Meet Adam Oster!

Right, Adam Oster. I kind of bumped into him by recommendation. I blame Mr. Chris Bostic, who said something along the lines of 'this guy's cool'. Not that I'll blindly believe everything Mr. Bostic says, but generally he has a very good instinct, you'll have to grant him that. So when Adam asked whether anyone would care to beta read his latest book, I raised my hand. Boy, am I happy that I did that. And now it's available, and you can read it, too. You'll like it. Promise.

That's Adam. Kinda cute, isn't he? 
Sorry. I have a soft spot for a lop-sided smile.

I tortured the poor guy with my usual set of boring questions. He was kind enough to answer them without yawning too much.

Who are you?
I am the author formerly known as, as well as still known as, Adam Oster. Too much? I just felt like I should fill the void here with as many words as possible.

So you are afraid of the void. Interesting. 
Which brings us to our next question: Where are you?
I am currently sitting at my desk, which just so happens to be located within a rather small room on the second floor of my home, which is located on a hill called the East Side Hill, which presides over the downtown area of a city called Eau Claire, that happens to be situated on the western part of a state known as Wisconsin that... okay, I think even the Germans know where I’m at now, right?


At least those Germans who know how to read a map. 
How are you?
I’m doing rather amazingly at the moment, as well as feeling quite chatty about absolutely nothing. It probably has something to do with the fact that I’m feeling quite procrastinatory toward work at the moment.

Which book do you want to talk about? Tell us briefly what it is about.
Oooh, promotion time already! The Agora Files is the book I’m here to speak with all of you lovely people about. It’s my new book, it’s young adult, it’s action-packed, and, if Angelika is putting this up on her blog on 11/29/2013, it comes out today!
I’m really bad at summing up my books, but in a nutshell, it tells the story about a boy who, while just doing his job, winds up being in the middle of a battle for power in the United States, while also having quite possibly the most awkward romantic entanglement ever put into prose. As far as a few additional details, it’s set in the near future, with a slight shift in history, and really just based upon the idea of running from something for a long time. Here’s the jacket info which does a whole lot better of a job explaining what I just failed at:


“Cyrus must run for his life, but can he run from love?

When dying alone on the hot sands of the Mohave Desert, Cyrus has no regrets. He loves a challenge. Being tasked with running from San Francisco to Boston in fifteen days, while the United States government and a host of bounty hunters hunt for him, sounds like fun. Being at death's door only a day into his trip doesn't faze him either. It's when he's joined by fellow runner Eve, bringing new emotions to the surface, his confidence cracks.”

Why did you write it?
There’s a few things that come into play as to why I wrote it. First, I had just realized that my first novel, THE LEGEND OF BUDDY HERO, had/has absolutely no mainstream appeal due to its subject matter (superheroes, although they are huge in every other medium, apparently no one wants to read about them) and the fact that it was technically written for adults (although I didn’t really have an audience in mind when writing it).
While thinking about what I could write that would fall in line with something that might be more appealing to the world at large, I had another dream in a series of dreams that I have had for ages, which basically involved me and someone else running from some unknown group that wanted to capture us for some unknown reason.
I had always liked these dreams because of the fact that they involved such varied locales. They would take place all over the world, both real world and fictional, as well as including some locations one could only find within cartoons. After waking, the thought of how to make this simple idea of running into a story kept running (see what I did there?) through my head. Finally I was in the shower and it all just fit together. In fact, I developed almost the entirety of the book within that not-too-long of a shower and was so inspired that I had the first draft completed within a month (which was not something I was trying to do, but just happened because of how much I was enjoying the act of writing it).


Tell us about your main character. What does he/she look like, love, hate, dream of? What qualities/flaws/principles does he/she have?
My main character, Cyrus, is my favorite of my own created characters. Since he’s technically a smuggler, one of the images I used early on to develop how his mind worked was Han Solo (from the Star Wars films, for those who are somehow uninitiated). The idea of having this character who, although technically motivated by money, really did everything he did based on emotion, just felt right for the story I was telling.
As far as more specific details about the character...He’s on the verge of his 18th, has red hair and is almost never seen without a hooded sweatshirt and a pair of Chuck Taylor shoes. He loves excitement, hates tunnels, water, and help; and dreams of a world where things never have to change. He’s a very selfish individual at a first look, but as you look deeper, you’ll see that more often than not, he’s ready at the drop of a hat to help others, even if he is absolutely resistant to receiving assistance in return. He’s a loner at heart, but has an amazing support system behind him, mostly in the shape of his brother, a 12-year old boy who calls himself The Geek.


