AuThursday – Freida Kilmari

Please welcome Freida Kilmari to The Clog Blog!  Freida, can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?

I’m an LGBTQ+ Fantasy Romance author who specialises in breaking down barriers and categories by experimenting with gender and sexuality on the page. I grew up reading complex fantasy worlds, beautifully written romances, and tense and exciting plots, but as an author, I like to use those things to explore what it means to be human when you don’t conform to life’s standards.

How do you make time to write?

Writing is now my day job, but it wasn’t always. I used to write at night, where the world was quiet and everyone was in bed. But now I write all day and have a more regular schedule. I do miss the night time writing, but I have more free time now.

Do you believe in writer’s block?

Yes, but no. Yes, I believe that writers get stuck, but no I don’t believe in this “oh, it’s just writer’s block, it’ll move on its own” mentality. We’re usually stuck for a reason: creative burnout, not knowing what comes next, plot holes, lack of confidence, anxiety, or some other reason. If you can pinpoint the reason, then you can work on fixing it and moving forwards.

Tell us a bit about the genre you write and why you love it.

Growing up, I never read any sexually and gender-diverse characters. Even now, as an adult who searches for them, I haven’t read many. And so I decided to write some. I often write the things I feel are missing in the literary world. So I write about characters going through identity crises because the only times we really get to see trans people or gender fluid people or gay people, etc., is when they’ve already transitioned and are comfortable with who they are. But what about before? What about before you knew what label best fitted you? What about before you slept with the same gender for the first time?

How are you publishing your recent book and why? 

Indie. I love running my own business, building my readership, and having control over how my content is consumed. I also really enjoy the publishing aspects of my life.

Are you an Introvert or an Extrovert?  How does this affect your work?

Introvert. All my characters are introverted, I think. And it means I don’t have a lot of social experience to draw from, so I don’t tend to write lots of friend characters and things, but when my main characters do make friends, it always feels kind of beautiful to me.

What is your favorite motivational phrase?

“If I run out of power today, I’ll just borrow some from tomorrow!” – Fairy Tail, Episode 93

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Write something you love. Something you feel passionate about. Delve deep into yourself and write about the things that lie there. Because when you love what you do, it shines across the pages and produces a better product.

Where can readers find you on the World Wide Web?

Amazon has my ebooks (Kindle Unlimited), but you can grab my paperbacks from any major retailer, including B&N and Waterstones.

AuThursday – V. Mull

Please welcome V. Mull to the Clog Blog.  Virginia, can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?

My name is Virginia, but I go by the pen name V. Mull. I’ve been telling stories since I was five and writing them since I was old enough to. Being a published author was my dream. I had to put it on hold because of life – I got married and had three amazing kids, but something was missing. I finally figured it out. I NEEDED to write, to create. And so I did.

How do you make time to write?

It’s so hard to write when you have the constant needs of those around you. The questions, the noise – it pulls you out of the world you’re creating. But there are ways around that. I use notebooks, of which I have multiple in every room, to jot down ideas that flash through my mind while folding laundry or making lunch. Then, when I do get an hour or two of quiet, I’m able to glue those ideas together.

Do you believe in writer’s block?

I sure do! Writer’s block isn’t the lack of motivation or inspiration, it’s not even laziness. It’s when you have all the tools to write – you have the need – the want – to write, yet forming sentences, even words is difficult!

Tell us a bit about the genre you write and why you love it.

Fantasy romance. Oh, the magic, the creatures born of magic, the amazing relationships between characters – I live for it. Gail Carson Levine (author of Ella Enchanted) was my first inspiration for creating such worlds. And I’m a sucker for a good Jane Austen love story, so I mix the two together.

How are you publishing your recent book and why?

Indie. I was always against self-publishing, only because I didn’t understand it. But I knew how long the wait could be if I chose traditionally, so I decided to take the expensive fate into my own hands. It’s hard, so hard. But I’m happy.

Are you an Introvert or an Extrovert?  How does this affect your work?

