May 13

An Author For All Seasons: An Interview with Dennis Gager

 

dennis gager photoYou know the younger generation loves Westerns, too. Take a guy like Denny Gager who writes Westerns for a modern audience. His “Storm to the Past” has been a huge success for the company—and since then, he’s released two more books. You can’t normally tie down a guy with such publishing energy for an interview—but we’ve managed it! Welcome Dennis Gager, star of “Storm to the Past.”

 *****

On a weekend trip, two friends get transported to the past. As they struggle to survive in their new surroundings, all manner of untold things happen, and it’s up to two modern men to find their way back to their own time. Put yourself in the saddle, and ride back to a lawless time. Will you survive the Old West?

*****

 

 

Who is your intended audience, and why should they read your book?

Teens to adults of all ages. My book isn’t just the typical Western. It has a science-fiction twist to it which will keep you right on the edge of your seat wanting more. I built it that way to really get my audience involved in the story.

How did you come up with the title of your book or series?

My wife and I were discussing my latest manuscript, and we both came up with the title together. It was really more her than me. But I certainly helped.

Tell us a little bit about your cover art. Who designed it? Why did you go with that particular image/artwork?

J.C. Hulsey, over at my current publishing home, Outlaws Publishing, came up with the concept. I really liked the ideas he had and decided to give them a shot. They seem to have worked out well. The cover gets a lot of compliments.

Who is your favorite character from “Storm to the Past” and why?

Adam is certainly my favorite character in that book. He is a man born into a time where he feels out of place, and when he travels back in time, he feels like he has come home. It’s very Shakespearean in a way—I like to put a touch of Shakespeare into all my stories. It pays off to follow the Bard.

How about your least favorite character?  What makes them less appealing to you?

I like all my characters. They’re key to my stories. Again, you have to think about the Shakespearean aspect to books. Even the greatest villains are beloved by millions of readers.

Do you ever have regrets about the books you write? Do you ever want to go back and change them?

Why? There’s always another story. I really enjoyed writing “Storm to the Past,” and there’s nothing I would change. There’s nothing I would change in any of my books.

Can you give our readers some interesting facts about “Storm to the Past?”

I used a lot of personal facts about myself in writing the book from places I visited as a child on trips, to experiences I had in my life that I shared in the story, as well. In many ways, it’s a very personal book.

Do you have any unique talents or hobbies?

I enjoy learning new things on projects I do with my hands. I also enjoy my family—family is one of the most important things a man has.

How can we contact you or find out more about your books?

You can reach me at http://dennisgager.wix.com/author. That’s my website, and my email is dennisgager@yahoo.com. You can also reach out to my publicist, Nick Wale.

What can we expect from you in the future?

Look for new Western series coming from me in 2016. It’s just around the corner, folks!

What can readers who enjoy your book do to help make it successful?

Send me your comments and suggestions for stories or ideas you have for me at dennisgager@yahoo.com. I love to hear from the readers.

Do you have any tips for readers or advice for other writers trying to get published?

Yes, write from your heart, never take no for an answer, and let your imagination run wild in your stories. You have to think big when you write a book. Think BIG, and you’ll get a big story.

Is there anything else you’d like to say?

Yes. I’d like to thank all of my readers so far for reading all my books. I’d like to tell you all that I’ll be working to give you all the books you want in the future. I have many ideas—and I hope you will travel along with me and try some of my new literary adventures.

 And now, before you go, how about a snippet from your book that is meant to intrigue and tantalize us:

On a weekend trip, two friends get transported to the past. As they struggle to survive in their new surroundings, all manner of untold things happen, and it’s up to two modern men to find their way back to their own time. Put yourself in the saddle, and ride back to a lawless time. Will you survive the Old West?

“Storm to the Past,” the latest top 20 hit from Dennis Gager, is available now on Kindle and Paperback from Amazon. You can also pick up the new Gager novel “The Outlaw’s Last Stand” too!

the outlaws last stand final cover

 

 

May 13

The Gunfighters Return: An Interview with Western Star Frank F. Fiore

frank fiore pub1Frank F. Fiore has been one of the most interesting hit makers of 2016. His new book “Gunfight at Black Ridge” came out of nowhere and broke into the top 100. He has another on the way, and another, and another, and another. His next book will turn the western on its head and take the genre in a brand new direction. It’s called “Jonathan Smyth: Cowboy Sleuth,” and looks set to excite Western readers around the world… I think you’ll enjoy this interview with the mighty Frank F. Fiore!

*****

Colson Rodgers returns from the Civil War to find that his home town of Black Ridge has been taken over by a ruthless gang of murderers. With the help of a few townsfolk, it’s down to Colson to either clean the town or get out of dodge.

Available as a paperback, a Kindle E-book and as an audiobook, Gunfight has been in the bestseller charts for several months, has achieved silver sales status within Outlaws Publishing, and has hit the top ten in both the Christian Westerns category and on the general Western bestseller charts.

*****

Why was it important for you to write a Western?

I love Westerns – including Western movies. I’m a big John Wayne fan, especially his movies.

How closely do Westerns mirror the American way of life?

They mirror the American individualist, frontier spirit that unfortunately is not reflected in the beliefs of most of our politicians today.  Case in point: Fifty years ago, we were a gun culture.  You would see kids drive to school with their rifle on a gun rack in the back of their pick-up and it was considered normal. Today, the sight of a gun throws people into catatonic fits.

How did you discover that you enjoyed writing?

I wrote a short story in grammar school about the bombing of Hiroshima by the Enola Gay.  It was the story of a small tin truck from a tin drive in WWII that ended up in the Enola Gay. The teacher thought I was pretty sick – a ten-year-old, writing about a nuclear Holocaust. I thought it was pretty cool.

Tell us a little about your forthcoming book, “Johnathan Smyth: Cowboy Sleuth?”

Well, the idea came to me some time ago. I have always been fascinated in myths and legends, and I wanted to write about the myths of the western and turn them into action adventures western tales with a twist. You’ll discover the twist when the book is released.

But it is a traditional Western, right?

Yes, very much so, but it has other ingredients in it to make readers happy. I can’t tell you anymore, though. You’ll have to wait.

Mysterious…

Yes, very… Just like the stories themselves.

Tell us a little bit about your cover art for “Gunfight at Black Ridge.” Who designed it?

The cover for Gunfight at Black Ridge was designed by my publisher, Outlaws Publishing. He put together several ideas, and together we molded our ideas into the cover we currently have. We wanted it to be different—something that hadn’t been done on a Western cover before. That’s why we took the traditional image of a cowboy and added in what they would have called modern technology. It’s an homage to the changing West, the end of the war, the end of the frontier, and the beginning of modern America.

Who is your favorite character from your book and why?

Colson Rogers – the protagonist. He’s a conflicted individual who stands up for what he believes to be right. His view of the world is black and white – not gray – and he acts on those beliefs.

How about your least favorite character?  What makes he or she less appealing to you?

The sheriff. He’s greedy and would sell out his own mother for a buck. He is both a coward and a turncoat, sunning the duties and responsibilities he was assigned with. He is the direct opposite of Rogers.

