Book Shelf: The Orchid Thief – A True Story of Beauty and Obsession by Susan Orlean

The Orchid Thief – A True Story of Beauty and Obsession by Susan Orlean

After reading Orlean’s book titled, The Library Book, I just knew I wanted to read this one. Fascinating history of the state of Florida, educating me on entire topics I had no idea about. The passionate world of orchid collectors, and those that will do anything, pay any price to have the orchids they feel are beautiful and unique. Looking forward to watching the movie, Adaption. It’s on my list!

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“Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.”

To support this website and the author’s interviewed, visit Support MTA for suggestions. Thank you! – Camilla

Meet the Author: A Mystery of Blood and Dust by Danae Penn

Today we travel to south-west France to chat with Danae Penn about how pilgrims, Argentina, an enormous garden, medieval life, giving lectures, going for walks, red herrings, traveling alone, and avoiding buffaloes come together as part of Danae’s current and past life.

Tell me a bit about yourself.

I live in south-west France, halfway between Bordeaux and Toulouse, in a small town called Condom which is where I base my novels. It is on the Way of St James pilgrimage track from Le Puy to Santiago de Compostela and there are thousands of pilgrims walking through the town every year. There were many pilgrims 500 years ago too, and some of them have walked into my novels.

In which genre do you write?

I write historical mysteries with a Gascon woman detective called Belina Lansac who helps her husband William. He has to hide the fact that he is English so he is always known as Guillaume, the Bishop’s Inquirer.

How many published books do you have?

I have just published my second book, A Mystery of Blood and Dust. Book 1 of the Belina Lansac Murder Mysteries is called False Rumours and that was translated into French by David Manson, with the title of Les Princes et le Pelerin. David is translating Book 2 into French now, and I am already plotting my third book which is about Basque sailors reaching America before Columbus did – but keeping that very secret. I have (with difficulty!) found a reason for these sailors to be travelling through Condom and getting involved in a murder mystery.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer and what ignited your author’s flame?

I wrote my first book when I was 22 and living in Argentina but I did not bother to revise the text – so I ended up with rejection slips! My teacher/lecturer husband became an author of topographical guides to England, France and Spain and I helped him a lot with that. I decided to try to write a novel again, bought several how-to books on creative writing, and half way through doing the first draft of my novel I bought a book which I can really recommend: The Weekend Novelist Writes a Mystery by Robert J. Ray and Jack Remick. They advise working out the characters first: the Killer, the Victim, the Sleuth, and the Catalyst. Only after that should you start on the plotting, and then the crime scene, dialogue, action and setting. That gets the Weekend Novelist to Weekend 13, and the rest of the year is spent on writing and revising drafts.

What do you do when not writing or marketing your books?

I spent most of 2020 at home, locked down in my house and enormous garden. This was beneficial for the garden as well as for making progress with A Mystery of Blood and Dust. Previous years have been very different. I have given lectures in English and French about medieval life, wearing a gown borrowed from the local dramatic society, and borrowing ancient objects found in friends’ attics and barns to give some idea of the difficulties of life in previous centuries. For example, for my medieval cooking demonstration I piled some logs on the church/museum floor, but did not light them of course, and showed a variety of ancient blackened cauldrons, ladles and mortars. The audience and the local journalists love my lectures. I go to many history meetings and visits, all in French, learn about Gascon history, and sell my books, each one signed and dedicated to the buyer. Every Sunday I come back into the twenty-first century and walk with the local rambling club for three hours, and twice a year we spend a week somewhere in France or Spain and walk all day, every day. It is very healthy!

What is the most enjoyable thing you’ve found through writing?

Creating characters, especially those who are red herrings. I try to make them all different and slightly quirky, with plenty of hidden background to their lives. At least, they try to keep it hidden, but I know their qualities and their faults. I also enjoy signing and dedicating my books and talking to journalists about them and then seeing their friendly reviews in newspapers and magazines.

What is the most crazy thing that has ever happened to you?

I usually travel to far-away countries and by myself, although organised by English tour operators. Rather too often something crazy happens, and a friend of mine once sent me an email wishing me ‘Bon Voyage Danae, but don’t do anything excessively adventurous.’ She had in mind the time I hiked up a remote mountain in Myanmar with two Burmese guides and they insisted I came down it on the back of a motorbike instead of walking down the rocky track among swerving motorbikes, avoiding buffaloes, children and chickens. I thought that was a very dangerous idea and insisted on wearing a crash helmet. The following day I learned that at dusk there was a worse danger: bandits moving into the area and kidnapping me.

Tell us about your most recent book.