Is there a song you'd associate with your book?
This is a hard question to answer for this book as it comes complete with it’s own soundtrack. Since the book really revolves around the topic of running, I tried to incorporate as many aspects of the running culture as possible. Those familiar with the culture should recognize terminology cropping up throughout the text. One of the things I realized would be important was the need to incorporate music to the story telling. I know very few runners who do so without music in their ear. This also felt important as it would be an easy way to create a mood during long periods of time where characters would be running in silence, without getting bogged down in detailing the experience.
However, if I were forced to choose one song that I feel really captures the feel of the book as a whole, I’d go with The Who’s Teenage Wasteland, even if there are parts of it in which The Proclaimers‘ I’m Gonna Be would be a better fit, not to mention a much better ear worm.  :-)


Sorry to interrupt at this point. I only do it because I feel the need to correct you. You know, the one song that really haunted me after reading your book, was this one: Jack and Diane. Actually, it is still haunting me. My poor family, forced to listen to it over and over again...
Anyway, back to our questions.
If you could have a superpower, which one would you choose?
Since I’m the author of a book about superheroes, I‘m asked this question often, and I have to admit that I still haven’t quite gotten to the point where I have just one power I could settle on. I find myself leaning toward telekinesis more often than others simply, but that usually comes up when I find the television remote or my kindle is just out of reach. I think teleportation or time-travel are the two that really stand out for me. I love exploring and these two powers seem to be the epitome of that idea. If I had to choose just one, I’d probably have to go with teleportation, as time-travel would feel rather pointless if I were stuck just exploring the future and history of one single area.


Anything else to say?
I just wanted to say thanks to Angelika for giving me the opportunity to come on here and let you all know about my new book. I’m so incredibly excited about it finally getting released. I am proud of the story that is hiding within those covers and I can’t wait for all of you to get to read it!

Read more about The Agora Files

Meet James Cassidy!

James Cassidy is another one of the many authors I've so far met on the authonomy website, and one of the site's greater mysteries. For quite some time, I didn't know whether James really was his name, or whether he really was a man, or a woman. I know all that now. But I'm not telling.

I asked him to send me an author pic.

In line with his personal mystery, 

this is what he gave me. 

He's probably on there, somewhere, 

hiding behind a tree.

Ready for some questions, James? Right, here we go...

Who are you?

James Cassidy.

                    Where are you?

                    Britain

                             How are you?

                             Good!

Which book do you want to talk about? Tell us briefly what it is about.

The Obvious. It's about a girl trying to get on in life.

Tell us about your main character. What does he/she look like, love, hate, dream of? What qualities/flaws/principles does he/she have?
Sammy. I always pictured her as average looking. She wants to be normal. She's a bit confused as to what love is but she will do what she thinks is right, whatever the cost.

Which actors would you cast for the movie?
Christian Kane and Jensen Ackles. Not because they'd be good for the roles, though. Hehehehehe. I don't think there should be one of the plastic, super-sexy women playing Sammy. It's a story about people and it needs an ordinary person.

What are you currently working on?
Sweet-pea's Thief and another still to be given a title.

Who is your favorite author?
Terry Pratchett. Dude is a genius.

If you could have a superpower, which one would you choose?
All of them.

Read more about The Obvious

Meet Michael David Matula!

I first met Mike in April 2013 on the authonomy website, where he's running two critique groups, one for fantasy, one open for all genres. Since then, I've beta read three of his books, and bought another two. That's probably some indication that I like his writing style...ok, it's a dead giveaway. However, I asked him a few questions. Here are his answers.

Who are you?

Mike Matula, a novelist and a story writer. My first published novel is Try Not to Burn, and I’ve had stories published by Sci-Fi Short Story Magazine and DarkFuse, and also in Wrapped in Red, a new vampire anthology from Sekhmet Press. 

Where are you?

Just outside of Chicago.

How are you?

I’ve been better, but I’m doing okay, all things considered. You?

Which book do you want to talk about? Tell us briefly what it is about.

