Post by FraggleBuster (Admin) on Sept 26, 2013 16:33:22 GMT
Jackson Baer interviews Lindy Spencer:
Tell us a little bit about your novel, THE BOOMERANG EFFECT. Share a favorite line/passage with us and anything else we should know.
I’m so excited to talk about my book! It’s the perfect murder, several times over, and the best part is nobody knows!! Well, except the person behind it all, but that’s a given, right? My favorite quote is by Andrea Parker, one of my characters. She said, “Karma is a well-thrown boomerang.” I have to agree. Karma will always come back and get you when you throw something out there that deserves retribution. The Boomerang Effect has karma woven through and tucked in every corner.
You’ve been presented with the opportunity to live in a different country or grow up in another century, which scenario sounds more tempting?
Hmmm… to live in a different country, I would have to say. Ireland sounds like a fabulous place to live, though I’ve not been there personally so all I have is what I’ve read and the pictures I’ve seen, but I would love to live in a castle with the rolling hills that go on for miles. I’m sure that sounds like a fantasy to anyone who has visited or lives there now, but it’s my fantasy so the castle is always at the perfect temperature, nothing breaks and nobody does anything remotely bad.
If you could live in California or New York, which one would you choose?
California with its earthquakes and surfers or New York with its snow and fast pace. Give me sunshine, give me California!
Okay, how about Spain or France?
Spain brings to mind Flamenco dancers and the running of the bulls while France creates a visual of wine and croissants. They both sound intriguing. I don’t speak Spanish or French… so can’t count on that to get me through. Oh, who am I kidding, give me wine and croissants – I’ll take France! Can I watch a show about Spain while I’m there?
What is your favorite book you read in high school (mine was a little known novel called MEN OF KENT)?
Wow, that’s a tough question! In high school I devoured books by the hundreds. Every one of them was my favorite while I was reading it; I tend to immerse myself in every book I read. Having said that, one book still stands out though I’m not sure if I read it in high school or after; it’s ‘Butterfly’ by Kathryn Harvey. I say that with one caveat: I wouldn’t recommend anyone under the age of 18 read this book; there are some topics covered that should be reserved for adults only.
Is there anything you’re currently working on?
Several projects are ongoing in my world right now. I’ve got an anthology of short stories I’m writing for, a sequel to The Boomerang Effect, and a stand-alone book has a basic outline finished as well. There was also one day over the weekend that had the neighbor breaking out his chain saw, and while I complained about his breaking my concentration it was suggested that I stop working on what I was trying to write and use the chain saw noise to inspire a different story. That was a brilliant suggestion by one of my fans, and I whipped out a short story from it. Still needs polishing and probably some fleshing out, but wow, what a great idea that was! Kudos to Sarah for suggesting it!
Who is your favorite author and if you could ask him/her one question, what would it be?
I’ve got two favorite authors, though for this question I’d pick J.D. Robb and I’d ask her what her method is for keeping all of her bazillion characters straight.
Lightning round:
Ocean or mountains? Neither – cabin in the woods please
Apples or oranges? Apples
Snickers or Skittles? Snickers
Happy or sad ending to a novel? Happy
Beer or wine? Wine
Flying or driving? Driving
Sherman Alexie or Junot Diaz? Had to do a little research… Sherman Alexie, I like his quotes
You're stranded on a desert island and you can take only two things with you and two people as well. What and who are you bringing?
Wine, toilet paper, my husband, and MacGyver
You're able to sit down with any world leader in history. Who would you choose, what would you talk about, and would you rather have him/her over to your house or at their place of royalty?
Abraham Lincoln. We would talk about everything from how he abolished slavery to how he would attempt to fix the crises America is dealing with now. We’d totally meet at his place, as it was then, so I could see for myself how things were during that time in history.
I hope these work for you and please put any short blurb about yourself here as well as any links you'd like me to include as well as a picture.
Thank you for interviewing me; this was fun! I enjoyed your questions and some of the answers surprised even me! (I just washed my hands, can’t do a thing with them…)
The timing for this interview is perfect; between June 15th and June 21st I’m hosting a giveaway to thank my fans for helping my Facebook page reach 1,000 likes; copies of my book are up for grabs as are many other books from fellow authors. If you’d like to join in the fun, here’s a link to the giveaway: www.facebook.com/LindySpencer.Author/app_228910107186452
The Boomerang Effect can be purchased at any of the following links:
Post by FraggleBuster (Admin) on Sept 26, 2013 16:35:26 GMT
Caroline Felicity Levy interviews Lindy Spencer:
Interview Questions
1A what book would you take to a desert Island?
