Interview with Christine Amsden, Sci Fi & Fantasy Author

Click on the image to visit Christine's Meet & Greet on VBT Cafe

 BIO:

Christine Amsden has been writing science fiction and fantasy for as long as she can remember. She loves to write and it is her dream that others will be inspired by this love and by her stories. Speculative fiction is fun, magical, and imaginative but great speculative fiction is about real people defining themselves through extraordinary situations. Christine writes primarily about people and it is in this way that she strives to make science fiction and fantasy meaningful for everyone.

At the age of 16, Christine was diagnosed with Stargardt’s Disease, a condition that effects the retina and causes a loss of central vision. She is now legally blind, but has not let this slow her down or get in the way of her dreams.

Christine currently lives in the Kansas City area with her husband, Austin, who has been her biggest fan and the key to her success. They have two beautiful children, Drake and Celeste.

Louise: Christine, welcome to my blog! I’m so excited you could join me for a chat. When did you first decide to submit your work to be published? Tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step.

Christine: It was a long road, but I had dreamed of being a published (okay, filthy rich world-famous) author since I was a little girl. Like many young aspiring authors, however; I didn't like to show anyone my work, afraid doing so would destroy the dream. The truth is exactly the other way around! When I finally showed my work to my husband (then my fiance), he told me two things: that I was good but needed a lot of work. He's the one who found out about Orson Scott Card's summer boot camps, and convinced me to send in an audition piece. By the time the workshop was over, I had the tools I needed. After that, it was just a matter of time, practice, hard work, and luck.

Louise: Please tell us a little about your new release The Immortality Virus.

Christine: The Immortality Virus is a story about that greatest of all human desires – eternal youth – and what might happen if we actually achieve it.

In the mid-21st century, the human race stopped aging. Those who know why aren’t talking, and the few who are brave enough to ask questions tend to disappear. To an elite few, The Change means long life and health, but to the ever-increasing masses, it means starvation, desperation, and violence.

Four centuries after The Change, Grace Harper, a blacklisted P.I., sets off on a mission to find the man responsible for it all and solicit his help to undo The Change — if he’s still alive. To complicate matters, Grace’s employer is suspected of murdering his father, and when the police learn of their connection, they give her a choice — help them find the evidence they need to convict Matthew Stanton, or die. But if they discover Grace’s true mission, they won’t hesitate to kill her in order to preserve their shot at immortality.

Louise: Do you plan all your characters out before you start a story or do they develop as you write?

Christine: Yes. That is to say, I plan them in advance, but then, as I write, they change. They change the story, the story changes them. Writing is an iterative process, even for those of us who are planners. Or maybe especially for those of us who are planners. 

Louise: How much research do you do for your books? Have you found any cool tidbits to share?

Christine: I do some, but I tend to try to write books that largely involve things I already know. It's easier and more natural that way. For The Immortality Virus, I spent a couple of weeks doing research on viruses, on genetics, and on some of the theories of aging. I wanted to make sure my premise was plausible, but there was a reason I made my main character a private investigator instead of a geneticist (which I briefly considered) – it would take me longer than a couple of weeks to be able to truly settle into that knowledge set! And in the end, the story is more about the result of finding the fountain of youth, rather than the method of discovery.

Louise: What is your writing process? Do you outline, write by the seat of your pants (Pantser) or a combination of both?

Christine: I outline, but not neatly. My “outlines” are written in free form, are more like brainstorming, and if you read them, you'd probably get hopelessly confused. To tell you the truth, I almost never read them. The point is to write them. I also keep a “companion” file every time I write a novel, or a draft of a novel. The companion explores ideas for future drafts, where I might go in the future, etc. Like I said, it's messy. It may be that I'm more of a dreamer than an outliner, but I dream with my fingers. 

Louise: Do you write full time? What did you do before you became a writer or still do?

Christine: When I got married, my husband encouraged me to stay home and write, to follow my dream. I realize how lucky I am to have this ability. Before I got married, I got degrees in Computer Science and Psychology, spent a year in grad school, and then did some freelance computer work. Now, in addition to writing, I raise two children (4 and 6), do some freelance editing work, and teach writing workshops. My next workshop is on world building in science fiction and fantasy, offered through Savvy Authors. http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/showevent.php?eventid=1055

Louise: Do you have a ritual when it comes to writing? Example….get coffee, blanket, paper, pen, laptop and a comfy place.