A Mystery of Blood and Dust – A Belina Lansac Murder Mystery was published in November 2020 and is the second book of the series, the sequel to False Rumours (and its French translation by David Manson, Les Princes et le Pelerin). Both novels show how my Gascon heroine-detective takes over the murder investigations which her husband William/Guillaume should be doing, but he has to leave Condom in a hurry. I include a town map of Condom at the beginning of each book so that readers can follow Belina as she walks through the medieval town full of pilgrims, pie-sellers, animals, smells, yells – and people trailing Belina.

It was wonderful having you be a part of MTA and to learn more about you and your writing style. Wishing you all the best, Danae! – Camilla

Where to find the book.

All three books can be found as paperbacks and ebooks on Amazon and in bookshops world-wide, and the first chapters can be read as previews on the Home page of my website https://belinalansac.com which has links to Amazon, Facebook and Linkedin and which gives plenty of info about medieval life for all the readers who have time-travelled back 500 years when reading my Belina Lansac mysteries.

Blurb for A Mystery of Blood and Dust:

Gascony 1483. Why is a consul’s daughter lying dead in the Sainte Eulalie chapel when she should be in a mansion attending her betrothal banquet?

Bishop’s enquirer Guillaume Lansac is tasked with solving the mystery – until he is called away by a danger that threatens English King Richard III’s nephews who are travelling to safety in Portugal. He must ride fast to Navarre to save them, leaving his wife Belina to solve the murder alone. But she is more worried about the dangers facing her family. One of her brothers has returned wounded from the war in Granada, bringing a Moorish girl with him, while the other risks being turned out of his mill and robbed of his livelihood and family home. Belina finds herself surrounded on all sides by enemies who seem determined to destroy her.

How can she survive in Guillaume’s absence, let alone solve the crime?

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Book Shelf: Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde

Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde

The first book I’ve read by Audre Lorde, and I plan on reading more of her writings. Originally published in 1984, the book touches on racism, being Black and how that intersects with feminism and lesbianism. I found the writings to be incredibly informative.

Quotes from the book: “I give the most strength to my children by being willing to look within myself, and by being honest with them about what I find there, without expecting a response beyond their years. In this way they begin to learn to look beyond their own fears.”

“We can sit in our corners mute forever while our sister and our selves are wasted, while our children are distorted and destroyed, while our earth is poisoned; we can sit in our safe corners mute as bottles, and we will still be no less afraid.”

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“Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.”

To support this website and the author’s interviewed, visit Support MTA for suggestions. Thank you! – Camilla

 

Meet the Author: Murder at Macbeth by Samantha Goodwin

Today we travel to Leeds, England to chat with Samantha Goodwin about how being a Marketing Manager, handwriting all first drafts, being inspired by a newspaper article, superstitions surrounding Macbeth, a tarantula, and The Lord of the Rings come together as part of Samantha’s past and current life.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m a crime author from Leeds, England. In my day job I’m a Marketing Manager for a national charity and I’m married with a two-year-old son who likes to keep me on my toes.

In which genre do you write?

I’m a crime mystery author and Murder at Macbeth is my debut novel. It’s a classic whodunnit that centres around a talented young actress who unwittingly stabs herself live onstage after a prop knife is tampered with. Suspicion soon falls on her eclectic castmates, but who had the motive to kill the leading lady…

A lot of reviewers have likened it to a modern-day Poirot (high praise indeed!) and said it reads like a really good episode of a prime-time crime series, like CSI or Person of Interest.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer and what ignited your author’s flame?

I’ve wanted to write a book since I was about 5 years old. I used to write short stories and poetry all the time when I was younger and it was my husband, Chris, who finally convinced me to take the plunge and write my first novel.

What is an interesting writing quirk you have, that we wouldn’t know by reading your biography?

I write all my first drafts by hand! I find the ideas flow so much better with a pen, rather than sitting and typing on my computer.

Where did the idea for your most recent book come from?

I was actually inspired by a newspaper article about a London West End actor who was accidentally stabbed live on stage. That got me thinking; what if that had been intentional? What a dramatic way to murder someone and believe you could get away with it.

I’ve always been fascinated by the superstitions surrounding Macbeth about it being cursed and the fact the play itself is about corruption and deception provided an interesting parallel to the murder mystery. Plus, I found the concept of interviewing suspects who are also actors really interesting; they could so easily be playing a part to hide the truth.

List 3 interesting facts about yourself.

I love musical theatre and have met Jonathan Groff (Hamilton/Glee/Spring Awakening fans will appreciate this!) I love Marvel movies and my favourite superhero is Spider-Man. I’ve held a tarantula.

(Spoiler Alert: If you have not seen Endgame, do not watch this trailer.)

At this stage in your life, what advice would your young self give to your more mature self?

Don’t worry about trying to please everyone. When it comes to writing, inevitably not everyone will love your book and that’s okay. If I’ve learned anything from being in a book club it’s that it is impossible to write a book that everyone enjoys. Focus on the people who enjoy your genre; they are your target audience.

What’s the last movie you watched and why did you choose to watch it?

