Thursday, October 31, 2013

A Halloween Bard's Tale!


I wrote this today for two reasons this Hallow's Eve: I was inspired to try something new and so I wrote this in first person and also I did not use a single name. It was more of an experiment to see if I could pull it off...I hope you like it. The story takes place in my Realm of Ashenclaw setting in the unscrupulous town of Freeport along Ship's Landing in the northern section of Wothlondia.

In a rundown bar called the Scallywag was where I found refuge and alcohol to drown my sorrows this Hallow’s Eve. The inn was full to bursting , as it was most nights according to the rumors of the bar wenches and tavern keep, whose name escapes me. But this time, all of the tavern folk were celebrating the holiday by dressing up in strange attire, wearing all manner of hideous makeup and masks, trying to appear as the creatures invading my dreams each night of late.
I raised my mug and drained its contents before calling the serving wench over to my table. “What’ll it be this time?” she asked me, not unkindly.“I’d like something a little stronger,” I replied, thinking to get myself good and drunk tonight, so that I don’t have the same nightmare I’d been having. One where I craved the blood of the innocent.
A pair of bards came in and I noted them immediately as they were both young and cheery, a man and a woman, though their flesh seemed as pale as my handkerchief on a good day. I guess it was not unusual, especially this night, if they had their makeup on, eh? They approached the barkeep and after a brief conversation, made their way to the stage, giggling and whispering to one another. It was hard to tell if they were man and wife, brother and sister, or something entirely different, although they did look familiar to me in some manner. Had I seen them somewhere in my travels? No…I’d never made it to this town of Freeport before as I was always out to sea. Who’d have thought me for a fisherman even ten years ago? These past few days, though, I was thankful to not have the sea shifting beneath me. I never realized how seasick I was until I actually made it to land. Nevertheless, me and my fellow anglers were here, in Freeport, and I found myself alone again. That was not uncommon, either, these days. I’ve been quite the killjoy.
It was the anniversary of my wife’s death yesterday and it was only five years ago. I still cannot even bring myself to say or think her name as it sends me to tears. She was a victim of the plague that killed so many who were unable to gain the support of healers or priests, or did not have the coin to buy the proper medicinal herbs. We were poor, and that cost me my wife. Yes, I blame myself. And why not? I have never afforded her or myself anything more than what we carry on our backs. It was yet another reason I chose the life of a fisherman.

As the flames on the candles flickered and the fire grew dim in the hearth, my own vision dimmed along with it. I was suddenly in a state of mild inebriation that allowed me to survive the recent onslaught of horrifying images…those of my departed wife, and those even more horrifying than that.
The sounds of the bard’s songs were intoxicating. They filled the inn’s space with hypnotic melodies and were quite the delight for everyone this evening. The Patrons were all getting good and drunk and having a delightful time. Everyone but me, that is.

As the crowd thinned out and the duo of bards took the stage for the last time that night, something changed significantly in me. Suddenly, the wine and ale tasted like nothing. I could smell the scent of cooking flesh at such a heightened degree that it made me sick and intoxicated all at once. The scent of perfume and alcohol permeated my senses and I caught the female bard staring at me and smiling. She was singing a song directly to me, though the words were lost on me, yet she pushed her way past the few folks remaining and stared at me…and her eyes flashed red?! And then she made her way back to the stage and the pair of entertainers finished their joyous tune and followed it up with something altogether haunting.