Christine: I engage all five senses (psychological trick). I light a candle (sight and smell), turn on some music (sound), and suck on a hard mint (taste and touch).

Louise: Describe a typical writing day for you.

Christine: This is a harder question than you may think. As my children grow up, each year our schedule changes, and I have to work around it. Right now it's summer break, and I carve out time for writing during afternoon “quiet time.” I get some business out of the way early in the morning or in the evening. When school starts again, I'll have one in first grade and the other in afternoon preschool, so I'll have all afternoon to myself! I like to use quiet or alone times for the creative part of writing. I squeeze business (such as setting up book tours) into mornings and evenings. 

Louise: Please give us a sneak peek at your future books. What’s on the horizon?

Christine: I'm so glad you asked! I am super-excited about an urban fantasy/paranormal romance series I have coming out in 2013. (Probably starting in February, then coming out every 4-6 months.)

Cassie Scot: Paranormal Detective

Cassie Scot is the ungifted daughter of powerful sorcerers, born between worlds but belonging to neither. At 21, all she wants is to find a place for herself, but earning a living as a private investigator in the shadow of her family’s reputation isn’t easy. When she is pulled into a paranormal investigation, and tempted by a powerful and handsome sorcerer, she will have to decide where she truly belongs.

There are four books in this series, and I'm working on the last one now, so it's going to be a whirlwind once I get going.

Louise: What is your favorite genre to read and who is your favorite author?

Christine: I like to read books about strong characters struggling to overcome obstacles. Classical genre distinctions don't matter to me nearly as much as that. (It makes finding books very difficult, of course, because nobody shelves them that way!) My favorite authors, therefore, span genres. Orson Scott Card (scifi), Catherine Anderson (romance), Karen Marie Moning (urban fantasy/romance), Jim Butcher (urban fantasy), JK Rowling (YA fantasy), Mercedes Lackey (fantasy)...there's a lot of fantasy and romance in there, but I also enjoy scifi, mystery, suspense, and anything with strong characters.

Louise: Is there anything else you would like to tell the readers we have not touched on?

Christine: The Immortality Virus ebook (through Amazon and B&N) is $0.99 during the tour.

I'll be around today and probably tomorrow reading the comments, so if any of your readers have direct questions, I'll try to answer.

Louise: Where can the readers learn more about you and find your books on the web? (Add the web links and buy links here)

Christine: I keep my own web site up to date and as full of information as I can. I have pages dedicated to each book with buy links, links to read the first chapter for free, and links to reviews. I also update my blog regularly – news when it's important, but a lot of my blog is devoted to book reviews and writing tips.

http://christineamsden.com/wordpress/

Feel free to ask questions, either here over the next couple of days or by e-mailing me. I am thrilled to hear from readers, and answer questions. 

 The Immortality Virus

Excerpt:

“Why did you call me here?” Grace asked. She remembered the newspaper headlines again and found herself wondering if, just maybe, Matt had killed his father. Accidents, murder, or disease were the only way for a person to die when age didn’t plunge them towards that fate. Perhaps Matt had been sick of waiting around for his father to step aside and leave control of Medicorp to him.

“Straight to business, then?”

Grace nodded. “You have to admit, this meeting is unusual.” She did not specifically mention the blacklist, but she was sure Matt would know what she meant. “Does this have anything to do with your father’s death?”

“My father?” Matt cocked his head to the side. “That was a terrible accident in the midst of a robbery. Once you get as old as we are, you begin to tempt fate every day just by being alive. Old age might not get to us, but accidents are inevitable. Besides, the police have already handled the investigation.”

“They found the killer?” Grace asked, confused. She would have heard. Besides, since the robber had successfully stolen a holosuit, it seemed unlikely that anyone would find him.

“Not yet, but our city has a fine police force, and I’m sure they’ll do their job admirably.”

Grace decided not to argue with the idea that the Kansas City police force was either “fine” or “admirable.” They would enthusiastically serve the rich, perhaps, but a madman could go on a shooting spree in the park, and they’d just call in the recyclers.

“Then why–?” Grace began.

“How old are you, Ms. Harper?”

“I’m sure you know,” Grace said. She suspected that this man knew quite a lot about her.

“Yes, but I’m trying to make you feel more comfortable.”

“I’m one hundred and thirty.”

“Still quite young, then,” Matt said. “The odds are still on your side. Although you chose a dangerous line of work.”

“Is there a safe line of work? This is what I’m good at.”

