Jade McCulloch Interview

In what genre do you write for the most part? 

I like to write science fiction, horror, and urban fantasy

Give us a brief synopsis of your book(s) 

Right now I only have one book out, Zombie Bite. It’s about a young woman, named Zoey, who is trying to save a loved one from infection. I had planned to do a while series of books in that universe, but I’m not sure now. I may just write a sequel or spin off.

When did you start writing? 

As soon as I could hold a pencil. I remember really enjoying the writing assignments that the teachers gave me. I think I always have enjoyed storytelling.

What inspired you to write? 

I used to watch the show Ghost Writer and there was an episode where they enter a story writing contest. I saw how much fun they had writing and it kind of lead to me writing a lot as a child. I also had a lot of fun reading Goosebumps books and watching the tv show, so I think that played a part.

If your books were made into a movie, who would play the roles? 

I didn’t really picture actors when I wrote my novel. I kind of just pictured the characters as their own people, and they came to life. I think if any of my books ever get made into movies I would like unknown actors and actresses playing the characters. I don’t really want the story to be outshined by star power.

What would be your choice for a superpower? 

You mean I can only have one? I think I would choose time travel. If I had a bad day or something I could just press reset.

Who is your favorite author? 

That’s a hard question for me because I like so many! Charlaine Harris would be one of my favorites. I really enjoyed most of the Sookie Stackhouse series and have read her Harper series too. I love Jeff Lindsay’s Dexter books. It seems like he can get me to laugh on one page and then gross me out on the next. Jeaniene Frost is also one of my favorites. She actually gave me advice when I started seriously considering a career as a writer.

What are you reading now? 

I actually haven’t read anything in a while. I have trouble reading while I am writing, but the next book I plan to read will be The Bladesmith by HP Mallory. I am also searching for some good spooky reads.

Who is your favorite character to write? 

I think it would have to be whoever I am currently writing. When I started writing Zombie Bite I really enjoyed writing Zoey. I loved giving her lines like, “You look like Carrie on prom night.” I didn’t like writing her as much towards the middle and end of the novel, but not because I didn’t like her, because she had gone through things that had damaged her and the damaged really started to show. Right now I am writing two new main characters, one name Anyssa and one named Kenzie. I really prefer writing Kenzie because I feel like she’s more relatable. I feel like she pushes a lot of people away and everyone can relate to a time when they have shut people out of their lives.

Do you have a writing process? 

Usually I keep lots of notebooks handy for when I have an idea and end up writing whole scenes in them. I transfer it to a word document later and some stuff gets cut out while other stuff gets added. I also text message myself ideas a lot of the time.

What do you do when you aren’t writing? 

I have a youtube channel where I play video games.

What advice would you give to an aspiring author? 

Don’t rush your novels. Wait until they feel ready.

What sets your books apart from others of the genre? 

It’s a really dark look at people who have lived among zombies.

What method do you use to publish your books for those of us who might not know how? 

Right now I have my novel in kindle and nook, but I plan to have a paperback from createspace after I figure out what I want to do with it.

Where can we find you on social media?
My blog
My amazon author page
Twitter
My youtube

Visit me on my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE to borrow any of my books for FREE!

Best-selling author of Wake the Dead! On Amazon Kindle here!

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

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2014 unless otherwise noted.

Emily A Steward Interview

In what genre do you write for the most part? All things Middle Grade! I just love the quirky, fun feel you can get away with in middle grade novels. My primary focus right now is fantasy, but I’ve also been dabbling in mystery, paranormal, and realistic fiction.

Give us a brief synopsis of your book(s)When 13 year-old Penelope Gilbert accidentally transforms into a stapler during math class, she’s sure she’s going crazy. But she’s not imagining the men in black suits now patrolling the halls at school, nor is she imagining the new substitute teacher who orders the class to take a special new test. A test that requires blood. Hunted for her powers, and torn from the life she knows, Penny is swept up into a world in the clouds where magic meets machine and pirates rule the sky.

