Author Guest Post: Writing in a Variety of Genres by Pembroke Sinclair

I write an eclectic mix of stories.  I’ve written Western (modern, not historical), horror, sci fi, fantasy, and nonfiction.  I’ve written adult, YA, middle grade, and children’s books.  I’ve written short stories, novelettes, and novels.  And the reason I do is to get better at writing.

I try not to limit myself to one type of story or one genre because I don’t think it’s fair to me.  I strive to become a better writer, and I believe that challenging myself in different ways will make me that way.  I’m sure there are those out there who think mastering one genre will be more beneficial instead of trying to master all of them, but that’s not what I’m trying to do.  I’m trying to tell a story, and I’m not going to stifle my ability just because it may not fit into a particular category.

Shifting gears between genres isn’t difficult.  When a story pops into my head, it’s pretty insistent about how it wants to be written, and it doesn’t shut up until it’s on the page.  When one is done, another is usually waiting right behind it.

I don’t think I would ever try to write more than one story at the same time.  I’ve thought about it.  I’ve thought about working on a young adult novel and a middle grade book, but I don’t think either one would turn out.  I wouldn’t be able to give either my full attention, and that’s what each story needs.

I would like to tell you that I have a favorite genre to write in, that sci fi is my favorite or I’m only going to write fantasy, but that’s not true.  I will say, however, that I’ve discovered I enjoy writing young adult novels a touch more than adult books.  One of the reasons for this is because my characters get to be naive—and most of them are.  There’s something exciting and fun about writing a coming of age story, so my recent works have fallen more into the young adult category.

I’ve discovered in the years that I’ve been writing that novels are my favorite to create.  All of the other forms (short stories, flash fiction, novelettes, etc.) have their place, and I enjoy reading them, but I really savor taking the time to flesh out my characters and to let them tell their story in as many pages as they need.  I enjoyed attempting to write short stories, and it was a good exercise in brevity, but it wasn’t me.  

Writing should be about what makes you happy.  If that means writing in one genre, do it.  If that means experimenting with different things, go for it.  Whatever you do, just write.

Wucaii by Pembroke Sinclair is available on Amazon!

Get your own copy.

About the Author

Pembroke Sinclair is a literary jack of all trades, playing her hand at multiple genres. She has written an eclectic mix of fiction ranging from horror to sci-fi and even some westerns. Born in Rock Springs, Wyoming--the home of 56 nationalities--it is no wonder Pembroke ended up so creatively diverse. Her fascination with the notions of good and evil, demons and angels, and how the lines blur have inspired her writing. Pembroke lives in Laramie, Wyoming, with her husband, two spirited boys, a black lab named Ryder, and a rescue kitty named Alia, who happens to be the sweetest, most adorable kitty in the world! She cannot say no to dessert, orange soda, or cinnamon. She loves rats and tatts and rock and roll and wants to be an alien queen when she grows up.

You can learn more about Pembroke Sinclair by visiting her at:
Her blog: http://pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com/

{Guest Post} Would Be Self-Publishers—Beware! by Kory M. Shrum

About Kory M. Shrum
Kory M. Shrum lives in Michigan with her partner and a ferocious guard pug. She has dabbled in everything from fortune telling to martial arts and when not reading or writing, she can be found teaching, traveling, or wearing a gi. 

She is author of four contemporary/dark humor fantasy novels in the Jesse Sullivan series. She also co-edited a fabulous charity anthology (Badass and the Beast) with fellow fantasy author Angela Roquet. She's an active member of both SFWA and HWA.

Her new book, Worth Dying For, releases today May 2!

Guest Post by Kory M. Shrum

As with anything, what is good for someone may be terrible for someone else. The same is true of self-publishing. Whether you already have an agent and want to break up, or you are simply reading to jump right into the self-publishing waters, there are three major considerations that you should ask yourself before you take the plunge.   