Oh dear, I can only take one book? I’ll only be staying a short time, won’t I? Hmmm... can I take the book I’m currently writing or is that cheating? Quiet time, undisturbed, great setting for getting my genius on. If that’s not an option, I would probably take a book on how to build a boat. I’m no Gilligan or Ginger, I’m more of a combination of MaryAnn and the Professor... and I’d want off the island, please!
1B who would you choose to fan you while you read it? If I’m fanning, I’m fanning me. If someone else has to be there, I want him to be gorgeous, dumb as a brick and mute. Fan away, fantasy guy!
2A what is the first book you remember reading or have read to you?
Clifford the Big Red Dog... I think. That one stands out! He was one of my faves as a child.
2B who is your hero? Be it writer or otherwise?
My mom is my hero... the most amazing woman I’ve ever known.
3 Chocolate.... Dark, Milk or White?
Ooh, dark chocolate please. Make it Dove!
4 what was your favourite childhood game and why?
I liked Red Rover because we all had to work together. It was fun times, being a kid!
5 if you could live in any era, present, past or future what would it be and why?
Gosh, that’s a tough one. If you go too far into the past, you leave running water and flushing toilets behind. Too far into the future and Big Brother sees everything. I’d have to choose the present, because I already know the score and the rules.
Here are my links where I can be found and my book can be purchased:
A little bit about The Boomerang Effect: Being in the wrong place at the wrong time can end your life - or worse, postpone it indefinitely.
In Aspen Grove, Oklahoma, fifteen-year-old Katy had everything going for her, until an innocent decision to walk home from school set the karmic wheels in motion. Katy suffered a brutal attack, leaving her comatose. The legal system failed to convict the men responsible for this heinous crime - instead found them not guilty.
They’ve gotten away with it, or so it seems. Darnell and Jerome, then boys, now men, continue on with their lives; Bruce Hanson, the attorney tasked with convicting the two attackers, brushes off his loss and continues his climb up the legal ladder; Office Webster, the policeman who responded to the call for help, the man who destroyed evidence, forgets all about his part in the crime and moves forward in his lazy life; all of this while Katy lies in a hospital bed, still comatose, her life postponed, her loved ones outside of that room hoping and waiting.
Several years go by, bringing us to now. Something, or someone, has found a way to bring these individuals to justice; the perfect murder has been created and is being unleashed on the individuals responsible for Katy's situation.
Are they accidents? Could it be coincidence? Perhaps long-awaited payback in the form of the perfect murder? Revenge is a dish best served cold... and karma is a well-thrown boomerang.
Interested? Here’s an excerpt:
Copyright 2012 Lindy Spencer No part of this e-book or excerpt may be copied, reproduced or redistributed in any form, written or electronic, without specific consent of the author. Piracy (Arrr, matey) is fun, piracy (stealing) is a crime.
Karma is a well-thrown boomerang. ~ Andrea Parker
PROLOGUE
“It would be so much easier if real life mimicked the movies and ominous music played itself when bad things were about to happen. It doesn’t, though, so if you aren’t sure you’re going to be ready, practice on your own. See you tomorrow.” With the concert coming up fast, Mr. Baxter, the band teacher, expected everyone to stay for the extra practice sessions held after school. The students grabbed their various belongings and made their way toward the doors, out of the auditorium, and into the parking lot where parents waited or students' cars were parked. The buses were long gone, along with the rest of the students and teachers. The only other person left at this time of the day was the janitor. Glad practice was finally over, Katy stowed her music in her backpack, disassembled her flute, wiped it down and put the pieces carefully away in the custom case she’d saved her allowance to buy. Waiting for Andrea to finish talking with Mr.Baxter, Katy stood up on her chair and looked out the thin row of windows halfway up the wall. “Oh, look, it snowed!” she squealed to her best friend. “They keep promising, and it finally did!!” She grabbed her book bag, instrument case, coat, gloves and hat, jumped down off of the stage where they’d been practicing, and sprinted up the aisle. The low stairs led her past the rows of well worn, red velvet-covered auditorium seats where all of the parents and guests would sit next Saturday night for the concert. Right now all she could think about was getting outside. “Come on, let’s go!” she hollered over her shoulder. “Thanks, Mr. Baxter, see you tomorrow!” Andrea finished her conversation and scrambled to gather her things. Squinting at the clock on the wall, she could hear it tick, tick, ticking, but couldn’t