Me and my husband have been rewatching The Lord of The Rings movies. Such timeless masterpieces. I find it so inspiring so think that all of that originated from one writer’s imagination!

Do you believe things happen for a reason?

Absolutely. This was actually my Dad’s catchprase, “Everything happens for a reason.”

Which of your personality traits has been most useful and why?

I’m very conscientious, which has been a really helpful personality trait when it comes to writing and editing my books. That attention to detail is definitely useful to ensure that everything I release is of the highest possible standard.

Tell us about your most recent book and where we can find it.

This year I’ve been working on a collaborative non-fiction book called Indie Writing Wisdom, which was released on 1st December 2020.

With the aim to inspire the next generation of writers, this book was written by eleven well-respected indie authors who all came together to share our expertise about our own self-publishing experiences and the useful approaches we took to ensure our books stood out effectively in a marketplace that has millions of books vying for attention.

It includes lots of practical advice on different elements of the publishing process from crafting interesting characters, writing motivation and plotting to editing, formatting, book marketing and much more. Our hope is to encourage fellow writers and answer the question we all get asked most frequently, which is, “How did you write and release a book?” And the best thing is that all the profits will be going to the Encephalitis Society (the brain inflammation charity).

It was wonderful to have you on MTA, and to learn more about you and your writing style. Wishing you all the best!!! – Camilla

Biography

Samantha Goodwin has written professionally for her business career as a Chartered Marketing Manager for over a decade before turning her hand to fiction. As an avid crime fiction fan, she regularly participates in the renowned Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate and completed their prestigious Crime Writing Creative Workshop. She also relishes attending literature festivals across the country as well as engaging in numerous online writing communities.

Keen to support upcoming authors, Samantha recently launched the #IndieWritingWisdom initiative on Instagram to collate and share inspiring, original writing quotes and does a weekly #IndieBookSpotlight to showcase indie books.

When she is not writing, Samantha enjoys reading, countryside walks, movies, musicals and almost all chocolate (but controversially not Oreos). She lives in Leeds, England with her husband, Chris, and son, Jack.

Murder at Macbeth is her first novel and was longlisted for the international Flash 500 Novel Award, has won a Gold LIterrary Titan Award, Chill With A Book Award and is an Indie Author Central (IAC) Approved 5 Star Read.

Her collaborative non-fiction book, Indie Writing Wisdom, is released on 1st December 2020. It provides practical advice and inspiring insights on writing and self-publishing from successful indie authors from all over the world. All profits will go to the Encephalitis Society (the brain inflammation charity).

Murder at Macbeth – Book Blurb

Something wicked this way comes…

When a talented, young actress unwittingly stabs herself live onstage after a prop knife is tampered with, suspicion immediately falls on her eclectic band of castmates.

But who had the motive to kill the show’s leading lady?

As the insightful, yet disillusioned, Detective Inspector Finley Robson and his shrewd partner, Detective Sergeant Nadia Zahra, interrogate the seven key suspects, secrets unfold to unveil a web of scandal, blackmail, and deceit.

Bitter rivalries, secret trysts and troubled pasts are just the beginning of the story…

Gold Literary Titan Award / Chill With a Book Award / Longlisted for the International Flash 500 Novel Award / Indie Author Central 5-Star Approved Read

Website: http://samanthagoodwinnet.wordpress.com

Instagram: @samanthagoodwinauthor

Goodreads Link: http://bit.ly/murderatmacbethgoodreads

Amazon Link: http://bit.ly/murderatmacbeth

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To support this website and the author’s interviewed, visit Support MTA for suggestions. Thank you! – Camilla, Founder and Host

Friday with Friends: Trending Toward Wellness with Nita Sweeney

Trending Toward Wellness with Nita Sweeney

I hadn’t planned to become a mental health advocate. For two decades, while I struggled with my own writing, I taught writing to adults. I also published a monthly email newsletter for writers in central Ohio, USA, and blogged about the writing process. People reached out for writing advice and I coached those who asked. The work brought some joy, but never felt completely “me.” I continued, knowing it helped others and because my clients praised my work.

Things shifted with the release of my award-winning running and mental health memoir, Depression Hates a Moving Target: How Running with My Dog Brought Me Back from the Brink (Mango, 2019). After I wrote openly about my struggle with anxiety and depression from bipolar disorder, and how running helped me find more stability, most of the people who contacted me weren’t interested in writing. Instead, they wanted to hear more about how I hauled myself off the sofa, took up running, and saved my life. They were trying to save their own lives, or the lives of their friends and family. Their questions launched my next adventure: wellness author.

But the work I’d done in the years leading up to this wasn’t lost. During the decades I blogged about “writing” I was actually chronicling my emotional struggles. Distorted thinking, self-doubt, and recurring nightmares brought on by bipolar disorder often made it hard for me to publish even one post a month. Other times, in a manic spree, I would post every day. My struggle with consistency felt like failure and I was often ashamed. So, I wrote about it. As I grow into this new role as an advocate for emotional wellness, I see that I was always writing from a mental health perspective. I had simply miscategorized my work.

