Jerry's Writing Corner

Yep.. Finally got everything in place, so I will be moving the website in the next few days. How should I celebrate this monumental event? Free coffee and doughnuts?? I’m open to suggestions.

CORRECTION: THE SITE IS NOW MOVED… ALL NEW POSTS WILL BE MADE ….

HERE: http://www.jerryhanel.com

Please update your links accordingly. Thanks. –Jerry

Hello again everyone. It has been quite a while since I hosted an author interview. With that in mind, I went out searching for some of the best independent authors out there. I have several interviews lined up for the coming weeks, and I hope that you appreciate them all.

Today, I would like to introduce you all to Brent Nichols, author of Lord of Fire

Author: Brent Nichols
Genre: Fantasy

Synopsis:
It was a simple assignment. Deliver a little blue orb to the monastery at Boot Mountain. But no one told Brother Godfrey that the orb was the key to unimaginable power. No one told him that others would be coming after it.

They are an unlikely group of heroes, but they are the only thing standing between an unsuspecting world and the devastating rise of the Lord of Fire.

So, let’s get started. Good morning, Brent. Some people write for a paycheck, while others do it for the love of the craft or to fulfill a promise to a loved one. Can you tell me what drives you to get up and write?

Compulsion? Obsession? Lack of other marketable skills? I’ve been pursuing the dream of authorial success for so long that I can’t really imagine stopping. If I had to sum it up, I would say that I write because I’m a writer.

I love story telling, and I love the idea that people will be entertained by my stories. Complete strangers will spend hours caught up in worlds of my imagining, caring about people I invented.

What is the first book that you can remember having a true impact on you?

Treasure Island is probably the first book that really captivated me. The adventure, the exotic strangeness of it all, the exciting story that was so different from my dull, ordinary life. I loved that book.

What is one quirky thing about yourself… something that no one outside of your friends and family might know?

I did stand-up comedy for 10 years. I never make a living at it, but it was a really cool, occasionally lucrative hobby.

What is your current project about?

I’m writing a novel about a kingdom with a very bad king and the desperate men who decide to depose him. It’s loaded with action, but it is also a serious examination about how we become who we are, and the degree to which we can choose what kind of person we become. I took a lot of my inspiration from stores like The Prisoner of Zenda and The Man in the Iron Mask. What happens when a king gets replaced? I look at some serious issues, but I’m also keeping the tone of swashbuckling adventure that made those stories so much fun to read.

How did the plot and overall story for that project come into being?

On the one hand, I was inspired by classic adventure stories. At the same time, I’m fascinated by the nature of identity. I wanted to tell the story of two young men, each of whom could be King, and how each of them is changed by responsibility and pressure.

Do you have any other projects on the burner somewhere (that you can talk about)?

I want to write a classic sword and sorcery trilogy in the time-honoured style of Tolkien and Tad Williams. Not a single word has been written, but I’m working on characters and plot lines in my mind.

Quick!… without thinking, what are the first five words that come to mind?

Sorry, dude, I got nothin’.

What do you think those five words say about your personality?

I’m an incurable smart-Alec, even under pressure.

Haha… Okay, then, do you have any pets? Can you tell us about them?

No pets. I would love to have a cat, but I can’t persuade my wife that it’s a good idea.

Thank you for taking the time to answer these interview questions. Before I let you go, I have one more question. If the world were to one day have your name as a household name (aside from your writing career) what would you want to be known for?

Writing is really the only area where I can see myself becoming well-known. I would like to be known as an entertainer, someone who made people laugh, someone who provided excitement and drama and entertainment.

If you would like to know more about Brent, you can find his book on Amazon or Smashwords.

To celebrate the release of my new book, I’m going to be hosting a “45-Days of Thaloc” giveaway. The First Prize is a signed copy of Thaloc Has a Body, when it is released. There is one First Place prize, for those of you statisticians out there that care about such things.

The Second Place prize is a free ebook copy of Thaloc Has a Body, gifted through the Amazon system. There are five second-place prizes up for grabs.

The Third Place prize is a free ebook copy of the first book in the series, Death Has a Name. There are 45 third-place prizes up for grabs.

Here’s how it will work.
1) Sign-up!! To sign-up, simply “Like” my author page on Facebook (if you haven’t already. If you’ve already liked the page, then you don’t have to try it again.), and leave a comment on the 45-Days of Thaloc picture there.

You must have “liked” the author page AND have a comment on the image. For your convenience, the links to each are listed here:

Author Page

Image

DON’T COMMENT ON THIS BLOG. Comment on the Facebook image via the link above!

2) 45-Days of free ebooks! Every day between June 15th and July 30th, I will pick one person at random from the entire list of entires that morning, and gift them a copy of Death Has a Name (ebook) via Amazon. Sorry, but for this giveaway, it will have to be through Amazon. I know there are some of you out there that don’t have Kindles or Kindle software. You can download the free app from Amazon, but I have to go through this process for this giveaway.

On July 30th I will draw 5 names from the list of entries. Those people will win the 5 e-copies of Thaloc Has a Body.

Also on July 30th, I will draw one lucky name from the entire list of entries. That person will win the First Place prize.

3) One prize level per person. Each person can only win a First, Second or Third Place prize once. That means, you could have AT MOST one first place, one second place and one third place, but not more than that. Make sense? Good.

4) No Extras. Sorry. If there are no more names for a given round (i.e. if only 5 people sign up), then no more e-copies will be given. I’m not going to send multiple gifts out to people who have already received one.

UPDATE: In answer to a question someone sent me… The comment needs to say something to the effect of “Please sign me up for 45 Days of THALOC! You can win too!” … but be creative. =) Let’s see how creative people can be.

So, tell your friends and family. It’s fun to share, especially if they can win free stuff!! Comment on the picture, Like the author page, and get ready for a summer of fun reading with Death Has a Name and Thaloc Has a Body.

DAY 01 Winner: Heather Josey
DAY 02 Winner: Mickaela Marie Casper

NOTE: THE SITE HAS MOVED! ALL FUTURE UPDATES HAVE BEEN MOVED TO http://jerryhanel.com/2011/06/45-days-of-thaloc/

I’m working with several people in order to make the release of Thaloc Has a Body an event, not just a day where another indie book is released to the masses.

