The Realms of a Fantastical Mind

Welcome to another Blog Ring of Power installment. Today I would like to welcome Alisha Basso to the blog/stage.  Don't forget to check out the previous sections on my fellow hosts sites: Part 1 & 2 -- Teresa Part 3 & 4 -- Sandra Part 5 - Em Alisha lives in Nevada with her wonderful family and two sweet dogs. When not writing, Alisha is running around with lots of children or tending her garden. Please feel free to send her a note on facebook or drop her a line from her website alishabasso.com. Webpage : Facebook page :  Goodreads author page:  Amazon Author Page:   Smashwords Author Page:  Section #5: Words of Wisdom Tell us about your route to success – how/when did you decide to self-publish? Did you query an agent first? How did you handle the editing, proofreading, cover design, etc. I can thank H.P. Mallory for the idea to publish. I read her books and when I discovered she was self-...

Hey! It has been a couple of weeks, hasn't it! Wow. I'm sure you've missed the author interviews.  Okay, maybe I'm projecting here, because I have.  So welcome Sarah to the Realm! I just wanted to add that I'm excited about her books turning into graphic novels. (It's a personal addiction of mine.) Don’t miss the rest of her interview at: Part 1 @  Sandra  – May 20 Part 2 @  Dean  – May 21 Part 3 @  Terri  – May 22 Part 4 @ T.W. - May 23 Part 5 @  Emily  – May 24 Sarah-Jane Lehoux has always had a passion for storytelling. From grade school tales of cannibalistic ghosts, to teenaged conversations with God, to her rebellion against adulthood with fantasy kingdoms and fairy magic, she has attempted to share her love of the quirky and unconventional with her readers. She currently resides in Southern Ontario with her husband and her horde of Machiavellian cats. In addition to her own writing, Sarah-Jane w...

Welcome, Susan Curnow, to the first Blog Ring of Power interview of the year!  About the author: Born in UK, now living in Alberta, Canada, when not writing, Susan Curnow is wrangling horses walking her Irish Wolfhound or being owned by her cats.When folk wonder why most of her main characters are males, she just smiles politely and tells them go look at her house, count the sons, the husband, the menagerie, and see just how many of them are guys. Why science fiction or fantasy? Why not write of her epic journey with five suitcases and a dog to Calgary Airport, her hounds, her horses, her sons? No other genre offers to fulfill the scope of her imagination.  One world is just too small. Section #5: Words of Wisdom BRoP:   Tell us about your route to success –how did you land your agent/publisher?    Susan: I was asked to submit because the novel I had written refused to leave my publisher’s mind. The how is sheer stubbornness, I guess. I just k...

In October I took a full month off from doing what I love to do best.  Yes, I took off writing. Have you ever felt that you need to do something over and over again?  Have you felt the need to continue to do something because you've always done it? Try taking a break from that thing that you feel you NEED to do.  I know, it may be impossibly hard, but then, nothing is truly impossible.  So whether it be drinking beer, writing on your blog, or even writing. (I know, it’s a difficult concept, to not write, but bear with me.) I have to say that I did just that in October.  The stopping drinking the beer happened in my house too.  One thing I found out.  Not only did my hubby find out he doesn't need to drink beer, I found out I didn't need to write high fantasy all the time.  It was hard not writing at all, but instead of focusing on what I've been working on, my mind took different twists and turns...

Welcome, Sue Bolich, this week’s Blog Ring of Power guest. Sue is a member of  Broad Universe,  where she recently shared the news that she is battling cancer, and the medical bills are piling up.  Please help Sue and show your support by purchasing her novels as every little bit of financial help is desperately needed. Don’t miss the rest of her interview at: Part 1: Monday, Dec. 3, About You–  Sandra Part 2: Tuesday, Dec. 4, The Writing Life– Dean Part 3: Wednesday, Dec. 5,The Creative Process– Terri Part 4: Thursday, Dec. 6, About Her Currant Work - T.W. Part 5: Friday, Dec. 7, Words of Wisdom–  Emily  Words of Wisdom BRoP:  Tell us about your route to success –how did you land your agent/publisher? Sue:  I met my publisher at a science fiction convention. Get out of the house! Meet people. Learn the ropes. Demonstrate that you’re a professional and can get the job done, and that you have something great to offer....

