Author S. T. SANCHEZ

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Interview with Ursula Williams author of Do you believe in a world of magic?

Today I'd like to welcome author Ursula Williams. Tell us a little about yourself.

I was born in Berlin Germany, and I am a mother of three beautiful children and the grandmother two precious granddaughters. I left my home country in 1984 after a successful but very hectic career in advertising and marketing. For the next 28 years, I lived and worked in the Caribbean, travelled the USA, Canada, UK and Scotland. And it was in Scotland that I lost my heart, and I

rediscovered and developed my passion for writing. The beauty of Scotland, its rich history and fascinating mythology inspired me to write this novel, and undoubtedly many more will follow. I now reside in Berlin but use every chance I can get to visit my
family in Scotland. Stroll through the beautiful old town of Edinburgh, or hike through the Highlands, Glens, forests and along its beautiful lochs.

Share a short excerpt from your novel.

The forest looked different tonight and appeared to be alive. Small lumps of snow dropped from the treetops and the frozen leaves on the forest floor shattered like crystals under their feet. Moments after the friends had left the shore a gust of wind swept the powdery snow from the lake's icy surface towards the edge of the forest like a wall of icy mist. With the snow gone the lake now appeared like a mirror that reflected the night sky with a myriad of glittering stars and the bright full moon, giving the group of friends the feeling of being suspended and transported into another world.

Which do you prefer: print books or ebooks?

Print, I need to feel the book in my hands. I guess I am old fashion.

If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go and why?

Scotland,
always Scotland, that’s where I feel home.I love to be alone and enjoy the
peace and quiet when I walk through the forests, glens.

Currently, what are you working on?

My next novel, which is a reality-based adventure and plays out in places around the world.

Tell us a little bit about your main characters.

Well, my characters are base on flesh and blood real people, as for instance family members former students and friends.

How did you decide on what to title each book?

I thought long and hard to find an all-encompassing title for the adventure and could not think of anything better than to ask my readers, if they believe in a world of magic.

Is this a stand-alone novel or part of a series?

No, it is a part of a series, but I can’t yet tell how many will follow.

Ursula, who designed the artwork for your cover? Or did you design it yourself?

I found the image on shutterstock.com and was so amazed how much it resembles the main character ( my daughter) and her part in the story.

Did you have any writer’s block? If so how did you work through it?

Yes, whenever I was ripped from my thoughts by well-meaning friends who thought that it is not healthy to sit and write for days.

I worked through it by closing my blinds, turned off my phone and put on my headphones. In other words, I left the world behind.

Since you wrote in this genre, do you think you will ever write in other genres?

Well, I am at the moment. My new story is reality-based, action loaded and meant as an eyeopener.

Any last words?

I love to take my readers on a journey. Entrap them in the story so much so that they can see and feel the scenery and make them feel as if they know my characters personally. Thanks so much for sharing. Be sure to check out more about Ursula in the links below. Happy Reading!!

https://www.facebook.com/createss2018

https://uwilli.blogspot.com/

https://www.instagram.com/createss2018/

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

Interview with Mark Gunning author of I Told you So! The Adventures of William and Thomas

Today let's welcome Mark Gunning. Mark, tell us about yourself.

I'm a teacher by day and author when I have the time. I released my first book (I Told You So! The Adventures of William and Thomas) in June of 2017 for middle-grade students.

Congrats! That so exciting. What got you into writing?

I met a fellow author at my school one day and got chatting. After that chat, I was inspired to write a book. I love telling stories and thought getting them down on paper would be a great way to share them. (I still keep in touch with that author who I met back in 2010.)

One thing I have learned on this journey is how friendly and helpful other authors are. Mark, when you pick up a book, which do you prefer: print or ebooks?

I love print copies. I enjoy having the book in my hand and find that adding them to a collection is enjoyable.

I am right there with you. Although when I travel ebooks are more convenient. Mark, if you could travel anywhere, where you go?

I'd love to travel to Cuba. In fact, I just got back from Cayo Santa Maria and would love to go back. The country is beautiful and the people are very nice and friendly.

Are you working on anything at the moment?

I am currently working on my third book in my series. The new title is I Told You So! Strike Three, You're Out!