The date is July 30, 2011. Stay tuned here for information on physical book signings, ebook giveaways and much more!

I have a ton of new things to share, but I have to wait until the details are set.

STAY TUNED! …

My new book, Thaloc Has a Body, is coming out this summer. I’m in the final stages, and everything is moving so, so, so fast again. I forgot how the final stages feel like the log ride at the fair. You creep along at a snail’s pace during the writing process, then everything slips out of your control as you plummet back down to reality during the editing, cover art and publishing stages. It’s just crazy.

For now, I thought you’d like to see the final cover art for the new book. Stay tuned for an “official” release date for the book. I’m about to get that nailed down.

After much deliberating, and more feedback than I can possibly handle, I’ve decided to go with some new cover art for Death Has a Name. Why?

1) People thought DHAN was a horror book. Sean’s artwork is amazing (and I still love it!) but I wanted to convey more of the intent of the book.

2) I’m about to publish the second book in the series, and I wanted to create two covers that have the same theme, stylistically.

So, without further adieu, … The new cover art:

Let me know what you think of the artwork. And keep your eyes peeled for the new art to be hitting e-book stores like Amazon and Barnes & Noble soon.

Well, the response to this too was reasonably underwhelming. I had expected a few more replies than I received. Several people sent us encouraging notes, and we appreciate those. I’m glad to hear from each of you how the ACS has touched your lives as well.

My wife and I are going to add some of our own money to the pool to bring the grand total up to $25. It’s a lot less than I’d hoped to be able to send, but it is what it is.

I appreciate all of the notes of encouragement and support, and I sincerely hope that if the ACS has an event in your area, give. You don’t have to give through this page, and this idea wasn’t about selling books, or gaining fame. It was about helping the ACS raise money in their annual drive. They are a great institution, and have done so much for me and my family.

Thanks again, and god bless each of you.

–Jerry

So we spoke with my wife’s folks today. I guess they aren’t going to be hosting their Relay For Life team this year. It’s too bad, too. We had a chunk of change we were going to donate to their team. So, in the spirit of things, I think we’ve found a new team to which to donate the cash.

But that got me thinking. Yes, I know. It’s a dangerous thing to get me thinking. But having both of my in-laws as cancer survivors really does encourage me to do what I can for this kind of research. It is specifically that research that has led to them being with us today. And, I love my in-laws.

So, one of the things I would love to do is help the Relay for Life. One idea that came to mind is to sell more books. So, here’s the deal…

During the month of May, if you buy a book through THIS LINK, I will send you an electronic copy of Death Has a Name, and all profits from this specific link will go toward the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.

Yes, I’m charging more than $1 for the book through this link. Yes, you can get the book cheaper through Amazon, etc. But this is for a good cause, folks, and I am trying to raise as much as I can for this cause since it is very dear to our hearts.

So, share the link, facebook, tweet, twiddle… whatever you have to do, and share the love. Help me raise all that I can for this very worthy cause. You can use the short link http://bit.ly/iNr7Ll for twitter, etc. if you need to.

Please share THIS LINK ( http://jerryandcheryl.net/writing/help-me-help-the-acs/ ) with as many people as you can and get the word out.

Thanks.

Good morning, everyone! I’m still hard at work at my day job, so writing has been difficult for me. Luckily I’ve found a couple more people who were willing to sit with me to do an author interview to keep the blog going. I promise to get more writing done very soon… as soon as I can work a normal day instead of 12-hour days.

Until then, let me introduce you all to Jack Murphy, author of PROMIS.

Tell us about yourself. Who is Jack Murphy?

Up until a year ago I was a Staff Sergeant in the US Army, having served in 3rd Ranger Battalion and 5th Special Forces Group. I spent eight years in Army Special Operations to include three combat deployments. While in the Rangers, I held several duty positions to include Anti-Tank Gunner, Sniper, and Team Leader. In Special Forces, I was the senior Weapons Sergeant (18B) on a Military Free Fall team. As the senior 18B it was my responsibility to be the chief adviser and trainer to an Iraqi SWAT team. In 2010, I decided to part ways with the military and am now pursuing a degree in International Business.

How long have you been writing, and what have you learned from it?

I’ve been writing since I was a teenager, mostly just short stories that I would share with friends. I’ve learned a lot from the research I have conducted for short stories and novel, uncovering military operations that Americans are completely unaware of. This is especially true of the Special Forces missions carried out by South African and Rhodesian forces during the 1970’s and 1980’s. I think the act of writing, in of itself, has taught me how much work really goes into creating a quality piece of work and has given me that much more respect for those who do it for a living.

Do you ever find yourself lost in your writing world trying to figure out some plot or action scene?

Sometimes. I think what tends to trip me up the most is figuring out how to reconcile history with my fictional reality. What I write could be thought of as “contemporary historical fiction” as it has a heavy basis in fact. When I find black holes or gaps in official history is where I feel free to exploit unknowns and insert my own plot devices. This is where things get tricky and I often find myself lost in another reality, trying to fit the puzzle pieces together.

What is your latest book about?

“PROMIS” is a short story that follows the trajectory of Sean Deckard, a soldier serving with the very secretive Studies and Observations Group (SOG) in the Vietnam war. SOG conducted highly classified cross border operations into Laos, Cambodia, and North Vietnam, executing prisoner snatches, search and destroy, intelligence gathering missions, and other various activities. Sean’s Recon Team gets paired with a CIA funded scientist who has a few ideas that could end the Vietnam War and together they discover far more than they bargained for.

Do you have any new projects that you can talk about?

I have a proof reader going over my novel, “Reflexive Fire” which takes place in current times. You can sample both PROMIS and RF at my blog, about two thirds of a rough cut of the novel is there for free. Currently, I’m doing research on the Rhodesian Special Air Service for the second issue of PROMIS. I intend to write a series that follows Sean’s career as a mercenary, fighting the dirty little wars the happened in the twilight of the Cold War.

What’s one thing that you think your readers “expect” from your work?

First and foremost, I think they expect a great story. Secondly, they want a reasonable degree of realism and plausibility. Readers want to see the details and expect writers not to do a hatchet job on military units or on history itself. In addition, I try to provide both tactical details and plot elements that even jaded readers have never seen before.

