Tag Archives: Author Interview

Author Interview: Joe McCarthy

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We appreciate you stopping by today for an interview, Joe. Thank you for participating in the giveaway and agreeing to give away a copy of your book to (1) commenter of this post.
Wishing you all the best in your writing career!

-Virginia Wright

1. Give us a brief introduction to yourself as an author, i.e., where you are from, how long you have been writing, names of books you have published, etc., 

My name is Joseph McCarthy, I am the author of “Detective For The Innocent”
I am from the ocean state also known as Rhode Island. I’ve been writing stories since the 7th grade and fell in love with writing during my years in high school. I have self published two books.  Humphrey’s Way Home  is a picture book for 4-8 year old. Humphrey’s Way Home was published in September 2012.  Detective for the Innocent was published in February of this year.
Way to go, Joe! -VW

More About the Author …
Joseph McCarthy has been writing and illustrating since a very young age. He loves to write and draw a variety of story types. At the age of fourteen, Joseph took his writing to the next level; using his imagination and research skills to create exciting stories.  In 2005 Joseph’s sister gave him an idea for a character, and his first children’s book was written.   In 2011, Joseph self published his first book.  Joseph has written several short stories. After publishing his stories, he realized that if you truly believe in yourself anything can happen.
2. What inspires you to write?
What inspires me to write is my friends and family because they will always be there for me with my writing. Reading also inspires me to write.
I like to read too, Joe! -VW

3. Do you prefer to write in silence or while listening to music?
I definitely listen to music while I am writing.
So do I Joe, as long as it is soothing–and not too loud! -VW

4. What time of the day do you find yourself writing the most?

I usually write at night because that’s when I am least bothered.  Night is when  my imagination works the best.
Theses days,  for me,  it is whenever my mood strikes me!  -VW

5. Tell us a little bit about your next WIP?

The next book I am writing  is called Prince of the Full Moon which is a cross  between   Harry Potter and Twilight.
That sounds intriguing, I wish you all the best with that! -VW

I can be contacted at:

Web: Josephmccarthybooks.webs.com
YouTube: Youtube.comJ000094
email: Josephmccarthy7@rocketmaill.com
Thanks for having me on your blog.

My pleasure, Joe! I truly wish you all the best! -VW

Detective for the Innocent By Joseph McCarthy
A former New York detective and a loving father is gunned down and shot by a gang called the Speed Killers. While in the emergency room, the detective asks his son Jeff to bring down whoever shot him and bring him to justice. At the young age of seven, Jeff promises his father he would. Twenty three years later Jeff is now a detective, following in his father’s footsteps, and now is ready to avenge the unsolved murder of his father and bring the killer to justice.
Comments are now open!

Virginia Wright Interviewed at Tracy Campbell’s Blog

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Buzzzzzzzz

 

This week instead of posting an interview that I have done with another author,  I invite you to visit my interview that Writer and Illustrator Tracy Campbell conducted with me on her blog.  Don’t forget to comment at Tracy’s blog, as I’m giving away a copy of my nonfiction, educational book, Buzzzzzzzz What Honeybees Do–to (one) commenter that gets me buzzzing! Tracy will announce the winner next week on her blog.  Good Luck!

Now buzzzzzzzz on over to Tracy’s blog!

 


Week 6 – Dec. 9, 2012 An Interview & Giveaway With Author | Joe Landers

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Hello everyone! Thank you for stopping by my blog for the sixth week of “Seven Weeks to Christmas Author Interviews & Giveaways.”  There is one more week of the event, next Sunday, when you will read an interview with “me,” and you will comment for a chance to win books, and a grand prize that I’m giving away. (I will reveal the grand prize closer to next Sunday)! Mark your calenders for December 16, as this is my release party for… “The Christmas Secret,” which will be an “online” party. You can stay in the comfort of your own home,  and visit my blog anytime that day.  Don’t forget, you must comment to enter the giveaway.  I will resume normal blogging after the event. However, I already have interviews scheduled for 2013.  Now on to this weeks interview…Joe Landers and I met online, just as so many of us authors do. Please join me in welcoming Joe as my guest author today!