That’s when I could smell their blood, everyone that was present: the bar wenches, the innkeeper, the few drunkards remaining at the bar, and the few who danced clumsily to the bard’s melancholy melody. As the man continuing strumming his lute, the woman grabbed the closest person to her, another young woman, and danced with her, pulling her close, and spinning her away to face me as she ran an elongated and rather sharp fingernail across her throat, slicing it open. And then she began licking at the blood that flowed from the wound. That was when her appearance changed to something not of this world.
 “Come and drink your fill,” she called to me. And I fought the urge—the exceptionally heady urge—to race to her side and partake of the woman’s life force that spilled onto the floor. The crowd was racing toward the door when a shadow of something sped past me to block their path. It was the other one—the man who’d stopped playing the lute and I hadn’t noticed!—and who had also changed his appearance to something equally hideous.
His dagger and sword came free and slit the woman’s neck before him, and then he spun a dance of death like something I’d never seen before. Those blades worked their way through flesh…slicing and cutting and stabbing until only I and the innkeeper remained untouched.
 “Bastard devils,” he muttered under his breath. And yet, those words were so loud to me that I could hear them as if he'd shouted them. “Vampyrs! Get out of my Inn or I’ll—“
 The woman was over to him before he could finish the sentence and she backhanded him so hard that he soared airborne along the bar’s length, coming to rest behind it, landing with the cracking of bones. I glanced over to see that his head rested at such an angle so as to confirm his unquestionable death.
“You don’t remember my visit to you in your dreams a few nights past, do you?” she teased, moving to stand before me, a mock look of sadness planted on her face as her raven hair framed her wickedly beautiful face, her fangs exposed by her sudden smile. “You are one of us, now. And you must feed.”
 I felt the urge again and fought it initially. It was not long though, before I began to drink the blood that was on the floor of the bar. It was like dousing a fire in my belly. And suddenly, I had no choice but to demand the relief from that awful pain. And so I continued to clean the blood on the floor until I found myself tearing at the flesh of one of the recently deceased patrons of the inn.
“We’ll have to burn that one,” she said to the man, who nodded in agreement as I looked up to face him. He grabbed her, cut off her head, poured alcohol all over it and the body, and tossed them into the hearth until they turned to ash. “That is what will happen to you if you are not careful,” he said to me with a macabre grin. “Once the head is severed, we burn quite easily.”
 “You must not tear the flesh with your fangs, newborn. You must cut them and drink of their blood carefully, so that it looks like a robbery or some such. The mortals must never find out about us, or we won’t be invited back!” Her callous laugh thundered in my ears for some time.
 We collectively fed on the humans--and I was careful not to use my teeth--until I felt a tug on my shoulder.
“We must leave. The dawn is coming and we must be gone by then,” she said calmly to me. I nodded and recalled in horror that the dreams I’d been having these last few days were much more than dreams. They were visions of what I was to become…what I had become. “Come with us, my sweet. We will take care of you now.”

Somehow, I found those words comforting. No longer did I feel the pain in my heart of my emotional losses, of the void left by my departed wife, or my lack of coin. They were replaced by something else—something that dulled them into nothingness.

When I turned my thoughts outward and felt the wind rush past my face, I overheard the two of them saying that Freeport was a wonderful place for us to spend the rest of our lives. I wondered exactly how long that would be as I followed my new companions and we disappeared into the fading night.




Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!

All Artwork and covers of my works by William J. Kenney


See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Also, please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2013 unless otherwise noted.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Walking Dead Season 4...So Many Questions


Just in time for Halloween, I bring you this theme-laced post. Thanks for popping in.

Well, I just finished watching all 3 seasons again this past weekend or two--instead of writing, I know!--and have been watching the last 2 episodes again looking for clues to all of the burning questions.

creepy, eh?
Let me say that the character development, writing and acting in this show are top notch and one of my three favorite shows on TV worth watching these days (along with Game of Thrones and Suits). I highly recommend all of them if you are not watching them already.

So, before the writers can ruin it with facts, lets discuss the possibilities! Here are my top ten questions we need to answer.

  • 1. Who is feeding the Walkers?
  • 2. Who burned the the bodies of Karen and (Dave?)
  • BONUS QUESTION 2.a Are these events interconnected or were they carried out by different people all together?
  • 3. What caused the flu-virus thingy?
  • 4. How will Karen's death affect Tyreese? 
  • 5. How long have Daryl and Carol been hooking up? (yes, she called him 'pookie' in episode 1 if I recall correctly!)
  • 6. Is Carl up to something or is he being straight with Rick?
  • 7. Will Beth care about anyone ever again?
  • 8. What is with Michonne and the baby?
  • 9. Will the Governor make an appearance this season?
  • 10. And finally, which of the main characters, if any, will die this season? (it's always one or more main characters each season, right?)


So, let the discussion begin!








Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!

All Artwork and covers of my works by William J. Kenney


See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

pictures randomly borrowed from the internet this time!

Also, please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2013 unless otherwise noted.


Monday, October 21, 2013

Amalia Dillin Interview


Amalia is a lover of mythology and weaves fantasy tales in that genre.The following is an interview I conducted with her...

First off, tell us a little bit about you!
My name is Amalia Dillin, and the first thing people should know about me is that I love mythology, particularly Norse and Greco-Roman, and particularly-particularly Thor. On the more personal side, I am married to the fabulous El Husband, and he is as big a history nerd as I am, so that works out pretty well.