Try Not to Burn. It’s a paranormal thriller with sci-fi and fantasy elements, featuring characters who are all haunted by their sins, and struggling to make up for the things they’d done in the past. Here’s a quick summary:

Shot to death in the line of duty, rookie cop Brandon Morales awakens in a much darker world than the one he left. Trying to make sense of it all, Brand stumbles across Sam and Jane, two women simply struggling to survive. With their souls hanging in the balance, and eternal damnation never more than one wrong turn away, these three strangers will need to put their trust in one another in order to stay one step ahead of the flames of Hell. But when enemies pose as trusted friends, when lost loves crumble the will to continue, and when hidden desires threaten to tear allegiances apart, it will take more than faith and determination to pass God's final test. It will take a miracle.

Tell us about your main character. What does he/she look like, love, hate, dream of? What qualities/flaws/principles does he/she have?

Brandon Morales is inherently a good man. He did something in his past which he never atoned for—something which the courts acquitted him of—and it haunts him. That experience has defined his life. It’s what led him to become a cop, but it’s also what makes him try to keep people at arm’s distance.

In terms of appearance, I always imagine him with dark hair and rugged looks. His personality, though, is based largely on my own. We’re both weighed down by guilt and regret, we’ve both had quite a few of the same experiences, and we both dream about zombies more often than is probably healthy.

Is there a song you'd associate with your book?

Can I pick two? Get Ready to Die by Magic Dirt, and Dragway 42 by The Pretenders are two of my favorites, and always make me think of Try Not to Burn whenever I hear them.

Is there a message in your book? Do you want your readers to take something home?

No matter how horrible things get, no matter how hard you landed when you hit rock bottom, there’s always a chance to pick yourself and push on, if you want it badly enough.

All that matters is the climb up. The fall down is what tests you, but it’s not what makes you who you are.

If you could have a superpower, which one would you choose?

A healing factor (like Wolverine from the X-men) would be pretty great. It’s not particularly flashy, and the power of flight would probably be more fun than simply healing quickly, but to be able to live for a couple hundred years, without worrying about getting injured or growing old...sign me up for that one.

Read more about Michael David Matula

On literary readings and the blessings of being cursed with the best beta reader in the world

Last night, I attended a reading by YA fantasy author Jonathan Stroud. You probably know his stuff. Bartimaeus. Need I say more? No? Thought so.
The first book of his new series Lockwood & Co is now published, and he graced my humble town with his presence to do what every author is loath to do: advertising. Really. I'm not saying that I have a huge wealth of experience, but so far I've yet to meet a writer who doesn't cringe at the thought of doing marketing. Let someone else do it. Let us just stay safely behind our little screens and write. Please.
Admittedly, Mr. Stroud made a pretty good job of it. And when he asked for a volunteer from the audience, guess whose hand flew up faster than anybody else's. Instant fun ensued. For the next ten or fifteen minutes, I had the questionable honor of getting dressed up as a teenage ghost hunter, complete with salt bomb, sword, sunglasses and a tube of magnesium flare (do not use indoors). It was a nice opportunity, too, to practice my language skills on a living object with a beautiful British accent.
Yes, the temptation was there. Hey, you, famous writer, I'm a bit of a writer, too, fancy taking a look at my pathetic efforts? 
I did not do that. The things you believe me capable of, really.

Mr. Stroud read the introduction to his new book, The Screaming Staircase, which appears to be a very fine tale. So, yes, this is a recommendation. He looked pretty happy reading it, too.
And I sat there and couldn't help wondering...is he still mentally editing?
You write. You re-write. You edit. You pass it on to some friends. You edit again. You pass it on to yet more people. You re-write. You edit some more. Until you come to the point when you just can't edit anymore. That's when you publish.
But, if you go on a book tour, and are forced to read the same chapter, again and again, night after night, do you flinch? Do you silently curse yourself, stumbling upon a sentence which you might have phrased better, or which could do with another comma?
Because, you see, the horrible, horrible truth is, editing is never done. If you think it's perfect, let your manuscript lie for a few weeks. Bet you'll find some new errors, inconsistencies and typos then.

Er...and yes, this is also some sort of apology. Or maybe I'm making excuses. Someone called me a slacker already, because I'm still not done with brushing up the sequel to Ratpaths. 
Guess why.
Editing.
And re-writing.
And all because I have the best beta reader in the world. This most amazing woman throws my chapters right back into my face, together with some variant of the phrase:
You can do better.
Her merciless belief is what keeps me going, until I can provide yet another book I can be proud of.