Do you use social media (Facebook, twitter, etc.)? If so, how often do you post, and what do you post about?

I am on Facebook and post once and a while. Overall, I don’t care much for social media, I guess because it strikes me as kind of superficial. I suppose it’s rare for someone my age (late 20’s) but at the moment I don’t even own a cell phone or have cable tv and I like it that way! I do have a blog which I’ve found myself having more fun with than I had ever expected. I think the most surprising thing about having a blog is all the cool people you get to meet. I’ve posted a lot of pictures from my deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq as well as commentary on other military issues. You can take a look and sample my writing at: http://reflexivefire.wordpress.com/

I enjoy books from so many different genres — from Christian fiction, to fantasy, to the paranormal. But when I look back at my choices, I see that there’s always a dark theme to them. What is one theme that you enjoy reading?

The deus ex machina theme, or plot device rather, is something I find myself drawn to again and again. The idea that one person, talented and determined enough, can save the day is always something that resonated with me. To me it’s also an expression of rugged individualism. It means that the individual matters and is more important than a collective that is, by it’s nature, incapable of making rational decisions.

Does this theme make it into your writing? Can you give us an example?

Absolutely. My characters often work in teams, be they military or freelancers, but they are teams of individuals who find a mutual benefit in working towards the same goals. My writing supports the idea that an individual human being matters and that one person can make a difference by doing something that has never been done before.

Thank you for your time. Before I let you go, I have one last question: If you could have any meal, with any spread across the table, what would it be?

I would settle for a nice juicy hamburger and fries. What can I say, I’m easy to please.

Before I get started, I have to give full disclosure. While I enjoy many of the books I blog about, I am a HUGE fan of Kevin Domenic. His writing is very clean and his trilogy is very compelling.

A couple of days ago I had the chance to interview Mr. Domenic and here is what he had to say…

How did you come up with the plot crisis for Arus? Was it an analogy for something in your own life?

To an extent. I’ve always defined Arus’ character as “the person I wish I was.” There are things in my own life that have shaped who I am in a negative way. I can be a bit of a cynical pessimist at times, so I wanted Arus to be the exact opposite. In essence, I was writing my own role model. From there, the story kind of built itself around him.

Were any real-life people the inspirations behind any of your characters?

I guess Arus’ mother is a lot like my own. But other than that, not really. Not in The Fourth Dimension series, anyway. I wrote another book years ago where I defined the main male character as “the person I really am.” But that book needs a lot of editing and rewriting before I’ll be ready to share it. For The Fourth Dimension, most of my inspiration came from movies, video games, and oddly enough, WWE wrestling. The Undertaker’s character, in particular, provided some inspiration for Kitreena’s more cold-blooded moments.

I found the space scenes just as full-fledged and believable as the village scenes. Were any real-life settings the inspiration behind any of the scenes in the book?

Until just a few years ago, we had a beach house at Point Pleasant Beach in New Jersey. I used to go there every summer, and the thunderstorms there were amazing because you get such a clear view of the sky. I always felt that would be a cool backdrop for an epic battle scene. So at the end of Eye of the Tornado, I used that setting to start out the final battle.

Oh, and for the record, what you see on TV is NOT an accurate representation of the Jersey shore.

How old were you when you started writing the 4th Dimension series, and how long did it take you to write three full-length novels?

I started writing the first one when I was fourteen years old. I never envisioned writing as a career back then; it was more of a hobby. It wasn’t until I was twenty-two years old, working full time and attending community college, that I really made the decision that I wanted to pursue this as a career. I had written a few books outside of The Fourth Dimension, but I knew I wanted this story to be my “baby.” So I took the basics of the original manuscript and completely rewrote the story, this time dividing what was once a single book into three. I started work on that sometime in early 2006, I think. Between going to work full-time, school part time, and trying to make time for the lady in my life, I didn’t get much done.

In May of 2007, I got laid off from my job. I had built up a bit of a savings, so I decided to take the rest of 07 off and dedicate every day to those books. I finished the early drafts just before Christmas that year. At that time, my goal was to send them to traditional print publishers. But after sending out over a hundred submissions and receiving plenty of those rejection letters that we all love, I found myself getting a bit discouraged. My fiance was friends with Anne Rice online, and she convinced her to read a couple chapters for me. Anne told her that she saw no reason I shouldn’t be published and suggested self-publishing through Kindle and Smashwords. A few years later, and here we are!

Wow… so, did you have any problems keeping the facts straight across all three books over such a long timeframe?

Oh yeah! I usually type little notes to myself at the bottom of the document, but this time I had to create a whole separate text file for all the different storyline and character threads that I was weaving. It was the only way that I could remember where and when I wanted to bring them together.

Who was the most difficult character to write?

I would have to say Kindel was the toughest to write. I believe that every good villain needs to honestly believe that he or she is actually the hero. Though I’m a big fan of Star Wars, I never understood how the Sith could follow an ideology called the “Dark Side.” That’s pretty much proclaiming yourself to be evil. And evil, by its very definition, is wrong. It doesn’t make sense.

Take the different world leaders out there. Most of them, though we may not agree with them, honestly believe that they are acting in the best interest of their countries and their people. It’s the clashing of those ideologies that causes conflict. That’s what I wanted to recreate. The difficulty came in writing a convincing viewpoint that I personally don’t agree with. That was hard.

Do you have any new projects in the works that we (ahem, I) can look forward to purchasing?

Always. I’m currently writing something completely different from The Fourth Dimension. It’s a Christian young adult book, which I realize won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. My intention is to show how the negative events of our lives help us to grow and mature. Don’t worry, though. This isn’t going to be something you’d find on the Lifetime Movie Channel. Aside from that, I have two other books that need revisiting. And there’s much more to come from The Fourth Dimension, too.

Are you a member of any online or real-world writing groups?

Actually, for any indie authors interested in connecting with each other, there’s a group on Facebook that I just joined called “Indie Writers Unite.” Everyone has been really friendly and helpful so far, and I think it will be a good place for advice and support from others!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_182561635089661

Do you use any other social media?

