May 22, 2014

Blog Tuor "Fall From Grace: The Scribing of Ishitar" by Carrie F. Shepherd - Characters interviews, Guest post, Interview, Giveaway,




Fall From Grace: The Scribing of Ishitar 

Author: Carrie F. Shepherd

Genre: Epic Fantasy Adventure
Length: 490 pages
Release Date: April 2014
ISBN-13: 978-0692023419
Imprint: Mythos Press

SYNOPSIS:
Ishitar is born on the cusp of a great war between the two ruling Gods of the Heavens and Hells Realms. With his father in control of a repressive society and his mother fighting for free will for all, he believes the game that they play to be just that: a game. Little does he know that the players that he sees are not necessarily the ones who will influence the outcome.




Carrie F. Shepherd grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah. Raised outside of the predominating religion, she sought answers of her own. Fascinated by the mythology of the Greeks, Romans and Egyptians, she delved into the old stories and meshed them with the new to create a fascinating world of good versus evil.

When not immersed in the world of the Gods, Carrie's full time job is in Regulatory Compliance. During her time off she enjoys hiking on cooler days or, when the weather permits, hanging out with friends and family by the pool.

Carrie now lives in Highlands Ranch, Colorado with her fourteen year old daughter, her dogs (Commander Jon Snow and Sir Buns McGee of Bratwurst) and her cat (Blizzardfur).

Scratching the Surface...Characters interviews

1.    What is your name?

I am Azrael.  Though, quite possibly, you know me best as the Archangel of Death.



2.    Why were you given that name?

My father has a very literal sense of imagination when it comes to the naming of his children.  When roughly translated from the ancient texts Azra means “transition” and El “the hand of God”.  



3.    Is there a nickname you’re known by? Do you prefer it?

I have been called many things as the shadows pass me by; not all of them pleasant.  Though I do have one that I prefer that has lately been given to me.  I am known by the demon, Zamyael, as Mectador.  She tells me that the term translates into the common tongue as gentle stranger.



4.    What is your birth date and current age?

We do not have any concept of time where I come from so I can tell you neither.  I am not as old as the first inhabited world but came to being well before the second was created.



5.    What, if anything, does your zodiac sign mean to you?

I have no zodiac sign as they do not exist in my realm.



6.    What is your height, weight and build?

When I assist a mortal, I prefer to appear to them in whatever form will cause them the greatest sense of peace.  However, I do have my own form, which is slight of build.   As for my height, it is five feet and 10 ½ inches.



7.    What is your hair color and style, eye color, and skin tone?

I am brown skinned with black hair.  It grows just past my shoulders in an equal length and tends to curl slightly.  My true eyes are pools of blood which, when you look into them, pulse and churn. 



8.    Do you have any scars, tattoos, or piercings? What do they mean to you?

I have many scars, which are meant to serve as a reminder that I am to obey the rules and order of my people.  As for tattoos, I have only one.  But it is really a brand rather than a tattoo.  It is Noliminan’s mark.  It signifies his ownership over me.



9.    How much pride do you take in your appearance?

I would say an average amount.



10.  How do you feel about your appearance? Favorite / most hated features?

Given no one can see my true form since the end of the First Rebellion, I care little and less about it.  Though, if I had to pick a favorite feature it would be my wings.  They are expansive and, as with my eyes, the feathers appear to be made of blood.    My least favorite feature would be my teeth.  They are sharply pointed and have been the inspiration for the creatures that run rampant within the creatures born to the night.



11.  What is your preferred style of clothing to wear?

I dress in the custom of my people, which is to say in tunics and robes.  I prefer the tunics to be ankle length.  Although, I must admit, when I take on the form that I must in order to interact with Zamyael I do enjoy the comfort of a pair of well-worn jeans and a loose fitting button down shirt.



12.  What is your preferred style of clothing for the opposite sex?

Simplistic and modest.



13.  Do you have a personal scent (perfume or cologne)? If yes, what?

I have been told my scent is earthy.  Charlie considers that I remind him of the scent of mud pots at Yellowstone National Park, though I am not quite certain about that.  As for cologne, it is a relatively new invention when you consider the overall expanse of time and I have little to no interest in it.



14.  Who are your parents?

My father is Lucias, who is now in exile but who once ruled the Thirty Realms of the Hells.  My mother is Raziel.  She once served my father but, for now, sits the throne in Lucias’ stead.



15.  Do you have any siblings? If so, what are their names and ages?

Far too many to count.  But if we are speaking true blooded siblings, meaning bred from the same parents, I have eleven[WU1] .  They are Raphael, Michael, Metatron, Gabriel, Barkiel, Zadkiel, Camael, Haniel, Cassiel, Uriel and Mihr.  Each serve Noliminan in one capacity or another.



16.  Who has been your greatest influence (parent, friend, idol)? Why?

Zamyael.  She has taught me what it means to be truly loved.



17.  Where did you grow up? How do you feel about it now?

I was raised primarily by my elder brother, Raphael.  He was already in service to Noliminan, but not yet in the personal capacity that he serves our Lord now.  We lived in the cottage that was, subsequently, left to me when Raphael was called to service.  It is located within the Thirty Realms of the Heavens, but not in the castle proper.  As for how I feel about the cottage now, I’m ambivalent.  It was once the one place I could go where no one else would be and was, as a result, a place where I could find a small measure of sanity.  Now it seems terribly lonely when I visit there.



18.  Where do you currently live (town, neighborhood, locale)? Do you like it?

At the end of the First Rebellion, I moved to the cottage with Zadkiel, Zamyael and Ishitar.  I remain there to this day and consider it to be the closest thing to a home that I shall ever know.



19.  What sort of a home is it (castle, apartment, cardboard box)?

A small, three bedroom cottage.  It is cozy and very much filled with love. 



20.  With whom do you live? How do you feel about that person / people?

Currently, my brother Zadkiel.



21.  Do you have any pets?

Does Zadkiel count?  His ego can sometimes take a lot of stroking to bolster his confidence. 

Seriously, however, no.  Neither of us have the time or patience for pets.



22.  What is your current job title / social station / rank?

I am the Archangel of Death.  I am charged with watching every soul throughout creation and passing judgment on them as they leave their mortal world.  I am one of the twelve servants who serve Noliminan, the King of Lords and the Master of all Gods.  My rank is higher than the other angels who serve within the Heavens, but lowlier than any of the Gods who serve beneath Noliminan.