Tell us about your books/What genre do you consider your books? I write fantasy! My Fate of the Gods series is heavily myth-based and follows Adam, Eve, and Thor through history from Creation to the modern day (and beyond), answering the question: What if ALL the gods were real? I’ve always wanted to explore that idea, and fit all these different myths together like puzzle pieces, so it’s been a blast to write. Especially with Thor as one of my protagonists. He’s an amazing character, really complex in the myths!

When did you start writing? I’ve been writing full-time for the last 4-5 years or so, and I can’t imagine doing anything else at this point, but I started writing in the first grade. I wrote a lot of Star Wars fanfiction in elementary school – inserting myself and my cat as the heroes, of course – and things just progressed from there. I don’t remember ever not wanting to write. FORGED BY FATE is my debut, and FATE FORGOTTEN, book two in the Fate of the Gods series, releases November 5th!

Why do you write? Writing is kind of how I make sense of the world and myself. Fate of the Gods, in particular, was a journey of self-discovery for me. It helps me to synthesize the things I’ve learned, and even just get a sense of history and realize and understand “these people were people, just like us.” A lot of times, we get this big overview of history or cultural/sociological/political issues, but writing lets me break things back down to a more personal, individual level to make it relevant and understandable to me.

What would be your choice for a superpower? Oh, no question, it would be the ability to communicate with animals. (I spent a lot of time thinking about this as a kid!) I love animals, and I really wish I could get inside their heads and just understand what they understand, know what they know. Can you imagine what an Elephant might be able to tell us? Or a Blue Whale? The things they’ve seen and experienced. It would be awesome.

Who is your favorite author? Um. I really, really love Robert Heinlein, Anne McCaffrey, and Lois McMaster Bujold. I think those are my top three right now. I can’t pick just one of them.

Who is your favorite character to write (duh)
? Thor, because God of Thunder who is beloved by the everyman? What’s not to love! But he’s followed closely by Adam, who is something between an antagonist and an anti-hero, depending on where he’s living in history.


What advice would you give to an aspiring author? Keep writing. Write every day. Create a habit out of it, so that when you’re sitting at your computer and you’re not writing, it feels weird. The more you write, the easier it becomes!

What inspired you to pursue writing? My brother liked to write, and he was pretty much my hero. But also I love reading, and I loved imaginary play as a kid, and had a lot of imaginary friends, and it was kind of natural for me to just keep exploring these stories I loved and then invent more of my own.

What are your favorite TV shows/Movies to watch in between writing? I’ve really been enjoying Marvel’s Iron Man, Avengers, Thor (of course), also the Star Trek reboot is one of my all time favorite movies. Star Wars, the original trilogy, of course! For TV shows, honestly, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is maybe the best show I’ve seen in years. It’s just fantastic.

What are your current projects? We’re in the process of edits on book three of the Fate of the Gods series, BEYOND FATE, and I’ve got a novella about Athena in the back of my mind. Unrelated to Fate of the Gods, I’m working on a more traditional fantasy novel about an Orc and a Princess, which I’m hoping to publish Spring 2014.

Definitely keep an eye on my blog for more information about the Fate of the Gods series and my work in general – http://blog.amaliadillin.com – and I’m on twitter, too, as @AmaliaTd.



Quick Fire:
Cats or dogs?
Cats AND Dogs.

Coffee or tea?
Herbal Tea, if I must.

Favorite food?
Mom’s Spaghetti and meatballs!

Vanilla or chocolate ice-cream?
Vanilla!

What are 3 things you never leave home without?
Pen, Paper, and an extra layer.

Laptop or desktop?
Laptop

Who are 3 famous people you would to hang out with?
Homer (of ancient Greece), Theseus (does that count? I mean he WAS famous, if not 100% historical), annnnnnnd Snorri Sturluson. I want to know what Norse myths he messed with and what myths he didn’t.

TV or Movies?
Movies!





Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!

All Artwork and covers of my works by William J. Kenney


See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Also, please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2013 unless otherwise noted.


Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Heidi C. Vlach interview


I recently ran into Heidi Vlach on twitter, she writes fantasy, and she agreed to an interview! The answers are a bit different and well thought out, so stick around and give it a look-see!

