Jen Barry

A Moment with Matt Tomerlin

February 22, 2012February 22, 2012 by Jen Barry, posted in Authors, Books, Interviews

Guys, the Twitter has done it again. I got a follow request from a fellow author, and the synopsis of his book intrigued me. I wouldn’t say I’m obsessed with pirates, but I do have a soft spot for Peter Pan and Pirates of Penzance…okay, and Pirates of the Caribbean, while we’re at it. I don’t get to hand these questions over to many men, so I was excited to see what Matt had to say. I hope you’ll take a moment to learn more about him, and then enjoy the brief excerpt from his book, The Devil’s Fire, at the end.

As my husband always says, “What’s your book about?”

“The Devil’s Fire: Pirate’s Bane #1” is about a young woman from London, Katherine Lindsay, who is kidnapped by pirates in the early 1700s. The phrase “what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger” definitely applies, as Katherine is forced to find an inner strength she otherwise would never have realized she had. She evolves throughout the story, and by the final chapter she is barely recognizable from the woman in the beginning. I wanted to write a realistic pirate story without all the supernatural stuff that did not shy from scenes of brutality or sex (though it is not a romance novel).

Do you remember the first thing you ever wrote? Can you tell us about it?

Yes! In my mid-teens I wrote a screenplay about a rich man who fakes his death and then spies on his wife to find out if she really loved him. It was ambitious, but at that point I hadn’t had enough life experience (particularly relationship experience) to make it convincing.

Do you prefer plaid or stripes?

Stripes, because Smee wears a striped shirt in Peter Pan.

Was choosing to publish independently something you always wanted, or an option you hadn’t considered before? (Independently being defined here as NOT one of the Big Six.)

Like so many others, I grew tired of agents/publishers rejecting my work without bothering to read a single paragraph. Bottom line is I wanted people to be able to read the story, and self-publishing was the fastest way to guarantee that. Amazon hasn’t let me down. I’ve sold over 5,000 copies of “The Devil’s Fire” so far, and that’s 4,999 more than I thought I would.

Are you working on anything new at the moment?

I’m nearly finished with the follow-up to “The Devil’s Fire,” which is called “The Devil’s Tide”. The second book is open ended, and there will likely be a third.

Do you have any rituals before writing? Music or silence? Coffee or tea? Twizzlers or M&Ms?

Total silence. Lots of Pepsi or Mt. Dew, and sometimes wine (later at night). Too many varieties of snacks to list… although you’ve inspired me to add Twizzlers into the mix.

Have you ever based a character on someone you know?

Not specifically, but I do incorporate personality traits from everyone I know into nearly every character. In “The Devil’s Fire,” Katherine Lindsay has elements of the strongest women I know, who have faced hardship and emerged stronger, chin held high. The main antagonist, Edward Livingston, contains the very worst traits of humanity; a personification of those dark thoughts we never entertain. Nathan Adams is very much the naïve youth I was and many other teenaged males were. Captain Jonathan Griffith represents blind ambition, and proves to be the most difficult obstacle in Katherine Lindsay’s path, because there’s an undeniable attraction between them, despite the horrible things he has done.

What color is your umbrella?

I have a blue one from Disneyland, with Mickey Mouse on it. Don’t judge me.

Who is your favorite author and why?

Yikes. This is the hardest question yet. At the moment it would be Mark Twain, because he’s one of the few authors who can make me laugh out loud.

What was the last book you read?

I’m currently reading “Hunger Games,” because all my female friends insisted. It’s surprisingly addictive. Before that, I read “The Holy Road,” by Michael Blake, a very depressing but exquisitely written follow-up to “Dances With Wolves”.

Do you write about locations you’ve visited, or do you rely on research? Or do you make up entire settings in your head?

With historical fiction, I have to do thorough research. I think it adds to the authenticity of a story, even if it’s only on a subconscious level. For example, much of “The Devil’s Fire” takes place in Nassau during the golden age of piracy, so I did extensive research on what Nassau was like at that time. I peppered the narrative with little details that may seem inconsequential, but hopefully help in transporting the reader to that time period.

After the last word is written, then what? Do you have pre-readers and editors who take over? Do you begin query letters immediately?

First I read it and edit it myself, and then I send it to a select group of friends who are very detail oriented. My sister is an editor, so that is a big help. Query letters are the last part, though I must admit I’m not really bothering with them anymore. The book seems to be finding an audience on Amazon, so that’s good enough for me.

What song would be on the soundtrack for your book?

“Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses” by U2. The lyrics totally fit Katherine’s character.

Where can people find your book?