23.  How do you feel about this role?

My feelings with regard to my role are inconsequential.  I am a servant and will perform whatever tasks my Master requires of me.



24.  How do you think your colleagues would describe you?

Absent.  Distant.  Loving, yet guarded.  Protective of them.  Very definitely blunt.  And probably, I would say, they consider me rather invasive of their privacy at times. 



25.  What has been your education / training for this role?

None.  I have come to believe that, although my gifts are a punishment for my behavior, I was, very likely, created specifically for this role.



26.  What is your ultimate professional or life goal?

Professionally speaking, I have no further goals.  As I have stated before, I was created to live in service and shall do as I am commanded.



27.  Who is your best friend? Describe them briefly.

Zadkiel.  Without question.  He is steadfast and he is without judgment.  He has been an incredibly patient parental figure for Ishitar and has recently grown strong of spirit as a result of the experience.



28.  Who is your biggest rival / enemy? Describe them briefly.

Noliminan.  He is an extremely powerful God with a very short temper and a rather cruel sense of humor.  Although I love him, I also loathe him.



29.  What is your greatest talent?

I play the harp.  Rather well, actually.



30.  What are you the most hopeless at?

Relationships.  Romantic and otherwise.  I have very few people in my life that I can say I have allowed to know the true me.



31.  How would you spend an unexpected day off?

A day off, unexpected or otherwise, would be an incredible gift for me.  However, if I were granted an unexpected day off I would spend it in the quiet sanctuary of my home.  Most likely I would spend the day sleeping.  I haven’t slept since I was a very small child.



32.  What sort of vehicle / transportation do you rely on?

I have no need for such things.  I am ubiquitous.



33.  What is your favorite food, drink, musical artist, song, and movie / play?

My brother, Zadkiel, makes the most wonderful berry pies.  Paired with a delicate white wine with classical violin music playing in the background makes for a most enjoyable evening.



Going a bit deeper...

34.  Is your family currently close? Are they a source of support or stress?

My siblings and I are extremely close.  We rely upon one another to survive Noliminan’s unexpected storms.  For the most part they are a source of support.  Although, at times, my brothers, Michael and Metatron, are a grave source of stress.  I understand they have no option but to follow Noliminan’s orders blindly, yet it is sometimes intolerable to listen to the internal struggles of their thoughts paired to the acts of violence that they must sometimes commit.



35.  Have you ever been abused? If so, how? How do you feel about it now?

Yes.  I have.  Violently and often.  As for how I feel about it, I have become numb to the situation.  It is the only manner in which to survive a situation you cannot escape.



36.  How deeply does your job / social role define you as a person?

Significantly.  Others are frightened of me because they know I have seen them at their worst.  Therefore, it is extremely difficult for me to become close to others.  As a result, it is extremely rare that I would open up and allow others to see and understand me in return.



37.  Do you have strong political leanings or affiliations?

Although I am not allowed to have an opinion of my own on any situation, I must admit that I do.  I believe that Lucias had the right of things during the first rebellion.  Free will should be afforded to the mortal races, but it should also be afforded to me and my kindred and the Gods that we serve.



38.  Whom would you contact first to share good news?

Zamyael.



39.  What is your relationship status at the start of the story?

As I am an angel and Zamyael is a demon, we are forbidden any type of relationship by the law of the Gods.  Therefore my love for her was guarded.



40.  Describe your past relationships. How many? Who? Why did they end?

I have only been in one romantic relationship.  I would prefer not to discuss it. 



41.  How do you think your exes would describe you?

Misunderstood.



42.  How do you feel about money?

Money means nothing to me.  I have no need of it.



43.  Do you have any irrational fears / phobias?

No.  I have lived long enough to understand that my fears are well founded.



44.  What is your worst habit / vice?

I find great humor in playing games with those who I watch.  Moving things around their home and making them wonder how their keys, say, were moved from the peg by the door into their freezer.



45.  How would you treat yourself if you came down with the flu?

I cannot catch the flu.  However, if I did, I would spend the full of the day in bed, wrapped in a comfortable blanket with a fire in the pit and a bowl of Haniel’s healing stew.



46.  What is your most cherished possession?

A braid of hair that was once given to me which I wear tied around my ankle.



47.  Are you shy or social? How do you feel about attending parties?

I would consider myself more social than shy.  I do not care for parties, in most cases, however, because I am forced to listen to the thoughts of too many people all standing within the same space.  It’s extremely claustrophobic for me.



48.  How do you feel about being the center of attention?

The rare times that I am the center of attention it is due to a punishment that is being acted upon me by Noliminan.  Therefore, I do not much care for it.



49.  What makes you blush?

Ishitar can make me blush when he speaks aloud of my forbidden passion for Zamyael.



50.  How do you feel, generally, about the opposite sex?

Generally, I do not notice either sex, male or female.  I no longer afford myself the luxury of falling too deeply into attraction or love with another being as I understand how people feel about me and know, for the most part, that such will never be returned or, if it is, last.



51.  How do you feel about romance at the start of the story?

I very deeply want to fall in love at the beginning of the story.  However, my fascination with Zamyael is forbidden by the laws of the Gods.  Therefore, I’m very leery of it.



52.  How do you feel about sex at the start of the story?

Disinterested. 



53.  How do you feel about children? Do you have / want to have your own?

I adore children.  I have none of my own, though I’ve watched and nurtured many from a distance.  I was heavily involved in the raising of Ishitar and, when he is in need of guidance, feel extremely fatherly toward him. 



54.  What would you like your life to look like in twenty years?

Time is a concept that is somewhat lost on me.  There are certain situations where it is important for me to mark, but for the most part, every day is much the same as the other.  Twenty mortal years is but a blink of an eye to me. 



At your core...

55.  What is the driving force / motivation in your life?

To pay close attention to others so that, when the time for judgment comes, I may guide a soul in the right direction.



56.  What crisis are you facing at the start of the story?

At the beginning of the story I am forced to make a decision with regard to sharing the events of the rebellion with my mother.  When I speak of what I know that is not common knowledge, there are always consequences.  Be they wrought by Noliminan or the magic that I wield.  I must decide if the punishment I will receive for telling my tale will be less consequential than the danger that Ishitar is in if he remains the subject of his father’s fascinations.