If you could change a single thing about your novel, what would it be?  Why?

Nothing really. It’s a good story with good structure and introduces then dismisses strong characters. It exactly what Western readers have been asking for. You can’t deny a reading public the stories they want—if you do that, you’ll end up like some of the politicians standing for office today.

Give us an interesting fun fact or a few about your series.

Gunfight at Black Ridge is the first book in a series of Westerns that will concern Colson Rogers. There are homages to “The Shootist,” “Rio Bravo,” “True Grit” and other famous Western movies throughout the book. If you’ve read the book, and seen the movies, you may be able to pick them out. If you do pick them out—let us know, and you may win yourself a free copy of my next book.

What other books are similar to your own?  What makes them alike?

My action/adventure series is entitled the Chronicles of Jeremy Nash. In the mold of reluctant hero Clint Eastwood, Jeremy Nash is unwillingly drawn into a web of intrigue that threatens his life, his family and his reputation.

Do you have a favorite gun?

My Smith and Wesson M&P, 9mm. It was my sidearm when I was a member of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Posse.

How can we contact you or find out more about your books?

Check out my author site at www.frankfiore.com and my blog at frankfiore.wordpress.com. You can also get in touch with me through my publicist (nick@nickwale.org).

What can we expect from you in the future?

We are working on a new type of Western series call the ‘Fastest Reads of the West.’ Shorter stories in the range of 10,000 words each. Then we will do a very different Western series called ‘Jonathan Smyth – Cowboy Sleuth.’  Not gonna say much about it now, but it’s something never done in a Western before. Sort of an Indiana Jones meets the X-files. Then there’s another new twist on a Western to come during that with a Rat Pack finish. Stay tuned – fun reading ahead.

What can readers who enjoy your book do to help make it successful?

Write great reviews on Amazon. Reviews help drive sales. And, of course, buy my books.

Do you have any tips for readers or advice for other writers trying to get published?

Write. Write. Write. And don’t stop writing. Before my first Western, I have published 6 other novels and working now on my 7th.

In a shootout who would win—John Wayne vs. Clint Eastwood?

Hmmm… Good question. Clint would say nothing and shoot, but Wayne’s shootout would be more entertaining — “I shouldn’t shoot you, pilgrim. I shouldn’t shoot you—the Hell I won’t!”

You can pick up the first Fiore western today from Amazon. All you have to is click here, and ride, boldly ride your way to Amazon!

Gunfight at Black Ridge cover

 

 

May 12

“Airwolf” Star Alex Cord Takes Off With “A Feather in the Rain” Riding High on the Charts

alex christmas 5With an appearance at the Memphis Film Festival imminent, and a new Western rumored to be on the way, this interview with Alex Cord will bring us up-to-date. Alex is currently riding high on Amazon with his second book, “A Feather in the Rain,” which won awards and gathered acclaim from around the world. He is still as active as ever, running his Facebook page, reading scripts and spending time with his horses each day. I don’t know how he finds time to write books—but he certainly does. Let’s see what else he has been up to lately…

Alex, how does it feel to have “A Feather in the Rain” still reigning high on the bestseller charts?

It feels wonderful, and I’m very grateful to the wonderful readers who continue to keep reading my work, and making it successful.

Rumor has it that you are writing a brand new Western?

I have quite a few projects running at the moment—but yes—a Western is in the works. I can’t tell you any more than that.

Still staying with the Westerns here, you are considered to be one of the top horsemen in Hollywood, and at the same time, an award-winning stage actor. How do you compare working with on Westerns to working on stage? Which do you prefer?

There is no way to compare working on stage in the theatre with filming a Western. They are two totally different worlds. My life as a serious, professional horseman has never done me any good on stage that I know of. It has, however, done me a lot of good when making Westerns.

A burning question for me is a simple one– where did your love of horses come from?

My parents put me on a pony when I was two years old. I still have the photo of me grinning from ear to ear while another kid in the background is screaming to get off. I was born with an inexplicable love for horses that has only grown enormously throughout my life. I was gratefully gifted with a desire to know all that I could about them, a sense of how they think and feel. I have studied with some of the best trainers and teachers in the world in all disciplines and have found that the best teacher of all is the horse. If you are willing to listen. The secret to becoming one with a horse is love. Respect. Earning his trust. Communicating in a way that he understands what you want. A horse can feel a fly on him. You’ve seen them quiver their skin to make the fly leave. If they can feel a fly, how heavy handed does one need to be if the horse understands what it is you want? There is a potent, influential energy that comes from within the horse, and those who fall under its spell are the slaves of a grand passion.

You are currently having great success with your writing—but many people reading this out there will know you from your incredibly successful acting career. How did your acting career start? Was it something you always wanted to do?

Being an actor never entered my mind until I was in college studying English literature and discovered that all the pretty girls were in the dramatic arts department. I began to take some of their classes. Voice and diction, history of the theatre, Shakespeare. I was challenged by the Bard and became a serious student because of a great teacher. I had to get up and read aloud to the class. I was extremely shy, fearful, and reluctant at first, but encouraged by Professor Fanny Bradshaw’s praise and genuine belief in my ability, I slowly became more confident and soon found that I could enjoy performing. That wonderful silver-haired lady changed my life. I soon became passionately interested in the artistry of the printed word and the power of it well spoken. A girlfriend and aspiring actress was going to be in a university production on stage and suggested that I audition for a part. I did and was cast as an old farmer. I did enjoy that applause at the end.

alex kirk 1During those early days, you obviously took a great interest in the literary side of the business. Your love of great writers and playwrights like Shakespeare is well known. How did you go from student of the Bard to professional actor, working at the Stratford, Connecticut Shakespearian Festival?

The American Shakespeare Festival at Stratford, Connecticut was holding auditions for their second season. No less than Katherine Hepburn and Robert Ryan appeared in the first season. Again, my girlfriend auditioned and was accepted in a student program with great teachers and parts in the plays. She suggested I try out for the same. With the help of Fanny Bradshaw, I did, and was accepted. A glorious summer followed with parts in Hamlet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. At the end of the summer, I had been asked to join a group of hugely talented actors to perform for the winter in repertory at a prestigious theatre in St. Louis, MO.

And then, you took a leap of faith and ended up working in London– how the heck did that happen?

That led to off-Broadway theatre and eventually to a starring role in a play on the London stage in England. A dream had come true. Blessed with astounding reviews at the time of the Annual London Critics Awards, I was nominated for the Best Actor Award along with Christopher Plummer in Becket and Albert Finney in Luther. Mr. Plummer won.

You were, of course, part of a cutting edge period of television acting. How did it feel to be working with such actors as George C. Scott? In fact, let me add to that– was George C. Scott considered a great actor, even in his early years?

Back in the States, I worked on all the great TV shows. Naked City, U.S. Steel Hour, East Side West Side, with the amazing George C. Scott. He was an absolute joy to work with. Generous beyond, giving me every advantage with the camera. The show was all about my character of a paraplegic. At the end of a very dramatic scene between George and me, the entire crew stood and applauded. An extremely fine memory. We became lifelong friends. Once, after a long time not seeing each other, we were at the same event. He spotted me first, called my name, and charged at me like a grizzly, flung his arms around me and lifted me off the ground. Another extremely fine memory. From his first appearances off-Broadway, he was considered a “great actor.” Because he was.