Oh yeah. I’m on Facebook, Twitter, myspace, Digg, Stumbleupon, and a number of others. I’m most active on facebook, though. I actually have three separate facebook pages. There’s one for me, one for The Fourth Dimension series, and one for my Retail Ramblings blog. Links to all of my sites can be found on my website, http://kevindomenic.blogspot.com. Just scroll down a bit and you’ll see them listed on the right sidebar.

The website is fairly new, so there’s not much in the way of real content yet. But I guarantee that there’s lots of great stuff to come! I’ll be posting blogs, updates on my work, random thoughts, and maybe even an author interview or two. Know anyone that might be interested? (hint, hint)

Where can my readers find more of your work?

Currently, I’m self-published on amazon.com, Smashwords.com, and most other ebook sites like Barnes & Noble and Sony’s Reader Store.

I also run a humor blog about experiences with crazy customers during my 11 years of retail work. It’s called Retail Ramblings, and can be found here: http://retail-ramblings.blogspot.com

On Smashwords, I’m currently running a Buy 1 get 1 50% Off sale on The Fourth Dimension books! Details can be found here: http://tfdworlds.blogspot.com/2011/03/sale-buy-1-get-1-half-off.html

Do you intend to continue writing more books in the Fourth Dimension world? Or do you think that storyline has run its course?

Arus and his friends have only just begun to explore the stars. There’s plenty more to come! I hope to begin work on Volume IV later this year once I finish my current project. I’m not sure how long the series will run, but I’ve got the basic plots for the next three volumes planned out.

And for something totally frivolous. Describe the perfect meal. What food makes do you crave at the mere mention of the name?

*chuckles* If you’d asked me that a couple of weeks ago, I would’ve said the boneless buffalo wings from Longhorn Steakhouse! But I just found out they discontinued them, and thus, my reason for eating there. A piece of me died inside on that day.

But at home, it’s anything with Frank’s Red Hot sauce! My fiancé created a dish that I really love. It’s a breaded chicken breast with hot sauce and Italian seasoning mixed into the bread crumbs. It’s my favorite!

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions and for humoring a fan.

Today, I’ve got a very special treat for you. We are interviewing Jennifer Rainey, Author of These Hellish Happenings. But it seems that Jack Bentley, one of her characters, has opted to sit in on the interview. I figured it would be a good chance for us to get to know both of them, so I asked them both several questions.

Jerry: What was the most challenging part of working with this character?

Jennifer: The most challenging part of working with Jack Bentley was taking into consideration his age. I never outright say it in the book, but he was born 1366. Not only that, but as a vampire, he’s been about twenty-five for over six centuries. It was a balancing act; I had to think about his age, his experience, how he would be jaded in certain ways, but at the same time, I had to make him relatable and human and think about how he would react to the situations in the book that are entirely new to him.

Jerry: So, Jack, what do you think Jennifer should have changed about you when they wrote you in?

Jack: I wish I had more of a spine. I mean, I’m not asking to be bloody Superman or whatever, but for Satan’s sake, I feel like I’ve spent half my life running from things. I’m not at all athletic, so I shouldn’t be running this much. Can’t be good for me, I imagine.

Jerry: What are Jack’s most endearing qualities and what are the worst?

Part of what makes Jack endearing is how human he is. He’s not your tall, dark and handsome brooding vampire. He’s not sexy, he’s not mind-numbingly sophisiticated; he’s a slightly dorky, cowardly vamp with an almost obsessive love of music and a few vague hopeless romantic tendencies. But throughout the novel, he begins to overcome his cowardice and his tendency to repress memories he doesn’t want to face, and I think that makes him very likeable, as well.

His worst quality? He’s a complete slob.

Jerry: Do you think you were represented well in her portrayal of you?

Jack: First, I want to say I’m not that messy. There is a system to my… organizational techniques. I just have to remember on what part of the floor I last saw whatever it is I’m looking for.

But yeah, I think I was represented well enough. Jenny certainly dug into my mind a little more than I wanted her to, but in the end, I think it made for a good story. All that probing paid off. … Not… not that kind of prob… you know what I mean.

Jerry: Did you get into arguments with Jack when writing him into the story? How long did it take you to resolve any arguments and get back to the task of getting your story out?

Jennifer: Of course. I unfortunately can’t think of any specific ones at the moment, but he can be very stubborn if he wants to be. Normally we’d work it all out in a day or so, though, and carry on with our work.

Jerry: Jack, from your perspective, what is this story about?

This is a story about me never, ever catching a break. I go through more torture in this novel than all the torture in the Spanish Inquisition combined.

But really, it’s about me going to Hell and working there and getting involved in Hell’s society and politics, which are absolutely nothing short of awful. And I pick up a demon lover along the way, but Jenny told me that’s a spoiler and I shouldn’t talk about it.

Jerry: Jennifer, I guess it’s only fair I ask you the same question. What is this story about from your perspective as the author?

Jennifer: At its core, These Hellish Happenings is dark comedy about a man who has to go to Hell to figure himself out. Jack may not want to admit it himself, but he experiences a kind of rebirth when he goes down to the underworld. The Hell he encounters is far from Dante or the fire and brimstone most think of, and is actually quite a lot like Earth. He finds himself getting wrapped up in the affairs of Hell, in demonic politics, and indeed, even in romance, and through all that, he begins to figure himself out after 600 years of not quite being able to on Earth.

Jerry: Do you intend to write a sequel?

It’s actually the first of a trilogy, so yes, I’m working on the sequel right now. It’s tentatively called When Hell Freezes Over.

Jerry: Jack, how do you feel about that, hearing her say that she intends to write more about you?

I’m up for it. I’m not shutting up just yet. She knows if she didn’t write a sequel, I’d just kick around her brain. Drive her bonkers. … Which doesn’t sound too bad, actually.

Jerry: So, Jack, how are you adjusting to the publicity? Do you enjoy being known by potentially millions of readers?

It’s really nothing new to me. I am, after all, the famous vampire from the Registration Office of Hell. Seems like everyone on Hell’s Administrative Level is aware of me at this point. Some of them aren’t too pleased that a “leech”, as they’d say, got such an important job. Anyway, it’s prepared me for any publicity coming my way, I’d imagine.

Jerry: And finally… What other projects do you have in the works? Anything you’d be willing to share about at this point?

