How the Moon Regained Her Shape - A Review

Recently, I read a great little book that covers not one but two topics: bullying and the phases of the moon. The title is How the Moon Regained Her Shape , written by Janet Heller. Let me just tell you that this book is a great tool for teachers;  not only does it address the issue of bullying and how hurtful it is, but it also covers a science topic! The illustrations are beautifully done and capture the essence of Native American artistry. The story telling is rich yet simple enough for a young reader to understand the concepts and come away having learned something valuable. This is definitely a great book to have in a library or on a personal book shelf!

I also was allowed to interview the author Janet Heller. I hope that you all enjoy getting to know her as I did! Janet Ruth Heller is president of the Michigan College English Association. She has a Ph.D. in English from the University of Chicago. She has published three poetry books: Exodus (WordTech Editions, 2014),Folk Concert: Changing Times (Anaphora Literary Press, 2012), and Traffic Stop(Finishing Line Press, 2011). TheUniversity of Missouri Press published her scholarly book, Coleridge, Lamb, Hazlitt, and the Reader of Drama (1990). Her children’s book about bullying, How the Moon Regained Her Shape (Arbordale, 2006), has won four national awards. I hope that you all enjoy getting to know her as I did!

Tiffany: What is the title of your book and what message does it convey to readers?

 

Janet - My book is How the Moon Regained Her Shape (Arbordale).  My fiction picture book emphasizes that bullies’ insults are often false, so children should not believe them.  Also, How the Moon Regained Her Shape encourages a child to tell friends and family members about bullying so that they can help him or her.  The story shows that a child can recover from bullying and regain happiness and self-esteem.

 

Tiffany: Give a short synopsis of your book.

 

Janet -The sun insults the moon, and the moon feels so badly hurt that she shrinks and leaves the sky. The moon turns to her comet friend and her many friends on earth to comfort her. Her friends include rabbits and Native Americans. Then she regains her full shape, happiness, and self-esteem, and she returns to her orbit. An educational appendix gives advice about bullying, scientific information about the moon, and ideas for related activities for children.

 

Tiffany: Why did you write this particular story?

 

Janet -I was bullied when I was a new student in elementary school, and I did not know how to handle the situation.  The abuse continued for years.  I wrote How the Moon Regained Her Shape to help other children so that they would not have to suffer as much.  I also wrote my story to help parents and other family members to assist children to recover from bullying.

 

Tiffany:  Are there any characters in your book that are modeled from people in your daily life?

 

Janet -Yes.  The moon in my story is based on me, and the bully sun is based on the girl who taunted me every day during recess for four years.  Round Arms, who helps the moon, is based on a friend who helped me to recover after I was bullied as an adult.

 

Tiffany:  How do you come up with your story lines?

 

Janet -Some of my stories have autobiographical elements, but I often change the plot to give the main character assistance that I did not get as a child or as an adult.  I also base my stories, poems, and dramas on tales that friends or relatives have told me about their own lives. 

 

Tiffany:  When was the point you realized that being an author was no longer a dream but a reality?

 

Janet -I began to publish poetry, essays, and literary criticism in nationally circulated journals in the mid-1970s.  During this period, I also began to attend and give readings and other presentations at conferences for writers and scholars.

 

Tiffany:   What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

 

Janet -I advise people to avoid self-publishing because than you have to market and distribute your books by yourself, which is very time-consuming.  I recommend that authors join a critique group of serious writers and/or illustrators to get feedback on their work. Take classes about writing/illustrating and current literature at your local college or university.  Also, if you write for children, join the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators.  It has listserves and conferences and publications that will give you information and help you network with other creative people.  Purchase the Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market book.  It lists some agents and many publishers for books for children. There are also websites like AgentQuery that help you find an agent.  Then send your revised manuscripts out to agents and relevant publishers.  It takes time, but a good final product is worth the investment.

 

Tiffany:  What warning(s) would you give them?

