Welcome Shannan Albright

I've got the lovely and very talented author, Shannan Albright, with me today. I'm sure you're going to love learning more about her. Shannon and I share a love for cheesecake, which I bet she didn't know. Read on and enjoy

1.  What influenced you to get published? How long did it take? Can you tell us the name of your first published work?

I have written on and off since 1980. Always an avid reader I read something about the RWA and one of my fave authors was a recipient of the Rita Awards. Curious I pulled up the RWA website and got hooked. Here was where I could get all the help I needed. With tons of workshops and incredible articles I really got into writing as a business. I joined in 2008, became a member of my local chapter and after several years answered a submission call. I figured what the heck do I have to lose? I’ve had enough rejections to wallpaper the world twice over so what would one more rejection cost me? Well, the didn’t reject me and I found myself in a whole new world when on December 3, 2010 my short story was published in an anthology called ‘Twas a Dark and Delicious Christmas. Laura’s Wish got tons of great reviews and well, I haven’t stopped writing since.

2. What genre would you like to try that you haven’t yet?

Paranormal Historical is something I would like to try my hand in. I toyed with the idea of becoming a History teacher in college. I’m especially drawn to the English and Italian Renaissance periods. I also worked for years as an improv. actor at Renn. Fairs and theater and learned tons of useless knowledge in regards to those time periods. So I am playing with an idea for a time traveling romance historical at the moment.

3.  Most people envision an author’s life as being really glamorous. What’s your take on this? Can you tell us something unglamorous you did within the last week or so?

Lol! Unglamorous IS the life of an author. By our very nature are a lot of writers are, at worse antisocial and at best shy. I prefer the company of only few friends at a time and enjoy my time alone in my cave. So you can imagine when I’m not at my other job, I’m huddled over my computer with no make-up, in sweats or my PJ’s and my hair, (which is very, very curly.) Sticking out of my head like a crazy woman. Anyone seeing me would run for the door screaming bloody murder I’m sure. Lol!

4. Plotter or pantzer?

I used to be a plotter all the way to the smallest of details. Now I’m a mixture of both. I have the basics and then go with it. I like giving my muse some control as long as it doesn’t go off on a tangent that is.

5.  What do you do when you’re suffering writers block?

I Oil paint when I get blocked or just have too many stories and voices going on in my head. I have to do something creative since it runs in my family it was a natural course of progression that I became an artist too. My becoming a writer though, that threw them since I’m the first author in my family. My claim to family fame Lol!

6.  What would you like to share with new writers? Any suggestions or advice?

Look, everyone knows that writing is a tough business to get into. If you are truly serious about it make up a 5 year business plan of where you want to be and the steps you need to take in order to get there. Don’t give up and don’t take prisoners. Keep your focus on what you want to see happen and for goodness sake take what people tell you with a grain of salt. Good and bad feedback, though can be constructive, can also hinder you. No everyone will like your style of writing and that’s fine, write for yourself, but keep in mind what is trending in the publishing world. Get with RWA or some other writing chapter, put together a critique group and never stop writing! Remember this is a solitary business. You won’t get much encouragement for a good long time so be prepared for self-doubts and frustrations. It’s alright, learn what your gut tells you is important and rely on your fellow writers as a support group. It helps since they are all in the same boat you’re in.

7. Looking over the past year, what has been the best moment for you in your writing career?

I went to Arizona Dreamin’ last year and was blessed to meet one of my favorite authors I never dreamed I would meet. Erin Quinn who is the most gracious and talented woman I have ever met. Her road to publication wasn’t easy and when I get down I remember her and it helps me get though my demons. I’ve decided when I grow up I want to be just like her, and maybe a bit of Xena Warrior Princess thrown in too. Just love a female who can kick behind and take names. Lol!

8. If you could invite any famous person, dead or alive, for dinner, who would it be and what would you eat?

Easy, I would have Queen Elizabeth the First at my table any day. I would love to have roasted Quail and try blood pudding. Sounds gross I know but hey, never know until you try it right?

