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

Author Interview with
JONATHAN  BERNSTEIN:

Middle school meets Mission Impossible in this hilarious spy series for fans of Chris Rylander, Stuart Gibbs, and Ally Carter about a girl whose life is turned upside down when she discovers her father is a superspy. Up until Bridget’s birthday the most exciting moment in her life was when Dale Tookey maybe, sort of, smiled at her one time. But that was before—before she found a mysterious present at her doorstep, before she was transported to a covert CIA agency called Section 23, and before she became Bridget Wilder: Spy-in-Training. Now Bridget’s busting boys out of detention, being chauffeured by a talking car, and infiltrating the popular girls’ clique to steal secret codes, all while undercover as a semi-awkward middle school girl. But will she be able to keep up with her new action-packed life?

It is no secret—Bridget Wilder: Spy-in-Training is the start of an explosive new series packed with gadgets, humor, and best of all: girl power.

I'm so excited to speak with the super cool Author of  BRIDGET WILDER: SPY-IN-TRAINING - Jonathan Bernstein - CHECK OUT HIS AWESOME BOOK TRAILER TOO......

THANKS FOR BEING HERE JONATHAN. TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR BOOK. 

My name is Jonathan Bernstein. I was born in Glasgow, Scotland and now reside in Los Angeles. My book, Bridget Wilder: Spy-In-Training, is the first in a trilogy aimed at middle grade audiences. It’s a fun and action-packed story about an adopted girl who sees herself as an unremarkable daughter, a mediocre student, and a not-great friend. Then she discovers her real father is a legendary spy who wants to recruit her into the family business. Many twists follow.

WHEN AND HOW DID YOU BECOME A WRITER?

I began writing for music magazines in the late Eighties. I moved to New York the following decade and wrote about film and TV for various publications. My first non-fiction book, Pretty In Pink: The Golden Age of the Teen Movie, was published in the mid-Nineties. I relocated to Los Angeles to pursue a screenwriting career with, shall we say, middling success. I wrote my first fictional book the YA superhero comedy, Hottie, in 2009, and have been a book-writing machine ever since. Machine might be a bit strong.

WOW! THAT'S QUITE A CAREER. WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST WRITING ACHIEVEMENT? 

That, at my advanced age, I’m able to write for a young audience, and not be denounced, jeered and run out of town as a fake and a phony. Not yet, anyway.

WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING A WRITER?

Starting. That blank screen is unforgiving and the distractions are many.

TOTALLY AGREED. SO WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT?

Just finished the edit notes of Bridget Wilder: Live Free, Spy Hard, #3 in the trilogy, which will be out early next year. I have also finished a first draft of a new book. Let’s wait and see what happens to that one.

YOU ARE A WRITING MACHINE! WHAT GENRE(S) DO YOU WRITE OR WISH TO WRITE IN THE FUTURE?

I’ve done superhero and spy. I think horror’s probably next on the list.

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

I come from a magazine background which means that a looming deadline is a great cure for writer’s block. When I don’t have to deliver a piece by an arranged date, that’s when my mind can start to wander and I go down a You Tube hole for hours on end.

MINE IS A TELEVISION HOLE. DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PLACE TO WRITE?

Anywhere that isn’t around people works for me.

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

A parent said her child wouldn’t go to sleep because she was so riveted reading Bridget Wilder: Spy-In-Training. 

 WHAT WAS THE WORST COMMENT FROM A READER?

I have been nailed several times, correctly, for my over-reliance on pop-culture references. I’m trying to quit!

OTHER THAN WRITING, WHAT ELSE DO YOU LOVE?

I’m a big TV watcher, a voracious podcast listener, and I like to eat.

DID YOU HAVE YOUR BOOK(S) PROFESSIONALLY EDITED BEFORE PUBLICATION?

Yes.

YOUR BOOK TRAILER GOT ME VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE TRILOGY. AND YOUR COVER IS AWESOME! HOW DID THEY COME TO FRUITION?    

