AUTHOR INTERVIEW ~ RACHEL SPARKS

And now I would like to welcome author Rachel Sparks to Black Satin!  My next guest in my series of interviews.  Thanks for your time, Rachel!

1. Who is Rachel Sparks?

A romance suspense mystery author from S.C. with 2 degrees, one in Social Work and another in Early Childhood Education; I have a 21 year old son and a daughter in law and a tabby cat named Little Hoss.

2. When did you first start writing and why?

I started writing when I was little. I always had stories running around in my head. Still do.

3. Are there any particular writers who inspire you?

Amanda Quick.

4. Why your current genre/style?

Romance suspense mystery…today…historical and sci-fi.

5. Do you do your own cover art?

Yes and my daughter in law has being doing some.

6. Can you describe a typical day of creative work?

I handwrite everything then go back and type it up. I also have pad and pens throughout the house just in case I a scene or idea hits.

7. Someone approaches you and asks you, what do you write? How do you respond?

I write stories that I hope will help people that are going through something and my book helps them. Also they will enjoy a little mystery and romance in it.

8. Why self-publishing?

Indie authors kept the rights to their work and get to say what goes in their books. I’m a proud Indie author.

9. What are some of your other interests?

Collecting things that I love such as DVDs, pictures of my favorite shows. My tabby cat Little Hoss.

10. What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

Just how amazing it is to watch my characters and stories come to life. How each time I publish a book I’m just excited as when I publish the first book.

11. What do you think makes a good story?

Stories involving strong female characters, current social issues, a sprinkling of romance and powerful storylines.

12. Do you have any quirky or unusual stories concerning your work?

My relatives usually give me problems about the subjects I write about. Or words I use in my books.

13. Just for fun -- they’re making your book into a movie. Who do you imagine would play your characters?

Not sure but I do know who I would like to produce and direct my books into movies…Tyler Perry because he is a writer and he knows what is important to a writer.

14. And speaking of movies, what’s your writing soundtrack? Or do you write in complete silence?

I write with DVD’s going in the background.

15. What is the best and/or worst writing advice you’ve ever received?

Best would be keep writing and publishing books because it only takes one book to make it big.

16. Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

A writer puts their soul into their work.

17. Tell us about your current and future projects. What is on the horizon?

Two books: Role Play Killer

Familiar Stranger…sci fi/romance

******

Thank you again Rachel for taking the time to visit us here today!  Here are some places where you can find Rachel:

Author Blog: http://romancewriteriam.wordpress.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachelmarie.sparks.12?fref=ts

Author Store: http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/romancesuspense

WET AND WILD BLOG HOP! MAY 20TH THRU THE 25TH

Welcome Wet and Wild Blog Hoppers to Black Satin.  Feel free to peruse my blog and the informative posts, interviews and musings.  Thanks for stopping by.  And as an extra bonus I’m giving away one copy each of my novels, Illusion of Night and Memory in Shadow.  To win the copy of one of my books, all you have to do is comment with a reason why you should win. 

And by the way, Memory In Shadow has a very nice contest of its own going on, click the link for more info: http://cjblacksatin.blogspot.com/2012/10/new-release-memory-in-shadow-and-wicked.html, then just click on the HOME link to return to the front page.  If you wish to enter my own contest for Memory In Shadow, you will have to make a second post specifying this.  Have fun everyone and thanks again for dropping by!

Ms. Skye is giving away some fab gifts of her own for your participation!

1. A $100 gift card to Victoria Secret
2. A Digital Gift Basket Featuring several e-books.

And to continue on your tour just click on the Wet and Wild banner or this link: http://www.skyewarren.com/hop/

Peace! ~ CJ Black

SPECIAL GUEST POSTER ~ AUTHOR KELLI RIFFLE!

I would now like to welcome my dear friend, Kelli Riffle to Black Satin.  Kelli and I have known each other pretty much forever.  Our friendship began back in the day before there even was such a thing as social media and when people actually corresponded through the mail.  Wow!  That is a long time!  So grab a cup of java and enjoy her words of wisdom.  And thanks again, Kelli!

*********************************************************************************

This is my first blog post of any kind. I am also not tech savvy. Seriously, giving me a computer is a lot giving a monkey a loaded gun. Am I qualified to write a blog post here? Probably not, but I am sure I will be told that eventually. I work in the genre of fantasy.  I have had many rejections over the years and heard everything from “we liked your story” to “why are you mixing genres like this?”  C.J. works in Erotica. I can remember when she first told me that and she was kind of embarrassed about what I would say. I was happy for her! There is nothing wrong with Erotica whatsoever. I think she had prepared herself more for “That’s wrong.” or “Why would you do that?”  But no, I was fully supportive and I still am. She knows what she is doing and does it very well.