57.  What makes this crisis such a challenge for you in particular?

Although I love Ishitar, I am frightened of what will happen to me.  Also, I truly do not like to gossip.  If I know something about someone, I fail to see how it is my place to share that information with others.



58.  How would you define ‘power’?

Power, to me, is the ability to control a person or people.  Noliminan, in my opinion, has the ultimate power in this regard.  Even the votes at the Council are dictated by him, despite the fact that he does insist that any true law be based on the majority vote.  The Gods understand that if they do not vote in his favor there will be unwanted consequences.



59.  Do you consider yourself a moral / ethical person?

I do.



60.  What would you never do, no matter the price?

My task is to lead a mortal soul to where it belongs when it passes into my world.  I would never, under any circumstances, damn an innocent soul.  Likewise, if I believe that the individual lived in a matter that requires damnation, I would never allow them the reprieve of being risen to the next level of their journey, be that reincarnation or into the service of the Gods.



61.  What do you believe happens when you die?

Should Zadkiel ever run his finger across my brow my soul will expire and I will simply cease to be. 



62.  What belief / person / institution would you die to defend?

My siblings.  Most definitely.  And, in fact, I was given the curse of my magic for doing just that.  One of them was put between Lucias and Noliminan, each giving him a contradicting order, and he was left to decide which he would obey.  When I attempted to discuss the matter with Noliminan he became infuriated and passed his own power of ubiquity to me.



63.  What makes your stomach turn?

I have seen every horrible act ever committed by a soul against another.  There are many, many atrocities which have made my stomach turn.



64.  What makes your blood boil?

Violence in any form against a soul unable to defend themselves.  The strong praying on the weak for their own personal gain or amusement.



65.  How would you behave when cornered / bullied?

I either stand my ground or manipulate the situation to my own advantage.



66.  Who has hurt you the worst in your life, and how?

Ishitar.  The how will play itself out in the pages of these tomes.



67.  Have you forgiven them? Could you ever?

Not as of yet.  If I ever shall remains to be seen.



68.  Who have you hurt the worst?

Ishitar.



69.  Have they forgiven you? Could they ever?

I believe that he has.  His mind is one of the few I am blocked from, however, so I cannot be certain.



70.  What is your biggest character defect?

My fear to interfere when I see something happening that I do not agree with.  I must always way the consequence to myself against the consequence to others.



71.  How hard is it to for you admit when you’re wrong?

Extremely.  After all, I have no excuse for being wrong in most cases.



72.  What was your first impression of the hero(ine)?

It is truly debatable who the hero or heroine is during any of my tale.  This is one of those things that waxes and wanes with time.



However, during the events that take place during the first revolution, which is recalled in Fall From Grace, it appears to be Lucias.  Yet, in hindsight, I wonder if that is truly the case.  If it were Lucias, I’d have to say terrified.  Lucias is my father, but not an easy individual to know or love.  Lucias has motivations which sometimes puzzle me.  I suppose my first impression, given I was a small child when I met him, was fear of rejection and of his sometimes hard ways.



As for Ashes to Ashes, there is no clear hero there, either.  If I had to choose, I’d say it was Aiken Darklief simply because he was the only God who actually took an interest in the war playing itself out on the mortal world of Anticata.  He’s far younger than I am; I’ve watched him since he was born.  My first impression was that he wouldn’t amount to much.   



73.  How accurate was this first impression?

I am still wary of Lucias.  As for Aiken, he has definitely surprised me through the years.



74.  What revelation surprised you most about him/her?

There are far too many surprises where Lucias is concerned to even begin to pick one.  As for Aiken Darklief, as I said, I expected nothing to come of him.  I knew he was Lucias’ son, and therefore powerful.  But he is a fairy and—to be blunt—born of an extremely flighty race.



75.  What secret would you feel the most vulnerable sharing with anyone?

How helpless I feel on a daily basis.  How the things I see and know truly effect the ebb and flow of my emotions and stability.



76.  Does anyone know this secret? If so, who? How do they feel about it?

Zamyael knows, though not because I’ve ever told her as much.  She is simply intuitive to my emotions.  She is conflicted because she wishes to discuss it with me but, at the same time, understands that if she were to ever raise the issue I would deflect.



77.  Have you ever done anything you feel deeply ashamed of?

Yes.  Although I am still extremely angry and wounded by Ishitar’s behavior, I have harmed him by my reaction to it.  It was one of the rare times in my life I had no control over my emotions and both of us have paid dearly for my treatment toward him.



78.  What personal trait would you prefer to keep hidden from the world?

That although I appear calm and in control of my emotions, I am far from the patient and wise individual that others believe me to be.



79.  What was the most defining moment of your life at the start of the story?

Making the decision to speak of the rebellion with my mother, Raziel.   I knew that there would be heavy consequences, but I also knew that I had no choice at the time.



80.  When in your life did you feel the most helpless?

When the extent of Ishitar’s true power became known to all.



81.  When did you feel the strongest?

I felt the strongest whenever I was near Zamyael.  She has ever been one of the very few who can truly ground me.



82.  How would you define the word ‘love’?

Love can be soft and gentle or it can be strong and overpowering.  If a soul is fortunate, they will find both of these qualities in the love that they feel for their chosen life partner.



83.  How have you evolved by the end of the story?

I have most definitely evolved.  At the beginning of the story I am hesitantly disobedient.  As the story unfolds, I find a new power within myself to allow my rage to take form against an entity far powerful than I am.  This rage carries on through the rest of the pages in the series.



84.  Why should the reader care about your story?

My story allows the reader a glimpse into a world where loyalty is fierce and often time tested.  The emotions that we feel for one another, be it love or loathing, run deep and our actions are borne from our heart.  The story I share will, hopefully, allow the reader to see the cost of pushing such loyalty to the limits.  Every soul has its breaking point, after all.






 [WU1]Find Aiken and the pillows for the order.


Scratching the Surface...

1.    What is your name?

Apprentice Lord Loki.  I don’t have a surname.  Or if I do, I never learned it.  Anyway, it really doesn’t matter if I do.  I shall always think of myself as born of the line of Dilthrop.