Welcome to Zvi Zaks, author of A VIRTUAL AFFAIR, come on in and have a seat.  We'd love to hear a couple of Words of Wisdom. Part 1 @ Sandra – Monday, Oct. 15 Part 2 @ Dean – Tuesday, Oct. 16 Part 3 @ Terri – Wednesday, Oct. 17 Part 4 @ T.W. -- Thursday, Oct. 18  BRoP:    Tell us about your route to success –how did you land your agent/publisher? ZZ:  I haven't been able to get an agent (yet) but the website  www.querytracker.net  helped me write decent query letters, and websites like Ralan.com helped me find publishers for VIRTUAL AFFAIR and two other novels, IMPLAC and A TRUE SON OF ASMODEUS.  BRoP:   What tools are must-haves for writers? ZZ:  The noted writer John Irving uses nothing more than a pen and paper, so that must be the only essential, at least for someone with his skill set.  I can't imagine again having to write without a word processor and access to the internet for research. BRoP...

Welcome HEIDI GARRETT, this week’s Blog Ring of Power guest! She was born and raised in Texas, lived more than a decade in Southern California, and now she resides in Spokane, WA, with her husband and their two cats. So far, she loves the snow. Don’t miss the rest of Heidi’s interview at: Part 1 @  Sandra - Monday, Oct. 8 Part 2 @  Dean - Tuesday, Oct. 9 Part 3 @  Terri - Wednesday, Oct. 10 Part 4 @ T.W.- Thursday, Oct. 11 Part 5 @  Emily - Friday, Oct. 12 Let's chat about a few Words of Wisdom with Heidi  BRoP:     Tell us about your route to success – how/when did you decide to self-publish? Did you query an agent first? How did you handle the editing, proofreading, cover design, etc. HG:  I decided to self-publish in January of 2012. I queried two earlier drafts of the manuscript. Both were rejected. I had originally planned to query the published version, but in December 2011 I got an older version of the iPhone for a ...

There are times when everyone gets burnt out.  Yes even in writing. When words seem to come get you instead of singing sweet songs in your ears. It's not writers block but something more, as if the fire of writing has left ash in its wake.  As the forest fires of nature, seeds are left under the grey dust, but only time will bring forth the sprouts of new words, new ideas, and reinforce thoughts to old ones. Everyone gets burnt out at some point.  Thinking too much on a Manuscript, revising and rewording over and over. The words get jumbled together.  Thoughts fade in the mind before they get on page. The only cure is time.  This is why it is not always good to write every day. Rest from the words, read a book, or if that is also too much, play a game, watch a few movies.  Take a week or two off to refresh your mind.  Do anything else.  I would suggest not even thinking about the MS, but I can't even succeed in doing that, so I wont push th...

It's Blog Ring of Power Time!!!  Today we are wrapping up the interview with Danielle For the beginning parts check out Part 1 with Sandra Part 2 with Dean Part 3 with Terri Part 4 with T.W. Award-winning author Danielle Ackley-McPhail has worked both sides of the publishing industry for over seventeen years. Her works include the urban fantasies, Yesterday's Dreams , Tomorrow's Memories , the upcoming Today’s Promise , and The Halfling’s Court , and the writers guide, The Literary Handyman . She edits the Bad-Ass Faeries anthologies and Dragon’s Lure , and has contributed to numerous other anthologies. She is a member of the New Jersey Authors Network and Broad Universe, a writer’s organization focusing on promoting the works of women authors in the speculative genres. She can be found on LiveJournal (damcphail, lit_handyman), Facebook (Danielle Ackley-McPhail), and Twitter (DMcPhail). Learn more at www.sidhenadaire.com .  Thanks for ...