read the time. Pushing her glasses back up her nose, the clock came into focus and she saw it was only 5:15 p.m. “Wait, Katy, hold up! We’re done early! My mom won’t be here for a few more minutes!” Andrea took the time to use the stairs instead of jumping off the stage. Katy was out the door before she even got near the aisle. Hurrying, she broke into a lopsided run, slinging her backpack onto one shoulder and bumping the saxophone case into her thigh to avoid crashing it into the rows of seats as she hurried by. Her mom would kill her if she banged this case up. The last one hit the seats one too many times and wouldn’t close and latch anymore. Short of breath, she mumbled, “You’d think it was the first time it ever snowed here.” As long as they’d been friends, it was still a wonder to Andrea how Katy could show so much enthusiasm and pure joy over the changing seasons. Summer was fun, with the swimming and bike riding, but winter was definitely Katy’s favorite. Snowmen, sledding, and, just as she’d been expecting, a snowball flew at Andrea as she pushed through the door. Ducking, she laughed and called out, “I knew it! You’re so predictable!” Scanning the parking lot and the road, she didn’t see her mom’s white minivan yet. Dropping her book bag on the steps and balancing her saxaphone case on top of that, Andrea darted to the bottom and around the side of the stairs where there was undisturbed snow, grabbed a handful and packed it together. Laughter bubbled out from behind the huge old oak tree on the school’s front lawn. Popping out from behind, Katy launched another snowball just as Andrea’s snowball burst against her shoulder, causing Katy to squeal with delight. Even without the electric blue hat and hot pink gloves, Katy was hard to miss. She was a stunning girl, already 5' 6", weighed 110 pounds, and only 15 years old, with ice blue eyes, an explosion of cascading curly red hair, and pixie-like features. That in itself was enough to turn the boys’ heads and make the girls jealous, but when she smiled, everyone around her smiled, too. As far as Andrea was concerned, they made an odd sort of friends. Standing 5' tall and weighing in at a solid 150 pounds herself, she thought she looked more like the Pillsbury Dough Boy in her white down jacket and matching gloves. Straight, dull, mousy brown hair fell to her shoulders, and even as often as she pushed her glasses back up on her pug nose, she could never seem to keep them there. Wouldn’t have mattered to her if they had stayed put, in her opinion they didn’t do anything to enhance her boring hazel eyes or cover up her perpetually pasty white skin. “I just can’t stand the thought of missing out on this snow,Andy. Its so beautiful, I’m going to walk home! I’ll call you later, we can do Algebra together.” Katy called as she slipped her backpack on and skipped toward the sidewalk. “Tell your mom thanks for the ride offer, but it snowed!” With a wave, she broke into a full-out run and struck a surfer pose, skidding across the sidewalk. “Katy, wait!” Looking around, she called, “Come ON, that’s her coming around the corner! Katy!! You’ll never get home before dark, its over a mile!” Katy waved in answer and kept going. Agitated, Andrea slapped her gloves together, sending pellets of snow flying, huffed, then shoved the hair out of her face with the back of her gloved hands. Stomping backup the steps she scooped up her stuff. As the van stopped, she ran down to the curb and climbed in, knocking the snow off of her boots before swinging her legs in. “Hi, Mom.” “Hi, kiddo. Where’s Katy? Did her mom come pick her up today?” “No, she said to tell you thanks, but it snowed. She wanted to walk.” Frowning, Denise Parker looked down the street. “How long has she been gone? Maybe we can pick her up, instead of letting her walk. Its over a mile.” “I told her that. She left right before you pulled up. If she wants to freeze, let her. I told her to wait, she just waved and left.” The tone had Denise glancing at her daughter. Her furrowed brow, narrowed eyes and clenched jaw all said she was irritated with her friend. “Why don’t you call her later, make sure she got home safe.” “She said she’d call me.” Andrea buckled her seat belt. Blinking, Denise pushed her glasses up her nose. “Ok, then. You’ll talk to her after dinner. We’re having lasagna,” she said nonchalantly, watching her daughter out of the corner of her eye, knowing that would bring her back around. It did. Andrea smiled. “Mmmmm, lasagna! Katy should have stuck around, she could have come over. She’s gonna be mad at herself when I tell her! Oh, well, her loss!!” Denise laughed. “How was your day?” They pulled away from the curb. “Mrs. Pinch gave us like 20 Algebra problems and she ‘wants to see our work’,” Andrea made quotation marks in the air with her fingers and rolled her eyes. “How else do you get to the answer if you don’t do the work?” she mimicked in a nasally voice, almost a perfect imitation. Pushing at her backpack with her foot, she