The Review

Buddha’s breakfast is a fast and easy read for anyone interested in life in Japan. It’s written ‘from the horse’s mouth’ and the details he includes demonstrate his deep and abiding interest in life in a foreign culture. The tales and observations he makes from the standpoint of being the caretaker/janitor are probably best served with a dash of outsider observer. Without that distinction it is unlikely Ben would have been able to ‘see’ things that those born to the culture probably don’t notice. Excellent.

The Interview

What is one thing that no-one would usually know about you?

I am the great-great-great-etc grandson of Captain James Cook.

What did the best review you ever had say about you and your work?

‘I really can not recommend this book too highly…. Five stars simply are not enough. Well done Mr. Stevens, Well done….’ – One comment I was quite proud of for a ***** Amazon review for my novel ‘Big Sound Temple’, by bestselling author Lloyd Tackitt (‘A Distant Eden’)

What did the worst review you ever had say about you and your work?

‘BORING, BORING, BORING… ugh…’ was one line from a 2-star Amazon review of my book ‘A Gaijin’s Guide to Japan’ (HarperCollins)

Are the names of your characters important to you?

Sometimes… especially for my main character in ‘Big Sound Temple’, Hiro Matsumoto. ‘Matsumoto’ can be translated from the Japanese as something like ‘the base of the pine tree’ – and Hiro is a Japanese temple gardener. Kind of fitting, I thought.

How did you choose a title for your book?

For my latest book, ‘Buddha’s Breakfast: Life at a Japanese Temple’, it was a mixture of the breakfast we prepare at the temple (Daionji, in Nagasaki City) to place in front of the statue of Buddha each morning; the second part is just because I want any potential readers to ‘get’ what this book is about as quickly as possible.

Are there any occupational hazards to being an author?

Some occasional ‘misunderstanding’ from your spouse/significant other that you might just be wasting your time, all those endless hours you sit in front of a computer screen…?

Have you ever written naked?

Not knowingly… although I find writing just in my boxers strangely liberating.

Do you have any hints or tips for aspiring writers?

Take on board all constructive criticism – esp. If it’s from someone who knows what they’re talking about. They may be giving you excellent advice, even if they’re not really praising what you’ve written. Maybe they see you have potential. Also have the thick skin to ignore any ‘hate’ that occasionally occurs on Amazon reviews, etc.

How do you remain sane while working?

Prozac

What has been the best experience you have ever had in your life?

Actually 2 – holding my daughters (now 4 and 1) shortly after they were first born.

Are you jealous of other writers?

No, what’s the point? Love or loathe their work, they’re still doing it. Respect.

Tea, Coffee, Water, Juice, Wine or Beer … which do you prefer when writing?

Beer and coffee – though I really shouldn’t… Makes me write faster, but not always very… well

Are there any habits you wish you didn’t have?

Should probably quit my ‘social smoking’

If you could commit the perfect murder where would you hide the body?

Visit my apartment and I’ll show you.

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Where can you find out more about Ben and buy a copy of Buddha’s Breakfast?

You can contact Ben through Facebook by emailing him at ben.stevens.37@facebook.com and he can be found on Twitter with the handle @benstevens1976 .

You can find ‘Buddha’s Breakfast: Adventures at a 16th Century Japanese Temple’ on Amazon in the UK and on Amazon in the US, and on Goodreads too.

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Why ‘The Thursday Throng’?

These posts are called The Thursday Throng in honour of the throng that waits eagerly outside the book store when a new author is doing a book signing event or appearance. On this website it takes the form of a ‘Meet the Author‘ online event with some information about our author’s latest book and an interview. If you would like to take part in the Thursday Throng then why not visit Thursday Throng Author Interview Guidelines to find out more.

If you would like to see all the Authors who have been featured on The Thursday Throng you can click here: womanontheedgeofreality.com/2012/06/17/the-thursday-throng/

The Book Review

This We Know is short, elegant and perfectly formed. It asks two simple questions, what do we know and what don’t we know? It is thought provoking and enticing in that simplicity and provides the reader with a chance to ‘get out of their own brain’ for a while to think about some of the bigger questions in life.

On the whole it offers facts and a different perspective with which to both consider and understand them. However, a few points he offers are simply one man’s opinion, and given that the rest of the book is so well structured, they could cause some readers to feel that the whole is no longer viable.