 

Janet -Good writers get constructive criticism on their drafts and then revise over and over before getting manuscripts published.  This process is hard work, it requires being open-minded about criticism, and it takes a long time.  However, many inexperienced writers reject any suggestions for revision and expect success to come very fast, which rarely happens. 

 

Tiffany: What do you enjoy the most about the writing process?

 

Janet -I enjoy sharing my work with audiences of all ages.  I love reading my books and giving creative writing workshops for schools, bookstores, libraries, and conferences. 

 

Tiffany: How did you go about getting your book published?

 

Janet -I wrote How the Moon Regained Her Shape in 1993.  I kept sending it out to publishers and getting rejection notes.  I also brought my manuscript to writing workshops and conferences to get feedback.  Finally, Arbordale Publishing accepted my story for publication in 2004 and published it with revisions two years later.

 

Tiffany:   If you were given one day to live, what would you do that day?

 

Janet -I would take a walk in a beautiful forest with my husband, and I would play games with my great-nephews.  I would also see a good drama with friends and discuss our reactions.  I would write poems, dramas, essays and stories about my experiences.

 

Tiffany:   If you could meet one of your favorite authors, who would it be and why?

 

Janet -I would like to meet Marianne Evans (pseudonym George Eliot), the British novelist of the late 1800s.  She wrote about a wide range of characters and ideas, and I would love to have a long conversation with her.  She was an early feminist, and I respect her writing and her bravery very much. 

 

Tiffany: Who inspires you?

 

Janet -My mother has faced growing older with courage and dignity.  I also respect Alicia Suskin Ostriker, an American poet and literary critic in her seventies who has the same attitude toward aging.  In fact, Ostriker published a collection of poetry entitled The Book of Seventy to celebrate her reaching that milestone.  The children in the classes that I visit to do creative writing workshops also inspire me with their creativity and enthusiasm for life.

 

Tiffany:  Most embarrassing childhood or adult moment?

 

Janet -Twelve years ago, I forgot to remove a tiny sewing scissors from my purse, and the security guards at Detroit Metropolitan Airport treated me like a criminal.  Ironically, they now permit people to carry very small scissors in purses. 

 

Tiffany:  If you could go back in time, what would you say to your younger self?

 

Janet -I would like to tell the young Janet Ruth Heller that she could relax more and try more new experiences.  I would also explain to her that bullies usually don’t tell the truth and that she needed to find someone to help her with abuse.  Peer culture misjudges people who don’t conform, so young nonconformist Janet could take her peers less seriously. 

 

Tiffany:   What’s next for you?

 

Janet -I’m currently working on a memoir, a poetry book about nature, and a story about sexual harassment.

 

 If you are interested in learning more about Janet's work you can find her at the following links:

 

 website is http://www.redroom.com/author/janet-ruth-heller  
 blog is http://www.redroom.com/author/janet-ruth-heller/blog 

 

The website for How the Moon Regained Her Shape is www.arbordalepublishing.com/Moon.php

 

The website for Coleridge, Lamb, Hazlitt, and the Reader of Drama is http://press.umsystem.edu/otherbooks/heller.htm

 

The website for Traffic Stop is http://www.finishinglinepress.com/product_info.php?cPath=2&products_id=437

 

The website for Folk Concert:  Changing Times is

http://www.amazon.com/Folk-Concert-Janet-Ruth-Heller/dp/1937536262/

 

The website for Exodus is http://www.wordtechweb.com/heller.html

 

Janet's Facebook page is ‎ https://www.facebook.com/janetruth.heller ‎

 

Janet's profile on LinkedIn is www.linkedin.com/pub/janet-heller/37/a2a/395 ‎

 

Writer's Window Thursday - Khalid Muhammad

Hello! Welcome to Writer's Window Thursday. Today we get to meet author Khalid Muhammad and learn about his debut book Agency Rules - Never an Easy Day at the Office. Khalid was born in Pakistan's troubled Swat Valley, educated and raised in the United States, he returned to Pakistan almost 17 years ago and fell in love with his country. His debut novel, Agency Rules - Never an Easy Day at the Office, is a journey behind the headlines about Pakistan, the world's most dangerous place, to deliver an intense story that will challenge the reader to question what they have been told. Let's take a peek into this writer's interesting world.

