Interview with book reviewer Kira Tregoning

 

Welcome to Up Around the Corner, Kira. Could you tell us a little about yourself and what led you to become a book reviewer?

Hi! Well, I’m an author, a musician, a horseback rider, and major book fan. I graduated from the University of Maryland with degrees in Linguistics and Classics. Mythology is one of my favorite subjects, I could talk about mythology all day long. Being such a big fan of books and writing a few myself, it just seemed like a logical extension to start reviewing them. So one day I started up a blog called Magic, Dragons, and Other Fantastical Reads and started reviewing some of the fantasy books I had on my shelves. And it grew from there!

Is there a particular mythology (Greek, Norse, Irish, Japanese, etc.) that is your favorite? If so, what about it captured your imagination?

Probably the Greeks. I was introduced to Greek myths first, thanks to a wonderful picture book given to me by a friend. Sadly, I don’t have it any more and don’t remember the title, but I remember it had some beautiful artwork. Then it was the Roman myths, and after that came Native American mythology and then all the rest. I think what I like about the Greek myths is the drama and humanity of the deities and the stories. The myths are so vibrant and dramatic that I think it’s hard not to get lost in them.

How do you determine what books to read and review for your blog, be they from your shelf, what you come across online or in a bookstore, or receive via a review request from an author or publisher?

First, there’s always the question of genre. I have had a few requests from various folks asking me to review their books, but their work didn’t fall in a genre I would accept. I normally read just about anything (except horror or thriller), but for my blog, I focus only on fantasy, science fiction, and sometimes historical fiction, and that’s it. So if the genre is right, then I’ll read a synopsis of the book to decide whether it’s something I would be interested in. If it is, great! I read and write a review if I like it. I generally don’t ever write a review for something I didn’t like, especially if it’s for an indie author. If I don’t have any pending requests from authors or agents, I’ll choose something off my shelf. I have some 300 books, most of which are fantasy, so I’m unlikely to run out of choices anytime soon!

Most readers understand a good story and engaging characters result in a positive review. But, what, in a novel, can really make it sparkle for you? Conversely, what about a novel would cause you to put it down?

Hmm, good question. The characters are always important for me. If I don’t feel connected to or interested in the characters, I’m probably not going to like the book. But it also needs a good plot and good pacing. If I get bogged down in the middle because all of the action takes place at the beginning and end, I’m going to get bored. I rarely stop reading a book because I’m always looking for the redeeming qualities and I’m always hoping it gets better, but if by the end I feel like the plot wasn’t engaging or interesting enough or the pacing wasn’t well done, then I’m going to feel like the book isn’t very good. But when I read one that is paced well with moments of action interspersed throughout and has a good plot, I’m more likely to overlook other flaws because I’m constantly being engaged by the story. That’s really what I’m looking for—something that I don’t want to put down, even if perhaps the grammar needs work or there are typos here and there. Being pulled into the story makes me more willing to overlook surface flaws.

With that information, could you list several of your favorite novels, and what would be a novel that recently stood out among those you reviewed for your blog?

I just finished one that I beta read for. It was fantastic, with excellent characters and a very inventive plot. If I knew the final title, I would happily share it with you, but I’m not sure the title is decided on. Some favorite novels of mine are Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith, the Cast in Shadow series by Michelle Sagara, and the Fairy Godmother series by Mercedes Lackey. As for standout novels I’ve reviewed, I haven’t done any book reviews lately because I’ve been booked completely for beta reads. But a novel I reviewed that I really liked was Dragon Touched by E. W. Scott. Very creative and captivating, and I’m looking forward to reading it again.

Some readers that visit Up Around the Corner might not know what a beta reader is. Could you describe what beta reading is, including what you, as a beta reader, do and what responsibilities you have?

Sure! Beta reading is sort of like beta testing (a term used in computer and software production). Beta reading is when an author will release a finalized manuscript to a select group of readers. These readers aren’t necessarily good friends, unless those good friends can be completely honest and comfortable in giving constructive criticism. It’s usually better to have your beta reader be a stranger or an acquaintance. The readers then read the manuscript and give the author their feedback. The author can then take the feedback and make final changes to the book before publishing it or sending to an editor for a final review and proofread. Beta reading is usually one of the last stages in the publishing process. It’s a very valuable step because the author gets real feedback from unbiased parties and gets to see how the story is received by actual readers before the book is placed on the market. As a beta reader, I comment on plot, characters, pacing, grammar and punctuation, word usage, my reactions to events or characters, and more in an effort to help the author see how someone with fresh eyes views and interprets their work.

