A Word Please

Do you love your ereader? If so, then we need to wrap it up with a cool cover and fill it with ebooks!

My BestsellerBound author friends and I have a total of 12 ebooks to give away, as well as 2 ebook covers!

The prizes are split into two packages, with two winners each receiving 6 ebooks and an ereader cover. Here are the prize packages: (For more information on any of the titles, click the cover.)

This giveaway is international, open to everyone 16 and older anywhere in the world. Enter between Friday, April 12 and midnight EST Friday, April 26. Please use the below Rafflecopter form for entries. The winners will be announced here, and also notified via email.

* Each author is solely responsible for sending their title to the winner. *
** Winner will be able to choose preferred format. **

Good luck!

Thank you to all my author friends for your participation and support!

Thanks for reading.

literature blog

I’ve been passed The Versatile Blogger Award by the supremely talented Sandra McLeod Humphrey. I am horribly behind in getting to this, and for that I apologize. Sorry Sandy!

If you have children in your life, or you’re just looking for inspiration in your day, you should head over to Sandy’s blog: www.kidscandoit.com/blog Sandy posts some of the best stories. They not only educate, they make me smile and often give me that nudge to keep persevering despite life’s challenges.

Now on to the award. First, here are the instructions I received:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award
2. Include a link to their blog.
3. Paste the award on your blog.
4. Share 7 things about yourself.
5. Pass this award on to as many as 15 blogs you enjoy reading and let them know about the award!

So, in the spirit of sharing, here are 7 things about me:

1. I’m a vegetarian.
2. I grew up in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.
3. I can’t stand the smell or taste of peanut butter.
4. I’m addicted to Starbuck’s chai tea latte.
5. I’ve been a huge Boston Bruins (hockey) fan since about the age of 12.
6. Despite spending most of my life around water, I am a terrible swimmer.
7. My favorite song is Drift Away by Dobie Gray, and has been my favorite since I first heard it in 1973 when I was 11 years old. In 2003, Uncle Kracker did a cover with Dobie Gray that is really good, though the original remains my favorite. (The hyperlinks will take you to the songs on YouTube.)

And now you have your fill of nonsense about me.

I’m passing this award on to some of my favorite people, who are also my favorite authors and bloggers. I only picked 5, because I’m short on time. The torch is now passed to:

1. Maria Savva for her Goodreads blog
2. Susan Helene Gottfried for her West of Mars blog
3. Sylvia Massara, for her blog Sylvia Says
4. J. Michael Radcliffe, for his blog Of Cats & Magic
5. RJ McDonnell, for his blog

Thanks for reading.

I’ve got two fun guests today! We’ll be talking about author Susan Helene Gottfried’s new book King Trevor. This is the sequel to her first novel, Trevor’s Song. You’ve probably guessed that one of my guests is Susan, this book’s author. The other guest has come strapped with attitude, so be prepared. His name is Trevor Wolff, otherwise known as King Trevor. By the way, for those of you unfamiliar with Trevor, he’s not called ‘King’ because he’s true royalty. He’s a rock star and the ‘King’ bit is all about his ego.

Before we get too involved with Trevor, here’s a brief introduction to his creator:

Susan Helene Gottfried is the author of ShapeShifter: The Demo Tapes — Year 1, ShapeShifter: The Demo Tapes — Year 2, Trevor’s Song, ShapeShifter: The Demo Tapes — Year 3, and King Trevor.

A tone-deaf rocker-at-heart, Susan worked in retail record stores, in radio stations, as stage crew, and as a promoter while earning two college degrees in creative writing.

You can connect with Susan in the following places:

Website: http://westofmars.com
Blog: http://westofmars.com/blog
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/WestofMars or @WestofMars
Facebook: www.facebook.com/WestofMarsFans

Now for a look at the book:

The aftermath of his onstage collapse has taken its toll on Trevor Wolff. He’s become a virtual shut-in, dependent on the people around him to help in his healing. To make matters worse, he might have hung up his bass for good.

This is not the Trevor Wolff way.

When Mitchell hatches a plan to turn Trevor into the official King of ShapeShifter, it sounds like bunk. However, when Mitchell finds the perfect building to repurpose, the Big Idiot hires the best architect around—the brother-in-law he’s never met. Trevor can’t help but smell secrets that awaken the person he used to be.

After all, there’s nothing Trevor Wolff likes more than intrigue—except maybe a chance to square off against his arch-nemesis: Mitchell’s wife, Kerri.