When did you start writing? I've been writing stories pretty much since I can remember. I created a whole series when I was about seven or eight about a monster family. The mother was always yelling for the kids to come to dinner, the kids were always jumping on the bed, and the main character was prone to bonking his head on everything. Apparently when you are seven, bonking you head on things is the peak of hilarity.

What inspired you to write? Reading! From the time I learned what a book was, I wanted to make my own. Plus I just loved telling stories. One of my earliest memories is telling bedtime stories to my mom and brother until they fell asleep. Then I would continue to tell the story even when there was no one to listen. I even used to tell stories to God because I figured he got tired of just hearing everyone’s problems all day.

If your books were made into a movie, who would play the roles? Maybe a young Michelle Trachtenberg for the part of my main character Penelope Gilbert. If a time machine isn’t available, I could see Rowan Blanchard from Girl meets world.

What would be your choice for a superpower?The ability to morph into anything! My desire for this superpower helped inspire my characters abilities in my book.

Who is your favorite author? Roald Dahl. His books are just so imaginative and I love all the quirky, fun characters he’s created.

What are you reading now? I’m currently reading The Death Cure by James Dashner. It’s been a pretty exciting read, and I am anxious to know how it turns out.

Who is your favorite character to write? I have a ship captain in my book named Captain Griswold that I really enjoyed creating. He is a somewhat clumsy/scatterbrained smuggler who has a mechanical leg and a fun pirate accent. Arrr matey!

Do you have a writing process? 

I almost always have to leave the house and go to the library or a coffee shop. I just can’t concentrate when I can see things around me that need done. When I write I also use practically no outline. I just create characters, have a loose idea of where I want the story to go, and let things unfold. It keeps things interesting.

What do you do when you aren’t writing?
Lately I have been spending a lot of time playing my kids new favorite pastime, TICKLE MONSTER. Of course I’m always the monster. This is quite exhausting. I don’t know how their little legs can run so fast or how they never seem to get tired.

What advice would you give to an aspiring author? 

Keep refining your work. Don’t shut your ears to criticism, but don’t listen to everyone either. If more than one person points out the same thing, better take a strong look and consider their advice. Also, don’t give up! I think that’s the biggest thing that sets authors apart from those who aspire to write. They just didn’t give up.

What sets your books apart from others of the genre?
What method do you use to publish your books for those of us who might not know how?

My book is being published traditionally through a publisher called Clean Reads, but there are many paths to publication! I would highly recommend looking into various Twitter pitch parties. That’s how I found my current publisher.

Where can we find your book? 

Here on Amazon

Visit me on my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE to borrow any of my books for FREE!

Best-selling author of Wake the Dead! On Amazon Kindle here!

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

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2014 unless otherwise noted.

Paul Chaplin Interview

To begin, tell me a little more about you....

I’m 49 and still a kid! I was born and raised on the outskirts of London, England. I hated school but loved English and History. My working background is mainly in office and administration, but I now have a part time job filling shelves and stocking the warehouse, which I love! I have a very patient wife and four cats and tortoise!

Tell us about your books/ Which genre do you consider your books to be?
My first book is a Science Fiction set story inspired by a 1970’s tv show called Blakes’7. One particular episode gave me an idea! Sadly it took me twenty odd years to get around to trying to write it. A Clone Legacy is about a lonely middle aged guy who embarks on a journey of discovery. He quickly finds out you are never too old to learn. My second book is a Murder/Mystery and Thriller of a sort. A Dark Persecution was inspired by a nightmare and shows what could happen if you were forced to confront all the people from your past that you have forgotten because you didn’t like them and then of course things turn sinister and fatal. My third A Clone Sacrifice is a return to science fiction and continues the story of book one, where the odds of survival have reduced and some harsh choices have to be made.

When did you start writing?
I didn’t start writing until late 2012. I was in between jobs and just thought I would have a go. I will admit to quite a few false starts but once I got going the story played like a film in my head all I had to do was get it down on to the laptop. I really enjoyed the process and I was hooked.

