BOOK REVIEW AND AUTHOR INTERVIEW!

Nickerbacher The Funniest Dragon 

by Terry John Barto

"Dragon" You Along On A Comical Tale!  Children's Book Celebrates Fulfilling Your Dreams.

A dragon named Nickerbacher guards a princess because his papa told him to. However, he practices his jokes on Princess Gwendolyn, as he yearns to be a stand-up comedian. The young dragon gets up the nerve to tell his papa about his dream and is sternly reminded of his dragonly duty. Later that day, Prince Happenstance arrives for the princess and repeatedly challenges the dragon to fight. The opponents manage to find common ground and Nickerbacher leaves for the big city to pursue his dream.

Nickerbacher is the only dragon who wants to make people laugh. And in the process, he encourages the prince (and kids) to be themselves and follow their dreams.

Nickerbacher, The Funniest Dragon is the winner of the Royal Dragonfly Book Award 1st place Picture Book 6 & older, National Parenting Publications Award, Family Review Center Best of the Year, Readers' Favorite International Book Award - Gold, IndieReader Approved, BlueInk Review's Best Books of 2015, Children's Literary Classics Seal of Approval, CIPA EVVY Gold Award.

FIRST, LET'S START WITH THE BOOK REVIEW: 

MY BLONDE REVIEW: 

I adored the message to go after your dreams, no matter how far out of the scope they may seem. And for a dragon who would rather fire up jokes rather than breathe fire at foes, I’d call that the furthest thing from the scope. The book also made it clear that even big bold creatures can be fearful to be their true self. And that it’s important to stand strong and be who you are inside. Sometimes what your parents want for you may not be your best and only option.  

I think this can be enjoyed by both boys and girls alike. The book is clean and heartfelt. There is a warming feeling as Nickerbacher’s family (perhaps after some slight reluctance) is supportive of his dream. I also loved how Nickerbacher was joined in his freedom of dreaming with the prince he was supposed to fight. It proves that having dreams can be a universal language. In addition, since this was a picture book and I am coo-coo over fonts, I did enjoy the chosen font, colors, as well as found the art absolutely eye catching! I also loved the creative “Nickerbacher on Tour” sign at the end. My daughter giggled as I read them off to her!

And speaking of her: my 4 year-old daughter’s favorite parts were the pictures, the princess’s tower, and when Nickerbacher met his parents backstage at his show.

Overall, we had a blast reading this and I don’t think kids will be able to resist the strong message within! 

MY SCORE:  5 out of 5 Blonde Stars! 

 

AND NOW, FOR THE AUTHOR INTERVIEW. HERE'S ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TERRY JOHN BARTO: 

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE IDEA FOR THE GREAT NAME

NICKERBACHER?  

It just came to me after I thought up the overall idea. The part that took the longest was how to spell it. There’s the Knickerbocher Hotel and I knew I didn’t want it to start with a K, then the reason I went with bach for the 3^rd syllable is a tribute to the classical composer.

YOUR CHARACTER LIKES TO DO STAND-UP COMEDY, DO YOU SHARE THAT

PASSION? 

No, but I have some good friends who do stand-up. I come from a theatre background so the similarities are the stage aspect.

 IF NOT, DID YOU PRACTICE ANY STAND-UP FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES FOR

THE BOOK? IF SO, HOW DID IT GO OVER? WHAT WAS YOUR BEST JOKE?  

I went to see comedy shows but didn’t perform. The jokes in the story were hard to do and I put a ton of thought into them. I consulted my friends in the “business” and went back & forth with my editor before finalizing. Maybe some good jokes ended up on the cutting room floor. The last page has a list of places Nickerbacher goes to on tour. That was because we had so many neat names but only needed one for the actual story.

SO YOU’VE DONE TURKEYS AND DRAGONS, WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE

NEXT? 

I’m working on a story about a surfer. I was raised in Huntington Beach, California, the surfing capital of the world, so it’s a bit more familiar.

DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN ANY OF YOUR CHARACTERS? 

The dreamer part is all me!

FROM THEATER AND TELEVISION PRODUCTIONS, WHEN AND HOW DID

YOU MAKE THE TRANSITION TO A WRITER? 

An actress that I was directing in a show had some ideas for animation. She asked me to be Creative Director of the production company she was starting. I used my story telling abilities to help hone and develop her stories. After that, I used the experience I gained and started developing my own ideas.

