Author Interview: Carole P. Roman - Cultural Children's Author

Carole P. Roman is a notable author to add to your storytime collection. She writes about pirates, frogs, yoga, and my personal favorite, culture. For an assignment at school, I had to develop a proposal for something within my chosen career that I was passionate about. The American Library Association put out an article from the School Library Media Research journal about bridging cultural gaps in children's literacy. In a nutshell, it suggests that kids are less likely to become strong readers if they can't relate to what they are reading (authors, characters, content, etc.). In 1985, the Cooperative Children's Book Center began documenting such information, and it looks a lot like this (the following chart is one I created for my project):

Roman noticed something else about the world around her. We are constantly surrounded by culture outside our own, but we don't understand how it relates to us. This epiphany inspired her to write the "If You Were Me and Lived In..." books. I love these books because they simplify cultures not just for children, but for adults, too! They are short enough for storytimes, and they allow children of different cultures to relate to what they're reading, while also educating their peers. I believe these books are the beginning of a new era in children's literature, and I hope we continue to see this gap diminish.

During research for my project, I had the opportunity to call Miss Roman and learn more about her aspirations via phone interview. The passion she has for reaching a generation of children and educating them to understand the world around them was evident in her voice. It was incredibly moving for me to hear her story and how she came to act upon her convictions to write about what she felt the world was missing. It inspired me to start a program at the library called "World Travelers" where I aim to educate children about different countries and their cultures.

Please welcome Carole P. Roman to The Indigo Quill with me, and be sure to check out her books for your collection!

Named to Kirkus Reviews' Best of 2012 for her first book, award winning author Carole P. Roman started writing as a dare from one of her sons. Using an imaginary game she played with her grandson as a base, Captain No Beard was born. It has followed with four more books to the series.

Motivated by her love of yoga, Roman has written a book that not only teaches four poses, but shows how easy and accessible yoga can be.

She has just finished the first of six books in a groundbreaking new nonfiction series about culture around the world. "If You Were Me and Lived in..." combines her teaching past with her love of exploration and interest in the world around us.

Writing for children has opened up a whole second act for her. While she is still working in her family business, this has enabled her to share her sense of humor as well as love for history and culture with the audience she adores. Roman lives on Long Island with her husband and near her children.

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What inspired you to write multicultural books for children?

I’ve always been interested in different cultures. I have a multicultural background and I was a Social Studies teacher—I graduated as a History major and taught Jr High for a while before I and quit. 

One night, I just thought I should write about what I know. Alexander (my grandson) was in Vegas with me and didn’t understand the concept of different countries. So the first multicultural book I wrote was If You Were Me and Lived in Mexico… (because I lived closest to there).

I asked myself, what is culture and what does it mean? Alex was exposed to cultures but didn’t understand them. He’d ask what the eiffel tower was, and even after telling him, he still did not understand what it was and why it was relevant to him.

What elements do you ensure are included in your multicultural books?

I ask myself questions about what the child should know, such as…

1. what would you call your parents?
2. what could your name be?
3. what a doll would be called?
4. what would you call school?

I tackle things kids would read and make them understand why it’s diverse.

Where do you find your inspiration for which country you’ll write about next?

Restaurants…I write about what country the places I go inspire. Everywhere I go I notice I’m surrounded by these cultures. Korea, Greece, Kenya, Hungary…etc. We are surrounded by culture in everything we do!

How do the kids respond to learning about different cultures?

Kids are delicious and wonderful, and they love it!  They like to talk about themselves…so if they have some kind of relation or story with it they get excited.

I printed out post cards and would have them write about what they would know or do if they wanted to go there.

What do you hope your books achieve?

I feel the books are really important for tolerance. They give knowledge….the goal is to give children information and not hatred.

When I was a substitute teacher I had my class write down their Thanksgiving menu. The menu always had turkey, mashed potatoes, and pie. But there was always an ethnic dish. These kids are already experiencing culture and they don’t even realize it.

What is one thing you want readers to take away from reading your books?

The most important lesson that comes out of my books is that the world is very large, but  yet it is very small, and we are so connected. If we don’t learn to appreciate the differences and embrace them then the world is not going to be a safe place for our children. There is no better than the other, they are all beautiful! 