On to the fun part – a chat with Trevor and Susan. For those of you yet to meet Trevor, this is not him in a foul mood. This is him on a normal day.

Despite your status as King, much of this story revolves around Kerri. How do you feel about sharing your spotlight with her?

I’ll never like sharing anything with her, especially books with my name on them. And Mitchell. And the fucking dining room table. Or the table in the kitchen. Or… well, anything. That covers it, doesn’t it?

I do love your restraint.

Your illness and recovery process have prevented you from touring. Do you miss it?

Do you get paid to ask stupid questions? Of course I miss it; it was all I did for years. Now, there’s no one around to chase around with our rubber snake, or smack with one of those sticky hands, or … yeah. Go read the books. You can see the sort of fun I used to have. Wouldn’t you miss it?

Actually, I’m not getting paid to ask questions, stupid or otherwise. Maybe that’s the problem.

I’m sure you received lots of get well cards and gifts from fans. Do you have a favorite? Did anything stand out as funny or unusual?

Mitchell wouldn’t let me see anything that made it past management. Talk to him about it.

Leaving out your own music, what are the top 5 favorites on your playlist?

Bands you’ve never heard of because Trevor Wolff lives in a parallel universe that exists simply so Susan can make shit up without anyone getting pissed that she fucked up the details.

Ah, yes, how could I have forgotten?

Each of the characters in both Trevor’s Song and King Trevor has a distinct personality. What is your approach to character development?

I let them run around my brain and interact and come alive. Maybe I’m actually schizophrenic, but I doubt it. After all, the only thing I do that they tell me to is write down their activities.

Seriously, that’s the approach. I take a real-life situation or experience and drop my characters into it and say, “Go. What do YOU do?” Instead of putting myself on the characters, I like to step back and watch them do their thing.

You’re also a super talented professional editor. I know from experience that you keep all your suggestions true to the specific characters and storyline. I’m not an editor, but occasionally when I’m reading a story I find myself saying things like, I wouldn’t have gone that route. Do you find it difficult not to interject your own thoughts on where a story should go or how a character should react?

No, not really – I’ve been hired to do a specific job, so I focus on doing that job. However, I also work as a paid book reviewer for one of the big, long-time media outlets such as Kirkus or Publisher’s Weekly. When I read those books, I often yell at them. Not that it’s the book’s fault, but sometimes, all you can do is shoot the messenger.

You know I have to ask: Do you foresee a third book for Trevor?

Not at the present moment, although you’re not the first or last to have asked that question!

I think it will depend on how sales go. Right now, the books aren’t selling enough to justify the time spent on more Trevor instead of new characters, who will pull fresh people into my world.

If you could spend the day with any one rock star, who would you pick and why?

Okay, steel yourself for this answer. Most people automatically assume I am going to answer this by picking James Hetfield, the lead singer/rhythm guitarist of Metallica. After all, the Mighty Metallica is, far and above all else, my favorite band. Ever. I may even like them more than my own fictional creation, ShapeShifter. Maybe.

But to spend a day with someone? Dude. Gotta be Axl Rose.

Why? Because he’s effing nuts and equally as brilliant (I think). Because I want to know if the reality matches the version of W. Axl Rose that, over the years, I’ve created for myself.

I love Axl in all his craziness! But spending an entire day with him? I must be getting old because the prospect scares me a little!

Anything else you’d like to say?

On behalf of Trevor, I’d like to thank you, Darcia, for hosting us today!

Thank you, Susan and Trevor, for hanging out with us here!

Here are Susan’s books on Amazon, in both print and Kindle format:

Thanks for reading.

This month, I have 2 giveaways on my site!

My April Giveaway is winner’s choice! One winner will receive a signed, print copy of any of my eight titles. You can read excerpts from all the books and enter on my contest page: www.QuietFuryBooks.com/contests.html

Next, my BestsellerBound friends and I are having a BestsellerBound eBook Bonanza! We’re giving away 25 ebooks! We’ve broken it down into 5 prize groups of 5 ebooks each. Here’s a quick rundown:

Prize Group 1:
No Justice by Darcia Helle
The Dream by Maria Savva
Trevor’s Song by Susan Helene Gottfried
The Guardian’s Apprentice by J. Michael Radcliffe
Grey Engines by Gareth Lewis

Prize Group 2:
The Other Room by James Everington
Nexus Point by Jaleta Clegg
The Cutting Edge by Darcia Helle
The GNAW Project by Cynthia Meyers-Hanson
Broken Worlds by Gareth Lewis