WHEN YOU WERE THE CREATIVE FORCE BEHIND LIVE SHOWS, WERE YOU

ABLE TO TAKE CRUISE SHIPS AND WATCH THEM IN-PERSON? 

Yes, I oversaw the first show I did for Princess Cruises, on the ship after rehearsing in a studio in Los Angeles. The show went on for 5 years on 2 ships whereas I didn’t see any of those productions.

CONGRATS ON ALL OF YOUR AWARDS FOR NICKERBACHER! AFTER

WINNING SO MANY, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS YOUR GREATEST WRITING

ACHIEVEMENT? 

I’m really proud of all the recognition we’ve gotten. But I would say the Story Monster Award is the greatest ‘cause kids chose it. We got a perfect score for that award which apparently has never happened. Most recently, we got first place with Writer’s Digest for the e-book version, which is pretty cool too.

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO PUBLISH WITH AUTHOR HOUSE? HAVE THEY

DONE A LOT FOR HELPING YOU MARKET THE BOOK? 

Their connection with Penguin Random House. Yes, they helped but I did a lot of marketing myself.

HOW WERE YOUR ILLUSTRATORS CHOSEN FOR BOTH BOOKS?

My editor is a friend with Kim Sponaugle who I had watching for a while. I loved her versatility and it seemed to be a perfect fit for Nickerbacher.

For Gollywood, Here I Come! I was originally going to use someone I worked with at the Production Company where I was Creative Director. It turned out she couldn’t fit it into her schedule. I found Mattia Cerato through a recommendation of a friend who has an animation company. I guess my gut feeling was that he’d be perfect and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome.

THE ARTWORK IS INCREDIBLE IN THE STORY. HOW MUCH INPUT DID YOU

HAVE IN THE CREATIVE DIRECTION?

I had a lot of input with both stories but in different ways. Kim & I discussed each scenario at length and worked it out together before she started. Just the cover was a process that took more then a month. In one scene where Nickerbacher is practicing in his room, we wanted pictures of his comedy idols on the wall. Kim worked from actual headshots of my friends in the business.

With Mattia, I extensively laid out what each scenario should be. Since he was in Italy, I had to write everything out. I also sent him a book on Southern California in the 1950’s to give him a sense of the style I was looking for. And he came back with artwork that was above & beyond. With both books, there are first drafts and discussions on any changes needed. It was a huge process and very fun. These artists were a dream to work with.

YOUR BLOG IS FANTASTIC WITH THE TALL, TALL TOWER. SO MUCH FUN!

DID YOU PARTNER WITH THE SAME ARTIST FOR IT? 

No, it was a template I found before we even started. I thought it would be good for what I had in mind.

THERE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN A BETTER TEMPLATE! YOUR CAREER

PORTFOLIO IS AN INSPIRATION! AMONG WRITING, DIRECTING,

CHOREOGRAPHING, FILM, ETC, WHICH CREATIVE OUTLET IS YOUR

FAVORITE? 

Stage was a true love for me and I will always enjoy getting back to it. I had done so much of it that it was really nice to do something different.

 I ALWAYS FIND THIS INTERESTING…DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PLACE TO

WRITE? 

Not so much a favorite place but I loved having my dog at my side. I originally thought up Nickerbacher’s story in a car during a long ride. I finally had to pull off the freeway and write it down on an In & Out Burger bag. Then, of course, I spent a few years refining it.

OTHER THAN WRITING, I KNOW THAT YOU LIKE YOGA AND PILATES. IS

THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU ENJOY IN YOUR SPARE TIME? 

Being with my family and walking my dogs. I now have 2 dachshunds.

SINCE CLEARLY YOU ARE DOING THIS RIGHT, DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR

NEW WRITERS? J 

Persistence and determination. It’s hard when rejection is involved, but stick with it. Because if you stop writing and putting yourself out there, it for sure won’t happen.

ANYTHING YOU’D LIKE TO ADD? 

I’d just like to sincerely thank you for interviewing me and taking the time to review our

book.

                  READING YOUR BOOK AND SPEAKING WITH YOU HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTE                             PLEASURE! THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME! AND NOW FOR....