I guess the early TV work was a huge learning curve. Would you agree with that?

I would. The work in early TV was a great training ground for learning about the camera and the difference between film and stage acting. And of course getting the opportunity to work with legends of the theatre. Burgess Meredith, Luther Adler, Jacob Adler, John Emery, Morris Cornovsky, Dame Judith Anderson, Burt Lahr, Nancy Marchand, Geraldine Fitzgerald.

How did you break into the movie world? You went from a jobbing stage and TV actor to playing the brother of Kirk Douglas. That’s quite a journey isn’t it?

Back in those days, they would fly a New York actor out to Hollywood to do a TV show that was made there. The epitome of a gentleman was a gifted director named Richard Quine who had seen me in a TV show and asked for me to do a screen test for a leading role in his new movie, Synanon. I got the part, a great role of a hardcore drug addict who falls in love with the exquisite Stella Stevens. Edmund O’Brian and Eartha Kitt were also in it. Then came The Brotherhood with one of the great men of all time, Kirk Douglas. An excellent film directed by the prolific Martin Ritt. A very well written story about the power of the Mafia. I played Kirk’s brother, a super good role, and one of the best experiences with another man who became a life-long friend.

Is there any news about the film adaptation of “A Feather in the Rain?”

We are still working on that. It’s a project in process. I hope it will happen soon—I cannot wait to see that book made into a major motion picture.

The first picture that would see you become a movie star was a Western called “Stagecoach.” How did you manage to get the starring role in a film like “Stagecoach” and, how did you approach trying to fill the boots of the “Duke?”

Stagecoach. What a daunting offer that was. To be forced into attempting to fill the monumental boots of the Duke. Of course, I tried to not think about that and approach it as I would any other role. Everyone was very supportive. Ann-Margaret, my dear friend Stephanie Powers, we had done several TV shows together, Slim Pickens was an old cowboy friend.

That was the movie that saw you working with Bing in perhaps his last great role. What was it like working with such a huge motion picture star?

The legend himself, Bing. He was a consummate pro. Knew exactly what he was doing and did it so well. I don’t know how much practice he had in life at being drunk, but he sure pulled it off on screen. When we finished filming and had gone our separate ways, he had seen a screening of the finished product and took the time to write me the most complimentary letter about my work and how much he enjoyed me and felt that I should be proud. I’m not much for saving things like that, but my mother insisted that I have it framed. She was a huge fan of Bing. I arranged for her to have dinner with Bing and me and Stephanie. Bing could not have been more kind, gracious and attentive. A great memory for Mom and another one for me.

I hope we are able to get our hands on your latest Western soon. How do you feel about the other Westerns on the market at the moment?

I like them and read many of the latest Westerns. I try to keep up to date with what everyone is writing, and some of these books blow me away.

And finally—are you looking forward to appearing at the Memphis Film Festival?

I can’t wait. It’s going to be a lot of fun.

“A Feather in the Rain” by Alex Cord is currently in the top 100 on Amazon. Have you downloaded your copy of this great love story, set on a ranch? If you would like to find out what readers around the world have been raving about you can download your copy today from Amazon.

a feather in the ran

 

May 11

King of the Wild Frontier: An Interview with Western Publisher J.C. Hulsey

jc miserThis interview is with one of the leading western publishers of today. His name is J.C. Hulsey, and his publishing house “Outlaws Publishing” is currently having huge success with western authors from around the world. Names like Cliff Roberts, Dennis Gager, John D. Fie. Jr, Frank F. Fiore, Kenneth S. Pratt are household names to western readers.

In an industry filled with vanity publishing it is refreshing to see someone build a publishing business aimed at creating hit books.. Let’s pick his brains…

Oh, I almost forgot! You can connect with J.C. via Facebook here. You can also email him at jc@outlawspublishing.com.

Why do you think Outlaws Publishing has been so successful at gaining such a large Western readership?

I think we did many of the things other Western publishers have failed to do or are afraid to do. We managed to get the readership to take us seriously. We tried to speak directly to the people who enjoy reading Westerns, and we treated them as friends. The most important thing a publishing company can do is create a bond between the reader and the authors we publish. One of the other important factors is the fact that we have tried to pick authors who Western readers would really enjoy reading.

Outlaws Publishing is just one part of your empire, isn’t it? You have a successful radio show, a series of your own books, you attend book shows all year round. How do you manage to juggle all the different facets of your career?

First of all, I wouldn’t call what I have an empire. I would call it a franchise. An empire is something so vast it can’t be comprehended. We have a simple publishing house with some added extras here. That’s all. Remember Rubix cubes? Those strange little suckers where you had try and get all the same colors on all the right sides? Remember those? I’m sure you do. That’s a little like my career. I spend more time adding sides to my cube than I do balancing them because they balance themselves. Take the cube itself. It’s got a flat surface on each of its faces and can stand alone without support. I’ve built the facets of my career with very solid bases, and that allows me to juggle from one to the other without the fear of the whole thing falling down on me like a house of cards.

Why Westerns?

I’ve been asked that question quite a bit by many different people. I would say that there are two reasons for me moving into the Western sphere. One reason is because I love Westerns, and the second is because I, myself, wrote Westerns and I could never get a publisher to even look at my work. I believe there is a kind of racism when it comes to Westerns. Agents see them as something old fashioned that they can’t sell. Now, I hired a publicist, and he showed me that Westerns sell well. So it makes good business sense to work on Westerns, publish Westerns and it makes sense to take the time to cultivate Western authors. Why did the publicist want to work on a Western and the agent didn’t? That’s simple. The publicist is paid monthly to make something happen and knows what will sell better than anyone. An agent is living in the land of ‘maybe’ and ‘could-be.’ He will only go for things that he can sell on to a publisher easily, so he can collect the loot.

How do you pick authors to publish?

How does one pick an apple in an orchard? We look through our submissions and choose the authors who have stories that we feel our readers would enjoy; we look for writers who our readers can get behind. We look for hits, but we also look for class and style. There is no criteria that we adhere to, other than our desire to put great Westerns in front of a great audience.

How do you promote the books you publish?

I am a great believer in promotion, and I’ve promoted my whole life. When I owned a bookstore, I promoted it. When I published my own books, I promoted them, and I have always tried to use professionals where I can. At Outlaws, we believe strongly in a promotional campaign that will take our books and put them directly in front of our readers. That’s why we like to use grassroots promotion. We like to get the Western readership behind our books. We network, we attend book shows, we use social media, mailing lists, and I make a lot of phone calls.

I have always believed in doing everything to the highest possible standard. We hire the best publicist, the best cover designers, the best bloggers and the best narrators. I have never used anyone from the lower drawers in the dresser. Only the top drawer matters to J.C.

Are you always searching for new talent?

Always. You can never have too much of a good thing. We search for authors, we search for great publicists, great narrators, great bloggers. I, and my team, spend a lot of time building bridges and crossing them into new lands looking for new talent. It is my dream to have the biggest publishing company in the world, and I will have it.

