LFA Turppa

Author: LFA Turppa

Best Known Works: The Raven Chronicles

Where Can You Find Her? : Facebook and Amazon and Blog

Top Writing Tip: Don't  listen to critics, or even the rejection letters (but definitely keep them, and let them push you forward!). You cannot judge your own worth or talent from the traditional standards of writing or publishing, and I truly feel this is why self-publishing and independent publishing were created. So that those of us with stories are worth telling, can tell them.

Thank you for taking the time to talk to us!

Tell us a little about yourself, what are the main life experiences that have led to this book?  

Honestly, I just sat down one day and began writing, and before I knew it, it was a trilogy. I love the idea of adult fairy tales- the PG 13, edging on R, kind.

When did you realise that you were Pagan?    

I was exposed to several denominations of Christianity in my life, and as I got older, I started wondering why I was Christian when I didn’t entirely relate to it. I learned a lot about paganism through fiction, and I think that got me interested in the real live version. As I learned, I realized that this was where I felt comfortable.

When and why did you begin writing?  

I have been writing for almost as long as I can remember- even when I was little I had written a story “Journey into the Oesophagus’ or something to that effect. I read and wrote in order to escape- as most people, I suppose. But I certainly felt I had more to escape from. And to this day, one of the main reasons I write is so that others like me can escape a horrific reality. Or, to escape just for fun.

Is this your first published piece or have you had work published before? 

I have short stories and poems that have been published in the past, as well as said ‘self-publishing’ company. In terms of what I have personally put out there? I have published 9 novels, and they are all available in Kindle edition and paperback.

How did the topic of your book(s) come to you? 

I almost wish I could say something cool like ‘It came to me in a dream’, or a vision or something like that, but in reality, I just got bored one day and started writing about this girl who’d lost her magick.

Tell us a bit about your story, key characters and plot. 

The story is about a mage named Lisyra who has lost all of her magick, and begins to get physically ill because of it. As she weighs her options, and realizes that not even the healer of neighbouring town Prist can help her, she decides the best thing to do is take a journey to find a cure. She comes upon several likeable characters, including the Whisky-Maker, Darh, a Dwarf named Durgrim, and, most surprising of all, a raven, whose name and importance she does not learn until later in the Trilogy.

In these travels, she learns that she is more important than any simple mage ought to be, and has to find the strength to survive. This means fighting against the sickness inside, and an evil she cannot name.

Do we see some of you in your book? 

I think my humour comes across- I like to sprinkle my weirdness here and there.

How long does it take you to write a book, are you a fast writer or a slow writer?

Fast, I suppose. If my muse is with me, I can write a book within six months.

Do you plan your stories before you begin? 

Somewhat; I hoard index cards and do research, depending on my topic. I like to include historical facts when writing in a non-fantasy world genre.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block and, if so, how do you overcome it? 

I do, and any writer who says they don’t is lying! I usually overcome it by taking a little bit of time to crochet or draw; maybe watch a movie. Sometimes we just need a breather to get the juices going again. I am a firm believer that my stories write themselves, and I am honoured to be their vessel.

Who encourages and inspires you? 

My fiancé, for one. He has been one of my biggest cheerleaders. I also have a pretty small internet fan base, and they have been pretty loyal and that helps a lot! What drives me, in general, is the feeling that I get inside, like my heart is swelling a thousand times its size, when I think about writing. It’s a passion, and I feel that it doesn’t really matter if I don’t write like Dean Koontz or Mercedes Lackey (though I adore them both), because it’s what I love to do, and if I didn’t do it, I feel like a part of me would die.

If you could pick one book you wish you’d written, what would it be? 

Definitely The Hunger Games. 

Are you published or self published, and what has been your experience of this process?

I had a horrible experience with one of those self-publishing companies, but I am taking it in stride. Eventually I hope to buy my rights back and use my current mode of publication to re-release. I now self-publish through Amazon, and it’s wonderful. I have full creative control- the only thing I have a problem with is editing! I don’t believe I edit in the traditional way, you know, at the end of the story? I tend to edit as I go along.