If you can look past these though and see the bigger picture that Tom is trying to present, you will almost certainly find yourself with a head full of different thoughts that could just be the catalyst you need to ignite action.

The Interview

What is one thing that no-one would usually know about you?

That I am as close to a real life wizard as you can get and I find myself doing all sorts of magic with time and space, like healing and tuning into the words I have yet to write.

What did the best review you ever had say about you and your work?

I am in awe, just awe … and without words to describe the book I have just read in the last hour from start to finish. Tom Evans you are amazing. This We Know is fab, easy to read and understand, written in terminology that everyone can experience with their own way of perceiving.

How did you choose a title for your book?

This We Know was inspired by a quote from Chief Seattle which I first heard on Godley and Creme’s album. One World One Voice.

Have you ever wished that you could be or do anything else instead of writing, and if so what?

Be an astronaut, or steam train driver.

Have you ever written naked?

Only metaphorically as I bared my soul when I wrote my latest work, This We Know.

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

Write something every day, no matter how small. And subscribe to Dictionary.com so you learn a new word every day.

Where do you find your inspiration?

From meditation or when out walking the dogs.

Have you had to learn new skills and tricks or attempted impossible feats in order to get a book finished?

I learned how to stretch time by changing the speed of my consciousness so I could get more done in less linear time.

What is the strangest thing you have ever had to do to promote a book?

I walked around London at night in a bra for 26 miles with 15,00 women on the Moonwalk to promote my first book, 100 Years of Ermintrude

Do you have any favourite resources you would like to share with our readers?

Scrivener, iThoughts and iAWriter apps for iPad and Powtoon for book trailers (see below)

If you could commit the perfect murder where would you hide the body?

In the future.

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How to Win a Copy of This We Know

To be in with a chance of winning your own ebook copy of This We Know by Tom,  all you need to do is leave a comment for him at the end of this blog post. At the end of next month or in early July I’ll pick a winner and let them know they’ll get the ebook.

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Where can you find out more about Tom Evans and buy a copy of This We Know?

You can find Tom hanging out on his own website tomevans.co. He can be found on Twitter with the handle @thebookwright and on his Facebook page. You can also find him on Pinterest for the book here: pinterest.com/wizardoflight and finally, my own favourite social network, LinkedIn.

If you can’t wait for the giveaway to end, you can find ‘This We Know’ on Amazon in the UK and on Amazon in the US, and on Goodreads too.

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Why ‘The Thursday Throng’?

These posts are called The Thursday Throng in honour of the throng that waits eagerly outside the book store when a new author is doing a book signing event or appearance. On this website it takes the form of a ‘Meet the Author‘ online event with some information about our author’s latest book and an interview. If you would like to take part in the Thursday Throng then why not visit Thursday Throng Author Interview Guidelines to find out more.

If you would like to see all the Authors who have been featured on The Thursday Throng you can click here: womanontheedgeofreality.com/2012/06/17/the-thursday-throng/

Latest Writing Competitions Added

Writing Competitions Ending This Month

Way back sometime last year I wrote a post about being an Amazon best seller. My personal experience is that you don’t need huge numbers of book sales to achieve these lofty heights, particularly if you are in the ‘right’ category. Now GalleyCat are giving us a greater insight into how many copies make a Self Published Best Seller. Whilst the numbers the authors quote are large, they aren’t nearly as big as I’d expected them to be.

I have no idea if there is such a thing as Flash Poetry but I loved this poem from Bill Webb (a dedicated Friday Fictioneer). If it doesn’t count as Flash Poetry I don’t know what will: http://poemblog.voxpoetica.com/2013/04/28/tabby.aspx

Short Story and Writing Competitions

Each month I add a post about the short story and writing competitions coming up. You can find them all listed on the Writing Competitions Page. There is also a handy spread sheet to download. It lists all the ones I’ve added since I started the blog posts.

Hysteria 2013 has now launched. It’s a short story competition for women only, writing in English and from any nationality. You can find out more about it on the Hysterectomy Association Website.

To celebrate the launch of Hysteria 2013 Hysteria 1, the anthology of the 2012 winning stories and poetry is now FREE on Amazon for the next few days. Why not grab a copy and find out what was considered a winner by our panel of judges.

Thursday Thronger’s New Books

I know of two Thursday Thronger’s who have new books out:

• Lazuli Portals have recently released House of the Stormwind, a fab collection of short stories in the vein of Tales of the Unexpected.
• Michael Cargill has released Bits of Cargill, a selection of his hilarious blog posts – you have to check out the Justin Bieber’s Diaries.