On googling yourself and being hauntingly beautiful

A few weeks ago, a fellow writer stated that amongst all the depressing, silly things a young writer could possibly do, googling yourself comes out on top. Why? Because he found a couple of negative vibes, one of them being his book tied to the question "Why does my book not sell?"
Ugh. 
Thus, the rule apparently is "Thou shalt not google yourself."
Of course, the first thing I did was go break that rule.
What fun.
So what did I find?
First of all, an amazing ten pages of google hits. Pictures of myself, my book, my trailer. Two illegal platforms selling my book at an inordinate price. I asked them to stop. Guess what. They complied! I have the power! Or, more likely, the words "copyright infringement" have.
What else?
Reviews. Pages of other writers, who have linked my page or my book, and I hadn't even begged them to do it.
And an excerpt of my book, chosen "Bubble of the Week" on Pinterest, with a side note describing it as - dig this - graphic, heartbreaking, haunting and beautifully written.
(Click here if you want to read it)

So. Silly and depressing? Not at all. Useful? Undoubtedly. Uplifting? You bet.

Meet Jesamine James!

I first met Jes in April 2013, on the authonomy website. One of the first to welcome me there, she took the time to read (and enjoy) Ratpaths, even though she's not into fantasy.
I read her book, Scrag - Up the Hill Backwards, in turn. Or maybe it was the other way round. What the hell, it doesn't matter. What matters is her book.
With carefully chosen words, Jes lets you experience a part of her life - a life none of us would wish for, and few would have survived. Jes lived to tell the tale: gritty, gripping and brutally honest, but still filled with hope and an unyielding love for life. The result is one of those rare books everyone should read at least once.
Thank you, Jes.





That's her, or as much of her as she wants the world to see: 




I went and asked her a few questions. She answered. Here's what she had to say:

Who are you?

Jesamine James. Author of Scrag – Up the Hill Backwards and a few other tales that haven't been published yet.

Where are you?

I am currently in the real world, as I've been banned from much of Cyberworld recently.

How are you?

“I'm fine, but I always say that.” - And clever enough to throw in a quote from my book.

Why did you write Scrag – Up the Hill Backwards?

This is a tricky question, as there are at least three answers that immediately jump to mind.

Firstly, I wanted to bring awareness to teachers, parents and other child carers of some of the signs of child abuse. Not the usual stereotypical signs, but the more extreme reactions that some children display. My hope was that someone will recognise a problem and intervene in some way.

Secondly, I wanted to warn potential paedophiles and child abusers of a few things they might want to consider before embarking on a grooming campaign. Such as, the anger and retribution the child will carry for all their life, the fact that the child will grow up one day and be out of their control, that the abuser will spend his life looking over one shoulder with the knowledge that the child/adult could, at any time, walk into a police station and be believed.

Thirdly, to get it all out of my head. Now it's in a book, I can put it on a high shelf, leave it there and have a clear mind.

Is there a song you would associate with your book?

It has to be David Bowie's Up The Hill Backwards. Well it's in the title, after all.

All the chapters are David Bowie song titles, so you could listen to a wide variety of tunes while reading the book.

What are you currently working on?

I've got a lot of first drafts and unfinished stories. I haven't found my genre yet. I like to write what can best be described as weird, shocking and thought provoking fiction. I can fit into most genres, Sci fi, comedy, crime, psychological, even children's fiction. I mix genres too, which makes me very hard to label. I don't care to be labelled though.

I avoid writing and reading Erotica and Romance. I'm too cynical and they make me pukey.

My next book is a novella and I can't tell you much about it without spoiling the plot.

Why are you a writer?

I've always written articles, letters and read and reviewed other people's work.

The turning point was while I was the Landlady of a pub. A customer asked me why I worked so hard and whether I really enjoyed the long hours and the brawls. I said I did, but I think he could tell by my face that it was wearing me down.

A few days later he brought me in a book called The Dice Man by Luke Rhinehart which I read, taking on board what it was subliminally telling me.

Then the guy asked me what I really wanted to do.

I told him I wanted to be a writer.

Soon after, I received a fountain pen as a present and the rest is history.

So at this point I would like to thank both Luke Rhinehart and the very attractive Irish fella who changed my life.

What is your favorite book of all time?