What are your future plans for writing? 

To do so until I die. A little macabre, I know.

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Thank you again for sharing your process and your passion with us! We wish you the best of luck with your future novels and stories!

Jamie White

Author: Jamie White

Best Known Works: Trembling Souls: A Stains Novella

Where can you find her?: Twitter and Instagram  and Pintrest and Website 

Top Writing Tip: Write because you love it, not because you want to get rich. Most likely, you will end up disappointed and uninspired. Also, write what you truly love.

Hi Jamie, thank you for taking the time to talk to us!

Tell us a little about yourself, what are the main life experiences that have led to this book?

I’m a blogger, author, pet servant, and paranormal junkie. I’ve always had an interest in the paranormal, so I’ve gravitated toward a lot of New Age things, which play a big part in the Stains trilogy.

How did the topic of your book(s) come to you?

It came mostly from a dream that inspired an image of a girl burning at the stake. I started with that image and it flowed from there. By the time I was done, I ended up adding in a little of my experiences with prophetic dreams and other New Age things.

What, or who, do you enjoy reading? 

I really love Christopher Pike books. He’s a huge inspiration to me and actually helped start me on my spiritual path. I also love Laura Deluca, Michelle Cornwell-Jordan, Marni Mann, and Eric Swett. Mostly, I like paranormal stories although I also read erotica, non-fiction, and other stuff. 

Tell us a bit about your story, key characters and plot.

The key character of Stains is Fiona Stevens. Her journey begins with a dream that she begins to think may be a warning of the new guy in town who has been showing an interest in her. She’s attracted to him, but she’s scared of him at the same time. As the stories continue, Fiona begins to learn that her dreams are dealing with previous lives. Certain themes and dangers are returning to complicate this life. Now, she has to work to break free of the cycle she’s been caught in.

How long does it take you to write a book? Are you a fast writer or a slow writer?

I have written the majority of my work during NaNoWriMo challenges, but I also write short stories and other things outside of that. So, I usually write the draft in a month. After that, I like to take time to let the work sit before I get back to it. Once I start revisions, it depends. The Stains trilogy took several re-writes over months before I ended up submitting them.

Where do you go when you need to recharge?

I love getting out in nature, taking walks, meditating, and listening to music.

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you most like a writing retreat?

Hmm. Somewhere quiet, for sure. Either a lake or ocean setting.

Has your style changed over the past five years – how and why?

I think the biggest change has been in fleshing out the work more. I worked on the emotional and scene-setting aspect a lot during the editing of the first Stains book and it’s stuck with me. Now, I have to keep myself in check to avoid going too far.

Are you published or self published, and what has been your experience of this process?

I’m both.  I am planning to self-publish at some point this year as well as my PWP releases. I think the experience with the publisher has been a great one, because it’s a community that supports you. You get a lot of support on the editing end and cover design, which is something you are on your own with when Self-pubbing. Self-pub is great because it gives you complete control over release dates and other aspects. I’m lucky, though, that my publisher has been so collaborative with covers and editorial decisions. 

Do you think ebooks have changed the publishing market for better or worse?

I think it’s definitely been a good change. People like to say “anyone can publish a book now” like it’s a bad thing sometimes, but I welcome it. We need as many stories and ideas to choose from as possible. Not everything will be great, but every story will touch someone and I like people have the freedom to put those ideas out there without someone saying they can first.

What are your future plans for writing?

I have two anthology pieces contracted, have submitted to a third and will be working on pieces for two more. They are mostly in the paranormal/New Age genre. I’m also working on preparing a Full length work for submission.

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Jamie, thank you for sharing your process and your passion with us! The best of luck with your short stories and future novels!

