Gaby and the Prince...

Yo-diidly-ho!  Sin-sin-siree at your service.  ‘Tis a while since we last spoke, for which I’m eternally sorry.  Well, at least until the end of this visit, anywho.  I keep trying to pop up now and again, but that Shaun Allan fella-me-lad has his head in mermaids at the moment.  I can’t get a look in!

Thankfully, to keep me company in the meantime, a young lady has dropped by.

Would you care to tell me your name?

My full name is Irma Gabriela Cabezut De los Cobos. (I KNOW. Longest name ever!) But you can call me Gabby or Gabs ;)

That reminds me of when Sean Connery introduces his character in the movie Highlander (love that).  Ramirez Bibbly-Bobbly-Fililobos-Something-or-other!  That’s an epic name you have there Gaby!  So, where are you from?

Mexico

Ohhhh, one of the places I would love to visit if I ever get out of here or figure out how to control that teleportation thingummy.  Do you like living there?  If not, where would your favourite place to live be?  Is yes, where would you least like to live?

I love living in Mexico, the weather is awesome, Mexicans are really warm and I love all of our culture and tradition.

However, if I could choose anywhere else in the world to live, I’d say Canada. I spent a whole summer in Quebec, learning French and I loved it. I’m obviously in awe at the prospect of snow and all that (something that I would definitely regret, but still…) Also the UK, because they have the best English accent ever.

As a Brit, I have to agree.  As someone whose cousin lives in Canada, I also have to agree.  And as someone who once started a snowball at the top of a hill and rolled it down to see how big it would get then couldn’t move it at the bottom because it was so big, I have to, well… agree!  As you’re a writer, is this your ‘day job’?

Yes. Right now, it is. I write, read or edit every day, for at least 6 hours.

That sounds like a dream job.  I’d love to be a full time writer.  As it is, I have to accept being a full time supposed lunatic and leave Shaun to do the part time writing.  Not jealous at all.  I’d like to see how he’d survive in here!  Erm…  Where was I?  Oh yes.  Tell me about your latest project.

I’m in the final process of editing Hopelessly Imperfect, book one out of three in the series (I haven’t started the other two.) It comes out on May under Limitless Publishing.

Hopelessly Imperfect?  Sounds interesting.  I’m just hopeless and perfect.  That’s what my reflection tells me anyway.  How do you feel about bacon?  A crazy person once said it was the food of the gods.  OK, I admit that person was myself...

Hahahaha… this question was so random that I had to read it twice! I have to agree with you wholeheartedly, I love bacon. It can go with everything (I haven’t tried the whole brownies with bacon frenzy yet, but…it’s bacon).

Brownies and bacon?  Oh, I’ve so got to try that.  What is your favourite film?

I have many! And I’m a total girly girl, so many of them are chick films like My Best Friend’s Wedding, but I also like the avengers or Harry Potter (I’m a total Potterhead).

I wonder how you feel about the imminent new Potter book?  I’m excited.  Can’t wait.  They don’t let us have paper in here, though.  It’s either used for…  We don’t have to go into that…  Have you always wanted to be a writer, or is it something you found yourself doing one day?

I’ve always wanted to. But I always wanted to write in English…I never thought I could, though. Until Wattpad came along J

Wattpad is an amazing place, isn’t it?  It’s definitely a home for my own story.  Do you have so many ideas they dribble out of your nose if you don’t get them down, or do you have to hunt around the floor and the back of your sofa to find where your Muse is hiding?

Both! At the first stages of a story, my head brims with ideas, but as I start to type them, I sometimes found like they’re not that good or that they might not work with my whole story and many times, I have to take a break to clear my mind.

A break from a story can be a good thing.  It can be like looking at it with a fresh set of eyes.  And eyes are the windows to the soul, so maybe you’re opening a window to a new part of your soul when you revisit your story?  Now, If you were in an asylum, what would your particular delusion or psychosis be?

Probably schizophrenia… because I tend to forget everything going on around me when I’m completely immersed on a story (writing or reading it) and I’m still scared of the dark sometimes. Hahaha.