Why do you write?
I write because I love it. Someone asked me recently what keeps me doing it nearly every day and I just asked “How else do I find out what happens!”

What would be your choice for a superpower?
Definitely to fly, uncomplicated travel although my terrible sense of direction could be an issue.

Who is your favorite author?
Agatha Christie, I wish I could write like her! I have so much respect for the way she constructs her plots.

What are you reading now?
One Evil Act by Elizabeth George

Who is your favourite character to write about?
I created a new species in my Sci-Fi books called the Drakna and they are a lot more intelligent than the humans.

Do you have a writing process?
Yes, I plot plan with a series of events in a timeline (roughly) and then simply write to fill in the gaps and link up the events.

What advice would you give to an aspiring author?
Take your time and don’t rush any part of the process. Plus get people lined up to read it before you start writing, the more the better.

What inspired you to pursue writing?
I was given real determination to continue by some family and friends expressing their belief that I couldn’t write.

What are your favorite TV shows/Movies to watch in between writing?

Blacklist & Blindspot & Wallander and 100 Code. Movies would be Star Wars, Star Trek and The Equaliser.

What are your current projects?
Stupidly I’m trying to write two books one after the other! I have plot planned my third Science Fiction book A Clone Evolution and then I will return to the Murder/Mystery and Thriller genre with A Bright Circle of Darkness where a few characters from A Dark Persecution will return in a new and different story.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to readers?
I would love them to try my Science Fiction even if it’s not one of their favoured genres because I think and hope mine is a little different and should have a wider appeal.

Quick Fire:
Cats or dogs? Cats
Coffee or tea? Coffee
Favourite food? Steak
Vanilla or chocolate ice-cream? Vanilla
What are 3 things you never leave home without? Watch, Sun Glasses and Injection (Diabetic)
Laptop or desktop? Laptop
Who are 3 famous people you would want to hang out with? Emma Watson, George Lucas and J J Abrams
TV or Movies? Movies

Visit me on my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE to borrow any of my books for FREE!

Best-selling author of Wake the Dead! On Amazon Kindle here!

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

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2014 unless otherwise noted.

Juli D. Revezzo Interview

First off, tell us a little bit about you...

I’m Juli D. Revezzo and I write a blend of fantasy and supernatural—well, a lot of things, actually. My current list of published works run from the Supernatural suspense series Antique Magic, to my fantasy romance series Celtic Stewards Chronicles. I even released my first steampunk novel, this year, Watchmaker’s Heart.

Should your readers be interested, they can find out more about me at:
Homepage
Facebook
GoodReads

Google+
Instagram
Pinterest
Twitter

Tell us about your books/What genre do you consider your books?

My Antique Magic series is about a woman and witch who has been asked by the gods to help forlorn ghosts with their problems. The genre? I’d say supernatural suspense with a hint of fantasy. Something of a cross between Charmed, Charlotte Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”, and Grimm (except Grimm didn’t exist when I first conceived The Artist’s Inheritance, years ago.). My latest release, MOURNING DOVE LOCKET, belongs to that series.

When did you start writing?

I started making up stories when I was a child. I started writing seriously when I was 18.

Why do you write?

I’ve always been creative, and it’s an outlet. If I didn’t get the stories out, I’d probably implode! *lol* If I’m not writing, I’m listening to music. I can’t draw worth a darn but I’ve tried. I do love photography and fiddle with photo manipulation, from time to time. I’m working on another supernatural fantasy series called Reign of Tarot and have been studying up on the tarot for that. Oh, and I knit a little. See? Creative. But my first love is writing.

What would be your choice for a superpower?

To heal sickness in man and sea.  Breathing underwater might be cool too.

Who is your favorite author?

I have a ton! First and foremost, Fantasy author Michael Moorcock, for one. Without him, I probably wouldn’t be writing; I love the gothic authors and poets like Mary Shelley and Poe; Tanith Lee; Patty G. Henderson, Marsha A. Moore, Suzanne G. Rogers, Jolene Dawe and many more indies. Also, the Medieval bards who wrote the Celtic myths the Mabinogion and so forth. They are the major influence on MOURNING DOVE LOCKET—well, honestly it greatly influences both my Antique Magic series and my Celtic Stewards Chronicles.