We may have gained an incredible barrel of talent—and I’m extremely proud of what we have, and the people I work with. But there are always more people, and it is my wish that I will meet them and work with them. In fact, I want to say right here and now that if you have a talent for writing, promoting, narrating or designing covers—I want to meet with you because you and I are stronger together with Outlaws behind us.

Is the drive for money, or is it for success?

Both go hand in hand—but I care more for success than I do for money. If I wanted to make all the money in the world, I would have chosen a different path. Success, to me, is the only thing that matters. The ability to hold up my work and show it to the world. The ability for me to praise those I work with, and help them grow. For me, success comes from developing talent. If you truly love what you do and you grow what you have—money will come. But it’s not a priority for me.

How did you manage to get Cliff Roberts to sign with your company?

Cliff Roberts is an enigma. He’s a talent with the scope and ambition to go where things are happening. I was very happy when he decided to sign with Outlaws Publishing. But I’m happy when all my authors sign with Outlaws Publishing. Dennis Gager, John D. Fie, Kenneth S. Pratt, all of them. They are all talented, wonderful human beings, and I am very happy to be associated with all of them.

You mentioned narrators a couple of questions ago—does your company help authors with audiobooks?

We don’t just help! We do them for authors. We have our own narrators who work directly with authors to make their books into audiobooks. I am a huge fan of audiobooks, and I listen to them myself all of the time. I think it’s important that our authors have their books available on the market in audio format, and ask our publicist—the sales are extremely lucrative.

How does an author get in touch with you to submit their books to the company?

Let’s get cosy for a few moments here. I don’t want this to sound like the cold submission policy of the publishing houses authors are used to trying to work with. If you want to get in touch with me, personally, all you have to do is open up your email account, start a new message and send an email to jc@outlawspublishing.com. That’s all. Send me whatever you want. I’ll be happy to hear from you. I have no requirements, I have no desire for you to pay a fee, and you are under no obligation to sign with me.  Let’s be friends.

 

Just click on the banner below to become an Outlaw today!

outlaws publishing banner new

 

 

May 10

“Does Anyone Really Believe They Can Trust This Government?” Ask Author Cliff Roberts.

american flag

This interview is with bestselling author Cliff Roberts. His political thriller series “Reprisal” has been a constant seller with all three books in the series hitting the ‘#1 spot in their respective charts. This interview is all about the conception of the books, and how the political scene of today caused him to write the books?

What do you think is wrong with America today politically?

 It’s hard to say exactly. There are so many problems. But chief and foremost, I believe the biggest problem is the fact that the vast majority of politicians aren’t in it to better America; they’re in it to better themselves. They view politics as a career that comes with entitlements based their holding the office. Jefferson had it right when he strongly suggested we adopt the gentleman politician format of government. You only serve a short time and then step aside and let someone else govern. I know many will say it won’t work because they won’t know how to get things done in Washington. I happen to think that’s part of the problem—those entrenched in Washington, who know how the good old boy system works, work it to their benefit while foregoing putting the country first. The fix for American politics is forcing out those who don’t put us first and completely eliminating campaign contributions. To do this, we need to limit the amount anyone can spend on getting elected. That would include the use of PACs.

What do you think really caused this?

I can’t say what or who caused it, but it’s been noted throughout history that power corrupts. The long term tenures of many of the politicians in this country has led to corruption and greed. There is a whole group in Washington that believes it’s their right to be a senator or a president. The current primaries are rife with the politically entrenched, complaining that Trump doesn’t deserve to be president because he’s not one of them. That mindset is what is wrong with the government.

Was the unrest in the political world one of the reasons you wrote the Reprisal! series?

Absolutely. Our system is upside down and inside out. The politicians think serving the public means they get to line their pockets with sweetheart deals or donors who, in turn, return the favor with big campaign contributions. It’s so bad, foreign governments are sending immigrants to our nation to become residents so they can form PACs and influence elections. It’s already happening. The Islamic nations give away millions to American politicians through speaking engagements and PAC contributions in order to ensure the politicians use politically correct language when talking about Islamic terrorism. It’s always the radicals. Trust the moderates.

 What is the Reprisal! series really about?

Reprisal is about America today (or the not too distant future), when the American presidency is hijacked by a greedy, self-important individual who, in his lust for power and wealth, will stop at nothing to get it—lying, cheating, stealing, even murdering those in his way. The president is amoral and without any concern for the people or the country that elected him. It was just a means to an end. For the right price, he’ll enact, through presidential decree or executive order, whatever the donor requires even if it’s a foreign power bent on destroying America. When America is attacked through a devastating act of terror, this president refuses to go after the true terrorists and instead forces the FBI, through intimidation of the director, to chase domestic terror suspects. Enter billionaire businessman Steven Howard and retired Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Charles (Chip) Clarett, who, through patriotism and personal loss, are drawn into direct opposition to the president. They begin a private war on terror, taking the terror to the terrorists with no holds barred. If the government won’t protect America, they will. Their private war quickly becomes a battle not only for America’s survival, but for their own, as the president feels threatened by them when they speak out against his policies of neutrality towards Islamic terrorists. As the story continues through the follow-up novels, Howard and Clarett discover the depth of the president’s betrayal, along with his goal of becoming the first American dictator, and they boldly take steps to end his destructive reign.

Why did you choose the title ‘Reprisal!’?

I chose the title Reprisal! because the premise of the story is that of America coming alive and reclaiming its rightful place as the world leader; the true super power as we were after World War Two. Plus, there is a second meaning in the story: it represents personal revenge. Revenge that General Clarett is out to extract for the death of his daughter-in-law and grandchildren. Revenge by Steven Howard for the attack on his family by terrorists who nearly killed them.

What do you think the message behind the Reprisal! series?

That America is great. It’s not perfect, but it’s the best on the planet and getting better every day because of the American spirit not the political system (which, by the way, the American public doesn’t feel they have any real say in anymore as the laws are being changed to reduce our freedoms and to reduce our way of life to the standards of the third world). We shouldn’t let outside forces dictate to us how we should live. We need to be America, the Land of the Free, and act like it.

Can something like the events you write about in the Reprisal! series ever happen?

Sure, they can. In fact, they are happening all around us, only we’re not being told about them by the American media. The war on terror is worldwide. It is the Third World War, in my opinion. It has been waged for centuries under different names at different times, but it is a war nonetheless. It is a war being fought over idealism, one way of life against the another. In this case, it is good against evil.

Has anything from the series actually happened?

Yes, but I’ll leave it up to you to discover as you read the books. Why spoil it for you?

Why do you think America is in such turmoil politically?

Because America has had it so good for so long, the average American is plagued by apathy. They are focused on their families (and rightly so) and making a living. Television has brainwashed us into believing we don’t need to pay attention to the political happenings in Washington since the government is our friend and benefactor. Sure, we all joke about how bad it is in Washington, but how many of us actually try and do something about it? We become so used to the scandals and the politics of personal destruction, we tune it out. We don’t challenge our leaders to be better because we don’t want the political attack machine turned on us. It’s safer to just go along and accept whatever the politicians demand.