continued. “The rest was ok. Practice was pretty good, I guess. We’re almost ready for the concert, if Michael can ever get through his solo.” * * * * Smoke curled lazily from the end of the cigarette, mingling with the lazy drift of the falling snowflakes. The garbage was piled up behind him, by the dumpster in the middle of the alley, but the stink wasn’t as bad today as it would have been in the middle of summer. The icy cold more than made up for the lack of smell with its own form of misery by invading Darnell’s dirty, worn out tennis shoes and wrapping around his feet like tentacles. The threadbare, ratty, hand-me-down jeans were a size too big, three inches too long and shredded at the bottom, and being held up by a brown leather belt that had seen better days, while the t-shirt and grey hooded sweatshirt that covered it didn’t do much to keep the rest of his body warm, either. There wasn’t much wind, barely a breeze, though if he stood just inside the end of the alley, like he was doing now, he was blocked from even that little bit. Not that it mattered. He preferred the cold outdoors to the foster parents’ shack. At least here he didn’t have to listen to her calling out for someone, anyone, to bring her another bottle or a glass of ice or, occasionally when the whiskey ran low, soda to mix with it so it lasted longer. “Who are you waiting for?” He startled at the sound, having forgotten that he wasn’t alone. The new kid had been around a few days, looked at the fosters with the same barely-hidden disgust as he did, and kept to himself. He had potential. Darnell slid his eyes sideways, pinned the new kid with an empty look, took a long last drag on his cigarette, blew out the smoke, and flicked the butt across the sidewalk and into the street. “Karma. Fate. Whoever.” Jerome had been the ‘new kid’ more times than he could count. Didn’t matter, he never stayed in one place long enough to bother learning names either. The first time something, anything, went wrong after he’d been placed in a new foster home, he always got the blame and got yanked out and shipped to the next house. Didn’t matter that he wasn’t to blame, hadn’t done whatever it was, he still ended up being moved. Keeping to himself didn’t help, maybe trying to make a friend would. Turning back, Darnell pointed with his chin toward the school. “There.” Jerome looked and saw a girl coming out of the school doors, and another hiding behind the old tree on the lawn pop out and let fly. The snowball fight was on. A pang of regret for what he’d never have sliced through him. “Which one?” Jerome said, stamping his feet and blowing into his cupped hands, trying to warm up, his clothes an almost identical mirror of Darnell’s, except the jeans. He’d gotten them at the last house, and those fosters were kind enough to care that the clothes they bought for all of the kids fit them right. He’d still be there if that little prick, Donnie, hadn’t lit his mattress on fire and then run and hid. They said nothing like that had ever happened in their house before, and Donnie had been there for a year. Nobody believed it wasn’t Jerome who lit the fire. When Darnell didn’t answer, he tried again. “She do your homework or something?” Rolling his shoulders, Darnell’s face split into a humorless grin. “Wanna... talk.” They watched one girl wave and take off running. “Let’s go. We’ll catch her at the other end.” They turned and jogged down the alley, around the corner and into the next. The flakes floated to the ground, muffling sound. * * * * As she rounded the corner from Elm to Park Street, with just a block to go before she crossed Boulevard into her neighborhood, Katy was beginning to regret her decision to walk home. It was so cold she could see her breath! Hunching up her shoulders she quickened her pace. At this time of the year, it started getting darker earlier. A chill skittered up her spine as she passed the deli and then Mr. Candor’s flower shop, both closed for the evening. Normally, the pretty displays would make her smile, but not today. It felt like there was something wrong, someone out there watching her. She shivered and chalked it up to the weather. As she passed the alley, a strong yank on the back of her jacket jerked her off of her feet and onto the ground with a hard thud, the shoulder strap of her backpack ripping loose, the backpack tumbling across and stopping against the side of the dumpster. She was dragged around the other side of the dumpster and out of sight of the street. With the breath knocked out of her, it was all she could do to kick and swing her arms. She tried to get a breath, and as she opened her mouth to scream a hand clamped down over her mouth and a brush of air whispered across her ear..................
I know, its mean to end it there!! Read more here:
Post by FraggleBuster (Admin) on Sept 26, 2013 17:12:04 GMT
1. What is your name and where are you from?
Hi! My name is Lindy Spencer, and I’m from Oklahoma. More particularly, a suburb of Oklahoma City.