9. If you had one wish, would you give away? Why or why not and to whom would you give it?

This is going to sound corny I know, but I live in Las Vegas and it’s been hit hard with the country’s economic downturn. Construction and housing are at rock bottom and jobs are few and far between. So many of our kids that go to school have no home, no place to get a good meal or anywhere to sleep. In a lot of cases the whole family is on the streets. Not a good place to be in Vegas I assure you. My wish would be for all of these kids have a place to call home, food on the table and a chance at a good education.

10.  If you found that, for one reason or another, you couldn’t write anymore, what would you like to do instead?

I would most likely see where my painting and illustrations go. I would probably lean towards doing graphic novels and book covers.

11.  When you wake up in the morning, what celebrity do you most resemble?

Quasimoto, the hunchback of Notre Dame LOL!!!

12.  What are you working on now? Can you tell us a little about it?

I’ve just finished the second book in the Dark Breeds series and submitted it to Evernight just a few days ago. I am also working on two novellas in the Knight’s of Excalibur series for Extasy. And I am finishing up a novel to submit to a midline publishing house that goes paperback then eBook. Fingers crossed on this since it would be sweet to walk into a book store and find my book there.

13. What kind of comfort food do you like best?

Cheesecake, semi-sweet chocolate, Cheesecake and semi-sweet chocolate together and oh, did I mention Cheesecake???

The book Shannan is sharing with us sounds like a real winner. I know you're going to enjoy this:

Beloved Wizard

by Shannan Albright

Paranormal Fantasy

Beloved Wizard: Knights of Excalibur One

ISBN # : 978-1-77111-020-4

Available at:

http://www.extasybooks.com/beloved-wizard/

http://www.amazon.com/Beloved-Wizard-Knights-Excalibur-ebook/dp/B0064HD7PS/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321309846&sr=1-1

Blurb:

Arthur and his Knights are back and ready to kick ass!

Merci Tramaine is not happy to be called back into service by her old boss Arthur, especially when she is charged to find her missing ex lover. Drake Monroe is Merlin reincarnated, with his powers bound by the Goddess Nimue he has become a skilled fighter, but no match for Nimue who kidnapped him determined to destroy him forever.

The bloodline of Morgan Le Fey taints Merci keeping her on the edge between light and dark, the Goddess’s wicked trap springs shut leaving both Drake and Merci racing against the clock. Passions ignite once again, but are they too late to plan a future or will they be torn from each other?

This time for eternity. 

Excerpt:

Suck it up. He dumped you, remember? Yeah, she remembered he broke it off without a backward glance. Leaving her bleeding inside, leaving a hole in her that beat a constant reminder, no matter how far she ran, how hard she tried to escape the pain. Weak, that’s what she was and she hated herself for it.

She kept him in her peripherals, quelling her relief when he rose unsteadily to his feet, not giving Nimue any warning of Drake’s unsteady progress, his closing the distance between them. If he could move, he could fight. She had to come up with something to keep Nimue distracted and she knew the best way to accomplish this would be to feed her ego.

Have to keep her talking, she chanted to herself. “Well, you see that’s the problem, Blondie. I have no wish to be the next greatest anything. I like me just the way I am. I mind my own business and no one gets into my shit. Nice, quiet and uncomplicated.”

Color rose on Nimue’s fair complexion. She’d just crossed the line, but couldn’t seem to care, even if the goddess could squash her like a bug. The only thing that mattered to her was Drake’s tall form moving ever closer toward them.

 Merci’s focus on Drake’s approach slipped to full on attentiveness for a split second. In the next,

Nimue grabbed her upper arm in a punishing grip, whirled her around to face Drake. Nimue flung her hand out and Drake flew back like a puppet on a string, crashing into the far wall of the warehouse with a sickening flesh-meet-cinderblock thud. He lay crumpled amidst the debris like a puppet with its strings cut.

Something snapped within Merci. Her blood scalded her veins. The taste of ash filled the back of her throat. Rage, cold and biting, filled her, coloring her vision in a red haze. Drawing energy from the earth, she channeled it up through her body, willing it to form. Her hands glowed, magic as hot as a stream of lava engulfed her. Her skin stung like the bite of a thousand fire ants as a small burst of electricity arched over her arms, snapping with pent up energy. The stench of ozone, hanging like a heavy cloud in the still air, filled the area. The force arched into Nimue, dropped her to the floor. Merci offered a feral smile while Nimue wreathed in pain against her magic. She bent down close enough for Nimue to hear her. “Since you don’t know me, I will explain this to you. You don’t fuck with what is mine. Drake, is mine.”