I might be a great fit for self-publishing if: 

1. I’m a hard worker. 
It requires a lot of work to produce your own book. Publishing houses have departments with little minions that handle one aspect individually to bring a book to completion. Sure, you can outsource much of it (i.e. hire freelancers), but if you are not made of money (as I am not), you will find yourself doing much of the work yourself.  So the best way to initially approach this is from the understanding that it will take a lot of time, patience (and some money) to do this right. 


2. I’m also willing to ask for help. 
Take an honest assessment of your own abilities (and of your nearest and dearest) before undertaking the self-publishing endeavor. If you need to freelance some tasks 
(from that growing to-do list of yours—and it will grow), then it is good to know about it upfront so you can incorporate it into your budget. After all, nothing will ruin your chances of success more than a poorly produced book.  

If you’re going to do this, commit to doing it right. This means if you can’t edit worth a damn, you’ll need an editor. If you can’t format a book or create ebook files then you’ll either have to learn how to do this yourself or be prepared to hire someone. 

After all, I assume that you are self-publishing because you want people to read your work and enjoy it enough that they keep reading you. This will only happen if you ensure that you create a pleasurable reading experience for them. 


3. I’ve got a great balancing act. 
There will come a point when you find yourself doing a lot more book work than actual writing. It may start as a simple imbalance during the day until months in you look up and realize you haven’t been writing for…wait…how long has it been? You will have to find a way to get back to the writing. 

It may take you longer that you’d like to do even relatively simple tasks. When this happens, and you find yourself frustrated and on the verge of going homicidal, (because killing people will definitely increase your chances of becoming an instant sensation)—just breathe. Don’t hurt anyone (including yourself). Eat a cookie. Drink a good cup of tea or coffee. Take a walk. Whatever works for you. Take a step back, take a break, and then return to your book with refreshed determination.  

And I don’t know about you but some days it is difficult for me just to get past all of my mental apprehensions and get down to the business of writing.  

If you don’t think you can strike this balance between marketing and writing, then self-publishing isn’t for you. Find a traditional publisher and make them (and your agent) handle all the business while you stick to making art. 


If after all of this, you find yourself thinking, yes! Yes!  I am a good fit for self-publishing. Then good news! There are numerous resources to help you get started on your way. I recommend Let’s Get Digital and Let’s Get Visual by David Gaughran. These two books handle much of the necessary nuts and bolts of self-publishing. 


And a final bit of advice—have fun! You should be writing because you love to do it and publishing because you love to write for people. Sure, it’s a challenge and a commitment. But when you get your first piece of fan mail praising your hard work, you’ll know it was worth it. 

Get Dying for a Living free on Kindle!

On the morning before her 67th death, it is business as usual for Jesse Sullivan: meet with the mortician, counsel soon-to-be-dead clients, and have coffee while reading the latest regeneration theory. Jesse dies for a living, literally. 

As a Necronite, she is one of the population's rare 2% who  can serve as a death replacement agent, dying so others don't have to. Although each death is different, the result is the same: a life is saved, and Jesse resurrects days later with sore muscles, new scars, and another hole in her memory. 

Guest Post-Movies and Books that Inspire by Juli D. Revezzo

Movies and books that inspire

By: Juli D. Revezzo

As writers, we take inspiration from everywhere. Be it an article we read in the paper or a sentence we overhead in a restaurant. Many take inspiration from books, from the classics and non-fiction tomes. Some of us squirrel little bits of inspiration away from movies we’ve loved.

I’ve seen a lot of movies in my life, from the old classics of the golden age of Hollywood to this year’s offerings. While it’s true some can be considered forgettable, some of them are very good. My list of ultimate favorites is long, but only a few inspire each individual book I’m working on at one time or another. It’s incredibly hard to choose just a few but Cassandra encouraged me to pare it down. ;) So let’s see…Herm…okay. For my new supernatural horror novel, The Artist’s Inheritance, a few gems come to mind.

For books, I’d say the influence of Anne Rice’s novel The Witching Hour comes first to mind.

Then for movies, the Dunwhich Horror’s a good one (though I think I prefer H.P. Lovecraft’s original story to the movie)

The Exorcist of course jumps to the top of the list, in some respects (can’t beat it for creep-factor, can you?).