When reading and reviewing, do you have a preference (ebook, print book or audiobook)? If so, what gives one an edge over another?

I always prefer paperbacks, no question. Ebooks are easier when traveling and I can take a large selection with me on an ereader without weighing down my suitcase, but that’s probably the only time I prefer ebooks. I’ve never particularly liked audiobooks. I can’t listen to them in the car because it’s too easy for me to fall asleep with an audiobook on. I have nothing against audiobooks, they just aren’t my cup of tea. Paperbacks are my favorite. There’s something special about holding a book in your hands and feeling the paper as you turn the pages. It makes the experience feel more real to me, if that makes sense. I’m more easily immersed in the story when I read a print book versus an ebook.

As we’re closing in on the end of the interview, Kira, is there anything else you’d like to add or share?

Sure! I’m starting a new feature on the blog called the Self-Published Author List. It’s a list of all the popular self-published authors. The criteria for what makes an author “popular” are listed at the top of the page. I’m open to suggestions from readers for authors to include, so I would love to hear from people with names! Also, I have two fantasy novels available on Amazon and Smashwords that I wrote and published: Rise of the Aligerai and A Shadowed Soul. They’re the first two in a series and the first book is free, so everyone should check them out!

That sounds interesting, Kira.

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions.

Thank you for inviting me.

Here are a few links where you can find out more about Kira and some about her own published works:

Fantastical Reads Review Blog

Kira's Author Website: The World of Cora Website

Book 1: The Rise of Aligeria

Book 2: A Shadowed Soul

 

Interview with author Ashley Knight

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Could you tell us a little about yourself & your writing?

Myself: 

I'm a Brit living in America, married to the love of my life with two little girls. We currently live in Idaho. A singer, writer, reader, ex-model, guitarist, professional mermaid, publisher, scuba-diver, gymnast, rodeo queen, horse rider, swimmer, actor, poet, - you could say I've lived a few lives!

My writing:

My writing always tends to have a touch of fantasy in it. I hope that my readers are able to escape their daily lives & become involved with my characters. If I can wrap them up in my world & they've enjoyed it, I have been successful! 

How did your mermaiding come about & how has it influenced your writing?

My first three books (Fins, Fathom, Forever) were a trilogy about mer-folk. I've loved mermaids since I was five when I saw Splash! I wanted to encourage readers to bring their children to my book signings and thought it might be a good idea to have a mermaid there. After the first year of book signings I thought "What better way to live out my dream of being a mermaid then to mermaid on the side and promote my books at the same time?" It grew from there and soon I was working with aquariums and water parks and opened a business as The Mermaid Lady. 

Can you share a little bit with us about your most recently published work?

My latest published book is FALWYN, a contemporary fantasy fiction tale:

When Dad decides to get in touch with his inner hippy and move from the bustling city of LA to the sticks of Northern Idaho, Lara Dupree resigns herself to a fate worse than death. But a freak encounter introduces the mysterious Draven who is anything but normal and Lara is thrust into a dangerous reality where legends are real, omens become fact and nothing is ever what it seems. Pushed beyond anything she has ever experienced, Lara discovers an inner strength far surpassing her expectations and with it, grave consequences. With the balance of several worlds dangling about them, the two are forced to make decisions that will change them forever. Will everything Lara loves be sacrificed, or will her life become the fairytale she so desperately desires?

What inspired you to become a writer, and what is one of the things that surprised you most in the process?

My mother inspired me to write at a very young age. It was her enthusiasm & support that helped me pursue my passions. 

My first book was quickly accepted by the very first publishing company I contacted. I was surprised that anyone thought my writing was good enough to be published! I honestly didn't believe that I would become a published author.  The fact that people still buy those first few books is, of course, fantastic and such a compliment, but I'm still surprised every day! 

What is one of the most challenging or difficult lessons you’ve learned as an author? 

I welcome constructive criticism but when it is blatantly obvious that someone has not read my book and still writes a review, I take it personally. It is very difficult for me to separate myself from that. 

Name one of your novels and list five words that best describe it.

Fins: descriptive, beautiful, exciting, magical & fun! 

What’s one novel that you’ve read and enjoyed, and has stayed with you? Why do you believe it has?

London Macabre by Steven Savile. 

It is beautifully written - sumptuous and dripping with the most descriptive scenes - it completely sucked me in and every time I read it I find myself transported away. It is one of my favorite books. 

What can readers expect from you in the future?

I have just opened a publishing company - Checkmate Press! In addition to re-printing The FINS Trilogy FALWYN, I am publishing a daily devotional titled "Seeking God". 