“Rumor has it that you’re good at finding people,” Matt said.

Grace didn’t hesitate. “The best. I’ve had a fifty percent success rate across my career.”

“Fifty percent?” Matt echoed, his voice hollow. “That doesn’t sound very certain.”

Grace shrugged. “Who said life was certain? But most in the business don’t find more than one in ten.” Grace hesitated, but decided to go for broke. “I don’t always get work looking for people with ID chips, either. My clients aren’t people who deal with The Establishment, but I guess you know that.”

“Of course.”

“So then I must assume that the person you’re looking for is either someone without an ID chip or someone The Establishment wouldn’t want you to find.” Grace paused and tried not to think about the implications of that. “Probably both.”

A small smile played at the corner of Matt’s mouth, but he did not answer in words. He walked to his desk, opened a drawer, and pulled out an old-fashioned digital diary, the kind people used to buy when they had more money and resources than they knew what to do with. Grace had only seen them in movies. It looked a little like a notebook from the outside, but opening the cover revealed a microphone and speakers. “I ran across this diary a few weeks ago, mixed in with some old records the company was throwing out. It’s fascinating.”

 www.virtualbooktourcafe.com

In the desolate future, long after the nuclear war, practicing medicine is illegal; "A Friend of the Family". A chat with Author David Kubicek on his VBT Pit Stop April 18

In a desolate future where doctors have been replaced by Healers who practice primitive treatments like bleeding, one medical man risks his freedom to help a member of a Healer’s family.

David Kubicek visits with me today to chat about his new release A Friend of the Family and why he loves to write. 

Click on the image to visit David's Meet & Greet 

on VBT Cafe. Follow his tour for a chance to win a $25 GC from Amazon. Details below.

Louise: David, welcome to my blog! I’m so excited you could join me for a chat. When did you first decide to submit your work to be published? Tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step.

David: Reading Ray Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles got me interested in publishing what I wrote. I’d been writing stories for a few years before that, but they were just for friends and family. Bradbury made me think seriously about writing for publication. It was the summer before my senior year in high school when I went to the newsstand in search of a magazine to which I could send my stories, found a copy of Writer’s Digest instead, and that started me on the right path.

Louise: Ray Bradbury's The Illustrated Man is one of my favorites and Writer's Digest is a good writing resource for you new and seasoned authors who have stopped by. Please tell us a little about your new release A Friend Of The Family without giving too much of a spoiler away.

David: A Friend of the Family is set in a post-apocalyptic future where practicing medicine is illegal, and Healers—who use primitive and superstitious methods like chanting and bleeding their patients—are the accepted health care providers. The story centers around a doctor named Hank, who is estranged from the Underground—a loose network of medical practitioners who help people who have lost faith in the Healers—and only practices medicine for his own family. One night a 16-year-old girl, named Gina, knocks on his door. She is a telepath, indirect results of that long-ago war. She knows Hank is a doctor. She knows where he hides his equipment and supplies. She threatens to bring the police if Hank doesn’t come with her and cure her seriously ill father. Hank’s dilemma: If he doesn’t go with her, he risks being arrested, but if he goes with her he risks being arrested because Gina’s Aunt Rose is a Healer.

Louise: Do you plan all your characters out before you start a story or do they develop as you write?

David: I know what types of characters I’m writing about before I begin, and I usually have an idea of their physical appearance. But the characters develop as I’m writing about them. That’s more fun than planning them out beforehand. When I first started writing I would compose these long character biographies, but it always ended badly. I found that writing down their physical description, character traits, and background made them more rigid in my mind; they seemed like cardboard characters rather than living, breathing people. I need to have my characters fluid. I need to have them develop like real people. So I put them into situations and see how they respond to those situations. Anything I need to show about their backgrounds I make up as I go along. 

Louise: How much research do you do for your books? Have you found any cool tidbits in your research?

David: Usually my research consists of checking facts. For A Friend of the Family I learned a little about pneumonia and how it’s treated, and I looked up the medical name for blood pressure equipment. I did much more research for my full-length novel In Human Form because there were lots of things I didn’t know but needed to know. I found a great deal of information in books, but I used some live sources as well. I interviewed a fire inspector because a pivotal scene in IHF involves arson.