Would you believe the god-awful Eddie Murphy movie Disney’s Haunted House?

And Ghostbusters? *nods* It’s true!

Oh, and who can forget this scene from Legend:

Yes, that one too.

And for my story House of Cards?

Hands down Clive Barker’s Nightbreed, as well as Johnny Depp’s performance in The Libertine.

Just call me a fangirl, I won’t mind! Have you seen any of these movies? What did you think of them?

Want to know a little more about my books? Okay:

The Artist's Inheritance
Trouble only a witch can solve...

Settling into a new home, Caitlin notices changes coming over her husband. When nightmares deepen and ghosts begin lurking—Caitlin knows something’s not right, and not just her newfound precognitive abilities. It’s the damned chair her husband's carving, she’s sure. Could it be just what it seems: a mundane piece of furniture? If so, why is it attracting dark forces—the forces she suspects drove Trevor’s siblings to insanity and suicide?

Armed with a handful of allies--a coven of helpful witches--she must proceed with caution against the hellish forces besieging her family. If she fails, she may lose forever the one thing she cares about most: her beloved Trevor.

Available at Amazon, and others

House of Cards

Can you gamble with Fate?

As a young nobleman, Sinjon escapes the Reign of Terror in 18th century France to find himself dragged into an even worse fate–a hellish underworld wherein he is put on trial by a demon tribunal for crimes he never committed. Can he answer their riddles and thwart his fate, one worse than the guillotine? 

Available at Amazon and Smashwords

{Guest Post} On "World Building" in Dianne Lynn Gardner 's Deception Peak Online Book Tour!

 By: Dianne Lynn Gardner

Where did the Realm come from?

It’s funny. Someone once asked me “Why is the portal into the Realm a computer?” The answer is that I’m only writing what I know. *smiles

When I write (on the computer) I enter my world. So though this story-portal is make-believe, there’s a little bit of truth to it.

Remember the Disney cartoon where you see a hand drawing Mickey Mouse, and then the little guy comes to life?

Same concept.

I write on the computer—voila-- the world comes to life on my computer.

So what exactly do we mean by world building?

Let’s look at the most famous world builder of our time. J.R.R Tolkien. The man was a philologist. He built his world first by inventing languages. After that he created legends that told the story of the people who spoke those languages. His settings were so unique and detailed that when he finally came around to telling the tale of the One Ring, everything was in place for it. He pulled from the history he had written.

He was a master at world building.

Why did he do it?

Something I find valuable in the life of both Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, whose Narnia is an inspiring world as well, was that they lived during a horrific era in a country feeling the effects of World War I. They both served in the trenches during the war, and were evidently devastated by what they experienced. There had to be hope for mankind, because the dark world of war was at their door.

They each had their worlds they could slip into.

And not just for themselves, but for the survivors of that dismal era. Their worlds swept through ours like a light in the forest. People begged for more.

Why…you ask?

I love Lewis’ take on the answer to that. He said, “"If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world."
— C.S. Lewis

Maybe he wasn’t talking about a fantasy world when he said that. I’m certain his quote had more of a spiritual connotation to it. But the desire for a better life, a purer place to live, and a happier outcome than many of us experience has always been in the heart of man.

-Hence, the need for world building.

With that established, I wonder…what would your world look like?

{Guest Post} How Seventh Star Press Stacks Up in R.J. Sullivan's Haunting Obsession Online Book Tour

Welcome to the official home stretch of the Haunting Obsession Blog tour, the second of four consecutive new posts by yours truly. Thanks to the Book and Movie Dimension for hosting today, and to Seventh Star Press as always for setting this up.

This Online Book Tour is Brought to You by Seventh Star Press!

So today's topic: Book and Movie Dimension asks, point-blank, how is Seventh Star treating you and how would you compare them to other publishers?

To which I say--

 Oboy, look at the time, I have that thing with those people at that place.

Confronted with the ultimate author Awkward Moment, I want to go on record about Damnation Books. You may know them by reputation--which is not necessarily sparkling if you do a Google search. 