Pegi Eyers

Author: Pegi Eyers

Best Known Works: Ancient Spirit Rising: Reclaiming Your Roots & Restoring Earth Community

Where Can You Find Her? :Stone Circle Press and Facebook

Top Writing Tip: My recommendation for new writers is to pay attention to your backstory, and do your research.  The best fiction is solidly grounded in either an extremely plausible fantasy world, or grounded in solid reality if the setting is in historical or contemporary times.

Hi Pegi, thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us!

What are the experiences that led you to write this book?

I am lucky to be living in a part of Canada where there is a strong First Nations presence, with sacred sites, thriving communities, an Indigenous Studies department at the local university, and other cultural markers, caring circles, activism and activities.  For many years now I have noticed that finding our own Pagan (or neo-indigenous) identity as non-native folks on Turtle Island has been somewhat of a convoluted process, with errors being made such as cultural appropriation and cultural insensitivity. There are some commonalities with Turtle Island First Nations in the resurgence of our Pagan lifeways, but for the most part our cultural recovery is completely different.  First Nations wisdom keepers have been my teachers, and it is the political and spiritual themes  most important to our native/non-native relationship that have prompted me to examine the ideas in this book.

When did you realize that you were Pagan?

I have always been a “flower child” (LOL) and luckily did not have much in the way of Christian conditioning to overcome in the pursuit of my love for nature.  I have been engaged with self-rewilding since my late teens, and have had many animistic and eco-mystic experiences at sacred sites and other natural places.  I love sacred geometry, constructing and walking labyrinths, communicating with the other-than-human world, wildcrafting, gardening, Goddess Spirituality, and exploring the Earth Mysteries. It is the earth-honouring aspects of contemporary Paganism that I am drawn to, plus the Celtic Reconstructionist process of recovering spiritual and cultural traditions from my ancestral Scottish and English roots.

When and why did you begin writing?

At age six I became an avid reader (!) and since then have always written poetry, short stories, journals and altered books, with longer articles and book reviews for community publications and BBI Media in recent years.  I stepped up my writing practice in a huge way about eight years ago when I started writing Goddess Tales, and then began work on Ancient Spirit Rising. 

How did the topic of the book come to you?

I noticed that there were aspects in the interface between First Nations and the Settler Society that people were not talking about, and I wanted to explore those themes in my own life and the wider society.  Where have we been finding our identity as Pagans? How do we re-indigenize ourselves to the land, to be Pagan or Celtic Revivalist without “leaning in” to First Nations?  I start off with an examination of cultural appropriation, move quickly into all that we can be doing in solidarity to assist First Nations with their social justice work, and finally, how to reclaim our essential eco-selves, rejuvenate our love for the land, practice holistic principles for sustainable living,  and bond with the places we call home.

Is this your first published piece or have you had work published before?

This is my first full-length book, but I have had articles, poetry and artwork published in magazines and books, and have scholarly essays published in a number of anthologies.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block and, if so, how do you overcome it?

I think the non-fiction process is much easier, as there is no shortage of research material to provoke and stimulate one’s own critical thinking process.  Writing fiction engages more of the imaginative abilities, and seeking out images, textures or ancient narratives work for me as a way to get the story moving.    I don’t actually experience writer’s block, but when I’ve reached my limit on analysis or whatever it is I’m writing about, I go work on my bibliography!  I should have been a librarian.

Who encourages and inspires you?

In the Pagan world I am inspired by Starhawk, who blends social activism and spirituality so effortlessly, by the books and music of UK-based Carolyn Hillyer and Nigel Shaw of Seventh Wave, and by the work of Montague Whitsel in contemporary Celtic Spirituality. 

I am also informed and inspired by a wide range of authors and activists in animism, eco-psychology, eco-feminism, social justice and apocalypse studies; as well as many brilliant First Nations academics, intellectuals, activists, change-makers, artists and visionaries.

 If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you most like a writing retreat?

Definitely a complete tour of the sacred sites of England and Scotland, taking the same trails the ancients took, sketching the stone circles, creating impromptu rituals, writing next to hedgerows, sacred wells, under the Fortingall Yew or in pubs, and staying in little B&B’s along the way!