2. What is the name of your book and where can I find it?
The Boomerang Effect can be found all over the place… Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords, to name a few! Let me give you the direct links, make it even easier to find: www.amazon.com/gp/product/1478209518
3. What is your book about? (synopsis, or the blurb from the back of the book)
Good question! Here’s what my Smashwords description has to say:
Being in the wrong place at the wrong time can end your life - or worse, postpone it indefinitely. In Aspen Grove, Oklahoma, fifteen-year-old Katy had everything going for her, until an innocent decision to walk home from school set the karmic wheels in motion. Katy suffered a brutal attack, leaving her comatose. The legal system failed to convict the men responsible for this heinous crime - instead found them not guilty. They’ve gotten away with it, or so it seems. Darnell and Jerome, then boys, now men, continue on with their lives; Bruce Hanson, the attorney tasked with convicting the two attackers, brushes off his loss and continues his climb up the legal ladder; Office Webster, the policeman who responded to the call for help, the man who destroyed evidence, forgets all about his part in the crime and moves forward in his lazy life; all of this while Katy lies in a hospital bed, still comatose, her life postponed, her loved ones outside of that room hoping and waiting. Several years go by, bringing us to now. Something, or someone, has found a way to bring these individuals to justice; the perfect murder has been created and is being unleashed on the individuals responsible for Katy's situation. Are they accidents? Could it be coincidence? Perhaps long-awaited payback in the form of the perfect murder? Revenge is a dish best served cold... and karma is a well-thrown boomerang.
4. Who, or what, inspired you to start writing?
I didn’t start out wanting to be a writer. I was reading a few paragraphs by one of my favored authors and she said that if you think of a book you would like to read that hasn’t been written yet, you are charged with writing it. I thought of this story and… well… the rest is published history!
5. Do you outline, or do you fly by the seat of your pants when you write? Why?
Working with an outline keeps me focused a little bit better, I think. Though my outlines don’t start out the way you would imagine. Mine start out with taking a set of characters from beginning to end and then writing their outline high points on index cards. I do that with each set of characters, and then I take all of my index cards and lay them out on the floor, covering the living room, and rearrange them until I have them in an order that works for me. Then the cards get numbered in case frustration sets in and they wind up being the victim of 52 card pickup. I find this way of outlining works for me. I tried writing a traditional outline, but couldn’t wrap my brain around it, and I also tried writing without an outline and that didn’t work well at all… more like herding cats. The index cards keep me focused and I can always rearrange them if I think something might work better; that way I can see it with my eyes, not just my mind.
6. What book stands out most to you that you have read in the last year? (please post a link)
Wow, that’s a tough one. I’m going to have to go with J. D. Robb’s Delusion in Death. I’ve followed this series since the beginning, and I really enjoy it; Nora Roberts writes this series as J. D. Robb to keep it separate from her other works. They feature a futuristic cop and her team as they solve cases. Fantastic writing! www.goodreads.com/book/show/13252406-delusion-in-death
7. Do you prefer paper books or e-books? Why?
Paper books, definitely. I’m old school… I like to hold a book, turn the page, and take it with me when I go. I enjoy curling up with a good book in a room filled with good books; there’s just something about having an actual library that I can put my hands on. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve got a desktop Kindle on my computer and I use that when I want to search for something specific. I just find holding a book, for me, is comforting.
8. What is your favorite movie, or television show, currently?
NCIS and NCIS:LA are neck and neck. They’ve held the top spot for a few seasons now, though I do look forward to Grey’s Anatomy, Revenge, and Revolution as well. Oh, and for some reason I can’t wait until season 3 of The Walking Dead comes out on DVD as I haven’t seen it yet!
9. Do you listen to music when you write? If so, what is your music of choice?
I don’t. I find that when I’m listening to music, I get distracted. When I write I find perfect quiet lets me immerse myself into my writing, and when I disappear into Aspen Grove I do a much more thorough job of describing the scene in front of me.
10. Do you write full time, or do you still hold down a day job? If you still have a day job, what is it?
Afraid to say I still hold down a full-time job as well as a part-time job on top of writing. I work in an office 40 hours a week, and hire out as a photographer on the side. The office job keeps food on the table and the photography lets me make a few dollars from doing something I love. I recently had an exhibit on display at the Route 66 Museum in Clinton, Oklahoma, featuring “Oklahoma’s Rusted Route 66” in my theme. Had a great time with that!