It has to be Hero of the Underworld by Jimmy Boyle.

I read this book at a bad time in my life when I was contemplating going to the police.

I loved the story, but the ending made me mad. I was so disappointed with it, but realised that I was going to spend my life feeling the same disappointment about myself.

Within a day or two of finishing that book, I walked into a police station and my own Biographical novel will tell you the rest.

Who is your favourite author?

That'll be Roald Dahl and I'm not talking about his children's books.

He's written many adult books, short stories and those that were used for The Tales of the Unexpected TV series.

Some of his stories are so clever and you don't see the ending coming. Others you can dwell on for hours afterwards before you hit on a deeper meaning.

Isaac Asimov is another favourite. I love all old science-fiction. Those written in the '40s and '50s fascinate me with their foresight. It's only nowadays that they can really, truly be appreciated.

What is the stupidest question you've ever been asked?

Would you like a drink?

Click here for more information about Scrag - Up the Hill Backwards

Meet Kyra Halland!

That's her:

Well, no. Obviously not. Kyra is a real human being. This is just her cartoon self. Let's take it as a clue that she's rather cute but wants to stay incognito.





That's the book Kyra wants to talk to us about:

                                             Looks like fantasy romance, doesn't it?
                                                  That's because that's what it is.


Now, Kyra...tell us all your secrets...

Who are you?

I am Kyra Halland, author of dark-edged tales of fantasy and romance.

Where are you?

I live in southern Arizona with my husband, younger son (our older son has been out on his own for several years now), and two cats.

How are you?

I'm really happy to be featured here! I'm also working hard on a couple of different novels: The Lost Book of Anggird, which I'll be releasing later this month, and the sixth book of my fantasy-western series, Daughter of the Wildings, and having lots of fun with them.

Which book do you want to talk about? Tell us briefly what it is about.

My current novel is Chosen of Azara. It's a cross-generation tale of the destruction of the beautiful land of Savaru and the quest to restore it to life. It's also a romance between Sevry, the last king of Savaru, and Lucie, the woman who unknowingly holds the key to bringing Savaru back to life.

Why did you write it?

I usually get my story ideas as images of characters that appear in my mind. For this story, I got an image of a young woman alone in the forest who sees a vision of a man she doesn't know. Then, some time later, the man appears at her home, looking for her. I put this idea into a world I was building, where magic comes from Sources, or various natural features such as caves, rivers, ocean coves, mountains, etc. I thought it was a very tragic and romantic story, set in this really cool world, and I loved writing it.

Tell us about your main character. What does he/she look like, love, hate, dream of? What qualities/flaws/principles does he/she have?

There are actually three main characters in Chosen of Azara. 

Juzeva is a princess of Savaru who is married to a prince of the enemy Madrinan Empire in an effort to ensure peace between their lands. But she is betrayed, her land is destroyed, and she disappears, taking the secret of Savaru's survival with her. She is young, and like all Savarunans, black-haired, blue-eyed, and fair-skinned. She is dedicated to the service of the magical Source Azara, and it breaks her heart to have to leave her Source to marry the foreign prince. She is entrusted with the key to renewing the land and Sources of Savaru, and her entire purpose becomes to protect that secret and her daughter, who will inherit the secret after her.

Sevry is Juzeva's nephew. After the royal family is mostly destroyed, he becomes king of Savaru, but he is unable to save his land and people. He is twenty-three at the time his people are destroyed, and with the aid of magic he sets out on a quest that lasts for centuries to find one of his aunt Juzeva's descendants, who can restore the land.

Lucie is a sheltered young noblewoman, the daughter of a baron in Ceryria. She has curly red hair and is very pretty. She freckles easily, which she doesn't like! She loves to be outdoors in the woods, where she can sense the magic that lives there. She is looking forward to her marriage to a young baron, Estefan, and to the beautiful home that will be hers. When a strange man appears, telling her she has to come away with him to help him restore a land that was destroyed centuries ago, she doesn't want to go. She has to go through a very difficult struggle to choose between what she wants, what her family wants for her, and what she knows is the right thing to do.

If you could make up your own genre for this book, what would it be?

Epic fantasy romance, or epic romantic fantasy. It's fantasy and romance in equal measure, and you couldn't take either of those out of the book and still have it work.

Is there a message in your book? Do you want your readers to take something home?