TERRY'S “BLONDE” BASICS:

FAVORITE FOOD?  Mexican

FAVORITE MOVIE? Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

FAVORITE BOOK? The Little Prince

FAVORITE SUPERHERO?  Wonder Woman

FAVORITE AUTHOR?  Mark Twain

Here's where you can find Terry: 

http://www.nickerbacher.com/

http://nickerbacherdgon.tumblr.com/

https://twitter.com/NickerbacherFun

https://www.facebook.com/nickerbacherthefunniestdragon

https://youtu.be/HChGIJz3Pfo

http://www.gollywoodhereicome.com/

http://tjbkids.tumblr.com/

https://twitter.com/Gobbleville

https://www.facebook.com/gollywoodhereIcome

https://youtu.be/w1EB_pDaBXs

AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH:

HEATH AMODIO

     

A young boy must defend the Books of Power from those that would use them to create an army of the most infamous villains ever written.Villains such as Captain Hook, The Invisible Man, Dorian Gray, and the winged beasts from the land of Oz come to life in the first book of this adventure series. Every famous classic novel was once a hand-written manuscript into which its author poured his or her heart and soul. These manuscripts, full of raw passion and life, have the power to bring characters to life when read aloud. For over a century, protecting these manuscripts from those who would use their infamous villains to wage war on humanity has fallen upon the shoulders of the Adkins Family. Now, with his parents killed and grandfather kidnapped, Shay must take up the mantel of The Keeper and protect the Books of Power from the worst threat yet. For fans of Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and The Hunger Games.  THANKS FOR BEING ON THE BLONDE BOOKIE BLOG, HEATH. TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR BOOK.  My name is Heath Amodio. I write screenplays, comic books, and my first two novels are currently available. The novels are the first two chapters in what I'm hoping is a long series. Book one is The Keeper and the Books of Power. In book one, Shay must face the murders of both parents and prevent his evil uncle from building an army of fiction's most infamous villains. It's Goonies meets a YA adventure in the vein of Percy Jackson and Harry Potter. The second book is The Keeper and the Rise of Hyde. It follows Shay and his friends on another adventure while an even darker enemy rises to power.  GOONIES IS MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE, SO THIS SOUNDS LIKE A SERIES I WOULD LOVE! WHEN AND HOW DID YOU BECOME A WRITER? According to my progress reports in elementary school, I've been writing since grade school. Lol. I started taking it seriously when I decided to take a shot at an open submissions call by Marvel Comics. They chose my comic, along with four other writers, to have my issue published through their indie line Epic. Unfortunately that fell through but it showed me I had some actual talent. I mean it's Marvel after all.  BEING CHOSEN BY MARVEL IS A DREAM, SO CONGRATS ON GETTING THAT FAR. IT'S A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT! WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS YOUR GREATEST WRITING ACHIEVEMENT? Aside from the Marvel thing, I'd have to say wowing actress Emmanuelle Chriqui with my script Weight of It All. We've been friends on Twitter for a few years now and she's always been kind enough to read my work. She loved this particular script and thanks to her I was able to option the script. It's now in pre-production.  WOW! OKAY, YOU MAY BE LIVING MY DREAM. CONGRATS! WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING A WRITER? The lack of time. There are always too many ideas, too many projects, and NEVER enough time. I still work a 9-5 so I can only write in my spare time and stories fall by the wayside because of it. That part sucks.  A close second would be the waiting. Waiting for replies from agents, publishers, etc. It's part of the process, but it feels like being stuck in neutral. It's hard to move onto the next project when you're dying to know the status of the last one.  THE WAITING IS THE WORST, BECAUSE IF YOU START SOMETHING NEW TO GET YOUR MIND OFF OF IT, AT SOME POINT YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO IT. WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT? I'm currently working on two comic book series, a graphic novel, a picture book, the third Keeper book, two television pilots, and putting the finishing touches on three feature screenplays. See what I mean about time?  