It is currently exclusive to Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.com/B005GL93LA

The second book will be out in 2012, hopefully by June.

Can we read a little excerpt?

It was six hours before the pirates discovered her cowering beneath the bed.

Several pirates spilled into the cabin, laughing and cursing. She glimpsed only their feet. Some wore boots, but most were barefoot. She watched through a hole in the heavy quilt that was draped over the bed as they thieved most of her clothes and jewelry. They took whatever perked their interest and then left, their boisterous laughter fading into the roaring pandemonium that had enveloped the main deck.

After what she presumed to be two hours, she heard a loud scuttle and a subsequent shriek that was abruptly cut short. A riotous commotion lasted for nearly five minutes before it broke into uncontrollable fits of laughter. For the next hour she was left to ponder her husband’s fate. Her mind played out a relentless torrent of ghastly possibilities, with Thomas meeting a grisly death in every one of them.

And then, with a glorious flood of relief, she heard his voice. Her eyes burned. She squeezed them shut, refusing to allow any tears to burst free; there would be time enough for that later, when she held him in her arms again, and the present ordeal was nothing more than a memory.

Thomas was conversing with a man whose voice held a distinctive air of authority. As this man spoke, the pirates gradually calmed. Katherine found herself transfixed on the voice, even though it was far too muffled through the cabin walls for her to distinguish words. He possessed a tranquil tone that she rather liked, and she temporarily forgot her peril while listening to him.

Thomas and the man with the fair voice eventually ended their conversation, and the pirate uproar started anew. This went on at some length, and the cabin remained empty over the next few hours. Gradually, the clamor outside grew even louder, and the unmistakable sound of a shattering bottle prompted her to wonder if the pirates had discovered the cases of wine in the cargo hold.

The endless ruckus numbed her senses, and she found her eyelids growing heavy. The floor’s wooden planking seemed to stretch away from her. Her vision thinned to narrowing slits that soon receded into darkness.

The door was thrust open, and the ruckus outside flooded the cabin like a tidal wave. Katherine lifted her head and smashed the crown of her skull against the underbelly of the bed. Her eyes shot open in accordance with the jolting pain.

A pair of buckled shoes marched deliberately for the bed. The man who wore them reached down and tore the quilt away, spoiling her hiding place. With the velocity of a striking snake, his hand shot under the bed to grasp Katherine’s hair, dragging her painfully from cover.

“This ship’s treasures never cease,” said the man with the voice that she had liked so much. But his pleasant enunciation was no match for the hunger in his eyes.

Be sure to follow Matt on Twitter, “like” him on Facebook, and check out his GoodReads profile. You can also follow his blog for updates on the series.

Taking Your Requests

February 15, 2012 by Jen Barry, posted in Books, Kingdom Series, Martin Sisters Publishing, Music, Side Effects

I feel like a radio DJ, taking requests for blog topics, but the truth is that I just didn’t know what to blog about. To my utter disappointment, Liam has followed his beer-making instructions step by step, so there have been no major mishaps. With nothing else to talk about, I had to ask on Twitter what people might want to read. My first request was to discuss some of my upcoming projects. This makes me happy. I love talking about what I’m working on.

First of all, I know that some people may be waiting to hear some news about The Kingdom and The Morning Star. There will be official news very soon, but I can tell you that the series will now be published through Martin Sisters Publishing. The first book has gone through a total re-edit, complete with some additional content – though not so much that anyone who has the first edition will miss out. While reworking the first book, I’ve also been working on the edits for The Morning Star so that the quality carries through the series. I hope people are still eager to learn more about Rioghan an Lily, and I’m so glad I have a chance to do this right through Martin Sisters.

There is also a follow up to Side Effects in the works. I’m seventy-five percent through with the first draft of Soundtrack. As with Side Effects, this novel will deal with teenagers who have very real problems. Though it’s not exactly a sequel, Isaac and Grace lovers will get to read some more about them through the eyes of new characters in the same universe. Becky Honeycutt and Travis Robinson, who were both mentioned briefly in the first novel, are teens from different social circles who take the time to learn more about each other. Travis, the popular, basketball-playing bully, suffers from ADHD–

We interrupt this program to bring you the news of a triumph in the kitchen. Jen Barry managed to create Chicken Parmesan for the tenth time without burning it. Her husband announced that it was “delish.”

We now return you to your regularly scheduled blog, already in progress.

–and Becky, the invisible girl, learns how to help him through his studies using music therapy. It’s been a lot of fun researching the disorder and getting to know these characters. I think people will love these new characters as much as they love Isaac and Grace, if not more.