If you are a past Thursday Thronger and have a new book out, let me know and I’ll pop it in the Thursday Thronger’s New Book section of Linda’s Writerly Tidbits.

Writing Dates for Your Diary:

22nd June is National Flash Fiction Day, so get those pen’s out and start composing.

Giveaway’s Still Open – if you have in mind a little light reading but don’t know what to get, why not try one of the giveaways still available from current Thursday Thronger’s.

Events Coming Up for Linda:

If you’d like to get together, then you can find me at the following events:

• 4th June, Sturminster Newton, Dorset – Social Media: What’s all the fuss about?

Click here if you’d like to subscribe and get my Writerly Tidbits by email.

One lucky commenter will also win a PDF copy of Songs You Can’t Dance To. All you need to do is leave a comment for Steven at the end of this post.

The Review

Although I love a good novel, I often find that short stories and poetry are easier to read when you are living a busy life. Being able to dip and out of a complete ‘chapter’ and knowing the whole by the time you finish is a very satisfying experience. Steven covers a huge range of situations that complete the human experience; from love to anger, sadness to happiness they are all covered. Many of the stories had me reflecting on my own life, what I’ve done and how I’ve come to be where I am now. He is a great storyteller and this book is well worth reading.

The Interview

What is one thing that no-one would usually know about you?

If there is one thing that people find interesting – or perhaps odd – is that I am a combination poet/writer and football coach and a fiery one at that).  When I first published my book I got a lot of raised eyebrows and quizzical looks from my football ‘family’!  Conversely, when readers learn that I coach football they are equally surprised.

What did the best review you ever had say about you and your work? 

It has been very rewarding to read some of the reviews for “Songs you can’t dance to.” Things like “must read” and that it was comforting to read, but if I had to select one review it would be, “From angst, to hope and passion, Harz pulls the reader outside their current realm,” as this sums up exactly what I set out to accomplish.

Are the names of your characters important to you?

I write both poetry and short fiction, and in all honesty, in my fictional stories I don’t give my characters names.  For one, I think it allows the reader to connect more with the character – or so I’ve been told.  Also, when you are writing a 1500- word story, as opposed to a novel, character names are less important – I am trying to convey a feeling instead of tell the complete story of a character.

How did you choose a title for your book?

I firmly believe that you can, in fact, judge a book by its cover – and research supports this.  On top of that, I believe that you absolutely can judge a book by its title.  I put a lot of thought into “Songs you can’t dance to,” and actually came up with the title before I wrote the poem of that name.  To me, it exemplifies the tone of what I contained within.

Have you ever written naked?

Ha – no, I have never written naked, unless you count getting a good idea in the shower and hurrying out to write it down before it’s forgotten!

How do you remain sane while working?

I write to remain sane.  The process is cathartic in and of itself and keeps me sane in relation to the other aspects of my life.  Writing time is peaceful and allows me to co into a comfortable cocoon.

Are you jealous of other writers?

Of course!  I think we all are to some degree.  I recently had someone comment on a poem that will be contained in my next book saying, “have you experienced that moment where you read something…and then kick yourself because you didn’t think of it first? That’s how I felt when I read this!” I could certainly relate.  I am proud of my work but am very jealous of the gits that other have.  That said, I try to turn jealousy into inspiration – let them help me to become better.

Where do you find your inspiration?

Inspiration comes in many packages.  It can be something your kids have done, something you witness in public, conversations you overhear at a coffee shop, or the work of other writers – I am currently reading a lot of work by slam poets, specifically Shane Koyczan and Sierra DeMulder.  I always have a pad and pen with me because you never know when inspiration will find you!

What was the most important thing you learned at school?

While I was in high school I had a world class teacher named Kurt Bittle.  Aside from being an accomplished artist he was the best teacher I ever had.  He didn’t necessarily follow the rules, but instead worked from logic and common sense and wouldn’t it be great if all teachers did this?  I have incorporated this into my life as well; he was a great modeller of this behaviour.  Kurt also unknowingly taught me to be a better parent.  I was raised by a wonderful mother who believed you treated everyone equally, but Kurt treated us fairly, or how you deserved to be treated. I use this every day with my kids and with the players I coach.  Kurt recently passed away after a battle with cancer and I dedicated “Songs you can’t dance to” to him.