I had Google then, too, and I had that information available. I really have nothing to contribute to that conversation. The facts are there to be reviewed. 

Carnival Girl Online Book Tour: Guest Post on The Creation of Carnival Girl: Searching for God in the Aftermath of War

A Memoir
The only life little Sonja Francesco has ever known is traveling the carnival circuit and living with her five siblings in a tiny caravan home. The family never stays anywhere long enough for Sonja to make friends or develop roots. The only one in her family, Sonja always believed in God and wants to belong to a church. 

At fourteen, Sonja meets the Mormon missionaries and develops a strong testimony of the truth of the Gospel. But can she live the commandments while traveling with the carnival and running one of the attractions every Sunday? Will it be possible for her to leave her family’s life behind and live the life she has always dreamed of?
Add this to Your Goodreads.com Shelf   

Today is one of the various stops for Sonja's Carnival Girl Online Book Tour. Book & Movie Dimension has a guest post by Sonja Herbert on the creation of her memoir.

The Creation of Carnival Girl: Searching for God in the Aftermath of War 
By: Sonja Herbert

During the few times we carnival children attended school, I once received an A for a story about a Greek myth I had written, and on that day I decided to write about my mother’s life when I grew up. 
All through the time I raised my six children here in the U.S.A., this thought was with me, and when the younger ones were a bit older, I started on my mother’s story. As the story unfolded, I realized that it would not be complete unless I also told my own story, the story of my childhood and my life with my mother.
And that’s how Carnival Girl began. I originally called it Conversations with Margot (my mother’s first name), but since the novel I wrote about her life isn’t published yet, I decided to re-name the memoir and publish it first.
As I wrote the story and remembered the things that happened in my early life, old feelings also returned, and I had to confront the childish reactions of my younger self. Now, as a grown woman, I was able to see things I had not seen as a little girl, and when my memoir was finished, I had a new insight and understanding for my mother, who had suffered so much and still came out ahead.
My mother, Margot, is now ninety-one years old. She lives in Stuttgart, Germany, and is still going strong!

Thank you Mutti, for everything you have taught me!


About Sonja Herbert
Sonja Herbert and her five siblings were raised in a caravan, traveling the carnival circuit from town to town in post-World War II Germany.

Sonja converted to the LDS Church, later married and immigrated to the United States, where she received a bachelor of arts degree at Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah, and a master of arts degree from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. She also raised six children, taught school and ESL, and is now a freelance writer.

Besides her childhood memoir, Sonja has also written many autobiographical stories, which have been published in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series and other anthologies. A biographical novel about her half-Jewish mother’s experiences in Nazi Germany is almost finished.

Author Guest Post | A Dystopian Journey by John Nelson

John Nelson, The Author 

John Nelson is a retired Air Force Master Sergeant and former Special Forces Medic--Air Commando. He now lives a quieter life as Director, Quality and Risk Management, Patient Safety and Infection Control for a community hospital in Utah. His novel  Against Nature  was released by Wild Child Publishing in April 2011. One professional book critic likened  Against Nature e to the works of Michael Crichton and Robin Cook. The author contends the book was written in the spirit of Orwell and Huxley.



About The Book
It's on Amazon.com's Kindle for $6.99!
Get the Book?     Wildchildpublishing.com (E-book) | Amazon.com (E-book) | Barnes & Noble (E-book)

The U.S. is ground-zero for a mysterious global pandemic. The disease is highly infectious and kills its victims within two weeks of exposure. It's neither bacteria nor a virus and all traditional treatment regiments have failed.

Serena Salus, a radical scientist, discovers the organism is an extraterrestrial dust mite brought to earth by a shuttle astronaut. The government contends it's a genetically-engineered organism created on earth by enemies of freedom.

Dr. Salus uncovers a vile plan for distributing her experimental antitoxin and finds herself in a deadly confrontation with powerful forces that'll stop at nothing to control the distribution of her vaccine.

Genre: Action-Adventure/Thriller



A Dystopian Journey
by: John Nelson