11. I sometimes imagine actors playing characters in my book, do you ever imagine this? If so, who do you see representing the characters in your book?
Oh, I’ve daydreamed about seeing my book on the big screen, and even thought about the characters - who I would like to play them. Ultimately I would love to see unknowns who have talent be cast in the roles of my characters; this way there wouldn’t be any previous character traits already attached to them by the audience, they would be seen as my characters and bring life to them without first having to overcome every other role they’ve played. I’m a fan of discovering new things to love; I would love to see my book and new actors and actresses being discovered and loved together
Now time for some goofy questions:
12. Who would win in a fight, Superman or the Incredible Hulk?
Superman. He can fly – even if he can’t win hand-to-hand, he can get out of the way until the Incredible Hulk gets tired.
13. Who is your favorite Ninja Turtle?
Donatello
14. If you were a transformer, what would you transform into?
Can Am Spyder… I ride one now and have been asked by a small child if it was a Transformer…
15. If you could be anyone for 1 day who would you be?
The President of the United States. So many things need changing…
16. If time travel was possible, but you were limited to only going to the past or going to the future, which would you choose, and why?
I would totally go to the future; the odds of getting back are much greater than they are of coming forward in time if something were to break down on my time machine!
17. What is your most valued possession? The love of my husband and children. That may not be considered a ‘possession’ by many, but it is the thing I hold most dear to me.
18. What is your favorite breakfast food?
Stuffed French Toast from IHOP…
19. Have you ever been to a country where you have not lived, if so where?
I’ve been to Mexico, the Cayman Islands, and Jamaica. I enjoyed each and every one of them, and the cruise that took me there. I recommend visiting other cultures and seeing how people live in places other than where we live; it gives a new perspective.
*knock*knock* Anybody home? Hi, Vampy! I was in the neighborhood, hope you don’t mind my dropping by!
Maybe you can help me with something. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about karma. I’m writing my sequel and there’s karma woven through it, too, just like the first book; I’ve wondered if anyone else thinks of karma as a living, breathing beast. I do. How else could it come back around and bite you in the butt?
Like this, for instance… true story… this happened to me awhile ago. I was running late for work so I called in and said I had a flat tire. Got to work, the boss scrutinized me and asked if I had a flat tire, why my hands and clothes weren’t dirty from changing it. Being the quick thinker I am, I told her a nice man saw my car off the side of the road and stopped to change it for me. I’m lucky she didn’t want to see the actual flat tire, since there wasn’t one. The very next week I got a flat tire on the way to work. I could have kicked myself! I ended up changing it myself, because the fictional nice man didn’t stop this time. That’s not luck, that’s karma.
Which also has me wondering about ‘paying it forward.’ You know, doing something nice for someone else just because you can, not because you expect something in return. Does karma recognize those things, as well? I was traveling awhile back and stopped for a fast food lunch. When I came out, there were two men who were obviously backpacking across the country sitting on the grass under the tree near my car. One of them asked if I could spare a dollar, and I could tell he wasn’t comfortable asking. He said they were traveling and had run out of money and hadn’t eaten yet that day, and said if I didn’t that it was ok. Now, my fake-o-meter is pretty good, I don’t get taken very often, and these men looked and sounded like they were telling the truth. I asked them what they would like to eat, and I went back in and bought them a meal. Not just a meal, but the meal they wanted. They were amazed and in awe that someone would do that for them. I wonder if karma sees those events, as well as the flat tires, and takes them into account, adds them to your tally. Not that I did it for karma points, I did it because the stars aligned, we were all together in that moment, they needed it and I was able to help.
Have you had something like that happen to you? Are you a believer?
Anyway, these are the thoughts in my brain at the moment. Oh, look at the time – I have to go! I’m glad you were home and we got to catch up for a minute! Life’s too short not to do the things you enjoy, and I like our visits!! Have a great day – let’s set up lunch, ok? =D
Post by FraggleBuster (Admin) on Sept 26, 2013 17:15:45 GMT
E.I Jennings interviews Lindy Spencer:
Do you write as yourself or under a pseudonym? Why?
I write as myself. When I decided to write I felt that if the story is my work filled with my blood, sweat and tears, it should wear my name as well. Besides, how fun is it to see your name on the cover?
What made you want to be a published author?