Oh my, does that sound scorching or what? Here's a little more about this amazing author: 

Bio:

Shannan Albright lives in Las Vegas, NV with her husband, two dogs and one cat. When not writing she spends her time between oil painting and reading.  She loves writing paranormal romances because of the world building and rich characters she finds.  She loves dark, edgy heroes and heroines overcoming impossible odds internal and external. I am a "hopeful" Romantic and believe healthy relationships and strong partnerships are key to a happy ever after.

Here are a few places you'll find Shannan online:

Website: www.shannanalbright.weebly.com   

Blogger:  www.shannanalbright.blogspot.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/people/Shannan-Albright/100001442663522

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/4484637.Shannan_Albright/blog

Follow Shannon on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/nae0309

Welcome Starfox Howl

A special guest on a day I don't normally have guests on my blog. This man has a byline that caught my attention months ago and I'm sure it will you.

Starfox Howl

The Middle of Nowhere – Afghanistan

Now that does make you want to know more, doesn't it? Read on, and please let this guy know what you think.

1. How long have you been writing? What inspired you to pick the pen up one day and create characters that capture the imagination?

I’ve always liked to read. The books I read took me out of the mundane world and off into fantasy worlds of the far future and into the land of dragons and magic. My father was in the Marine Corps so we lived on military bases around the United States. On most bases, science fiction and fantasy books were not plentiful. So, when I ran through the available books at the library, I started writing my own stories. I wrote for myself, I was too shy about them to share with family or friends. I used up a lot of paper and dried up a lot of ball point pens writing about places and people no one else ever saw.

2. What influenced you to get published? How long did it take? Can you tell us the name of your first published work?

While Jason to Jessica was my first royalty paying published work, it was not the first thing that I’ve written that’s been published. While I was in high school, I was a member of the local Civil Air Patrol squadron, the Cadet Public Information Officer, to be exact. I wrote articles about cadet activities in the squadron, our training days, advancements and other things. These were published in the Marine Air Station’s base newspaper.

The biggest influence on my getting published wasn’t a WHAT, but a WHO. I think like most new authors I was worried about what I had written being “good enough” to get published. I asked someone I had met online in a writer’s loop to take a look at a different story, and she thought it was good enough to be published. Jason to Jessica was written after this first story and it took about a year for me to complete it. I had asked other writers about a publisher that was friendly to new authors and eXtasy Books was suggested more than once.

I submitted to them and was totally floored when I got back an acceptance.

           

3. Most people envision an author’s life as being really glamorous. What’s your take on this? Can you tell us something unglamorous you did within the last week or so?

Well, writing is not my day job. I’m one of the IT guys that support the users at the International Security Assistance Forces Headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan. As far as unglamorous, that would sitting out in the hot sun, wearing a helmet, ballistic vest and carrying a CLS (combat life saver) bag during a suspicious package alarm on the base. We were all glad that the package was found to not be dangerous.

4. Plotter or pantzer?

Pantzer. There are times when I find myself in a corner, but I just backtrack and start off in a new direction.

5. What do you do when you’re suffering writers block?

I either read, or go back and edit an earlier story.

6. What would you like to share with new writers? Any suggestions or advice?

Read all you can about story engineering, plot, character building, world building, all the elements that make up a good story. While “writing is re-writing” it’s also learning.

7. Looking over the past year, what has been the best moment for you in your writing career?

When I received the acceptance message from eXtasy Books. For a long time I was caught up in the OH WOW!

8. What do you enjoy doing with your spare time, your non-writing time? 

Reading or watching movies. I’d rather be spending time with family, but I’m out here in Afghanistan and family is way far away.

9. When you wake up in the morning, what celebrity do you most resemble?

I’m not sure that he’s a celebrity, but the “old man of the mountain”.