Tiffany: What is the title of your book and what  message does it convey to readers?

 Khalid - The title of the book is Agency Rules – Never an Easy Day at the Office. It’s the first in a series of 4 right now, but if people like the story, I will probably expand it.The message behind the story is quite simple – the Pakistan that you hear about in the media is not the real Pakistan. We struggle with everything that citizens of other countries struggle with, but we have it compounded with ineffective governments and terrorism. I wanted to introduce the readers to the Pakistan that I love, the one that you will find on every street and home of Pakistan. The characters are embodiments of the people that I see everyday. There is so much more to the country than what the media would like to tell you, and this is the first step in understanding it all.

 Tiffany:Give a short synopsis of your book.

 

Khalid - Agency Rules – Never an Easy Day at the Office takes you behind the headlines into the events that created today’s Pakistan. It is a tough look at a nation in conflict from the eyes of a young man, Kamal Khan, who is looking for his own identity and place in society. Kamal is raised in privilege, but leaves it all behind as a man to serve his nation. Once in that environment, finds himself embroiled in a complex narrative that shifts with the fiery speeches of their anointed political and religious leaders.

 

Tiffany:Why did you write this particular story?

 

Khalid - I think the motivations were multiple on writing a story, and series, like this. There are a number of motivations behind my story. First, and probably the most important motivation, was to share the Pakistan that I know with the world. The narrative that has become commonplace about my country is that it is a failed state with many players in the power corridor, but that is not all that Pakistan is. My Pakistan is a country that struggles with inept governments more interested in themselves rather than the people who elected them. It is a country whose people are extremely talented and patriotic but unable to take advantage of any opportunities because the country is run like a fiefdom rather than a nation. It is a country in search of its identity, much like Kamal, that is trapped amidst power plays from internal and external forces.

 Secondly, I grew up reading spy thrillers filled with the exploits of CIA, MI6 and KGB agents. While reading all of these stories, I always wondered why no one had ever written about Pakistan’s intelligence services, the ISI, and the challenges they face everyday. Geopolitically, Pakistan is host to numerous intelligence agencies working within its borders, a public secret here and the ISI holds it’s own against all of them. Its routinely demonized by foreign nations, and much of that is because it is so good at what it does.

 

Tiffany: Are there any characters in your books that are modeled from people in your daily life?

 

Khalid - Definitely! Every character in the book is either someone that I know, have met or mixture of people. It’s so much easier to take the people that you interact with each day and write them into the story because they make the story real, which is something that I really focused on with this book.

 Kamal Khan, the lead character, is heavily influenced by my background and those who have influenced me. He is flawed, damaged and confused, but he is also strong, dedicated and driven – what I like to call the typical Pakistani. He is someone that I want readers to feel, experience and cheer for because he really is the “every man” in the story.

 

Tiffany:How do you come up with your story lines?

 Khalid - When you live in a country like Pakistan, the story lines play out each day on the streets, newspapers and dinner tables. We are a country that is at war with itself but not willing to accept it because it means having to make very difficult decisions that will change lifestyles. We have had 70,000 Pakistani souls killed by terrorists, damages to property in the billions and a citizenry that is unsure whether to run, fight or surrender. It makes it easy to write when you live the story each day.

 

Tiffany:What was the point you realized that being an author was no longer a dream but a reality?

 Khalid - I don’t think I am there yet. This is my debut novel, but I don’t think I will call myself an author until I have a few of them in the market and achieved some success with the stories that I write. I’m not looking to become a bestselling author overnight, I know that is a long, hard road, but I would like to see some sales and people talking about the books before I don the author cap and say that it’s not a dream anymore.

 

Tiffany:What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

 Khalid - Never give up – if you have a story to tell. I started writing short stories, which I never published. They spanned genres from crime to mystery, until I found my niche in spy thrillers. It’s always a learning and growing process, but you have to keep writing to learn and grow. Don’t give up, no matter what anyone else tells you…. and make sure you have a day job to pay your bills, otherwise things will get tough fast J

 

Tiffany:What warning(s) would you give them?