When my editor at Mango Publishing Group invited me to co-create the writing journal, You Should Be Writing (Mango, 2020), offering quotes from our favorite authors as prompts, we included chapters on self-care (Writing as Medicine) and on helping others (The Role and Responsibility of the Writer). Given the emotional struggles of many writers, the quotes in these “wellness” chapters are just as important as those that address the sound of language or the craft of writing. Writers need them all.

When I think too long about moving from writing teacher to wellness author, the anxiety resurfaces. When it does, I think back to a day years ago when depression, once again, had me paralyzed on the sofa. A high school friend’s social media post inspired me to pick up a kitchen timer, leash up our dog, and jog for sixty seconds. The journey that culminated in my first book being published began when I thought “If she can do it, why can’t I?” So now, when I feel afraid about the shift in my writing focus, I search for others who have made similar transformations. Stories of people who change directions mid-career give me the same courage I felt that first day I leashed up the dog to run.

These days, when people reach out for writing advice, I’m more likely to ask about their mental health than their writing. I talk and write about the need for a strong support system, meditative practices, and joyful movement to feed heart and mind. Each of us, writer or not, needs these to fully pursue our passions.

What emotional stability tools do you have in place? Do you move every day, even a little? Do you write as a practice, recording the wild patterns of your mind? And do you sit or walk in meditation to feed the deepest part of you?

Every tiny tool counts. If you need to build a kit, reach out. I’m happy to help you begin.

ABOUT NITA SWEENEY

Nita Sweeney is the award-winning wellness author of the running and mental health memoir, Depression Hates a Moving Target: How Running with My Dog Brought Me Back from the Brink and co-creator of the writing journal, You Should Be Writing: A Journal of Inspiration & Instruction to Keep Your Pen Moving. A long-time meditator, three-time marathoner, and former assistant of writing practice originator Natalie Goldberg, Nita founded the Facebook group Mind, Mood, and Movement to support mental well-being through mindful meditation, exercise, and writing practice. She lives in central Ohio with her husband, Ed, and their yellow Labrador retriever, Scarlet. Sign up here for wellness tips and information about Nita’s activities.

To see Nita’s previous interview on MTA, go here …

Meet the Author: Depression Hates a Moving Target by Nita Sweeney

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Book Shelf: Butterfly Tree by Sandra Markle

**Throwback to 2016** – From the time Thomas and Lillian were born (2005 and 2001) I read to them nightly before going to bed; leading to some time in 2017 when we all decided to discontinue doing so. Their tastes in what interested each of them had solidified by this point. We all continue to be heavy readers, reading daily.

Butterfly Tree by Sandra Markle

Great story of the wonder and mystery of the migration of monarch butterflies. Made it into a great mystery! Cool!

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“Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.”

To support this website and the author’s interviewed, visit Support MTA for suggestions. Thank you! – Camilla

Meet the Author: The Black Fire Chronicles by Kim Rigby

Today we travel to Raymond Terrace in Australia to chat with Kim Rigby about how the Royal Australian Navy, Lupus, tropical fish, the realms of spirituality, Billy Connolly, a sense of community, roller skating, singing, Monet, and Sydney Harbour play roles in Kim’s current and past life.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m Australian, and I live in a small town called Raymond Terrace, near Newcastle in New South Wales (approximately two hours north of Sydney). Raymond Terrace has been home for the past two years, but I’ve lived in many places in Australia, thanks in no small part to twelve years in the Royal Australian Navy. I’m married for the second time, with no children as I have the autoimmune condition Lupus. I’m the doting fur mum of a grey cat called Max, and of numerous tropical fish!

In which genre do you write?

For the past few years, I’ve written a fantasy adventure series called The Black Fire Chronicles. It started off being middle grade, but it seems my stories are ageing along with the readers, and they are now aimed at young adults and adults.

How many published books do you have?

There are currently five books in the series, plus a novella prequel.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer and what ignited your author’s flame?

I was young, probably eight years old. My brothers were much older than me and not interested in playing with their little sister, so life at home was filled with books. I also had a wonderful school teacher who read to us all the time. I caught up with him 20 years ago, and he presented me with a story I wrote in 1979. It was a blatant rip-off of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but it was the start of all my scribbles!

What are you currently reading?

I’m reading The Healer’s Awakening, an ARC historic women’s novel by the lovely Helen Pryke. This is the third in the series, and I love the gentle overlapping of time and place in each of the books, and the growing story of the healers, their triumphs and tragedies.

I’m also reading The Midnight Library, by Matt Haig. This man has a stunning writing style, and he’s my new idol.