What is the book that you wished you had written?

There are so many books that I’d wished I’d written, and if it’s alright I will take a little poetic license and list two.  The first would be “A Prayer for Owen Meany” by John Irving.  Aside from containing the best, in my opinion, opening sentence in literary history, it is a beautiful story about friendship, love, loss, and hope.  The next would be “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” by Jonathan Safran Foer.  Like the main character of the book, I was impacted by 9/11 so the underlying story appealed to me, on top of this it is one of the few books that made me cry upon completion.

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How to Win a Copy of Songs You Can’t Dance To

To be in with a chance of winning your own ebook copy of Songs You Can’t Dance To by Stephen,  all you need to do is leave a comment for him at the end of this blog post. At the end of next month or in early June I’ll pick a winner and let them know they’ll get the ebook.

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Where can you find out more about Steven Harz and buy his book?

Steven’s own website can be found here: stevenharz.com. He can be found on Twitter with the handle @stevenswriting and on his Facebook page. You can also find a Facebook page for the book here: facebook.com/SongsYouCantDanceTo

If you can’t wait for the giveaway you can find ‘Songs You Can’t Dance To’ on Amazon in the UK and on Amazon in the US, and on Goodreads too.

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Why ‘The Thursday Throng’?

These posts are called The Thursday Throng in honour of the throng that waits eagerly outside the book store when a new author is doing a book signing event or appearance. On this website it takes the form of a ‘Meet the Author‘ online event with some information about our author’s latest book and an interview. If you would like to take part in the Thursday Throng then why not visit Thursday Throng Author Interview Guidelines to find out more.

If you would like to see all the Authors who have been featured on The Thursday Throng you can click here: womanontheedgeofreality.com/2012/06/17/the-thursday-throng/

The Review

Silver Hands belongs to another of those genres that I’ve said ‘I don’t read’. Part historical and part fantasy it is a wonderful blend of characterisation and setting that reminded me very much of Gulliver’s Travels. The lands that Margaret (our heroine) visits on her escape from the threat of marriage to someone who would absorb her into himself, are many and very varied and her adventures keep the reader on the edge of their seat. Set in 1706, I really wasn’t sure I’d enjoy it, but I loved every bit of it. Elizabeth has a fabulous talent for blending historical fact and myth into a new whole and I’m looking forward to getting my hands on her next novel ‘Cage of Nightingales’, when it is published. This is definitely one to be recommended.

The Interview

What is one thing that no-one would usually know about you?

I can’t sleep at night unless my ears are covered. (Linda’s Aside: I still need to keep my ears covered at night too, comes from a childhood fear of a dragon coming down to bite them off!)

Are the names of your characters important to you?

Yes, very important.  Their name is who they are.  I put a lot of thought and care into creating the right names.  In Silver Hands, the main character, Margaret Rosewood, is named after my mother.  (Her given names are Margaret Rose).  In a way, that reflects her similarity to me, but the name also suggests her innocence.  (English rose etc.)  It is the right sort of name for the period too.  (Early 18th century).  And I had help from a friend in creating the full name of a character called Taro.  It had to be an authentic-sounding name for a feudal lord in Edo Period Japan, but the meaning was important too.  So his full name is Shimatani Taro Yasutaka.  Shimatani (the surname) means “island valley”, which describes the place where he lives.  Yasutaka (adult given name) means “gentle” and “high” which describe his character and rank.  And Taro means “firstborn son”.

How did you choose a title for your book?

The plot is based on the Brothers Grimm’s “The Handless Maiden”, who is given silver hands to replace her own, lost hands.  In my story, there are two sets of silver hands, and both are crucial to the main character’s personal growth.  Plus, it’s such a magical-sounding title!

Who would you like to play you in a film of your life?

Carey Mulligan.  I would also choose her to play Margaret.  I love her on-screen purity.

What is the single biggest challenge you faced when writing your book?

Finding the self-belief to keep going.

What has been the best experience you have ever had in your life?

Going to Japan in 2011.  It was a complete dream come true, and I wish I was back there now.

What was the most important thing you learned at school?

Self-discipline.

What is the strangest thing you have ever had to do to promote a book?

This wasn’t to promote a book, but last year I was invited to read a bedtime story to some people sleeping out to raise money for the homeless.  So I was sitting in a car park in a cardboard sleeping bag at 11pm in November, reading one of my short stories.  There are pictures of it on my blog.