-Virginia Wright

1. What led you to become an author? The idea of me becoming an author stemmed from a conversation I had with a co-worker who had published a novel.  As we talked I became more preoccupied with the ideal of writing and realized that I had several ideas in my head that would make wonderful stories.  I found writing as a way of releasing those inner thoughts and turn them into a positive message.

2. What genre do you write? I write fiction but I lean more toward Christian fiction.  At this point I have kept my books clean, with a little violence to make them entertaining and suspenseful.

3. When you write, do you prefer silence or do you like to listen to music or the television? I like to have the television on with the volume very low. I usually have some kind of ballgame on, preferably baseball because it is very slow paced and the announcers stay calm most of the time.

4. Do you have a particular place you prefer to write? I prefer to write in my bedroom because that is where my television is located and it is quiet most of the time.

5. How long did it take you to write your first book?  I wrote the first book in about three months.6. Where do you get your inspirations from to write?  Some from life experiences, hearing people around me talk about the issues they are facing as well as their concerns but most come from the news media.

7. Can you describe the feeling you had when you held your first published book? I was proud of the book.  I stared at it for several minutes in disbelief at what I had accomplished.  There was also relief that the journey I had taken was finely over.8. What book at you currently working on?   I’m working on a medical murder mystery titled Intravenous. The process with this book has been long but if we stay on track it should be released in early 2013.9. Please give us a brief synopsis of your newest WIP.

Synopsis of Intravenous

When a patient at Westbrook Medical Center died from mysterious causes, Ted Maxwell, Patient Safety Officer, is called to investigate the cause of death.  As he examines the body, he discovers an irregularity with the patient’s IV which could indicate foul play.While looking into the case another patient dies mysteriously, leading Ted to suspect that someone is targeting Westbrook’s patients.As the investigation continued, Hanna Johns, Chief Nursing Officer, approaches Ted and cautions him to keep the murders quiet in hopes of saving the hospital’s image.  However, with the murders continuing to rise, Ted had to invoke the help of his friend, Detective Mark Stone from the Westbrook Police Department and ignore the request from the hospital’s administrative staff.With each clue, Ted becomes more concerned because they suggest that someone in the hospital is involved with the murders.After going over each murder, Ted discovers a pattern in the killings and he and Mark sat a trap.10. Where can people find your books?  They can be found at almost any on line book store such as Amazon, Books A Million, Barnes and Noble.  At this point they are not being sold in any stores.

Bio

Joseph J Landers was born in 1962 in rural Alabama.  He’s married with 4 kids.  While pursuing his nursing degree, he studied English composition and American literature.  After several years of nursing, his interest in writing continued to grow and he began to focus his attention toward developing good clean novels.  He has two published books, Our Deadly Sins and Drug Revenge.

Thanks Joe for being guest author today!

-Virginia Wright

Comments are now open!

 

Week 6 – Dec. 9, 2012 An Interview With Author | Dennis Higgins & Giveaway

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Hello everyone! Thank you for stopping by my blog for the sixth week of “Seven Weeks to Christmas Author Interviews & Giveaways.”  There is one more week of the event, next Sunday, when you will read an interview with “me,” and you will comment for a chance to win books, and a grand prize that I’m giving away. (I will reveal the grand prize closer to next Sunday)! Mark your calenders for December 16, as this is my release party for… “The Christmas Secret,” which will be an “online” party. You can stay in the comfort of your own home,  and visit my blog anytime that day.  Don’t forget, you must comment to enter the giveaway.  I will resume normal blogging after the event. However, I already have interviews scheduled for 2013.  Now on to this weeks interview…Dennis Higgins and I met online, we became friends talking about author stuff, and I felt it was only fitting to interview Dennis.  He is an awesome writer… please join me in welcoming Dennis Higgins as my guest author today!