Prize Group 3:
The Shelter by James Everington
Allegiances by Gareth Lewis
Into The Light by Darcia Helle
The Choice by Sydney S. Song
Second Chances by Maria Savva

Prize Group 4:
Recall! Return of the IRR by Doug DePew
To Hunt Monsters by Gareth Lewis
Miami Snow by Darcia Helle
Echo Falls by Jaime McDougall
Mom’s on the Roof and I Can’t Get Her Down by Cynthia Meyers-Hanson

Prize Group 5:
Blade Sworn by Gareth Lewis
Bloodstone: The Guardian’s Curse by J. Michael Radcliffe
His Story by Cynthia Meyers-Hanson
Hit List by Darcia Helle
Surreal – The Hell in the Family by Sydney S. Song

You can find more information on each book and author, and enter this giveaway on its contest page: www.QuietFuryBooks.com/bsbgiveaway.html

** These are 2 separate contest pages. I created a new contest page specifically for the BsB giveaway. You can enter both! **

Good luck!

It’s Read an E-Book Week! This event is a celebration of ebooks, designed to promote the advantages of electronic reading. You can find thousands of deals, from cheap to free! For information and links, go to the Read an E-Book Week website: www.ebookweek.com

Another site celebrating Read an E-Book Week is Smashwords. You can search for all the deals and download as many freebies as you like! To get you started, here’s a list of some great, free ebooks by BestsellerBound authors:

In a flooded world only small peaks dot the seas, with civilization confined to waterborne cities. Society is ruled by tyrannous bosses, enforcing their will with an army of thugs and Stoneweavers, those able to use the remnants of magic. Resources are conserved by selling the poor into slavery. With such a cleansing due, what danger do an escaped slave and thief pose to this fragile society?
www.smashwords.com/books/view/32209

Rax Darkthorn was the greatest Knowhound in Nexi, the thief-city, and one of the few to ever escape it. When a friend dies, he returns to learn what can kill a god, even one reduced to selling miracles on the Street of Lost Gods. A 7000 word fantasy short story.
www.smashwords.com/books/view/100727

BE inspired- by other people’s tragedies turned victories with HIS help- shared in this collection! This book shares miracle encounters, Christian near death experiences (NDE), and other Heavenly revelations. Meet some angels as well as real life people as they take you through this book on their inspirational journeys!
www.smashwords.com/books/view/69525

This project becomes a vehicle to publicize the plight of some USA kids that need free or reduced breakfasts as well as lunches and dinners. *** My students at SHS call their efforts The GNAW Project, which stands for Granola bars, Nuts, Apple sauce, and Water to be purchased and given to their peers in need.
www.smashwords.com/books/view/109473

A collection of seven short stories, each one based on a different colour of the rainbow. The stories are diverse in style, and the characters, although fictional, are true-to-life. There is something for everyone in this inspired collection.
www.smashwords.com/books/view/113118

James has a top job, dream house, two healthy children, and a wife who always stands by him. These things, James can rely on, until one day, when everything changes, and he realises that he has spent so long looking towards the future, that he has neglected the present. Pamela has taken their two children and left him, leaving nothing but a brief note. How far will James go to save his marriage?
www.smashwords.com/books/view/89923

A seventy-five year old secret waits in a lovely old portrait studio, at the end of a street in New York City’s Lower East Side. It is a secret that drove to madness a renowned photographer, ‘Papa’ Menashe Reisman – and left him to waste and die in his own studio – haunted by every photograph he tries to take. A young Dutch girls haunts those photos. A girl who should not have died.
www.smashwords.com/books/view/24533

While the Earth wonders at the spectacular aurora that suddenly appears, a single physicist struggles to understand why every satellite in orbit has just moved. Only after exhausting work does he realize; he has witnessed a wandering black hole, it could undo the very structure of the Solar System itself. But when? What damage will it do before it meets its own end?
www.smashwords.com/books/view/25033

Eighteenth century priest, Furio Novia, hates sculptor, Antonio Lisi. But, he secretly desires Lisi’s daughter, Anoria. She may be the last great Italian Renaissance master sculptor – she can feel figures in untouched marble, but has never carved. When she learns what she can do, she also learns of Novia’s desires; he will do anything to possess her – she will nearly kill him to remain free.
www.smashwords.com/books/view/24636