The first extensive research I did was for a short story set in a morgue. I didn’t know anything about morgues, so I called one of our local hospitals and found someone who agreed to show me around. I learned lots of things about morgues that you don’t see on TV crime/dramas. I found that morgues keep pieces of organs in meticulously-labeled jars in a cupboard for future study. When I was there, they had a severed leg in one of the refrigerators; it was in a plastic bag, so my guide had to feel it to make sure it was a leg. The resulting story was “Clinical Evaluation,” which was the name plate on the door to the morgue (my guide said that the pathologists didn’t like to call it the morgue). “Clinical Evaluation” became my first published story, in an anthology called The New Surrealists, and I later reprinted it in The Moaning Rocks and Other Stories.

Louise: What is your writing process? Do you outline, write by the seat of your pants (Pantser) or a combination of both?

David: I know how I’ll begin and I how I’ll end, and I have a general idea of what will happen between the beginning and the ending. I’ll take notes on scenes I plan to write. I try to write in chronological order, from beginning to end, but usually that doesn’t work out. I’ll write scenes out of order, planning to sort them out later. I’ll write scenes that I never intend to put in the novel because they help me work out story problems. I will go back and revise what I’ve written; if I feel that a storyline is headed in the wrong direction, I’ll discard pages and nudge the story back onto the right track. Then, once I have the first draft completed, I tear into it to revise it and shape it until I’m satisfied with it. 

Louise: Do you write full time? What did you do before you became a writer or still do?

David: Over the course of my writing career I’ve worked in a print shop and in a photo finishing plant.  I’ve worked as a caregiver, and I’ve worked at a variety of custodial jobs. I ran a publishing company for three years, and for nine years I wrote for The Midlands Business Journal (I estimate that I wrote approximately three million words for the MBJ and its sister publications). I left the MBJ to care for my elderly parents, which I did for nine years. With my mother’s passing in December 2012, I am technically writing full time while I search for my next career opportunity.

Louise: Do you have a ritual when it comes to writing? Example….get coffee, blanket, paper, pen, laptop and a comfy place.

David: I procrastinate. I always have something to drink—early in the day its coffee (decaf), in the evening it’s diet soda. I work in the basement, far away from distractions. I use a desktop computer; laptops and I have never gotten along. I check my e-mail and do a few other things online. The internet makes it easy for writers to procrastinate; in the olden days we had to be more creative. But I limit my procrastination to about 10 minutes. Then I turn to my current work-in-progress and start writing.

Louise: I'm guilty of procrastinating. Twitter and FB can become distracting and next thing you know, you're visiting blogs. Which we all should do - but like you limit our time. Describe a typical writing day for you.

David: I usually write for two hours in the evenings on weekdays, earlier in the day on weekends. I’ve found that if I have a specific time for writing, I’m less likely to let other things get in the way. There are times when events keep me away from the keyboard at the appointed time, but for the most part I’ve been successful at maintaining this schedule.

Louise: Please give us a sneak peek at your future books. What’s on the horizon?

David: I’m currently working on Empath, a young adult dystopian novel in which the survivors of a devastating plague live in walled cities. The citizens fear mutations, which they interpret as evidence of the plague returning, so mutants are exiled into the wasteland beyond the city walls. Sixteen-year-old Cassidy Anne Lange is an Empath; she can feel what people are feeling. Her special gift is the ability to heal, to bring people back even from terminal illness and injury. Unfortunately, in this society, Empaths are considered mutants, and when Cassidy saves the life of a classmate, she suddenly finds herself arrested and facing exile into the hostile world outside.

Also, the sequel to In Human Form—tentatively entitled Transition—is in the planning stages, and I have two more short novels in the works.  

Louise: What is your favorite genre to read and who is your favorite author?

David: I read many genres, but science fiction will always have a special place in my heart because I cut my literary teeth on stories of the future and of other worlds. I like the early work of Ray Bradbury and most of Stephen King’s work. I like John Steinbeck, Kathy Reichs (the TV show Bones is based on her series), Audrey Niffenegger (The Time Traveler’s Wife), and some of Margaret Atwood’s work (The Handmaid’s Tale). I also love horror stories when they are done well.

Louise: The Handmaiden's Tale; I didn't read the book, but the movie was really good. I'm a huge SK fan! Is there anything else you would like to tell the readers we have not touched on?