2.    Why were you given that name?

Now that’s a damn good question.  I never knew either of my parents and my adoptive father hadn’t the barest clue.



3.    Is there a nickname you’re known by? Do you prefer it?

Oh yes.  Each one of my geese have given me a special name known only to her.  Whichever I’m with, I prefer her name for me in that moment.



4.    What is your birth date and current age?

Too many suns have crossed the arc of the sky for me to count.



5.    What, if anything, does your zodiac sign mean to you?

Well, on the world known as earth, you would say it was Aquarius.  On the world where I was birthed, the suns were shaped slightly different but formed the same creature, but in masculine form.  My people lived among the merfolk, though above the surface of the sea.  They named him after their God, Merrick.  As for its meaning to me?  I really don’t put much stock into such nonsense.



6.    What is your height, weight and build?

10 and a half . . . oh—wait.  Ha!  Taller than Lucias, shorter than Noliminan.  Never weighed myself, but the geese tell me I’m built like a stallion ready to stud.

               

7.    What is your hair color and style, eye color, and skin tone?

Dark brown hair, purple eyes, bronze skin.



8.    Do you have any scars, tattoos, or piercings? What do they mean to you?

Only the scratches the goose I spent last night with raked across my back.



9.    Speaking of, you do seem to have a knack with the ladies.  Aside your nymph blood, what do you think draws them to you?

I’m not really sure how to answer that question.  Every woman that comes to me does so for a different reason.  A husband that ignores her.  A boost from low self-esteem.  Loneliness.  But let us not forget how irresistibly charming I am.  To be honest, I truly don’t pay too much stock in their reasoning.  If I can make them forget their troubles, even for a short time, it isn’t very much my business what brought them to my bed.



10.  Do you love any of them?  Or are you just with them for the sex?

I love each and every one of them.  In varying degrees and for different reasons, but yes.  I do love them.  



11.  Aside from the obvious answer, are there any that you’ve actually fallen “in love” with?

Theasis.  She was my first lover and I fell hard for her.  I knew we’d never fit together romantically—not for very long, by any oar’s row.  But yes, if I had to say I ever fell in love with someone I classify as my goose, it is most definitely is Thea.  Other than that?  No. 



12.  Switching subjects, how much pride do you take in your appearance?

Extreme.  I have a certain reputation to protect.



13.  How do you feel about your appearance? Favorite / most hated features?

LOL!  What do you think?!  My favorite feature is my goatee.  Although I was born a nymph, I was raised by centaurs.  I had to earn the right to wear my goatee by completing all of the trials and tests that every colt in my herd must pass before he’s considered a stallion. 



14.  What is your preferred style of clothing to wear?

It depends on which one of my geese I intend to visit that day.  Women are so damned particular about the things that please them when it comes to their men.



15.  What is your preferred style of clothing for the opposite sex?

As long as there is a trail of it along the floor to wherever we end up together?  I’m pretty much set with whatever she was wearing before I took it off of her.



16.  Do you have a personal scent (perfume or cologne)? If yes, what?

My scent changes to please the people around me.  I smell different to everyone.  Whatever entices them the most, that’s how I smell.



17.  Who are your parents?

My biological mother was a nymph; my biological father was a merman.  As I said, I’ve never met either of them.  There have been suggestions that Lord Merrick—the God who governs the merfolk—was my father, but no one has come right out and admitted it to me.  I tend to believe that’s the case, however, because, otherwise, I wouldn’t have become a God, myself, when my mortal veil was lifted.  As to who my “parent” was, that was Chiron Dilthrop, the stallion who took me in when my mother abandoned me.



18.  Do you have any siblings? If so, what are their names and ages?

I have no idea.  My biological mother is, after all, a nymph.



19.  Who has been your greatest influence (parent, friend, and idol)? Why?

I wouldn’t call my greatest influence a parent, friend or idol.  I hate to admit it because I loathe the carvetek mouk, but I’ll drop my pride for a moment and confess that it has been Noliminan.  I despise every action, thought and word that comes from him.  But I also understand the strength of his power is far greater than mine.  What he’s taught me over the years is the value of holding my tongue if I have a smart ass comeback when it’s wiser to keep my remarks to myself.



20.  With that being said, there is no question that you are extremely bold.  Your boldness ends up getting you hurt.  Will you share a situation where you think you should have held your tongue but did not?

Where do I start?  Honestly, the times I wish I would have held my tongue resulted in other people getting hurt.  Not me.  Sure, I’ve had my fair share of punishments from Noliminan, but I brought them upon myself.  And it isn’t really anything I said that I regret the most, but my actions.  To be frank, the one time I wish I would have held back from giving into my true nature was when Raguel came to me seeking comfort.  In the end, it was the fact that I took her into my bed that brought about her death.



21.  When you found out that she was gone, did you know that it was her admittance that you and she had been together that caused her death?

I had no idea.  Like everyone else, I thought she was a casualty of the rebellion.  As time has passed . . . Well.  Let’s move on, shall we?



22.  Of course.  Where do you currently live (town, neighborhood, or locale)? Do you like it?

After Lucias was exiled I was left to govern the punishments over the damned.  Thus, I still live in the apartment where my apprenticeship took place.  It’s located on the thirteenth level of the Hells.  Do I like it?  Of course.  It’s been home to me for far too many years for me to count.  I have memories there—good and bad—that haunt me in every corner of every room.  Would I like to return to the carefree days of my youth, when I lived in the forest with my herd?  Most definitely.  Given that isn’t an option, however, I’m content to stay where I am.  For now.



23.  Do you have any pets?

Do the damned souls in the basement count?



24.  If you want them to.  What, exactly is your current role where they are concerned?  Are you still considered an apprentice?  Or did your status change when Lucias was exiled?

My title hasn’t changed.  Probably never will.  Noliminan thinks that by calling me an apprentice he’s keeping me in my place.  As for my role, when Lucias was exiled I took over punishing the souls that Azrael deposits into the basement. 



25.  How do you feel about this role?

I don’t have the stomach Lucias had for it, but after all of these years I also realize that if they are there it isn’t due to petty sins.  Since the concept of reincarnation came into play, Azrael only delivers those souls whose acts are truly unredeemable into my care.  After reading the list of sins committed that he leaves for me on their cages after they are delivered, I’ve pretty much come to the conclusion that there’s nothing I can do to them that they don’t, rightfully, deserve.