What is the book that you wished you had written?

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Tea, Coffee, Water, Juice, Wine or Beer … which do you prefer when writing?

Coffee.  With a glass of water on the side.  My number one choice would be mocha but I can’t drink it all the time.

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How to Win a Copy of Silver Hands AND the silver wristband

To be in with a chance of winning your own signed copy of Silver Hands together with the exclusive silver wristband, all you need to do is leave a comment for Elizabeth at the end of this blog post. At the end of next month or in early June we’ll pick a winner and let them know they’ll get the book.

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Where can you find out more about Elizabeth Hopkinson and buy her book?

Elizabeth’s own website can be found here: www.hiddengrove.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk, her blog is hosted by blogspot at hiddengroveextra.blogspot.co.uk. She can be found on Twitter with the handle @hidden_grove, on her Facebook page and on Goodreads. The publisher website is tophat-books.com/books/silver-hands.

If you can’t wait for the giveaway you can find her book on Amazon in the UK and on Amazon in the US, and on Goodreads too.

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Why ‘The Thursday Throng’?

These posts are called The Thursday Throng in honour of the throng that waits eagerly outside the book store when a new author is doing a book signing event or appearance. On this website it takes the form of a ‘Meet the Author‘ online event with some information about our author’s latest book and an interview. If you would like to take part in the Thursday Throng then why not visit Thursday Throng Author Interview Guidelines to find out more.

If you would like to see all the Authors who have been featured on The Thursday Throng you can click here: womanontheedgeofreality.com/2012/06/17/the-thursday-throng/

All seven books in the Harry Potter series in order without their dust jackets. Each hardcover book used a different two-color scheme. The books are the first American editions published by Scholastic. Author’s collection. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We each have preferred learning styles; we may be kinesthetic, in other words we feel the world around us; we may be auditory, in these cases we will hear the world around us and we may be visual where we see the world around us. These styles are often reflected in the language that people use to describe both their experiences and themselves. For example, the kinesthetic would tend to use language along the lines of “how did that feel?”, the auditory person might say “how does that sound to you?” and the visual person might say “what does it look like?”.

Of course, there are many things that must also be taken into account and of course we all use our senses in different ways, it’s just that many of us will have a preference of one sense over the others and this preference is often reflected in the way we speak and write.

If we have a preference, then it naturally follows that others do too; just imagine how powerful a piece of communication it might be if we were all speaking to each other and matching the language to those preferences. My suggestion is that this is what JK Rowling does so well in the Harry Potter books.

If you read carefully, you’ll find that she uses her language carefully to appeal to each sense we might have, moving easily been the visual, audible, feeling and even the olfactory (smell) and gustatory (taste). In doing so she provides the ‘imagery’ that each group of people needs to engage with the stories.

Perhaps the easiest way to write like JK Rowling and emulate some of her success is going to be cultivating the ability to write outside of our own natural preferences and appeal to those senses with which we aren’t so comfortable.

You can find out more about how to use the senses in writing (this is in sales letters, but the same rules apply in all writing) in the following Slideshare presentation from Carol Bentley, who presented this at the copywriters’ conference I attended on 19th April.

For more about what made Harry Potter so appealing try the following resources:

• helium.com/items/651369-the-universal-appeal-of-harry-potter
• psychologytoday.com/blog/sex-murder-and-the-meaning-life/201107/what-s-the-real-secret-harry-potter-and-how-can-you-use-
• wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter_influences_and_analogues

The Review

If you are a woman of a certain age then you’ll understand the meaning of the word ‘frustration’ when your wonderful partner of many years, who has faithfully gone out of their way to be out of your way, suddenly finds themselves at home with nothing to occupy themselves in the world that has become ‘retirement’. They want to get involved in everything, from your activities to the cooking; generally trying to take over what has, up till now, been a lovely serene (sic!) life.

How Not To Murder Your Grumpy is a laughter filled, humourous look at all the things you could encourage the curmudgeon in your life to get involved with, listed in alphabetical order. With over 700 ideas contained within its pages, it is impossible not to find something to tempt your other half. It is also a brilliant resource to have hanging around, just when you need a wonderful piece of trivia to share with friends or relatives over supper or to lighten the mood. I mean, who could fail to be fascinated by the chap from Sweden who has collected 7,000 Kinder surprise toys or that the world’s largest paper crane (origami) was created in Seattle by Wings for Peace and had a wing span of 215 feet. Carol’s style is laid back, casual and fun; with some you’ll wonder how on earth anyone would want to do ‘that’, with others you’ll think ‘mmmm that sounds nice‘.