 Khalid - Don’t write for anyone but yourself. Tell your own story, your own way. Of course, you will get feedback from editors once the book is done, but make sure that you develop the story from inside yourself. The mistake that I made early on was trying to write the next bestseller, based on what was selling big, that doesn’t work. There is no formula for a bestseller, other than getting a story that touches people and makes them want to tell others about it. If you get it right, you’ll be happy and the book will sell. If not, there is always your next book. Keep plugging away at it.

 Tiffany:What do you enjoy the most about the writing process?

 Khalid - The cigarette when its over. It’s a hard process to write a book from the storyboarding and research to the drafts and revisions. Working with editors made me want to pull my hair out at times, but it’s all worth it in the end when you get to hold that book in your hand.

 

Tiffany:How did you go about getting your book published?

 

Khalid - I harbored the dream of getting a big publisher on board, but the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to make this a personal journey. When you work with a publisher, you lose your identity in the story to make it commercial, I didn’t work as hard as I did to write Agency Rules to lose myself for sales. So, I did it myself.

 I built a beta reader group and gave them the ability to provide feedback without sharing their names or contact information. I sent almost 100 copies of the final manuscript out to friends that are writers, reviewers and readers to get their feedback on the story so that I could make more revisions. Then, went back to another beta reader group to have it evaluated again. The whole time this was going on, I was working with two editors to clean up and improve the story line and characters. When I was happy with the story, I published.

 

Tiffany:If you were given one day to live, what would you do that day?

 Khalid - Honestly? Settle scores. There are some people that have really hurt me in my life that I would want to tell the negative impact that they could have had on my life. There are some people that have been so supportive that I could never thank them enough for all they did, prayed or said, so I would want them to know the positive impact they had on me. I’ve lived a life without carrying regrets, so when it comes time to leave this planet, I don’t want to carry any with me into the hereafter either.

 

Tiffany:If you could meet one of your favorite authors, who would it be and why?

 

Khalid - There are actually two authors that I would want to meet. Stephen King because he writes fantastic characters and scenes. His books have taught me so much about how a story is crafted in the reader’s mind. The other is John le Carre. le Carre is a master of the espionage genre. He creates stories that draw you in and bury you within the world that he has created. That is masterful for any aspiring writer. I would want to pick his brain.

 

Tiffany:Who inspires you?

 Khalid - People inspire me. From the fruit seller in the market to the shopkeeper fighting to support his family. From the policeman that has justified his petty theft to the soldier that gives his life in defense of the country he loves and everyone in between. I try not to focus on a single person for inspiration because they disappoint you when you learn more about them and how they got to where they are. But if you focus on the people around you, you find more inspiration in them than you will in any single person.

 Tiffany:If you could go back in time, what would you say to your younger self?

 Khalid - It gets better. I had a hard childhood. We didn’t have financial problems, but we had interpersonal problems in our home. Those problems really hampered me through most of my college years. Then, one day, I wrote a 15 page letter and let it all go. Life has been much better since. I don’t hold back anymore, I don’t let my past haunt me. It’s the past, sure mistakes were made, but that is not who I am anymore. If people want to live in their past memories of me, let them, I have moved on to better and brighter things.

 Tiffany:What’s next for you?

 Khalid - That’s easy. I think I will be spending the next few months marketing Agency Rules – Never an Easy Day at the Office, while I research the next book in the series. I have a day job running a marketing and brand management company, so that keeps me quite busy as well. The future is what you make of it, so I plan to make something awesome.

 

Thanks for letting me share with your audience, Tiffany! It’s always fun to answer questions about what made me write this story and why the reader should pick up a copy. It’s a great read and will have you on the edge of your seat throughout.
If you wish to learn more about Khalid and his book check out the links below.