Each book has been a labor of love. 

Carole P. Roman's Cultural Books for Children

Interview: Snow by Kathryn Hewitt





Title: Snow
Author: Kathryn Hewitt

Publisher: Westbow Press

Publication Date: May, 2012
Pages: 308

Genre: Young Adult
Source: Paperback from Publisher

Summary (from the Author):  How do you know, at fifteen, what love and affection really mean? Ruth learned all too soon that love is commitment, and affection has a price. But who will ultimately make the commitment, and who will pay the price?

At fifteen, Ruth thought she had her life planned out. That is until she met Luke, a charming new cadet from the local military school. After entering into a seemingly harmless teenage romance, Luke's possessive attitude and subtle remarks begin to undermine Ruth's confidence, sending her into an emotional tailspin.

A beautiful young girl is suddenly lost in a grown-up world, trying desperately to hang on to a love she thought would last forever. Shattered dreams and hopeless tears become the bricks that build walls around Ruth; yet just below her broken heart, a beautiful vessel is being formed.

Join Ruth on her wedding day, five years later, as her childhood friend helps her journey back to face the demons of her past.

  

1. When and Why did you begin writing?

A. I’ve been writing poetry since I was old enough to know what a poem was. I remember in sixth grade I starting writing a suspense novel just for fun, but I didn’t get into writing as a career until about five years ago when I decided to start writing “Snow”.

2. What inspired you to pen your first novel?

A. I became pregnant at fifteen. My mom was determined that I didn’t become a statistic, so I continued my education and went on to college while raising my son. At the time of my pregnancy and when he was an infant, it was extremely difficult and on more than one occasion I thought I couldn’t do it, but I did. I want other girls, who find themselves with unwanted or unplanned pregnancies, to know that they can do it, too.

3. How has environment/upbringing colored your writing?

A. This particular book is set in the South. I was born and raised in South Carolina and know little more than the South. I love Southern hospitality, the faith people have down here, and yes, even the heat. I think the South in itself brings color to any novel.

4. Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

A. God is listening. When people are in a crisis, they cry out to God, whether they are believers or not. I want every person who reads this book to know that God is there. He hears us and He does care. Sometimes our circumstances don’t turn out the way we want them to, but God sees the bigger picture and everything works out for the good of those who love Him. Miracles do happen when we pray. There is Hope in every situation.

5. How much of your work is realistic?

A. I draw most of my characters and ideas from real life circumstances. Then I put them into a fictitious world and build a story around them.

6. Is your novel based on someone you know or events in your own life?

A. This novel is based on a true story. For protection of the person and their family, I am choosing not to answer that question directly.

7. What are your current projects?

A. I am currently working on an adult novel that deals with temptations from social media, marriage, gossip, sexuality, and alcohol abuse. I am also working on the sequel to “Snow.”

8. What is “Snow” about?

A. It’s about a young girl who gets tangled up with a possessive boyfriend and finds herself having to decide between her boyfriend and her unborn child. There are several twists that will leave you holding your breath, wondering what will happen. “Snow” deals with sexual abstinence, teenage pregnancy, abortion, date rape, dating violence, prayer, and miracles. 

9. How did you come up with your title?

A. You have to read the book!! You’ll understand immediately once you read the novel, but I can’t give it away!

10. What was your favorite chapter or part to write?

A. My favorite part to write about has to be the conversations between the main character and her best friend. The best friend is a spin-off of my absolute best friend, so when I was writing I felt like I was talking to her in person. 

11. Are you pro-life? What about extreme circumstances? What about a woman's right to choose?

A. I am pro-life, always have been; however, I will be honest and say that when I was fifteen and pregnant the idea of an abortion was very tempting and was even suggested to me by more than one person. I am thankful, every time I look at my son, that I did not have it done. I believe in the strength of Jesus Christ. I believe that He will not give you more than you can bear and if a child was conceived from sexual abuse, rape, or if there is a medical condition then there is still a reason for that child. There is a plan and a purpose for everything in life, even the unpleasant things. 

I believe that women have the right to choose. I believe they have the right  to make the choice whether or not to have sex. If they choose to have sex and a pregnancy occurs as a result, then that woman must accept the responsibility and consequence of her actions. It's as simple as that. Every choice we make results in an outcome. We are responsible for making wise choices, so that we do not have to suffer the consequences of bad ones. 

