Won’t You Be My Neighbor—Elizabeth Seckman

Today I'm so excited to welcome the talented Elizabeth Seckman! She is a little bit sweet. A little bit sassy. And a whole lot of fun.

Elizabeth: Dip me in chocolate and I'd be perfect!

Angie: LOL!

Elizabeth: Oh, I should say, thanks for having me over. Just show me to the pool and you can fill in the blanks for me. :)

Angie: Deal. It is a balmy 85 degrees outside. I like the sun, but I miss wearing sweaters.

Elizabeth: Sweaters (and hoodies) do hide more of my um, flaws...so I do have that in my favor! It's getting chilly here in WV and the leaves are all aglow.

Angie: I'm a little jealous of the leaves and the chill.

Here is my first question for you. You live in a small town. I grew up in a small town (as in no stop light town). So we have that in common. I want to know what you like about your small town?

Elizabeth: I like that I feel safe. I can walk my dog at midnight and never worry. And I LOVE that I have a whole town of narks to report the behavior of my children. Poor guys can't get away with squat! Keeps ornery boys on their toes...a little.

Angie: LOL! Narks :) That is so true about small towns. I know when I was a teenager I never dared step out of line because I knew my science teacher would tell my parents all about it at church on Sunday.

Elizabeth: I hear ya! There was plenty of rottenness I opted out of for the same reason. I have a plaque that says small towns are like big families...and that's true. 

Angie: Are you the only author in your little town? And what do they think about your writing?

Elizabeth: That's a tough question! The town I live in now does have several red lights, so I don't know everybody (and I hate to say, yep just me...and offend someone). I've met several people who are writing books, but have not met one with one on print. According to the town bookseller (we have one bookstore), there are other published authors around these hills, but they primarily write nonfiction. In Tyler County where I grew up (and is just a few miles away from my home), native son, Austin Boyd, has several books to his credit. I've never met him...but way to go man!!!

Angie: That is pretty cool. Do they carry your book in the book store?

Elizabeth: Yes, it's available on the front shelf! And the owner's mom bakes me cookies for signings. How special is that?

Angie: Very special and sweet!

I know that you write romances. What is the easiest and hardest part about writing a love story?

Elizabeth: Easiest part is the characters. I hear their voices and putting them on paper and calling it a story is cheaper than medication. The hardest part is the love scenes. They take the most editing. I tell myself, just close the door, don't worry about it! But then my betas will complain and I'll sweat through it. They're a labor of love...pun fully intended. 

Angie: LOL. I like closed door love scenes. The kissing is the best part anyway :)

Elizabeth: Kisses? Fun to get...don't like to write them either. But I will! I aim to please..well, to a certain extent...not doing any "Shades" of anything...I'll leave that to the more creative writers. :)

Angie: Or less creative. "Shades" is not my kind of a real love story.

Elizabeth: True. Glandular love is easy come, easy go. Real love is about loyalty, not head spins. I often joke that my own husband would walk through the fires of hell to bring me ice water if I said I was thirsty, but I love him enough to never ask it of  him.

Angie: Aww :) What a sweetie. I know what that is like. True love is unselfish. My hubby would get out of bed at midnight to take the trash to the curb in his pjs so I don't have to. That is love!

Oh, *snaps fingers* I've got a question for you. What was the last book you read and what did you learn from it?

Elizabeth: Aww...that is real love!!! Last book I read was a YA story about dragons and such. I won't mention the title because its magic didn't work on me. Way too much exposition for my taste. Tell me once and I've got it. Don't beat me over the head with what a character is thinking.  A long time ago, I decided if I skimmed a passage when I edit (because after umpteen readings it bored me) then I chopped it. If I was bored, the reader would be bored. This story confirmed that the idea of "less is more" should be considered by writers. 

Angie: That is awesome advice. I know I need to work more on that in my writing! 

You mentioned before that your characters write themselves. What kind of characters are your favorite to write?

Elizabeth: Smart alecks. They can say all the rotten things this good girl never does. ;)

Angie: So true! Are you ready for the traditional pageant question? I'm going to give you a hard one.

Elizabeth: Miss South Carolina was my coach...so I, um, uh, um, think, for the love of the kids in Afghanistan, and in, um, other places like Newark, that I am ready.

Angie: Perfect :) You are very good at this.

*Clears throat* What has been the most life changing experience of your life?

Elizabeth: And you said it was going to be hard! That's so easy, even a bleach soaked brain can answer that! 

Having my kids. Becoming a mom changed everything. Every decision, every choice I make, I have to think of them. I never once worried about Ebola, crime rates, or impact collision ratings on mini vans until I had kids. 