There’s no reason to be afraid of the dark.  It’s just the light gone to sleep.  What genre(s) do you write?

I mostly write romance, teen fiction or new adult fiction. I’d love to get into the whole sci-fi genre or even paranormal. But I feel like I might need more vocabulary to tackle those.

I can’t help but be part of the thriller and paranormal genres.  People tend to die around me (hence my incarceration in here).  I’d love to be a part of a romance or something.  A story where people lose their hearts not their lives.  What genres(s) do you read?

Anything. I’m not much into horror, though. (Sorry!) As I said, I’m such a scary cat. But I love romance stories, sci-fi and paranormal. Mysteries, I read a while ago, not so much lately.

I love science fiction.  I’ve been a fan all my life.  And fantasy.  If your choices are the same, what attracts you to them.  If they’re different, why do you think that is?

I think we all need some romance in our lives! Hahaha

Seriously, I believe we all deserve to be happy and fulfilled and romance plays a large part on it. For me, at least. I love my husband and the family we have together and I don’t think I’d be fulfilling my writing dream, if it wasn’t for all the support and love from him.

Yes, romance is good.  And happiness.  That’s all I desire.  I blame the coin.  And the parents – I mean, they called me ‘Sin’!  It’s wonderful that have such an amazing family!  Bacon – just cooked or crispy?

CRISPY!

Good answer!  Now you’re in the asylum with me, how do you aim to get out?  Do you have an escape plan?

I do. I will just let you flip your coin and the whole building might collapse...

Hey, it’s the flipping coin which got me in here!  I think you’re stuck now.  Sorry about that.  At least I can recommend the food.  Oh, wait.  No I can’t…

Well, thanks for dropping by, Gaby of the Wonder Name.  It appears you might be here a while, what with you having such a foolproof escape plan and everything.  I think a tunnel would have been a better idea than that coin.  I almost called it ‘my’ coin…  Not good…

Here’s what Gaby has to say about herself!

Since I was a child, I loved reading. Books let you travel to faraway lands and pretend to be a princess or a strong heroine or a smart babysitter. I love that feeling. When you connect with a character or when you feel butterflies when a kiss is described…reading it’s like living a thousand lives in one.

For some bizarre reason, I’ve always loved to read in English. So when I thought about writing a story, I started out to do it in English and now it’s the only language I feel capable to write on! It’s so funny since I’m Mexican and my first language is Spanish, yet I don’t think I’ll write in Spanish. Not in the nearest future.

I’m a hopeless romantic. You’ll always find a more than healthy amount of romance in all my stories. Because who doesn’t like to fall in love over and over again?

My imagination usually runs wild as I’m really creative. If I’m not writing, you may find me cake decorating. That’s my day-job. Next to being a wife and a doting mother to two incredible boys.

Writing is my passion. It’s like a necessity, like the air you breathe. I’ve found out that I can’t live without books in my life. And let me tell you, it’s an amazing experience. I’m loving every minute of it.

I’m an active writer on Wattpad, a web platform where writer’s post different stories. Being part of their Stars Program has completely changed my life. I love reaching out to other writers and readers, so don’t hesitate to message me!

You can find here in lots of places, such as:

Website: www.gabrielacabezut.com

Facebook: www.facebok.com/shygabs/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7143599.Gabriela_Cabezut_Shygabs_

Instagram: @gabycabezut

Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/gabycabezut

Twitter: @gabycabezut

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/author/gabrielacabezut/

Sign up for her newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bQYm8z

You can get Prince with Benefits on Amazon here: (or just search it on kindle)

http://bit.ly/PrinceWithBenefits

Sherlock - Abominably Wonderful

*SPOILER ALERT - I'll try to keep them to a minimum though!*

I've always liked Sherlock Holmes.  Though I admit to not having read much of the printed material (which surprises me), I've been a fan of the television series (what's the plural of series - serieses?) for many years.  From the days of Basil Rathbone, watching it with my dad, through to Jeremy Brett, I've been an avid watcher.

So, I was delighted when the show was brought back to life by the people who make Doctor Who (another show I have watched all my life), starring this guy I'd never heard of with a funny name.  Also, it starred Martin Freeman, so it couldn't be bad.