They came from cities, farms, and towns all across the country. They had long hair, beards, and bad attitudes. They dropped everything in January of 1991 and reported as the president ordered. They were not happy about it one bit. In this true story, the author relates his experiences as one of 20,000 people recalled to active duty in support of Operation Desert Storm. This is exactly how it was.
www.smashwords.com/books/view/80793

A band’s demo tape is intended to introduce listeners to their music. Likewise, this collection of short pieces allows readers into the fictional world of Trevor Wolff and his band, ShapeShifter. From the day Trevor and Mitchell meet to the pinnacle of success, these loosely linked stories will let you hang with a rock band. Vive la Trevolution!
www.smashwords.com/books/view/3815

The Demo Tapes: Year 1 introduced the reading public to ShapeShifter and the two men behind this fictional band: Trevor Wolff and Mitchell Voss. The Demo Tapes: Year 2 brings you more of the short fiction that brings these people to vivid life. Year 2 delves more deeply into love, friendships, and the inside workings of ShapeShifter. Vive la Trevolution!
www.smashwords.com/books/view/3909

Lynne’s dad often takes her shopping with him at a high-end men’s boutique. Lynne likes to sit at the feet of the mannequin in the window and dream of what he’d be like if he were real. One day, a stranger walks in. For Lynne, nothing will be the same ever again.
www.smashwords.com/books/view/52422

Stranded on a primitive world, betrayed by her crew, facing death at the hands of the natives, hunted by drug smugglers, Captain Dace has one hope of survival – convince the Patrol agent trying to kill her that she’s innocent. But on Dadilan, no one is innocent.
www.smashwords.com/books/view/10672

Author Sharon E. Cathcart presents ten short stories of various genres, each taking place in a different location. With subject matter ranging from paranormal to historical fiction, urban fantasy to literary fiction, there is something in this sampler for everyone.
www.smashwords.com/books/view/88235

Author Sharon E. Cathcart started 2010 with two resolutions: take more exercise and learn French cookery. Instead, she found herself on a journey of personal growth as she rose to unanticipated challenges.
www.smashwords.com/books/view/39199

During her teenage years, author Sharon E. Cathcart dreamed of working in the music business. She lived that dream for seven years, beginning at age 18. Unfortunately, she learned that sometimes dreams turn quickly to nightmares.
www.smashwords.com/books/view/29513

Author Sharon E. Cathcart (“In The Eye of The Beholder,” “Les Pensees Dangereuses”) presents a sampler of essays and short fiction. The collection features “Heart of Stone,” a short story never previously published.
www.smashwords.com/books/view/15991

Part autobiography and part inspiration, “Les Pensees Dangereuses” (French for “dangerous thoughts”) is a series of essays on friendship, spirituality, education, bullying, animals, clinical depression and more. Author Sharon E. Cathcart (“In The Eye of The Beholder”) shares her thoughts, including an unfinished autobiography, “Unmasking My Phantoms: My Dance With Madness,” in this new book.
www.smashwords.com/books/view/4319

When French equestrian Claire Delacroix loses her fiance in a tragic accident, she comes to live at the Paris Opera during its 1890s heyday. Whilst working at the opera, she meets a mysterious, masked stranger: Erik. Is it possible that the two of them will heal the pain of each other’s past?
www.smashwords.com/books/view/2163

Our 3 BestsellerBound Anthologies, which are always free:

www.smashwords.com/books/view/62029

www.smashwords.com/books/view/78449

www.smashwords.com/books/view/107763

And finally, a couple of my own:

Quiet Fury is a state of being that we’ve all experienced; calm on the surface, rage bubbling underneath. These stories explore each individual’s breaking point. Which will win, the Quiet or the Fury?
www.smashwords.com/books/view/100003

When the abused decide to fight back, the abuser’s world might just shatter. Lauren Covington’s family maintains a grand facade that hides the private abuse they suffer at the hands of her father. Jesse Ryder, a private detective, steps into that world and, in the process, falls in love with Lauren. Together, Lauren and Jesse dodge death and expose the truth behind the facade.
www.smashwords.com/books/view/3957

Thanks for reading.

Did you get a new Kindle for Christmas? I got the Kindle Fire and love it! (Yes, I’m spoiled. ) If you’ve got a new reader – or an old one – and you’re looking to fill it up, here are some of my favorite ebooks from this year:

This is geared toward the YA market but can be enjoyed by readers of all ages. Our heroine is a teenager, struggling through all the things we all deal with in high school, while also trying to understand her powerful psychic powers. There is much to love about this book and Stacy’s writing.