What are you reading now?

 I’m currently reading Spirit Touched: A Caleyna Summoner Tale by Jolene Dawe. I just finished Witch’s Moonstone Locket by Marsha A. Moore and about to start the next in her new series.

Who is your favorite character to write?

 Caitlin definitely. But I must say, the new girl in Mourning Dove Locket, Maria was fun. She’s a younger character than I’ve written in the past but she’s so eager to know all Caitlin has to share, I enjoyed being in her head.

Do you have a writing process?

 Depending on the day, I’ll do a little research first, make notes, and then start writing for the day. Sometimes, I wake up with an idea and write first, then research. I’ve been known to (more often than not!) get halfway through a draft before I do much heavy research. *ducks* For MOURNING DOVE LOCKET, since this is so far into the Antique Magic series, I made a few notes and when I finally got to a section where research on Cuba was needed (for the ghost) I stopped and went on the research spree then went back to writing. And then I’ll usually just write all day, stopping here and there for social media and sanity breaks and such.  But like I said, my daily process changes from day to day.

What advice would you give to an aspiring author?

 Write and read as much as you can. Unlike other advisors, yes I think you should read in the genre you wish to write in. However I also think you should read as widely as possible and don’t get too stuck on labels. From experience, I can tell you sometimes, genre, is in the eye of the beholder! So my best advice is don’t limit yourself.

What inspired you to pursue writing?

 While studying literature in college I realized there might actually be something of a career to be made out of my passion. And so, I thought it a great fit for me.

What are your favorite TV shows/Movies to watch in between writing?

I love all kinds of movies. Excalibur, Star Trek, the Godfather, Fifth Element, True Grit, Pan’s Labyrinth, Malificent, Cloud Atlas, Apollo 13, Labyrinth, just to name a handful. My TV list is much smaller: Once Upon a Time, and I’ve been trying to catch Houdini, a bit. I miss Sleepy Hollow and can’t wait for that one to come back. 

What are your current projects?

Well, I just released the latest instalment in my Antique Magic series, MOURNING DOVE LOCKET. I’ve also got more edits on other things: I’ve got a follow up to my story “House of Cards” on deck for sometime this fall (I hope) and the follow up to my paranormal romance Druid Warrior’s Heart to get out.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to readers?

Just that I hope they enjoy MOURNING DOVE LOCKET and the entire Antique Magic series, as much as I’ve enjoyed writing them. If they’d like to they can check it out at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Smashwords

Quick Fire:Cats or dogs? dogs
Coffee or tea? Coffee
Favorite food? Lasagne
Vanilla or chocolate ice-cream? Both. Mix strawberry in with it and it’s awesome.
What are 3 things you never leave home without? My MP3 player, my camera, and a notebook.
Laptop or desktop? Desktop
Who are 3 famous people you would to hang out with? Virginia Woolf, the medieval authors who wrote the Celtic myths, and Ann and Nancy Wilson (of the band Heart). 
TV or Movies? These days? Movies, hands down.

Thanks for having me here today, Gary! It was fun.

(My pleasure, Juli! Also check out her book trailer here)

Visit me on my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE to borrow any of my books for FREE!

Best-selling author of Wake the Dead! On Amazon Kindle here!

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

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2014 unless otherwise noted.

Chris Waltz Interview

First off, tell us a little bit about you, Chris

Well, I am a middle school language arts teacher and writer. I grew up in Columbus, Indiana and moved to Indianapolis after graduating from college taking a job with the American Red Cross. I got to do weirdly exciting stuff for someone who had just graduated and had no experience; responding to fires, helping people who had lost everything… I even spent a few weeks in New York the day after Hurricane Sandy hit, which was a very humbling experience. When I wasn’t responding to disasters, I was sitting at a desk, which was a stark contrast and pretty boring. It was sitting at that desk, though, where I finished my first novel. After my contract with the Red Cross ended, I started teaching 7th and 8th grade language arts.