I suppose introvert, though I’m not a fan of labeling myself as such. I have extrovert tendencies with certain people and in certain situations, but I need to recharge for at least half a week. I suppose, from the description of an extrovert, being an “introvert” helps me immensely because I really don’t mind being alone. I prefer it at least 80% of the time, which gives me the time to write and create (if I didn’t have the kids, of course)

What is your favorite motivational phrase?

JUST DO IT – Shia LaBeouf.  It was the first thing to come to mind, to be honest!

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Practice makes perfect! Cliché, absolutely. But true! I could never understand the saying because in everything I tried I simply couldn’t do better. But with writing? You can physically SEE the progress. Write something. Write more and more. Then look back on your old work and I promise you will see a difference.

Where can readers find you on the World Wide Web?

World Wide Web sounds terrifying! And it is, for an author. I’m on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and my website (where you can find all social media links) authorvmull.org

Do you have an excerpt you’d like to share with us?

Again, they laughed like angels. “We all get angry, Nathalia. It’s what you are angry for, and how you choose to react after making a mistake that makes you pure. Your sensitivity is not a weakness, no matter how many tears you shed. You feel to your very core, and that, my child is strength.”

~Excerpt from my upcoming novella, The Secrets of Gelid Lake

AuThursday – James Pyles

Please welcome James Pyles to the Clog Blog!  James, can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?

I’ve been writing information technology textbooks for over 20 years published by houses such as McGraw-Hill and O’Reilly. Since 2019, I’ve branched out into writing science fiction and fantasy short stories and novelettes.

How do you make time to write?

I try to block out time in the evenings after my day job, but it doesn’t always work out. Frankly, I write whenever I can carve in an hour or more.

Do you believe in writer’s block?

I believe that stress and my emotional state can drain away my motivation to write. I have to be in the right space to be creative and to be focused enough to write.

Tell us a bit about the genre you write and why you love it.

I’ve been reading science fiction since I was a kid in the mid-1960s. I’ve always wanted to write SciFi but over the years, my attempts felt forced and derivative. With the advent of indie writing and publishing, I finally got up the nerve (after practicing writing on my blog for a few years) to start submitting stories. I just love time travel, space operas, and all the tales I grew up with. I love being a part of lending my imagination to all of that.

How are you publishing your recent book and why?

I’m finally working on my first novel. It’s set in a shared universe created by an indie publisher. I’ve had stories published by them before and they’re interested in me expanding my ideas into a much larger work. Indie publishing affords opportunities to write innovative stories that otherwise wouldn’t see the light of day with a traditional big box publisher.

Are you an Introvert or an Extrovert?  How does this affect your work?

Introvert. I like my space and I like it quiet. Fortunately, I have a home office where I can close the door and immerse myself in my craft.

What is your favorite motivational phrase?

“When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people; as I grow older, I admire kind people.” –Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

There is no one right path to writing and being published. The journey is unique for everyone. You don’t have to follow someone else.

Where can readers find you on the World Wide Web?

https://poweredbyrobots.com/

Do you have an excerpt you’d like to share with us?

This is from the first draft of my WIP, so it’s pretty rough:

Ciara was relieved that the four soldiers who silently accompanied her back to the shuttle bay were Assembly regulars and not DOID Appendices. It was an irrational fear, for if the DOID had been ordered to kill her, she would never have seen them coming.

The footfalls of five pairs of boots echoed metallically off of the deck plates and the barely audible hiss of the doors sliding aside signaled their arrival at the launch bay. Without a word, she was deposited at the foot of the stairs leading into the shuttle, a winged, light-gray dove in stark contrast to the abyss-black of the massive envoy vessel she was currently housed in. The size and armament could have been a response to the constant threat of the Kaamus occupations of the local star group, but in reality, it was a reflection of the authority wielded by the Assembly’s DOIDs.

The pilot officiously announced departure from the shuttle bay and feeling like a tenuous angel, she once again fell toward the planet below.