Here I thought you'd ask me how to bring peace to the Middle East. :)

Angie: LOL! No peace in the Middle East questions (I'm foreign policyed out from the debates :) I thought it might be too personal of a question, but your answer was awesome. My kids changed everything too. I learned to be (or try to be) unselfish from them.

I know you have all boys :) What do they think about your love stories?

Elizabeth: That they need to sell more and make more money...lol. My son's teacher asked me to speak to his class...all the kids had writing questions...my son asked, "What's for dinner?" 

Making them food...that's what impresses them. 

Angie: Boys! I have two so I can testify to that :) 

You were awesome Elizabeth!!! Thanks for stopping by today. You can swim in my pool anytime. Maybe next time we can go to the beach.

Elizabeth: I'm a beach junkie, so you betcha!!!

Can you all see why I love her so much? So much fun! You can check out Elizabeth’s book Past Due on Amazon or Goodreads. She is all kinds of awesome :)

-Angie

Won’t You Be My Neighbor—Dax

I have a ground breaking interview today. One of my favorite people in the world, Chantele Sedgwick, is letting me interview a character from her awesome book—Not Your Average Fairy Tale.

So will everyone give a warm virtual welcome to Dax :)

Dax: Thanks for having me, Ms. Cothran. It's a pleasure. You obviously have good taste.

Angie: Dax, call me Angie. We aren't that formal here. I'm so glad you agreed to come and talk with me today, because I have all kinds of questions for you. Let’s start out easy and ease into the harder ones.

Your magical world is pretty cool. What is your favorite part about it?

Dax: I'm actually not the biggest fan. Everyone is too goody goody there. And anywhere Ash Summerland is, I'd rather not be. Things are more interesting in the human world. I can actually use my magic without anyone breathing down my neck.

Angie: That's interesting. Then tell me what you like most about the human world.

Dax: I feel powerful in the human world. Since human's are all the same, powerless and predictable, I have a lot of fun when I'm there. It's easy to get inside their heads and freak them out. Call it a hobby I guess.

Angie: Powerless and predictable, huh. I won't take that as an insult :)

Here's a harder one. In your dealings with Ash and even Kendall, you come across as the "bad guy." Do you feel like you are the bad guy, or just misunderstood?

Dax: Oh, stereotypes. Don't you love them? I'm a good guy, naturally. Ever since I've been at the Academy though, Ash and I have had our differences. When we disagree, I'm always the one in trouble and Ash never gets punished for anything he does. Now that Ash has Kendall though, it's a whole different ball game. He actually cares about someone else. Which could be fun in the future. 

So, in answer to your question, you always have to have a villain, and I guess I play the part well when it comes to him. I'm darker by nature, but not pure evil. I can be good too if I want to be. The opportunity just hasn't presented itself yet.

Angie: So you are just a bit complicated. I can identify with that.

Okay Dax, I want you to be really honest with your answer here. What do you want more than anything else in the world?

Dax: A friend. It sounds lame, I know, and I come off as a loner that wants to be alone, but I would really like someone to relate to. Who understands me.

Angie: Dax, you're breaking my heart :( Have you ever thought being nicer would get you what you want?

Dax: Believe me. When you have my reputation, people won't take me serious if I all of a sudden change personalities. You know what I mean?

Angie: I do. But maybe you can try it by small degrees, then maybe it won't be such a shock to people. Sorry I didn't mean for this to turn into a therapy session :)

How about a lighter question. Besides harassing Ash and messing with unsuspecting humans, what do you like to do for fun? What are your hobbies?

Dax: Thank you for the subject change. I don't talk about my personal problems very often. If ever. Um... as for hobbies? I'm a big fan of skateboarding. Random, I know. I also like to draw. 

Angie: I love to draw too! Did you feel that little connection we had there?

Normally I would give you a beauty pageant question, something super hard but you've been so great about opening up I thought we could play a little word association game instead. I'm going to give you 5 words and I want you to tell me the first thing that comes to your mind. Then I might ask a little follow up question.

Fairy

Red

Gummy Bear

Season

Alligator

Dax: Fairy - Ash. Ha ha.

Red - Blood

Gummy Bear - I prefer Gummy Worms.

Season - Winter

Alligator - Teeth

Angie: Gummy Worms? Why? They are basically long gummy bears.

Dax: I have no idea. Gummy worms just taste better. Mixture of flavors maybe?