My editor kept me up to speed with both at various stages of production, and listened to any suggestions I had, ignoring the stupider ones (More explosions!)

DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN ANY OF YOUR CHARACTERS?

Yes, I see myself in Bridget’s dad. Not the spy, her adopted father who sits in a chair and watches TV. He seems mostly oblivious but is actually funny and supportive. For an old dude. Also, there’s an obnoxious class clown who torments Bridget at school. There’s a bit of me in that guy, too, sadly.

WHICH DO YOU PREFER – SELF PUBLISHING OR TRADITIONAL?

I only know traditional at this point, so that would be my choice.

DOES THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY FRUSTRATE YOU?

I have had frustrations in the past but I’m quite happy with the support shown by my current publisher.

DID YOU EVER THINK OF QUITTING?

Quitting is my favorite thing in the world. I always want to quit everything. But then I remember I like eating.

HILARIOUS! HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE ‘SUCCESS’ AS A WRITER?

Being able to continue to do it. To get better each time you do it. 

DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS?

Try and finish anything you start. Try to find your own voice. Try not to take rejection personally. (I have failed at all three of these at one time or another.)

GREAT ADVICE, TRULY :) ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO ADD?

Thanks for having me.

Thanks for being here! Alrighty, now for the Speed Round of Questions...

JONATHAN's “BLONDE” BASICS:

FAVORITE FOOD?  Potato kugel. It’s comfort food for a cold day. Not healthy in any way, but a current go-to in my fridge.

FAVORITE MOVIE? WAY too many to mention, so I’ll go with last year’s bests: Fury Road, Creed, Sicario.

FAVORITE BOOK? Again way too many, so I’ll go with the one I’m currently reading; The Comedians, by Kliph Nesteroff, which is fantastic.

FAVORITE SUPERHERO?  Jessica Jones, The Flash.

FAVORITE AUTHOR?  I read everything Megan Abbott writes.

FURY ROAD IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES! :)  JONATHAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING THE BLONDE BOOKIE BLOG TODAY!

NOW, HERE'S WHERE YOU CAN FIND HIM AND HIS BOOKS:

My website is http://www.jonathanbernsteinwrites.com

I’m on twitter @jbpeevish

Instagram:peevishjb

Facebook: Jonathan Bernstein.

AS A BONUS, HERE'S A SNEAK PEEK AT THE 2ND BOOK IN THE BRIDGET WILDER TRILOGY - Bridget Wilder: Spy to the Rescue - due out May 31, 2016. 

Click on the cover or the Link below to Pre-Order.......

FOR PRE-ORDER CLICK HERE: 
http://www.amazon.com/Bridget-Wilder-Spy-Rescue/dp/0062382691/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1453862219&sr=8-1&keywords=bridget+wilder+spy+to+the+rescue

Middle school meets Mission: Impossible in the second hilarious adventure of a girl whose life is turned upside down when her long-lost father recruits her to be a superspy.

When the top-secret spy agency that recruited Bridget turns out to be a fake, Bridget hopes her superspy father will teach her his tricks, stealth codes, and martial-arts moves (WRONG!). Instead of drop-kicking evil villains and shooting laser beams from her lip gloss, he wants to bond over normal (aka BORING!) stuff like TV, fro yo, and boy talk. But when Bridget gets framed for stealing cheerleading secrets and ruining the most glamorous party of the birthday season, her spy instincts kick in: she’s being set up. And when her spy dad goes missing, Bridget knows she’s the only one who can bring him back alive—official spy or not.

Now Bridget’s back in the spy game and on a plane headed straight to New York City with her best friend by her side and a crafty nanomarble sidekick that does everything from hacking phones to taking down the fiercest enemy agents. Can Bridget ditch her annoying older brother/chaperone, squash a budding crush, and prevent global disaster before her mom texts to check in? Or are Bridget’s days as a spy over—for good?

It is no secret—Bridget Wilder: Spy to the Rescue is part of an explosive new series packed with humor, high-tech gadgets, and best of all: girl power.

I'm excited for the third book!