If you could choose any era to live in, what would it be?

I would love to live at the time of the pinnacle of Stonehenge (and environs) culture and achievement - I really want to know who built the megalith circles, what relationships they had with the other-than-human world,  and what their sacred practices were!

Are you published or self-published, and what has been your experience of this process?

          

In the interest of releasing material quickly into the world, I have embraced self-publishing.  I love the fact that I can have my own publishing imprint, and that I have total control over the final editing and design. The only down side I can see to self-publishing is the marketing support and distribution network that a major publisher provides, but I’m willing to take on those aspects as well.

Do you think ebooks have changed the publishing market for better or worse?

E-books are part of the seismic shift to digitization in all aspects of the publishing world, and the pace of change in this industry has been unbelievable!  There are many of us who actually remember life before the internet, can you imagine?  The connectivity, access and immediacy of e-books is marvellous, but I wonder if at some point in the future we will miss the more leisurely intimate relationship we used to have with the written word.  I am somewhat of a Luddite, and am happy to see that published books are still keeping pace with e-books (for now).   Spending hours and hours each day multitasking at a glowing screen has been completely normalized, but how is this “continuous partial attention” changing human behaviour?

Tell us a little about the community you’re building through your blog and social media.

My book and social media offerings appeal to those on the path of Earth Spirituality and seekers of the Old Ways in Pagan, Reconstructionist , Druidic, Wiccan and Goddessian practice.   People are looking for alternatives to Empire, and it is an exciting time to be involved in the conversation about authentic identity and re-indigenization for all peoples, and to embrace social activism as a necessary component of our lives today.

What are your future plans for writing?

My next project is to take up Blessings in Her: Goddess Tales where I left off a couple of years ago.  I want to highlight a magical or pivotal moment in the lives of different Wise Women, Priestesses, Matriarchs or Goddesses from history or myth in a series of short stories, each one accompanied by my original illustrations.

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Thank you again for giving us a glimpse into your passion and your process, Pegi. We wish you all the best with your scholarly non-fiction, your short stories and your art!

Sunbow Pendragon

Author: Sunbow Pendragon
Best Known Works: The Black Knight of Avalon Chronicles, Books 1 - 7
Where You Can Find Her: Sunbow Pendragon on Amazon
Top Writing Tip:  Just keep writing, even if you think it isn't good enough to be published! It's good medicine, to exercise your imagination by being creative. Everyone likes a good story!

Hi Sunbow, thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us!

Tell us a little about yourself, what are the main life experiences that have led to this book?

I was born in the summer of 1957 in the Pacific Northwest, the middle child of five. As a result of that, I was always and continue to be somewhat inclined towards daydreaming and shyness. When I was the age of 12, I discovered the stories of Greek and Roman mythology. At 13, I discovered the tale of King Arthur and The Knights of the Round Table and fell under the spell of the legend. I would retreat to the woods behind my parents' house and play at knights and ladies, all by myself of course, until one of my older siblings was sent to fetch me back to reality and household chores.

As I entered my later teens, I continued to be fascinated by the story, especially the part concerning the relationship of Arthur, Guinevere, and Lancelot. I picked up any fantasy novel having to do with Arthur in any way. One was The Crimson Chalice, which introduced me to the fact that Arthur may have been the offshoot of Marcus Aurelius. Certainly, the great king was raised in a world influenced by Rome. I began investigating older books written about the warlord Arthur, such as Le Morte de Arthur, and how the legend might have began and been spread. As I grew older and found other sources of information concerning the legend, I became more interested in the mysteries behind the story: the tales of Merlin and the Ladies of Avalon. I wondered if they could be in any way true at all, and began investigating that aspect. This led me to many books on modern Magick, and finally I read Marian Zimmer Bradley's book, The Mists of Avalon. Her writing captivated me.