Camilla: I’ve got The Midnight Library on hold at the library. Can’t wait until it’s my turn. 

Where did the idea for your most recent book come from?

My books revolve around hero Andrew Adler, his extraordinary pets Ralph (and Winston in my work-in-progress), and his human guardians Dorothy, Patrick, and Angus. I wrote Patrick the War Man in 2020 about a man who experienced nearly all theatres of war in the 20th Century through a trick of time. Patrick believed war was the answer to his own anguish. Instead he discovered, friendship, loss, and love. The book is part homage to my own grandfather, who fought at Gallipoli, and part homage to the men and women who have silently served in the defence force.

What do you do when not writing or marketing your books?

When I’m not writing or reading, you’ll find me in the garden, or pursuing knowledge within the realms of spirituality and self-help. I strive to become a better person, as I feel change must start within ourselves.

If you could have a fantasy tea or coffee date with an author or famous person from the past or present, who would it be and what would you ask them?

I’d love to sit down with Billy Connolly. He’s the consummate storyteller, famous but with immense humility, and now a certain fragility due to Parkinson’s Disease. I could learn a lot from him, and have a laugh along the way!

What is the most enjoyable thing you’ve found through writing?

A sense of community with other writers. I’m a fairly shy person, so finding myself in a number of writer’s groups and pages has made all the difference. I’m deeply grateful to Helen Pryke Domi, Sarah Northwood, Kayleigh Louise Brown, and many others who have extended an extremely long arm of friendship all the way to Australia!

Camilla: I agree with you about the sense of community and the lovey group that Helen and the other ladies have created. That’s how you and I met, too! 

List 3 interesting facts about yourself.

I learned to roller skate when I was five, but I’m still absolutely rubbish at riding a bike.
I was a soccer goalkeeper at university, because no one else wanted to do it!
I love singing! I had a good voice, but if fails me sometimes, as my vocal chords were damaged when my thyroid was removed in 2011.

If you could turn into one of your characters for a day, which one would it be and why, what would you do? 

Hands down I’d turn into Andrew Adler’s kooky neighbour, Dorothy Jordan. Dorothy’s childhood was my childhood, but I envy Dorothy’s ability to time step and visit Monet in his glorious garden, and Vita Sackville-West in her famous White garden at Sissinghurst.

What’s your favorite place to visit in your country and why?

My favourite places always involve some form of history, so for me it’s Sydney. You’ll find Sydney popping up in my stories again and again because there are many places where you can stop and imagine yourself stepping into the past. This overlap of time and history has always fascinated me, and you’ll see examples of this in The Rocks area, the older suburbs like Balmain and Paddington, and down by the water on Sydney Harbour.

What are you currently working on?

My current WIP is a continuation of hero Andrew Adler’s story. In The Black Fire Chronicles – The Hag, Andrew discovers he is a key figure in an ancient prophecy. Meanwhile, his personal life is torn apart by the reappearance of a dark and devious character, the Hag. Who is she, and why does she plague Andrew and his guardians? And who is her new and dangerous henchman? If you like a fantasy adventure with love, loss, time travel, and history, The Hag will be out early 2021.

Which book should we read first in the series?

Start reading The Black Fire Chronicles – Origins.

It was lovely learning more about you and your writing style, Kim. Wishing you all the best and I look forward to our blossoming friendship! – Camilla

Where to find the book:

Amazon: http://mybook.to/BFC1

Connect with Kim:

Website: https://kimrigby.com/

Social Media:

facebook: https://facebook.com/kimrigbywriter
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimrigby27/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kimrigby27
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Meet the Author: Christmas Island by Natalie Normann

Today we travel to Oslo, Norway to chat with Natalie Normann about how hygge, living in Spain, watching dubbed TV, dragons, Viking ships, writing a book in English, and book treasure hunts come together as part of Natalie’s current and past life.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

Hi. I’m in Oslo, Norway, where it’s getting darker and colder by the minute. We have a saying in Norway – well, it’s a line from a Christmas song – that Christmas will last until Easter, and with the year we’d all had, I wouldn’t mind. I need all the cosy and hygge I can get.

In which genre do you write?

I write contemporary romance in English and historical romance series in Norwegian.

How many published books do you have?

I had to use a calculator for this. By the end of 2020, I will have published 63 books, and finished another that will be out early next year.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer and what ignited your author’s flame?

When I was twelve we moved to Spain and I had to live without books for three years. I went to a Norwegian School and I had read all the books in the tiny school library already. The public library only had books in Spanish, which didn’t help me at all.

We had a TV, but everything on it was dubbed, we couldn’t understand a word, but that didn’t stop us from watching. We would guess what the characters said and have a grand time trying to figure what the story was, and from there I started writing what would now be called fanfiction.

