Author Interview with Marialyss McKinley

*Dons smoking jacket* *Lights pipe* *Coughs*

We're here... *blows artful smoke, not quite like Gandalf, but reminiscent* with Marialyss McKinley, author of the Regency Historical from Aspen Mountain Press titled "Heart's Desire." Having beta'd the first half of the novel (I totally blew it on reading the rest... not having bothered to finish it until it was no good to anyone... but, but, we're not here to talk about my crappy beta job) (and don't give me any guff, the thing got published, after all! Let's move on!) *coughs* I wanted to talk about the process of publication, writing, editing, etcetera, with its author. Some of you may know her as the firebending mod, regdog on Absolute Write. She was kind enough to answer my questions, and I am passing them on to you, in my first ever Author Interview, here on Far Seeing fairy Tales. *Crosses pajama'd leg*

*Adjusts smoking jacket, makes note of Marialyss's soft calico print summer dress... wishes smoking jacket wasn't quite so heavy*

Marialyss... you've written different genres, from mid-grade to this romance that has just come out on Aspen Mountain Press, Aurora Regency, "Heart's Desire" (Click link for to go to page) Do you ever struggle with voice when going back and forth between different genres?

Yes, mainly when I write children’s. I have to be careful I keep the tone and expressions correct for the age range. Sometimes I find myself writing in a more adult voice and I have to remind myself, "children’s book". It doesn’t mean I dumb it down, I just have to tell the story the way kids act, talk and respond to things.

And, now that you are pub'd, one of the great goals of most writers, you had to begin the editing process. It seemed like you were editing really close to release. How close was it, and was there any freakout pressure as it got closer?

I was. My editing came within days of the release date. My editor and I were working hard to have everything perfect, especially the historic details. Celina, the editor-in-chief of the Aurora Regency division is a living encyclopedia of historical facts. The last thing Aspen Mountain want is book riddled with historical inaccuracies. Every fact is checked and double checked to make sure the best possible book is published.

So, you subbed Aspen Mountain Press directly - how did they approach you about buying your book -was it an email? Will you tell us a little of what the back and forth was like? And how much chocolate did you eat in celebration?

I submitted per their query instructions in the beginning of December and received a request for a submission a few days later. It took a couple of weeks and then I received the acceptance. I read the e-mail saying they were accepting it at least three times before it sunk in. I still have that e-mail in my inbox.

Any writer knows the feeling right before you click the return e-mail open. It’s a mix of hope and dread. One part says, “this is going to be a yes” and the other part is stuck in the “oh great, let’s see today’s rejection” To see, “Yes, we are accepting this” is one of the greatest feelings.

A cheeseburger and many French fries gave their all for my acceptance celebration.

The road to publication always goes through the editor - I think about going forward into publication all the time and I wonder if I will be nervous or intimidated by this person. How was it working with an editor for the first time?

I loved the editing process because I wanted to learn all I could to be the best writer I can. I wanted to know what technical mistakes I was making so I could correct those and not repeat them. My editor, Peg, was great to work with and gave a lot of helpful feedback and took my thoughts about edits in consideration. She let me know this was my book and her job was to me make it the best it could be, not take it over and make it her book.

Are you involved in any of the marketing for your book?

Yes, I am very involved in the marketing of my book, so is Aspen Mountain. I have a blog http://pointlessponderables.wordpress.com/ where I’ve talked about editing, and how anxious I was for my book to be released. I loved being able to post it’s release on my blog. I’m having a website made as well. I’ve had promotional cards made with the cover on one side, log line and ordering information on the other.

Aspen Mountain set up several writers chats on Yahoo Groups, Love Romance Café http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LoveRomancesCafe/?prop=eupdate to help promote their writers’ works.

I was also asked by my favorite fairy is she could interview me for her blog. Of course I said yes.

*Preens* :) Now that you have sold, do you approach your writing any differently? Are your goals different?

I still write the stories I want to. Now, however, I have a fantastically edited book to use as my guide. I can use it to reference grammar questions I have or how to best tell the story.

My goals are still the same. I want to continue to write books that will be published and I would love to acquire a literary agent and see my middle grade historical fiction book published.

What are you writing, right this moment?

At the moment I’m writing the second story in an ongoing children’s book series. I’m also editing a historical romance to submit to Aspen Mountain.

/interview!