YOU ARE SUPER BUSY! WHAT GENRE(S) DO YOU WRITE OR WISH TO WRITE? Literally anything and everything. If it comes to mind, I write it.  DO YOU EVER SUFFER FROM WRITER’S BLOCK? HOW DO YOU GET PAST IT?  It's only happened a couple of times. I usually move on to the next thing and go back when I'm inspired. That's why I try to have 2 or 3 things going at once.  DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PLACE TO WRITE? I do 90% of my writing on my phone or tablet now. I guess my favorite place to write is anywhere I have 5 minutes.  YES, YOU HAVE TO GET IT IN WHEN YOU CAN! WHAT’S THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT YOU EVER RECEIVED FROM A READER? There's a 5-way tie.  --When my mother first told me she liked my writing.  --When Marvel said they loved my submission and were going to publish it. --One woman said that she read my first book in three hours and wanted the next one.  --Actor Jonathan Tucker called me and left me a voicemail that said my writing was "a breath of fresh air." That he opened the file just to browse it and couldn't stop reading.  --When Emmanuelle sent me her first reaction to my screenplay. It's NSFW but it was awesome! Honestly I take any kind words with the highest regard.  YOU'VE HAD SOME GREAT ONES! WHAT WAS THE WORST COMMENT FROM A READER? It's not awful or mean but I'm really tired of hearing the words... "I liked it a lot, I just didn't love it."  What am I supposed to do with that? OTHER THAN WRITING, WHAT ELSE DO YOU LOVE? Family, friends, fiancé, my DOG.... I'm obsessed with comics, good tv, great movies, fantasy football, playing basketball, and POPs. DID YOU HAVE YOUR BOOK(S) PROFESSIONALLY EDITED BEFORE PUBLICATION? I had friends that were willing to help. An English teacher named Evan Bates from the local high school did a great job on the first book.  HOW DID YOUR BOOK COVERS COME TO FRUITION? I found a couple amazing artists on Deviantart.com Mathieu Morse did the cover to book one. Carl Canelas did the back cover. Arthur Asa did the cover to book two.  DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN ANY OF YOUR CHARACTERS? I've been told there's a lot of my sense of humor in Shay. WHICH DO YOU PREFER – SELF PUBLISHING OR TRADITIONAL? Haven't published anything traditionally so it's difficult to compare. DOES THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY FRUSTRATE YOU? Immensely.... Liking but not loving lol DID YOU EVER THINK OF QUITTING? Never! GOOD FOR YOU! HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE ‘SUCCESS’ AS A WRITER? When strangers take the time to read my work and enjoy it. There are so many books -- SO MANY -- that knowing they read mine and liked it... Nothing compares. IT IS OVERWHELMING HOW MANY BOOKS ARE OUT THERE AND NEW ONES GETTING PUBLISHED EVERYDAY. DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS? Pay attention to grammar and NEVER give up. Keep working on improving because you can always be better. ANYTHING YOU’D LIKE TO ADD? Just a sincere thank you for giving me this opportunity. I don't have the backing from a major publisher, so interviews like this are what give my books a shot. Self-publishing avenues like Create Space have given writers a chance to get their writing out to people that may have never read a word of it before. We don't have to wait for someone to deem our writing as good enough to publish. It's such a subjective thing and to find that one agent, editor, publisher on the day they were in the right mood to read and enjoy your story... Can you imagine the odds. AMEN TO THAT! OK NOW ON TO HEATH'S QUICKIES... Speed Round—HEATH'S “BLONDE” BASICS: FAVORITE FOOD? Used to be everything Italian but since I'm type 2 diabetic it's basically fully loaded salads. FAVORITE MOVIE? My fallback is always Man on Fire. The top spot tends to change but Man on Fire is always at least number two.  FAVORITE BOOK? IT by Stephen King. I must've read it 6-7 times. Perks of Being a Wallflower, the Ender's Game series, and the Harry Potter series are close seconds. Stephen Fry's Harry Potter Audiobooks are better than the movies.  FAVORITE SUPERHERO? 1. Daredevil 2. Tim Drake's Robin 3. Nightcrawler 4. Beast 5. Colossus 6. Invincible FAVORITE AUTHOR? 1. Stephen King 2. J.K. Rowling 3. Charles Bukowski 4. Robert Ludlum 5. Whoever I'm reading and loving at that moment Where you can find HEATH:  https://www.facebook.com/Keeperboardgame/ https://www.facebook.com/Thekeepernovel/                              THANKS AGAIN FOR JOINING THE BLOG, HEATH :)

AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH:

BROOKE BURGESS

A BOY. A CAT. A NIGHTMARE IN TWO WORLDS!

In the sleepy town of Appleton, a young loner follows a stray cat onto the road and is struck by a car. A leg is shattered, a summer is ruined, and the troubled life of Billy Brahm goes from bad...to cursed.

When the mysterious cat appears at his bedside, Billy is haunted by strange dreams - visions of Watchers, and Shadows, and the Enemy that Awakens. Does this impossible realm hold the key to healing the boy...or is the golden-eyed cat bringing the nightmares to life? 

Too frightened to share the truth with his adoptive parents, Billy turns to the only ones who can help -- the local vet's daughter, the town's 'crazy cat lady'...and a mystical tiger, beckoning from his dreams.

http://www.amazon.com/Cats-Maw-Shadowland-Saga/dp/1500971650

BROOKE BURGESS was born in a tiny town on the eastern coast of Canada. Cats had a presence in his home from the very beginning. They became his siblings, friends, and (benevolent) masters. An old graveyard on a nearby hill was a real (and beautiful) thing. This probably influenced his love of (somewhat) scary stories. Brooke has written for videogames, animation, comic books, and film. He loves mythology, travel, really good TV, and frozen yogurt.

Many of the things in this book (dreams included) actually happened.

THE CAT’S MAW is Brooke’s first novel. 

YOUR CAT IS GORGEOUS! SO TELL US BROOKE, WHEN AND HOW DID YOU BECOME A WRITER?

I just kinda stumbled into it by following the path of least resistance. I used to get in trouble in school for daydreaming, scribbling poetry, and writing short stories. That graduated into crafting tabletop role-playing campaigns and videogame concepts. My grades in English and Creative Writing remained strong throughout university, and as a part-time actor (yes…I dabbled) I began to write scripts for self-produced Fringe Festival plays.

With a few awards under my belt and an offer to write and produce big titles for an AAA videogame company, I guess that’s when it started to feel like being a ‘writer’ was a real thing.

WOW! THOSE ARE TRULY HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THE STUFF THAT WRITERS DREAM ABOUT. WITH ALL THAT IN YOUR WHEELHOUSE, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS YOUR GREATEST WRITING ACHIEVEMENT?

I hate to choose between my ‘children’, as even some of the shortest pieces inspired some pride, and seemed to make a memorable impact. But I would have to say that the 3 YEARS spent writing and producing the world’s first ‘Motion Comic Epic’ – BROKEN SAINTS (www.brokensaints.com) -- garnered the most acclaim/awards, and reached a worldwide audience on the web that was hungry for smart, scary, and (dare I say it) spiritual storytelling.

BROKEN SAINTS LOOKS AMAZING! I JUST MAY BECOME A HUGE FAN. SO WITH ALL YOUR EXPERIENCE, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING A WRITER?

The isolation. It’s an incredibly lonely profession, and it’s often harder for writers vs other artists to connect ‘in the flesh’ with their audience. Musicians and actors and dancers do live performances. Painters and visual artists can do gallery showings. But poor writers work in a vacuum by comparison, so we have to have a lot of faith that our stories aren’t just pebbles getting tossed in the big, black Ocean…

SO SO TRUE. MOST OF MY DAYS ARE SITTING ALONE AND HAVING A RELATIONSHIP WITH MY LAPTOP. WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT?

Right now I’m working on VOL II of the Shadowland Saga (the sequel to THE CAT’S MAW), while keeping up with the stuff that pays the bills – videogame writing!  I just finished the story for a mobile RPG that’s the first game ever from the legendary heavy metal band IRON MAIDEN (www.ironmaidenlegacy.com ), and have another AAA top-secret RPG that’s coming out this summer in 27 languages (!!!) where I’ve done the story, characters, and enough dialogue for a whole new book!

And finally, I’m putting the finishing touches on the deluxe AUDIOBOOK edition of The Cat’s Maw, featuring the award-winning voice of DAVID KAYE (Transformers: Beast Wars, Avengers Assembled, Ratchet & Clank, Last Week Tonight w/ JOHN OLIVER), and the incredible music of TOBIAS TINKER (Stillness3, Broken Saints, Hellboy 2 shorts). 

WOW! I LOVE THAT WRITING FOR VIDEOGAMES PAYS THE BILLS! WHAT GENRE(S) DO YOU WRITE OR WISH TO WRITE?

 I tend to lean towards mysteries and thrillers, with strong undercurrents of supernatural horror.  That said, I’ve always had a soft spot for lyrical/poetic fairytales, brainy scifi, epic fantasy, and children’s books with a ‘spiritual’ side. And I’ll always have a love for graphic novels and comics, as they got me hooked on the written word at a tender age!

DO YOU EVER SUFFER FROM WRITER’S BLOCK?  IF SO, HOW DO YOU GET PAST IT? 

Get physical until you sweat. Hitting stuff works.