Angie: Dax, you were awesome today. I just want you to know that you really surprised me at the end of the book. I didn't see that epilogue coming! Just a little friendly advice from me to you--revenge never works out how you have it planned. I want to see you get that friend :)

Dax: Thank you, Angie. It was a pleasure being here. And hopefully I will surprise you in the next book.

Angie: I hope so too!

Thanks for letting us meet Dax, Chantele. If you want to check out Not Your Average Fairy Tale (and I totally recommend you do :) Try these links.

ChanteleSedgwick—Author blog

Goodreads

Amazon

Love you to pieces, Chan!

-Angie

Won’t You Be My Neighbor—David Powers King

Booya people!!! I have a special treat for you today. The 50% famous, 50% quiet, 100% talented--David Powers King! (I know that is 200%...I'm a writer, not a math genius :) I'm very excited you’re here David!

David: Thanks, Angela! I'm not a mathematician either, but I'll assume triple digits is a good thing. Thanks for having me on your blog today. I brought virtual crullers for everyone!

Angie: How did you know I was in the mood for imaginary donuts? You must be psychic :) I'm impressed. 

DPK is fierce!

Lets jump to the first question...Your name is so cool. It sounds just like a famous author name. Powers is such a cool middle name. I'm wondering where is came from. Give me a story :) 

David: I have my grandparents on my mother's side to thank for that middle name. Their descendants immigrated to America during the Potato Famine in Ireland (to be sure). Grandpa Powers even wrote a book himself once, and since I was writing my first novel when he passed away, I inherited his hand-written manuscript One of these days I'll transcribe it and see what can be done with it. 

I was given grief for my middle name during my school years (Powers. King. Amazing what kids will come up with), so I left Powers out for most of my life. At my first writer's conference, James Dashner recommended that I should stick with it, and I'm glad I did.

Angie: That is so amazing you have his manuscript! My grandmother was a writer too (mostly poetry and short stories). Sometimes I feel like she is cheering me on from heaven. What kind of story did your grandpa write?

David: It's a historical fiction novel around the Nevada Silver Rush, at a time when Vegas was just beginning and organized crime was replacing the outlaw. That's only the setting. The characters are far more interesting.

Angie: That sounds really cool! Old time Vegas could be full of all kinds of plot twists.

Here is kind of a question :) We've met in person a few times (dinner with other writers and conferences) and you always bring your darling wife. She seems so supportive of your writing. How does she help you?

David: She's above and beyond, Angela. She's the first to read my stuff (always the roughest). From the beginning, she's liked the way I tell stories. She's not a fan of zombies or epic fantasy, but is always pushing me to get her the next chapter. My first stab at fantasy was written for her, when she challenged me to write a genre she likes. Okay. She likes Shannon Hale, Gale Carson Levine, and The Enchanted Forest Chronicles, so I thought up a princess and dragon story and she ate it up. Ever since she's been kind enough to let me write when I otherwise can't. I wouldn't know what to do if she didn't have my back on this writing business

Angie: I think that is amazing! My hubby is supportive like that (although I'm not sure he would brave a dinner with tons of other writers :). It really makes a difference when you have someone who believes in you against all odds. Which of your stories is her favorite?

David: The Dragon's Heart, the YA I wrote for her (she's not biased - at all ;)

Angie: Of course not :)

Next question...What author has influenced you the most? What would you ask them if you had the chance?

David: Orson Scott Card (no hesitation there). His writing style has always intrigued me from the moment I picked up and read Ender's Game at age 11 (the first time I read a novel without anyone telling me to). I've been striving to tell a unique story ever since. My first trilogy is a space opera, even (needs an overhaul, though). And I did have the chance to speak with him at a writing workshop he conducted a couple years ago - I can't remember what I asked him, but he did sign a couple of my books called me an "evil genius" at one point.

Angie: Evil Genius! That is the best compliment anyone could give an author. I love OSC too. Enders Game was my first exposure to sci-fi and I'm still waiting to read sci-fi I like as well. You will probably laugh at me...but what the heck is a space opera? I hear this term all over and I just pretend I know what it means, but I'm not afraid of showing my ignorance today :)

David: Jordan Ricks wrote an excellent post about that (we read his posts through inkPageant all the time). Check it out here. The key ingredient of a space opera, as Jordan puts it, is that it's "more concerned with a great story than science." Star wars, John Carter, Dune, and yes, Ender's Game are considered space operas.

Angie: That is very cool. I knew Star Wars was one, I just didn't know why.

How about a fun question. If you were a candy bar, what kind would you be?

David: *Snickers* ... no, wait - that's not my answer! That's tough (not Big Hunk tough, but still). I like so many candy bars it's hard to pick just one. Okay. Since I'm not going anywhere for a while, I'll go with Snickers.

