Guest Post via Ella Medler

Fun post I wrote about 2012 Olympics at: Olympic article

Follow-up Author Interview: Ella Medler

We have the pleasure of welcoming back a great friend, Ella Medler, to speak with us.

Welcome back Ella, thanks to for stopping by and updating us on what you have been up to recently.

Author Ella Medler

You’ve been very busy since we last spoke to you. Can you give our readers a brief summary of your “crazy” life these last couple months?

Ha, ha. Yeah, I guess crazy is a very good word for it. I did quite a bit of editing, a few reviews and published my thriller, Blood is Heavier. I have put some work into my blog, too. I am now involved in an Indiethon, supporting indie authors on blogs. I also contributed to the Grim5Next mixed media project (here’s the link for more details Grim5Next). I do beta-reading via a group on Facebook, too. Oh, and did I mention that I am co-authoring a series of 5 to 8 novels with Kristie Haigwood? That’s beside working on an Author Resources book which is scheduled for release in September and the second in the Hunter Thriller series, a sequel to Blood is Heavier, due out in December. Oh, and I’ll publish Blood is Heavier in paperback, too, probably in July.

So not really that busy at all then, huh?

You new novel: Blood is Heavier, is available on Amazon. Please tell us about it in 20 words or less:

Nick Hunter is an ex-contract killer whose life is turned upside-down when his past catches up with him.

I like the sound of that…

You are quite the active blogger these days. Can you tell us what benefits your site has brought you as an author?

The best thing is that it keeps me on my toes. It’s a daily blog and the only days I missed since its inception were the Easter holidays and one day when my internet provider did some upgrades – I tell you, even being away for a day was torture. Now, I am not one of those super-organized people who schedule things and write their posts a month in advance. I can’t do that. I react to what is going on around me. If I read something that makes me feel strongly enough about an issue, I write about it and post it right away. Some days I open up a new post and just improvise a short. Some days I organize spotlights on indie authors and their books, or write book reviews. I’ve had funny posts and serious ones, inspired by the state of the publishing industry. It’s fun, and I love it.

An equally important benefit of daily blogging is that I get to see other bloggers’ posts. I learn from reading their stories as much as they do by reading mine. Despite an initial tidal wave of spam, I did make a lot of new friends, and there are a few blogs that I check out daily.

Oh, but I didn’t say – I am going to add some more pages. I definitely need more space, and my books deserve a place of their own, too. That’s all in the pipeline. Watch this space…

What has been the harshest critique you have ever received concerning your writing?

You mean, apart from the query letters to a couple of agents that received no answer? It would have to be my only 2-star review, then. The funny thing is, the reviewer is not complaining about the quality of my writing, or even the story, which is ‘well done and readable’. It’s just ‘too much thinking’ for him, and he doesn’t understand this is only book one of a trilogy. Here is the review in its entirety (and I promise you, apart from a kiss at the very beginning, there is no hint of romance anywhere):

The tags for this book on Smashwords are "fiction, thriller, suspense, murder, action, kidnap". These are accurate, but what they don't include is "romance", "love", or "endless soul searching".
I enjoyed the writing style, but thought that the story was illogical.
Our hero, Nick Hunter, is an ex-Army, ex-gun for hire tortured by an incident from his army days. He meets the love of his life on a beach and he determines to leave the work he has been doing and devote himself to his new love.
Everything goes according to plan until someone from his past decides that murdering his wife and kidnapping his son is the best way to make him help them with a "job". What follows is Nick being led around the country until the day of the job. This is well done and readable. What threw me out of the story was that I could not imagine why they needed him at all. The final straw to break this reviewers back was when a four-year old swims across a reservoir at night to feel safer than being on dry land. And a hero who spends most of his time thinking rather than doing.
More Romance than Thriller, this was not my cup of tea.
(I read the Kindle Edition which I downloaded for free during a promotion).

As a writer, it is considered unprofessional and inappropriate to give a retort to a critic or criticism. Were it “politically correct” to address your critics personally, what would be the one thing you would say to them?

“Thank you for your opinion.” If the critique is detailed and constructive, I would look for a way to address and correct my failings. If the critique is destructive, I would ignore it and pray that person will eventually find a book he or she likes.

You have a patience I hope to cultivate within myself someday.

Tell us about your current endeavors with Paradox and any other projects you are involved with?

You must be referring to my editing services. All the information you need is on this page http://paradoxbooktrailerproductions.blogspot.com.au/ It’s an Authors Resources site which offers every service – from formatting a manuscript to editing, cover design and even book teaser trailers – and you will find the rates very affordable. You can see samples of covers and trailers and get in touch with people who have already used our services for references, if you wish. It all started as a helping hand offered to our fellow authors who would like to publish their work and grew from there. I believe there are new services being offered all the time.

I’ve mentioned my other projects as an answer to your first question.

Being a fiction author, you must have a very healthy imagination. Using that vivid imagination, please tell us which one of your fictional creations you’d most like to spend a day with, what would that day consist of, and why?

Ahhh. Now you’re making me choose! Not fair.