Find something -- your flat, desktop, or underwear -- to clean.
Take a lonnnnnng, hot bath. Preferably with lavender oil and bubbles.
If you're writing fiction, watch/read a true story. Flip it for non-fiction.
Find people and/or animals to OBSERVE. 
Sketch, paint, sing, or make some music. Build something!

I'M ABSOLUTELY GOING TO TRY FLIPPING TO NON-FICTION THE NEXT TIME, I'VE NEVER HEARD THAT ONE BEFORE! AND THE BATH, I BET THAT WOULD WORK. DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PLACE TO WRITE?
Anywhere quiet so I can hear the Muse. Preferably somewhere fresh and unfamiliar, as that can trigger new ways of thinking. A view of the sea never hurts. If there’s a resident feline supervisor, even better J

      WHAT’S THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT YOU EVER RECEIVED FROM A READER?

      I don’t want to trivialize this, but several readers have shared that a story of mine gave them hope when they were in a very dark place, and considered ending their lives.  This is probably why I feel so compelled to write things that can inspire on some level, even in their darkest corners.

     WHAT WAS THE WORST COMMENT FROM A READER?

     Oh, we could be here all day with this one :P 

     Let’s see…"pretentious style…stupid characters…absurd situations…boring plot…"

     All of them sting, since creative works feel like your kids! You’d hate to think of one being ‘ugly’

     I LOVE THAT YOU ARE SO HONEST ABOUT THEM - I CAN'T IMAGINE A WRITER WHO HASN'T HEARD SOMETHING HURTFUL AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER. OR PERHAPS MADE THEM CRY A WHOLE WEEKEND OVER COOKIE DOUGH....BUT I SURE WOULDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT ;-) OTHER THAN WRITING, WHAT ELSE DO YOU LOVE?

      Lots of things!  But if I had to pick, I’d probably say it’s a tie between travel…and cats J That’s pretty much my reason for staying in Southeast Asia the past few years…there are lots of little islands where it feels like you’ve stepped back in time (but with WIFI!), and some of them have more cats than people.

      GOTTA HAVE THE WIFI THOUGH. DID YOU HAVE YOUR BOOK(S) PROFESSIONALLY EDITED BEFORE PUBLICATION?

      Yes. I’m blessed to have a good friend whose father was an acclaimed author and children’s editor – SEAMUS CASHMAN. He’s retired now, but took the time to give me thoughtful (and thorough) ‘coverage’ on the second draft of THE CAT’S MAW.

    THE CAT'S MAW COVER IS INCREDIBLE....

     HOW DID YOUR BOOK COVER / BOOK TRAILER COME TO FRUITION?   

      The BOOK COVER was a collaboration between an illustrator pal (who I’ve worked with on the graphic novel BECOMING) and a visual artist chum who’s a whiz at photoshop, colour comps, and layout.

With the BOOK TRAILER, I got a chance to polish off the ol’ editing and voice directing skills, commission some original music, gather up my review quotes and concept art for the series, and put it all together in a shiny (and spooky!) package. I hope you like it!  

 

I LOOOOOOVE IT! SO WELL DONE! AND IT WILL BE TOUGH TO TOP THAT COVER FOR YOUR NEXT. DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN ANY OF YOUR CHARACTERS?

Any writer worth their salt will tell you that all of their characters are at least facets of themselves.

And I must admit – after a few decades of doing this writing thing, the most rewarding experiences for me are the ones where the characters mirror some hidden emotional aspect – where they help me to gain some measure of self-understanding once the story is complete.

Besides…Brooke Burgess = B.B. = Billy Brahm…which kinda makes sense, considering that THE CAT’S MAW/The Shadowland Saga is more than a little bit autobiographical ;-)

I TOTALLY CAUGHT THE BB THING BEFORE YOU SAID IT! WHICH DO YOU PREFER – SELF-PUBLISHING OR TRADITIONAL?

Self-pub’ing gives you more control over your finished project (the edit, cover art, etc), a higher percentage of potential sales, and complete ownership over your IP: Intellectual Property. 

On the other hand, the Traditional model gives you access to much more marketing muscle, mainstream distribution, and the potentially massive upside of selling/translating your book in more languages and territories.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S EVER BEEN SAID BETTER. DOES THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY FRUSTRATE YOU?

Is grass green and the sky blue? J

I think there’s still this feeling among professional writers that the industry isn’t evolving with readers and the host of digital tools and platforms available. Instead, it seems to be focusing as a whole on doing whatever it can to maximize profits in the short term…which tends to equate to watered-down stories for the lowest common denominator audience.

