Hey friends and followers~ I'm sorry my blogging has been sporadic. I've been trying hard to finish my next book. But stick around!!! In the next few months, there will be some exciting things happening on my blog. :)
Whats to come:
~ I'll be a host on some upcoming tours
~ Book Reveals
~ Author Interviews
~ Giveaways
~AND...there will be teasers and fun things from my upcoming books!!! Thanks for being patient with me!!!
It is my greatest pleasure to have Author Madison Daniel on my blog today! I hope you enjoy the interview, and stay until the end...There will be a surprise!!!
MD is of course Madison, and CR is mwah!
Enjoy!!!
About the Author: Music is LIFE and the written word is our SOUL. Music and writing have been my true ambition since I was a child. I have used music in every form possible; writing it, performing it, healing with it, etc. I call it my "life's soundtrack." I have always written in some form, from comic books to screenplays to short stories and now the new series "Ember." I have spent my writing life inspired by all the music of the universe, 80's movies and eye candy. When not writing I enjoy dreaming out loud, challenging the real world and inspiring the ones I love. I have found a true passion for my stories and characters and am eager to share them with the world.
“Okay Madison...First question: Who or what
inspires you?”
MD:
Music is my biggest inspiration. I live it. I love it. I need it. But I find
that life is made up of moments, good and bad. They seem to push my creative
spirit the most.
How
about you, any moments that have brought you inspiration?
CR: I have to totally
agree with you on that one! Playing the right music has a great effect on my
writing, and has cured most of my writers block, and is a huge part of my
writing moving forward.
“What are
some of your other passions, besides writing and music?”
MD:
Art. Painting and drawing in particular. Art is the study and craving of
“lines.” The sharp and Gothic angle of a buildings majestic doorway. The round
and comforting ripple on the water from a pebble dropped into it. The sleek and
inviting “V” of a woman’s neck to her collar bone. Lines, they rule my artistic
passions. That and I dig Xbox! Ha.
Is this that inviting "V" Madison??? haha
What’s
the last painting or image that’s moved you or stolen your breath?
CR: Wow…I
must say you have an artistic eye.
As for me,
the most recent thing that stole my breath was a place that we drove to here in
Alaska. It’s a place called Hatcher’s Pass. We were surrounded by majestic
mountains lightly dusted with snow. Below us were rivers and a lake with a
beaver dam, and all around us was nature…pure, untouched, and serene. Blueberry
bushes, all over the hillside were bountiful. No noise, no cell service…just
us. It was a magical, breathtaking moment! Photo's below... :)
“What is
something people would be surprised to know about you?”
MD:
I’m really a blonde. I’m. Dead. Serious.
Ahem,
not buying it...okay. You’re right, I made that up. :)
Hmmm...I
used to break-dance. For real. Seriously. (AND I WAS GREAT AT IT!) Wanna see?
CR: Break-dancing??? hahaha OMG ~ Yes!!! I'd love to see that!!!
Any YouTube videos we can watch??? LOL
***Madison has
responded…He does have a video of himself moon-walking, HOWEVER that tape will be going
to the grave with him!*** LMBO
“So, when did you
realize that writing is what you wanted to do?”
MD:
Probably back in high school. Literature II, first period, my Junior year. I
was turning in all these short stories or poems or whatever the teacher asked
for, and getting back “A’s.” But the thing was, I wasn’t even really trying. I
would just scribble down some old lyrics from a song I had written in my band
or an old childhood fantasy. After the 5th or 6th “A” in
a row, I started to think there might be something to this. I ignored the true
writing urge for another decade before writing Ember in a dazed, musical
daydream at work. I’ve never looked back.
Cameo,
were you scared letting people see the first thing you ever wrote?
CR: Actually, I was
terrified. I wasn’t sure if people would like what I wrote, and I always had
butterflies when I knew someone was reading it!!! Actually, it still does. I
don’t think they will ever go away!
“Do you write
in absolute silence or the madness around you?”
MD:
Both. Due to the fact that I am a raging (and rocking) insomniac, I have plenty
of quiet time to put my dreams down on paper. Music (loud and soft) is a
constant though. Sometimes I am singing it. Sometimes playing it. Always
dancing to it!
What
about you, do you write best in the calm or the storm?
CR: In My
Dreams was written in the midst of a hurricane. The kids would come home at night,
plop on our bed, and watch movies while I wrote. TV blasting, laughing, and loud talking was done all around me. It was crazy but I found a way to write within the storm. :)
“What are
your favorites?? (Movie, book, person, etc.)”
MD:
Favorite movie is The Crow. BUT The Shawshank Redemption is a very close
second! Favorite book is Fire-Starter by Stephen King. Not his best book but it
has always connected with me on so many levels. Fav person? Hmmm...in public or
personal? Fav public person would be Morgan Freeman. He is a true bad @ss!!!
And the best person I know would be my best friend. That “friend” will remain a
secret...for now.
Okay,
let’s flip this question! Cameo, name the worst movie, book, person, etc. Ha!
Alright, you don’t have to name any “worst people” but let’s hear it...worst
movie. :)
CR: Oh gosh! Worst movie so far would have to be THE DEAD. We rented it from RedBox and it said "Best Zombie Movie of the Year". Yeah right!!! Who voted??? It was so excruciatingly lame, that I couldn't even watch it. Fit, able bodied people, that can't outrun zombies that are moving less than one mile an hour! And then, they get eaten!!!
I say...GOOD!!! DIE!!! Ugh...So frustrating... Lol (Sorry... I had to vent.)
“What advice
would you be willing to offer to those who are writing their own books but have
yet got to the stage of publishing?”
MD:
Trust your words. My motto is “shut-up and write!” Just get your story on paper
or in the keys of your computer. Figure everything else out later. Chase your
muse and write on!
