Christy Sloat - New Release!!!!

Welcome to my blog, Christy, and thanks for taking the time in sharing a bit about you, your inspirations, and your writing.

Now, let's get down to business shall we?

1.) When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
Well I have always dreamt of being a writer, but I got serious about it two years ago.
2.) What type of genre do you write in?
Paranormal, Romance, YA, and Horror.
3.) What inspires you to write in this genre?
I have a love affair with the paranormal and the weird. So I get so many ideas that I say to myself, “That would be a great book.” I love vampires, werewolves, ghost’s and anything in that genre.
4.) Where to you get your ideas for your writing?
I have no clue. Lol. Really they just come to me. This will be strange but I get a lot of ideas in the shower.
5.) Who are your favorite authors and why?
I have so many favorite authors; Michelle Warren, Cidney Swanson, Stephanie Meyer, Amanda Hocking, J.K Rowling and so many more. They write books about the topics I love. They are original and I like that.
6.) In your opinion, what key parts of a story make it great?
The general idea first of all has to be engaging. Then the characters. I have to be able to relate to them.
7.) What activities do you undertake for inspiration?
Music! I love Pandora Radio. And looking at art on Deviantart. Those people are so talented, I could get inspired just by looking at their ideas.
8.) Do you belong to any writing communities, or critique groups?
I belong to many communities on Facebook. There are so many great book communities on there that help authors get their name out.
9.) Do you have a day job?
Yes, stay-at-home Momma. It is the hardest job I have ever had. I used to work full-time in the dental field, but being at home with my kids is way more challenging.
10.) If you could do it over again, what aspects of the writing/submission process would you change before becoming published?
Wow tough question. Hmm it sort of just happened so fast, that I didn't really think it all through too much. I just sent it. But maybe I would have taken more time to look through my submission to ensure that it was perfect. Or to have hired an editor for the first three chapters.
11.) What is the title of your upcoming/newly released novel, and where can we find it?
The Many Lives of Avery Snow, Book one in the Past Lives Trilogy. Right now it is available on Smashwords. But will soon be out on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com. It will also be out in print very soon and available in stores.
I am also working on a new book due out in July 2012,The Brown House.

Thanks again, Christy, we look forward to reading The Many Lives of Avery Snow, sounds intriguing, and right up my alley.

Jesse Kimmel-Freeman - Bella Notte - YA Paranormal Romance

Author Interview: Jesse Kimmel-Freeman

1.) When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I never knew I wanted to be a writer. It just sort of happened. I decided to write the book I wanted to read- the rest is history.

2.) What type of genre do you write in?
I write young adult paranormal romance, as well as illustrate and write children's books.

3.) What inspires you to write in this genre?
I love to read YA books. If there was one genre I could read for the rest of my life it would be YA. So I decided to write what I enjoyed. As for the children's books, that has everything to do with my kids.

4.) Where to you get your ideas for your writing?
I let the world give them to me. Everything and anything has the potential for being put into a book- the blessing and curse of being a writer. What do you allow into your stories and what do you keep out because it reminds within that small area of your life that is meant to stay personal and private? Or is it all free game as long as it's presented as fiction? I blend reality with fantasy.
5.) Who are your favorite authors and why?
Kate Chopin wrote The Awakening. I fell in love with this book. Something about it sparked a fire inside of me that never went out. It is one of the few books that I have read several times- which speaks volumes because I almost never re-read a book. Marge Percy wrote He, She, and It. I had to read this for a robotics/computer science class during my undergraduate years and when I read the story, it touched my heart. It spoke to the place inside me that can see passed boundaries and limitations. Both of these women inspired and filled me with awe.

6.) In your opinion, what key parts of a story make it great?
The characters are by far the most important part of a story. They're the ones that bring it alive for the readers and that connection is what makes a story stay with a reader or be forgotten.

7.) What activities do you undertake for inspiration?
Just going through my day. Listening to what's going on around me. Remembering a dream. Hearing a song on the radio. Overhearing a conversation while in line at the grocery store. Some of the best inspiration comes from the things around you that you wouldn't expect to inspire you.

8.) Do you belong to any writing communities, or critique groups?
I belong to several network groups, but nothing specifically aimed at critiquing or the techniques of writing.

9.) Do you have a day job?
My day job is being a mom. Writing gets worked in as I can. Right now, all of my writing time is going to editing the second book in my series and promoting my first book.

10.) If you could do it over again, what aspects of the writing/submission process would you change before becoming published?
I might not go through three years of submitting to agents and publishers. I feel like I spent a lot of time trying to find the right agent/publisher when I could've been writing or doing something more productive with my time.

11.) What is the title of your upcoming/newly released novel, and where can we find it?
Bella Notte was released November 21st, 2011. Bella Vita will be released early next year- it looks like late January. Bella Notte can be found at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble online, All Romance eBooks online, Smashwords, and CreateSpace. This will be the same for Bella Vita. Also, in honor of Christmas coming up, there's a short story available for free on Smashwords titled, “A Bella Notte Christmas Story.” It is basically two of the main characters from Bella Notte having their first Christmas together.