Tell us about your books/What genre do you consider your books?
My first two novels, Ivy League and Old Habits are actually young adult crime/thriller type stories. I got the idea about a high school student who couldn’t afford college, so he turns to selling drugs while I was actually in college. I started writing it my junior year and finished about two years later. After that, I decided to transition into horror, a genre that I love, but was always too afraid to attempt writing because there’s so much good stuff already out there. It kind of stuck, and I’ve been writing almost exclusively horror since.

When did you start writing? 
I started writing (for fun) when I was about eight-years-old. The first thing I ever finished was ten or fifteen-page sequel to the movie Jumanji. I wrote it and illustrated it, and then I wrapped it and gave it to my mom for Christmas. I had no idea it would turn into something I would be doing for the rest of my life at the time… it was just a way for me to be creative.

Why do you write? 
It’s weird that this question is so simple but so hard to answer. I write, mainly, because it’s something I love doing. I’ve always been very interested in grammar and linguistics, even before I really knew what those things were. I was also always into telling ghost stories, so eventually it all just came full-circle and turned a hobby into a passion.

What would be your choice for a superpower?
If I could choose any super power, I would probably choose weather manipulation, like Storm from the X-Men. It’s not the most exciting power out there, but since I was a little kid, she was my favorite X-Person, so it would be definitely fun and interesting to have her abilities.

Who is your favorite author? 
I have some typical favorites like Stephen King and Chuck Palahniuk, but right now, I am completely obsessed (not in a creepy way) with a young adult author named Andrew Smith. He writes these amazing, emotional, gut-wrenching stories, and I’m pretty sure he is the only author who I’ve ever had to buy his books the day they come out. It’s actually been since the fall that one has come out, and I think I’m going through Andrew-withdrawal.

What are you reading now? 
I’ve been reading a lot of graphic novels lately. I’ve just been going to the public library and picking things that look good… I get some duds sometimes, but right now I’m reading the New 52 incarnation of Nightwing and Kick-Ass, and I really like both of them. I was really bummed to find out Nightwing only went for thirty issues before it was cancelled.

Who is your favorite character to write? 
Right now I am writing a serialized horror-comedy where a new chapter releases every two weeks. One of the characters is someone who comes from a small, closed-minded, right-wing town, but he is everything opposite of that. He’s kind of a punk-grunge-gay-carefree guy, and he’s really fun to write against this backdrop of a conservative town that basically hates him because he exists. He also has a pretty big secret (that I won’t reveal here) that also makes him fun to write.

Do you have a writing process? 
I write best when I’m not at home. I can be home alone with no distractions and I still won’t get any writing done. I usually pack up my laptop and some earbuds and head to this kind of dinky local coffee shop. The barista knew my order off the top of her head for the first time yesterday, and I wasn’t sure whether I should be happy that she remembered or sad that I’ve been there so many times recently. I also have to be listening to music—usually one of two or three albums. I don’t like changing up my music selection, because then I’ll be more focused on it than my writing.

What advice would you give to an aspiring author? 
That it’s okay to be “indie,” and that being indie doesn’t mean you’re a nobody or unknown, it just means that you want to have more artistic say over what you release. Don’t be just another robot churning out meaningless stories for a big publishing house. Also, don’t jump into anything too quickly. To this day, I regret publishing my first novel as quickly as I did, even though I’m happy with the novel itself.

What inspired you to pursue writing?
I honestly don’t know the answer to that question. I’ve always been fairly artistic, and writing was just the outlet I was best at. I can kind of draw, but kind of being able to do something doesn’t really get you anywhere. And I’m color blind, so that limits visual creativity a bit. It’s also a motivator to look at something you create and think, “Wow, I actually really like this.”