Ok, that's a wrap. I would like to thank Marialyss for answering my deep and probing questions... but not for dressing better than me. I think she could have thought about that a little before she showed up here all dolled up... but you know. You gotta be polite to your guests. And that means linking to her author page as often as possible. I really enjoyed this book (even tho I took forever to read it cuz I am lazy and get dry eye... DON'T JUDGE ME!). Good heroine. Good plot. Good pace. Good characterization. These are things you need in a book. And I wouldn't pimp her book if it wasn't good. I won't foist crap books on people, no matter how much I like the author. And I do like her. Despite her tendency to overdress. *Readjusts smoking jacket.*

Not Dead, but Not Really Writing

Yes. I live. I have not been trapped under something heavy, it just feels that way. I want you to know, I have very high hopes for this weekend. This long weekend. (Happy 4th, by the way, my Fellow Americans!)

I haven't been up to much, hence the lack of blog posts. I do have some plans, tho. I have what I think is my first author interview with Marilyss McKinley, the author of Heart's Desire. That will be hitting your airwaves tomorrow. (Proof-reading people. Do it or suffer the consequences.)

I have no excuse. Just in a huge funk. Not writing. Wasn't even journalling - which is a terrible sign. I've forced myself to journal for the last 4 days in a row, so that's something. And I have a new shiny. An idea. The problem? The four unfinished novels I've started in the last 6 months. Yeah. Teh shame.

Hope you are all doing well, my friends. I'm going to try and get my head right.

Heaven Help Bay City

You know I don't do this very often. Abner Sinires is a buddy of mine on Absolute Write. His book came out yesterday, Kat and Mouse. I think the blurb speaks for itself. Enjoy.

2042. Bay City, California Free State.

Kat and Mouse are ronin--street mercenaries--who like cake runs. Simple jobs with quick and large payouts.

That's what these were supposed to be. Cake runs.

But when the Duo sign on, they suddenly find themselves targeted by a biker gang, a team of corporate commandos, a cybernetically-enhanced special ops agent, a stalker, a band of kidnappers, and a Japanese crime syndicate.

And they all want the Duo out of the way. Permanently.

Now these sassy sisters-in-arms must survive the onslaught and still get the jobs done. Because in the Biz, it's get paid or get dead.

As usual, Kat and Mouse are going to do things their way.

Heaven help Bay City.

I will pimp the hell out of a book with a blurb like that. And if you wanna sweet, sweet, little taste, you can check out his blog http://www.katandmouseserial.com/ There is a little linky for new readers to click on, so you know where to start. Pulp is not dead.

Another link to the book:
http://www.abnersenires.com/katandmousebook

Bookity booksbooksbooks!

Greetings, Fearless Readers! I know it’s been awhile. I reorganized the studio (apartment) this weekend. I used to always call it that - “the studio (apartment)” but I’ve fallen into calling it “the apartment”. Boring. I like calling it the studio… as it is a studio, a single room of shame, the bastion of the barely employed…

The online dictionary gave me “atelier” as a synonym for studio. I looked that up and got this:

atelier

1.

artist's studio: a studio or workshop where an artist works

There has been way too little “atelier-ing” in this L shaped space. I haven’t completed a novel in too long – but I’ve started three. *Groan* I don’t want to be one of those. You know, those people who call themselves writers but who never finish a book. The one good thing: I know what is “wrong “ with the current one, but as I can’t seem to go in and fix it (not knowing where to start) I’ve decided to lump it and start over in the best place. At the beginning.

For some reason, that led to getting rid of some other obstacles. Namely: the clutter and mess choking the studio (apartment). And to do that, I got it in my head that it was time for a change all the way around. I moved everything! That meant going through the monster entertainment center, the one so filled to bursting with books that it creaks and pops at night. I got about three boxes worth in the closet now – and found many many delights. At some point, The Han Solo Adventures had fallen back behind the tv! And of course, there’s the novelization of all three Star Wars movies, in one handy volume, that I haven’t read in at least ten or fifteen years. I also had some Mercedes Lackey from my days in the SF&F bookclub. Other lost gems: The Firebringer Trilogy!! The Last Unicorn. Lost among the clutter. I really pared it down to just my favorites or unread books that are out and visible. There is actually ROOM left on every shelf, and if I went looking for a book, I think I could find it! Miracle of miracles!