Published 1st June 2013 and available to pre-order on Amazon.

The Interview

What is one thing that no-one would usually know about you?

I tend to be very open about who I am and what I have done. In fact some of the more outrageous episodes are written into my novels; although I’d be loathe to confess which ones are actually about me. I suppose the one thing no one would know is that I am able to play the 1970s hit Popcorn on my jaw using only my fingers. I realise that is the sign of a misspent youth but I taught myself to do that and juggle. Those lengthy school holidays had a lot to answer for.

Are the names of your characters important to you?

I choose my names carefully. They have to suit the character so, yes, they are important, but only to that character. I chose Amanda Wilson as my protagonist because it was a nice everyday name and Amanda is an everywoman character. I think I subconsciously also chose it because her initials are the same as my son’s. I couldn’t think of a suitable name for her party-loving mother so I left her to be just Amanda’s mum. In Surfing in Stilettos, it became apparent what her name was. She is a woman who would give anything to make her daughter happy, even though the daughter doesn’t realise it. She became Grace. The character I found easiest to name is the marvellous French woman who befriends Amanda when she is abandoned in France; Bibi Chevalier. There is a link between her name and the fact she “saves” Amanda.

Are there any occupational hazards to being an author?

It’s not so much an occupational hazard but while I am writing I eat chewy fruit sweets,  usually shaped like bears. I know it’s terrible for my waistline and awful for my teeth, but when I work overnight to get a novel completed, I can’t help myself and wolf down packet upon packet of them. I tried changing to liquorice but that made my teeth look black at times when the stuff got trapped in between the teeth and I also suffered stomach trouble. (We don’t need to go into that in detail.)

I am very careful about cleaning my teeth and make regular trips to the dentist so I still have most of my pearly whites even if they are covered in crowns and veneers.

Have you ever wished that you could be or do anything else instead of writing, and if so what?

I would have loved to have been an entertainer of some description; maybe a television presenter an actress or better still, a comedienne. Probably not a pole dancer though. I thoroughly enjoy making people laugh, hence all my books are humorous. Being a bit of an attention seeker, standing up in front of an audience and entertaining them would be my ideal occupation especially if I could get them chuckling wildly. I went a similar route before writing and became a teacher. I gave some of the best performances of my life during those years!

What is the single biggest challenge you faced when writing your book?

Like many writers I walk around with a head crammed full of characters, plots, dialogue and ideas all waiting to spill out. Finding time to get typing and release the pressure building up inside my head has been the single most difficult challenge.

My husband has retired and is around the house 24/7. He is always interrupting to ask if I want a cup of coffee (in other words would I like to go and make him a cup of coffee) or needs me to hold one end of a shelf while he fiddles around for hours looking for a screwdriver and fixings to put it up. I am his full time playmate, and not in a good way.

I started writing at nights to combat this problem. That worked for my first novel, Mini Skirts and Laughter Lines. However, as soon as it was completed, my head began filling up with more plots and characters, but I couldn’t type because we were moving house.

Twenty-five years of rubbish and belongings had to be packaged up by yours truly, and arrangements made to move. New furniture had to be purchased, builders had to be cajoled and we had eleven very stressful months during which time I was unable to type a single word. I thought my head would explode.

We are now settled, of a fashion, having been beset with problems since we moved in, but my own Mr Grumpy still interrupts me on a regular basis. At least I can go back to nocturnal activity now as long as I keep chugging the caffeine and eating the sweets.

Do you have any hints or tips for aspiring writers?

When you first start out there is a huge amount to tackle but I would say take your time. Don’t be in a hurry to get work published. Check out useful websites like Indies Unlimited, where you’ll find all sorts of tips, tutorials and articles to help you on your way to becoming a writer. Join some author/writing groups on LinkedIn or Facebook and make friends. They will prove to be invaluable. I could give lots more tips but the most important thing of all is to ensure that whatever you write is good quality. That is fundamental to success.

What has been the best experience you have ever had in your life?