12. I understand you were a teenage mother, is this book about you?

A. There are elements in this book that were derived from my circumstances.

13. What do you want to say to those who oppose your position?

A. God has given us free will. I have chosen to stand in belief of the Bible and the Lord Jesus Christ. If someone chooses a different position, that’s okay. That’s their choice. I believe that if everyone would stop being angry at other people’s difference of opinion, we’d be a much happier, better functioning nation. My heart is sad for every aborted child, and for the women who regret their decision. My hope, is that they find peace through salvation in Jesus.

14. Is this book strictly for Christians?

A. Absolutely not. The main character is a Christian and she is an active member of her church, so God and the Bible are themes that run throughout the book, but this book was not written for Christian readers. It was written for every girl who is thinking about having premarital sex, has done it already, or is faced with an unplanned pregnancy, and for their parents who just don’t know what to do. This book was written to bring hope to a seemingly hopeless situation.

15. How do you manage to write and be a stay at home mom of four boys?

A. Very sporadically! I sneak in about an hour during nap time, a couple hours after bed time, and sometimes half a day when my husband isn’t working. When it comes down to a dead line, my husband will hold down the home front while I go away for a few days of uninterrupted writing.

16. Your slogan, so to speak, is “bringing a message of Hope,” explain the     meaning behind this.

A. I know that there is Hope in every situation and circumstance. Without Hope, we have nothing. We might as well not even try. When you’re playing baseball, you walk up to the plate hoping to knock the ball out of the park. If you didn’t have that Hope, you would never even pick up the bat. In life, you have to have Hope in everything you do and in every situation, no matter how grim it seems. I want every novel I write to send a message of Hope through the circumstances of its characters.

17. What is your favorite Bible passage?

A. Psalm 71:20-21, “Though you have made me see troubles, many bitter and severe, you will restore my life again; you will bring me up from the depths of the earth. You will increase my honor and comfort me on every side.”

18. You say you are available for speaking engagements, what message will you speak on?

A. There are many messages I am able to speak on. My main focus is abstaining from sex until marriage. For a teenage group, I explain the meaning of dating, its origin, and why abstaining from sex until marriage is not just a “Christian” thing. For adults, there are several avenues I can go down, such as; the power of prayer, miracles, understanding your teenage daughter, and God’s grace.

19. Who is your favorite author and why?

A. Jane Austen. I am a hopeless romantic and I fall in love with her characters every time I read her books. I love her perspective on society and her boldness for speaking out against the constraints of marriage during that time. My favorite character has to be Elizabeth Bennett. I like to think I am like her.

20. What did you learn from writing this book?

A. Never give up. Even when you’re tired and hurting. When you feel like you can’t write another word, or your heart doesn’t have room for another ache, keep pressing on.

21. What is something interesting about you as a writer?

A. I am a horrible, terrible speller and my vocabulary is very, very small!

Kathryn Hewitt was born and raised in the small town of Camden, South Carolina. Breaking away from becoming a stereotype, she was an Honors Graduate and went on to study British Literature and Sociology at Charleston Southern University, inspiring to be a High School English teacher. 

Kathryn has a passion for teaching teenagers and reaching out to those who seem as though the world has closed the door. 

Because of her own experiences, including becoming a teenage mother at fifteen, Kathryn knows the value of life and the blessings it contains. Understanding the importance of making wise decisions, Kathryn passionately seeks to instill that wisdom into the minds of every young lady she encounters. The inspiration for Kathryn's writings comes from her own experiences, and she is never afraid to speak the truth that others refuse to acknowledge.

Kathryn married in 2005 and is a stay at home mom with her four sons. She and her family currently live in the same town she grew up.

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Interview & GIVEAWAY: Ruby's Fire (Fireseed #2) by Catherine Stine

Title: Ruby's Fire (Fireseed #2)

Author: Catherine Stine

Publisher: Konjur Road Press

Publication Date: June 26, 2013

Pages: 264

Genre: YA Fantasy/Sci-Fi

Source: ARC from Author

Summary (from the Author):  If everything about you changes, what remains?