26.  On another note, what would you say is your greatest talent?

There is a reason that I’m famous for my beard.  Just ask any one of my geese and I’m sure she’ll be happy to share.



27.  Moving on!  What are you the most hopeless at?

Standing up to Lucias.  Sometimes, I understand that actions taken by that worthy are fundamentally wrong.  But, given Lucias is who Lucias is, my ability to contradict and my anger toward certain actions fade away over the course of time.



28.  Do you have any hobbies? Why are they important to you?

My herd has a unique version of polo that they play.  Of course, being I’m a two leg, I always lost and, as a result, was the last colt picked for either team.  But I loved playing it with them.  It was one of the ways that they integrated me into the herd when they, very easily, could have rejected me.  I visit the herd from time to time to join the stallions at this type of play.  Of course, I’m still the last picked by either team. 



29.  Whom would you contact first to share good news?

Funnily enough it isn’t either Lucias or Aiken.  It’s Samyael.  I will never be Lucias’ equal and Aiken and I, although he is my best friend, have a rather guarded relationship because of his feelings for me.  I’m simply not comfortable with the type of comfort he can provide.  Sam and I have become extremely close with one another over the years and I have learned that I can tell him anything and he will neither judge nor betray me.   Frankly, at this point, I consider him as one of my sons.



30.  What is your relationship status at the start of the story?

With Sam?  I didn’t want a demon.  I was forced to find him by Lucias because the war demanded it.  But when I did, I saw the wisdom in that decision and we have been fast friends ever since.



31.  What is your worst habit / vice?

Curiosity.  Definitely, it’s curiosity.  What, exactly, is the information buried within the forbidden tomes and how do I break their code?



32.  Do you believe you’ll ever crack that code?

I’ll certainly go to whatever fate befalls me trying.



33.  I know how valuable your time is, but I have one last question before I let you go.  What, exactly, do Ishitar’s pies taste like? 

Like nothing I can describe.  Tastier than the freshly washed flesh of a woman’s neck. 


               

Finding Quality Beta Readers


Beta readers are a group of individuals who may offer to read a book in a non-professional capacity with the intention of providing its author with valuable insight which may improve the story, its characters and its settings.  This phase is typically completed during the pre-publication phase, allowing the author to incorporate ideas and suggestions from readers in the target audience before the work becomes available to the general public.  Typically a beta reader is not an editor or a proofreader and, as a result, focuses more on the story than grammar or proofreading.

What constitutes a quality beta reader?

In order to answer this question, you must first ask what type of feedback you’re looking for from your beta readers.  Do you want someone who is detailed in their review and who is brutally honest?  Or are you looking for someone who can speed through your book and provide you with a cursory response that includes only obviously glaring issues?  For me, a quality beta reader will have at least some of the following characteristics:

·         Part of my target demographic – even if the reader doesn’t prefer the Mythology and Fantasy genre, it’s important that they would at least enjoy reading the book.  Otherwise, personal opinion of the genre itself may get tangled up in their review.



·         A keen eye and the ability to articulate what bothers them about a certain aspect of my book—One of the most important keys to a great beta reader is someone who can not only spot a problem with my book but can also tell me exactly why they believe the problem exists.  An example of this is that I have one reader who can spot when one of my characters is not acting as they should and she’s able to point out to me the exact reason why.  Meanwhile, another reader knew he didn’t like the scene but couldn’t quite put his finger on why.  Although the input from both readers was valuable it’s always best to have as much detail from your beta readers as possible.



·         Someone who reads (or writes) enough that they understand what makes a book good—Nobody likes get to the end of a book only to find that it falls flat.  Although I don’t want my beta readers telling me the best way to wrap up the story—that’s my job—I do want them to tell me if the ending was a disappointment to them and the reasons why.  That way I can take their opinion into consideration and determine if the ending needs to be re-worked before my work enters the publishing phase.



·         A willingness to commit to reading and responding to my beta read request within a reasonable timeframe—This one has been tricky for me, both as a reader and a writer.  For me to provide quality input, as a reader, I require at least three weeks to read and one week to gather my thoughts.   However, as a writer, I’ve asked for input without giving a hard and fast deadline only to become frustrated when my readers aren’t responding within what I consider to be a reasonable timeframe.  My solution to this has been to be very clear with my timeline in the initial solicitation to avoid any frustration that may arise from either side.

Now, finding a quality beta-reader is a trickier task than one might think.  Especially for an unknown author who has very few, if any, contacts in the publishing industry.  Friends and family may offer to read your book, with good intentions, but either never finish it or provide you with a glowing review that doesn’t help much in the way of improving the storyline to make it better. 

So what is an author to do?

One of the most beneficial ways to find beta readers is to network with other authors.   In the past two years I’ve met some phenomenal people who openly share advice and are willing to help their fellow authors out in a pinch.  Building friendships may take time, but doing so is well worth the result if a long-term mutually beneficial partnership can be formed. 

You can meet fellow authors i


The Dreaded Negative Review



Every author understands the value of a five star review.  This is the kind of review that drives up the potential that readers who read the review will take interest and buy a copy themselves.  Yet, not every book is made for every reader.  Most are written in a specific genre and targeted to an even more specific market.  Someone who doesn’t generally read the type of book you’ve written might pick it up based on the review and realize that the content of the work is simply not to their taste.  When that happens, you may just open your Amazon or Goodreads.com review page and find that you’ve just received a less than perfect, or even negative, review.

The first time I received such a review it was from a reader who is an avid follower of George R. R. Martin’s Song of Fire and Ice series.  Luckily he had sent me an email to my author’s account rather than posting it online, as both of my novels encourage feedback from my readers and provide them with this information.  This gave me the time I desperately needed to process the humiliation of receiving my first a less than perfect review in the privacy of my own home. 

Upon initially reading the review, I was devastated.  Being a George R. R. Martin fan, myself, I was struck with horror that he negatively compared the body of my work with that of a favored author.   His critics were that I had too many characters that took too long to develop, that the story was full of spiteful, longstanding rivalries and petty revenge and that the relationships between some of the characters were immoral.    The review ended with his opinion that only one author can have a plot that involves a multitude of characters in any feasibly sound way and that one author was the talented Mr. Martin.