What are your favorite TV shows/Movies to watch in between writing?
I’m hooked on Shameless on Showtime. It’s an amazing show, and even though it likely only has a season or two left, I would kill to be able to write an episode. I’m also a huge Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan and will watch an episode or two of that every now and again for nostalgia reasons. I’ve also been really attached to the J.J. Abrams adaptation of Stephen King’s 11.22.63. Others include some darker stuff like American Horror Story, Bates Motel, Hannibal, and Weeds. If it’s dark and funny, then I’m sold on it.

What are your current projects?
I’ve gotten into a lot of short story writing since I was at the Stanley Hotel Writer’s Retreat. I’ve got two short stories coming out before summer that I’m really excited about; one in England, so that’s cool. I’m also building a podcast called Dead Oaks where horror authors write short stories that all take place in the same kind of twisted, evil town. We’re recording the first episode of that this week. I’m also checking out some comic book script writing options for a project I’ve kind of had in limbo for about four years.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to readers?
READ MY WRITING! (or, you know, just read. And read a lot.) You never know when you’re going to find something that you completely unexpectedly love. I was really hesitant about reading one of Andrew Smith’s novels, Grasshopper Jungle, and after I finally read it, it became one of my top five favorite novels of all time, so… take a risk. Read something you don’t think you’ll like.

Quick Fire:Cats or dogs? Dogs- I have a pitbull
Coffee or tea? Coffee. For life. I would take a bullet for coffee.
Favorite food? Chicken tacos
Vanilla or chocolate ice-cream? Vanilla. With butterscotch topping.
What are 3 things you never leave home without? My phone (ugh), some kind of necklace on, and a belt.
Laptop or desktop? Tablet, so basically a laptop.
Who are 3 famous people you would to hang out with? James Franco, Pope Francis, and Malala. All at the same time. PARTY.
TV or Movies?TV shows all the way, but only the ones you can binge-watch.

Visit me on my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE to borrow any of my books for FREE!

Best-selling author of Wake the Dead! On Amazon Kindle here!

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

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2014 unless otherwise noted.

Dawn of Justice Feelings

As it states, it's simply a few feelings i had after watching the movie: Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice, not really a full review.

It was not really what I expected to be honest. Still not sure how I feel about it. It definitely had a 'we're trying to cram a ton of stuff into one movie so that we can move on with the DCEU cinematic storytelling and try to compete with Marvel' kind of feel, despite having been worked on for years

It had some outstanding scenes, excellent special effects, and some top notch acting, even from Henry Cavill, (who I did not like in Man of Steel) but seemed to turn it up a notch in this one. 

The good: Alfred, Lois Lane, Perry White and several of the peripheral players. Thye gave the movie some depth. The files of Flash, Wonder Woman, Cyborg and Aquaman had me excited as well. Oh, and Wonder Woman...did I mention her?

The Bad: the final fight scenes, the lack of eye-popping color and the overall snail's pace of the beginning of the movie (the setup).

I still did not enjoy Eisenberg's Lex, but I can live with it. I tried to like it, but it felt forced and just a tad over the top for my liking. It felt like he was trying to 'Heath Ledger' it. I felt if he had stayed within the cold and calculated demeanor of the traditional Lex, that it could have been even more powerful a performance, using a less-is-more approach. Amway, it is what it is and folks I feel will have very strong opinions about all of this stuff whether you agree with me or not.


Final disappointment note - the universe and settings seemed very 2-dimensional, which actually detracted from the acting performances.

Final hopeful note - Batman. He kicked some serious ass, especially the warehouse scenes, and I really appreciated his apathy toward the criminal element. 

Anyway, see for yourself and chat about it with me.

Visit me on my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE to borrow any of my books for FREE!

Best-selling author of Wake the Dead! On Amazon Kindle here!

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

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2014 unless otherwise noted.

New Fantasy Covers...

Good evening folks! It has been a while since last we spoke. Hope all is well with you and yours. 

The reason that I have posted today was that I have reworked my fantasy series book covers in the Realm of Ashenclaw setting and wanted some feedback.

Are they too simple? Do they suggest fantasy? Are they something you might take a look at, does it draw you in?

I like to test things quite a bit with my work and wanted to try something to shake up the series, despite the excellent artwork on the prior covers. Here they are:

Please comment and let me know.