Seventeen year-old Ruby, long-pledged to the much older Stiles from the Fireseed desert cult, escapes with only a change of clothes, a pouch of Oblivion Powder and her mute little brother, Thorn. Arriving at The Greening, a boarding school for orphaned teens, she can finally stop running. Or can she? The Greening is not what it seems. Students are rampaging out of control and as she cares for the secret Fireseed crop, she experiences frightening physical changes. She’s ashamed of her attraction to burly, hard-talking Blane, the resident bodyguard, and wonders why she can’t be happy with the gentler Armonk. She’s long considered her great beauty a liability, a thing she’s misused in order to survive. And how is she to stop her dependence on Oblivion to find a real beauty within, using her talent as a maker of salves, when she has nightmares of Stiles without it?

When George Axiom, wealthy mogul of Vegas-by-the-Sea offers a huge cash prize for the winner of a student contest, Ruby is hopeful she might collect the prize to rescue her family and friends from what she now knows is a dangerous cult. But when Stiles comes to reclaim her, and Thorn sickens after creating the most astonishing contest project of all, the world Ruby knows is changed forever. This romantic fantasy set in 2099 on earth has a crafty heroine in Ruby, and a swoonworthy cast, which will surely appeal to the YA and new adult audience.

  

Thank you for being a guest at The Indigo Quill!

Please explain the title for your book.
Ruby’s Fire is the second in the Fireseed series, so I wanted to include the word “fire” in the title. Ruby is a fiery, passionate heroine, and her perilous, high-stakes journey to Skulls’ Wrath and The Greening boarding school is metaphorically as well as literally on fire. Also, her relationship with the almost magical Fireseed plant has a shocking, transforming twist for Ruby.

Who or what has inspired your style of writing?
Oh, wow, hard to narrow it to one or two books or authors. In sixth grade, I discovered sci-fi and I fell totally in love with Ray Bradbury, George Orwell, and before that The Narnia Chronicles. I have a very active imagination, and there’s nothing more exciting than to craft new worlds, settings, inventions.

What inspired the whole setting for Ruby’s Fire—temperature, location, etc.?
In Fireseed One, the first in the series, we learn that the west has endured years of drought, and has become a vast wasteland. The temperature's risen to 160%. California (sorry Cali dwellers!) has fallen into the ocean in a catastrophic earthquake. Now Vegas is a wild coastal city, and is renamed Vegas-by-the-Sea.
Those with money have moved north. In a previous war between north and south, called the Border Wars, the north has won and has built a robotic border wall on what is now the border between Canada and the US. The folks south of it, now climate refugees, are trapped in what is referred to as the Hotzone. Transgenic crops are developed in the north, and shipped south to help feed the starving. Fireseed is the most magical of these crops, and an entire cult has formed in the desert that worships this plant.
At the start of Ruby's Fire, she escapes this dangerous cult, for reasons you'll find when you read the novel. The world is slowly, slowly recovering, and Vegas-by-the-Sea is actually becoming a boomtown. (Thus I consider the series POST-dystopia)

How long have you been writing? Please tell us a little bit about your journey.
I wrote my first serious story, a 25-page fantasy, in sixth grade, and my teacher made Xerox copies for all of my classmates. That was quite flattering and motivating. I tried writing picture books first because I am also an illustrator, but ironically my first contract was for a middle grade novel (work for hire with American Girl) that had no pictures!

Did you find it difficult to create a futuristic book since you had to create everything from scratch?
No! I love to imagine scenarios, characters and worlds. I think it’s one of my strengths—feeding my vision. I do it through a combination of research and asking “what if?” over and over until it all falls into place.

If you could be any character from this book, which one would you be?
Ruby. She gets the hot guy, and gets to concoct really cool elixirs that do amazing things. She also goes through quite a scary transformation, which I can’t reveal here. But it’s worth it for her.

In three words, how would you describe Ruby’s Fire?
Perilous, romantic, rollercoaster-ish.

Do you see yourself writing more books in the future?
Yes. I may write one more in the Fireseed series that takes place in Vegas-by-the-Sea in Ruby’s dream house: a wave colored house by the sea, with her brother, her friends and her love. Should I?

Do you have any favorite authors?
Nancy Werlin, Cherie Priest, Ray Bradbury, Denis Johnson… and so many more.