I also put everything loosely together by author and/or genre. Stephen King takes up the huge shelf on the bottom, and I had to put the Dark Tower Series on the shelf above. All my most favorite, die-before-I-let-them-leave-my-grip books are nestled on one shelf (excluding King and Rowling – who are down below) This includes The Lord of the Rings books, Watership Down and Tales From Watership Down. Other Voices, Other Rooms and The Grass Harp by Capote. To Kill a Mockingbird. A slim poetry volume of Sylvia Plath’s – Across the Water, I think. Xenogenesis by Octavia Butler. Bleak House by Dickens. A couple books from my youth like The Littlest Witch, Bunnicula and Sad Day, Glad Day, which I've had since I was about 5 years old. There are no Austen books, as I never bought them, but I did download them for free from Gutenburg, along with everything Dickens, Woolf, Alcott, Bronte (all of them!) and Lovecraft. They are only on the shelf, metaphorically, along with many more, of course. It did get me thinking about what is on the shelf and what is not. I don’t regret the lack of physical volumes, because if I had every book I have ever loved, I would need a bigger apartment. I always had the feeling that all that ancient stuff would always be there, whenever I wanted it.

Of course, what it comes down to is this: if I want my own books up on a bookshelf someday, I need to start writing again… now….

1108 written today - for a grand total of ... 1108. Ah. Starting fresh!

The Casting Couch of the Mind

Greetings, Fearless Readers. I have a lot to do in this blog post - so let’s get to it. First off, I have another blog. Yes. Another blog to keep up with. Yay. It’s about Urban Fantasy, but it’s not your average review blog. Check it out if you have a minute. Flights of Urban Fantasy.

Second: I’ve had a revelation! I realize I need to restructure Darklight. Sigh. I need to get my kid sidekick in a lot earlier, shake things up and bump up the tension. I knew something was wrong with the story and kept futtering about, not doing anything. Now I know what’s wrong, and I’m gonna try and fix it.

Thirdly: Let’s talk about dream casting. One of the best things about writing your own stories is casting the movie in your head. Imagine: the A list, the B list, all at your disposal! I only do this on occasion. I usually pick random, regular human faces, but when I started Darklight, I knew I wanted to give Richard Armitage a job.

Yes, he is/has been my current crush, but he’s a cutie, and I like him in the cop role. Wilkins is my main character's love interest. He is and isn’t the type of cop Richard has played before. The typical cop profile: a go-getter, in charge, alpha male, leader type, “brilliant” as the Brits say, in terms of doing his job. Wilkins is different in that he’s more sensitive than your typical cop guy who stands around and looks tough with a great jawline. I wanted a strong guy with a good heart. Wilkins never takes a cheap shot in an argument, he sees the truth of a situation… and he doesn’t mind passing on that truth, even if our love-challenged leading lady doesn’t want to hear it. Oh, and he dresses really well. Wilkins does, I mean. I don’t care what Richard Armitage wears

Now for the main female character, I imagine Miranda Raison from Spooks, one of Richard’s co-stars.

In an ironic twist, in Darklight she would be more like Richard’s character in Spooks than like Jo, the one she actually played. I cast her for the cute pixie haircut and the big blue eyes. I don’t know if she would be willing to revisit it again if this was actually, by some miracle as yet unseen, made into a movie in real life and offered to her. Not to mention, she’d have to dye her hair brown.That is what is so fun about the casting couch of the mind.

A whole lotta links goin' on, or Dithering 101

Before we begin our regularly scheduled program, I just want to mention: I was interviewed by Dan Straka and it is currently up on his blog. He has some great posts about writing, so despite my numerous attractions , I hope you will check out his other musings! Thank you, Dan, for letting me ramble on.

Richard Armitage on a laptop is my screen saver.

Your argument is invalid.

These are some of the undisciplined thoughts that ramble through my head when I sit down without a serious focus for the night. Let me explain. No, no time to explain, let me sum up.

Good nights: Enter apartment, pet cat, remove coat, put down purse and keys. Warm up barely edible sustenance and consume. Make black substance in coffee pot, sans caffeine. Get cup of black substance with fancy creamer. Sit down. Turn on computer and write two thousand words. Done by 7:30 at the latest. Shazam.