I’ve also completed the first book in a new series, which will be called The Oracles of St. Ambrose. This series will focus on three teens with extraordinary powers and how they learn to trust their abilities and each other to solve mysteries. There’s already a page for it here on the site, so you can learn more about the first book, Going Under. I hope people will love Chase, Cinnamon, and Bryan as much as I do.

I’ve also got a few books for adults in the works, though these are moving a little more slowly. Jinx is the story of a ridiculously unlucky girl and how she learns to live with her misfortune and love in spite of it. I’m also constantly writing and rewriting a book set in my hometown of Oakdale. With factual elements and a fictional plot, the lines keep blurring too much for comfort. It’s a labor of love, and I won’t put it out there until I get it just right. Finally, there is a collaboration with an author friend, but that’s a secret.

With so much going through my head at any given moment, I often just spend my time with the character who is speaking the loudest. Sometimes I take six months to a year to finish the first draft of a project, and every once in a while, I sit down and write straight through one in a month. One thing is for sure; I have plenty to be going on with. I don’t imagine I’ll stop writing any time soon!

Music Makes the World

January 31, 2012February 1, 2012 by Jen Barry, posted in Music

A few weeks ago, I got to sit down with some pretty cool people and talk about the kind of music I like to hear. American Cadence Records is a company here in Nashville that is dedicated to providing artists a safe haven for their creations, and that’s not something a lot of record companies are willing to do anymore. Logan Buerlein and Kiernan McMullan were brimming with excitement about their new venture, and it made me excited, too – so excited that I want to share what they’re doing with the WORLD! Obviously, my reach is rather limited, but I do get to tell the people I know all about it.

Here’s the deal: unsigned artists can talk with American Cadence about doing a record – any kind of record – and get the production quality and attention to detail they deserve. Of course, the guys won’t work with just anyone. They have to feel there’s some potential there, but the range of music is wide open. They’re not trying to put people into little boxes or tell the public what the public should be listening to. This excites me! I can’t wait to hear what they come up with.

But wait! There’s MORE. They do this series called Wood & Wire, where signed and unsigned artists can record raw and real, acoustic or plugged, and the finished product is a limited edition vinyl. Only one hundred copies are pressed, making it an instant collector’s item. That’s pretty cool, but it’s not the coolest part. The amazing thing is that one hundred percent of the proceeds from the Wood & Wire series are donated to WO Smith Music School here in Nashville.

What is WO Smith Music School? It’s a not-for-profit school that provides music education to underprivileged kids. I’m talking about music classes and private lessons for just fifty cents per session. Those of you who know me know that music education is pretty dear to me – I was once a music teacher. Starting a music school with this kind of service is something I’ve always dreamed about, and someone is doing it better. I don’t mind that they stole my idea as long as kids are getting the education they deserve.

As you might imagine, I’m pretty stoked about all of this. I shared the information about American Cadence Records, WO Smith Music School, and the Wood & Wire series on Awaiting the Flood, but that’s just not enough for me. More people need to know what these incredible people are doing. I hope people will be inspired to buy American Cadence albums, donate time or money to the school, or just tell more people about it. This is the kind of dedication to music we should be celebrating!

A Moment with Martha Bourke

January 19, 2012January 20, 2012 by Jen Barry, posted in Authors, Books, Interviews

On Tuesday, the tornado sirens in Nashville started screaming, and I ended up in my closet, clutching my laptop and my bowl of ramen noodles. I tweeted my fear, and I received comfort from loving friends and even a few strangers. Martha Bourke was one of those strangers, and she promised to “hold my hand” through the worst of it. It turned out to be a false alarm, as most tornado sirens are in my city. In the end, I left the closet floor with a new friend.

Martha then agreed to answer my usual questions, and I can’t tell you how much this excites me. With a Young Adult novel focusing on the Mayan prophecy regarding the end of days, her work is timely and interesting. I hope you’ll take a moment to meet my new friend, Martha, and read about her first novel, Jaguar Sun.

As my husband always says, “What’s your book about?”

Jaguar Sun is the story of Maya Delaney, a sixteen year old high school junior of Mayan descent. As she and those around her begin to develop unexplained abilities, Maya learns that she is part of a worldwide plot much bigger than anything she could ever have imagined. She must harness her new found powers in time to fight off this evil and bring humanity through to a positive transition on December 21, 2012, the day that the Mayan calendar ends. Maya’s basically forced to reevaluate everything; her relationships, her identity, her whole place in our world.

Do you remember the first thing you ever wrote? Can you tell us about it?