While I was reading the forward to a book by one of my favorite authors a sentence she said stuck with me. “If you think of a story you would like to read that hasn’t been written yet, you are charged with writing it.” The kernel of my first story, The Boomerang Effect, came to mind one day and took hold. I remembered what I’d read and took it as a challenge.
What genre do you write in and why?
My preferred genre is mystery. I want to write what I want to read; murder mysteries and darker topics are interesting to me. I’m not a huge fan of romance novels and I don’t believe I would write a good story if reading it wouldn’t hold my attention.
If you could talk to your 12 year old self, what advice would you give?
Moving isn’t a bad thing, it’s just a change; you’ll make new friends. Junior high doesn’t last forever, hang in there. And the most important piece of advice I would have to tell me is to keep working hard, it will pay off and you will be ok, I promise.
Have any other authors influenced your writing through theirs?
Every book I read influences my writing; not only the research books, but the fiction I enjoy in my downtime as well. Everything you take in makes you a little bit different than you were the minute before.
If you are a self-published author what made you take this route and what was your experience (good or bad)?
The reason I self-published was so that I could keep control of my content. I would rather publish my own story my way than have someone else tell me they would be happy to publish me if I would rewrite my story their way. No thanks, all the same. My experience was good; I researched several companies and was getting depressed by the cost of self-publishing when I heard about Smashwords. This company doesn’t charge you to publish your book – they take a small percentage of each copy sold and that is their fee. Nothing up front, no extra hidden charges, none of that. I think their company made my decision into a good experience. If I could go back and do it again, I’d do it the same way.
How would you rate your writing?
Oh, gosh. I write and rewrite and rewrite again until I think my writing is the best I can produce, so I’d have to say I rate my writing as good. I work hard to make it good. It doesn’t come out that way to start with, but by the time I’m done I’m proud of it.
How do you react to poor reviews of your book?
Knowing that my work can’t please everyone I don’t take the poor reviews personally. For whatever reason they didn’t enjoy their journey and I respect that. When a poor review gives constructive criticism, though, I can appreciate it as much as a great review.
What influences your choice of book covers?
I take the overall story into account, pick out important details, and go from there. I like to visit with my cover designer and let them have some input as well into the design. My preference is to go with something original and not pick up a pre-made cover that may have been used on another book somewhere else, or can still be made available for others to use.
How do you balance your writing with your real world responsibilities?
The writing gets balanced on the cookie that’s on the plate being balanced on the wine glass. J My writing doesn’t get as much time as it deserves; my real world takes precedence. My writing is for pleasure – if it takes longer to get the next story out, well, that’s how it goes. I hope my readers understand that writing isn’t paying the bills (yet) so it sometimes takes the back seat.
Do your characters drive the plots of your stories or do you plan out your plot?
Both. I plan the plot and then my characters argue with me. Sometimes they’ve got better ideas than I had to begin with, so we go with theirs. Sometimes I make them do what I say. Give and take!
Do you ever write what you dream? Give an example.
Actually, little known fact, the scene in my book where Tom is talking to Katy and telling her what he had dreamed the night before was a dream I actually had. It was recurring, and once I put it in the book it stopped. To know what that dream was you’ll have to read my book!
Do you market yourself or pay a professional?
I market myself, though I’m not sure that’s the way to go. Come January I’ll be re-evaluating my marketing strategies, reviewing the year, seeing what worked and what didn’t, and perhaps changing that option.
What are your tips for editing?
Don’t do it yourself. Well, use the spell checker yourself, no reason to be silly about it, but let a professional do it. Sometimes as the writer we can’t see the forest for the trees and obvious mistakes slide through unnoticed; don’t let your work go out the door unpolished.
What inspired you to write your current WIP or current published work?
My current WIP is a sequel to The Boomerang Effect. I was inspired by the constant badgering I was getting by readers who wanted to know what happened to this person or that person or how would this situation be resolved. They demanded a sequel, so they’ll get one. Now, I can’t promise it will turn out the way they would like it to, but that’s yet to be seen.
Do you prefer to write stand-alone novels or a series? Why?
I’m not sure yet. I’d thought my book would be a stand-alone novel, but it has turned into the opposite. I’ve got another story in the beginning stages that I expect to stand alone. Ask me again after that one comes out and we’ll talk then.
If you could change one thing in the publishing process what would it be?
I would require all manuscripts to contain the code that disallows the work to be shared. I believe that would go a long way toward getting rid of piracy.
What advice would you give to a new author?