First, tell us a little bit about you
I'm a chef training graduate from Ontario, Canada, currently working as a waitress. I love cooking meals from scratch and trying new foods. Fantasy media has been a part of my life since I was a child— not just through books, but through video games, too. I'd say that video games and the Internet keep me awake all night, but I'm a night owl anyway!

Tell us about your books. My Stories of Aligare are set in a magical world where 3 non-human races live cooperatively. The korvi, aemets and ferrin (who are dragons, insects and weasels, respectively) help each other survive the "demon" forces of illness and bad luck. Other than that commonality, each book is a stand-alone story with a different flavour. Remedy is a medical drama, Ravel is a romantic friendship, and Render is a mystery — actually, one reader called it a "leisurely suspense" story and I like the ring of that.

What genre do you consider your books? High fantasy. The characters all have magic as an innate part of their bodies: they can breathe fire, make plants grow, generate electricity for self-defense, and more. This magic is a vital part of the Aligare world and all life within it. Some say that a world with no humans is automatically science fiction because it's not set on Earth — which is an interesting talking point, to be sure. But the Stories of Aligare are about the kind of ideas that embody fantasy: legends, magic and finding one's fate.

If the Aligare world is not Earth, why does it use familiar Earth life such as wolves, horses and oak trees?

Well, it's a way of picking my battles. The reader already needs to familiarize themselves with the korvi, aemet and ferrin races, their magic and their cultures. Every character has a worldview to learn — which is a lot to ask of the reader as it is. So I used a lot of Earth plants and animals, and some familiar mythological ideas like wyverns and basilisks, so that the reader can use their own knowledge base. I don't need to stop the story to exposit what an onion is, or how dangerous wolves are, because you already know.

When did you start writing? I've enjoyed creative writing for as long as I can remember, and I started writing fanfiction about video games and TV shows when I was a teenager. Then, bored in high school history class one day, I started writing down ideas for my own video game. That was an idle daydream — but then I realized that if I made this thing a novel instead, I wouldn't need programmers or companies. I could compose it all myself. That was when I started developing an early version of the Aligare world.

Why do you write? Mostly to explore concepts. If I want to see something done, I figure should do it myself. In particular, I want to see more human-free fantasy novels that aren't "talking animals on a quest" scenarios aimed at children. Science fiction accepts aliens as interesting people who can make us think, and I think fantasy can do it just as well. I hope my writing can prove that.

What would be your choice for a superpower? Telekinesis. Moving objects with my mind could have many different applications! I'd be fun at parties AND possibly useful in saving the world.

Who is your favorite author? Hmm, probably Naomi Novik. I'm not usually interested in historical fiction, but her alternate Earth does a great job of using sentient dragons to question human culture and rewrite our history. Novik's books are the only ones where I hear about a new release and think, "Ooh, definitely buying that."

What are you reading now? The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle. Reading it very slowly, mind you. But I'm loving the poetic prose and the unicorn's view of the world. I might need to name it my favourite book when I'm done.

Who is your favorite character to write? Syril of Reyardine, a travelling merchant of the dragon-like korvi race. "Ask for the name, whatever you need!" He's a minor character who shows up in every Aligare tale, because he's always flying to different villages to make deals. Syril is fun to write because he's so chatty and energetic. Readers usually either love him or hate him — but I, the author, love him even when I want him to shut up.

What advice would you give to an aspiring author? Accepting criticism is an important part of becoming a skilled writer, but don't blindly follow crit from everyone you meet. Some people bash your work to feed their own egos, or praise your work just because they don't want to hurt your feelings. Or they'll tell you to "write something more marketable" because your weird concept scares them. Always question your critiquers' motivations and personal tastes. Look for the people who criticize because they're trying to help your work be a better version of itself: those are the valuable folks.

What are your favorite TV shows/Movies to watch in between writing?I watch a lot of Futurama, American Dad and Mythbusters — I have my roommate to thank for that, we both enjoy those shows and watch them together. And I love food-and-travel shows, or cooking competitions like Chopped or Iron Chef.

What are your current projects? I'm working on short stories for a dragon-themed collection. The concept of a dragon can be spun so many ways, it's going to be great creative exercise for me.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to readers? Thanks for reading this Q and A! Writing is meaningless unless someone reads it, that's what I always say.