Do you think readers who aren’t political can enjoy your books?

Sure, they can. It’s an action-adventure story with politics as a side story and underlying theme. It’s a story depicting man’s struggle against the system and those behind it. It’s a David verses Goliath-type story. Good versus Evil on worldwide scale. It’s heart-warming and devastating. It’s a story stolen from today’s headlines, predicting a future only a few missteps from becoming reality. Some parts of the story may shock you. It may make you mad, and that’s okay, because I wrote it as wake-up call. A call to wake up America to reality of the world outside our suburban homes and our constant struggle for financial success. The world wants to change us, force us to be like them. To be dominated and controlled by the wealthy and not by personal dreams and achievement. They want us to not be individuals striving to be our best, but sheep afraid of our own shadows, content to have whatever our masters deem we deserve. Above all else, Reprisal! is entertaining, exciting and one hell of a good story. If you take the time to read it, you will enjoy it.

You can start this great series today by downloading the first book in the series for 99 cents from Amazon today!

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May 09

Are You the Western Writing Hare or the Cowboy Book-loving Tortoise?

cowboy tortHow did G.P. Hutchinson achieve one of the fastest selling Westerns of the year? How did he go from moving a few copies a month, to having close to a million pages of his book read in a single month? What was the magic ingredient? The truth is, there isn’t a magic ingredient. There was just one thing—consistency.

Look at the way we lead our lives. We get twenty-four hours each day to achieve our goals, dreams and to feed our families. Those of us who lead consistent lives seem to have a better time of it than those of us who bound from thing to thing, without a care in the world. In the long run, consistency is the one thing we can depend on to get us through hard times, struggles, relationship issues and family problems. Consistently plodding our way through our lives gives us stability, and that stable base allows us to thrive.

It’s the same in the world of selling books. The most successful authors are consistent in their approach. They don’t give in when they reach a hurdle or a problem. They don’t bow down when they find themselves selling less books. They keep striding, pushing, promoting, and hurling themselves at the world.

You have to be consistent in your mindset to be truly successful. One round of postings won’t do you any good. You have to do a consistent round of postings. You have to be consistent with your small ads, consistent with your keywords, consistent with the quality of your work. You have to keep bounding along with consistency. Do not put all of your eggs in one expensive basket—build a collection of baskets filled with eggs, all helping your cause.

When I started my career, I was hungry to be the most successful book promoter on the planet. I managed to finagle myself a meeting with one of the most successful experts in the business. I asked him how I could be truly successful, and he asked me if I remembered the story of the tortoise and the hare. I told him I did. He told me to study the story because it held the key to success. The speedy hare and the slowpoke tortoise lined up to have a race. The hare sped off but was so self-confident, he felt that he could spare the time to have a nap. The hare, in its arrogance, saw that the tortoise was far behind and knew that the slothful creature would never catch up. He fell asleep by a shady tree and didn’t even bother to set his alarm clock. The tortoise, determined to finish the race, plodded along. He didn’t mind losing, but he was playing to win. He kept plodding and eventually passed the sleeping hare. Soon, he crossed the line and found himself the winner of the race. His consistency won the day.

I followed that advice to the letter and tried not to be the most successful from day one. I was never the loudest, but I was the most consistent. I spent a lot cowboy tort 2of time building relationships, understanding people, growing knowledge of the business. I built a practical understanding of promotion on a budget, and I was lucky enough to have success. From book to book, my experience grew, and I honestly now can’t remember a single book promoter who started in the book business at the same time I did. I think they all fell asleep by trees, hugging their hot water bottles as I crept by.

So that’s the true key to any kind of success. Being consistent will make you #1. That’s what G.P. Hutchinson did. We promoted consistently, and the good days came with the bad, but we overcame them all to create a solid fan base for his career. We set realistic goals, and we promoted towards them using realistic promotion. We made sure to take advantage of all the techniques that have proved successful, and we consistently used those techniques to create success.

The techniques can be taught, the promotional campaigns can be set up and run for you, but you need to be consistent in your mindset to achieve the near impossible. You have to be the one who can keep walking when the wind is in your face, and together we keep slogging it out with the book business, round after round. You can contact me via the contact form below and ask me about the best techniques, strategies and tools. I can help, but you have to be ready to slog and fight for eleven rounds before winning the trophy.

May 06

Forget Amytiville, Poltergeist and Fright Night… Try “My Haunted Lives” For The Real Thing

 

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The paranormal is a strange thing. This interview is with G. Michael Vasey. A writer who spends much of his time documenting cases of the paranormal. His books on the subject have been some of the most popular written in the last few years. This interview will be all about his experiences. From strange experiences, to ghosts to the unknown..

You can learn more about G. Michael Vasey by visiting his very popular blog here. You can also find his books here. 

What was your first experience of the paranormal, and how did you react to it?

The earliest experience that I recall (though probably more as a result of having had it told to me so many times rather than a true recollection), occurred when I was just 3 or 4 years old. I had been put to bed in my room, and I saw a little blue man jump out of the mirror of my wardrobe. He jumped onto the end of my bed and held out a toy pistol and shot me with it before jumping through the window and into the night. My parents heard the gun shot! I was pretty shocked by the whole thing, I think.

Did you ever become used to the paranormal, or does it still shock you?

No, not really. But as I have got older, my natural psychic ability has waned, and I have learned a lot. I still feel atmospheres and see things but in a different way. For example, when we first bought our apartment, renovated it and moved in, I could sense a presence here. The first night I spent alone, I could not sleep hearing cracks and bangs and seeing movement out of the corner of my eye. I eventually got up and left to spend the night in my office elsewhere. The next day, I went through each and every room conducting a pentangle ritual to cleanse the house… All has been well since.

Why do you think some people are sensitive to paranormal incidents and others are not?

If you believe you will be sensitive, then you are. We do create our own reality to that extent, I think. There is a reason things don’t happen when a non-believer is around, and that is because their reality won’t allow it to happen! Everything is energy. The energy of not believing is very strong and it permeates everything. However, I always do enjoy those moments when a non-believer is confronted with a challenge to their reality. Later, they will deny anything happened, of course, but to see them jump and show fear is fun in and of itself.

What was the “definitive” proof for you that the paranormal exists?

There is no definitive proof. People see what they believe they will see. Reality is all in their heads, and if they have the right set up, they will see; if they don’t, they won’t. However, for me, it has been meditational experiences as well as things moving around that gave me the proof I need.

What was the most terrifying thing that ever happened to you?

It was the visitation in my brother’s room one night when I was home from college. The front door being opened, footsteps slowly creeping the staircase along with rasping breathing sounds, the door knob being slowly turned, the door beginning to open… My father heard it all, too, and my brother saw the door opening. I was terrified.

Do you believe that spirits are here to help or cause harm? Is there any way to tell between the two?

Just like those around us, spirits can be of any disposition. Some are helpful, some playful, and some just feed off of our fear.

Why did you decide to start writing books about the paranormal?