David: My wife Cheryl is an essential force behind my fiction. She is my first reader, and her opinion carries lots of weight. In Human Form was published because she wouldn’t let me retire it to the oblivion of file 13 (my dedication to that novel reads: “For Cheryl, who kept Wendy alive”). I can also count on her honesty. I have gone back to work on many stories because her comment was four words: “You can do better.” When I was gathering the stories for my short story collection, The Moaning Rocks and Other Stories, I cut two stories from the lineup because Cheryl didn’t like them.

I’d also like to point out that my son Sean, who is 16, read A Friend of the Family and recommends it highly. That’s significant because Sean is a very selective reader. He tends to prefer young adult series novels (and one Dean Koontz novel). So even though he is my own flesh and blood, he has shown little previous interest in the stories I write.

Louise: Where can the readers learn more about you and find your books on the web?

David:  A Friend of the Family is available in paperback and for Kindle from Amazon until June 1, 2012, when it also will become available for Nook and other e-book formats.

My other books—including the paperback edition of A Friend of the Family—are available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and from many other dealers on the web.

Other places readers can find me are:

  

Blog/Website

Twitter

Facebook page 

Goodreads

  

One lucky commenter from the entire A Friend of the Family book tour will receive a $25 Amazon Gift card.

Louise: David, thank you again for visiting with me! Readers, be sure to follow the book tour and comment for a chance to win. Good luck!

Here's an Excerpt for a teaser:

“Are you pleased with yourself, Medicine Man?” Aunt Rose said. The rockers rolled on the floor, back and forth, slowly, creaking. Outside the wind buffeted the ancient building. A draft stirred in the musty closeness of the room “He’s going to die. You’re going to see to that, aren’t you, Medicine Man?”

Gina jumped up.

“He’s not, you old bag!”

The intensity, the bitterness of the words sent a shock sizzling through Hank’s brain.

Oh, God, he thought. Please don’t let it end now. Not yet. Just a little longer. Please.

“You’re the one who’s killing him. You!”

“Sit down, you little snip, or I’ll cuff you up the side of your head.”

“Piss on you.”

“Sit down, Gina, honey.”

“Piss on you, too, Ma.”

Vic stirred on the bed. He moaned but didn’t wake up. Gina glanced at him, the animosity draining from her face.

“Please,” Hank said, his voice hoarse. “Gina, please. . .”

For a minute, tension was thick. Then Aunt Rose looked away, resumed rocking. Gina was breathing as if she’d run a great distance.

She wants Pa to die, Gina thought at Hank.

Gina sat down cross-legged on the floor beside Hank’s chair. His hand moved slightly, raised, hesitated as if he didn’t know what to do with it. Then he laid his hand lightly on Gina’s shoulder, felt the tight muscles there and the warmth coming from her body.

You can’t mean that. He’s her brother.

Gina laughed a dry laugh which ended in a sob that she tried to choke off. Aunt Rose and Maud looked at her, but she ignored them.

Our family’s dying.

Hank sensed her sadness, her desperation, but most of all, he sensed her confusion about why this had to happen, why to them.

Pa holds us together now. My brothers are dead. If Pa di— If— If he wasn’t here, Max would’ve been head of the family. He was oldest. He was strong and gentle and wise. So was Jake, my other brother. They could’ve handled Aunt Rose, like Pa does now. Aunt Rose is afraid of Pa, even when he’s sick. Now— Now if Pa— Ma’s too weak, and I’m too young. Aunt Rose will be head of the family.

Hank tried not to let her see the random thoughts that skittered through his mind like frightened beetles. Thoughts of getting away from here before it was too late, if it weren’t too late already, because these people were strangers to him, and why did he care? But he crushed the thought and cast it away into that dim part of his consciousness where he stored thoughts and feelings of which he was ashamed. He squeezed Gina’s shoulder, gently.

She’s using you, she thought.

What?

She builds walls in her mind so I can’t see her thinking. She’s better at it than you. She’s had more practice. But I can see more than she thinks I do. I can glimpse shadows of her thoughts.

Hank took his hand off Gina’s shoulder and sat up straighter in his chair. He cleared his throat as if about to speak, but he didn’t say anything.

What’s this you’re telling me?

You wondered why she didn’t act the way you thought she would before, when she came home and found you here. Look at her sitting over there waiting. Like a vulture. See how calm she is? She thinks Pa’s dying. She wants you here if he dies.

Hank was sweating under his jacket. A bead of perspiration rolled down the back of his neck.

What good will that do?

I told you, Gina thought impatiently, as if he were a child slow to understand. Both my brothers died. Both of them within a couple of years. Who do you think was treating them?