Oh, man. The first thing I remember writing was an acrostic poem using my first name in third grade. I was asked to read it in front of the school with other kids from each class. As if that’s not bad enough, after a read it, my old first grade teacher made a sour face and I saw her do it. Can you imagine? I mean, it may have been a tad bit morbid, but hello! I was NINE. Luckily, my fourth grade teacher, who was hands down the best teacher I ever had, encouraged me. She even tried to get some published in magazines. They never were, but I was hooked.

Do you prefer plaid or stripes?

Um, stripes. I’m not sure I could carry off plaid.

Was choosing to publish independently something you always wanted, or an option you hadn’t considered before? (Independent being defined here as not part of the Big Six.)

Actually, I had no other option. I took a sabbatical because of a health issue in December 2010. I started the book in January and finished it in April 2011. I went to a conference in May. I had signed up for one of those manuscript critiques where an editor reads the first chapter in advance and then meets with you. He really liked it, but he basically said that because of the whole Mayan Calendar December 2012 issue, no trad publisher would touch it. It had an expiration date, literally. It takes them too long to get a book out. So, I spent the summer doing service work, not sure what to do with it. In the fall I sent the first chapter to Pedernales Publishing on a whim. They only work with Indie authors, but they also only accept about forty percent of the manuscripts they get. I called them and sent it in. A week later they sent me an e-mail asking for a phone call. They had accepted it, thank God. The first YA manuscript they had ever taken. They did the cover, the formatting, and my website. And we had it edited, proofed, formatted and out in two and a half months. Thank God only Book 1 has that kind of time constraint.

Are you working on anything new at the moment?

Jaguar Sun is the first book in the Jaguar Sun Series. I’m just starting to jot things down for Book 2, Jaguar Moon, which I’ll start very soon. It will be out in 2012.

Do you have any rituals before writing? Music or silence? Coffee or tea? Twizzlers or M&Ms?

No, not really. I can’t write with music or the TV on.

Have you ever based a character on someone you know?

In little ways I suppose the people I know creep into my characters, but I’ve never flat out based an entire character on someone.

What color is your umbrella?

Ha! That’s such a funny question to me because I’m never prepared enough to have that sort of thing. But I actually have a mini umbrella right now. It’s pink with white polka dots. I think it’s for breast cancer awareness.

Who is your favorite author and why?

Charles Dickens, if I had to pick. That’s my mom’s fault. She’s big on the classics. Lots of Alcott and Austin. And my father was an English teacher. He taught American and British lit. So, there you go! But, Dickens was a genius. His characterizations are amazing. And he had a very hard life as a young man, which colored his work and made him a champion of the poor as an adult.

What was the last book you read?

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. I read it just before going into editing on my book in November. I haven’t had time since! Fabulous book, btw. I would love to have blue hair. I’m so Jealous.

Do you write about locations you’ve visited, or do you rely on research? Or do you make up entire settings in your head?

I write Paranormal, as opposed to Fantasy, so my world is our own world, but enhanced. My first novel I wrote five years ago took place locally. Jaguar Sun takes place in New Mexico and Mexico. I did a little research about New Mexico, and I knew a lot about Mexico already. But that’s not to say I wouldn’t travel if I need to! Sounds good, actually.

After the last word is written, then what? Do you have pre-readers and editors who take over? Do you begin query letters immediately?

I have a terrific reader’s circle and they actually read it in two halves. Then I have my editor, who I contract out for, gets started. She lives in CA and I live in MA, so we e-mail it back and forth using “track changes”. We talk on the phone. Then the work goes to Pedernales and we start talking proofing, cover, etc.

What song would be on the soundtrack for your book?

This is probably not going to make any sense to anyone, but I was an elementary Spanish teacher for fifteen years. My knowledge of the Spanish language and Hispanic culture sort of smacked into my love of YA and that’s how the concept for Jaguar Sun was born. So an important song for the book is a song called “Tu Y Yo” (You and I) by Ricky Martin. It’s Matt and Maya’s theme song. And it has a very native feel to it at the end, which works perfectly for Maya’s character. The album came out while I was writing the book.

Where can people find your book?

At Amazon, in both Kindle and Paperback. It’s also at Barnes and Noble for Nook.

Can we read a little excerpt?

Okay, just for you, Jen. I’m just going to pick one at random, okay?

I turned and quietly opened the door to my and Matt’s room. He was sitting with his back to meon his side of the bed. As I watched, he leaned forward on his elbows, rubbing the stubble on his unshaven face as if deep in thought. I closed the door behind me with a quiet snick.

“Matt? Are you okay?” I whispered.

He turned his head. “Yeah. I was just thinking. Come here.”