    

Why do writers write? It’s pretty simple to me. The answer is “Because we can.” That’s what it boils down to in the grand scheme of things.  I remember when I was in my teens and wrote a few short, short stories for my school’s literary magazine my mother read them. I was afraid of what she would say.  But, she read them all. She handed them back to me and said “I don’t really understand them all, but they are all good.” I didn’t know it at the time, but I was writing very short magic realism stories and most had some kind of “spiritual” or “political” message. She told me to keep writing and writing some more. She understood more than she ever imagined. One of my aunt’s also read my stories when she came in for a visit. She handed them back to me and told me to “keep on writing.” Those two were so supportive of me and my writing. My mom had tears in her eyes when I showed her the magazines I had finally been published in and had my by-line. She got to tell me she was proud of me before it was too late.

    

Why do you write? We don’t write for the fame and glory and riches, but that would be nice. We write because we have something to say and writing is the only way to say it, regardless of the genre. I can toss genres around and mix them up as I see fit. What I don’t like, I take it out and put it in a new folder of random stuff. NEVER just throw anything you write into the trashcan. Always have journals and notebooks and pens and post-it notes handy. You will need them. We write because we can, be it good bad or just plain ugly. We learn to edit (which I like to see it as “literary tact.”) We get miserable and cranky when we don’t write.

    

I will be focusing on fantasy and take you through world building in future blog posts and all its annoyances, trials and tribulations. So, hang on for a bumpy ride.

********************************************************************************

Thanks again, Kelli for taking the time to visit with me and my readers today!

You can find Kelli on FaceBook here: https://www.facebook.com/kelli.clise.riffle?fref=ts

INTERVIEW ~ AUTHOR MELODY S.

And now, next in a series of author interviews please welcome, author Melody S.!  It's great to have you here on Black Satin!

1. Who is Melody S.?

Melody S. is an author, a poet, and a business woman! I am also a mother and a wife.

2. When did you first start writing and why?

I first started writing about the age of 12 when I began writing poetry. I was searching for a way to express myself creatively and after reading some work by the great Langston Hughes, I wanted to see if I could do what he did. I wanted to see if I could express myself and make people feel, the rest is history.

3. Are there any particular writers who inspire you?

I am inspired by Iyanla Vanzant, Langston Hughes, K’wan Foye, and Sister Souljah to name a few.

4. Why poetry?  Why the particular type?

I love to write poetry because there are really no rules. I can write freely and just be who I am and say what I need to say in just a few short lines or in a ton of long lines if need be. Poetry allows me to not only create, but to create in such a way that I can touch someone deeply by my words that are scrawled along the page. Like with Soul Speech, it is my truth and my experiences uninterrupted.

5. What inspires you to write?

My children and my husband.

6. Are there some works you haven’t shared with others?  Why?

Yes there are because I feel like some of my poetry is really too deep and personal to share with other people.

7. How do you handle the question, “Why don’t you write something serious?”

 I respond with, “I have! Go pick up Love’s Wrong Turns and/or Soul Speech at my website.” Then I hand them a business card with my website listed.

8. What are some of your other interests?

There are many things that interest me: hanging out with my family, reading, singing, and even dancing. I LOVE to dance!

9. What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

That I could. Once each project was completed and I held the book in my hand, I was still shocked that I’d actually done it.

10. Are you an introverted or extroverted writer?

I’d have to say extroverted.

11. What’s your writing soundtrack? Or do you write in complete silence?

I write to all different kinds of music and by a variety of artists. It’s funny because sometimes the music I choose to write to depends on the character I’m creating. If the character is going to be “gangster” and cold then I’d most likely write to say 50 Cent or even Vybz Kartel. If the character is soft and sweet I’d write to Anita Baker or Stephanie Mills.

12. What is the best and/or worst writing advice you’ve ever received?

The best advice I’ve ever received was, “Write SOMETHING every day. No matter what it is, just WRITE.”

13. Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Go to my website and purchase your copies of Love’s Wrong Turns AND Soul Speech! www.melodytheauthor.com

*****************************************************************************

Thank you Melody S. for taking the time to speak with us today!  Here are some other places where you can reach Melody S.

Website: http://www.melodytheauthor.com/

FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/melodytheauthor2

WordPress (author has stated no longer updates): http://mspoetress.wordpress.com/

Twitter:  @Melodytheauthor

Dreamcloud Publications: http://dreamcloudpublications.webs.com/