 

Author Website – http://agencyrules.com

Facebook – http://facebook.com/AgencyRulesPK

Twitter – http://twitter.com/AgencyRulesPK

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20587018-agency-rules---never-an-easy-day-at-the-office

 

Amazon – http://getbook.at/amazon-ar

 

Double the Fun - Writer's Window Tuesday introduces Amalie Jahn

Welcome to a special Tuesday Writer's Window. Today we will meet Young Adult author Amalie Jahn. She has numerous works of fiction and is a wonderful writer. Let us take a peek into this author's imagination.

     Tiffany: What is the title of your book and what  message does it convey to readers?

Amalie - Among the Shrouded is the title and it refers to the fact that my main character, Mia, can see people’s auras.  When she looks at others, she sees them as if they are “shrouded” in either light or dark.  So she literally lives “among the shrouded.”  Figuratively, however, it refers to the subject of human trafficking which is often hidden from sight by the mainstream media.  I aim to bring it to light.

Tiffany: Give a short synopsis of your book.

Amalie -It was February.  Through the eyes of the average person, it was an ordinary Tuesday, unremarkable in every way.  Around the world, approximately 370,000 babies were born on that ordinary day.  However, there was nothing average about three of the children born on that day who happened to be blessed with extraordinary abilities. 

Thomas Pritchett was born in a bathroom stall at a rest stop along I-40, just west of Flagstaff, Arizona.  It would take years for him to understand his ability to sense coming danger could be used to protect him from the abuse he sustained within the foster care system.

Yekaterina Malinov was torn from her mother’s womb by a local midwife via emergency cesarean in the Ukraine, outside the capital city of Kiev.  She was always aware of her power to manipulate people into doing what she wanted, and she used her ability to assure that her needs were always met.

Mia Rosetti was delivered into the world in Baltimore, Maryland at Union Memorial Hospital at 9:46 AM to Mr. and Mrs. Carlos Rosetti.  By the time she was four, she realized the auras of light or dark she saw around those she encountered signified whether they were inherently good or inherently evil.

Growing up, they could not begin to comprehend the importance of the gifts they were given, and as adults, they are unaware they are on a collision course with one another as well as their common destiny.

Tiffany: Your story sounds like it would grip young readers. Why did you write this particular story?

Amalie- I decided early on that if people were going to spend their valuable time reading what I was writing, I was going to make sure to use that platform to help make the world a little bit better.

Tiffany: Are there any characters in your books that are modeled from people in your daily life?

Amalie -Of course.  I think we can’t help that as authors.  In my first novel, The Clay Lion, the relationship of Brooke and Branson are loosely based on my own family.  There are other pieces of people, here and there, but nothing earth shattering.

Tiffany:   Every author has a different means or way a story is born in their minds. How do you come up with your story lines?

Amalie - In my sleep or in the middle of the night.  I just let them take me over while the rest of the world is at peace.

Tiffany: What was the point you realized that being an author was no longer a dream but a reality?

Amalie -Having a bound book in your hands that you wrote… that’s pretty amazing.

Tiffany:All writer's need advice, what advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Amalie -Keep writing.  Keep reading.  Don’t dismiss yourself as too old or too young or too busy or too naive.  It’s never too late to follow your dreams and there’s never been a better time to do it.  Also, talk to other authors.  Learn from them.  Listen to their journeys.

Tiffany:  The world of writing has many predators or "trolls" lurking under bridges that will devour novice writers; so what warning(s) would you give them?

Amalie -Writing the book is the easy part.  There’s a ridiculously steep learning curve with regard to formatting, editing, publication and marketing.  And there’s no one “right way.”  No magic potion.  Just you and your gut trying to navigate the treacherous waters of publishing. 

Tiffany: What do you enjoy the most about the writing process?

Amalie -Bringing a character to life out of nothing and having a real person connect with that character.  It’s amazing.

Tiffany:  Enough of shop talk, let's have a bit of fun. If you were given one day to live, what would you do that day?

Amalie - Spend it with my family in Disney World!

Tiffany:   If you could meet one of your favorite authors, who would it be and why?

Amalie -It would be Dean Koontz.  He’s so prolific and I enjoy his books.  I think I could learn a lot from him about what’s really important in the industry.