Lastly, what would you like your readers to know before reading your book?
I give you total permission to fall in love with the characters, even though they’re sometimes quite wicked. Look forward to a sizzling romance. And know that Ruby takes special care of her little brother, Thorn, who’s had the words beaten out of him.

Thank you so much for your time. It has been a true pleasure having you as a guest and I wish you the best of luck on your future writing endeavors!

Thanks for having me! I enjoyed it,
Catherine Stine

Catherine Stine writes YA, New Adult and middle grade fiction. Her YA futuristic thriller, Fireseed One, illustrated by the author won finalist spots in both YA and Science Fiction in the 2013 USA Book News International Book Awards. It was also granted a 2013 Bronze Wishing Shelf Book Award and a 2013 Indie Reader Approved notable stamp. Her YA Refugees, earned a New York Public Library Best Book. Middle grade novels include A Girl’s Best Friend. 

Fireseed One sequel, Ruby’s Fire is earning advance praise from reviewers and authors:

“Ruby's Fire, returns to the sun-scorched earth of Fireseed One. In this long-awaited sequel, Stine delivers a thrilling adventure led by a new and exciting cast of characters. Ruby, Armonk, Thorn and Blane are memorable, and the romance is really well handled. Favorite quote: " It feels wrong to lean on Armonk right now with Blane staring at me, a hungry, lonely look in his eye. It’s as if he’s never been hugged, never been fed, never been loved..." ”  -YAs the Word

More and more, Catherine enjoys writing speculative tales where her imagination has wild and free reign. She has taught creative writing workshops at the Philadelphia Writing Conference, Missouri University Summer Abroad, The New School and in her own ongoing NYC writing workshop. She loves her readers, and enjoys blogging.

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The author is offering many great prizes for this giveaway, including a KINDLE and $40 Amazon Gift Card! Be sure to enter and share!

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Author Interview: R.T. Kaelin

R.T. Kaelin is an accidental writer. In 2009, while in search for a hobby, he joined a local gaming group and soon found himself writing short stories for his fellow players. When urged to try his hand at something larger, R.T. threw caution to the wind and went at it. Progeny, the first volume in The Children of the White Lions series was self-published in late 2010. The book garnered critical acclaim and hit top 10 top-rated historical fantasy at Amazon. The second in the series, Prophecy, was published in September, 2012. R.T. has had numerous short stories appear in anthologies, including the charity collection Triumph Over Tragedy (which he edited) from which all proceeds are donated to the American Red Cross for Hurricane Sandy Relief. In February, 2013, he signed with a literary agent to pursue a traditional publishing deal for the series and other works. R.T. lives with his wife and two children in Columbus, Ohio.

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Thank you so much for being a guest on The Indigo Quill. It is such a pleasure to have you here as I enjoyed your style of writing and the adventure you took us on through your book. Can you tell us a little bit about Progeny and what inspired you to write it?

First off, thanks for having me and I am glad you enjoyed the book so much.

Progeny is the entry volume in The Children of the White Lions series and a grand labor of love. Back in summer of 2009, I started writing little short stories for a gaming group of which I was a part. They professed their enjoyment of the stories and encouraged me to write something a bit longer. At the time, I had just finished reading three bad books full of stereotypical characters and predictable plots. I thought I could do better, so…I tried.

A little over a year later, I had finished Progeny.

Where did you come up with all those unique names? Do they mean anything?

I suppose it depends on the names about which you are asking.

The primary characters, Nikalys and Kenders, are named (and modeled) after my own children. Nikalys (yes, it’s really spelled that way) just turned nine this month and Kennedy turned six in April. He really has bristly, sandy brown hair and she has straw-blonde hair along with hazel eyes that change colors in sun or shade.

As far as everyone and everyplace else are concerned, it rather depends. Before writing the first book, I identified language origins and styles for regions and races. For the most part, I have stuck with them. I have been known to rename a character quite often during the draft stage. For example: I’m writing book 3 in the series now and have renamed one character five or six times and I’m still not happy.

Could you explain your format in which you mark time and what inspired you to do it that way (ie. 7th of the turn of Sutri 4999)?

I did a lot of upfront work on the world before I started writing. I believe the background of a story can be just as important as the story itself, even if only a fraction makes it into the book. It’s like a painting: the background informs the subject.