I am also co-authoring a book with a dear friend of mine. Five - a thriller about a soldier returning from Afghanistan will be next & after that, there are children's books lined up. 

Checkmate Press will be accepting submissions in the Spring. 

Thank you for the taking the time to answer my questions, Ashley.

Thank you for a fun interview!

Below is a list of places you can find out more about Ashley Knight and her works:

Links:

www.checkmatepress.com

"Checkmate Press" on Facebook 

Ashley L Knight's Amazon Page

Interview with Thriller Author Sean Ellis

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Welcome to Up Around the Corner, Sean. Could you tell us a little about yourself and your writing?

I love escapist fiction. As far back as I can remember I was drawn to science fiction and fantasy, but when I saw the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark, I was sucked into the gravity well of high adventure—particularly stories involving the search for lost treasure. I devoured everything from King Solomon’s Mines to Michael Crichton’s Congo, and along the way, discovered Clive Cussler’s novels. I think the appeal to me, as a kid, was the possibility that I could be one of those heroes…a Quatermain, Indy, or a Dirk Pitt. I might never be able to pilot a space fighter or slay a dragon, but finding a lost city or a sunken pirate ship? That could happen right?

Writing those daydreams out was always a part of it as well. When the school assignment was to ‘write a story about…’ I was all over that. I definitely always knew that I wanted to write, and by the time I finished high school, I was actively trying to find a way to make it a career.

I’ve had my fair share of missteps and false starts, but I guess that was the path I had to follow to get where I am. I’ve got a ton of student loan debt, and a degree that I would love to use, but I’d rather write stories and there’s only so many hours in the day. That’s the lesson life is trying to teach us. That thing you’ve always dreamed of doing? Stick with it. I wish I had realized that thirty years ago.

In addition to writing novels on your own (so to speak), you’ve collaborated with other authors. As you see it, what are the benefits and the additional challenges to writing as a co-author?

The new reality of mainstream publishing is branding. Bestselling authors are a sure thing, and publishers know that they will make more money putting out, say ten new Patterson novels, than they would releasing ten novels from relative unknowns. The bottom line for aspiring authors, particularly in genre fiction, is that it is now even less likely that a mainstream publisher will take a chance on you. At the same time, there are so many other options that many new authors (and quite a few cast off mid-list veterans) are skipping the traditional route, and doing quite well with independent publishing alternatives. I’m somewhere in between. I have my reservations about traditional publishing, but I’m not ready to throw in the towel on it. I think collaboration is a valid path to success, and I’m not being cynical about that. The process isn’t much different from an apprenticeship, and who wouldn’t want to work with a master of the craft?

I’m in a slightly different category than the guys working with the bestsellers. The books I’m co-authoring aren’t being published by mainstream houses, but the authors I’m working with are hugely successful in indie publishing. Jeremy Robinson, with whom I’ve written several Chess Team/Jack Sigler novels as well as the original stand-alone thriller Flood Rising, is a traditionally published author, but the books I’ve written with him are indie published. What that means is that the books aren’t going to be in brick and mortar stores, but digital sales will be very strong, and as a direct result, I’m getting new readers for many of my own titles because people who read ebooks tend to read A LOT of ebooks, and they’re always looking for a new favorite author.

I’ve been very lucky in that the authors I’ve worked with give me a lot of freedom when it comes to using their characters. I do try to stay faithful to spirit and style of the original works, but sometimes you have to bow to the creator’s expectations as well as the audience’s.

Can you share a little bit with us about your most recently published work?

The timing on that question couldn’t be better. I wrote a total of five novels in 2014, and only one of them was not a collaboration. As luck would have it, the most recent book is that solo project, Descendant, the second book in the Dark Trinity/Mira Raiden adventures. It’s very much in the vein of the Tomb Raider video games or the Rogue Angel novels. The series chronicles the adventures of Mira Raiden, who has precognitive abilities and an on-again/off-again relationship with the CIA. The first book, Ascendant, kicked off with Mira (freshly booted from the CIA) using her unique abilities to locate an outpost of Atlantis, and with it, a dangerous relic called the Trinity. The second book picks up where Ascendant, left off and sees our heroine swept up in a search to find TWO (count ‘em) lost cities of legend—Shambala a.k.a Shangri La, and Lemuria, often called the Atlantis of the Pacific. Lots of crazy action in these books, as well as some crazy history, science and magic.

What inspired you to become a writer, and what is one of the things that has surprised you most in the process?

One of the things that really inspired me early on was on the ‘about the author’ page in one of Clive Cussler’s early novels. It talked about how Cussler spends his spare time looking for shipwrecks and lost gold mines. That sounded perfect to me. If I became a professional adventure novelist, then I could travel and have real adventures, all in the name of research.