I think a message in all my books is the importance of honor, of doing what's right even though it's hard, and also the importance of family, and how love can make you into a stronger and better person.

What are you currently working on?

Like I mentioned above, I'm working on a few different projects right now. 

The Lost Book of Anggird, which will be released later this month, is an epic fantasy with a strong romantic storyline. It's the story of a professor of magic who is searching for a solution to why the magical power in the land where he lives is deteriorating. He goes too far in his research and causes a terrible magical disaster, and discovers that everything that's been taught about magic for centuries is a lie. He and the woman he hired to translate ancient books for him embark on both a romantic relationship and a quest to discover the true origins of magic and restore magic to its original, unbroken state.

A second novel, Sarya's Song, is out with my beta readers right now. It's set in a world where magic is worked through music. Sarya is a skilled musician who is in disgrace after a musical wedding ritual she wrote went terribly wrong. The world is falling apart, and Sarya finds herself torn between the man she's had a love-hate relationship with since they were teenagers and a beautiful but dangerous man in chains who appears to her in her dreams, telling her that if she will sing him free he can stop the disasters that are threatening to tear the world apart. Right now I've got it scheduled for release in February of 2014.

Finally, I'm writing the 6th and final book in a fantasy-western series, Daughter of the Wildings. Non-magical people have fled from the mage-dominated land of Granadaia to the unsettled Wildings to escape from the oppression they suffered in Granadaia. Silas Vendine, mage and bounty hunter, has come to the Wildings to hunt for renegade mages. Lainie Banfrey is a young woman born in the Wildings who is both terrified of and fascinated by her developing magical powers. Silas and Lainie team up to stop a renegade mage who has driven Lainie's hometown nearly to the brink of war and end up falling in love. Through the rest of the series, their relationship grows as they hunt down other renegades and uncover an evil conspiracy that threatens the freedom of the Wildings and everyone who lives there. The world is inspired by the American Old West of the late 1800s, but it's also definitely a fantasy world. Right now, the plan is to start releasing the Daughter of the Wildings series in the spring of 2014.

Which target audience do you write for? What do you think makes your book especially appealing for that audience?

I write for adults who love a good fantasy and a good love story, where the characters have to face lots of trauma and difficulty and hardship, that looks into the dark corners of life and human nature, but that has an uplifting overall message about the importance of honor and doing the right thing and the power of love, and a happy ending.

Want to find out more about Kyra? Go visit her on Facebook, her own website and Goodreads, or buy her book on Amazon.

Meet Margo Bond Collins!

Why? Because she writes books. And from what I've seen of them, they're pretty hilarious.

That's her latest release:
When Dallas resident Callie Taylor died young, she expected to go to Heaven, or maybe Hell. Instead, she met her fate early thanks to a creep with a knife and a mommy complex. Now she's witnessed another murder, and she's not about to let this one go. She's determined to help solve it before an innocent man goes to prison. And to answer the biggest question of all: why the hell did she wake up in Alabama?

And that's Margo: 

Now, let's see what she has to say...Hello Margo!

Who are you?

Margo Bond Collins, an author of paranormal mysteries and urban fantasy. In my other life, I’m a college professor; I teach English courses online.

Where are you?

In Texas, with my husband, my daughter, and several silly pets.

How are you?

I’m doing especially well today; my first novel, Waking Up Dead, was just released by Solstice Shadows Publishing!

Which book do you want to talk about? Tell us briefly what it is about.

My new release is Waking Up Dead. When Callie Taylor died, she expected to go to heaven—or maybe hell. Instead, when she was murdered in Dallas by some jerk with a knife and a bad-mommy complex, she went to Alabama. Now she’s seen another murder, and she can’t just let it go; she must find a way to make sure the police figure out who really killed Molly McClatchy before an innocent man goes to prison, all the while trying to determine how and why she woke up dead in Alabama.

Tell us about your main character. What does he/she look like, love, hate, dream of? What qualities/flaws/principles does he/she have?

Physically, Callie, the ghostly protagonist of Waking Up Dead, describes herself like this:

When I looked down at myself, I saw just me, wearing the clothes I’d worn the day I died. Black slacks, gray button-down shirt, black leather jacket, medium-heel black boots. Casual professional. When I’d managed to cast a reflection in the mirror, I’d still looked like me. Medium-toned skin, green eyes, dark wavy hair to my shoulders.