Along my way, I kept encountering the tale of the elusive Black Knight, painted in most versions as a terrifying individual who appeared at the most opportune moments to test the Knights of Camelot. The character enchanted me with his elusive nature and I was bound and determined to find out what he was all about.

In time I married, home-birthed two children and went about raising them until one night I had a most startling dream. In this dream, I was given an overview of the time of Camelot through the eyes of the Black Knight, the champion of Cerridwen. At the time, I had only a vague knowledge of the White Goddess and so was taken aback by Her dominance in the dream. When I awoke, I knew I must write down this story and so I began with pen and paper. I read the story every night to my mate when he returned from his labours of the day; every day I wrote until my fingers were sore and numb, so powerful was the impulse. Finally, I finished the first segment of the story and began the next, and onto the next. At last, some three years later, I finished the entire story and began my revisions.

Now some twenty years later, due to financial setbacks and other obstacles, the first two books in the series have been published. There are seven yet to come. I hope it speaks to you as it did to me; however, as you read, I beg you to remember that it is only a story. I make no claims to it's being a true representation of history. It is meant merely as a source of entertainment. And also, remember that the story was inspired by a very vivid dream. Who knows where dreams come from?

When did you realise that you were Pagan?

I think I always knew I was different, but I tried all throughout my childhood to conform so as to "get along" with others.

When and why did you begin writing?

I started writing in my early teens to combat loneliness. In my writing, I could create my own world, a world that made sense when the world I was living in didn't.

Are these novels your first published pieces or have you had work published before?

No, these seven books are the only ones I have published to date. I am working on a new series right now however

How did the topic of your books come to you?

In the most startlingly vivid dream I have ever experienced, a dream that lasted an entire night. In this dream, I was allowed to hear, touch, smell and see things, as if I was standing right there.

Tell us a bit about your story, key characters and plot.

My book is based on the Camelot legend, as you can tell by the title. It centres around the character of the Black Knight, who appears in the traditional tale as an evil character. In the dream he was presented as the Goddess' Champion, one who worked in the shadows to protect the people and test the Knights of Camelot on their virtues.

Do we see some of you in your book?

Perhaps some of my humour has been incorporated, but then I think there should be moments of humour even in the most serious of books.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block and, if so, how do you overcome it?

Oh  yes, every author suffers occasionally from writer's block. I take the time and get away from my desk. I get out into my gardens and get dirty. That takes my mind off of everything except what I'm doing. After a few days or so, I find that I can get back into the rhythm and that my work flows properly.

Who encourages and inspires you?

My husband! He is my biggest fan, and if he hadn't encouraged me to start writing down the dream while it was still fresh, I don't think the books would have ever been written.

Where do you go when you need to recharge?

I like to go somewhere beautiful to recharge. I prefer the beach. There's a special place I go as often as possible for two or three days, just to let my cares slip away. It's rustic and there's no Internet, so I'm off the grid except for the pay phones. It's so healing!

Are you published or self published, and what has been your experience of this process?

I am a Kindle author now, but I went with a self-publishing firm first. It was not a pleasant experience.

Do you think e-books have changed the publishing market for better or worse?

I love being a Kindle author! Without such a medium, I would still be trying to get a publisher to take my work! I still would love to have my books printed someday, when the finances are there.

How important are reviews of your work, do you read them?

I think that reviews are very important, especially as a Kindle author! Yes, I read every one of them and try to comment on them. I think people like an engaged author.

What are your future plans for writing?

I plan to just keep writing. I have so many stories to tell running around in my head. I have at least one book of short stories to write about the Black Knight, and there are other characters in the book that have life stories to tell as well. I am also now two books into a new series, the first of which I am editing right now.

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Sunbow, thanks again for giving us a glimpse into your passion and your process. We wish you the best of luck with your new novels and short stories!

D. M. Read

Author: D. M. Read
Best Known Works: Somewhere a Drum Waits for Me
Where you can find her: Website
Top Writing Tip: Know where you’re going before you go. In other words, for a successful novel or short story, you must visualize the ending, then the way to get there.