So, I spent a significant amount of time coming up with histories, lunar cycles, the pantheon of gods, and a calendar. And, actually, at the very end of the book there is an appendix section describing the pantheon of gods, the lunar cycle, and…the calendar:

The calendar of Terrene is symmetrical. Scholars suggest the gods altered the world and the moons to facilitate such a perfectly aligned set of dates. A year on Terrene is exactly three-hundred-sixty days, divided into twelve turns of twenty-eight days per turn. A week is seven days long; four weeks make up a single turn.

Between each turn is a two-day period that belongs to neither the turn before nor the turn that follows. They are commonly referred to as Days of Leisure, and throughout the year are used for feasts and other celebrations.

You seem to have gone far above and beyond with the land of Terrene. Please tell us more about this setting for your book.

Well, as I indicated in my previous answer, I spend a lot of time upfront on the setting when I’m starting on a new project. Here’s my basic approach:

1. Come up with book/story/series concept.  
2. Write out basic plot and characters.
3. Flesh out the world/setting/background.
4. Delve into plot details, adjust things based on world setting.
5. Write.

Now, why do I do this?

Nature vs. Nurture.

Social scientists debate the question: are we who we are because of our genetic makeup, or because of the environment in which we are raised? In my humble opinion, it’s both (but more Nurture than Nature).  

My hair and eye color were dictated by genetics, of course, as was my general body shape and size. All those things certainly contribute to who I am. Yet, had I not grown up in Cincinnati, I would not be a Reds fan. Had I not grown up around horses, I might not find the beasts tedious, smelly, and a pain in the rear. Literally.

A character is as much a product of their surrounding as they are of their inherent nature. Having a rich, full world in which they live is important. So, I wrote it. History, mores, religion…everything that makes a culture a culture.

This theme is quite prevalent in Progeny, too. I do not want to give anything away, but…if you read it, you will see what I mean.

How many books should we expect to see out of this series?

The original plan was three. However, not too far into Progeny, I realized that I would more space to tell my story. So, as of now, the plan is five. Book three in the series (which I am about to wrap up the first draft and start editing) plays the traditional role of middle book: “all hope is lost and darkness is ready to reign.”

I see you’re from Ohio! Are you a Buckeyes fan? I look forward to my Wolverines beating you guys in the fall! :)

I am a lifelong Ohio resident, yes. I even live in a Columbus suburb. But am I a Buckeye? Nope.

I was born and raised in Cincinnati and went to college at Ohio University in Athens. That makes me a Bobcat, not a Buckeye. After graduation, I moved to Columbus and took a job in IT. And while I appreciate the locals’ fervor when it comes to football (you have no idea how many different ways there are to spell Buckeye on a license plate), I’m just not feeling it.

That being said: good luck, Wolverine fans. Michigan has no chance against the Bucks in 2013. 

Ouch! :) If you could be a character from Progeny, who would you be and why?

Wow. Good question.

Honestly? I think Jak. His attitude and “voice” are closest to my own. I like him for his loyalty and his “normalness.” Life dealt him a crummy hand and he’s doing the best he can with it.

My wife has remarked that she reads Jak as though it were me talking. I could slide right into that role, no problem.

How did you keep so many story lines going without creating any major plot holes?

Revisions, revisions, revisions.

Here’s a dirty little secret: authors don’t write the story from beginning to end and have it all be perfect the first go around. At least this one doesn’t.

While I have a goal in mind, I personally like to see where the story takes me. Sometimes, that’s in directions I never intended. So, I adjust. Then, I must edit, tweak, cut, chop, massage, streamline, rewrite…whatever.

A perfect example: Nundle Babblebrook, many people’s favorite secondary character, was an accident. A 100% accident. I intended him to be a throwaway character I used for one chapter to revisit the antagonist from a different point of view for a chapter, but then…well, I loved writing him. Loved it. So, I adapted.

Writing is often balance between careful planning and organic spontaneity. Focus on one or the other and you are sunk.

What do you think sets you apart from other writers?

I have been asked this question numerous times and always struggle with it.

My cop-out answer is: I shall leave that up to my readers.