Tiffany: Who inspires you?

Amalie -My husband, every single day.

Tiffany: Sadly, I have many embarrassing moments, and I always am cheered up when I hear other people's stories of awkwardness. Amalie, what was your most embarrassing childhood or adult moment?

Amalie - I have a million.  I’m very awkward and tend to have issues with gravity.  I once fell down an entire flight of steps in a ball gown in front of several hundred people because my heel caught the hem of my dress.  Good times.  My husband demanded I wear sneakers on my wedding day after that.

Tiffany:  If you could go back in time, what would you say to your younger self?

Amalie -YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!  So quit making excuses.

Tiffany:   What’s next for you?

Amalie - I’m working on a sequel to The Clay Lion.  It was supposed to be a stand-alone book but so many readers have requested MORE, that I can’t deny my adoring public!  Luckily, even with all the loose ends I made sure to tie up by then end of the book, I did leave myself one tiny opening.  Good thing that’s all I needed!  When I’m not writing, I’m training for an Ironman triathlon that I will be competing in the middle of April.

Amalie, thank you so much for dropping by today and letting me get to know you better! If you are interested in learning more about Amalie Jahn and her works you can find them here:

Amazon The Clay Lion http://amzn.to/Ztvzj7

Amazon Among the Shrouded http://amzn.to/16s6ADF

Amalie Jahn Amazon http://amzn.to/17NSyKr

Goodreads Author Profile https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6995709.Amalie_Jahn

Author Website http://bit.ly/claylion

Amalie Jahn Author Facebook Page http://on.fb.me/172W8AB

Thursday Writer's Window - Ross Homer

Writer's Window Thursday - Ross Homer

 

I would like to welcome Ross Homer to this week's "Writer's Window". Mr. Homer writes fantasy/sci-fi for a more mature audience. Here is a little background information on this interesting author. Ross has been a story teller since childhood. Since his family moved quite a lot, he collected a myriad of experiences, thoughts, people, places and things to write about. He went to college for awhile and majored in History and Anthropology. These two subjects help immensely in his writing. Ross, now lives in Alaska where the beauty and absolute weirdness of the people provide fodder for his imagination. Let's take a peek into Ross' imagination and learn how he crafts his stories!

Tiffany - Will you please tell us what is the title of your book ?

Ross -The title of my first book is “The Witches of Aba Nam, Book 1: The Orb"



Tiffany -Give a short synopsis of your book.

Ross - Defeated in war by Teus, Lord of Moraduhnim Castle, the beautiful young queen of Aba Nam is captured and tortured for two years. Teus stripped Viktoria Ceridwyn Coer Kilarra of her health, realm and magical abilities in the war that saw black, white and gray magics used by both. Almost dead from her continuing defiance, she manages to escape. Escaping, though, has its own set of problems. Like falling in front of an oncoming automobile. This one is driven by Taagen Davis, novelist and avid bicyclist. He barely stops in time. Recovering from the injuries incurred in the war, the young queen tells Taagen a tale of a legendary object that must be protected at all costs. When she’s strong enough, she shows him a small sample of her once powerful magic. Taagen takes time to think about what she’s told him and decides her story is reasonable. Of course, his falling in love with her didn’t enter the decision at all. He decides to join this beautiful young woman on her quest. Their destination is the secret location of the Orb of the Worlds. Arriving on Aba Nam through a portal called a Gateway, Taagen discovers it to be nothing like Earth. For starters they have to fight a band of Teus’ mercenaries within minutes of arriving. With swords, no less! Driven to conquest by forces unknown to him, Lord Teus has not been resting on his victory. He too is striving to find the Orb. Nothing will stand in his way; neither stronger magic, nor the young queen.

Tiffany - Many authors have a specific reason for writing a story. Why did you write this particular story?

Ross -I grew up on classic science fiction and fantasy. I’ve always wanted to create this kind of story and, after a number of years of kicking it around, I finally completed this one.

Tiffany- Tell me Ross, are there any characters in your books that are modeled from people in your daily life?