I have been blogging at various sites for over a decade and always wrote about my experiences. I wrote my first book in 2006 called Inner Journeys (Thoth), and I documented some of my experiences in it. At some point, I decided to try writing specifically about the paranormal, and somewhere along the line, I got hooked.

What do you think readers get out of reading about your experiences and the experiences of others?

Hopefully, they enjoy the books and they have something to think about. At the heart of all of my writings are really questions about reality. This has always been a fascination for me (see The Pink Bus, for example). So, in the end, I hope they are entertained and also that they start thinking about what is reality? What is life all about?

Do you think people are right to be scared of ghosts, or do you think there’s too much fear of the paranormal?

We are always afraid of the unknown, so I do think many will be scared by ghosts and things that are not readily understandable. I believe that some entities feed off the at fear – it is their food. So, I would advise people not to give in to fear but try getting angry instead. It always seemed to be the antidote for me.

Why do you think ghosts visit us?

Many and varied reasons from trying to tell us they are still there to warning us of things that we cannot see in terms of the future. Some ghosts are real spirits and some are energy loops replaying over and over and lacking any real intelligence.

Even from physics, we know that everything at its most basic level is energy. We have been born and bred to see patterns, but we actually block out a lot of what is there. I think we are surrounded by spirits and energies, and most of the time we chose not to see it. Sometimes, for some reason, we do; and then we see ghosts or experience paranormal activities. So, are they visiting us or do we just get occasional glimpses of a different reality?

Would you ever advise using communication devices like Ouija boards to contact spirits?

No, I would not. This can result in significant issues. Ouija boards are not games, and unless you know very well what you are doing, leave well alone. You can read all sorts of other people’s experiences playing with these things, and many have very disturbing experiences.

Where can we submit stories to you to have them included in one of your books?

You can go to my ghost experience website and submit your experience there – its called My Haunted Life Too, and is full of reader submitted stories.

Last question—what do you think happens to us when we die?

I wish I knew… If I can, I’ll come back and let you know…

 

your haunted lives revisited1Your Haunted Lives – Revisited, edited by G. Michael Vasey, is the second super collection of creepy, often downright terrifying, true experiences of the paranormal submitted by visitors to the My haunted life too website (http://ww.myhauntedlifetoo.com) and the follow up to the supernatural Amazon hit – Your Haunted Lives. It features a foreword by English Medium – Andy Hopkins, to create just the right ghostly atmosphere.

This collection of Mystifying, Scary, Real Life Ghost Stories are true tales of ‘Horrifying Encounters’ with the Supernatural and paranormal. They include visits from terrifying entities, haunted houses, strange and scary poltergeists, Attempted possession, Ouija board nightmares, evil demonic forces, haunted cemeteries, haunted places and much, much more. They will chill you to the bone! These are supplemented with true stories of the editor’s own strange and scary experiences.

This terrific, terrifying collection of true spooky stories of the paranormal will keep you looking over your shoulder and wide awake…. You can download your copy here.

 

May 05

Painting, Writing, Creating: An Interview with the Very Talented Judy Mastrangelo

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Artist and author Judy Mastrangelo recently announced that she will be moving her art into several new and exciting projects. These new products will be developed from her artwork, which is in her new Poetry Ebooks, recently published on Kindle.

Judy has also been working on a brand new series of podcasts that have been received with warmth by her fans. You can check them out here.

This interview is with that talented artist who has turned her attention to create so many beautiful projects. Her wonderfully illustrated books have been well received, and this interview should give you a taste of her talent... Let’s begin, and learn more about the creative genius behind the books…

Why was it important for you be creative? What drove that ambition?

It’s very easy for me to be creative.  It just comes naturally.  This is not exactly an ambition, it’s just the way I’m made.  I’m creative in everything I do, including cooking, sewing, dance choreography, painting and writing.  I enjoy doing many things, and creativity works hand in hand with my love of life.

How closely does your imagination follow the work you put on paper?

I imagine a project in my “mind’s eye” first, in my initial conception of an art project.  And so my imagination is a “guiding light” which is always with me in every step of developing a work, be it a painting, an illustrated book, etc.

Do movies ever influence your work?

I admit to being a movie buff.  Movies are very influential to my art, both in imagination, settings, costumes, etc.  I often get ideas for themes from great films, because they bring great stories alive for me.  I enjoy many themes portrayed in film, but my very favorite genre is Fantasy.   I’ll mention examples of this by listing some of my favorites. These are listed chronologically, from the older movies, to the present day:

MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (1935) This has very imaginative sets and costumes, a beautiful fairy ballet to the music by Felix Mendelssohn, and great acting.  In it, Micky Rooney played the most impish and delightful Puck I ever saw.

Disney’s landmark great animation SNOW WHITE (1938) was like a beautiful old fashioned story book come to life.  It’s pure magic, with delightful music.

MARCH OF THE WOODEN SOLDIERS (BABES IN TOYLAND) (1934) with beautiful music by Victor Herbert is also a wonderful coming to life of favorite beloved storybook characters and sets. It stars the lovable Laurel and Hardy, and was the first colorized moviegoer made.  It is sheer magic.

HANSEL AND GRETEL ~ an Opera Fantasy (1954) tells this tale with great imagination and artistry.  The sets and costumes, and the amazingly lifelike puppets are fantastic.  It uses the beautiful music from one of my favorite operas composed by Engelbert Humperdinck.

Some of my other favorites are the very popular MARY POPPINS and the WIZARD OF OZ.   EXCALIBUR (1981) is one of my favorite tellings of the Arthurian legend.

AMADEUS, a fictional story about the great composer Mozart, uses fabulous sets, costumes, ballet and music, all set in his splendid sumptuous era.

STAR WARS 2, The Attack of the Clones (2002) is a beautiful love story, with fantastic otherworldly backgrounds.

All the HARRY POTTER and LORD OF THE RINGS movies are amazing, of course.   And CINDERELLA (2015) is very imaginative, beautiful and elegant, following in the true classical fantasy film tradition.

What outside influences really increase your creativity?

I love to immerse myself in studying the art of great master paintings throughout the ages.  It’s so inspiring to read about their lives and to see their artwork.  I’m always excited to do this, and it spurs me on to create the best I can.

What would be your dream project?

I suppose that whatever project I am doing at the time is a dream project for me.  I just love what I do, and I have many more exciting projects to come, which are up my sleeve.  I “dream” on all these projects, and truly enjoy creating each and every one of them.  Many of them are very different from the others, but each is a thrill for me.

Can even “bad” art have merit?

Art is an amazing and inspiring thing, and it appeals to most people in one way or another.  I myself do not like every form of art and sometimes put certain things in a special classification of “bad.”  But that doesn’t mean my personal taste in that particular art is the only way I think that all people should think.  Everyone who loves art has their own tastes.  And, of course, some people might enjoy work that I don’t like at all.  That’s what is so wonderful about this field.  There is something for everyone.  I feel it would be a very bland world without any art at all.  I believe it is one of the greatest things that mankind contributes to culture.

Why did you want to move into creating books?

I’ve always enjoyed books, starting from my early childhood, so it was a natural development for me to desire to create books, since I’ve always loved stories and the artwork illustrating them.  The books I create are sometimes my own adaptations and original illustrations from classical literature.   My other books are my own stories that I’ve both written and illustrated.