And I watched the first episode.  And the way the texts were done on screen and the way Benedict Cumberbatch played the part and  the way the it was set 'today'...  And I was hooked.  Immediately.

Of course, now, Benedict (may I call you that) is a hot property.  From Star Trek Into Darkness, to the amazing Imitation Game (historically correct or not), to the forthcoming Doctor Strange, he's hitting the big time.  He's also helped make Sherlock a worldwide sensation.

Regarding Doctor Strange, one of my favourite Marvel characters, I read yesterday that Marvel actually altered their movie timeline to fit it around Benedict's super-busy schedule.  That's how much they wanted him in the role.

So, onto the New Year's Day special, The Abominable Bride.

It's been soooo long since the last season, I was understandably excited by its appearance.  The fact it was going to be going back to its roots, as in being set during Victorian times, only made it more anticipated.  For some reason, my Sky box didn't record it.  I noticed about half way through and was gutted.  I remembered setting it to record on my smartphone app (so convenient), so couldn't understand why it hadn't.  I checked the planner and the next showing was the next night.  Could I wait that long?  Hell no!  I checked On Demand, through Sky.  Nope, no sign.  OK.  BBC iPlayer app on the Smart TV?

YES!

Phew!  Saved.

So, I sat down to watch it.  And I was hooked.  Both Cumberbatch and Freeman, along with the rest of the cast, donned their period costumes and personas wonderfully.  I thought the story was intriguing and pretty well thought out.  I noticed the odd comment like 'data viruses' which was out of place in such a time, but then...  BAM!  They suddenly fitted right in when we saw what was really happening!  If you haven't seen it, I'll try not to give it away, and I've seen reports that some people didn't 'get' it.  Personally, I thought it was a brilliant twist.  It's been likened to Inception meets Adaptation.  I can see why.  I don't necessarily agree but I have to say I'd love to take a walk in Sherlock's Mind Palace!

Seeing an 'old friend' was cool too.  A perfectly manic and demented version of the character.  I did wonder if the scene of Sherlock's suicide after his nemesis shot himself back in - was it Season 2? - was the modern take on the classic Reichenbach Falls.  I remember Jeremy Brett facing them so long ago.  I was delighted when I saw I was mistaken.

I can't believe it's only been three short (very short) seasons of this show and it's proved to be gripping, fun and compulsive.  Apparently, it's not going to be back until 2017, which I think is FAR too long, but with so many film commitments for the two main stars, I can understand why.  The time will drag too.

At least we have Moffat's other baby to kep us going - Doctor Who.  It seems Peter Capaldi has hinted the next season might be his last.  That's a shame.  I think he's brilliant.  Any criticisms need to be aimed at the writing, as sometimes it's not been as strong as others, but when it's good, it's VERY good.  Some of the episodes, particularly towards the end of this last series, were brilliant and Capaldi showed what a great actor he really is.  I hope he hangs around a little longer.  It seems the Doctor is only in the house for a short time and he moves on though, I suppose, three years isn't exactly a short time.

Anywho-be-do.  This is Sherlock (did you see the Sherlock meets Doctor Who mashup on YouTube).  Was it good?  No.  Was it abominably good?  Definitely!

Ash vs Evil Dead - Mental, Cliched and Wonderful...

30 years ago, a group of teenagers opened a book, read a few words, as you do, and unleashed lots of really not very nice evil thingies onto the unsuspecting cinema going public.  Filled with glorious tongue in cheek humour, buckets of spurting blood and a handy chainsaw, the Evil Dead series was brilliant.

From the mind of Sam Raimi, who brought us Spiderman, Xena, Drag Me to Hell, Darkman and Oz the Great and Powerful and starring Bruce Campbell, The Evil Dead was deliberately low budget and deliberately over the top.  It blew me away.  It was so easy to get washed away by the tsunami of blood and to lose yourself in the dark humour and snappy one liners.

I loved it.

When I saw the trailer for Ash vs Evil Dead, I really couldn’t wait.  It looked completely mental and took me right back to the glory days of the original film.  At first, I thought it was a new film, not realising it was a series.  It may well have been made obvious in the trailer, but I was probably jumping up and down, clapping my hands at the time so missed it.