At some point in our life, we all wonder what it would happen if we could go back in time and change one detail, one decision, one thing about our past. Maria Savva explores this and more in this fun and insightful story.

A perfect mix of historical fiction with a paranormal twist, this is a beautiful story of love and hope.

This is a thriller with substance. Not only did this book keep me on edge (I couldn’t turn pages fast enough!), but it also has an incredibly thought-provoking issues throughout.

This novella is part horror, part paranormal. James knows how to weave a tale and he sucked me right into this one.

Do you like short stories? How about edgy, dark fiction that holds nothing back when showing the not-so-pretty side of life? If you said yes to these questions, you’ll love Joe Schwartz.

This is the third and most gripping book in RJ’s Rock & Roll Mystery Series. You don’t have to read the first two in order to enjoy this one, though you might want to read them just because they’re good.

A powerful story told from the viewpoint of a young woman who’d been sold into the sex slave. This is fiction that reads like nonfiction – and, sadly, stories just like this one are truly taking place all over the world, right this minute. Sibel tells this important tale with talent and grace.

An Urban Fantasy, this vampire tale has a different spin than the typical story. Vampires and werewolves are at war. Can love cross boundaries, conquer prejudices? Gareth explores this and more, while keeping readers on edge.

Charlie Courtland’s mind is twisted and it shows in this book! This one has some graphic scenes, though they belong in the story and aren’t there for shock value. Mixed in with the creepiness is a great amount of humor. If you want to laugh and gasp, this one’s for you.

I am a sucker for characters that make me forget they aren’t real and Marty Beaudet creates them with flare. This is a psychological thriller, a mystery, and a suspense story, with a multi-layered plot and aspects that will leave you thinking about things long after you’ve read the last page.

One old man, a park bench, and revenge. The end made me cringe – but I live for that twisted stuff.

Reading anything by Joel is an unforgettable experience. In this book, we’re taken back to 18th century Italy, where we meet a young woman who teaches us what it means to truly follow your passion.

Meet Trevor Wolff, rock star with a bad boy image and a spirit struggling to soar. Susan knows about the rock world and that knowledge shows in her writing.

I could not stop reading. This is a thriller with nonstop action and characters that make you want to jump into the book to save them. Blake Crouch is phenomenal talent.

And if you still have room, you can always check out my books. You’ll find them all in the carousel to the left.

To discover more indie authors and their books, check out the ‘BsB Kindle Store‘ The link is always to the right, under the ‘Blogroll’ heading. And we add to it continually, so check back often!

Whatever your reading preferences, I hope lots of books fill your new year.

Thanks for reading.

My message board, the indie author/reader community BestsellerBound, is celebrating its first anniversary!

Or is it a first birthday?

Either way, it’s exciting news! BestsellerBound has grown into an incredible community. I am astounded at the talent of the authors. And, even better, they are truly among the nicest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of calling friends.

Celebrations need prizes, right? Of course! In honor of our anniversary/birthday event, a bunch of our members have gotten together to offer their books to interested readers. We have 11 prizes – 10 ebooks and 1 very special, not yet released, print book. Here is the list:

1 coupon code for a free ebook copy of The Dream by Maria Savva from Smashwords

1 coupon code from Smashwords for free ebook copy of any one title by Darcia Helle

The Choice by Sydney S. Song (my pen name for fiction, only) from Smashwords giving free e-book coupon

1 coupon code from Smashwords for free ebook copy of Echo Falls by Jaime McDougall

1 coupon code from Smashwords for free ebook copy of any one title by Gareth Lewis

1 coupon code from Smashwords for free ebook copy of The Other Room by James Everington

1 coupon code from Smashwords for free ebook copy of any one title by Susan Helene Gottfried

1 coupon code from Smashwords for free ebook copy of Nexus Point by Jaleta Clegg

1 coupon code from Smashwords for a free eBook copy of 2010 Hindsight: A Year of Personal Growth, In Spite of Myself by Sharon E. Cathcart

1 coupon code from Smashwords for a free eBook copy of Caraliza and also Breathing into Stone by Joel Kirkpatrick

and…

1 free hardbound, signed copy of Joel’s secret 5th novel, shipped the week it is released.

Want a chance to win? All you have to do is leave a comment here, with a valid email address. You need to be 16 years or older and can live anywhere in the world.