Once in orbital space, the Representative’s jump ship loomed over her like a harbinger of death, which could still be its role. She would make planetfall in less than thirty minutes and be returned to the chateau of House Palendale two hours hence.

It had been just past dawn that morning when Ciara pulled her battered trunk from a closet in her personal chambers. It could have sheltered a small family from some of the more impoverished corners of the realm, but such were the benefits of both rank and royalty. She had again gone through the ritual of dismantling the chest, eventually reaching the hermetically sealed remains of the La-La doll. The prize had been uncovered by the revered Kekijek over three millennia ago on a frozen moon orbiting a gas giant in the Kaamus system.

“We’ve begun La-La, but our chances are not good. Yet what else can I do and still be worthy of what you represent?”

So unlike a General, Ciara held the plastic-covered stuffed toy to her breasts and strode out to the eastern balcony. There were fifty kilometers of farmland surrounding the estate and she had an unimpeded view of tender crops being watered by large, rolling arms spraying life. Her gaze, however, was directed upward toward the last stars being extinguished by the morning light.

Her brother Amir remained a prisoner of the Kaamus military governor Kenan Isom on Eirsyn, and if reports were accurate, he did rule with an iron fist. As long as Amir had value as a hostage, he would be kept alive and even treated with privilege. But he was still a prisoner in the hands of a master who played with his human possessions as a feline would with its living dinner. Agents reported that large swaths of the planet’s general population were not so fortunate. Over a million had lost their lives so far, and millions more were pressed into service in work camps.

Then there was Jepheth Shinzi who had fallen into her own powerful hands a year ago. In return for a certain freedom, they had woven an alliance that in another reality might have passed for friendship. But upon granting his wish, she used him to fulfill her own, which most likely had sent him to his death.

As the shuttle made its final approach to one of the landing pads in the military compound near the city’s edge, Ciara raised the inside of her left wrist and pressed a code sequence.

“Major Kann. Good evening, General.” Her aide’s pleasant baritone voice reminded her that she wasn’t alone after all.

“My shuttle’s landing at Pad A35. Have my transportation ready when I touch down.”

“Acknowledged, General. Anything else?”

She almost laughed, but a miracle wasn’t something even her devoted second could provide. “That’s all for the present. Ciara out.”

Minutes later the roar of the landing thrusters jolted her out of her musings. She hoped it wasn’t too late to ask for that miracle because she would need so many before this was over. Nearly a day before the DOID’s ship had jumped into the Pheothese system, Code Name Soiran had issued the go order. By now, the assault team had jumped into Eirsyn’s solar system and with any luck, they were already in position to strike. Her audience with the DOID had been perfunctory on her part. She would be damned if she’d wait for the Assembly’s nod before waging her own war.

New Release – Unexpected Days by Shannon O’Connor

Title: Unexpected Days

Series: Eternal Port Valley Book Two

Author: Shannon O’Connor

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: September 14, 2022

Luna had everything in her life planned out; dream job by 30, marry the perfect guy, and maybe have kids down the line.

But then she loses Parker, the “perfect guy”, who dumped her in an airport. She meets Cody, a tattooed bartender who breaks down her walls, sees who she really is and not who she’s trying to be, she can’t help but let go of her plans.

When Parker shows up as her new co-worker, with the perfect life she dreamt of within reach, she can’t help but consider her options almost losing Cody in the process.

That is until an accidental pregnancy throws a grenade to her life. Will Luna lean into Cody and finally, learn how to deal with the unexpected?

SPECIAL RELEASE DAY PRICE – $2.99

“Holy Moly! I couldn’t put this book down. What a page turner! … Be prepared to not only fall in love with this book, but also Luna and Cody on their wild ride of a journey from beginning to end.”  ★★★★★ Goodreads Review

CLICK HERE TO ENTER

the $25 Amazon Gift Card Release Day Giveaway

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AuThursday – Lesanda Moore

Please welcome Lesanda Moore to the Clog Blog,  Lasanda, can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?