It’s becoming more and more like Hollywood:

•      desperately search for something that sells
•      once you find it, do the same thing a thousand more times with different creators in order to establish a ‘trend’
•      milk the proverbial cow of that trend until it falls over dead and drained
•      repeat step 1

      UM YUP. DID YOU EVER THINK OF QUITTING?

Absolutely. Still do. Often.

But I’m getting up there in years and, sadly, I’m not very good at much else…

Do you happen to know how much Cat Wranglers get paid? ;)

I'M NOT SURE BUT PERHAPS TRAINING TIGERS MIGHT BE HIGHER ON THE PAY SCALE?? ;-) HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE ‘SUCCESS’ AS A WRITER?

Telling the story YOU need to tell.  The one that’s been burning inside. The one that feels like your ‘life’s work’.  Putting it to (digital) paper with sweat on your brow and blood on your fingertips.

And then, after giving a painful birth to your ‘baby’ (along with random shards of glass and the literary equivalent of a ‘bundle of joy’ wrapped in razor-wire), having the stones to put it out there…to bravely/madly/foolishly share it with the world in the hopes of reaching just one person who might get it…and be changed forever by it.

Still…a multiple film or Netflix series deal wouldn’t suck either.

 YES, YES, AND YES. DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS?

·       READ something new every day. Fiction or non-fiction. News or opinion. Books, poetry, graphic novels, interactive stories…hell, the back of cereal boxes.

·       OBSERVE your surroundings. Sit for hours and watch people. LISTENING is even better. The more completely you pay attention to the details and motivations of those around you, the richer your characters will be on the page.

·       Say your DIALOGUE out loud! This helps immeasurably to find the ‘voice’ of a character – if it sounds dumb or ‘off’ when you speak it? Then it’ll flounder with your audience when they read it.

·       Don’t beat yourself up during the first draft – it all comes together in the EDIT.

·       You’re not going to get rich with this gig. Write the stories that YOU want to see come alive. If you do it for anyone else – a target audience, a publisher’s demand, a critic with influential reviews – you’ll be disappointed in the end. 

DIALOGUE WAS MY WORST ENEMY IN YEARS PAST. I THINK IT'S TRULY THE HARDEST THING TO GET RIGHT. BUT THAT'S GREAT ADVICE TO SAY IT OUT LOUD. OR EVEN GET A BUDDY TO DO A TABLE READING WITH YOU. THANKS FOR THE POINTERS! ANYTHING YOU’D LIKE TO ADD?

Well, it looks like I gotta end this with some blatant self-promotion…since that’s half of a writer’s job these days!  But at least I can promise that these won’t be boring :D

www.brookeburgess.com -- my author site with a regular blog, lots of goodies from past projects, and special contests and events!

www.facebook.com/brookematthewburgess -- the official FB page, where I post heaps of links about the craft of storytelling, as well as news on some of the projects I’m personally excited for – film, TV, games, books, comics – from other immensely talented creators.

www.twitter.com/brokensaint -- I try to tweet a few times a week, especially now that I’m starting to experiment with live broadcasts on Periscope.

www.instagram.com/brokensaint -- candid daily pics from my little island hideaway – this is for book, cat, and travel lovers!

www.youtube.com/brokensaint -- project trailers, video blogs, rants, animations…even some NSFW slam poetry!

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6082927.Brooke_Burgess -- my page on the only social network for writers that matter: GOODREADS!

AIN'T NO SHAME IN THAT GAME!

OK DRUM-ROLL PLEASE.........

BROOKE's “BLONDE” BASICS:
That has a nice ring to it, doesn't it??

FAVORITE FOOD?  Anything ‘Mediterranean’.  Fresh goat cheese, falafel, and wine please!

FAVORITE MOVIE? As a kid? TIME BANDITS. As a teen? BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA. As an adult? TWIN PEAKS: Fire Walk With Me

FAVORITE BOOK? The Alchemist / The Prophet / The Magus / SANDMAN Anthology

FAVORITE SUPERHERO?  SUPERMAN…’cause I’m an adopted kid who just wants to help.

FAVORITE AUTHOR?   NEIL GAIMAN.  Sandman for LIFE, son J

:) BROOKE, YOU ARE AWESOME! SO MUCH FUN TO HANG OUT WITH! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING THE BLONDE BOOKIE BLOG TODAY!