Jennifer: Like I said, I am working on the second book in the These Hellish Happenings series. It takes place three years after the first one ends, and I can’t tell you much more about it, sorry! I also have a rather dark comedy that’s on hold right now called Green-Eyed about a young wannabe archaeologist who gets wrapped up in a plot to find a cursed artifact. And he goes a little mad by the end, haha! But it is very rough right now.

Today, I am proud to introduce you to Morgan Gallagher, author of Changeling. I’m excited to introduce all of you to her.

So, Morgan… Tell us about yourself. Who is Morgan Gallagher?

Depends who you ask. Some people will say she’s that nice woman who can usually find someone to help you if you need some help. Others will say she’s an annoying and persistent fly in their ointment, they wish she’d go away. I’ll say I’m Scottish, hurtling through her 40s, wondering how she still feels 25ish, and has a lot of things to get done in a day. Oh, and that I’m someone who was born to be very very rich, and is annoyed the universe hasn’t caught up on that yet.

How long have you been writing, and what have you learned from it?

I’ve been writing for over 30 years, and I’ve learned that it’s a craft, and you do get better at it, the more you do it. You keep the tap turned on, and write every day, otherwise the tap can rust up. That, and that sometimes you need to be a bit older in order to get the depth into your work.

Do you ever find yourself lost in your writing world trying to figure out some plot or action scene?

That’s my normal experience with books – both reading and writing. I’ve had to learn to control myself into NOT doing this all the time. I fall into the page and disappear. Or, actually, the rest of the world disappears.

What is your latest book about?

A human female who is taken by an ancient vampire. He plays with her the way a cat plays with a mouse. Then decides he is going to Turn her. She thinks he’s just a mad human, and isn’t sure how to cope with his claims of being a vampire. As the battle between them progresses, we see more of him, and how the vampire world he describes, may not be as clear cut as he suggests. Does she succeed in escaping him, or will she too be vampire?

Do you have any new projects that you can talk about?

Changeling launches a trilogy, so the next project is Lucifer’s Stepdaughter, book two. I can’t say too much, as I can’t give away the ending of Changeling. But Changeling is an interior book, with two people battling it out on their heads, as much as anything else. Lucifer’s Stepdaughter opens it up to a much wider story, with a lot of other characters, all vampires. It’s the wider vampire society that Dreyfuss exists with, in an uneasy peace.

What’s one thing that you think your readers “expect” from your work?

Brutal honesty and strong intelligent females. I have a lot of readers from my non-fiction and political work, and they know the territory is dark, and that I don’t flinch from speaking unspoken truths. It’s been very useful, as we’ve all been on another long journey together, in another context. It’s been quite interesting, to see them trying to adapt to reading my fiction writing, especially with vampires in it. On the whole, they’ve been wonderful. I have told everyone I don’t expect them all to read my fiction work. But I do expect them to buy it!

Do you use social media (Facebook, twitter, etc.)? If so, how often do you post, and what do you post about?

I’ve been on social media sites for years. I have a journal site, that’s locked and private, just my friends. I’ve used Facebook for years, to network my non-fiction work and share friends. I hated Twitter, and gave up on it. The past few weeks, I’ve been testing the waters on using social media for my fiction work, and it’s been an interesting ride. I’m quite comfortable with Twitter now, and have joined several new boards. It’s tricksy, trying not to do too much promoting, whilst keeping in touch with people on a real level. So I’m still working at it. I always post about my life, and my day and sprinkle it with references to writing. It’s just the way I want to do it. Internet contact is about meeting people, and that’s the core attraction for me. I post a lot, but always have.

I enjoy books from so many different genres — from Christian fiction, to fantasy, to the paranormal. But when I look back at my choices, I see that there’s always a dark theme to them. What is one theme that you enjoy reading?

I’d say darkness, but actually, that’s not quite true. I love Jane Austen, for instance. What I love most, is close examination and documentation of humans, how they act and how they think. So anything that is observational about humans, in any situation. Therefore I adore Austen’s detailing of the lives of women, at that time. Similarly, LM Montgomery, Laura Ingles Wilder and Louisa Alcott. And observational comedy that is about how humans live their lives. So I adore Victoria Wood, a British comic who does stand up on stage and sketches on television. I have some of her comedy scripts in book form, and take them down and read them now and then. Alan Bennett, for the same reason. You can gain so much, from small human lives observed well. I think the darkness, is that when you do look at people around you closely, there is a lot of darkness to be found.

Does this theme make it into your writing? Can you give us an example?

Yes, it forms descriptive structure in my writing. In Changeling, there are two sections where the main female protagonist is moving through large cities, and looking at everything around her in great detail. And how she presents herself in those situations, changes how people react to her, so there is a sense of the other people, observing her, and trying to work out who she is, and what she is after. Much of my ‘show’, not tell, is by describing how she interacts with strangers, and what she sees, and what they do. It’s all based on close observation, and understanding, of human interaction in large groups. Some readers might wonder what’s going on, if they are not used to simply looking at everyday people, and their lives.

Thank you for your time. Before I let you go, I have one last question: If you could have any meal, with any spread across the table, what would it be?

Steak. Perfect, sublime, melt in your mouth, steak. Blue. With the red juices running out. (Blue is the phrase in the UK, for the rarest of rare. Not sure if it’s used elsewhere.) I could eat it with a full meal, or just with fried eggs. But steak. Every time.

Thank you for interviewing with me today. I wish you the best with Changeling. I hope that my fans will give it a spin on April 10th, on it’s release date.

He is part demon. And the supernatural world won’t leave him alone.

The language used and subject matter lead me to suggest that this NOT be given to your teen kids. This isn’t young-adult-harry-potter fiction, people. As the name implies, there are some disturbing things in the book, and the author doesn’t hold any punches. He really is what the name implies, and the issues he deals with require some maturity to understand and deal with. But if you’re of consenting age, wanting a good, dark, paranormal book… this one is a great read.

I would rate it a 5+ out of 5. I rarely read a book a second time. After all, I know the ending, so why read it again? This is one of those books I’ll probably read again. It’s not the ending that makes this book great (although, there’s nothing wrong with it), it’s the ride getting there.

Pros: Dark & twisted (in a way that I really enjoy), fast-paced, amazingly-defined characters.
Cons: A couple of typos, but nothing that takes you out of the plot. Not for the young reader.

