– Dale Carnegie
Friday, April 27, 2018
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By:
The Write Way Cafe
Thursday, April 26, 2018
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By:
The Write Way Cafe
Getting to Know Kathleen Kaska
The Write Way Café welcomes Kathleen Kaska, who knows about timing and putting passion into writing.When did you first have the thought you'd like to write a book?
I’ve always wanted to write but I didn’t have the courage to start until my early forties. By that time, I was comfortable with a teaching job and didn’t have to bring home a lot of school work.
What was your path to getting this book written and published? What type of research did you do?
Run Dog Run was actually the first book I wrote. Then came books two and three in the series. I put them on the backburner after receiving a few rejections, and let them simmer for almost eight years. I went on to write my Sydney Lockhart mysteries, then decided it was time to take another look at Run Dog Run. I felt it was a strong mystery with a popular social cause. I revised and polished the manuscript and sent it to Black Opal Books. They offered me a contract and things started to roll.
It’s always about timing.
My research involved delving into the world of greyhound racing. I visited a racetrack outside of Houston, read books on the subject, and interviewed people involved in greyhound rescue.
Where did the idea for your story come from?
I used to volunteer for Wildlife Rescue, Inc. when I lived in Austin and became interested in animal rights. A fellow teacher used to bring his greyhound to school. He taught sixth graders, an age where kids sometimes have too much energy. I always knew when he had his dog in the classroom because the noise level decreased tremendously.
Why did you pick the setting you did?
I wanted a strong, vivid setting for the story and I wanted the story set on a Texas ranch. The Hill Country west of Austin was an ideal place. I chose the small town of Wimberely after writing an article about the area.
Are your main characters completely imaginary or do they have some basis in real people? Do they reflect aspects of yourself?
My protagonist, Kate Caraway, is imaginary. But she possesses many of my traits. We are both believers in animal rights. We’re also runners, healthy eaters, and terribly acrophobic. The last trait plays an important part in the second Kate Caraway mystery, A Two Horse Town, which takes places in the Pryor Mountains of Montana. That book, also published by Black Opal Books, will be out next year.
Did you face any blocks while writing the book, and if so, how did you handle them? If not, what's your secret?
My first agent turned down the book because he said I editorialized too much. He was right. I toned it down and sent it to a second agent who loved the book, but she was new at her job and unable to sell it. That’s when I decided to give it a rest.
What have been surprises you've encountered while writing the book and after?
I had an agent tell me that I should market the book as a thriller. Although flattering, that really surprised me. There are several fast-paced and tense scenes, but I felt that the book fit better as a traditional mystery. Then, after the book was published, I had a few readers tell me they liked the story because it was so gripping. So, I guess that agent was right.
What did you learn? For instance, what did you learn about yourself, your process, the writing world; about animal rights, greyhounds, and being an activist?
I learned that when writing fiction, I could not follow an outline and plan everything that was going to happen in advance. I had to just start writing and see where my characters took me. I also decided that putting too much authorial intrusion into my writing wasn’t a technique that worked for me. As far as the greyhounds, I learned about the mistreatment many endure. I know several people who have adopted retired racers and was surprised that they were not openly critical of the racing industry. The reason is that they have to remain on good terms with the adoption organizations they work with in order to acquire the dogs for adoption.
Tell us about your writing space and how or why it works for you.
I write from a desk in my room. The space is small, but I make it work. One day I hope to have a big room with a long table so I can lay out all my works in progress and see them displayed rather than having them in file folders.
What are some of your favorite books and why?
There are a variety of subjects I enjoy. I’m fortunate to work for a publishing company and my colleagues are always sharing what they are reading. As far as nonfiction, I read books about birds, ancient Egypt, essay collections by E.B. White, Roger Angel, Lisa Scottoline, books on writing, food, travel, and anything interesting that crosses my path. I read all kinds of mysteries: cozies, police procedurals, historic, and hardboiled detective stories. My favorite authors are Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle, Martha Grimes, Spencer Quinn, Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett, and Laurie R. King.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on the fifth Sydney Lockhart mystery, Murder at the Menger. This series is lighthearted and humorous. It’s set in the early 1950s and each book takes place in a historic hotel. The Menger Hotel was opened in 1859. It’s across the street from the Alamo. The other hotels featured in my mysteries are the Arlington Hotel in Hot Springs, Arkansas, the Luther in Palacios, Texas, the Galvez in Galveston, Texas and the Driskill in Austin, Texas.