Angie: I have a bag of fun size (that size is not fun btw :) snickers hidden from my kids. If you were here I would give you one...or maybe 5 :)

David: Awesome! I don't know how my secret stash of M&Ms would feel about that ...

Angie: They are a jealous candy.

Alright last question...It must be a pageant question, but since you are a founding member of inkPageant you are already a pageant pro, so I will ask a pageant question with a writing twist :) What was the best advice you ever read on inkPageant? (Wow. Ten extra points for the number of times I said pageant in that section).

David: We're always on the lookout for great posts and the experiences of authors as they pursue their writing careers (We'd love to see more posts by agents and editors, too), but one of the best posts I read was back in April by Nathan Bransford called "Ten Commandments for Editing Someone's Work." It's a must-read for anyone about to join a critique group or has been in one for years. It helped me be a better critiquer. 

Angie: That sounds so awesome! Great critique partners are crucial. I know my work would be a mess without them. I love the idea of guide lines. I'm checking this out for sure :) 

Thanks for stopping by today. Hopefully I didn't interrupt your day job too much.

David: Not at all, and thank you for having me over.

Angie: My pleasure :) But you need to give me a tradition DPK sign off.

I'm Angie and DPK is a space opera hero!

David: Awesome, that works. How about ...

I'm David, and don't forget your virtual cruller on the way out! :)

LOL! Thanks David. If you haven’t visited David’s blog…where the heck have you been? Check it out HERE and also check out inkPageant. You won’t be sorry.

-Angie

Won’t You Be My Neighbor—Kyra Lennon

How is everybody this morning? Great I hope. I have a real treat for you. The lovely and talented Kyra Lennon is right in the thick of the blog tour for her book Game On and she consented to let me interview her. Yay for me!

 

Angie: Kyra, I'm so excited to have you. Are you ready for all my weird questions?

Kyra: It is quite an honor to be interviewed by you, you were one of my first blog idols, LOL! I'm ready for the questions! :D

Angie: Thanks Kyra. I'm totally flattered :)

I think that most people know this, but just in case they don't, you live "across the pond" in Great Britain (which I'm super jealous about by the way :). That leads into my first question...What is one thing that Americans believe about England or the English people that isn't true?

Kyra: Well, you have to come and visit so I can show you the best of the English countryside! :D 

This is a great question! There are many myths about English people, but one of my favourites is that all English people speak with a very crisp accent. There are many accents all over the country. Where I live, people talk like Hagrid from Harry Potter! ;)

Angie: That sounds like tons of fun. I love Hagrid's accent :) When my boys were little I would read Harry Potter to them and I would try to do the accents. I thought I was pretty good until my son said, "Why does Hagrid sound like a cowboy?" Yep I suck at the English accent :) Can you pull off an American one?

Kyra: LOL! The accents are pretty hard to master for English people, it must be even harder with an American accent! And no, I'm not so good with accents. I feel like I can pull off an American one, but when it comes out of my mouth it sounds ... weird. Definitely more practice needed in that area!

Angie: In one of my favorite books there is a character that tries to do an English accent, by adding "cherrio" and "pip pop" after everything she says. I think I'll try that :)

How about a fun personal question. What's something people don't know about you that they should? Pip-pop :)

Kyra: Pip-pop? Really? LOL! Cheerio is a good one, though. A couple of years ago I had a friend from Romania staying with me and he found it hilarious when I said, "Jolly good." :D 

Hmm ...I think people should know that I have quite an addictive personality - in a good way, I think! It started when I was a kid. One of my best friends and I went through phases of movies, games etc. We watched Grease, Grease 2 and Chorusline pretty much on repeat and I still know them word for word! Even now, if I like something, I will immerse myself in it. I don't have time to watch movies over and over now. My obsessions come in the form of foods, music and TV shows these days.

Angie: Grease 2? Really? I'd say "jolly good" but you know...it's Grease 2. I'm just teasing. I know how you feel. I have a bit of an obsessive personality too. But let’s call is passion instead of obsession :) Jolly good!

Kyra: Grease 2 isn't as bad as people say! I actually prefer many of the songs. "I need a cool rider, if he's cool enough, he can burn me through and through!"  Hee hee! But yes, passion is definitely a less scary word than obsession. *nods*

Angie: I'll concede some of music is good :)

I want to ask you about your book Game On. This story is a really fun read. I would laugh as I read it and my kids would ask what the story was about I said, "soccer and kissing". So my question...Are you a "football" fan? How did you know enough about it to write your story?

