If you could jump into the world of your favorite book, who would you be and what would you do?
It may show my age, but I would be any heroine from a Harlequinn romance novel with a happy ending in the 1970s. 

Are you currently working on any projects? 
Yes I am working on my third book as well as a short story.

What is something that surprises people about you? 
Perhaps how old fashioned I am. 

What section of a bookstore do you go to first? 
It would have to be my favorite, mystery!

Who's your fictional crush? 
I do not have one currently.

If you could combine the storylines of two books, which ones would they be? 
I honestly don't know.

About the Book:
Jade Simmons, a young homicide detective has a recurring dream that leads her into reopening a cold case as a favor to a friend. As she searches for answers, she discovers old family secrets and she finds herself further from finding the answers she desires. Will she be able to find the killer before the killer finds her?

About the Author:
A Richmond Native, Joycie Russ has written several short stories. She loves to write and stopped when she became a wife and mother. She feels like she has returned to her first love. She has published her very first book in The Jade Mysteries, There's Always Love, about a young homicide detective whose strange dreams lead her to reopen a cold case. There's Always Adventures in Love is the sequel.

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Disclosure: this post contains links to an affiliate program (Amazon), for which I receive a few cents if you make purchases.