Ross -Not really. Some are amalgams of friends and neighbors, most are my creations.

Tiffany - Fantasy writers have always fascinated me. The imagination it takes to write that genre is astounding. How do you come up with your story lines?

Ross -‘What if’ is one way. Another is talking to people. Sometimes something they say will key a scene in my brain. For instance: my wife and I were discussing divergent time lines this morning or making a decision one way or another. What would happen if…?

Tiffany -What was the point you realized that being an author was no longer a dream but a reality?

Ross - When I put the first book in this series on Kindle AND someone actually bought it, not a friend or family member. I may not be able to gas my truck yet, but it is fun.

Tiffany - What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Ross - I’m going to steal a line from “Galaxy Quest.” Never give up, never surrender. I have no less than 62 rejections for The Witches of Aba Nam. I know it’s a very good story, with strong characters. But getting past the slush pile in this day and age is extremely difficult for new writers. I completely believe it’s all luck.

Tiffany - What warning(s) would you give them?

Ross - Be very careful should you become one of the chosen few. The woods are full bandits, wolves and other creatures out to steal you blind. There’s a great website called: http://pred-ed.com/ It helps the writer see who the bad guys are.

Tiffany - What do you enjoy the most about the writing process?

Ross - The actual creation and seeing the scene or conversation in my head. Seeing it on my screen. Telling my wife, “Wow! This character really kicks butt.” Editing, not so much but by doing it, I polish and add sensuality. I like to get the thoughts down first and then add in the five senses.

Tiffany - Now for some "non" writing related questions. If you were given one day to live, what would you do that day?

Ross - Wipe my hard drives. I think I’d sit and write thoughts about what I’m feeling at the time.

Tiffany - There are so many authors I would love to meet ( past and present). If you could meet one of your favorite authors, who would it be and why?

Ross -Nora Roberts/JD Robb. I have read all the JD Robb novels and not a few of her 'romance’ novels. I would like to see what goes on inside her head and how she manages to publish literally hundreds of books. See if I can catch an idea or two from her.

Tiffany - Who inspires you?

Ross - Seeing my words come to life in a form that tells a story. I grew up in the days of Uncle Remus and the incredible story-telling of Joel Chandler Harris, O Henry, Saki and as I mentioned before, classic science fiction writers like Asimov, Fred Clark, Arthur Clarke, Heinlein (a personal favorite and a person I try to emulate to some extent in my writing,) Murray Leinster and Norton.

Tiffany - Everyone has an embarrassing moment in life. I have had many. Please tell us your most embarrassing childhood or adult moment?

Ross -Really? You want to go there? I am a recovering alcoholic and lord knows I have far too many of those tales. Since sobriety (seven years and counting) none that I can think of. Well, there’s one. Two years after I married my first wife, we were at a party when I turned to introduce her to my commanding officer. “Sir, this is my wife…” Her name was gone! Completely, as if it had never been. Suffice it to say, I was embarrassed and she was very angry. We joked about it from time to time until she died a few years ago.

Tiffany - If you could go back in time, what would you say to your younger self?

Ross - Listen to your muse! If she says write, then do it! I screwed around for decades before I finally knuckled down and got after it. I loved writing stuff when I was a kid, still have some of my notebooks, but basically dropped it as an adult. It’s only been in the last five years or so that I’ve really made an effort.

Tiffany - What’s next for you?

Ross - I’m continuing with The Witches of Aba Nam series. Book 2: Arena is done and being edited. Book 3: Working title, The Return is kicking around inside my head and I’ve a lot of ideas for it. This series is basically unending. I’m also working on my Scepter of the Nile series. Book one of that one is done and being edited, I’m working on book 2 and planning a third and final book 3. And I have a private eye series that’s simmering on the back burner, about two thirds written. I don’t know if I’ll actually make a series out of it or not. I have numerous short stories, some of which are on my blog: www.theworldsofross.com

Thank you Ross! It was fun to learn about your creative process and your current work. Best of luck as you pursue your dream!

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