What’s
the best and worst advice you have gotten since starting your writing journey?
(And please don’t say my advice above as the worst...hehehehe...)
CR: Actually,
Madison… your advice is pretty awesome! MY best advice ~ Write a little every
day, whether you want to or not. Even a few hundred words are a few hundred closer
to your novel being complete! :)
Worst advice…
Give up. Don't give up! You'll never know if you had a best seller... :)
“Favorite
crayon color?”
MD:
All of them! There are no bad crayons! Just bad artists. Stop judging my
colorful friends. And the answer is Crimson.
Favorite
candy? Go!
CR: Snickers!
“Procrastination,
is there a way of avoiding it?”
MD:
Dancing.
~
DANCE INTERLUDE!!! BOOM!!! ~
MD:
Much better.
CR: Yeah...I think I might have pulled something while doing the Paralyzer. Lol Just kidding... :p
“How do you
interact with you characters when planning out your novels, do they tell you
what they want or do you tell them?”
MD: A
little of both. I usually crush on them at some point. When I am in infatuation
mode, I will do anything for my character. It’s so hard to write something that
hurts your character. And anyone who’s read my series knows there is plenty of
emotional turmoil for my cast.
Have
you ever refused to write something that would hurt or damage your favorite
character in a story? Do you have boundaries or are you a “take no prisoners”
writer?
CR: I've never refused to write anything, even if it hurt my favorite character. I write what comes to me, and hope that it all works out in the end!!! If it doesn't...there will be a lot of editing.
MD: ~
SHOUT OUTS!!! ~
Raine
Thomas!
Alexia
Purdy!
Nely
Cab!
Tymothy
Langoria!
Jack
Sparrow!
Santa
Claus!
Coca
Cola!
Gummy
Bears!
Awesome shout outs...but I prefer Dr. Pepper over Coke! Lol
“And…because INQUIRING MINDS want to know, Madison…Are you Team Jacob or Team Edward?”
MD:
This is a 3 part question. BUT first, I am going on record that I am a big fan
of BOTH the books and the movies (but for much different reasons).
Part
1: THE BOOKS! I was actually one of the handful of men who read the series
before the movie machine took over. In the book series (before any of the
movies were cast or filmed), I am completely Team Edward. You have to be. The
story doesn’t grip you or pull you in unless you believe and crave the love
between Bella and Edward. Personally, I couldn’t stand Jacob in the books. I
found him annoying and a just a way to expand the books.
Part
2: THE MOVIES! Now in the movies, the way the love triangle is played out and
brought to life...I am whole heartedly Team Jacob. He really is better for Bella
even if the baby thing comes off weird on screen. Sadly, Edward has been so
watered down with each film and Jacob the opposite. I couldn’t believe by the
end of New Moon (the movie) I had flipped to Team Werewolf! Ha.
Part
3: Soooooo, to answer your question...I am 110% completely and totally...
...Team
Alice!
She
was awesome and lovable in the books. And she is quite...ahem...yummy in the
movies!
UGH!!! Okay...I'll let you keep your yummy answer... :p
Alright,
your turn my friend! Peeta or Gale?
CR: I was a
fan of Gale from the books, and after his character was cast in the movies…it
locked in my fan-girl vote. Plus, he is Thor’s brother… Need I say more?
MD:
Thanks for having me Cameo! You are the best. I am becoming a big fan of yours.
You rock and I hope your future is filled with giggles and warm fuzzy feelings.
We sooooooooo have to do this again! Mahalo!!! (that means ‘WORD’ on the
islands...) Write like a rockstar!
Now,
let’s give away some prizes!!! ~ M
CR: Thanks,
Madison!!! I am a huge fan of yours, and can’t wait for the rest of the Ember
Series to come out!!!
Today I have the absolute pleasure of having Melissa Lee on my blog!!! She is the Author of The Earth Painter, which has been getting some AMAZING reviews!!!
Book Description:
The Sculptor was alone. The world was gray, as it always had been. And then
the Sculptor said, “It is time… Time for color, Time for more, The
beginning.” With a word, three sculptures became aware. And they needed to
paint. There was Ocean, Sky, Land, and Life all painted into place. Then
it ended, just as quickly as it started. Then the painters were no longer
needed. But they were still…AWARE. And it was in this awareness that the
battle began. And continues.
When a self-conscious young woman discovers
the boy in drama class is actually the immortal who painted the world into
being, she becomes the target of another painter who could shatter not only her
new sense of hope, but her world, as well.
Welcome to my blog, Melissa. :) I have a few questions for you...
What was your reaction when you held The Earth Painter (in book form) in your hands for the first time?
It was surreal. Bliss. Even after signing the contract, part of me kept waiting for it to fall apart.
Describe your writing process.
Characters usually show up in my head and then I get all nosey and ask them questions until I know enough about them to sit down and write.
What Inspired you to write The Earth Painter?
I was putting away laundry in my sons' room when I suddenly saw this battle inside my old high school between a guy who lived up in the catwalk of the stage and another supernatural guy. And there was a girl just trying to get by in her normal high school life dragged into it. I listened and watched and wrote it all down.
What is the one thing you want people to remember about The Earth Painter?
That everyone has a purpose and talent and beauty.
What are you working on next?
I'm finishing up The Man Painter rewrites and edits and it should be out November 2012. Then I have a time travel thing I'm planning along with a faerie steampunk after that.
If you could give aspiring writers one piece of advice, what would it be?
Study the craft as much as you can but in the end, write what makes your heart sing.
That's some great advice, Melissa. I have The Earth Painter in my Kindle, and can't wait to read it! And...I love the cover!!!
.JPG)