Later, when I saw movies that I had only seen dubbed, the story was usually very different from what I had imagined. Three years later we returned to Norway, but by then I was in the habit of writing and I wrote my first novel at 14. It was not very good, but it was a whole story.

What is an interesting writing quirk you have, that we wouldn’t know by reading your biography?

I have the TV on while I write. It keeps the restless and unfocused part of my brain occupied, while I write. That usually mean I only see bits and pieces of a movies, but I can live with that. It works best if it’s something I have seen before, so I don’t get engaged in the story.

What would you choose as your mascot, and why?

A dragon, no contest. Viking ships had dragon heads, my grandfather carved dragon heads that he put on his garage roof, and I loved the dragons in Cardiff when I lived there.

Dragons are awesome.

What are you currently reading?

One Kiss Before Christmas by Emma Jackson. It’s lovely.

Where did the idea for your most recent book come from?

It showed up when I was writing Summer Island. Throughout the story, Jack, my British main character, talks to his sister Holly on the mobile. She’s fascinated by his adventure on a Norwegian island. So, of course Holly needed her own story. It grew from there.

What is the most surprising thing you’ve learned about yourself through writing?

I’m basically a lazy person, and I’m really good at thinking about doing things, and not so good at following through. When I became a full time writer – with a contract to write six books a year – and I actually managed to find the self-discipline to do that, nobody was more shocked than me. But it was fun and it was paid work, and I had a great time writing. Still do.

What is the most crazy or inspiring thing that has ever happened to you?

I got to write a book in English. That’s pretty crazy and something I never thought I would be able to do. And now I have written two!

You are about to speak publicly to a group and read from your latest book. What do you do to prepare yourself?

I’m very confident and calm before something like this, especially if it’s not happening for a while. And then, about half an hour before it starts, I have an anxiety attack, and if there’s nobody there to either introduce me or ask me questions, I freeze like a deer in headlights. It’s really embarrassing and so annoying, because I would like to do well, I love talking about books and writing, and I keep hoping I’ll get used to it. Maybe one day.

What do you miss about being a kid?

I miss all the reading time I had, the wonderful excitement of discovering new books and new writers. It was like a treasure hunt. I would read everything I could get my hands on. Now, I have to manage my time and that’s not fun at all.

At this stage in your life, what advice would your young self give to your more mature self?

I would tell myself not to take everything so serious and to have more fun.

Tell us about your most recent book.

It’s the story of Holly, a very stressed, just graduated doctor, who has an episode at the hospital where she works. She is suspended while the hospital tries to figure out what to do with her. Her brother suggest that she comes to the Norwegian island where he lives, for a change of scenery, cozy surroundings and good food.

It was great wonderful to have you on MTA, Natalie! I very much enjoyed learning more about you and your writing style. Wishing you all the best! – Camilla

Book Trailer:

Where to find the book:

Christmas Island is published on the 30th of November as an ebook.

It will be available everywhere they sell ebooks.

Connect with Natalie:

Twitter: @NatalieNormann1

Instagram: natalienormann

Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/NatalieNormannAuthor

Pinterest: Natalie Normann

http://mybook.to/ChristmasInNorway

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To support this website and the author’s interviewed, visit Support MTA for suggestions. Thank you! – Camilla, Founder and Host

 

Book Shelf: Anywhere That Is Wild – John Muir’s First Walk to Yosemite

Anywhere That Is Wild – John Muir’s First Walk to Yosemite – edited by Peter & Donna Thomas

Apparently Muir never published details of his first walk to Yosemite. This husband and wife team poured hours into researching Muir’s writings to put together this short book detailing his walk, in Muir’s own words. It was interesting to read his descriptions of seeing the area for the first time.

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Meet the Author: The Foley Chronicles: Files from the 8th District by Nathan E Bush

Today we travel to south Alabama, USA, to chat with Nathan Bush about how the Army, having five kids, Tolkien, Dungeons and Dragons, writing for his high school newspaper, coffee, music, the American Bald Eagle, spending time outside, and feeling connected to the people he has created are a part of Nathan’s past and current life.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

–Hey, hello there! Thanks so much for inviting me over, Camilla. Whew, I wasn’t expecting such a large audience. I sure hope I don’t make a fool of myself in front of all these people.

–A brief intro, huh? Well, I guess that’s why we’re here. So these fine fans can get to know me. Oh, where to begin. Simple is best. My name’s Nathan Bush, but some call me Poppa Nate. Most assume it’s because I’m old and have grandkids (we have 2, for now, hint hint), but it actually stems from the time my wife Tammy and I spent working with the teens at our church, which lasted for ten years (and can definitely make you feel old). Oh, yeah, I’m s’posed to be giving my intro. Let’s see…I’m an indie author living in south Alabama, US. I’ve lived here since separating from the Army in ’97. During the last 23 years I’ve met my best friend, and married her, increased the family from two kids to five (our oldest is about to turn 30 and the youngest is almost 6), worked my butt off for others and myself, and basically lived a life that I wouldn’t change for any reason.