It wasn’t until last night, actually watching the show, that I figured my mistake.  A series?  Even better!  So much more evil-slaying to throw at us.

So.  Did it live up to the hype (not necessarily the media hype, but more my own anticipation)?

Hell yes!

From the outset, when Ash pulls on his corset and drops by the bar for a drink and a little more, the show grabs hold of you and drags you along on the ride of your life.  With his friend at the store (reminiscent of Reaper – no bad thing) pushing him to fight the evil, Ash battles grannies as a police officer fights creatures that give Linda Blair a run for her head spinning money.

The only problem with a TV series is you have to wait for a whole week until the next episode and I’m impatient for more.  Ash vs Evil Dead is groovy enough to make sure the wait is worthwhile.

I tweeted, after watching, saying it was ‘over the top, mad, non stop and fairly clichéd’.  I was a little star struck when the official, actual team tweeted me back saying they took offence at being called ‘fairly clichéd’.  They told me they’re ‘completely clichéd’!

Almost every horror film, nowadays, is a cliché.  The stories have been done so many times before, in one form or another, it’s difficult to find something original.

Ash vs Evil Dead really doesn’t care.  It embraces this with aplomb, a word I really don’t think I’ve ever used before.

If you like your horror with an ocean of blood, over the top craziness and laugh out loud humour, make sure you meet up with Ash – you won’t regret it.

Just don’t shake his hand.

The Lunatic and the Queen...

Good evening, Sin here.  Well, it’s evening where I am?  It quite possibly isn’t where you are.  Time is playing yo-yo with all our lives and tossing time zones about for us to scramble at like children to the outpoured guts of a piñata.  Anywho.  I had a wee visit earlier from one Freia Titland.  She’s an actress, teacher and much more.  She hung around enough for me to have a wee chat with her.  Say hi!

What’s your name?

Freia Titland… Queen of the Norse Goddesses.

A queen?  I wasn’t aware.  It’s not often we get royalty in here.  Actually, we don’t.  There’s one or two who prance around like kings under the guide of orderlies, but we won’t count them.  Where are you from?

I’m from New York… the city that never sleeps. Kinda like me.

And did they name you twice?  I’ve always wanted to visit New York.  Unfortunately, they don’t do day release and, even if they did it and I could get there and back in time, with a little sightseeing, I’d be too worried about what might happen.  I’ve only ever flipped a two pence coin.  I don’t know what might happen if I get my hands on some of that funny money you lot use.  Do you like living there?  If not, where would your favourite place to live be?  Is yes, where would you least like to live?

Yeah… I like a good crazy on the subway time and again. But, if I could live anywhere else it would definitely be Oslo, Norway.

You have Scandinavian yearnings?  That sounds cool.  I would love to visit such places, if only to see the Northern Lights.  One day, before I die, I’m going to see the sky on fire.  As you’re a film-maker, is this your ‘day job’?

Well… I’m a ‘film-maker’ but on the other side of the camera. I’m an Actress. Originally a theatre actress but I dabble in film and TV as well. My ‘day job’ is Acting Teacher and Concept artist. I own an entertainment production company called Wiseland Entertainment.

My story has been with a US based production company, but they didn’t quite get it.  You certainly seem to have a busy life!  Tell me about your latest project.

Me personally, I just finished filming an episode of Orange is the New Black. Wiseland, however, is working on a creative arts series called ‘Shakespeare’s Magical World’ where we explore the magical and ‘unnatural’ elements found throughout Willy’s body of work.

Orange is the New Black?  I didn’t expect to like that show, but I do.  It’s funny and well scripted and you do come to like and feel for the myriad characters.  One of my favourites is Crazy Eyes, for some reason…  The ‘Magical World’ series sounds interesting too.  Magical creatures abound in some of his work.  But, how do you feel about bacon?  A crazy person once said it was the food of the gods.  OK, I admit that person was myself...

Ha! I love bacon… but I’m trying not to eat animals anymore because it makes me sad. I guess that makes me the crazy person now?