Don’t quit. You’re closer than you think, just back away for a few minutes or a few days and let your brain work it out. You’ll get there as long as you don’t stop working toward your goal. (When you think you can’t take any more and you want to throw your half-finished manuscript up in the air and watch the pages flutter to the ground, don’t do it; especially if the pages aren’t numbered. Don’t ask me how I know.)
Share a favourite quote from your book.
“Karma is a well-thrown boomerang.” ~ Andrea Parker
Post by FraggleBuster (Admin) on Sept 26, 2013 17:17:30 GMT
Luscious Laylah interviews Lindy Spencer:
Tell us a bit about yourself.... and please if you don’t mind adding a picture to go with this interview
Hi! About me? Start with the hard questions, I see how this is going to go! I’m a wife, mother, and grandmother; my husband and I live in Oklahoma where we enjoy our weekends riding our motorcycles as often as possible. I carry a Canon with me wherever I go, and have been known to shoot people and things without warning. Digitally, of course... no, really...
When did you begin writing?
I was a teenager when I wrote my first story. That one, however, will never be published. Teenagers don’t always think things through, and I kept painting myself into corners with that particular storyline. My first time being published was in high school; it was a poem and I was nudged into it by a teacher. My first full-length book is titled, ‘The Boomerang Effect’ and currently has a sequel in the works; I also have a stand-alone book under construction, along with a few short stories.
What genre do you write?
I’m a fan of murder mysteries, though I do have a childrens’ book at the illustrator now. No murder involved with that one!
Are you self published or being represented by a publisher?
I’m self-published. Being opposed to rejection letters, I decided to forego that entire step and go straight to publishing my book myself. I’m happy I did; it let me keep control over content, cover, and every other aspect a publisher might ask me to change.
Who designed the cover of (your book)?
A young man named Ken Thackrey was my cover designer for The Boomerang Effect. We discussed what the storyline was about, I told him what I envisioned, and he took it and ran from there. His vision added details I wouldn’t have thought of on my own; I think it turned out quite nicely!
What or who inspired you to write The Boomerang Effect?
Lisa Gardner, a well-known author, inspired me without even knowing it. I was reading something she’d written and she said, “If
you think of a story you would like to read that hasn’t been written yet, you are charged with writing it.” That stuck with me. When this story came to me, I remembered what she’d said and I accepted the challenge.
Do you have a favourite place/time to write?
I enjoy writing first thing in the morning on the weekends, while the house is quiet and the coffee is hot and fragrant.
Do you use a pen name? If so, how did you come up with your pen name?
I do not use a pen name. One of the things on my bucket list was to leave a mark on this world; my mark is in the form of my name on a story I am very proud of having written. It will be around long after I’m gone.
Who are your favorite authors?
Before I started meeting other Indie authors, there were only three names on my list of favourites. There are many that I have enjoyed; though J.D. Robb, Lisa Gardner and Janet Evanovich are the well-known authors that I prefer. Oh, and Michael Connelly. I’d like to add Brandy L. Rivers and Justin Osborne to the list. They are both independently published authors whose work I’ve had the pleasure of reading, neither of which I would have met had it not been for Facebook.
What type of books do you like to read?
I love thrillers – more legal or police procedural than medical, though I’ve been known to pick those up as well. I also love mysteries, paranormal, fantasy, and humor. Some days a good laugh is all it takes to turn things around!
What advice do you have for other writers?
Don’t quit. If you want to be a writer, take yourself seriously. When you want to give it up because you’re frustrated, tired, blocked, and completely irritated with the entire process, take a moment to breathe, a day to do something else, a week to walk away and let your
brain work out the problem... and then go back to writing. We’ve all been there. If I hadn’t numbered my index cards and my manuscript pages, it would have been much harder to get them back in order after a particularly stressful temper tantrum that turned my manuscript into a boisterous game of 52-card pickup. I’ll tell you it didn’t help, all it did was make me have to pick it all back up. I wouldn’t suggest it.
Between June 15th – June 21st I’m hosting a giveaway on my Facebook page to thank my fans for pushing me up and over the 1,000 likes mark. Several of my author friends have thrown in on it with me, so there are quite a few good e-books up for grabs, some bookmarks, and even some Amazon gift cards!
If that’s not enough, I’ve also been known to post a time or two on twitter, though not as often because I’m still new at that and haven’t taken the time to properly acquaint myself with all of the ins and outs:
A link doesn’t always look right, since there are underscores with my twitter name, so without the link part here you go: _Lindy_Spencer