-Virginia Wright

1.)     What led you to become an author? My story began way back when I was a young man in my twenties. I had worked a mundane job in a receiving department where I used to fantasize about being a time traveler falling in love with someone in the past. My fantasies became elaborate stories where a man found himself in 1871 during the Chicago Fire. I had contrasted a modern woman he knew in the present named Cathy with a Victorian woman in the past named Catherine. I always wanted to write this into a book but never found the time. Fast forward to about ten years ago when I met my wife to-be, online. I told her about my desire to write that particular story so for fun we started writing a never ending story type with our characters, Katya and Cyrus. It wasn’t very good and contained almost sappy love sequences because we were falling in love at the time. We shelved the whole idea until she encouraged me to start writing by myself. I went a different direction with my first book, a Route 66 time travel adventure, until she encouraged me to revisit Katya and Cyrus for my second book. I kept the character names, even giving a nod towards Catherine and my Time Pilgrim series became a reality.

Awesome story, Dennis. I bought Katya and Cyrus and recently started reading your book…it is definitely keeping my interest!

2.)      What genre do you write? I find my writing style best fits to a young adult demographic. I write time travel fantasy with a touch of romance.

Great combination!

3.)      When you write, do you prefer silence or do you like to listen to music or the television? I write only in the early morning with complete silence. Of course I have to deal with my two dogs that also pick this time to play. In fact dog #2, Katie is trying to hand me her pull toy right now.

I can relate to needing complete silence, but there are times where I write better with some soothing music playing in the background.

4.)      Do you have a particular place you prefer to write? Right here at my desktop computer. I once tried to write somewhere else at a different time of day and found that my writing style became darker. I suppose it’s good to shake it up a bit but it’s usually in the lower level of my house at my desk.

I have an office area, but I my writing home is in the corner of a reclining couch–with my laptop glued to my lap!

5.)       How long did it take you to write your first book? It took me about one year to write each of my books. Publishing takes a bit longer though.

That sounds about right for me too. But with my latest book, it took me two years.

6.)     Where do you get your inspirations from to write? I suppose as I stated in answer #1, I rely on my fantasies. I like to read but would not consider myself an avid reader. However, I must admit that a couple of authors have influenced me by expanding my love for time travel. I remember reading The Time Travelers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger which I believed was great, but then I thought to myself that I could do this.

You have a wonderful imagination!

7.)      Can you describe the feeling you had when you held your first published book? I felt like I had joined a great club of authors. I was a normal guy who had a dream and worked to make it a reality. But I also gave my thanks to God.

Amen!

8.) What book are you currently working on? I have just recently submitted the second book in my Time Pilgrims series to the publisher, so now I am between works.

Time to take a little break and enjoy the holidays!

9.) Where can people find your books? Among other places: Amazon.com, Barnes and Nobles, Createspace, Whiskey Creek Press.

I bought your book, Katya and Cyrus, on Amazon.

About Me

As a native of Chicago, Illinois, I have always possessed a romance with things of the past that are gone but not forgotten.  I now live in the suburbs with my lovely wife, two dogs and four canaries.

Among my influences are:  Richard Matheson, Jack Finney, Dean Koontz, Joan Wester Anderson, Peter S. Beagle and Audrey Neffenegger.

Katya and Cyrus (Time Pilgrims) is the first of an exciting new series that will be treasured and loved by teens as well as adults.

Books:

Katya and Cyrus Time Pilgrims

Parallel Roads (Lost on Route 66)

Coming Soon:

Time Pilgrims (Almost Yesterday)

Thanks for participating in this author interview and giveaway event, Dennis. It was a joy having you as guest author today!

-Virginia Wright

Comments are now open!