10. What are you working on now? Can you tell us a little about it?

I have two major stories that are in the works right now. One is a follow-on to an unpublished novel, the second is a science fiction story that I hope I can spin into a three book epic.

11. Are you in love? Have you ever been?

I’ve been in love with the same woman for almost thirty years. I’m surprised she’s put with me this long.

12. What kind of comfort food do you like best?

Those that aren’t good for me. Ice Cream, tuna noodle casserole and occasional potent potable.

13. What do you hope to achieve in life and when will you know that you have been a success?

I hope to achieve a measure of comfort in this life for my wife and myself. I don’t know that there’s a line any of us can cross and say “we have made it”.

Want a bit more about Starfox? Here's his bio, which in my opinion is much too short. I want more:

Starfox Howl is the pen name of a former U.S. Navy Submariner who is currently working in Afghanistan supporting United States, NATO and Coalition Forces for Operation Enduring Freedom. When not playing in the sand, he is at home, near Atlanta, Georgia husband to a loving wife, and slave to five cats and two dogs.

And now for a look at Starfox's book Jason to Jessica, which I found incredibly intriguing:

Jason to Jessica

by Starfox Howl

Buy link at Extasy:

http://www.extasybooks.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=3145

ISBN: 978-1-55487-904-5

Genre: Science Fiction, Romance, GLBT, Futuristic

 

Blurb:

Jason Ryerson wakes from sleep in a different room and a different body. In the hour after waking up, he learns that he has been a victim twice over, first of a car accident that cause massive injuries to his old body. Secondly, and more devastatingly a victim of the MORFS plague.

Jason, now Jessica, learns what it means to be on the other side of the bed. Outwardly a beautiful woman, she is forced to come to terms with how the world views women. As ties to her past are confronted, dissolved or strengthened, Jessica turns her attention to her future. A man who knew her as both Jason and now Jessica becomes more than just a friend. With no secrets between them, will he help her find her way into the world of being a woman?

Excerpt:

Whose music is playing? That was the first conscious thought I had as I woke up. It was my sister's style of quick instrumental. Crystal must be doing her exercises, or just got back from practice. My hands slid across slick sheets as I stretched. Satin? My sister was the only one in the house that used satin sheets.

Wiping the gunk out of my eyes, I blinked a couple times to let things focus. Once my vision cleared, I could see the light pink walls and the one opposite from me was covered in boy band and movie posters, including this year’s teen hit, Twilight 2020.

What was I doing in Crystal’s room?  My fuzz-ball brain barely cranked out that second thought before the body told me I needed to get to the bathroom, quickly.

I made a half-awake dash to the bathroom and sat down on the commode. Rubbing my face, I didn’t find my normal morning stubble. As my hand fell to my lap, it bounced against something warm, firm and sensitive before landing.

Huh? I brought my hands back up and they ran into my chest again. Fingers curled against warm flesh and nipples stiffened. The higher functions of the brain finally engaged, processed the data, and outputted an exclamation.

“What the hell?”

Apparently, my yell carried downstairs. I heard shoes on the stairs and then on the hardwood floor outside the bathroom.

“Jason?” Mom’s voice came through the mostly closed door. Her shadow flickered through the gap between the door and the wall.

“Mom?” My higher pitched voice sounded very strange. “What happened to me?”

“I’ll tell you all about it, hon when you get out of there,” her strong, confident voice the only thing nearly normal about the strange situation at the moment.

“When you’re ready, come into the studio and we’ll talk.”

I finished, flushed, washed my hands, then caught my reflection in the mirror over the sink. The mass of dark violet hair on my head held my attention. It cascaded down my back and brushed against my still bare bottom. I ran my fingers through the heavy silk-like strands wondering what it would look like after taming the morning bedhead.

Next to draw my attention was my eyes. Green. Not a dark, emerald green, but an intense crystalline green.

Leaning close to the mirror I peered into the reflection of my eyes. Everyone my age knew this could happen. There was no way you could prepare for the day that it did happen.

Buy link at Extasy:

http://www.extasybooks.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=3145

You can find Starfox here:

Blog and WIP’s at:   http://starfoxhowl.Blogspot.com