Quick Fire:Cats or dogs? Cats. They suit me better.
Coffee or tea? Coffee with lots of milk and a bit of sugar.
Favorite food? I love just about all food.
Vanilla or chocolate ice-cream? Both, please! (See above response.)
What are 3 things you never leave home without? Lip balm, a hoodie (because I get cold easily), and my iPhone.
Laptop or desktop? Laptop, so I can go sit somewhere else on a whim.
Who are 3 famous people you would like to hang out with? Alton Brown, Mike Rowe and Lady Gaga.
TV or Movies? Depends on the story being told. I don't have strong feelings for the formats themselves.



Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!

All Artwork and covers of my works by William J. Kenney


See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Also, please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

photo from http://www.sxc.hu/

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2013 unless otherwise noted.








Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Magic or Swordplay?


I was reading an article on my fellow author's site, Ross Kitson, and he was discussing magic and how it works in your universe, etc. You can see that article here (it's a great read, as is all of Mr. Kitson's works).  That got my wheels turning too, but in a different way.
Wayfarer Mage by William Kenney

I began to think what exactly you as a fan of fantasy, would prefer to read. Do you like sword play, close combat, grappling, martial arts, or battles with the exchange of magical powers?

I have found that both are equally difficult to put onto a page, but in different ways. I've had some martial arts training and understand how the body moves, theoretically and practically, when hit or swiped, etc. There is an amazing science to it. I try to put myself in my characters place when I write the fight scenes, and that can be done with some authenticity. I've luckily never been stabbed or had my guts ripped open, but I can imagine what that might be like. A column of divine energy exploding around my body or magical bolts of arcane energy are a little more difficult!

When writing a scene with magic, however, it is loosely based in reality and needs a bit more imagination. Am I right, my fellow writers? Magic is kind of a 'Deux Ex Machina' when it comes to most stories, but it doesn't have to be. I don't have my problems solved by magic, but instead use it as another tool that is defined by limitations. Magic is just another way to win a fight. So, concluding that point, it is another form of battle, logically defined, and told with a vivid imagination that still uses the framework of physics as best we can. As long as you can suspend you belief long enough to keep reading, it works!

So, what do you like reading more as a fan of fantasy: swordplay or magic?




Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!

All Artwork and covers of my works by William J. Kenney

Also check out our 4E D&D RPG Supplement for The Realm of Ashenclaw!


See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Also, please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2013 unless otherwise noted.


Sunday, October 6, 2013

Madeline Dyer Interview


I have been remiss in keeping up with my interviews and postings as my wife has had another Seizure (she has been diagnosed with epilepsy since last August) and I have been taking care of her this past week. However, I have received budding interest in authors wanting to be interviewed and the well-versed author, Madeline Dyer, was kind enough to volunteer to be interviewed. The following is the result of the Q&A! Enjoy!


First off, tell us a little bit about youHi! My name's Madeline and I love to write fantasy and science fiction. I live on a farm in Devon, England where I co-run a miniature Shetland Pony stud. Currently, I'm studying for a degree in English Literature so I haven't got as much time to write as I'd like, but I'm still managing to fit some in!

Tell us about your books/What genre do you consider your books?I mainly write fantasy and science fiction novels and short stories for a young adult and adult market, however, I also write nonfiction animal-care books too. All my fictional work is traditionally-published, but I self-publish my nonfiction.

When did you start writing? Now, this is a tricky question because I can't really remember a time when I wasn't writing! When I was in primary school (aged nine or ten) I remember we had to each write a short story, and I loved doing this. We wrote our stories by hand, then had to type them up (which I was very excited about, as we weren't often allowed into the IT suite). When I was typing my story up, I took about three times as long as the other people in my class—my teacher got a little annoyed about this—as I kept finding parts that needed changing, or I wanted to add in new parts. Now, I realise this was the process of me editing it and revising the content, something which our teacher didn't ask us to do.

I suppose it was from this sort of age that I started actually writing (as in writing stories that I tried to finish), though with my dad being a writer, I've been exposed to the world of storytelling and literature ever since I was born.

Why do you write? I write because I love writing. Quite simple really! For me, writing has this amazing power; just by putting a handful of words together you can create incredible characters, powerful emotions and fantastic new worlds where anything can happen. I suppose that writing, for me, is a form of escapism.

What would be your choice for a superpower?I love this question! I think I'd like to be able to write stuff down, just by thinking about it. Just imagine it, I could save so much time! Although, I would also like to be able to teleport to places too... That would be cool.