She’s basically a light-hearted person, despite being in a terribly strange situation and having experienced pretty much the worst things possible. She befriends Ashara, a young African-American woman who is one of the few people who can see and hear Callie. Ashara’s outspoken grandmother Maw-Maw encourages the two of them to work together to solve the mystery of a local woman’s death.

If you could make up your own genre for this book, what would it be?

It’s a paranormal mystery—there’s no other term for it!

Is there a message in your book? Do you want your readers to take something home?

I didn’t realize until after I had finished writing the book that it was so very much about the continuing effects of racism in our world. The Deep South setting made that issue easy to address, but it’s certainly not an issue that is limited to the South. I don’t know if there’s a take-away “message,” precisely, but I do hope the book reminds readers that we’re all just people.

What are you currently working on?

I’m currently working on sequels to Waking Up Dead and Legally Undead and I’m writing a paranormal romance novel. I’m also editing collections of academic essays on the television shows Farscape, Teen Wolf, The Vampire Diaries, and Supernatural.

Why are you a writer? Were you born to be one, did it just happen, was there some moment of epiphany...?

I’ve always wanted to write. For as long as I can remember, I have made up stories. When I’m driving (which I find immensely dull), I amuse myself by making up characters and figuring out ways to make their lives difficult. The first story I remember writing was basically fan-fiction of The Wizard of Oz. I wrote it in long-hand in a yellow legal pad. I’ve been writing ever since.

Do parts of you shine through? Are some characters like you, or friends, or family?

Absolutely! The feisty grandmother Maw-Maw in Waking Up Dead is actually largely based on a combination of my own grandmother and great-grandmother--the only real difference is that they were white and from Texas rather than black and from Alabama. Otherwise, she talks like them and acts like them. It's my great-grandmother's voice I hear in my head when I write her dialogue, my grandmother's movements I see when I picture her walking around. Physically, I imagine her looking a bit like Ruby Dee in the television movie version of The Stand. But her attitude? That's straight from my own family!

The rest of the characters are something like that, too—a combination of various people I’ve known or met or seen, all mashed together into something as close to a real person as I can get.

Who is your favorite author?

There are too many to list! I tend to have lists of favorite authors according to genre and to time period. But at the moment, here are a few: I love books by Neil Gaiman, Lois McMaster Bujold, Faith Hunter, Stephen Graham Jones, Ilona Andrews, Carrie Vaughn, Richelle Mead, Rachel Vincent, Holly Black, Janny Wurts, Jennifer Estep, Rachel Caine, Patricia Briggs, Janet Evanovich . . . and those are just the ones who come to mind immediately!

If you could have a superpower, which one would you choose?

I’d have the ability to slow time down, so maybe I could get everything done!

Now, if you want to find out more about Margo, you can visit her on Facebook, Goodreads, her own website, Twitter or Google +. Or simply go and buy her book on Amazon.

Want to win a free e-book copy?

Pankhearst is doing an interview series with a major giveaway at the end. I've been invited to take part, so here's your chance to win a copy of Ratpaths. 

Chris Bostic is taking part, too, so you can also win a copy of Fugitives of Northwood.

Just look here: The Pankhearst - Reader meet Author

me being interviewed...as if I had something to say

Want to know whether or not I have something to say about my own book?

Take a look...

and a 4-star-review!

Ratpaths got a very nice review, courtesy of Lucy Middlemass from Pankhearst.

Look here...

"She did what?" Nivvo stared at his best friend, aghast.
A grin began to spread on Fedoro's ugly, pock-marked face. "Send your tale out to some guys to read it."
"Holy fire. Whatever made her do that?"
"Suppose she thinks that if enough people read the story, they'll talk about it, and prod other people into purchasing it."
Nivvo ran both his hands through his dark, almost black hair, cursing under his breath. "The Iossa is not going to like that. I should never have let her write it all down."
Fedoro shrugged, completely unperturbed. "I'd say Vicco could care less. And it's a tad too late to wonder about that now anyway."
Nivvo smiled, but it was a tortured smile. "Did those guys like it?"
"Aye, looks like they did. Enough so that they went and made a new cover for her."
"Seriously? Impressive. Can I see it?" Curiosity shone in the young thief's dark eyes.
"Sure. It's right here..."

RATPATHS, the first book in the series Tales of Istonnia, has finally been published.

Follow the ratpaths to amazon.com...