Visit me on my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE to borrow any of my books for FREE!

Best-selling author of Wake the Dead! On Amazon Kindle here!

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

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2014 unless otherwise noted.

George Kramer Interview

George, tell us a little bit about you....

I was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., raised on Long Island, and moved to Indiana in 1989. I am a natural born triplet, and one of nine children. I was an introvert until I moved to Indiana.

Tell us about your books/What genre do you consider your books? 
The genre is YA fantasy. While kids eleven and up really enjoy my books, adults derive pleasure reading them too. All four (soon to be five) Arcadis books are based on a very powerful sorcerer who goes through a metamorphosis to attain god-like power. In the beginning of the sorcery world there existed three primary colored powers; Red, blue, and yellow. Before lord quill's ascension to head sorcerer, it was mandated you had to marry outside their respective color. When lord quill took control, he ruled no primary colored power may be allowed to marry another primary colored power. Hence a dilution occurred. When a blue powered sorcerer married a yellow powered sorcerer, the baby was green powered, and considered a secondary power, and so on.

When did you start writing? 
I started writing in the fifth grade when my teacher started to read Treasure Island in a pirate accent. My mind wandered, and I started doodling on paper.


Why do you write? 
I started to write for various reasons. I needed an outlet with my overactive creativity, and writing was a release mechanism. Then I wrote articles to get paid. But, by far the best reason I enjoy writing is because people seem to really like my books.

What would be your choice for a superpower?
Mind control. It used to be super strength like Superman, but after watching Jessica Jones on Netflix, I changed my mind. To have anyone doing anything you want would be fun, but ultimately scary!

Who is your favorite author? Jim Butcher of the Dresden Files and David B. Coe. (Spellblind and In His Father's Eyes).

What are you reading now? Right now I am reading how to write a screenplay. I will explain why with the project question.

Who is your favorite character to write?
Arcadis, of course!

Do you have a writing process? 
No. I don't pick a particular room, or time. When I have free time, I write. It doesn't matter where I am, if I have an idea, I have to write it down so I won't forget. (Because it's happened).

What advice would you give to an aspiring author? 
Never, ever, ever give up. Write what you know, and take your creativity to the next level.

What inspired you to pursue writing?
When I found out I was good enough to get paid to write articles. Then it elevated to book writing.

What are your favorite TV shows/Movies to watch in between writing?
Blacklist, Supergirl, N.C.I.S., The Flash, Daredevil, and Jessica Jones.

What are your current projects?
Between having a full time job with a wife and ten year old daughter, I am, because my small but growing fan base asked me to, write a screenplay based on the first Arcadis book. I am consistently told that with colored magic, coupled with epic magical battles, would make a fantastic movie. Then I am writing the sixth Arcadis book, waiting for my editor to give me back the fifth Arcadis book to revise, promote my books by book signings, and interviews like this, started writing a new fantasy series based on one of the characters I introduce in the fifth installment of Arcadis, meeting with the owner of a comic book store to try to work out a board game (He designs them), I started to write a play that I am enjoying... I am sure there is more but I can't think of it right now.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to readers?
Yes. If you enjoy my books, or any other books, writing a good review helps writers tremendously! It helps us get recognized more.

Quick Fire:

Cats or dogs?
Cats. We have a 20 year old cat.

Coffee or tea?
Coffee!

Favorite food?
My mom's Pot roast chicken.

Vanilla or chocolate ice-cream?
Chocolate, but vanilla is a close second.

What are 3 things you never leave home without?
Kissing my wife and daughter good bye, a positive attitude, and my coffee!

Laptop or desktop?
Laptop all the way. I've written when I am getting an oil change and various other places. You can't do that with a desktop.

Who are 3 famous people you would to hang out with?
Jim Butcher, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin.

TV or Movies?
I love both equally as they have their strong points.

Visit me on my AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE to borrow any of my books for FREE!

Best-selling author of Wake the Dead! On Amazon Kindle here!

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

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios 2014 unless otherwise noted.