So, I’m working on a new website (actually, JXN Entperprises is working on it for me) and I’m excited about it. In a couple of weeks I should be revealing it to the world. It will include some cool graphics and features. You’ll be able to see story clips that I’ve been working on, ways to contact me directly, and even some video.

Stay tuned for the address. I can’t wait to show you all.

This week was slow at my day job, so I had plenty of time to sit and consider what I would do to poor Brodie. Oh, the many wonderous things I could do to torture him… but alas, there are only so many pages, and the plot — in the end — does have to make some sense, right? So feeding him to the alligators, then dropping him off in the arctic to chase down ice monsters… probably isn’t going to happen.

I’m going back a few chapters in my novel and reworking the story line a bit. I’ve gone far off course from the over-all theme that I want to present, and I want to get it back on track. Book 1 was all about discovery. There is this other realm. We mere humans can avoid it for a while, if we choose to. But Brodie can’t. He has to deal with this other realm daily.

The theme of Book 2 is going to build on that, with ‘Identity’. Who are you?… I mean, really. Are you what you look like? Or are you what you do? Or are you what you eat? Those are the things that Brodie will have to address to solve the latest twist. At least… if I do it right.

Yep… It’s march 1st, and I’m moving the price back to $0.99. If you’re looking for a great read, but don’t have a ton of cash right now (who does?) then pick up a copy of Death Has a Name.

So where can you get it? I’m glad you asked…
Buy Direct from the Author
Smashwords
Barnes & Noble
Amazon (UK)
Amazon (US)

With a five-star review from Syria Says, this is the prime time to make the move. You know you’re getting a quality read at a great price.

Wow… a lot happened this weekend, and I don’t even know where to start. I guess, we’ll start with the winners.

I am happy to announce two winners for two different autographed paperback giveaways. The winner of the Frugal eReader giveaway was Kitty and the winner of the GoodReads giveaway was Talitha! Congratulations to you both. I’m getting both of those in the mail just as soon as I can.

Keep watching for more giveaways and promotions. You never know what I’ve got up my sleeve next. =)

For those of you who are wondering, here is the image and the CORRECT interpretation of it:

I spent most of my weekend (when I wasn’t organizing the giveaways) working on the sequel. I’ve found quite a few issues that I need to go back and fix, which is going to entail pretty much a complete rewrite. I hate it when I write myself into a corner. Since I’m a computer programmer by day, I’m developing some software to help me keep track of characters, plot lines and threads so that I don’t have this happen again. If anyone’s interested in the app, let me know.

And one final note, Death Has a Name was reviewed by SyriaSays to a raving 5-stars! I’m about to explode. =) You can view that review here. I’m about to come apart at the seams. Thanks to Syria for such glowing words, even though she doesn’t have to say them.

After a few weeks of promotions, I’ve been picked up by TheFrugaleReader.com and DailyCheapReads.com! The FrugaleReader and I are working out a promotion for today to help increase the buzz a bit. And DailyCheapReads.com will post my book tomorrow.

I’m excited for the exposure. Every author knows that this kind of exposure can really boost your sales so you can get back to the business of writing instead of promoting. The sequel to Death Has a Name has been on the back burner now for a few weeks, getting the occasional touch here and there, but not the devoted time it needs.

I’m very new to this whole publishing/marketing thing, and most of the time I feel a bit lost. There are times when I want to pull the book and pretend I never ventured out into the wild. It’s a bit scary at times. But then I get responses from readers that say how much they’ve enjoyed the book, making it all worth while.

I’m not certain that dread feeling will ever go away completely. I hope it does. I want to be able to stand up and say “I’m a writer.” instead of “I’m a programmer who also happens to have a book for sale… wanna buy it?” That just feels so…. “used car salesman.”

Until then, I guess that’s what I am though. No, not the used car salesman… I’m a programmer by day, who happens to be a writer at night and has a book for sale. I suppose I need to be comfortable with that before I can move on to being anything else.

Well, I have a day off from my “day job” and a few hours before the media blitz gets underway… I guess I could see how much trouble I could get Brodie into in that time. I hope to see a few people post on the sponsoring sites. They’ve been good to me so far. =)

Have a great day, gang.

I’ve been working with the sequel for a couple of months now. And, as it always happens, I’ve encountered a brick wall. Not writer’s block per-se. I still have a billion ideas.

No… this is different. I have too many ideas. I know I want Brodie to do X, and Jamie to be at Y, with Phil [censored]. But there are a thousand ways to skin a cat, and probably more for getting everyone where they need to be.

The problem comes in when I try to execute the plan. My brain can’t decide which path would be the most fun to write about, and to read after I’m done. In one path, Brodie never gets back to the police station. But in another path, he has to be there within 15 minutes of the major event. In each case, there is it’s own drama, conflict and plot.

But which one is best?

And now you see my problem. I’m a perfectionist. I want the perfect scenario to get the job done, and there really are several very good options.

So, tonight I’ll go home and put a list of pros and cons on paper and try to make a decision. Wish me luck.

P.S. OH… and don’t forget to check out my goodreads giveaway at: http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/8402-death-has-a-name

I’m giving away an autographed copy of the paperback!!

Here’s some new promo art for Death Has a Name. Let me know what you think about it.

That’s right! You can now buy my ebook and paperback straight from this site. I’ve pre-ordered a set of paperbacks and have them on the shelves, ready to send out. And if you prefer the digital version, I have those packaged up and ready to go.

There is a Truth that exists. It is active. Alive. Fighting to make itself known. It’s not my truth. It’s not anyone’s truth. It is The Truth.

The Truth confronts Brodie and tells him that he must protect the Third Key, but he is unsure what — or who — that is. If Death gets its hands on the Third Key, the world as we know it will cease to exist.

UPDATE: To keep in sync with Amazon and Smashwords, my own ebook purchase price has been reduced to $0.99!