Hi Diana, thanks so much for taking the time to talk to us.

Tell us a little about yourself, what are the main life experiences that have led to this book?

I began to follow the Goddess path in the mid-1990s. As my experience with the Craft grew, so did my fascination with it. Many of the people I’ve met on the Pagan path have sparked ideas for stories.

When did you realise that you were Pagan?

I didn’t actually realize it until I read Starhawk’s The Spiral Dance. Then I knew. All my life I’d felt out of sync with everyone else, with what society expected of me and what I was supposed to think. When I read her book I realized in one blinding flash that I was, had always been, and would always be, Pagan.

When and why did you begin writing?

Oh, when I was quite small. My mother told me that when I was eight I was reporter, editor, and publisher of a little newspaper entitled Freedom and Torment. I don’t remember anything about it, though.

Do you plan your stories before you begin?

Absolutely!  I visualize my short stories in scenes. I visualize the chapters of the novels I write in scenes also. However, with the novella I’ve loosened up a bit. I just sit down and start writing. I’ve got a general idea of where I’m going, of course, but I must say the novella is free-flowing and a lot of fun to write.

Are you published or self-published, and what has been your experience of this process? 
          
My first novel, Layoffs, was published POD (print on demand) with a company that is now out of business. Witchfire and my previous book, The Deer at Lammas Tide, have been published by Smashwords, and now BookBaby has brought out Somewhere a Drum Waits for Me, available in Amazon's Kindle store, iBooks, Nook, and other places. I'm just getting started with ebooks, and I'm in love with the whole concept. I have also had articles published in The Washington Post and by a nonprofit organization’s newsletter.

Do you think ebooks have changed the publishing market for better or worse?

For the better, definitely!  It used to be that a beginning novelist had almost no chance of getting published unless he or she was related to some movie star or politician or other big name. Now one can write a book and be published on Smashwords, Kindle, Kobo, Amazon, and a variety of other sites. There’s a readership for every kind of novel - sci-fi, historical, romance, whatever. For the last few years I’ve preferred writing about Paganism. I like writing about everyday Witches and Pagans who occasionally experience magick in their lives.

How did the topic of your book come to you?

Sometimes the title of a story will appear many years before the actual plot comes to me. That happened with The Deer at Lammas Tide and Somewhere a Drum Waits for Me. Other times, though, someone will recount an anecdote or I’ll read something in the newspaper and my imagination immediately kicks in with a title and a story to go with it.

How long does it take you to write a book?  Are you a fast writer or a slow writer?

It depends. I have very little time in which to write. When I was a freelancer, I wrote between paying jobs. Now I snatch an hour at night and often write on weekends. With my historical novel, I’ve been agonizing over every scene. The simplest statements, such as, “He looked out of the window,” leads to questions: did they have windows in Roman Britain? If they did, were the windows glassed in or just hangings of cowhide? One has to stop and research every detail.

Who encourages and inspires you?

When I was younger, my parents encouraged me. Hardly anyone else did. Now, the people who encourage me are my friends in the blogosphere.

Do you socialize with other writers or are you a solitary author?

I know only two writers in my personal life and they're too far away to hang out with, except on Facebook. I do sometimes attend sessions by a women’s writing group run by a friend of mine.

You have quite a few GLBT characters in your stories and novels, what's the significance of this?

Our GLBT brothers and sisters are part of our society and should be able to see themselves and their lives reflected in the fiction they read. Nothing annoys me more when I pick up a contemporary novel and realize that the author appears to think our society consists of only Caucasian heterosexuals. What a boring world this would be if that were true!

For the same reason, I’ve started giving ninety percent of my female characters brown eyes. An optician once told me that thirty-nine out of forty people have brown eyes, which is something you’d never realize from reading most fiction.

Tell us a bit about your story, key characters and plot.