I love series and I am always on the lookout for new books for my kids to read. Can you tell us a little about your main characters?

My two main characters are William and Thomas. William is a middle-grade aged kid who is the mastermind behind the plans. Thomas is his best friend and voice of reason. Unfortunately, William never seems to listen to Thomas. It likey a good thing, because then all the shenanigans wouldn't happen.

Will you share something with us that not a lot of people know?

I wanted to be a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer.

Could your books be read as a stand-alone?

My books are part of a series but could be considered stand-alone. Each book contains a number of short stories that are somewhat tied together.

Who designed the cover for your book?

One of my friends drew the picture for my first cover and then I had a local college student design my cover so it could be a series.

When you need a break from writing what are some hobbies that you enjoy?

I like to golf when I have the time. I also help coach one of the local baseball teams in the summer. Fishing is also an activity that I enjoy. I also forget to mention working out.

Sounds like you are a very active guy. I need to start working out, but its so hard to find the time. Who is your favourite character?

My favourite character is definitely William. I love the fact that he never backs down and always tries to follow his plans or stunts to the end.

Mark, do you think you will write in any other genres?

I would like to write a drama novel about a boy with selective mutism. It will involve a teacher and the boy's mother.

Any last words?

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to answer these questions. If you would like more details, please contact me for further info.

Thanks so much for sharing with us today. Don't forget to check out Mark's series. Happy Reading!!

Amazon

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

FREE TODAY & TOMORROW ONLY

Book 2 in the Keeper Chronicles is finally with my editor! So in celebration I am offering Book 1, The Portal Keeper, for FREE Today and Tomorrow. (ebook only)

It's a great story for any fantasy lover, or to read out loud to your kids. I love reading books out loud with my kids. However most the time they think I'm too slow and end up reading ahead of me.

Amazon

Enjoy, Happy Reading!!

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Interview with author C.L. Mannarino

Today I'd like to welcome author C.L. Mannarino to the blog. Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m a Massachusetts-born lover of Halloween and 50’s swing dresses. I work at a desk job during the day, and in my free time, I conjure up fantastical stories about mermaids, vampires, and small-town drama. I’ve been publishing since 2015, but I’ve been writing since before high school. The Matt and Kat series, especially the first book, Swans of Atlantis, started from just one of the ideas I had during that time.

Throughout your writing career have you been given any helpful advice?

For writers: you can’t edit a blank page. That advice was instrumental in helping me learn to just start writing so that I can fix the story later.

For readers: read what you love reading, and stop listening to people who tell you what you “should” read.

That's great advice. I think sometimes you just have to fill the page, and then you can always go back and tweak it to perfection. Currently, what are you working on?

The second book in the series! We left Matt and Kat on a cliffhanger, and now we have to find out if what happened in book one is permanent, and where the story will take them from there.

I love cliffhangers! I think it makes the anticipation of the next book so much more exciting, which to me adds to the whole enjoyment of reading. Tell us a little bit about your main characters.

Matt and Kat are the classic friend-of-a-friend: they know each other because of Kat’s cousin, Ty, which is the pseudo-crushing-on-your-brother’s-best-friend situation I always enjoyed in romances growing up.

Matt is a senior in high school who is besotted with a girl who might not actually be the best for him, but he’s committed to being whatever she wants him to be, even while he’s getting hurt.

Kat is a freshman in high school who has a crush on Matt, and because he’s also her friend, she wants to protect him from a danger that he’s clearly heading straight towards. She just doesn’t know how to do that without butting into a relationship that she has almost no say in.

How did you decide on what to title each book?

For this series, because it’s about people and magic that comes from this specific town (Atlantis, Massachusetts), it was important to me that the title not only evoke those people and that magic (Swans are what people in the town call anyone who has found their magic-given soul mate, because when the swans in town mate, they mate for life), but also that the title evokes the place. This all happens in Atlantis, or to Atlantians. It seemed fitting, then, that the first official book in the series be about those magic-touched people, because it is!

What a great idea. Is this a stand-alone novel or part of a series?

Definitely part of a series! There’s so much more to explore, and I hope people will want to dive into it as much as I do.

Who designed the artwork for your cover? Or did you design it yourself?