Paperback Edition: 252 pages of non-stop adventure.	$12 + $3 Shipping
Autographed Paperback Edition: 252 pages of non-stop adventure. With this edition, I will sign and personalize the inside cover for that someone special in your life.	Autographed to whom? $15 + $3 Shipping
eBook Edition! Just let me know what format you need, and I’ll email you the ebook files. In minutes, you can be reading this fantastic story.	$0.99, flat rate.
CD Edition! Not sure what ebook files you might need? Want them ALL, just in case? This custom CD contains all of the ebook files in: .mobi (for Kindle) .ePub (for just about all other eReaders) .PDF (For PC and Mac reading) The artwork on the top of the CD is high-quality, produced by local artist Sean Eddingfield!	$4.00 + $2 Shipping

Thanks to Kit and Duane, my first two paperback sales.

I am still learning about book promotion, distribution, etc. I’m working hard to promote my book and get it known out there. I’m also writing the sequel and trying to iron out some of the issues there. Did I mention that I also have a day job since two sales aren’t going to pay the mortgage. Writing is a second job, taking alot more time than I’d thought many years ago.

I’d love to win the lottery so that I could just sit and write up new worlds and scenarios in which to throw my poor unsuspecting characters. Unfortunately, I don’t think that’s going to happen in the near future.

I’m sure that some day writing will become my full-time employment, but I’m realizing each day that that day may be further off. I may be old and gray before I can make that a reality. Just like in investing in my 401(k), I may have jumped into the self-publishing game much too late in life to fully enjoy it.

Then again, I may write the next best thriller, and skyrocket one day, too. That’s the thing about writing/reading. You never know what will tickle the world or make them stop and think.

Maybe I could just get a pseudonym… Steven Kyng?? Paula-Deen Koons??? Maybe that’ll drive a few billion sales… no??? Yeah, you’re absolutely right. Probably not.

I guess until then, I’ll just keep plugging away. I’ve hacked out another chapter or two this weekend, and I’m looking forward to really hammering out the details on this one. This was one of my favorite chapters EVER.

As readers of the blog, I do have one question for you… Do you enjoy Brodie? Or would you rather see some of my other works? Where would my time be best served when I sit down and write? I like Brodie. He’s quirky, like me. But I also like Harrison (Harry), and Sarel, and Ursus… oh and Tia. Tia is awesome with her ability to speak things into existence. But with a 10-hour-per-day day job, I only have a few hours a night to throw at writing. Did I also mention I have a lovely wife who is beginning to miss her handsome husband, as he stays up late to promote, tweet, blurb, and post… all before writing?

So, I need your input. Which of my current stories — oh! And Sadiq, the Deathbringer. I nearly forgot him. He’d haunt me for a week if I forgot him. As I was saying, which of the stories would you, my readers, enjoy reading more about?

I know… unless you know what the plots are about, you can’t answer that. And there’s my dilemma. I am not at a place that I can post plot lines. So I’m in a bit of a Catch-22. So I guess the best question I can ask is:

Do you enjoy Brodie enough that I should continue the two planned sequels, or should I put them on the back burner for now and hatch out some other works that are waiting to see the light of day?

I’m moving the price back up to $2.99. For a short while (24-48 hours) Amazon will continue to list my book at $0.99. While it’s at the low price, get it while you can.

Amazon (US Store)

Amazon (UK Store)

Happy $0.99 reading!

Hey gang! I was featured this weekend by Karly Kirkpatrick. It’s nothing major, but I was very excited to see her mark me as her Book of the Day. =) Thanks, Karly. I’m honored!

http://karlykirkpatrick.blogspot.com/2011/02/bookaday-death-has-name-by-jerry-hanel.html

Tonight we spent the evening with one of my best friends in the entire world, Pastor KJ.

No, we weren’t discussing great new plot twists for me. Or new sermon points for him. We were watching the Super Bowl. Why is this important to you, my dear blog readers? To understand this, you must know that KJ, while he is the nicest man you will ever meet… the most humble, loyal, amazing person… is a die-hard steelers fan. He has the Steelers coat, hat, blanket, “Terrible Towel”, cup, plate… and probably underwear, but I didn’t ask about that. We shouted, whoop’d and holler’d. We made a general spectacle of ourselves, all while stuffing sandwiches and chips into our faces.

While I am not a big sports fan, I was happy to lend all of the support that I could to KJ’s cause. But did all of that effort change anything? Did our vigilant cheering from Oklahoma change any single outcome in Arlington, Texas? No. Not in the slightest. But then again, that wasn’t the point, was it?

Bonds were shared, and the Human element of our hearts were encouraged by the presence of each other. As much as I’m a quiet man, he’s a social person, relishing in the connections of others. I needed that friendship as much as he needed someone to root for his Steelers. Needless to say, it was a fun time, but in the end (much to KJ’s disappointment) the Steelers were unable to pull it off. But we thoroughly enjoyed every second of it.

Maybe next year, my friend. If you’ll still have us back.

I’m snowed in today, so I had a little extra time. I took today and put together this book trailer. Let me know what you think of it.

Check out Death Has a Name, my new novel.
You can view it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Smashwords.

Yep! I’m giving it away… for a little while, anyway.

To Celebrate the release of the paperback edition of Death Has a Name, I’m giving away the ebook until January 31st. You can claim your own free copy at http://www.smashwords.com/ books/view/34088 buy purchasing it with coupon code GT63C.

This book has been in my head for a very long time, and this December I was fortunate enough to get it finished and get it published. You can buy the paperback version of the book here: Death Has a Name: Paperback. It’s only $12, making it a great gift or low-cost purchase.

The main character, Brodie Wade, has been diagnosed several times as schizophrenic but believes that the visions that he sees are related to a realm that he calls The Truth.

When he joins forces with Detective Phil Dawson, he comes head-to-head with The Truth, to discover who is behind the latest set of grizzly murders. It appears that The Midnight Killer has raised from the dead. Can Brodie and Phil work together to solve the crimes and put the Angel of Death back in his cage?

That coupon is only valid until Jan 31st, so hurry and get yours today.

I have another interview with another independent author. Her name is Judi Coltman, and she is the author of the humorous essay book called Is It Just Me? or Is Everyone a Little Nuts!.
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I love the title of her book, and her reviews are off-the-charts. If you get a chance and are in the dire need of a good laugh, take a look at this book. And now, on with the interview:

Good evening, Judi. Some people write for a paycheck, while others do it for the love of the craft or to fulfill a promise to a loved one. Can you tell me what drives you to get up and write?