Absolutely.  Bacon is like… yum!  So, giving you the chance to redeem yourself, what is your favourite film?

Persona by Ingmar Bergman. That should tell you a bit about my personality…

Very interesting choice!  It’s a classic film, though somewhat surreal.  Much like a Sunday afternoon in here.  People who do nothing but speak, chatting to those who will potentially never utter a word.  Have you always wanted to be an actress, or is it something you found yourself doing one day?

I don’t know if I ever wanted to be anything else. My mom was an Actress so ever since I was in the womb, theatre and art have been a part of my life. It wasn’t until I had to start thinking about college did I find myself going “oh, I guess this is what I’m going to do with my life.”

You had a good introduction then, with your mother being part of that world.  I wonder if you think it was inevitable.  You seem to be very happy with it, though.  Do you have so many ideas they dribble out of your nose if you don’t get them down, or do you have to hunt around the floor and the back of your sofa to find where your Muse is hiding?

Oh, I’ve got things so dark bursting from my insides that even you might run from them. The ideas are always coming, always burning, always growing… it’s the execution that drives me nuts. Expressing your vision to someone else and trying to get them on board with you is the hard part.

Erm…  Well…  The dark things which grow in me result in people dying on the toss of a coin.  You can keep your bubbling cauldron of imagination to yourself, thanks very much!  If you were in an asylum, what would your particular delusion or psychosis be?

I’d have some strange bad mother complex. I’d be very child-like, collapsing in on myself and seeking love. And, when there is no one to give it to me I would explore in murderous screams, thrashing my body about violently until I’ve tired myself out.

That’d keep the staff entertained.  They like it when the residents kick off.  It gives them something to do with their needles.  What genre(s) do you perform?

I’m really into theatre of the absurd and avant-garde stuff. I also enjoy a good political or social piece of theatre.

Sounds good.  The theatre of the absurd is what keeps us alive in here.  It’s never normal, so absurdities are our conventional.  What genres(s) do you read?

Fantasy… adventure. I’m really into Harry Potter and Tolkien.

Ah, great stories.  I’ve read lots of fantasy, loving Eddings and Brooks.  Tolkien was a master and Rowling created a host of characters and a world which millions wished they could be a part of.  That’s talent.  If these are the same, what attracts you to them.  If they’re different, why do you think that is?

I think they have overlapping elements. I mean, the whole Harry Potter series is a poetic essay on Nazi-ism, racism, classism, etc. but placed in a magical setting. I think the difference is that one is more raw and in your face and the other allows you to take a step back and be more of a bystander.

I suppose you could think of Potter in that way.  I tend not to see or look for underlying themes, like the religious undertones of The Golden Compass etc.  I just enjoy the story at face value.  But, bacon – just cooked or crispy?

Crispy. Oh god the piglets!! No!!

Oh, of course!  Piglets are cute!  Especially between a couple of rounds of bread…  Now you’re in the asylum with me, how do you aim to get out?  Do you have an escape plan?

Mommy will take care of everything sweetheart.

Mommy is off to change her vowel for a ‘u’ so she fits in over here.  She’ll be gone a while.  Best make yourself comfortable.

Freia M. Titland is a NYC based Actress and Model. Currently pursuing a M.A. in Theatre, Freia received her BFA in Acting and Religious Studies from Pace U. Freia is currently shooting a documentary that will be released later this year. To learn more, please visit www.freiatitland.com 

Website: www.freiatitland.com

Blog: www.wiselandentertainment.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/freiamtitland

Twitter: @TitlandF

Deltaville - The 34 Seconds Tour by Stella Samuel #IndieMinons

Welcome to the tour hub for the 34 Seconds Tour, a debut novel by Stella Samuel. Setting is everything when I've written my stories in the past, so Stella is here to talk about Deltaville...

  
Much of my new book is set in a little town called Deltaville, Virginia. If you've never been to Deltaville, put it on your bucket list. It's a must see.

With only one road in and out of Deltaville, few just happen upon the little town unless that are under duress in the water.