It would have to be Martin Little, from my Martin Little series. I know an ex-contract killer like Nick Hunter might come in handy, but really Martin is so sweet and so funny, I’d love to spend a day with him. I think we’d throw ourselves off a cliff first, die, then go and break into Heaven and join in some of the angels’ partying, or maybe even go for a quick ride to Hell and back. In the process, we’d get our guardian angels in trouble and break a few rules. And we’d be wishing for things that would embarrass every stiff-nosed official in the Heavenly Health and Safety department. To finish off, we’d be joining in with the heroes’ virtual training on Xbox and other gadgets and then teach St. George some dance moves.

Why? Escapism. And because there’s a lot more I can think of doing than you have space for on your blog.

What is the last thing you read? Did you like it, hate it?

Hells Angel by Kim Faulks. Loved it. It was, once more, a genre I hadn’t read before – paranormal, but dark and gritty. I recommend it. You will not be the same again once you’ve read that book. You can read my review of it on my blog, here: Faulks

What was the last movie you watched? Did you like it, hate it?

The second Sherlock Holmes movie directed by Guy Ritchie. Very talented cast, good effects, fast-paced, right up my street. Loved it.

I watched it recently as well, not my favorite movie, but adequate I suppose.

Where can readers find your works and follow you?

You can reach me by simply leaving a message on my blog: Blog

I’m on Facebook and twitter, too, with links from my author website http://www.ellamedler.com/

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Blood is Heavier is free to download from

Smashwords: Smashwords

Diesel: Diesel

Kobo: Kobo

and (soon) Barnes & Noble.

Amazon hasn’t price-matched yet, but it’s there, too: Amazon

Here’s a link to my author page on Amazon, where you can see them all: Ella Medler Author Page

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Martin Little, Resurrected is available from

Amazon (paperback and Kindle): Martin Little Amazon

Barnes&Noble: Martin Little B&N

Kobo: Martin Little Kobo

Omnilit: Martin Little OmniLit

Waterstones: Martin Little Waterstones

And in pretty much every other format you can think of.

Well you certainly have been very busy since our last chat.

We’d like to thank you for stopping by, and we look forward to your next visit to share more exciting highlights.

Author Interview: J. Naomi Ay

Happy Friday to all readers out there.

Today we have a treat. I’d like to thank author J. Naomi Ay for joining us to talk books and stuff…

 

Naomi, you reside in the north Olympic Peninsula, why did you choose this place to live?   

I'll send you a picture and you'll understand.  Right now, it's absolutely the most beautiful place on Earth.  Of course, in the middle of the winter it's something else.  Actually, two days ago it was something else but it looks like the sun has finally come out and is going to stay for a while.

You have been writing for several years now. What inspired you to begin writing?   

Just boredom and bad TV.  I had a story in my head it either had to come out on paper or I needed to be medicated.

I’m sure there are plenty of writers who are self-medicated, but o.k.

Mother of three or epic saga novelist… which has been more taxing on your nerves and why? 

The novel has to do exactly what I want.  The characters there bow to me and acknowledge that I am their deity because I hold the power of life and death, happiness and the alternative over their heads.  The children, two of which are now adults and the third is thirteen, do exactly what they want whether I like it or not and usually include a fair amount of backtalk along with it.  Do you know how lame I am for having written a fantasy?  I am so totally lame.  On top of that, I've been doing book trailers and posting them on YouTube which makes me doubly lame.  I just should not even dare to tread into the cyber world where lame mothers do not belong.

I don’t think it’s lame at all. I give you tons of credit for not taking the easy way out and just accepting the dearth of good novels out there, and jumping into the fray and writing your own.

Tell us about your latest novel in 20 words or less: 

Journey to Rehnor is the prequel to the Two Moons of Rehnor series.  All new characters except for Senya and…

And… ??? Guess we should just read and find out right?

What has been the most exciting part of being a published author?  

 Discovering that people actually like what I have written.  I am absolutely floored by it. 

What has been the worst part of being a published author?   

The constant need to promote.  Hopefully, someday I'll get over that hump and it'll all just happen automatically.

The marketing side is very frustrating and time consuming. If you ever find the “magic bullet” please share with the rest of us.

What has been the harshest critique you have ever received concerning your writing? 

"It was lame", but then again that was from my 13 year old daughter.

As a writer, it is considered unprofessional and inappropriate to give a retort to a critic or criticism. Were it “politically correct” to address your critics personally, what would be the one thing you would say to them? 

"Go to your room."

Snappy retort, lol.

What are your pet peeves?

Weeds, I hate them.  Their like commas which is another one of my pet peeves.  They're both always popping up everywhere and I have to spend way too much time taking them out.

Are you currently working on any other projects?  

I have a day job.  I'm in sales in the renewable energy/recycling sector.  As far as the books go, I'm getting them all out in paperback, doing trailers and my plan this summer is to at least release book 1, The Boy who Lit up the Sky as an audiobook or podiobook.

Where can readers find your works and follow you?

Jnaomiay.com

Jnaomiay.wordpress.com

Facebook.com/jnaomiay

@jnaomiay

amazon.com/author/jnaomiay

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/j.-naomi-ay

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jnaomiay

Well Naomi, this has been a thoroughly interesting and enlightening chat, would like to thank you again for stopping by and sharing with us.

Come back soon and fill us in on your promotions and progress with the new book.

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