Want a few more chances to win? Five other BestsellerBound authors are also running features on their blogs. Visit each one and leave a comment. You’ll receive one entry for each blog you comment on. Here is the list of participating authors, along with the link to their blog post:

Maria Savva: www.goodreads.com/author/show/1418272.Maria_Savva/blog

Cynthia Meyers-Hanson: http://mchanson714.blogspot.com/2011/09/year-anniversary-celebration.html

Susan Helene Gottfried: http://westofmars.com/2011/09/06/its-the-bestseller-bound-birthday

Jaime McDougall: www.inkyblots.com/bestseller-bound-turns-one-giveaway

Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick: www.thetaleisthething.blogspot.com

The deadline for entry on all the blogs is midnight on Saturday, September 17. Winners will be notified via email, so please be sure to include a valid email address in your comment. The only other rule is that you need to be 16 or older.

Good luck!

A week or so ago, I was challenged by a friend – author Jason McIntyre – to carry on a blog meme. He’d written a blog post called Writing is like… and I was one of three authors he’d tagged to continue on with this analogy. If you are familiar with Jason’s writing, you’ll know that following him is a daunting task. Head on over to his blog The Farthest Reaches to read his post and you’ll see what I’m up against here.

Okay, now bear with me as I wander into unchartered territory and complete my challenge.

Writing is like giving birth to and raising a child.

Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. ~ Elizabeth Stone

During my pregnancies with both of my sons, I spent endless hours wondering what they would look and sound like. What would their personalities be? Would they love reading or race cars? What would they do with their lives and what kind of people would they turn out to be?

The spark of an idea is like that for me. Stories need characters. Who will they be? What will they look like? Where will they go and what will they do?

When my sons were born, they looked and sounded the way they were meant to. I couldn’t change that, even if I’d wanted to. My characters are like that. People think I invent my characters and make them who I want them to be. I don’t. They just happen. They pop into my head and say, “Hello, there. I’m Max (or Michael, Corinne, Nick, etc.). Let me tell you about myself.”

Then we go through that toddler stage together. With my kids, I had this ridiculous notion that I could help shape them into the adults they’d become. Anthony, my oldest, carried full conversations before the age of two and got angry with anyone who dared use “baby talk” with him. He was and still is impatient with life. Joe has always been the one to sit back and watch. He often seems as if he’s in his own world, oblivious to things, but the amount of information he absorbs is astounding. I’d love to take credit for their best qualities and blame their father for their worst. The truth is, I had little to do with the men they turned out to be. They came into this world with a purpose and are busy finding that direction for themselves.

I go through the toddler stage with my characters, as well. I try to force them into a direction that I think is best for them. They dig their feet in, as I drag them along. I stick one in a suit behind a desk and he balks at me. He belongs in jeans with a hammer in his hand. Another is supposed to be secondary to the story, goofy, a sort of comic relief. He grabs his leading man outfit and stomps out to center stage. No way is he comic relief in anyone’s story.

Next we go through that initial stage of letting go. With my sons, that came with kindergarten. That first day that each of them climbed on the big yellow bus by himself. I wanted to go with them, hold their hands, explain who they were to the teacher, help them make friends and protect them from the bullies. I couldn’t do that and, ultimately, they didn’t need me to.

With each book, the kindergarten stage is that first time I send a manuscript out to a beta reader or two. I want to hold on to those pages, be right there during the reading experience. I want to explain the characters to the reader, tell her all the things she doesn’t know and might not learn in that story. I want to protect my characters from the reader who might not like or understand them.

Like my children, the beta reader doesn’t need me. The reader and my book need to find their own way, just as my children did with their teachers and new friends.

The manuscript comes back to me, as my children did after school each day. I take the critique from the beta reader, I make a few changes, perform the edits. The characters fit into their story and the guidance needed from me is minimal.

Finally, we come to that point when I must set my creations free. With my children, that was both heartbreaking and exhilarating. I want them to be safe, happy, successful. I miss the babies they were but love the men they’ve become.

This is how I feel about my characters. Once their stories are complete, I need to set them free in the world and hope they will do well. As with my children, not everyone will like them. Not everyone will care who they are or take the time to get to know them. The best I can hope for, with my children and my characters, is that they make an impact on the people they interact with. That they know they matter, they are important. That the very fact that they exist makes life a little better, a little different, for someone out there.

There are two lasting bequests we can give our children. One is roots. The other is wings. ~ Hodding Carter, Jr.

Now, to keep this meme flowing, I must pass the torch to three writer friends. Hopefully, they will not hate me for long.