Legend tells a story of Captain John Smith coming across Deltaville's point in 1608. While exploring its beaches and coastal waters, John Smith was stung by a stingray. He told his crew to dig a grave as he thought he'd die right there on that point. He didn't, of course, but he did leave a name for the point, Stingray Point.

Residents of Deltaville still say the little 'town' is a fishing village. People travel from miles around for the seafood caught in the area waters. Folks living there will say they are lucky to be in the most beautiful village around.

Though my book takes place in Deltaville, and I've taken many liberties with the village by creating roads and places that are indeed fictional, many from Deltaville will know where my mind was while writing.

Nikki is a small town girl who felt she had to get away and live a full life in a city with sidewalks and coffee shops. I chose to use Deltaville, Virginia as Nikki’s small town backdrop because it’s a place where I spent my childhood. My father lived there for more than thirty years. He’s buried in Deltaville. When my father passed away in 2012, I knew I’d never have a reason to go back. Sure, I have family nearby, but I could visit family and never get real close to the actual village of Deltaville. I may never go back. Using Deltaville in 34 Seconds gave me an opportunity to honor a place I love as well as gain closure I needed on a place I may never see again.

Stella Samuel

2015
Stella Samuel is a debut author who reads multiple genres.  Her first book, 34 Seconds, talks about the moments where life changes suddenly, and the choices we make in those moments where the people that hold parts of ourselves from the past meet.  A literate and lyrical view at love, life and fate, this story is both uplifting and satisfying. Stella is a debut author who loves nothing more than connecting with fans on social media.  Her blog bio is: Stella Samuel – Writer, Butterfly and Singer of Silly Songs. Smiles under sunshine but dances in warm rain. Silently wishes to winter in Phoenix.

Nikki and Will fell in love a lifetime ago in Deltaville, Virginia. Now living in Colorado with her family, Nikki is invited to attend Will’s wedding back in Virginia where she finds her past staring her in the face. Will never wanted a wife, and he broke Nikki's heart long ago. Nikki knew what she wanted: a strong, happy marriage and children, a future. She found those things when she married Chris, and she and Will managed to grow their friendship after heartbreak. A year after the wedding, Nikki is faced with her painful past again. She soon discovers she must find the strength to help Will on his own personal journey. In thirty-four seconds, she sees him slip from her life forever. Watching Will cross over to his fate, her past collides with her present, and Nikki learns she’s never been in control of her own destiny. Her own journey back to her family in Colorado becomes one of self-discovery. With the help of Will’s voice to carry her across the country, Nikki must decide how she will move forward.


Buy 34 seconds here

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The Lost Name and the Blue Grass...

Hi, Sin here.  Today I’m joined by Belinda, someone my author, Shaun, met something like four years ago.  She thinks I’m cheeky.  I can’t think why.

Hi Belinda.  What’s your name?  Now, I realise I just said your name but, well… erm… introduce yourself…

My name is Belinda G. Buchanan — and before you ask, I won’t tell you what the middle initial stands for.

I reckon it’s Glinda, as in the good witch from Wizard of Oz.  Or perhaps Gregory.  Garry?  Gina?  Nah, I’ll go with Glinda.  Anywho.  Where are you from?

Kentucky, also known as the bluegrass state.

You have blue grass?  Is that where James Cameron got the idea for Avatar?  Do you like living there?  If not, where would your favourite place to live be?  If yes, where would you least like to live?

Well, I….you know, Sin, your questions are a tad confusing. I’ve lived in a few different states since I’ve been married, but I have to say that the city I’m living in now is the best. It’s a small town where everyone waves at you…it’s a nice place to raise my sons.  The place I’d least like to live would have to be the Waverly Hills Sanitarium (which has been called the most haunted place on earth) and is less than an hour from my house.

You think I’m confusing?  You have a middle initial without a name… although I’m the man who lost my own last name along the way.  Oh, and you live somewhere where they have blue grass.  Doesn’t it get confusing if you go to the seaside?  Do you think you can walk on the ocean or is it swim in the sea?  See, now I’m confused.  As you’re a writer, is this your ‘day job’?

Writing is my day job, night job, and all jobs in between - that, along with being a mom to two boys.