Week 5 – Dec. 2,2012 Guest Author | Lisa K. Winkler Interview & Giveaway

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Hello everyone! Thank you for stopping by my blog for the fifth week of “Seven Weeks to Christmas Author Interviews & Giveaways.”  There is one more week, next Sunday, that I will have two more author interviews, so please show your support and stop on by. Then, the week after that, December 16, is my release party for… The Christmas Secret, which will be an “online” party. You can stay in the comfort of your own home,  and visit my blog, anytime that day.  I’m giving away a few copies of my book, and one commenter will receive a grand prize that will be revealed just before the party begins. Don’t forget, you must comment to enter the giveaway.  Now on to the interview this week…Please join me in welcoming Lisa K. Winkler, my guest author today!
-Virginia Wright

Lisa K. Winkler is the author of On the Trail of the Ancestors: A Black Cowboy’s Ride Across America. She worked as newspaper reporter before becoming a teacher, and writes for professional journals, Education Update, JerseyMan, and study guides for Penguin Books. Two essays have been published in book anthologies, one for Wisdom of Our Mothers (Familia Books) and the other in College Search and Parent Rescue: Essays for Parents by Parents of College-Going Students (St. Martin’s Press). She taught middle school Language Arts for more than 15 years and served as a literacy consultant in Newark, New Jersey. She lives in Summit, New Jersey, and has three children and three grandchildren. She loves cycling, knitting, yoga, cooking, travel, theater and museums. Lisa is the founder of Chestnut Hill Press, which published Tangerine Tango: Women Writers Share Slices of Life. She blogs at www.cyclingrandma.wordpress.com and her website is www. lisakwinkler.com.

I’d like to thank Virginia Wright, https://www.virginiawright.com/blog for inviting me to the Seven Weeks to Christmas Author Interviews & Giveaways Event.

You are quite welcome, Lisa! I’m happy to have you as guest author today!

1. What is the working title of your book?

I just self –published  Tangerine Tango: Women Writers Share Slices of Life.

Tangerine Tango is such an interesting title.

2. Where did the idea come from for the book?

When I reached my blog’s year anniversary, I had the idea to compile my blog into a book. But that didn’t seem like enough so I   invited several writers, mostly other bloggers  I had befriended through blogging, to join the project. Along the way, a couple other writers contributed too.

Without giving the writers any themes, I received submissions that span the entire citrus spectrum, from sour to sweet.  Inside there are poems and essays about parents, families, jobs, food, and memories.

That is a great idea!

3. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Ha, ha. Some of my writers and I have joked about this- who we want to play us.  I have Meryl Streep on speed dial after I get the call from Stephen Spielberg.

Great choices, I wish you luck with that.

4. What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?

Slices of life by women!

Great synopsis!

5. Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

I self-published via CreateSpace. However I’ve had some issues this time (this is my second book). They seem to not be able to get the printing correct. I’ve received books that are about ¼ inch longer than others and the interior, which has some artist touches, is also not done correctly. It’s taking a lot of time and phone calls to try to rectify the problems.

CS is generally very pleasant to work with, hang in there. I’m sure they will eventually satisfy your situation.

6. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

I asked writers to submit works within July. By mid-August, I had a working draft and I went back and forth to about 20 drafts with my book designer. The book was submitted by the end of September. I did edit the pieces for length and clarity. A blog post isn’t necessarily a stand alone essay. I loved working with the writers on their pieces.

Wow! That was awesomely quick.

7. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

This is a perfect gift book. It fits in a purse or jacket pocket and the entries are short to read and then put down and pick up another time.

What a great gift idea!

8. What inspired you to write the book? I certainly was inspired by the other writers.  They were so excited to be part of the project and I feel as if I now have a new group of wonderful friends. The proceeds from the sales will be donated to fight Huntington’s Disease. One of the writers lost her mother to the disease this year.

What a wonderful cause to give the proceeds to.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you Lisa for stopping by, we enjoyed your interview.

-Virginia

Comments are now open!