I have led a charmed life and been very fortunate to have some incredible experiences including scuba diving a wreck, flying a helicopter and quad biking in South African mountains. They have all been amazing but the best experience was a more sobering one.  Spinal problems wrecked some of my younger life and when I was twenty-one I underwent a procedure that left me in a state of paralysis. I found myself at home, stuck in bed and wondering where my life was going.

Youth is obstinate and so I forced myself into mobilisation, practising each day when my parents were at work. After a few weeks I could actually move my legs and stand if I held onto the bedside. I cannot stress how difficult it was. It took every ounce of determination to get my legs to work.

The effort was worth it. My father came home from work one lunch time as he did every day while I was stranded at home and came to see me in my room. I told him that I thought I could manage a few steps. I can still recall the look on my father’s face as he watched me manage to walk along the landing. That look was the best thing I have ever experienced.

What was the most important thing you learned at school?

Being the class clown wins you lots of friends even though it hampers your schoolwork. I had quite a turbulent time at school even though I loved lessons and learning. My parents were in the Forces so I moved school many times. Each time I moved it became harder and harder to make friends or get included into groups where children had known each other for a long time. I had some miserable days huddled on my own in a playground because I had started the term halfway through, after children had already build alliances with others. I was very much the outsider. It got worse, the older I got. Luckily (!) I was blessed with three props: front false teeth (thanks to an accident), very long hair and National Health blue framed spectacles.

I managed to gain popularity by taking my teeth out and gurning at people in the class or by brushing my hair forward so I looked like a gonk and then placing my glasses over the hair – I probably resembled Cousin It from The Addams Family. I was also able to mimic people and tell jokes which got me accepted. I discovered at an early age that laughter can help overcome all sorts of barriers and stressful times.  It might also help you fail Chemistry GCSE.

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How to Win a Copy of How Not To Murder your Grumpy

To be in with a chance of winning a free, signed copy of How Not to Murder your Grumpy, all you need to do is leave a comment for Carol at the end of this blog post. At the end of next month or early June we’ll pick a winner and let them know they’ll get the book.

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Where can you find out more about Carol Wyer and buy her books?

Carol is prolific on the web and social networks, as you’d expect someone who has written about prospering in a digital world. Her primary links are all listed here:

• Website: carolewyer.co.uk
• Blog: facing50withhumour.com
• Facebook: facebook.com/pages/Carol-E-Wyer/221149241263847
• Twitter: twitter.com/carolewyer
• Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/5061207.Carol_E_Wyer

If you can’t wait until the end of next month to find out if you have won the coveted signed copy, then you can pre-order your own copy of How Not To Murder Your Grumpy or pick up one of Carol’s other books from Amazon by visiting her author pages in the UK and the US.

You can also find Carol hanging out in the following places too:

• FeedARead (Paperback version)  Surfing in Stilettos : feedaread.com/books/SURFING-IN-STILETTOS-9781781764886.aspx
• FeedARead (Paperback version) Mini Skirts and Laughter Lines: feedaread.com/books/MINI-SKIRTS-AND-LAUGHTER-LINES-9781908481818.aspx
• loveahappyending.com: loveahappyending.com/carol-e-wyer/
• Thornberry Publishing: thornberrypublishing.com/page10.htm
• Safkhet Publishing:  safkhetpublishing.com/authors/Carol_Wyer.htm
• Member of Romantic Novelists Association: romanticnovelistsassociation.org/index.php/about/author/carol_wyer

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Why ‘The Thursday Throng’?

These posts are called The Thursday Throng in honour of the throng that waits eagerly outside the book store when a new author is doing a book signing event or appearance. On this website it takes the form of a ‘Meet the Author‘ online event with some information about our author’s latest book and an interview. If you would like to take part in the Thursday Throng then why not visit Thursday Throng Author Interview Guidelines to find out more.

If you would like to see all the Authors who have been featured on The Thursday Throng you can click here: womanontheedgeofreality.com/2012/06/17/the-thursday-throng/

The Review

When the twins got in touch with me they did say they didn’t expect a review knowing that I didn’t ‘do’ horror, but they let me know that Bad Romance would be free on Kindle anyway and I thought I’d give it a go, after all I could always close it if I didn’t like it. After reading the stories I probably need to revise my blanket ‘I don’t read horror’ attitude as the twins writing style is a beautiful combination of the things you don’t want to go near, humour and cynicism that had me hiding behind a metaphorical cushion in parts as I watched death being carved out of a chest in my minds eye whilst I was also laughing at the same time. This book is the perfect antidote to those who are fed up with the constant love-in’s you get around Valentine’s Day. If I could be sure that they would all have this blend of comedy and death I’d definitely read more.