Would you like to try your hand at writing a different genre? Which one and why?
I prefer to stick with mysteries, but I write in three different subgenres. The Kate Caraway series is considered a traditional mystery, but the Sydney Lockhart is a cozy, historical mystery. I just finished a hardboiled detective story set in the 1940s.
If you were not a writer, what would your dream job be?
I am a retired science teacher, so I could see myself working in the field of biology: genetics, marine science, environmental science, or even a different science altogether, say, Egyptology. I have a degree is in Physical Anthropology, with a concentration in animal behavior. I always joke that it was one of the reasons I worked so well with seventh graders.
What aspect of writing gives you the most trouble?
I plot by the seat of my pants, so about 60,000 words into the story I have to stop and analyze what I’ve written. This is where the real work begins. Until this point, it’s fun and games. However, once I’ve decided which direction I’m heading, I get excited about finishing.
Who is your favorite hero/heroine?
There are a lot of famous people whom I admire: Barack Obama; Jimmy Carter; Karen Blixen; and ornithologist Robert Porter Allen, who is the subject of my book, The Man Who Saved the Whooping Crane: The Robert Porter Allen Story. As far as heroes and heroines, most are family members. I’m lucky, to have an incredible family, all of whom I admire and adore.
After five years in Africa, researching the decline of elephant populations, Kate Caraway’s project comes to a screeching halt when she shoots a poacher and is forced to leave the country. Animal rights activist Kate Caraway travels to a friend’s ranch in Texas for a much-needed rest. But before she has a chance to unpack, her friend’s daughter pleads for Kate’s assistance. The young woman has become entangled in the ugly world of greyhound abuse and believes Kate is the only one with the experience and tenacity to expose the crime and find out who is responsible. On the case for only a few hours, Kate discovers a body, complicating the investigation by adding murder to the puzzle. Now, she’s in a race against time to find the killer before she becomes the next victim.
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Kathleen Kaska is the author two awarding-winning mystery series: the Sydney Lockhart Mystery Series set in the 1950s and the Classic Triviography Mystery Series, which includes The Sherlock Holmes Triviography and Quiz Book. Her first two Lockhart mysteries, Murder at the Arlington and Murder at the Luther, were selected as bonus-books for the Pulpwood Queen Book Group, the largest book group in the country. Her latest Sydney Lockhart mystery, set in Austin, Texas, is Murder at the Driskill. Run Dog Run, Kathleen’s first mystery in the new Kate Caraway animal-rights series, was released in March 2017.
When she is not writing, she spends much of her time with her husband traveling the back roads and byways around the country, looking for new venues for her mysteries and bird watching along the Texas coast and beyond. It was her passion for birds that led to the publication The Man Who Saved the Whooping Crane: The Robert Porter Allen Story (University Press of Florida).
Kathleen is a writer and marketing director for Cave Art Press. Her collection of blog posts was released in August 2017 under the title, Do You Have a Catharsis Handy? Five-Minute Writing Tips.
Website Black Opal Books
Tuesday, April 24, 2018
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By:
The Write Way Cafe
Tuesday Special: The Seeking Series with Josie Riviera
JOSIE RIVIERA
The Seeking Series Box Set: Historical and Christian Romances
Find out why readers are falling in love with The Seeking Series & staying up all night reading! These sweet romances will warm your heart.
Cozy up with your favorite ebook reader, a cup of tea and lose yourself in the joyful seasons of romance.
Amazon
Have you ever tried something you were afraid to try because it mattered so much to you? I did, when I started writing. Take the chance, everyone, and just do something you love.
Sign up for her blog and subscribe to her newsletter for a free ebook on her website: josieriviera.com
Follow her on Amazon and Bookbub, and "Like” her Author Facebook Page!