The last few nights: Enter apt, chase cat, finally throw coat over cat and inflict love on said feline for many minutes longer than is necessary. At some point I’ve lost my purse and keys. Shamble to fridge. Open fridge and then freezer numerous times, talking about how there is nothing to eat. Finally decide I’m hungry enough to consume the food that is there, instead of ignoring it and hoping the money fairy is going to leave me some cash for take out. No money fairy. Throw together whatever remains edible into some sort of recognizable, glop. Perform various gyrations, singing “I can bring home the bacon... dunn nun nun nuh... fry it up in the pan...” Consume glop. Make pyramid of dirty dishes in sink. Make pot of coffee... oh fuck. Wrong can. Now I’m gonna be up all night. Might as well check out the Fail Blog. Ohh kitteh! I Can Has Cheezburger. Suddenly decide to run after my own kitteh some more and inflict more luv upon her, which I tell myself she really likes, amidst screams and complaints to the contrary. Return to desk, bleeding and swearing with cup of cold black substance with creamer. Open pages document. Go to AW and complain about treatment said cat inflicts upon me. Stare at screen. Check Richard Armitage blog. OOOH! Link! Spend twenty minutes clicking to Lord of the Rings merchandise sights. Go to AW. Is Orlando married or just a dad now? Wonder what AW would think of me not being sure of Orlando Bloom’s marital/parental status. Go back to Richard Armitage blog. Go back to Cheezburger. Go to M thru F blog and realize I wanna kill myself because my life is just like that blog. Sans the great Star Wars References. Go back to AW and tell SF&F Cantina I wanna kill myself cuz my life is like a Cheezburger blog. Derail. Have virtual candy in Susie’s House of Fun. Facebook. Get mad at Facebook ads. Think about writing a blog post. Open pages document. Stare at screen. Decide to write everything I just wasted my time doing. Looks at clock. Fucking 7:15. Glances over at still open manuscript. Feels deep abiding sense of shame.... shakes head incredulously and wonders what cat is doing....

Ok. I’m going to funnel my shame into writing now.

Writing Exercises

You know ‘em. You love ‘em. Some of them are suggested by your friends or favorite authors, fellow writers or teachers. Some of them just pop up... because you can’t fuckin’ take it anymore.

Such is the case in my one woman diatribe against The Facebook. I heard that in the commercial for Social Network - not that I give half a rat hair to see the movie, but ever since, I been callin’ it The Facebook and callin’ it good. I mean, The Facebook is clearly not good, it is an evil overlord that someday will rise up and crush us all, but until then, I can share my witty repartee with the world. What I will no longer abide, however, are these frickin’ obnoxious and stupid ads that run along one side of my wall!!!

They were innocuous at first. A pile of delicious donuts, with the offer of coupons for goods and services in the San Francisco Bay Area. A link to websites selling fairy gear. An offer to “Like” The One Ring Dot Net. Notices when Stevie Nicks would be playing in my area, all this culled from my profile. But then.... offers to enlarge my breasts. Ads promising the services of hunky cowboys in chaps. Suggestions that perhaps my teenage daughter had an eating disorder. At first, I threw up my hands shouting omgwtfbbq! These can’t be aimed at ME! Then, I noticed the little X near the ad. You can click it to remove the ad... and they ask you why this ad was inappropriate for you.

Ask and you shall receive, Facebook. Thus was my current writing exercise born.

Well, The Facebook, my boobs are just fine. I mean, they could be a little higher, but I just turned 40, and thank you for reminding me of that. And no, I’m not looking for a cowboy. I’m a little more the suburban, studious, well-groomed type. And yes, I may be alone, but who are you to suggest that somehow my life is lacking? Or that I am so desperate as to turn to the ads on The Facebook to find me my studious, well-groomed reader of Poe and Tolkien? And as for my daughter??? I don’t have a daughter,Facebook! What the hell? It’s like you don’t know me at all! You don’t listen! You don’t pay attention! It’s like we’re not even in a relationship at all! All you do is take and take and take, despite the fact my profile is right there for you to cull from. And cull from it you have.

And this is what you come up with. Boob doctors, cowboys and anorexic emos.

Well, fuck you, Facebook, and your little ads, too!

I admit that I was hoping this might cause a bit of a stir with The Facebook, or improve the quality of the ads. I have not been banned, and now they want to send me to Guatamala to meet hot singles. Meh. At least it gives me something to do. And it’s the only writing I’ve done in the last month, besides this witty blog post.

You’re welcome.