The Interview

What is one thing that no-one would usually know about you?

We used to horse ride a lot and were actually pretty good. We would’ve loved to have been professional showjumpers but depression killed our love for it and we gave it up. We’ve never ridden since.

How did you choose a title for your book?

Usually we pinch song titles out of desperation, but the latest novel we’ve written – Bleeding Empire – was chosen from a Heavy Metal Band Name generator on Facebook. Our mate’s initials led to his band being called Bleeding Empire. So we stole it. No he doesn’t get credit for it.

How do you remain sane while working?

We write love songs about Red Bull. A lot of songs.

What has been the best experience you have ever had in your life?

Doing an overnight ghost tour in Ruthin Gaol and being locked in the punishment cell where we possibly had a conversation with an executed murderer. We were so excited and from that started our own amateur ghost hunting show on YouTube, Calamityville Horror.

Are you jealous of other writers?

Hell yes! Who can we pay to take them out of the competition?

Where do you find your inspiration?

At the bottom of a Red Bull can. Sometimes when we open the can, it whispers plot lines to us.

What was the most important thing you learned at school?

Never dye your hair purple. They suspend you for it. Coincidentally, our hair is now purple

Have you had to learn new skills and tricks or attempted impossible feats in order to get a book finished?

Not skills or tricks but we do know how to conduct a post-mortem and embalm a body.

What is your favourite TV moment of all time?

When Justin Bieber smacked his face on a revolving glass door. We laugh every time

Tea, Coffee, Water, Juice, Wine or Beer … which do you prefer when writing?

Red Bull all the way. No one’s ever written love songs about tea.

If you could commit the perfect murder where would you hide the body?

We’ve actually already scoped out two different woodlands to take into account how easy it would be to transport a body there. Turned out both were difficult as you couldn’t get a car there. We’d hide it in a cemetery in a freshly dug grave. You’re welcome to use it.

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Where can you find out more about CL Raven and buy their books?

In common with many other author CL Raven have a blog where you’ll find all sorts of intriguing snippets about what they are up to and video’s they’ve put together at clraven.wordpress.com. They are also on Twitter at @clraven and have a fan club on Facebook too facebook.com/pages/CL-Raven-Fanclub/117592995008142

If you’d like to pick up their books then the easiest thing is to visit their author pages on Amazon UK and Amazon US. Oh, and they happen to be on Goodreads too.

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Why ‘The Thursday Throng’?

These posts are called The Thursday Throng in honour of the throng that waits eagerly outside the book store when a new author is doing a book signing event or appearance. On this website it takes the form of a ‘Meet the Author‘ online event with some information about our author’s latest book and an interview. If you would like to take part in the Thursday Throng then why not visit Thursday Throng Author Interview Guidelines to find out more.

If you would like to see all the Authors who have been featured on The Thursday Throng you can click here: womanontheedgeofreality.com/2012/06/17/the-thursday-throng/

Last year I stepped into the world of publishing other people’s work for the first time through my publishing imprint Crystal Clear Books. The book is called Be An Author: What would it be like if you write your book? and it’s by Anne Orchard. Those of you who have been visitors for some time may well remember that Anne featured in the Thursday Throng last year with her first book, Their Cancer your Journey.

Creativity and self expression are wired into the human psyche. As a fledgling writer you may have burning questions about your place in the world of publishing as it is now:

• How do I know if what I have to say deserves to be published?
• Should I try to find a publisher or self-publish?
• What might life be like after my book is in print?
• What is a reasonable goal for my book, and can I achieve it?
• How on earth will I find the time to complete my book?

Be An Author addresses these questions and more through a series of interviews with other authors, just like you, who are writing and promoting books today. Some of these authors are published others are self-published, what they have to say about the experience is both enlightening and encouraging.

Paperback – from Amazon UK
Paperback – from Amazon US
Paperback – direct from the distributors
eBook for the Amazon Kindle
eBook for the Barnes and Noble Nook – coming soon
eBook for the Sony PRS – coming soon
eBook from the Apple iStore – coming soon
eBook for the Kobo – coming soon

“For those considering writing a book, or for those who have already begun, this is a concise guide to encourage your personal journey to becoming an author. A nice addition to any writer’s shelf.” Ellis Nelson