Category: Books

A Moment with Catherine Mesick

by Jen Barry, posted in Authors, Books, Interviews

Twitter is a beautiful thing, really.  Without Twitter, I wouldn’t be able to follow the day-to-day lives of over eight hundred near-strangers.  Without Twitter, I couldn’t let over five hundred near-strangers know when I’ve managed to set off the new alarm system in my house (still not yet.)  And without Twitter, I wouldn’t have met last week’s featured author, Tess Hardwick, or today’s featured author, Catherine Mesick.

After reading the synopsis on GoodReads and Amazon, I knew I’d have to give it a whirl, because she mixes some of my FAVORITE THINGS–namely Ireland, fantasy, and history.  I’m dancing on the edge of my seat, ready to dive in, but I thought I’d introduce her and Pure to you so that you might discover this book along with me.

Catherine was kind enough to answer a few questions–you’ll recognize them, as I can only be original once, apparently.  Fortunately, she’s clever, creative, and funny, so they seem like entirely new interview topics.  Enjoy the interview, check out Pure, visit her profile pages, and show some warm support for another indie author!

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

Thanks for inviting me to be a part of Life in Words!  In my book, Pure, sixteen-year-old Katie Wickliff discovers that she has an unusual – and mystical – heritage.  She is descended from the Sídh of ancient Ireland – through her Russian mother.  She also discovers that her town is being stalked by a supernatural creature, who is picking off people one by one.  Shortly after the trouble begins, Katie meets the handsome William – who just might be a vampire.  As the disappearances mount, Katie is forced to confront a terrible question: can she trust William – or is he behind the disappearances?

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

The first thing I remember writing was a story in elementary school titled Christina’s Christmas.  It had a red construction paper cover, and I stapled it in the center to make it into a ‘book.’  It was about a girl who wants a kitten for Christmas, and in a shocking turn of events, she receives the kitten at the end.  I believe the whole point of it was to give my parents an incredibly subtle hint.

Do you prefer plaid or stripes?

You know, I thought I knew the answer to this question.  My instinctive response was ‘plaid,’ but then as I looked around my house, I realized that I have quite a few stripes, but no plaid at all.  So, the answer turns out to be ‘stripes.’

Was choosing to publish independently something you always wanted, or an option you hadn’t considered before?

Interestingly enough, publishing independently was suggested to me by someone else.  I had written to a best-selling author, and to my shock, he wrote back to me.  He advised me to go the independent route – he said it was the way the industry was headed.  And even though he was an established traditional author, he was planning to publish independently himself – he was excited about the freedom it would give him.

Are you working on anything new at the moment?

At the moment, I’m working on the sequel to Pure.  It’s titled Ignis, which is the Latin word for ‘fire.’  Katie finds herself in the middle of a war that is brewing between the Sídh and the vampires.  At the same time, a Sídh prince comes to claim her – but Katie is already spoken for.

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

I don’t really have too much in the way of rituals – it’s usually best for me to plunge ahead with my work before I find reasons to procrastinate!  But I definitely have to have music when I write – silence drives me crazy.  I’m not very good with caffeine, so I’m much more of a tea drinker.  And I have a gluten allergy, so Twizzlers, which contain flour, are off limits to me.  But I do love M&Ms and all other forms of chocolate.

Have you ever based a character on someone you know?

I have been advised by some attorney friends that the correct answer to this question is always ‘no’ – however, a few personality traits of people I know may have sneaked in here or there.

What color is your umbrella?

My umbrella is pink and white with a breast cancer awareness ribbon on it.  It may be my favorite umbrella ever.

Who is your favorite author and why?

My favorite author is mystery queen Agatha Christie – I love her intricately constructed puzzles.  I find myself reading her books over and over again, even though I already know the identity of the murderer.

What was the last book you read?

Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie.

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 actually do all three.  In Pure, the house Katie and her grandmother live in is based on my cousin’s house in Pennsylvania. For the more exotic locations, like Tblisi, Georgia, and Sochi, Russia, I have to rely on research – though I would love to visit the places myself.  Other locations, like the Mstislav mansion, the abandoned monastery, and the underground tunnels in the town of Krov are all inventions.