AND YOUR ISLAND HIDEAWAY HOME IS A DREAM PARADISE! WISH I COULD JOIN YOU!

Author Interview with
ALI B:

 

BOOK ONE:
Iris Brave isn’t as courageous as her name suggests. That’s about to change. Iris doesn’t take risks. Heights make her dizzy and she prefers to swim in the shallow end… with nose plugs. On a summer visit to her grandpa’s farm, a mysterious stranger shadows Iris, leaving her cryptic messages. When this outsider turns out be a phantom from her family’s past, Iris sheds her timid ways to uncover the truth and protect the family she loves. Along the way Iris discovers family secrets and enigmatic figures that lead her to question everything she’s ever thought was real.
BOOK TWO:
There are people out there who don’t die with their bodies. Their souls live on in the bodies of others. Some good, some bad—they are soul jumpers. Nothing in Iris Brave’s world make sense anymore. Her father, Micah, is still alive—his soul survives in the body of a teenage boy. It is up to Iris and a group of soul jumpers called the Sixteen to save Micah. To do so Iris must take on the unscrupulous leaders of the Council. Can she save her father? Will she survive?

I'm so excited to speak with the Author of  THE SOUL JUMPERS SERIES - Ali B. - CHECK OUT HER INTERVIEW WITH ME....

HI ALI - TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR BOOK. 

I am a primary grades teacher in San Diego. In addition to darling students, I share my life with my handsome husband, two beautiful children, and three spoiled dogs. I am lost without a good book to read. My other great passion is basketball.

WHEN AND HOW DID YOU BECOME A WRITER?

I’ve always been a writer. I loved writing stories when I was a kid. I’ve shared my writing with my students, but not until Iris Brave, my first novel, did I think about publishing.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST WRITING ACHIEVEMENT?

My first fan letter in response to Iris Brave.

 WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING A WRITER?

Finding time in a busy life to sit down and do it.

 WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT?

I’m working on publicity and mapping out book three.

 WHAT GENRE(S) DO YOU WRITE?

Middle Grade Fiction

DO YOU EVER SUFFER FROM WRITER’S BLOCK?  IF SO, HOW DO YOU GET PAST IT? 

Yes. Doesn’t everyone? If I can’t move forward in my story, I back up and edit for a while.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PLACE TO WRITE?

Anywhere that has limited distractions. Coffee houses are great. My bedroom with the door closed. In the car if my husband is driving. Anywhere.

 WHAT’S THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT YOU EVER RECEIVED FROM A READER?

Many of my readers have told me they identify with Iris, the main character in Iris Brave and The Sixteen. That’s what I wanted. Connection. Identification.

WHAT WAS THE WORST COMMENT FROM A READER?

My fans are honest, but they are also polite. I haven’t had my feelings hurt. I take their comments and suggestions as compliments. If they can critique, it means they were engaged.

THAT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT FOR OTHER WRITERS TO REMEMBER. HOW DID YOUR BOOK COVERS COME TO FRUITION?   

I had an idea, but no talent for explaining it. Luckily, I have the best book designer ever. Gregory Smith took my scribbles and made them into beautiful covers.

DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN ANY OF YOUR CHARACTERS?

All of them. There’s a little part of me in each of my characters – good and bad.

HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE ‘SUCCESS’ AS A WRITER?

When my fans ask when the third book is coming out – that’s success. 

THAT'S THE BEST FEELING! DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS?

Join a critique group. Hire an editor. Get beta-readers to critique and offer suggestions. Listen.

ANYTHING YOU’D LIKE TO ADD?

What ever you attempt, do it with bravery!

Like it! And now for the Speed Round of Questions...

ALI's “BLONDE” BASICS:

FAVORITE FOOD?  Papaya

FAVORITE MOVIE? The Princess Bride

FAVORITE BOOK? Just one? Okay. To Kill A Mockingbird

FAVORITE SUPERHERO?  Mr. Incredible

FAVORITE AUTHOR?   J.D. Salinger

PRINCESS BRIDE, YESSSSSSSS! :) ALI, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING THE BLONDE BOOKIE BLOG TODAY!

NOW, HERE'S WHERE YOU CAN FIND ALI AND HER BOOKS:

alibbooks.com

alib@alibbooks.com

@alibreidenstein

literarylunchbox.blogspot.com

facebook.com/alibbooks