Sarah Hansen of OkayCreations designed the artwork! She’s fantastic, and I highly recommend working with her if you get the chance.

It's always so nice when you find that designer who just gets your vision. What brought about the idea for your book?

This might sound silly, but part of it was based on how I felt about the seniors during high school. When you’re a freshman, the seniors are just the coolest people, and the thought of dating one just seemed so scandalous, at least to me! It was also a rule in my house that you couldn’t date a senior if you were a freshman because of how much older they were. As an adult, of course, the 3 or 4 year age difference isn’t anything, but when you’re literally a kid, it’s a big deal. So I wanted to explore that “impossibility.”

The other part of the idea, which came about later, was what if you lived in a town where everyone literally has a soul mate, but unless you meet them before you turn 18, you won’t ever age past 18.

How would that change the way you feel about soul mates? How would that change the way you went about your life? How would that make people look at you when you eventually went out into the world? How would that change how you feel about LOVE, even? And what if you don’t like your soul mate?

So yeah, a lot of ground to cover. :)

What are your hobbies aside from writing, if any?

I love to read, hike, bake, crochet, play in Photoshop, and just spend time with my family.

Crocheting is something I have always wanted to learn how to do. My grandmother always crocheted the most beautiful blankets. It's quite a talent. In your novels, which character is your favorite?

That’s such a hard question! I think Kat is my favorite because she’s the way I wished I could be growing up: she’s willing to take more risks, and talk to boys, and live with her heart firmly on her sleeve.

C.L., since you wrote in this genre, do you think you will ever write in other genres?

Absolutely! So far, along with the Matt and Kat series, I also have the Almost Human series that I’m just about finished writing. Both are teen-focused, but Matt and Kat is romantic fantasy, whereas Almost Human is paranormal fantasy. I have a hard time choosing between Halloween and Springtime, so I decided to write a bit about both.

I also have written contemporary fiction, and historical fantasy.

What advice would you give someone who is considering publishing? Should they consider traditional or self-publishing?

It depends: I think with teen fiction, I’ve found it’s a lot harder to reach your target audience (teens!) because they don’t have credit cards, and many don’t have very much disposable income. So you have to be savvy about where you sell, and diversify the types of formats you create – having both print and digital copies of your book, for example.

I think you also have to target places you might not think of, like libraries, where teens have greater access to free reading materials. So adults are also the people you have to convince to buy your work because they’re the ones often reading teen fiction, and can buy it in greater numbers.

With adult fiction, it’s easier because your audience presumably has more access to your work.

So I’d say that, if you can learn not only how to write a book, but also learn how to edit it, market it, and sell it, then you can self-publish. If you’re more interested in getting listed for awards, and having the name of a larger publisher behind you, then I’d go traditional.

Any last words?

Thanks so much for having me!

Be sure to check out more from C.L. Mannarino at the sites below. Happy Reading!!

Books: https://www.amazon.com/C.L.-Mannarino/e/B0179YZ9KU/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Website: https://clmannarino.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clmannarino/

Cover designer: https://www.okaycreations.com/

Thursday, February 28, 2019

LAST DAY FOR A FREE EBOOK

LAST CHANCE

Spring Break is coming up and it's one of the few times I have where I can sit and actually read a book. So in honor of Spring Break I am offering Sunwalker, book 1 in the Sunwalker Trilogy, for FREE. (On Amazon and ebook version only). Today's the last day so don't miss your chance.

Blurb

Lilly is a sunwalker—a vampire born from human parents, able to walk in the daylight. She lives life as human, hiding her true identity from all those around her. One evening, she comes to the rescue of her best friend, Lex, as a vampire is about to make a meal out of her.

Lilly is drawn to him, despite her desire to loathe him for almost murdering Lex, as he is the first of her kind she has ever met. As the vampire, Tread, begins to open Lilly's eyes to a world she has never known, Lilly must decide where she belongs. After she is betrayed by the person she loves most, Lilly is forced to submerge herself entirely in the vampire world, only to discover that Tread has a secret so shocking it could destroy them all.

I hope you enjoy it. Reviews are always appreciated. Happy Reading!!

And as always all my books are Free to read everyday on Kindle Unlimited.

Monday, February 25, 2019

FREE EBOOK