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’ve actually worked as an editor myself, so I usually do all the editing.  Once I’m done with the writing, I let it rest for a little bit, and then I go back over it and correct it – just as if I were doing it for work.  Then, once the editing’s done, I usually do something to celebrate – it’s a wonderful feeling to have completed such a big, creative project.  I’m typically pretty slow about sending out query letters afterward – it’s so nerve-wracking!

What song would be on the soundtrack for your book? 

Oooh – Written in the Stars by Tinie Tempah.  At the moment I can’t stop listening to this song.  Visit Tempah’s official site, and you can hear the song on YouTube.

Where can people find your book?

My book can be found on Amazon.  You can also download a free chapter there – or you can read the first chapter on my blog.

Can we read a little excerpt?

Absolutely!  Since the first chapter has already been posted online, I thought I would give you something a little further along in the book.  This excerpt is from Chapter 10.  Katie is investigating the disappearances in her town – and an enigmatic smoke trail that only she can see:

            I backed away from the smoke into the surrounding trees.  The smoke did not follow, as I had half-feared it might, and once I was clear of it, I could see that it was concentrated in the open space of the grove.  I looked over the whole mass of the dark, writhing vapor.  There was a line of the smoke trailing back the way I had originally come.  There was another line running deeper into the woods.

            I had seen the smoke at Mr. Neverov’s house and at Mr. Del Gatto’s.  Was it possible the smoke trail had something to do with Gleb?  It certainly wasn’t anything normal.

            I knew I should be getting back to GM, but I wanted to find out what was going on in the forest.  I folded up the yearbook photo and put it in my coat pocket.  Then I followed the smoke trail deeper into the trees.

            I hurried along as fast as I could, dodging branches.  I had been to these woods many times, so I knew them well.  Up ahead, I knew there was a cave.  I had an uneasy feeling that that was where the trail led.

            Following an impulse I didn’t quite understand, I grabbed for my neck, searching for the iron charm William had given me.  I realized that my neck was bare – I had forgotten to put the necklace on that morning.

            I felt a brief stab of panic that I quickly pushed aside.  I told myself that I was being foolish – there was no reason for me to be concerned about not wearing a necklace.

            I hurried on.  The trees thinned, and I could see a clearing ahead.  The cave itself soon came into view.  As I had feared, the trail of smoke wound down into the cave mouth.

            I hesitated for just a moment, and then plunged into the cave.

            The cave was dry – not dank as I had thought it would be – and there was light to see by at first.  I followed the smoke deeper into the cave, and as I moved further from the mouth, the light grew dimmer.

            As the light grew dimmer, the smoke changed, turning white and luminescent.

            I continued to follow the writhing white smoke, even after all the natural light had gone, feeling along the cold stone walls with my hands.  Twice I scraped my fingers across sharp rocks, and shortly after that I stumbled badly, falling on the unforgiving cave floor.  My elbow hurt, and I could feel that I’d torn the knee of my jeans.

            I got up and kept going.

            Eventually, I spied a bright light up ahead, and a sibilant voice filtered up to me.  I couldn’t understand what the voice was saying, though, and I crept closer.  I could see that there was a chamber up ahead.

            Concealing myself behind an outcropping of rock, I peered into the chamber.

            A large man, heavily swathed in furs, was sitting on a flat rock with his back to me, and there was a lantern on the floor in front of him.  The luminescent white smoke that I had followed wound into the chamber and whirled in a ghostly, windless tornado, concentrating particularly around the man in furs.  Across from him, I could see the shoulder of second person.  The face of the far figure was blocked by the bulk of the man in furs, but I was pretty certain that the second figure was the one doing the whispering.  Now that I could hear a little better, the whispered words had a harsh, malevolent sound.  I shivered.

            I still couldn’t understand what was being said, though.  I would have to go closer.

            I had just made up my mind to edge further into the chamber when I felt fingers lace around my wrist, and I was pulled backward forcefully.

            I nearly cried out – but I quickly thought better of it and stifled my scream just in time – the two figures in the cave chamber didn’t seem terribly friendly.  In the dim light from the white smoke, I could just see a large, dark shape looming beside me.  I tugged on my imprisoned wrist, but I found that I was held in a grip of iron.