In which genre do you write?

–Hm, my genre? My flash fiction, which I put on my WordPress blog, is all over the place. But my main work, The Foley Chronicles: Files from the 8th District, is dropped into a tiny niche that I’ve dubbed faith-based crime, with an attitude. Basically, I have taken crime fiction and tossed in a bit of the thriller, action, humor, a fraction of romance, and religious genres for a little extra oomph. And while my writing is clean, it’s by no means G rated. As fans of my work can tell you, I go into some detail describing the murders in my stories, as well the crime scenes, and most importantly, why my antagonists do what they do (which is where the attitude comes from – well, that and one of my detectives is not your run of the mill goody two-shoes).

How many published books do you have?

–Currently I have 4 books out in The Foley Chronicles series, as well as 1 short story in another series that’s called The Foley Chronicles: Dark Side of Foley (kind of like having side stories that will give extra information on certain characters that doesn’t get into the main books). I’m also working on book 5 for the 8th District series and number 2 in the Dark Side series, not to mention the innumerable ideas floating around in my noggin’.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer and what ignited your author’s flame?

–I would say that reading Tolkien, King, Burroughs, Anthony, and tons of other amazing authors sparked the kindling for my writing. Also, playing Dungeons and Dragons and Dark Tower (if anyone remembers that awesome electronic game bonus points for you) as a kid helped, as well. Most of my early writing was in the fantasy genre. Actually, my first complete short story was fantasy (in the 8th grade). I started writing in middle and high school, all short stories, and flash fiction (of course I didn’t know what flash fiction was back then, so I called everything a short story). I wrote for the high school newspaper and literary magazine, so technically I’ve been a published author since the 80’s 😉.

What is an interesting writing quirk you have, that we wouldn’t know by reading your biography?

–Well, I don’t know if it could be called a writing quirk, or even interesting for that matter, but I don’t overload myself with research for my books. Not that I’m saying I wing it, either. I like to get just enough crime scene science, and other pertinent information, into the stories to make them believable, without becoming overly tedious with details. For example, I’ve picked the brain of my Pastor to make sure the Scripture I used wasn’t out of context. And I’ve picked the brain of a FANmily member who’s a lawyer and contacted a line manager of a forensics tools company to make sure I used their equipment correctly (for my current WIP). I also have four things that go into every book (if you don’t count the use of Scripture): coffee, music, specific medical facts, and there’s always some unrelated misdeed being brought to light because of the murders taking place (that’s my little way of showing that there are no secret sins, they will always be found out).

What would you choose as your mascot, and why?

–Finally, something simple to answer! I use the American Bald Eagle for my “publishing” logo, which is plastered on the back cover of my books (not a real publishing company, but it looks impressive, I think). I chose the Eagle because my life verse is Isaiah 40:28-31, which basically says that God’s got unlimited strength and power that He gives to the weak and weary when we need it, so we can carry on.

What does your ideal writing space look like?

–Well, my ideal writing space would be neat, clean, comfortable and inviting. What do I have? A jumbled up desk covered with books, photos, papers, and assorted bric-a-brac, and an impossibly uncomfortable chair, all crammed into half of our guest bedroom. But I can’t complain too much. The desk and chair were free, the books are my published works and assorted research reading material, the pictures are of my family, and the room is so crowded nobody ever stays in it when they do come home to visit. So, it’s basically mine…all mine! Hahahaaaaaaa.

Where did the idea for your most recent book come from?

–Where they all come from…out of my…no, no, JK. My current WIP came about while writing book 4, Preying Games. I threw in a non-related murder scene for two of my detectives that weren’t critical to book 4, just to give them something to do when their current case ended (can’t let these guys languish – there’s no telling what kind of trouble they’ll get themselves into if left to their own devices). It is actually making the current WIP a little more difficult, since it has to coincide with the last one (the timelines of the two books overlap – a first for me).

What do you do when not writing or marketing your books?

–Marketing? What’s that? Ha ha. JK. Nope, not really. Who’s got time for that? So, when I’m not writing I’m working or hanging with the family. Both activities keep me busy. I work full time outside the home ☹. Now, now, don’t be too sad, it pays the bills…mostly. After work, the majority of the afternoon/early evening is spent helping take care of our youngest daughter, who’s been diagnosed on the Spectrum (ASD). She’s a challenge and a handful, but I wouldn’t trade her for anything. Not that I’d give up any of my other kids, either. We spend quite a bit of time outside, since she loves swinging, jumping on the trampoline, and playing in her pool. Once she’s down for the night, the wife and I usually veg out in front of the TV, and sometimes talk during commercials (if we aren’t too tired, that is).

What is the most surprising thing you’ve learned about yourself through writing?