There is a smart mouth woman who lives in my head, she is the one that nudges me out of bed in the morning and gets me writing. If I didn’t she’d talk my ear off.

What is the first book that you can remember having a true impact on you?

My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George, in 5th grade. That was the first book I read where I remember not wanting to put it away because the teacher was starting a new topic. That being said, I am inspired with every single book I read – even the bad ones.

What is one quirky thing about yourself… something that no one outside of your friends and family might know?

I’m a great swimmer but I will not swim in a public pool – I hate running into abandoned band aids.

What is your current project about?
Oddly, for a humorist, I am writing a murder mystery. Go figure.

Makes sense, in an odd sort of way. (laugh) How did the plot and overall story for that project come into being?

A man walks into my house and starts talking like we are old friends. I’ve never seen him before in my life but he is talking about what I did the night before. I called the cops and never saw the guy again. . .but in my head, he is a psycho murderer.

Do you have any other projects on the burner somewhere (that you can talk about)?

I have more projects than burners.

Quick!… without thinking, what are the first five words that come to mind?

Crap! I hate those questions!

Haha… yes. Those are five words. So, what do you think those five words say about your personality?

I must edit constantly because nothing was good enough to think of.

Do you have any pets? Can you tell us about them?
I have the perfect pet. He is a Bichon Frise named Moose. Moose is my constant companion and has his own chapters (2) in my book. He deserves them.

Thank you for taking the time to answer these interview questions. Before I let you go, I have one more question. If the world were to one day have your name as a household name (aside from your writing career) what would you want to be known for?

Winner of the Mega Millions lotto who made a generous donation to the cancer researchers who came up with the cure for cancer.

Thank you for answering the questions. It’s been a delight to talk to you today.

You’re welcome. Thank you so much for this opportunity.

So, I recently posted about my new cover art. It was my best attempt, and to be honest, I really liked it. But I paid Sean Eddingfield to create me a masterpiece. To be honest, I’m blown away! This work is so amazing!

Are you ready for it?

Here it is. Sean… you are amazing. Thank you for your work on this project.

After a few rounds of edits (I know… stuff that should have been done before initial release) and some feedback from friends, I’ve RE-published the book.

Why? … because you — the reader — have pointed out typos, plot inconsistencies, etc. Nothing major, but enough that I’m a perfectionist, and I couldn’t stand to see anything with blemishes that have my name on it (literally). On that note, I’ve re-published the book with these new edits.

I’ve also got feedback from readers that they don’t understand the cover art. I’ve commissioned new cover art (to be on the book soon) from a VERY well known artist, Sean Eddingfield. You can see his work here.

Once I get this new cover art from him, I’ll do a Republish #2 (hopefully the last).

Between now and then, I am taking any feedback, suggestions, notes, comments, etc. … good and bad, so be brutal. I’d rather get a good book than be patronized.

If you want to preview the book, you can see it at Feedbooks or at Smashwords. You can BUY the book at Smashwords, Amazon or Barnes & Noble for a whopping $0.99! (Come on, that’s cheap, folks!)

So, have a happy new year, and take a few minutes this year to read my new book. It’s a good one. I promise. =)

So we go home last night, and guess what’s in my mailbox…

No, really… guess. Nope! It was a proof copy of my book in paperback. I’m still excited to see my name in print. I know… I’m not famous. Heck, I had to pay $8.00 to order the proof just see my name in print (and check for errors, too).

Anyone could pay $8.00 to see their name in print, right? But it’s the principal of the matter. I’ve actually finished a book, and seeing a finished work in your hands feels pretty good.

I’ll let you know where you can buy the print book when it comes available. Until then, just keep checking in on me. =)

I’m back at my day job. It’s an amazing job. I really do love it.

But the problem is, no one is here. I don’t have much to do today because 99% of the company took this week as their vacation week. So, here I am. Waiting.

Oh, I have work to be done. I have documentation to write, but that’s not nearly as engaging as writing a novel. Writing a novel is fun. Juicy. Like eating your favorite candy. It’s sweet and exciting, but doesn’t do much for you other than give you cavities.

Documentation is dry. Crusty. Like eating graham crackers without milk followed by wheat germ and granola. It’ll fill you up and keep you healthy, but boy is it dry and hard to swallow.

I need to find a happy medium. I want to get paid to write and do what I love to do… but not the dry, boring, milk-less times.

Merry Christmas to all!

I’m just sitting down today since i have the day off from my “day job”.  New ideas about where to take Brodie in the second novel are taking shape today. I don’t want to give away anything, but suffice it to say that Brodie is going to encounter his own issues in a way that only he can.

I’m also planning on moving the scene from an undisclosed city as in the previous novel to a specific city, give that city a name, and allow certain landmarks from that city to appear in the pages of the book. Does anyone have a specific place in mind that they would like represented?

What city, to you, is ominous, foreboding and haunting?

It feels very strange… like I should be glowing now, or I should be able to levitate or something. I’m a little freaked out right now, to be honest.

I’ve reached the status of “published author.” I was even able to google my own book title and find it. Google already has it indexed!

For anyone interested and for those fans that have visited here often, you can find my book at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/34088. If you use the promo code XX32D, between now and January 1, 2011, you can download the book for FREE!!

It’s just my way of celebrating and saying Merry Christmas to all!

And even if you discover this post after January 1, I’m only charging $2.99. Come on, people. That’s not all that much for a full-sized novel! Right?

Anyway, the trip to this point in my writing “career” has been fun. This is my first book, and I’m very excited about it. It’s been a challenge learning all kinds of new rules about where you can put “he said” instead of “he replied with a stick of string cheese hanging from his lips.”

While I still prefer the second form, I am beginning to see exactly how using simpler structures actually does improve the flow and readability of the story. It’s crazy how such a simple change in the text can alter the flow in a person’s brain.

Well.. it’s nearly 1a.m. and I still have a “real job” to go to in the morning.

Goodnight all. Oh, and if you do use the promo code, send me a review of the book (a short 1 paragrap that just tells me what you think of it and why.) Maybe your review will get on the back cover of my next release! =)

UPDATE: After reading a bit on author boards, the price (without coupon) has been reduced to $1.99. You can’t beat that with a stick… well, you could but it’d mess up the electrons.