            I was pulled forcefully to my feet, and then dragged back along the cave tunnel away from the lit chamber.

Catherine will also be featured in a guest blog very soon, so keep watching for more!  Until then, you can visit Catherine on her blog, her GoodReads profile, her Facebook page, or on Twitter.

A Moment with Tess Hardwick

by Jen Barry, posted in Authors, Books, Interviews

As I learn more about writing and publishing, I meet some truly wonderful people.  Authors, artists, editors, and publishers–we all work together to bring books that teach, inspire, thrill, and entertain.  One of the most delightful people I’ve had the privilege to “meet” is Tess Hardwick, the author of Riversong.  Tess agreed to answer a few questions so you can all get to know her.

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

Riversong is about a woman, Lee Tucker, who must salvage the remnants of her life to begin again. When her husband commits suicide, he leaves her pregnant and one million dollars in debt to a loan shark. Out of options, she escapes to her deceased mother’s dilapidated house located in a small Oregon town that, like her, is financially ruined, heartbroken and in desperate need of a fresh start. Lee’s resilience leads to a plan for a destination restaurant named Riversong, to new chances for passion and love, and to danger from her dead husband’s debt as her business blooms.

A mix of romance, humor, friendship, intrigue and gourmet food, Riversong entertains while reminding you of life’s greatest gifts.

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

I wrote a story in 4th grade (and illustrated it horribly) called Priscilla’s Pizza Parlor. It was about an orphan who inherited her parent’s pizza place and had to run it by herself. Which, if you think about it, is strange, given the restaurant theme in Riversong. I’m obsessed with food, apparently.

Do you prefer plaid or stripes?

Stripes for sure!

Was choosing to publish independently something you always wanted, or an option you hadn’t considered before?

I’d dreamt of a big publisher, of course. However, when one didn’t magically appear, declaring me the next big talent, I went with a small publisher here in Seattle called Booktrope. In hindsight, I’m so happy I did – it was meant to be – because I get so much attention from them. They’ve been instrumental in developing a marketing strategy, which I most likely would not have gotten at a big house. They worry about figuring out how to sell it while I get to write another book. Plus, they are wonderful, generous people that make me feel like a rock star even though I’m not.

Are you working on anything new at the moment? 

Riversong took so long to find a publisher that I actually had another entire manuscript almost finished by the time it came out. My new novel is an historical fiction, set in the 1930’s in Alabama and Georgia, called Duet For Three Hands. Although still in the women’s fiction genre, it is told from five perspectives, three of which are male. The story was inspired by a germ of an idea in one of my great-grandmother’s letters from that time, along with stories I’d heard about her.  Duet For Three Hands will be out in November 2011 and is in the editing process right now. While I’m waiting for feedback from my editor, I’m working on a third novel about an actress, a cop and an adoption ring!

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

If I’m in my office I always say a prayer, thanking God for giving me the gift of time to work and then I light a candle. But sometimes, I sneak a little work while the kids are watching television or playing and then I’m usually upstairs on my bed with my computer on my lap. I think of that time as stolen, so don’t take the time for my rituals.

Have you ever based a character on someone you know? 

Yes. The character of Linus in Riversong is my best guy friend and has been since we were in college together. He recognized himself right away. There is also a minor character based on someone I know which I can’t reveal! But in general, as David Mamet says, the rest are all elements of my own personality.

What color is your umbrella?

Leopard print. I know. My eight year old daughter picked it out. Awful.

Who is your favorite author and why?

This a hard question for me because I love so many authors. I’ll go back to my standby though, if I have to pick one, and say Harper Lee. To Kill A Mockingbird is my all time favorite. I just wish she’d given us more novels. But maybe after you write a masterpiece you say, yeah, I can retire now, sit on the front porch and watch the bee’s drink pollen from a magnolia bloom and sip sweet iced tea. This is how I imagine Harper, you see. And yes, I call her by her first name in my imagination. However, if I actually met her I wouldn’t be able to utter a word from awe and fright.

What was the last book you read?