Friday, April 20, 2018
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By:
The Write Way Cafe
Thursday, April 19, 2018
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By:
The Write Way Cafe
Meet Ammar Habbib
The Write Way Café welcomes Ammar Habbib, an author whose enthusiasm and passion comes right off the page.When did you first have the thought you'd like to write a book?
First off, thank you so much for the interview!! It was actually in 2nd Grade! My teacher, Ms. Scott, is the one who inspired me to start writing and it was in her class that I developed the love for writing. Soon after starting to write as a child, I received the dream to one day be a New York Times Bestselling author!
What is your newest book about? What type of research did you do?
My latest novel, which is my 5th novel, is Ana Rocha: Shadows of Justice. This work is a police/crime thriller that was released at the end of last February and has received a positive reception so far. The novel is co-authored by a friend of mine who has over 20 years of law enforcement experience, including working several years as an undercover narcotics investigator, Glenda Mendoza.
The novel is set in Houston, which is where I grew up around and where Glenda currently works. The novel follows a young Hispanic woman, Ana Rocha, as she begins her duty as an undercover narcotics officer and soon faces against some of Houston's biggest criminals. Although the book is a work of fiction, it is very much grounded in reality and is based on Glenda's experiences. In fact, the novel's main antagonist is a drug lord who is based on a crime lord Glenda helped take down several years ago.
Where did the idea for your story come from?
I’ve always wanted to write a police novel. Glenda and I became friends in 2013 and she’s a great storyteller who’d always wanted to write a book as well. So it just worked out perfectly for us to partner up and tell this story.
Why did you pick the setting you did?
We picked the setting of Houston because that’s where the both of us live. I’d never written a novel set someplace I actually lived, so it was an interesting experience. But I think it added another level of authenticity to the novel.
Are your main characters completely imaginary or do they have some basis in real people? Do they reflect aspects of yourself?
Whether Ana Rocha or any of my other protagonists, my characters always have some reflection of myself in them. Although Ana’s Type-A personality is very different from mine, a lot of her internal voice and thought process is very similar to my own, as is her sometimes overly ambitious nature.
Did you face any blocks while writing the book, and if so, how did you handle them? If not, what's your secret?
My personal secret to overcoming writing blocks is to take a walk, try writing something else, or take a break. If none of those strategies work, I just bang my head against the keyboard until something comes to mind!!
What have been surprises you've encountered while writing the book and after?
One of my main concerns was how well I’d write a Hispanic female protagonist being that I’m a man. However, a lot of reviews have said that they couldn’t believe how well a man wrote a female’s point-of-view, so seeing those kinds of reviews has really surprised me!
What did you learn? For instance, what did you learn about yourself, your process, the writing world; about narcotics and undercover investigations?
Writing this book, talking to a lot of law enforcement officials, I’ve learned that fact is often stranger than fiction! This was also my first full-length work to write in the first person point-of-view. When I was a child, I used to write everything in first-person, but some negative reactions in my high school creative writing class made me change to always writing in third-person. However, after writing Ana Rocha in first-person, my love for this point-of-view has been restored and I’m excited about writing more works from this perspective.
Tell us about your writing space and how or why it works for you.
Interestingly enough, I don’t really have a designated “writing space”. I often change my setting because I like to have a change in scenery every now and then! So the way my writing space works is just dependent on what’s going on around me. Sometimes I like it quiet. Other times, I am surrounded by people at a coffee shop or out in the park.
However, one thing I love to use is music. Listening to certain kinds of music as I write always helps me get in the mood I am trying to write.
What are some of your favorite books and why?
I honestly don’t know if I have a favorite book. My favorite books have changed as I’ve grown older. However, one book that did wonders for me in my late teenage years is the book As A Man Thinketh. Reading that book really inspired me to chase my dreams and hold steadfast to them no matter the circumstances that life throws at me.
What are you working on now?
Well, I’m one of those authors who has a lot of irons in the fire, so I actually have quite a few projects in different stages of development. Glenda and I are working on a short story featuring Ana Rocha and are also working on the sequel right now. My agent is shopping around a Young Adult novel and is also shopping around a non-fiction project of mine. I also have a graphic novel being read by some publishers. So 2018 and 2019 will be very exciting God-Willing!