Fortunately, I was frank enough with myself to understand that, although both The Scribing of Ishitar and Martin’s novels were both part of the fantasy genre, my series is more deeply buried in the mythology of various religions whilst Martin’s setting is mortality and war.  Perhaps my reader was right, however, and changes needed to be made with regard to the reduction of characters and a few stories that are intricate to my series’ plot.

As I pondered this predicament, other readers sent me messages and posted reviews.  All with a universal, and very important, message:  the manner in which I have written my characters and the depth of their feelings and loyalty toward one another is what makes The Scribing of Ishitar a success.

Now bolstered, I returned to his e-mail and read it again.  This time with an eye toward what I could take from the review rather than from my initial surprise from receiving such harsh criticism.   As I did so, I came to the realization that he was comparing a cart full of apples to a bucket of fresh picked oranges.  I also realized that some of his feedback was, indeed, valuable as Fall From Grace was meant to be the base of the story in which all of the following installments were to build.   Looking at the review from that perspective, I was able to incorporate some of his comments into my writing, improving my skill so that by the time Ashes to Ashes was complete I had a fluid story with stronger characters who are solidly written. 

My reader’s review has taught me the most valuable lesson I, as a writer, can learn:  read those negative reviews and take what you can from them to improve your craft.  But never take them personally, or to heart.  After all, every reader is entitled to their preferences and opinions.


The Benefit of Networking with Other Authors


Recently I have been involved in several discussions centered on the current trend of authors supporting one another’s social media pages.  Many authors believe that this is a waste of their valuable marketing resources and time.  The argument that these authors provide to support this belief is that books are meant to be marketed to readers, not to other authors who are too busy to read the work of others or spend their valuable resources on purchasing the works of another newly published author.  Although there is some logic to this theory, I, myself, don’t support this stance.
My first novel, Fall From Grace: The Scribing of Ishitar (Vol. I), was originally self-published through a print on demand company.   I had tried for years to market the concept of the story without much success.  Frustrated, I finally decided it was time to take matters into my own hands.  The problem I faced by going this route is that I was completely in the dark with regard to how to take the next step.   So, I did what any person living in this tech driven society would do—I “Googled” my questions and found a plethora of answers.  The solution, it would seem, was to join reading and author groups such as LibraryThing.com and Goodreads.com. 
After setting up my account through these sites, I found that the people who made contact with me tended to be other authors.  Many of them were reaching out to me to market their books.  At the time I found it kind of pushy and, really, rather odd.  Then I started actually connecting with one or two of them and, since that time, I’ve made some excellent friends and found some incredible resources for works going forward. 
For example, Nik August, the author of Along Temptations Edge, has taken a section of my current project, the third installment of The Scribing of Ishitar, and given me valuable feedback that can only improve my writing skills.  Another author, Kevin Klehr, who wrote Drama Queens with Love Scenes, listened to the starting sections of the audio version of Ashes to Ashes (which is currently in the recording phase) and called me with some excellent advice that I can implement in my next project to assist the voice actor from tripping over sentences that might read well but can become wordy when verbalized. 
As well as receiving assistance from my fellow authors and establishing new friendships, another benefit of networking with other authors I received is that some of them have actually read my book and posted a review.  The driving force behind Amazon ratings that pushes an author’s book higher up the search engine is the number of reviews the novel receives.    More importantly, reviews from other authors are extremely valuable in that they understand how to present their feedback in such a way that will either explain to potential readers why they should purchase the book or provide valuable feedback regarding what could have been improved.
Social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, have features which stream information from one user into another user’s news feed.  If an author visits your Facebook page and “likes” it, that information is shared with any of their Facebook friends who have subscribed to their news feed.  This includes family and friends who may be avid readers but aren’t authors, themselves.  The potential for reaching an untapped audience can increase exponentially based on the number of people who have visited and liked your page. 
In the end, the goal of most authors is to have their book read and enjoyed.  For that reason, as well as all the other benefits I have shared, I believe that networking with authors is a valuable use of my marketing time and resources.





The Never-Ending Editing Process

As an independent author I took extreme care with the editing process of my first published book, Fall From Grace: The Scribing of Ishitar (Vol. 1). I engaged the right people in the process—teachers, beta readers, other authors and, of course, a professional editor. Each of these individuals had valuable input with regard to my plot line, character evolvement, sentence structure and, of course, proofing the text. By the time I was finished with eight rounds of corrections and everyone involved gave a pass on the final product, I thought I had a well polished product worthy of standing toe to toe with a professionally published novel.

Imagine my frustration when one of my readers contacted me over simple things that every one of us overlooked at sign off.

For the most part, there wasn’t anything glaring. A misplaced comma here; a better word that could be used there. Simple errors that should have been caught but that were entirely overlooked—despite the fact that several people had beaten the book to death through the editing process.

At first I was downhearted. I had read the book so many times during the initial writing, redrafts and editing process that I was ready to move onto the next volume in the series, Ashes to Ashes, which, by then, was a quarter of the way completed. Yet after receiving the valuable feedback of a reader I had never met or talked with before she reached out to me to point these errors out, I knew I had no choice but to put Ashes to Ashes away and concentrate on Fall From Grace.

It took me three more passes before I was satisfied. Through the first, I found errors that even my reader didn’t catch. I trudged through and changed what I thought needed to be changed, uploaded a copy to CreateSpace and ordered yet another proof copy just to be sure I hadn’t missed anything during my initial review. Which, of course, I had. Although the pages weren’t bleeding with red corrections there were enough that a third round was warranted. Only after reading the book a third time was I satisfied enough to put the finished product back out on the market.

Discouraged, I decided to take a break from writing for a little while and went to the local bookstore to pick up a title from a well-known author on the bestsellers list—only to find not one, but several, editing errors. And this in a professionally polished novel!

The lesson I learned from this exercise? Edit, edit, edit until you’re satisfied you’ve caught everyting . . . but be prepared, and willing, to go back a year or two later and read your work again. Just don’t beat yourself down if you find an error here or there in your finished text. After all, even the pros can’t always get it right the first time around.