I just read a manuscript by a talented writer named Jesse James Freeman. We found each other on twitter and have developed a mutual admiration for one another’s work. His novel, Billy Purgatory is a sci-fi meets vampires with a time zombie thrown in for good measure – not the kind of genre I ever read. However, as is true of all good books, if a story is based in emotional truth and the characters feel real, you are drawn into the story no matter the genre, as I was with Billy.

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

Riversong is a composite of my hometown in southern Oregon and my husband’s hometown in eastern Oregon. They are both small towns, under 5,000 people and very much like the description of the town in Riversong. For my new book I’ve made up several places, based on research and my great-grandmother’s letters.

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 write the first draft fast, 2500 words a day. After it is finished, I write a second draft, where I tighten, move paragraphs and chapters around, and often add more depth and detail. Stephen King says you’re either a putter-inner or a taker-outer. I’m definitely a putter-inner. After the second draft is done to my satisfaction, then I give it to my first group of trusted beta readers. There are four or five of them (not including my husband). I get their feedback and go back in for another round. Now that I have a publisher, I then send it to my main point person there and she and my editor read it and we go in for one more round.

What song would be on the soundtrack for your book?

The River Knows Your Name by John Hiatt

Where can people find your book?

Amazon and Barnes and Noble.com – both Kindle and Nook

Can we read a little excerpt?

She slept fitfully that night and woke late the next morning, hot under her bed covers.  The air reeked of smoke.  Her sunburned skin stung.  She threw back the covers, longing for the feel of water on her scorched arms and legs.  She dressed in a ratty pair of shorts and t-shirt.  On her way down the hall she paused in front of her mother’s room, leaning for a moment on the closed door.  A bird’s summer song drifted in through the open hall window.  Her mother snored softly inside the room.  She put her hand on the doorknob to go in like she did every morning but then hesitated.  The familiar sadness crept in but she forced the feelings inside, scratching her sunburned arms with her fingernails, drawing blood.  The river beckoned to her, as if it called her name.  She withdrew her hand from the door and walked away, down the hall and the creaky stairs, all the while hearing a call to the river, knowing that she would not look back again.

In the yard the sky felt long and hazy, different than the day before.  She knew it would be a scorcher, unusual for June.  She walked the path towards the swimming hole.  At the swing, she paused, holding the rough rope between her fingers, wondering what it felt like to fly over the river and then plunge into the mystery of its waters without fear or hesitation.  She took the worn path to the water, slipping several times but going on anyway, determined to be brave.  At the river’s edge, she inched in, her overheated skin shocked at the cold.  When the water reached her shoulders she moved her arms in a circular motion, pretending to swim, keeping her feet anchored to the sandy floor.  Then she bent her knees, closing her eyes and submerging her head under the water.  She stayed like that with her eyes scrunched closed until the coolness seeped in through her skin and reached the place inside her where hope and despair lived side by side.  She imagined the pain of her childhood diminishing to flecks of ice.  Her feet came off the ground and she opened her eyes.  She was floating.  Her hair streamed out in front of her as her t-shirt ballooned around her body like a safety device, bubbles escaping from her shorts.  The gray floor of the river hosted several red crawfish and a school of minnows swam around her.  Infinitesimal specks of fluorescent algae drifted through the water, illuminated by the pelting sunlight.  She felt triumphant.  She was refreshed, cool at last.

Tess will also feature in a guest blog post in the coming weeks.  You should keep an eye out, because she’s kind, insightful, and a lot of fun!  In the meantime, you can check out her GoodReads profile, follow her on Twitter, and read more about her book on her website.

Photo Shoot!

by Jen Barry, posted in Artists, Books, Side Effects

One of the most satisfying things that comes with publishing with an independent house is the ability to offer creative suggestions.  When it was time to start thinking about the cover for Side Effects, I already had the perfect cover in mind, as well as the perfect photographer and model.  Fortunately, the publishers let me give it a shot, and we got to set up a photo shoot to create an amazing cover.  I’ve seen mock ups of the final product, and it blows my mind.  I can’t wait to share it with you, but until then, you can see a little photo shoot action with MD Laidlaw and Austin Lewis.