Kyra: It's so nice to hear that you found it funny! 

Yeah, I do like football a lot. I used to be more of a fan than I am now (it was another of my "passions" :p ), so I used what I already knew, then did some additional research about how things work behind the scenes. I had a blast learning about some of the lavish things some teams have at their training grounds! The things I didn't know were really interesting to me and while I couldn't apply everything I learned to the story, a lot of it will be useful for future books in the series.

Angie: I admire authors that do lots of research for their books. I've yet to do that, but I'm toying with the idea. Cherrio :)

I'll try not to spoil anything, but I have a question about Radleigh :) The bad boy character has been done in so many books. I loved the twist you gave the relationship between Leah and Radleigh. How did you make Radleigh not the typical bad boy?

Kyra: That is the best compliment ever! I'm pleased Radleigh isn't the typical bad boy, because as you said, it has been done many times. I guess I tried to make him real by knowing why he behaves the way he does. Although the reader doesn't know - and won't for a while - for me to have it in my mind while I wrote him made it easier to correctly form his personality. He's pretty complicated, in some ways even more so than Leah, but that just made him all the more interesting to write!

Angie: Again I don't want to give things away, but I loved how this wasn't a Beauty and The Beast story. He wasn't magically changed by love. As a reader I really appreciated his complications. How long did it take you to flush out his character?

Kyra: his might sound weird, but I didn't feel like there was much work to do on him. I was very aware that the "changing for love" concept might sneak in but that's not the story I wanted to tell. I just felt like I knew Radleigh McCoy so forming his personality was quite simple. I had to make small tweaks here and there, but for the most part, he just flowed out of my brain and onto the page the way I intended.

Angie: I have a few characters that have written themselves. I love when that happens :)

Alright its time for the pageant question (do they even have beauty pageants in England?). I've got a good hard one for you but I'm pretty sure you can handle it. Jolly good :) If you could go back in time what is one decision you would change and why?

Kyra: I'm pretty sure there are beauty pageants here but they aren't as big as they are in the U.S! 

I tend not to dwell on decisions I made in the past because they brought me to where I am, and made me who I am, but I guess one thing I wish I hadn't done was choose to quit college. I studied Performing Arts for a year which I absolutely loved, but I was painfully self-conscious. So much so that I convinced myself that I just wasn't good enough. But aside from that, no regrets!

Angie:  I try and learn from my mistakes too, so I can turn regrets into lessons. Performing Arts! That is pretty cool. Now you just get to tell stories through a different medium. Do you find that PA and writing are at all alike?

Kyra: Yes, they are quite similar. I think writing can make you feel quite exposed sometimes, because even though you aren't writing about yourself and your own life, parts of you will always show through. With Performing Arts, singing and dancing can make you feel very exposed because you are really putting yourself out there for other people's judgment. And acting and writing are very similar. In both cases you sort of become someone else for a while.

Angie: Very true :)

I think we have time for one last question. I know this is like picking between children, but...What is your favorite part of Game On?

Kyra: Hee hee, my favorite parts are the ones which are most spoilery! But I do love every interaction Leah has with Jesse Shaw. Their friendship was very natural, and by the end of the story it's really strong. There is a particular scene between Leah and Jesse after a huge reveal that I am very fond of, though. But that's all I can say without giving things away!

Angie: That will have to do then :) Thanks so much for stopping by. I'm so excited for people to read your book. Can you leave us with something awesomely English?

Kyra: Something awesomely English? I was very tempted to link to a photo of David Beckham, but instead, I will leave you with a phrase to translate! 

Cheers for this blinding interview, Angie! If you fancy having a butchers at my new book, it only costs a couple of quid on Amazon! 

How was that? LOL!

Angie: That was brilliant!!! I think I got everything but "butchers" :)

Kyra: LOL, to "have a butchers" means "to have a look". It comes from the Cockney rhyming slang, "butcher's hook." - Cockney rhyming slang is very odd! 

Thank you very much, this was a really fun afternoon! <3

Angie: I love it :) And it was a pleasure.

Game On is such a fun read here is a little more info on Kyra and her new book.

Game On Synopsis

After swapping her small town life to work for one of the top soccer teams in the U.S, Leah Walker thought she could finally leave the ghosts of her past behind. However, when she meets serial womanizer, Radleigh McCoy, the memories of her old life come swarming back, and she is forced to ask herself whether she has really changed at all. 

Buying links:

Smashwords

Amazon.com Kindle

Amazon.com Paperback

Amazon UK Kindle

AmazonUK Paperback