Sounds good.  I’m sure Shaun wishes he could write all the time.  It would mean it’d be less cramped in his head for me.  Tell me about your latest project.

‘Tragedy at Silver Creek’ has just been released and is a novel about a small town in Montana that is trying to cope with the aftermath of a serial killer’s reign of terror.

Let’s hope they don’t have blue grass to contend with too.  Seriously, though, it sounds great.  I have to ask, though, how do you feel about bacon?  A crazy person once said it was the food of the gods.  OK, I admit that person was myself...

I adore bacon and….wait…I think you’ve got some bacon juice on your chin.

Don’t you hate it when that happens?  It’s all that time in a strait jacket.  You sometimes forget you can actually wipe your chin!  So.  What is your favourite film?

It changes from year to year as new ones come out. My current favorite is The Age of Adaline with Blake Lively and Harrison Ford. Have you seen it? If not, you should.  I mean, they have movie night here, don’t they?

I haven’t seen it yet, though I’ve heard good things about it.  Yes, we occasionally have a movie night and, occasionally, it’s a decent film rather than the one we saw three weeks earlier and everyone fell asleep at!  Have you always wanted to be a writer, or is it something you found yourself doing one day?

I began writing when I was ten or eleven I think. Stories would just pop into my head and I’d put them down on paper, hiding them under my mattress where only I could read them.  That intensity carried over, and when I was in my twenties, I wrote, After All Is Said and Done. I love to write stories, and can’t imagine not doing it.

It must be fulfilling to be able to bring your creations into life and not need to hide them.  Do you have so many ideas they dribble out of your nose if you don’t get them down, or do you have to hunt around the floor and the back of your sofa to find where your Muse is hiding?

The words flow through my fingertips like a running faucet, but the day after is comparable to a bad hangover. I look at the screen on my computer and wonder what the heck was I thinking? Type, delete, rewrite…repeat. My muse is usually right beside me, but sometimes she disappears (maybe out of boredom, I don’t know).  I wait patiently for her to return, but if she doesn’t come back by nightfall, I leave an unwrapped KitKat on the stairs. It usually takes her about five minutes to smell the chocolate and come around.

Ah, bribery!  I like your style.  And a Kitkat, good choice – I’m partial to a finger or two myself.  If you were in an asylum, what would your particular delusion or psychosis be?

I suffer from an acute syndrome of talking about the characters in my novels as if they are real. I have a tendency to babble on and on about them like they are an extended part of my dysfunctional family - a habit that drives my husband nutters.

I can always find room for him here.  I’m sure Connors wouldn’t mind.  And, as for treating your characters as real, that’s a bit strange isn’t it (says a fictional character talking to you)?  I think you’d both fit in very well!  What genre(s) do you write?

I write edgy, women’s fiction and mystery romance/suspense. They’re filled with emotion, intimacy, humor, and angst. If you don’t mind a few racy scenes and a sprinkling of profanity here and there, then my novels are for you.

Sounds interesting.  Joy, my sister, liked those sorts of books.  She read almost continually.  And, what genres(s) do you read?

I mostly read women’s fiction, & mystery, but if I see a cover that’s striking and like the blurb, I’ll read it-even if it’s not in that genre. I am a huge Star Trek Fan and have boxes and boxes of their paperbacks that I scored at a yard sale a few years ago.

Star Trek!  Cool!  I love Star Trek myself.  I think Shaun quite likes it too, though he’s never said.  If these are the same, what attracts you to them?  If they’re different, why do you think that is? 

I like women’s fiction because I like a story with drama. I give certain afflictions to my characters (alcoholism, mental illness) and sprinkle in a few flaws (like adultery). My women are not weak, and my men are not always strong. Giving them these problems makes them human and brings about a certain vulnerability, because even a hero has a chink or two in his armor.

Very true and a good premise.  A flaw can be the floor to help you stand up straight and true.  Or something.  Bacon – just cooked or crispy?

I like my bacon so crispy that it snaps in half when you bite into it.

Wow, that’s crispy!  I like mine crispy too, but not so much that I’d break a tooth!  Now you’re in the asylum with me, how do you aim to get out?  Do you have an escape plan? 