BOOK BUY LINKS

a Rafflecopter giveaway

No comments :

Labels

Giveaway ( 3088 ) Excerpt ( 1336 ) blog tour ( 942 ) Book Blitz ( 864 ) Cover Reveal ( 543 ) Guest post ( 518 ) Teaser ( 347 ) Book blast ( 283 ) Interview ( 260 ) Culture ( 245 ) Books ( 242 ) Trailer ( 228 ) freebie ( 227 ) Art ( 226 ) Funny ( 225 ) History ( 219 ) Promotion ( 207 ) Science ( 202 ) Articles ( 181 ) free kindle ( 145 ) Literature ( 142 ) Release Day ( 131 ) Review ( 120 ) Photography ( 115 ) nature ( 113 ) kindle ( 112 ) Gender ( 105 ) Book tour ( 90 ) Authors ( 89 ) myth ( 77 ) new release ( 77 ) Coffee ( 76 ) newsletter ( 71 ) Children ( 70 ) Music ( 66 ) box set ( 60 ) Archaeological ( 59 ) illustration ( 56 ) food ( 50 ) spotlight ( 50 ) PLAYLIST ( 49 ) social ( 48 ) 0.99 sale ( 46 ) YA ( 45 ) contest ( 43 ) fantasy ( 43 ) Mythology ( 42 ) Grand Finale ( 41 ) sale ( 39 ) blog hop ( 37 ) words ( 37 ) Poetry ( 35 ) artist ( 34 ) Characters interviews ( 32 ) Game ( 32 ) syfy ( 32 ) language ( 30 ) quotes ( 30 ) recipe ( 30 ) Release Party ( 29 ) Expert ( 27 ) ads ( 21 ) mystery ( 21 ) Photos ( 20 ) reading ( 20 ) Romance ( 19 ) Animals ( 18 ) Design ( 18 ) Education ( 18 ) Street Photography ( 18 ) book highlight ( 18 ) facts ( 18 ) comics ( 17 ) health ( 17 ) writing ( 17 ) Folklore ( 16 ) Holidays ( 16 ) Movies ( 16 ) poem ( 15 ) Biology ( 13 ) top 10 ( 13 ) Book release ( 12 ) Maps ( 12 ) covers ( 12 ) Book trailers ( 11 ) Cash Giveaway ( 11 ) Giveaways ( 11 ) Twitter Blast ( 11 ) Valentine ( 11 ) Friday revel ( 10 ) Libraries ( 10 ) Paranormal ( 10 ) Release blitz ( 10 ) agriculture ( 10 ) events ( 10 ) sport ( 10 ) Characters cast ( 9 ) Publishing ( 9 ) Sneak Peek ( 9 ) dream cast ( 9 ) work ( 9 ) BOOK SIGNING ( 8 ) Steam-punk ( 8 ) astronomy ( 8 ) interviews ( 8 ) plants ( 8 ) technology ( 8 ) Free Book ( 7 ) Halloween ( 7 ) NA ( 7 ) Thanks Giving ( 7 ) blog ( 7 ) blog blast ( 7 ) economy ( 7 ) letters ( 7 ) street art ( 7 ) Christmas ( 6 ) Contemporary Romance ( 6 ) Genetic ( 6 ) Goodreads giveaway ( 6 ) This and That ( 6 ) YA RELEASES ( 6 ) news ( 6 ) short story ( 6 ) writing tools ( 6 ) Amazon. ( 5 ) Audio ( 5 ) Philosophy ( 5 ) Spring ( 5 ) YA Fantasy ( 5 ) hosting ( 5 ) jobs ( 5 ) mother day ( 5 ) top 5 ( 5 ) Black Friday ( 4 ) BookRave ( 4 ) Fun Facts ( 4 ) Grammar ( 4 ) Song ( 4 ) Sunday Read Recommendation ( 4 ) Weather ( 4 ) Web ( 4 ) cakes ( 4 ) deals ( 4 ) evolution ( 4 ) gift card ( 4 ) horror ( 4 ) lol ( 4 ) photographer ( 4 ) soundtrack ( 4 ) studies ( 4 ) video ( 4 ) Architecture ( 3 ) Book Swapping ( 3 ) Book tor ( 3 ) Cartoon ( 3 ) Characters ( 3 ) Computing ( 3 ) Dance ( 3 ) Easter ( 3 ) Erotica ( 3 ) Indian ( 3 ) Kindle Fire HDx Giveaway ( 3 ) St. Patrick's day ( 3 ) Suspense ( 3 ) TV series ( 3 ) Thriller ( 3 ) Translation ( 3 ) bookstore ( 3 ) chapters ( 3 ) chemistry ( 3 ) contemporary ( 3 ) ecology ( 3 ) fall ( 3 ) film director ( 3 ) guest review ( 3 ) hope ( 3 ) icon ( 3 ) launch day ( 3 ) math ( 3 ) story ( 3 ) summer ( 3 ) syfi ( 3 ) urban ( 3 ) winter ( 3 ) 10 Fun Facts ( 2 ) 10 things ( 2 ) 4th of july ( 2 ) Adventure ( 2 ) Audiobook ( 2 ) Awards ( 2 ) Blogger Appreciation ( 2 ) Book reveling ( 2 ) Bookstores ( 2 ) Characters bio ( 2 ) Clean Sweep ( 2 ) Cover wars ( 2 ) Crime ( 2 ) Debut Author Challenge ( 2 ) Dystopian ( 2 ) Family ( 2 ) Free Shipping ( 2 ) Fun ( 2 ) Gifts ( 2 ) Graphs. STAT ( 2 ) Hop International ( 2 ) Introduction ( 2 ) Literature awards ( 2 ) Nostalgic ( 2 ) Ocean ( 2 ) Psychological ( 2 ) Psychological Thriller ( 2 ) Reading Contest ( 2 ) Release week ( 2 ) Selfies ( 2 ) Summer Reading ( 2 ) Summery of the year ( 2 ) Tablets ( 2 ) Tea ( 2 ) Titles ( 2 ) add ( 2 ) art Articles ( 2 ) birds ( 2 ) book bash ( 2 ) book contest ( 2 ) bread ( 2 ) cell & molecular biology ( 2 ) children’s literature ( 2 ) climate change ( 2 ) codes ( 2 ) discussion ( 2 ) dragons ( 2 ) ebooks ( 2 ) epic ( 2 ) extreme ( 2 ) facebook ( 2 ) facebook Blast ( 2 ) games & gadgets. test ( 2 ) ilustration ( 2 ) immunology ( 2 ) incredible ( 2 ) internet ( 2 ) labels ( 2 ) lists ( 2 ) lunch blitz ( 2 ) martial ( 2 ) min-interview ( 2 ) monsters ( 2 ) physics ( 2 ) poets ( 2 ) sea ( 2 ) tips ( 2 ) tv ( 2 ) water ( 2 ) wolf ( 2 ) 5 Fun Facts ( 1 ) 5 Rapid Fire Round ( 1 ) A vote ( 1 ) Action ( 1 ) Adult ( 1 ) Adult Historical Fantasy ( 1 ) Adult fiction ( 1 ) African-American Lit ( 1 ) Amazing ( 1 ) Amazon ( 1 ) Amazon.Tech ( 1 ) Announcement ( 1 ) Apology ( 1 ) April ( 1 ) Atlit Yam ( 1 ) B-day ( 1 ) Badass heroes ( 1 ) Baking ( 1 ) Bibliophile ( 1 ) Black & White ( 1 ) Blogoversary ( 1 ) Book Hop ( 1 ) Bookfest ( 1 ) Booklikes ( 1 ) Bravery ( 1 ) Bundles ( 1 ) Catalog ( 1 ) Concepts ( 1 ) Critique ( 1 ) Cut Scene ( 1 ) DVD ( 1 ) Did you know ( 1 ) Discovery ( 1 ) Disney ( 1 ) Donation Campaign ( 1 ) Earth Day ( 1 ) Etymology ( 1 ) Extravaganza ( 1 ) FAQ ( 1 ) Falafel Day ( 1 ) Favorite Reads ( 1 ) Folklure ( 1 ) Gadgets ( 1 ) Garden ( 1 ) Geography ( 1 ) Greating ( 1 ) Happy New Year. greatings ( 1 ) Heroes ( 1 ) High-Rise Buildings ( 1 ) Highlights ( 1 ) Holocaust ( 1 ) Infographic ( 1 ) Inspiration ( 1 ) International ( 1 ) Japan ( 1 ) Jazz ( 1 ) Kindness ( 1 ) Linguists ( 1 ) Literary Fiction ( 1 ) Maleficent ( 1 ) Meet the author ( 1 ) Misconceptions ( 1 ) Multicultural ( 1 ) New Adult ( 1 ) New Adult fiction ( 1 ) New Series Releases ( 1 ) New Year ( 1 ) Offers ( 1 ) PRE-RELEASE ( 1 ) Parental ( 1 ) Passover ( 1 ) Personal message ( 1 ) Picture Revision ( 1 ) Piracy ( 1 ) Pirates ( 1 ) Preview ( 1 ) Print Design ( 1 ) Psychology ( 1 ) QA ( 1 ) Query Contest ( 1 ) Quet ( 1 ) Quiz ( 1 ) Quize ( 1 ) Random Facts ( 1 ) Rapid Fire Round ( 1 ) Recommends ( 1 ) References ( 1 ) Religion ( 1 ) Reveal ( 1 ) Rhymes ( 1 ) Romantic Suspense ( 1 ) Scavenger Hunt ( 1 ) Scots ( 1 ) Sleeping Beauty ( 1 ) Sparkiversary ( 1 ) Target ( 1 ) Tax day ( 1 ) Tour ( 1 ) Tour Highlight ( 1 ) Tourney ( 1 ) Trivia ( 1 ) Typography ( 1 ) Unbelievable ( 1 ) Urban Fantasy ( 1 ) Vintage ( 1 ) Virtual Book Tour ( 1 ) Visa ( 1 ) WWII ( 1 ) Waiting on Wednesday ( 1 ) Western Historical Romance ( 1 ) What I'm reading ( 1 ) Women ( 1 ) Women’s Fiction ( 1 ) Women’s Lit ( 1 ) YA nonfiction ( 1 ) academic ( 1 ) alternative medical ( 1 ) angry robot ( 1 ) anima ( 1 ) author blog ( 1 ) available ( 1 ) book hunt ( 1 ) book industry ( 1 ) book sketch ( 1 ) book swag ( 1 ) brain ( 1 ) calligraphy ( 1 ) ceremony ( 1 ) challenge ( 1 ) clips ( 1 ) clocks ( 1 ) confidence ( 1 ) convention ( 1 ) crazy ( 1 ) creative ( 1 ) cupping ( 1 ) daimonds ( 1 ) diet ( 1 ) digital copy ( 1 ) discount ( 1 ) drugs ( 1 ) east ( 1 ) editing ( 1 ) essays ( 1 ) fairy tales ( 1 ) fashion ( 1 ) fiction ( 1 ) fool day ( 1 ) genre ( 1 ) gift ( 1 ) global warming ( 1 ) gov ( 1 ) green ( 1 ) greeting ( 1 ) guns ( 1 ) harvest ( 1 ) help ( 1 ) ideas ( 1 ) indi ( 1 ) infectious disease ( 1 ) info ( 1 ) insects ( 1 ) intro for audio ( 1 ) introducing ( 1 ) labor day ( 1 ) lego ( 1 ) make up ( 1 ) manga ( 1 ) meaning ( 1 ) message ( 1 ) money ( 1 ) monthly ( 1 ) mystical ( 1 ) names ( 1 ) names.culture ( 1 ) new cover ( 1 ) note ( 1 ) olympic ( 1 ) organic ( 1 ) out takes ( 1 ) outage ( 1 ) packing ( 1 ) palentology ( 1 ) party ( 1 ) pepco ( 1 ) physiology ( 1 ) pk ( 1 ) protein ( 1 ) protein foldingץ ( 1 ) protest ( 1 ) public transportation ( 1 ) pulp fiction ( 1 ) rare ( 1 ) recommendation ( 1 ) rescued ( 1 ) retail ( 1 ) reveal tour ( 1 ) revel party ( 1 ) shopping ( 1 ) solutions ( 1 ) songs tracks ( 1 ) support ( 1 ) surfing ( 1 ) survival ( 1 ) swords ( 1 ) tags ( 1 ) theater ( 1 ) title reveal ( 1 ) top 12 ( 1 ) trees ( 1 ) update ( 1 ) visual ( 1 ) winner of giveaway ( 1 ) wo ( 1 )