I guess the biggest surprise is that I finally made it…sort of. I’m not exactly where I dreamed of being, but the very fact that I’m now able to write full time seems almost too good to be true.

If you had the opportunity to sit down with any three individuals for dinner (living or deceased), who would they be, where would you dine, and what would you hope to discuss?

Let’s go with Marco Polo, Jesus, and Dan “D.B.” Cooper. Marco, because there are people who question whether he even existed at all, and because his Travels hint at stories untold. Jesus for much the same reason. Cooper because then we’d finally know who he was and what happened to him. We’d go to a Mongolian grill place and I’d have Marco write the review for Yelp. Jesus could say grace, and Dan could leave the tip.

Name one of your novels and list five words that best describe it and then name one of your co-authored novels, and list five words that best describe it. What do you think the resulting words indicate?

Gosh, look at the time….

What are you reading now and what motivated you to select that book?

The Forgotten by David Baldacci. I’ve been wanting to check out some other thriller authors and Baldacci was at the top of my list. Of all his work, the books about Army CID agent John Puller sounded the most appealing, so I’ve been working my way through the series. They aren’t my usual cup of tea, but that can sometimes be a rewarding experience.

What can readers expect from you in the future?

More books! I’m continuing my very successful partnerships with David Wood and Jeremy Robinson. David and I are currently working on a new Outrigger series featuring characters from his Dane Maddock novels, and there’s a second Jade Ihara novel—the sequel to Oracle—in the works as well. Jeremy and I are putting the final touches on the next Chess Team/Jack Sigler novel—the eighth title in the series—which will explore the fate of the famed Lost Colony of Roanoke Island. I don’t want to give too much away, but the book is titled Cannibal, so…take a wild guess. That should be out in early February. Jeremy and I are also working on a couple other projects, but those are hush-hush for now. Hopefully, there will be time for me to write the next Mira Raiden adventure in there too.

As this interview is coming to a close, is there anything else you’d like to add or share?

I was just reading a science article about the mind-boggling field of quantum dots. As I stumbled through the information, started wondering what the world would be like if all 7 billion of us—that’s 7,000,000,000 people—understood what the article was about. What might we be able to accomplish in such a world? Now, how do we make that happen?

Thanks you Sean, for taking the time to answer my questions.

You're welcome, Terry, and thank you for the opportunity.

 

Below is a list of places (links) where you can find out more about Sean Ellis and his works:

Sean’s Website 

Amazon Author Page

Facebook 

Council President and TV Appearance

Well, the two are not related (see title of this blog post) but both pretty exciting, for different reasons.

This week I was elected President of the St. Paris Village Council.

It's quite an honor that the other members of council have faith in my judgement and leadership. Really, the position doesn't add a lot to my duties and responsibilities. If mayor is unable to attend any council meetings, I step in and run them. The same for other meetings around the county. On the down side, if the mayor should be unable to finish his term, or should resign, I would take his place as mayor. Definitely not something I aspire to do--NOT AT ALL.

I'm also the one designated to sign various ordinances and other legal documents. I guess that will technically 'immortalize' me in the 'Village History Books'.

Also, tonight I'll be taped for a local cable access program, a TV show hosted by Sue Cantrell from Around About Books. You guessed it...it's related to books. More details and information will follow as it becomes available.


Heck, my wife even ironed a shirt for me so I'd look semi-sharp. :)

Halcón Flanqueador Now Available

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Halcón Flanqueador, the Spanish translation of Flank Hawk, is now available!

Currently you can obtain it at:
(Links):
Amazon US
Kobo
Scribd
B&N Nook
iTunes
Amazon (Spain)
Amazon (Mexico)


laFeltrinelli(.com) , Livaria Cultura, and bol(.com)


More places will follow.


A great thanks to María Victoria Madruga Flores for translating from English into Spanish!

Video Interview – Dark Fantasy, Martial Arts and More (JF Penn interviews Alan Baxter)

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Check out the interview with Alan Baxter, Dark Fantasy Author and more, where he discusses his path from small press (Gryhphonwood) and self-published to writing for HarperCollins. Packed with information and advice on writing fight scenes, world creating, keeping balance in life, and more.

Great content for both readers and authors.





Here's a link to a previous interview here on Up Around the Corner with Alan, and a character interview with his Mr. Hood, from the Alex Caine Series:
--Author Interview with Alan Baxter
--Interview with Mr. Hood

To learn more about Alan, visit his website: http://www.alanbaxteronline.com/