Stacy Juba, because I’m envious of her organizational skills and I’m hoping to learn something.

Susan over at West of Mars, because she has rock stars living in her head and I want to know what it’s like to write with all that noise.

Alexander Zoltai, because he has a unique way of seeing the world and I believe his analogy will be enlightening.

Stacy, Susan and Alexander, the torch is now yours to carry.

Thanks for reading.

Welcome to another Tell me one thing… feature! Today’s guest is Trevor Wolff, from Susan Helene Gottfried’s novel Trevor’s Song. Trevor is a bass player in a group called Shapeshifter and he can also be found in Susan’s novellas Shapeshifter: The Demo Tapes – Year 1 and Shapeshifter: The Demo Tapes – Year 2. For those of you who have yet to meet Trevor, I should warn you to use caution before stepping into the mindfield that is his world. Trevor has a *bit* of an issue with language. He likes the colorful kind.

Trevor’s letter is E. I gave him ten words and he will now tell us one thing about himself that fits each word. Trevor, the stage is yours…

So Darcia came back over to me, giving me those puppy dog eyes that never work when Mitchell tries it, but Darcia being a girl and having those never-ending curves and soft places that girls have, so it worked. A little bit. Why she won’t go chase Mitchell or Daniel around, since they’re the official spokesidiots for ShapeShifter, I don’t know. Darcia seems to think Trevor here is the shit.

She’s right.

But I still hate doing this interview shit. Mitchell and Daniel are way better at it. And Eric? He was all over this one. Said it was perfect for him, since his name starts with the letter E and all.

Which, of course, is the reason why I stepped up. Can’t let Soul Boy there have fun. Any fun. Except for that church stuff. THAT he can have. He can have his own, and then come back for mine, too.

Trevor, excuse me for interrupting, but puppy dog eyes? Guess I screwed that up. I was aiming for bedroom eyes. Now let’s get to the part where you spill some secrets. Tell me one thing about you that is:

Easygoing:

Baby, there IS no easygoing with Trevor Fucking Wolff. It’s full-steam-ahead all day, every day.

Exceptional:

Everything. Every-last-thing. Trevor Wolff is as exceptional as it gets. I am exceptional brought real and in your face. And then I’m better than that.

Enviable:

There’s some ShapeShifter fans out there who’d tell you my bass playing isn’t enviable. But want to know a secret? I’m the one up there on that stage. They’re not. They’re usually up in the cheap seats, the shitty ones we put on sale at 10AM the morning of the show ’cause we decided to get greedy and sell the seats mostly behind the stage that gives you a great view of the backdrop and not much else. Makes Eric crazy that we do it, and even Mitchell and Daniel have complained about it, but we keep getting told it’s the record company and really, when you look at shit like that, why the fuck does anyone need a record company any more? This is the age of iTunes, baby.

Besides, how many of you out there remember what a record is? Or how it sounds?

Yeah. Vinyl had some serious things going for it.

Embarrassing:

Please. Things only embarrass you if you let them. And since nothing bothers me — or so says Rusty — I never get embarrassed. Or do anything to be embarrassed by.

Having her on the same tour bus with me is a pretty damn close call, though. I mean, I’m Trevor Wolff. You think I don’t have an image to maintain? And that someone like Rusty doesn’t hurt the cause?

Engrossing:

This is what Darcia will be saying about me come tomorrow morning.

Embellished:

Now, people will tell you that the tales floating around out there in the world about me are embellished. They’re not. Nothing about Trevor Wolff is. Unlike Rusty, it’s all real. It’s the only way to be.

Emotional:

Being emotional’s a waste of time. Think about it. You get all worked up about something and instead of fixing it or making progress to what you’re supposed to be busy doing, you sit around and … *emote*. What a fucking waste of time. Life’s too short to sit around and waste on emotion. Go fucking live already.

Entertaining:

Let’s go somewhere private and I’ll show you. You’ll be entertained. I guarantee it. If I took money for my time alone with you, I’d offer your money back if you weren’t satisfied. Shit, I don’t swap greenbacks with the girls who DO charge for it. I’m THAT good.

Enticing:

Yeah, yeah. I know. You get one look at me, at this thanks-to-Hank nose and the scrawny chest and the fact I only gotta shave once a week and you wonder why there’s six girls attached to each ankle, begging for an hour with me. And you don’t get it.

Come closer.

You will.