After stalking you a little bit…uh...I mean...after reading up on you through the internet and finding information that just so happens to be available to the public, I noticed you use your talents for some philanthropy. Please tell us about that.

Hooray! I have a stalker!

Wait…

Anyhow…I assume you must mean the Triumph Over Tragedy charity anthology.

Well, that was sort of an accident. In the days immediately following Hurricane Sandy last fall, I was watching coverage of the destruction on the news and knew I wanted to do something to help. Sure, I could have simply donated a couple bucks to a charity and been done with it, but that seemed inadequate.

Then I had an idea that I thought might end up doing more good: a charity anthology for the victims of Sandy.

Now, you must understand that at that moment, I was an indie writer. Still am, technically, even though I have an agent now and some interest from a couple publishers. As an indie, your pull amongst the author pantheon is less than weighty. One crosses a line when a big house publishes their work.

That being said, I have met a fair share of authors in recent years and so I reached out to a couple, pitching the idea. Oh, my…it was like holding a flame to wood shavings soaked in gasoline.

Within a week, I had about twenty authors signed onto the effort. Within two weeks, we were at forty and I had to stop taking submissions. I had NYT bestsellers, Nebula award winners, giants in the industry—all wanting to contribute a story. The final list included Robert Silverberg, Mark Lawrence, Timothy Zahn, Michael J. Sullivan, Michael A. Stackpole, Tobias S. Buckell, Bradley P. Beaulieu, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Elizabeth Bear, Maxwell Alexander Drake, and thirty more.

Thank goodness, a couple editors reached out and offer to help else I would have been in deep trouble. Bryan Thomas Schmidt, Sarah Chorn (blogger and excellent reviewer), and Rob Rogers.

The anthology went on sale in January and will be available until early July. All proceeds have gone/will go to the American Red Cross.   

I hear Progeny went through a second edition. How do you utilize constructive criticism?

Actually, it is in its fourth incarnation.

The first edition was the result of me having no idea what I was doing. Having never written much of anything prior, silly me went and wrote a 312k word behemoth of a book. The end result (something I did not realize until much later) was a good story but a bad book. Yet I managed somehow to start building a fan base.

In the fall of 2011, I had an opportunity to get Progeny in front of an agent via a friend of a friend. I sent off the original and waited. By the time I heard back from him, I had the rough draft of the second book done, along with over a dozen short (and not so short) stories. He said “no, thanks” and gave a long list of reasons why. His criticism stung—a lot—but I realized it was dead on. So, I took an honest look at the book and went to revising it.

That produced edition two. I hired Rose Fox (awesome editor), got some feedback from her, and then revised again. Edition Three.

That edition is the one with which I queried agents. When I signed with Andrew Zack in February 2013, I asked him to give me a month and I edited it ONE last time before he sent it out to editors.

If you want to get better, criticism is critical. It can sting, but the pain dulls. You take what you can from it, learn, and get better.

Your book sucked me in from the beginning. I mean, you began with a significant life-changing event in the first several pages! What made you decide to have that as your “introduction” to your readers? 

I don’t like books with four chapters of setup. I wanted something big and bad to happen right out of the gate, ripping the protagonists’ world apart. Then they, along with the reader, get to learn the “why” behind what just happened. It’s more fun that way.

Who’s your favorite villain from Progeny?

Well, Progeny only really scratches the surface of the big, bad evil that is ongoing in the world of Terrene. Jhaell is the book’s villain, but by no means is he the driving force behind everything that is happening. As the series goes on, we learn what the true threat is and the cast of villains expands. I have my favorite in the series, for sure, but don’t want to mention who that is here for fear I would be giving away too much.

Are you reading anything right now?

At the moment, nothing. But the next two books on my to-be-read list are Inheritance (by Christopher Paolini) and Name of the Wind (by Patrick Rothfuss). I have a panel in a couple weeks with Rothfuss and am thinking I should probably read something of his.

Lastly, what would you like your readers to know before reading your book?

Reading Progeny will end all wars and solve world hunger.

Nah. Not really. Just hop in and enjoy it.

Haha! Again, thank you for the opportunity to have you at The Indigo Quill. I’ve really enjoyed Progeny and look forward to reading the next installment (Readers: The next book in the series 'Prophecy', was published last fall, so be sure to grab a copy of that one, too!).