What will your next book be about?

It’s in the planning stages now and is my illustrated version of a famous, delightful classical story involving fantasy and fairy characters, plus a whimsical plot.

Are publishers important, or can an indie author be creative and successful?

I’ve worked in both ways, and I feel that both of these roads have their merits.  The book publishing industry is undergoing great changes these days, with the onset of the digital age and epublishing.  I’ve had good experiences working with publishers and their book companies, plus I’ve enjoyed being an indie author and illustrator also. I feel you can be both creative and successful by publishing in both of these ways.  If you stick with your goals and high ideals, nothing will thwart your creative art and spirit.

Are you ever surprised by how many art fans there are in the world?

Yes, I am, of course.  I must admit it is very encouraging to me to see how many people all over the world enjoy my artwork.  I’ve been told that my art is very inspiring and uplifting and that it makes people happy.  This is very satisfying to me to know that I’m successfully reaching the hearts and minds of many people from many diverse backgrounds, with my messages of Love and Beauty.

Would you ever write a novel?

Well, you never know what the future may bring.  It’s a possibility.

How many books have you created?

I’ve illustrated five books of classical stories and poems, published in the trade market.  I’ve also created eleven indie books.  I have many more book projects that I am working on now.  They will be out soon.

How have reviewers treated your books?

Very well. They seem to be very complimentary and appreciative of my works. It’s very encouraging.

If you could travel back to any period of time—where would you go, and what you do?

An interesting question.  Speaking realistically, of course, going back in time to the eras that fascinate me would mean that I wouldn’t have the modern conveniences that I’m accustomed to, such as electricity, modern sanitation, and indoor plumbing.  I admit to being used to these things, and I wouldn’t want to be without them. But speaking in a fantasy-like way, here is what I’d love to experience, if I could step into a time machine:

I’d love to experience the Renaissance era and the meet the great artists who flourished in that period, such as the great Leonardo da Vinci. I’d thrill in basking in that amazing cultural atmosphere and partake in witnessing events such as seeing Michelangelo paint the Sistine Chapel.

Then I would love to transition into the Elizabethan period and meet the wonderful William Shakespeare and soak in his fantastic and colorful period of time.  There are so many periods of time and people to meet that I’d love to visit.  It’d be hard to choose.

You can discover some of Judy’s recent work by clicking on the covers below! You can check out the whole collection by clicking here

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May 03

Post and Repeat: How to Build Your Western Books Into Sellers

west 4Ask anyone. Westerns aren’t big sellers… apparently. Seriously? It must be the biggest secret in the world that the top selling Westerns are consistently outselling most of their rivals. But why is this secret so, well, secret? I’m afraid I can’t answer that at all. All I know is that Westerns are a market of books that can catapult an unknown writer to fame. I think part of the success of Westerns comes from the very nature of Western readers. These are readers who not only have a desire to read for hours, but in many cases, they also want to experience as many Westerns as they can get their hands on. It’s a voracious reading market, and that market doesn’t seem to be slowing down. The other great thing about the Western is that the stories allow authors a real opportunity to do new things. Western readers crave traditional stories but are far less particular about new concepts or ideas than perhaps other genres. If you’ve written a Western, but you have a little bit of a paranormal thing going on—they’ll give you a chance.

But the key to getting even a basic readership comes from perseverance. All authors know that marketing is one of the hardest things in the world. It’s unpredictable, techniques vary in effectiveness, and even if you have a good day of sales—the next day may fall flat.  So any author needs to be involved in marketing, and you need to see it as a long haul. The other aspect is that you have to have a good product. Remember, everyone loves their own baby—but others may not. So before you even market your Western, you have to view it as a product, and as a product that people may or may not reject. It’s not a case of good writing—in many cases, it’s down to having the right readership and being accepted by that readership.

Take, for example, “Strong Suspicions” by G.P. Hutchinson. Probably the fastest selling Western of 2016 so far with over half a million pages of the book read in April alone. “Strong Suspicions” is the second book of a series. The first book, “Strong Convictions,” was built from being unknown into being one of the surprise hits of 2015. It’s a book that appeals to Western readers as a whole—filled with adventure, action and a great love story. The second book was launched and became a huge hit. Not because it had a multi-million-dollar ad campaign, but because market awareness was driven a) by the success of the first book, and b) because the first wave of readers enjoyed the book so much they told their friends, and c) the book was promoted directly to its audience who had awareness of the original book and enjoyed it. I will also tell you that the two books in that series were both highly rated by Western readers and by the Western industry.

Now, you may be at the very beginning of this journey, so let’s talk about starting your adventure. A very talented author named Jeff Breland and I got together a couple of months ago. He has many books, and his sales have been negligible. He has tried publishers, publicists, advertising, and all manner of things. But he was still at the very beginning of the process. After just a few minutes, I knew the audience would go for him. He has many of the key ingredients. So we set a target of selling 30 books in his first month. We then set about taking the first steps—posting to relevant groups, using relevant keywords, advertising in the smallest possible way and raising awareness. We doubled our target in the first month. The second month we were conservative. We said we would like to move 60 books. We did the same thing, only we posted in more groups, we changed keywords more often, we made use of free days, we took advantage of advertising, and we sold close to 100 books, again beating our target. This month, I am going to ask Jeff to help me sell 100 of his books. We will do exactly the same thing, and I think we will probably sell 130 books. We are growing the audience and the desire of the audience for his books.

So, as you can see, it takes perseverance because you have to build the audience from scratch. You have to allow word of mouth to spread, you also have to be consistent in your everyday marketing, whether that be posting your way across Facebook, or driving your way across the Western forums.  You have to seek out your audience, and you have to give them a chance to actually notice the book. You also have to be conservative in your approach. Don’t aim for 100,000 books sold in your first month. Try 30 and keep doubling.

Then you keep the ball rolling. Throw in other ingredients like interviews, advertising, perhaps a top level review, and you build your audience and repeat the process with your second book—hopefully with greater results. Don’t forget to add extra products like audiobooks, paperbacks and perma-frees into the mix, too. It sounds very easy—but it isn’t. That’s why I am saying that if you need any advice, or want to discuss how to help your book progress, you can email me at Nick@nickwale.org, or use the contact form below. I will try my best to answer your questions and to give you the guidance that you may be looking for.

 

Apr 28

Is Your Life Haunted? An Interview With Author G. Michael Vasey

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Is there anyone out there who isn’t scared of the books G. Michael Vasey writes? His “Your Haunted Lives” series has been tearing up the Amazon charts for some time now. His audiobooks are favorites of listeners who like their books creepy, and his blog “My Haunted Life Too” is one of the most diverse collections of paranormal stories you could ever wish to read. But what keeps G. Michael Vasey running? This interview should shed some light on the darkest recesses of his mind…

Who do you have in mind when you write?

Me. I write about my interests and things that I am passionate about. I trust that the end product is something ofvasey new
interest to others and that I have something unique to offer – my perspective, and one that is entertaining and different.

How do you find “inspiration” and where does it live?