Extravagant:

Like I said, baby. Life’s too short. Want that second scoop of ice cream? Go for it. Want this, want that. If you’ve got the money, what the fuck are you waiting for? If you don’t got the money, quit mooning about that and go find it. Make it happen. Life’s for the living, so get out there and live.

And Darcia, before I go? This was WAY smarter of you than that stupid blog post you got your nose out of joint over. See? I told you. Trevor’s worth the wait.

Thank you for all that insight, Trevor. As always, you’ve been highly entertaining.

Thanks for reading!

Welcome to another day of quirky questions! Joining me today are two writers of rock fiction, though each has a style uniquely his/her own. RJ McDonnell writes the Rock & Roll Mystery Series and Susan Helene Goffried takes us behind the scenes with Trevor and his band ShapeShifter.

You can read one person’s mind for an entire day. Who will you choose and why?

If I could read one person’s mind for one day it would belong to Apple CEO, Steve Jobs. No, I’m not one of those techies who want to know how everything works. I don’t own a Mac, iPhone, or iPad. I wouldn’t even be interested in the Being John Malcovich experience to get hot stock tips. When your stock is already #1, how much hotter can it get? I’d sign on for a Vulcan Mind Meld with Steve for one reason, and one reason only: to learn how he is able to focus so clearly on the wants and needs of so many, so far in advance.

As the author of a mystery series, I’m required to look down the road a ways myself. I’m currently finishing the third novel in my Rock & Roll Mystery Series. The original concept for this novel came to me while I was on a walk in 2004. At the time I had written the first draft of my first novel, Rock & Roll Homicide, and had an outline for #2. I had no idea if the first two would be completed, let alone published, and even less of a clue about the obstacles they lie ahead.

Imagine what it must have been like for Steve Jobs, the head of a computer company that held a microscopic portion of market share as little as ten years ago. Instead of just building a better mouse trap he asked, “What would happen if we could get the mice dancing?” and he came up with the iPod. Then he applied his technology to the telecommunications industry. But, instead of cordoning off his invention with Keep Out signs, he invited the inventors/developers of the world to offer applications that continually build on the technology.

One criticism that authors try to avoid like the stomach flu of 2011 is the label of formulaic writing. Readers and critics hate predictable plots and stereotypical characters. Yet, in this era of fewer bookstores and more competition, many authors feel the need to stick with what’s been successful in the past. The result is frequently a diluted gene pool of ideas. If only a bit of the Steve Jobs creativity and foresight could be infused into many of our favorite authors.

I’m not only a writer, but also an avid reader. An alternative that I’ve been turning to frequently involves sampling the writing of indie authors. I was recently asked to submit the first chapter of one of my books to an Anthology assembled by fellow author Joel Kirkpatrick. Over twenty authors made contributions. After reading the Anthology I added seven books to my reading list.

Would Steve Jobs read his 25th James Patterson novel, or would he search for original ideas and original voices? Although I believe I know the answer to that question, I’d still love to spend a day in his incredibly creative mind if only to experience how he can conceptualize such unique ways of blending his past with the wants and needs of the future.

RJ McDonnell is the author of the Premier Book Awards 2010 Mystery/Thriller of the Year, Rock & Roll Rip-Off. Sample chapters may be found at www.rjmcdonnell.com.

Next, I asked Susan Helene Gottfried:

If your life had a theme song, what would it be? Please share a bit of the lyrics and what they mean to you.

Well, there are the obvious two: Tesla’s Little Suzi and Van Morrison’s Brown-Eyed Girl. No lyrics needed there; the song titles tell you all you need to know.

When I’m being cynical, there’s Metallica’s Master of Puppets: Master/Master/Where’s the dreams that I’ve been after?/Master/Master/You promised only lies.

That one took on special significance once I earned my MASTER of Fine Arts degree in creative writing. That was just about the time when universities were starting to demand even their creative writing faculty have a PhD, rather than the terminal (meaning no PhD required) MFA.

But overall… I don’t know. As much as I love music and apply bits and pieces of it to my life on a moment-by-moment basis, there’s no one song that sums it all up. It’s been too big so far, my life. (And I hope it’s going to get even bigger yet.) Way too big for one song.

So there are three. But check with me in ten more minutes. I bet I’ll have five more…

Susan couldn’t stop writing long enough to follow the path to a career in the music business. Readers everywhere are glad. You can find Susan rocking out over at: www.WestofMars.com

Here’s a look at RJ and Susans books on Amazon, in both print and Kindle format:

Thanks for reading!