Purchase link: Amazon

Author Interview - Ben Brown Dec 19

For my next interview, I have Ben Brown visiting on a one day stop. Ben is on holiday, but will be around to chat with readers.

A little bit about Ben before we start:

Ben Brown was born in Reading, England. He struggled through school academically. Diagnosed with dyslexia meant being removed from class to attend “remedial” lessons. Ben did not enjoy reading and writing, and left school early to work with his father as a builder. It wasn’t until his mid twenties that Ben persisted in teaching himself to read and finally read his first novel.

Ben emigrated to Perth, Western Australia in 1990 where he now lives with his wife and two teenagers.

He planned his first novel each day while working as a bricklayer, to pass the hours. His love of scientific facts, futuristic possibilities and fast-paced action is what makes his first novel a great read.

Ben and I are glad you joined us today. And to celebrate this occasion, Ben is giving away a coupon for a free copy of Enhanced on Smashwords and it's valid till the 31st of January.

Louise: Ben, welcome to my blog! I’m so excited you could join me for a chat. When did you first decide to submit your work to be published? Tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step.

Ben: Thank you for having me. I first decided to see if I could get Enhanced published after a friend at work read it. Of course, all my family told me how much they had enjoyed it, but he was the first, none-relative, to compliment the book. I think it was then, that I began to think it might be good.

Louise: Please tell a little about your new release Enhanced without giving too much of a spoiler away.

Ben: I like exploring breakthroughs in science, and opportunities that are just over the technological horizon. With that in mind, I find the field of genetic engineering, and stem cell research particularly intriguing. I heard of some research where scientists attempted to reverse engineer the DNA of chickens, turning some of their aspects back to reptilian states, namely teeth. This fascinated me. Then I thought, what if certain humans had ancient strands of DNA code, that when turned on, made them super human? Well, that idea blossomed into developing power hungry maniacs and the trials of those who needed to stop them.
The book follows the conflict around the world, as one side tries for world domination, and the other tries to stop them. It’s your classic struggle for humanity.

Louise: Do you plan all your characters out before you start a story or do they develop as you write?

Ben: I had a clear image of the four main protagonists, but everyone else just seemed to pop up as the story evolved. I would get excited as a new character would enter my head, I would never know exactly how each would develop. A good example of this is, Michael. When he first appeared in the book, I thought I knew what he was going to do. However, as the book grew, so did he. I found myself liking him more and more. He began to do things that made me change my original plans for him. He became one of my favorites, which took me by surprise.

Louise: How much research do you do for your books? Have you found any cool tidbits in your research?

Ben: I researched this book a great deal; I wanted the places my protagonists visited, to be as accurate as possible. In fact, one of the people editing the book asked me, “When did you go to New York? Your descriptions of Ellis Island seemed so vivid.” I answered, “Never, I just read everything I could find about the place.” I applied this to all the aspects of the book, the scientific facts are just tweaked a bit, stretched for more effect. One of the things that I found hardest to find, was the catholic ritual of the last rights, I wanted this accurate. I ended up contacting a catholic monastery here in Perth, they kindly sent me it verbatim, and explained its origins, and meaning. I found the research heaps of fun, but hard at times. Accuracy is always an issue when researching on the net.

Louise: What is your writing process? Do you outline, write by the seat of your pants (Pantser) or a combination of both?

Ben: This is how I write; I make it up as I go along. For instance, the idea for Enhanced popped into my head, so I sat down and started writing. The story revealed itself to me with every key stroke. I had no idea at the beginning of the book, of how it would end. I write like that all the time, I find it as exciting as reading a book that I have never read. Plot twists, and characters suddenly appear to me, I don’t know what will happen next. It’s like I’m watching a movie in my head, and all I have to do is write it down.

Louise: Do you write full time? What did you do before you became a writer or still do?

Ben: Like most writers, I have to work; writing hasn’t made me rich yet. I work in construction, which I have done since I left school at fifteen. I have dyslexia, and left school all but illiterate, I didn’t finish high school. I worked in my father’s company in the UK, and then I immigrated to Perth at the age of twenty-three. With the help of my wife, and the aid of a PC, I learned to read thanks to sites like Project Gutenberg. The first book I ever read was an eBook, The Time Machine by H.G. Wells. I have an affinity for eBooks; I think they’re the future of publishing.
Louise: Do you have a ritual when it comes to writing? Example….get coffee, blanket, paper, pen, laptop and a comfy place.