I do have an escape plan, but I’m going to need your help. Do you have a coin? Flip and catch…

The problem with tossing a coin is you never know which way it will land, or who will die in the process…

So, there’s Belinda.  A lovely woman, I can assure you, though with her blue grass and not knowing her middle name, she may need a night or ten in the asylum…

You can find out more about Belinda at the following locations.  I can recommend dropping by and checking out her books!

Website: http://belindagbuchanan-author.weebly.com

Blog: https://belindagbuchanan.wordpress.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Belinda.G.Buchanan.author

Buy links:  Amazon   Barnes & Noble    itunes     kobo     

Twitter: @BelindaBuchanan

Something Sinister this way comes...

Every so often, something big comes your way.  It's not necessarily a major deal to anyone else, but to you - it's a mindblower.  It can involve large amounts of money, children, marriage, a job offer you can't refuse...  There are lots of things.

Writing, for me, is something I've done all my life.  From being a child, I've scribbled down stories.  Yes, there have been times I've not written much, due to various issues and a distinct lack of time, but now it's an essential part of my life.  I even have tattoos depicting my love of the craft.

Well.  Last year, I was approached by the wonderful Wattpad to ask if I'd be willing to write an original story based on the premise of the movie The Purge.  The sequel, The Purge: Anarchy, was coming out and Universal was working with Wattpad, which gets in excess of 14 million unique visitors a month, to help promote the film.  My book, Sin, is apparently one of their top mystery/thrillers and they thought I'd be ideal to write for the film.  I wrote Mr. Composure, a story which was described as 'the best story ever' and had 'the best plot twist ever'.  To say I was honoured to have been asked is an understatement.

This was one of those big things.

Imagine my shock-surprise-elation when I received a similar request this year!

Universal were releasing Sinister 2, the follow up to the hit horror, Sinister.  They were working with Wattpad once again.  This time, however, they specifically asked for me as they were so pleased with my work on Mr. Composure!

Erm...  WOW!!

I'd seen, and enjoyed, the first film.  I liked the premise too.  I just had to come up with an idea.  With The Purge's Mr. Composure, my wife had given me the inspiration for the opening (often that's all I need to run with a story).  I could then write and see where it went.  For Sinister 2, the studio wanted an overview of the story first.  GULP!  I usually don't work like that - the story takes its own path and I run along behind, picking up the words and trying to throw them together in some semblance of order.  It meant I had to have a full idea of the story before I'd even written it.  Now, I know lots of authors work like that.  They plan each chapter with a full idea of the story arc and then flesh it out.  As I don't, this was a new experience for me.

But, I did it.  My little girl, who’s 4, told me I could keep her imaginary friend, Nathaniel (a name we’ve never used as we don’t know anyone with that name) forever...  Erm...  Yes...  Needless to say, Nathaniel seemed to fit perfectly for what I needed here.  I wrote the story.  Suffer the Little Children is that story and, apparently, it's 'genuinely terrifying', which is nice!

So, that's two big things.  Two reasons for me to put my hand to my mouth and go "WOW!"  Not just being asked to write the stories in the first place, but because of the amazing response and support I've had for them too.

So, thank you Wattpad, thank you Universal and a 'big' thank you to you guys.  It is appreciated!

Now, of course, I am working on my next story.  My eldest daughter (12 years old) gave me a bizarre and somewhat twisted idea of The Little Mermaid as a sort of challenge.  I’m almost 10,000 words in and I’m happy to say, I’m rising to that challenge.  And the Meek Shall Walk is coming along nicely, though the Little Mermaid, to my knowledge, didn’t have blood or decapitation in it...

For further reading, here’s the links to the stories above:

Suffer the Little Children:

Amazon: http://getbook.at/SufferEbook
Wattpad: http://bit.ly/SufferLittleChildrenWP

Sin:

Amazon: http://getbook.at/SinEbook

Wattpad: http://bit.ly/SinWP

Mr. Composure:

Amazon: http://getbook.at/MrComWP

Wattpad: http://bit.ly/MrComWP

And the Meek Shall Walk:

Wattpad: http://bit.ly/MeekShallWalkWP