Would you like to try your hand at writing a different genre? Which one and why?
I’ve personally written in many genres already. But one market I really want to break in is the nonfiction market, especially the historical narrative nonfiction. I feel like we are losing our sense of history and heritage, and there are so many stories that people need to be told, and I want to play a part in telling those stories.
If you were not a writer, what would your dream job be?
As a major reader of history, I would’ve likely pursued the route to becoming a historian. I’ve always had a passion for learning and reading about past people and past civilizations and events.
What aspect of writing gives you the most trouble?
There isn’t an aspect of writing that gives me the trouble as far as the creative side goes. With enough patience and practice, I’ve been able to overcome just about anything. But the thing that does give me trouble and I’m sure gives other authors trouble as well is getting your work noticed out in the marketplace, whether it be trying to get a publisher’s attention or readers’.
Who is your favorite hero/heroine?
I’ve always been a huge comic book fan growing up, so one of my favorite heroes has always been Wolverine from the X-Men comics! I find myself attracted to the grittier hero, and sometimes antihero, who has a chip on their shoulder and is a loner.
Amazon
Ammar Habib is an award-winning and bestselling author who presently resides in his hometown of Lake Jackson, Texas. Writing has always been a passion of Ammar’s. He enjoys crafting stories that are not only entertaining but also have something useful to say to the reader.
You can find Ammar at:
Tuesday, April 17, 2018
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By:
HiDee
Spring Cleaning Because Phil Lied
Phil lied. Or else he can’t count.
I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for spring! I’m tired of being cooped up inside. I need my nature fix – a hike in the woods, listening to the birds, and the breeze as it sings through the trees. Capturing deer and other wildlife, trees budding and flowers blooming in all the glorious colors of nature through my camera lens. These are things that fuel my creativity.
Instead, I’m laying the groundwork for writing days by “spring” cleaning.
I’m starting with my computer. I admit I’m something of a packrat and that includes email. I have about 14 different email addresses I use. I know, I know – who needs that many email addresses? I can justify maybe 8 of them:
• Work
• Personal
• Author
• Blog
• Writers group
• Hubby (He is technology-challenged but wanted an email for certain things so I monitor it for him.)
• Shopping (I use this one for all online shopping.)
• Writing (Why do I need 4 of these?)
• Miscellaneous (Why do I need 3 of these?)
Over the years I’ve used the 4 writing and 3 miscellaneous email addresses for different things. These are the ones I need to combine and simplify, especially the writing email addresses. While skimming through them, I realized I have subscribed to some of the same author newsletters from multiple emails, so I created a spreadsheet and listed all of my emails and what I subscribe to under each one. Combining and simplifying might take a while!
The stack of books I’ve been collecting over the winter is up next. Most of them I’ve snuck into the house two or three at a time in my tote bag, stashing them in my daughter’s old room on the various shelves she left behind when she moved out. Hubby thinks I own too many books already, but I’m still buying, and I’m still accepting books passed on to me by friends. What Hubby doesn’t know won’t hurt him, right? The problem is I don’t know what I already have, and a couple times I’ve purchased the same book twice. I can always give the second copy to a fellow reader, but darn it, I could be using that money to buy another book I don’t already have! Sorting them out seems like a good way to continue my spring cleaning…
Once the books are sorted, I’m moving on to my desk. Right now it's located in my son’s old room, which I’m still transitioning into my office. Starting on the office décor was much more fun than the cleaning and sorting part. But the desktop is collecting articles that need filed, pens that need tested to see if they work, and more books that need to be sorted. It makes a nice catch-all but it's covered with so much stuff that I can't use it for writing, and that kind of defeats the purpose, doesn't it?
I’ve procrastinated long enough. These are all tasks that need done, and since Phil let me down, I am trying to take advantage of the not-so-nice weather to accomplish tasks I won’t want to do once spring really does arrive.
What spring cleaning do you feel compelled to tackle? Please share!
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