–Probably that I can affect/entertain other people with what comes out of my head, and not just me. And the fact that I can feel so connected to people that I’ve created. Getting emotional while reading or watching something someone else made is one thing, but to feel those emotions for my own characters…WOW, certainly never expected that. I still get misty eyed when I reread my first book, Written in Blood.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve done or experienced to help create a scene or plot?

–This goes back to the quirky writing question where I mentioned my Pastor. I actually used him, via email, to create realistic conversations in two separate chapters of book 3, Twisted Christian. One chapter was between the Christian detective and another nonbelieving detective. The second was between the Christian detective and the [Twisted]Christian antagonist, who’s scriptural interpretations were slightly skewed (hence the name of the book). I wanted the scenes to be genuine and spontaneous. I set up the scenes, then we just conversed. I think it worked perfectly.

What is the most inspiring thing that has ever happened to you?

–There you go, making this hard for me again. My youngest daughter coming along. She is truly an inspiration to me. Her arrival in our home was a game changer and showed us that God answers prayers in His own time, and how He chooses. The fact that she perseveres through difficulties, grows daily in her abilities, and has come so far in such a short time, brings a lump to my throat and pride into my spirit. She has a long way to go, and probably won’t ever be classified as “typical”, but that will never diminish who she is, and what she’s meant to be. And if you want to learn more about my thoughts and ramblings on what life on the Spectrum is like, you can catch it on my blog, www.nathanswritingagain.wordpress.com, in the Unexpected Spectrum folder.

Sorry if I’m rambling too much. Shall we end on a few simple questions, then? Shoot, I’ll do my best to entertain.

What do you miss about being a kid?

–Oh, that’s easy. No responsibilities. And no responsibilities. And…yep…no responsibilities.

List 3 interesting facts about yourself.

–I could try, but there really aren’t any.

If you could turn into one of your characters for a day, which one would it be and why, what would you do?

–Whoo boy, you opened a can with this one. I’d probably have to say Berg Anderson. Aside from John Filcher, the great Christian leader, he’s the next favorite character. Mainly because he doesn’t give a single hoot what other people think about him. He’s who he is and won’t apologize for it, regardless of how many times it gets him into trouble. And though he’s had a turbulent career, he gets the job done. As for what I’d do, it certainly wouldn’t be what Berg does. Not if I want to have a clean conscience. I just think it’d be such a change to be able to just be, without the worries of who it affects. Truth be told, I kinda live vicariously through him. Just don’t tell anyone I said that, cause I’ll deny it 100%.

A penguin knocks on your door and is wearing a sombrero. What does he say and why is he there?

–Hey, first of all, a penguin in my tub is really no ones concern but my own. However, if you must know, he was returning my sombrero. Secondly, he wanted me to know that Paula Barr misses me. Paula’s from the South Pole, if you couldn’t tell.

If you could ask your pet three questions, what would they be?

–Funny you should ask that. I don’t have any pets.

One more? I suppose so. Go ahead.

Tell us about your most recent book.

–Okay, I guess this is a good way to end things. Well, Preying Games, book 4 in my series, was just recently published in July of this year. It took way longer to complete than I wanted, due to some medical setbacks with my wife. I usually average about a book a year, but this was one two years from start to finish. It’s all about a woman (Amy) who’s tired of being trampled on by the men in her life, so she sets about to get even. She creates a profile on a dating site to lure in her would be victims, then chooses those she deems to be high profile targets, because she wants the world to see just how jacked up the rich and powerful men of Foley really are. She wants to rid the population of their presence, but more than that, she wants to humiliate them in death. Lucky for her (and me), she’s a tech wizard, so tracking her down is no simple matter for the crime fighting detectives. You can find out all about Amy, the other degenerate killers hiding out in Foley, as well as an assortment of colorful characters, and follow the lives of the Eighth District Homicide Detectives by going to author.to/NathanBushAuthor. You can also become a FANmily member by following me on FB @ Nathan Bush-Author; www.nathanswritingagain.wordpress.com.

Well, it’s been a blast being grilled like a suspect. The polygraph didn’t help. Thanks for having me over anyway. I think I learned a lot. Like, maybe next time we do this through Skype. See ya round, Camilla. Thanks for joining us everybody.

It was great to have you on MTA and to learn more about you and your writing style. Wishing you all the best, Nathan! – Camilla

Where to find the book:

www.amazon.com/nathanbushthefoleychronicles

Connect with Nathan:

author.to/NathanBushAuthor

FB @ Nathan Bush-Author

www.nathanswritingagain.wordpress.com

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Here are a few suggestions on how to further support this author:

  • Comment on the interview
  • Share the interview using the social media buttons
  • Click through to learn more about the author and their book(s)
  • If interested, buy the book and leave a review

To support this website and the author’s interviewed, visit Support MTA for suggestions. Thank you! – Camilla, Founder and Host