Ben: No, not really, that said, I always write in my study. Thanks to my dyslexia, I need complete silence to both read, and write. So I shut the door, pull the blinds, and just type.

Louise: Describe a typical writing day for you.

Ben: Most of my real writing happens on a Sunday. I get up early, around 5.30am, and write for all it’s worth. I take breaks to watch a bit of TV, or listen to music, then back in to it again. During the week, I tinker with what I’ve written, fine tuning it.
Louise: Please give us a sneak peek at your future books. What’s on the horizon?
Ben: Obviously, I’m working on the sequel to Enhanced, but I’m also writing a book following on from a short story I wrote. Rescue Unit 867a, won third place in a short story contest at, www.sfnovelists.com. I want to see what happens to John Saunders, the main character in Rescue Unit, three years down the track from where I left him.
I also have a book out called, Pohon Setan, you can find that on Amazon.

Louise: What is your favorite genre to read and who is your favorite author?

Ben: I like all sorts really, everything from Tolkien, to King. I like action packed books, Matthew Reilly, an Aussie author, is good at that genre. I also like another author found at AKW Books, John Bowers. I’ve read all of his many books. If you love action packed epics, then he’s your man.

Louise: Is there anything else you would like to tell the readers we have not touched on?

Ben: Only this, give writing a go, it’s rewarding beyond belief. Don’t do it thinking you’ll be the next Stephen King, do it because it stretches the mind and the soul. Writing has helped to free me from my own self-doubts. Everything involved in getting Enhanced out there, has been a great experience, and one I will always hold close to my heart. I know that sounds a bit maudlin, but I mean it. Thank you for the opportunity of this interview, I’ve enjoyed it a great deal.

Louise: Thank you for visiting on my blog. And have a great holiday trip! Where can the readers learn more about you and find your books on the web?

Ben: The easiest place to find everything about my writing is my Web site. You can find links to both my books there, as well as samples of each. In addition, Rescue Unit 867a can be downloaded free from there.

Readers, don't forget to leave a comments with your email address included. One lucky commenter will be drawn for a free copy of Enhanced choice of eBook format at Smashwords.

Enhanced Blurb:
      Zac was just an ordinary man, in an ordinary town, with an ordinary life. He drudged through his existence with tedious resignation. That was, until he met the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, Lea Abella. He felt drawn to her, not just because of her beauty; she had something else. However, after she drugged him, and he woke in the secret lab of Dr. Henry Skinner, he felt those feelings may have been misplaced.
     Zac had a rare and ancient DNA code, one that when unlocked by Dr. Skinner would enhance every cell in his body, changing him forever. Strength, endurance, senses, everything would improve immensely. In short, he would become — superhuman. However, there was a catch. Dr. Skinner had carried out the unlocking procedure a number of times before. The first“subject” had been his son. He’d unlocked Dominic’s code in an attempt to cure his insanity. Instead, he unleashed the biggest threat to humanity the world had ever seen. Dr. Skinner needed Zac’s abilities for one reason: he would be the only “subject” powerful enough to stop his son’s plans of world domination.
     Zac, Lea, and a small team of crack soldiers, head out on a worldwide chase, a hunt that can end in only one of two ways: either stop Dominic and his band of enhanced psychopaths … or die trying.

This  fast paced, action packed novel travels the globe in an adrenalin-filled race
against time. From the Berkshire Downs of the UK, to New York and Africa, the
tale moves from one breathtaking battle to the next.

Pohon Setan Blurb:
Chelsea Brown dreamt of being a journalist her whole life. Now, that dream was about to come true. She and her two friends, graduated university together, and were about to embark on their  first assignment.
 
Under the guidance of veteran reporter, and alcoholic, Bill Redcliff, the group head to Java to investigate tales of disturbing animal cruelty. However, what they find is far more horrific, and Chelsea’s dream quickly turns into a nightmare.

Bradley Munroe, ex S.A.S, had made a lucrative living rescuing hostages from dangerous situations. The biggest challenge of his career now lay in Indonesia. Munroe would need to face something he’d never encountered before. It would push him to the limits of his formidable skills.

You can also find Ben on Twitter and his Blog.

Purchase Links for Enhanced:
AKW Books
Smashwords

Ben also has a sequel in progress, The Eden Hole, to his short story, Rescue Unit 867a, which can be downloaded free from his site. It follows the story of John Saunders three years after the disaster.