Who is your favorite author? My favourite (yes, I use the UK spelling!) author at the moment probably has to be Richelle Mead, author of the Vampire Academy series, Dark Swan novels and Bloodlines novels. I love the depth that her books have, how realistic her characters are, and how intricate and beautifully-developed the plots are.

What are you reading now? I've actually just finished reading The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey, (which I absolutely loved and highly recommend), so am in the transitory period from one book to another. Next on my to-read pile of books is L.A Weatherly's Angel Fever.

Who is your favorite character to write? My favourite character to write is Jade from my Spirit Of Fire series. These books are written in the first person narrative from Jade's point of view, so I can really get stuck in her head. She's quite confident, but is flawed and struggles with her identity at times. Having said that she's my favourite character, I also love her twin-brother Jack. He's more aggressive than Jade, and very protective of her and their other sister, but he has some pretty witty dialogue which I love writing!

Do you have a writing process? Yes! I'm a planner. I have to plan what I'm going to write before I write it, yet I can't do too much planning, else I lose inspiration, Typically, I make notes on the plot's arc and the characters (because characters are hugely important for me, as they drive the plot) and then go straight into writing the first draft, attempting to write the scenes in a chronological order. Often, as I'm writing, I discover more about my characters and their lives, which can then be further developed in additional drafts.

My first drafts tend to be pretty messy, so the second and third drafts are for cleaning them up and adding in the 'logical' parts. Then I go onto editing and revising, looking for the continuity errors. At this point, I also start writing a rough synopsis. Then it's the final edits and changes.

Typically, a book of mine has six drafts (this was certainly the case for Spirit Of Fire and Untamed).

What advice would you give to an aspiring author? 
Just to write. And write because you want to write, not because you're told to write. Write because you love writing too, not because you want to make money (though if you sell a book, it is a nice bonus!).

What inspired you to pursue writing?I've just always loved reading and writing. As a child/teenager, I read some incredible books (The Railway Children, Winnie-the-Pooh, Five Children and It, Harry Potter, Vampire Academy, Clan of The Cave Bear, Twilight, The Hunger Games, Divergent, Slated...) and I just wanted to write my own stories!

What are your favorite TV shows/Movies to watch in between writing?I love fantasy and science fiction TV and movies! Recently, I saw The Host (adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's novel of the same name) and loved it, finding it really inspirational. I also regularly watch science fiction and fantasy TV series, such as Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, Doctor Who and Merlin (when it was on!).

What are your current projects?I'm currently working on the second Spirit Of Fire book, Blood Of The Phoenix. At 67,000 words, I'm just over halfway through and am loving it! I've also recently finished the editing process of Untamed, which is now being queried to agents/publishers, and having written the first drafts of the next two books in the Untamed series, I'm also outlining the fourth and final novel. And I have another project that's just beginning to form in my mind too (a YA paranormal thriller) which I'm very excited about.

Nonfiction wise, I'm working on the fifth Mad On Animals book.

And, as always, I've got several short stories on the go.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to readers?I'm not sure how many people are aware of this, but a lot of my short stories are published online as well as in eBook and paperback format in anthologies. On the fiction page of my website, I have a section for short stories at the bottom of the page where I list all my short stories, and provide links to these stories to the publishers' sites, where you can read them for free!

If you've read any of my work, I'd love to hear from you! I can be contacted directly through the contact page on my website (MadelineDyer.co.uk) or through Twitter: @MadelineDyerUK


Quick Fire:
Cats or dogs? Cats!
Coffee or tea? Tea (so long as it's peppermint!)
Favorite food? Pizza!
Vanilla or chocolate ice-cream? Vanilla—no contest!
What are 3 things you never leave home without? My phone, my iPod and a notebook (or sometimes my laptop, if I'm taking a bigger bag).
Laptop or desktop? Laptop.
Who are 3 famous people you would to hang out with? Richelle Mead, Rick Yancey and L.A Weatherly.
TV or Movies? TV.



Please join me and the other amazingly talented authors over @ Skulldust Circle where we have formed a Writer's Circle that must be seen--a collection of brilliant, up & coming independently published speculative fiction authors with much to give both now and in the future!

All Artwork and covers of my works by William J. Kenney


See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Also, please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

photo from http://www.sxc.hu/

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2013 unless otherwise noted.