Inspiration often comes to me in a semi-meditative state. So listening to music of the right type can start the juices flowing, or sometimes I listen to meditation music on Youtube as I write. It seems to relax me and open a channel to the creative part of me. Other books can also give inspiration, too, so when I am reading something it will trigger a series of questions or thoughts and an inner dialogue.  Finding inspiration is not difficult, to be honest. If you look around and pay attention to what is around you, how can you not be inspired? For example, until recently, I lived in Prague. Most people tramp to work, head down, worrying about the day ahead or wishing themselves miles away. As I walked through Prague to work, I looked up – at the glorious architecture and beauty, history and sheer wow of the city I lived in… that inspires me.

Have you always aspired to be a writer?

No, but writing has always been a key part of what I do for a living, and I have always enjoyed writing. Being an author sort of sprung up on me when I realized what a body of work I had published as articles, newsletters, book chapters and so on. Once I got comfortable with the idea, I thought – why not give it a proper go?

Tell me about how you became a writer. What was the first step for you?

Having to write is a part of my job. I must have written well over 500 articles in newsletters and magazines professionally along with 100 white papers and reams of blog articles. So, it is something I do continually. The step you ask about is probably when I first sat down with the objective of writing a book, and I did that because I was told to in meditation…

Do you have a distinctive “voice” as a writer?

I don’t know, to be honest, but in poetry I do try to play with words in certain evocative ways.

Do you think anyone can learn to be an effective writer, or is it an unnamed spiritual gift?

I think anyone who really wants to write can learn, but very few writers are true masters. That is a gift that you are born with.

Is there a book you’ve written that you’re most proud of?

No, as I tend to keep looking forward as opposed to backwards. That’s not to say there isn’t a book I am fond of. My novel, The Last Observer, though certainly not perfect, is my favourite book to date; and my last book of poetry – Moon Whispers – I think is my strongest effort yet. I pick the novel because it has the potential to appeal to a broader group of readers, I think.

On average, how long does it take for you to write your ideas down before you start writing a book?

I don’t follow this approach, usually. I plan it in my head and then, after it’s going, I start to write down sub-plots and themes I wish to develop. In the end, though, the books have a surprising talent for writing themselves and surprising even me. I suppose it’s because I usually write in a meditative state, and it’s as if it’s not me doing the writing anyway.

What would you say is the “defining” factor in your writing? What makes it yours?

Ah, good question! I think it’s my passion for trying to understand the nature of reality and my practise of magic. You see, I think magic (or if you prefer, metaphysics) has already described the Universe, and science is gradually catching up. What fascinates me is how we create our own reality or our own perspective on reality and how imagination and will can make magic. This provides for a never-ending smorgasbord of ideas, plots, endings and concepts to play with.

How do you guard your time to do what’s most important?

I am a multi-tasker and am always engaged in fifteen things at once. I move my focus from one thing to another and that constant variety keeps me engaged and busy.

What are some of the more common distractions you struggle with, and which ways have you found to overcome them?

There are times when I simply do not want to write. So I don’t.

What kind of review do you take to heart?

Oh, I hate bad reviews and take them ever so personally. It seems to me that there are a few people out there that simply get a kick out of writing deeply negative reviews – like trolls on a discussion board. I can’t help being hurt by deeply negative criticism. On the other hand, we only get better through criticism. It is how that criticism is delivered that makes the difference between something we gain from or something we are hurt by.

How do you decide what your next book will be about?

Well, I decide probably in a moment of massive interest in something or an idea, but then I end up writing something else entirely! For example, on my bio it says I am writing a book about the Fool in magic. It’s a great idea, and I have written a few pages, but I keep finding other things to write about, and I make no progress at all on that idea. I keep it in the bio to remind me that I must/should/will write that book.

Was there a link between your childhood and your vocation as a writer?

Yes – imagination. I had and still do have a very well developed imagination to the point I can really be where I imagine I am. It is this imagination that runs riot and is the creative seed within me.

As a writer, however, you have the opportunity to self-reflect, to revisit experiences. How does that feel?

Sometimes good but not always… often, the worst of life’s experiences are actually the best – at least for writing.

What motivates you to tackle the issues others may avoid, such as nature and spirituality?

I have been interested in such things since I was knee high to a grasshopper as I wrote in my first book – Inner Journeys. Back when I was 12, I was attending meetings of the church for psychical research and reading Blavatsky… So, I am well-grounded in this stuff and a practising magician to boot. As a result, I guess I see the world a bit differently and want to share the idea that the world looks like you want it to.

When you start a new book, do you know how a book will end as you’re writing it? Or does its direction unfold during the writing, research and/or creative process?

The Last Observer wrote itself, I swear. The ending surprised me and still does.

How do you see your role in impacting and influencing society?

I only hope that I can make people think a bit, wake up and look around and see that not everything is how they were taught. If they do that, then I have already succeeded.

If you weren’t a writer, what would you like to do?

Writing is so integral to everything I do, and it’s not possible to answer this question.

What are the things a writer “must not” do? You know, I don’t like rules. Why should a writer not do anything? I do feel sometimes that we are constrained by success, but real art is breaking all the rules and having the product mean something. This is why I love poetry – there are NO rules. I hear some people criticising Indie writers as if the only people who should write are Shakespeare and his ilk; but this is literary snobbishness, isn’t it? Everyone should be able to write if they so choose, and if they break rules of grammar but people love their stuff, then great….

What are some pieces of advice that you would give someone on writing well?

I would never tell someone how to write – I think people should write as they wish, and some will deem it to be good and some bad.

Young writers often make foolish mistakes. What is a mistake to avoid?

Answering a bad review… don’t do it. Ever. I did, and I learned.

What obstacles and opportunities do you see for writers in the years ahead?

The whole industry is in flux with eBooks, Amazon and so on. Trying to keep up with how to market what you write, how to make money, how to find an audience, whether to self-publish or not? It’s knowing how things will fall out that could present either an obstacle or opportunity.

Could you talk about one work of creative art that has powerfully impacted you as a person?

Yes – a CD by Blackfield called Blackfield II. The music on that CD inspires me to write, and it feeds my creative juices. Every single poem in Moon Whispers was written listening to that CD. In fact, music often is the work of creative art that sends me….

What relationship do you see between imagination and creativity, and the real world?

Imagination and creativity are intertwined like lovers – one needs the other, and together they make beautiful music.

For a writer, it is easy to become an elitist. Have you ever (or do you still) struggle with pride as an author?

Not really – I do what I do and lots of people do the same so there is nothing special about me. But let’s see how I behave if I ever have a real best seller, shall we?

With all your success, how do you stay humble?

Age. I am that sort of age where nothing much impresses me anymore, least of all myself.

Have you ever considered writing fiction full time?

I would love to… will you get me a contract?


your haunted lives cover1111One of the bestselling Vasey collections is his “Your Haunted Lives” book. With hot sales, and terrified fans this selection of stories is likely to keep you up all night, wondering what is hiding in the dark corners of your house! 

A truly unique set of tales of the supernatural that will give you goosebumps and have you looking over your shoulder.

The second book in this series is also available!

 

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