I’m a mother of 3, a lover of nature, and an avid reader. Oh and I love to travel. I’m a licensed educator as well.

How do you make time to write?

By making it a priority and scheduling writing time.

Do you believe in writer’s block?

No

Tell us a bit about the genre you write and why you love it.

I write romance, women’s fiction, and children’s picture books. I love telling stories about love and life lessons with relatable characters.

How are you publishing your recent book and why?

I’m an indie author. I’ve only been published since January 2021. I want to learn as much as I can about the industry before pitching to a traditional publisher.

Are you an Introvert or an Extrovert?  How does this affect your work?

I think I’m a bit of both. Sometimes I write alone and other times I participate in live sprints with other authors. It depends on my mood.

What is your favorite motivational phrase?

It’s gotta work or it’s gotta work!

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Start writing

Where can readers find you on the World Wide Web?

Linktr.ee/lesandamoore

Do you have an excerpt you’d like to share with us?

What the Heart Wants

Chapter 1: Cheers to Summer Break

Cirilla

June 2018

Sweat dripped down my forehead as the afternoon announcements blared through the loudspeaker. It was the last day of school before summer break, the last day in hell, both literally and physically. The air conditioning system conked out a week ago and the whole school was riddled with fans to combat the Virginia heat.

“Boys and girls, make sure to grab all of your belongings or else they’ll be going in the trash,” I said, fanning myself with a piece of folded construction paper.

As I watched the fifth graders interact with each other, I counted down the seconds until the final bell rang, until I was a free woman.

“We’re gonna miss you, Miss Matthews.”

“I’m gonna miss you guys, too.”

They lined up against the wall and waited for the principal to dismiss the bus riders. I walked to the front of the line and handed each student a bag of treats. After the last rider left, I escorted the remaining students to the front of the building for parent pickup. While waiting, I made small talk with the other members of the fifth-grade team.

“Are you ready for some fun in the sun?” I asked.

“Yep. Me and somebody’s son,” said Maddie.

“Girl, you are too much.”

“I’m tryna get like you. I want to go to South Beach and get my booty rubbed by that fine-ass boss of ours, too.”

“Shhh,” I said, looking around to see who else heard our conversation. “Are you tryna get me fired on the last day?”

“My bad,” she whispered.

The last two students dashed across the grass to meet their parents and I headed back to the classroom to gather my belongings. Looking around the room, I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. I made it through another stressful, but successful school year and now it was time to go home and pack for my much-needed baecation to Miami. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach just thinking about how much fun, and sex, I was about to have.

“See you later,” I said, turning off the lights and closing the door behind me.

AuThursday – Emersyn Park

Please welcome Emersyn Park to The Clog Blog!  Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?

I’ve always loved to write: plays, poetry, and stories. Covid kept me from leaving the house so I decided to check something off of my bucket list. Turns out people liked my boredom buster.

How do you make time to write?

The best time of the day for my imagination is at night when the house is quiet and no one “needs” me.

Do you believe in writer’s block?

Yes, I can’t force imagination or creativity. Some people can, but I work best with no pressure. Writer’s block for me happens when I push it.

Tell us a bit about the genre you write and why you love it.

My first two books are Women’s Fiction, leaning toward family drama. I hate drama in my real life, but love to create it on paper.

How are you publishing your recent book and why? 

Initially, I wrote “He Loves Me, She Loves Me Not” just for myself. No intention of sharing it with the world. But a good friend encouraged me to publish it- I did self-publishing because I had no idea that it would progress this far.

Are you an Introvert or an Extrovert?  How does this affect your work?

Before Covid, I would have said EXTROVERT for sure. But now I hate to make plans to leave the house. I would like to believe I am more selective of who I spend my time with.

What is your favorite motivational phrase?

People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Write the book!!! Don’t make excuses.

Where can readers find you on the World Wide Web?

EmersynPark.com