I walked over and sat down next to him. I stared at the floor, wondering what he could be thinking about me and this newest display of my freakish powers. I could feel a massive stress headache coming on. I rubbed my temples.

“Are you okay?” he asked, putting an arm around me.

“I guess.”

“That was pretty incredible, what you did out there.”

All I could do was shake my head. “It may be incredible, but it’s not normal, Matt.”

“Come on, don’t do that.”

“My hands were glowing—for real—while I was working with Adriana.”

“Okay, so you can manipulate mind-blowing amounts of energy. We knew that. That’s why we’re here, babe.”

“Yeah.”

December 21, 2012

Will that fateful day destroy our world, or did the Mayans have something else in mind?

Maya Delaney knows. Unfortunately.

Maya Delaney is just an average sixteen-year- old. She’s busy dealing with exams, her soon to be ex-boyfriend and fitting in. But Maya’s got bigger problems. She’s hiding a major secret from her dad and having strange visions she can’t control. In her struggle to figure out who she is, she learns that she is meant to fulfill an ancient Mayan Prophecy and bring forth a New Age on earth. Will the spirit magic Maya wields be enough to defeat Toltec, an evil society bent on keeping her from her destiny? Or will that destiny destroy her?

There you have it! Thanks for having me, Jennifer. And thank you to readers who are taking a chance on a new author and letting my characters into their lives for a bit. That’s the best thing about writing after all.

***

And a huge thanks to Martha for stopping by. I hope you’ll take a moment to find her on Twitter, visit her Facebook page, and become a fan on GoodReads. You can also learn more about Jaguar Sun on the website, and follow her blog.

A Decent Proposal

January 18, 2012 by Jen Barry, posted in Making fun of Liam (or myself)

My husband is convinced that he’s a very romantic man, and in most cases, I would be inclined to agree. We just celebrated our sixth anniversary this past weekend, which brings to mind how it all began. I have to admit that his proposal was quite romantic, though it took some time to come to this conclusion–like, six years.

The story begins on New Years Day in 2006. Liam, who is very goal oriented, wanted to discuss our plans for the coming months. After two years of dating, I had an idea of how important goals are to him, so I was prepared with a few suggestions. What followed is nothing short of classic, and in most opinions epic. I give to you the story, however brief it may be, of Liam’s marriage proposal.

“Let’s sit down and talk about our goals for this year,” Liam said, patting a spot next to him on the couch.

He was already waiting with his notepad open, bullet points at the ready. I could see several mentions of exams for his Microsoft certifications, plans for getting his American citizenship, and the desire to buy a new car.

I looked down at my own list, which included notes about achieving my real estate licensure and maybe, possibly, if he was amenable, becoming engaged. My list didn’t seem to match his, and I felt a bit of a pang in my heart. Still, I was never one to mince words, so when he asked me for the first thing on my list, I let fly.

“I’d like to know that we’re at least one step closer to getting married,” I whispered.

His gaze landed on my pitiful list of goals, eyes wide and blue and surprised. It was certainly not what he’d expected, and I could see him toying with the idea of discussing the real estate portion of my hopes and dreams before moving on to diamonds.

“Umm, errrr,” he said, his eyes moving back and forth between my paper and his. I knew he was desperately trying to decide if Microsoft should be the next word out of his mouth, but he swallowed the urge and sighed.

“You want to get married?” he finally asked.

“Well, we don’t have to get there immediately, but I’d like to at least know you want to. You do want to, right?”

“Ummm, errrr,” he said again, his cheeks filling with color.

“It’s just… We’ve been dating for almost two years now, and I’d just like to know that it’s…going somewhere, you know?”

“Well, hell. If it means that much to you, let’s get married this weekend.”

And there it was. My proposal. It wasn’t decked with flowers or accompanied by swelling, victorious music. There was no cheesy message on the Jumbotron or a diamond ring. And that’s okay, because I don’t really like diamonds anyway.

We actually married two weeks later, on January 14, in a very small ceremony in a tiny country church. I wore a dress that I’d bought in college for recitals and concerts, while Liam wore a button-down shirt and tie. We exchanged rings that we’d purchased the day before, on a Friday the 13^th, and then left the chapel with my immediate family in tow to find that it had snowed while we were inside.

I laughed for ages over my proposal story, and everyone laughs with me because, well, they know Liam. I see now, though, after six years with this wonderful man that his gruff and clueless request was simply his way of trying to give me what I wanted as soon as he possibly could. I don’t regret the haste. I don’t regret the size of the wedding. I don’t regret the one-night honeymoon. And I’ll never, ever regret the words he spoke that got us where we are today.