Somewhere a Drum Waits for Me is actually a collection of short stories, my second collection so far. The brief description is as follows:

An American engineer in West Africa encounters a visitor from the Otherworld at Samhain; a wisewoman discovers that a chair she bought in a second-hand shop possesses magical properties; a young Druid calls on his patron god, the Green Man, to help him save a redwood forest; a twelve-year-old girl undergoes a coming-of-age ritual in the Craft of the Wise; and a lawyer calls on Ma’at, the Egyptian goddess of truth and justice, to help her track down a killer. 

Some of the same characters that appear in The Deer at Lammas Tide appear in this collection also, and some characters are entirely new. The mood ranges from feel-good, to intriguing, to downright scary.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block and, if so, how do you overcome it?

Yes, and when it happens I sit down and write one line. Just one. And that leads to another line, and another. Sometimes I have to just sit down at the computer and “talk to myself” on the screen. You know, asking the character questions about his or her motivation, what he or she is thinking or feeling that day, and that kind of thing. There are stories that have been difficult for me to write because the original idea was so tenuous. However, when I’ve kept at it I’ve managed to complete every one of those stories!

What are your future plans for writing?

I have a couple of things in the works: a novella set in the present day, and a historical novel set in Roman Britain. I’ll be doing short-short stories every month for the Fiction Café on my Website. This month's short-short is called The February Lover.

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Thank you once again for taking the time to talk to us, Diana. We wish you all the best with Fiction Café and your future writing.

Stephen Mullaney-Westwood

Author: Stephen Mullaney-Westwood
Best Known Works: Unforgotten Tales
Where you can find him: Website / Facebook / YouTube
Top Writing Tip: Expect nothing. Simply do it because you can't not do it.  

Hi Stephen, thanks so much for taking the time to talk to us.

Tell us a little about yourself, what are the main life experiences that have led to this book?

I’m a 40 year old tree hugger currently living in the Cotswolds, in the UK.  I write slightly dark fiction philosophising on nature, and the nature of man. My forthcoming novel is about the true haunting faery lore of Cornwall.

I grew up in a village where there was quite a lot of countryside. Climbing trees and wellie-booting through ponds were my favourite past times. I guess that was when my excitement for nature was sparked, but I kind of lost my way as a teenager and became very depressed, and actually ended up quite mentally unwell for a good twenty years of my life. 

My recovery began with writing. I had an autobiography published and did a lot of work spreading awareness of the mental disorder I suffered from. But true fulfilment came with love, with the understanding that I am a sensitive soul, and by spending time with the trees. A spiritual coming of age I suppose, which is how I describe my novel.  

When did you realise that you were Pagan?

Well to tell the truth I shy away from labelling myself, I am just me, and I certainly don't follow any doctrine, but the ideals of paganism definitely come the closest to how I feel about the world. 

There have been so many hundreds of years of conditioning, warping and merging of every thought human beings have ever had, that I personally don’t think any religion can be truly believed or followed.  But paganism, in its pure form of nature worship, can not really be argued... it is a beautiful, honest thing.

When and why did you begin writing?

I have always been creative and I have always written. I may not have published The Adventures of Harry the Hedgehog but I was very serious about writing it, drawing the illustrations and putting a fake publisher’s mark on the corner of the cover!  I used to put on puppet shows for my family, programmed computer games in the 80s, made board games, have been in bands, written songs, play the drums... I just like to create.  But it was clear to me that writing was where my passion really lies. Through the years I have amassed pages of completed novels and short stories but these were training... now it’s serious!

Tell us a little about the community you’re building through your blog and social media.

I find all this very difficult as I’m quite a loner. I do have the skills to chat to people and I am not completely devoid of technical know-how either, but there is so much competition and I am not really sure how to fight my corner. I have a website, a Facebook page and I do vlogs on Youtube.  Please take a look at them because although I enjoy doing it, it will be much more fun if I have some followers.

Is this your first published piece or have you had work published before?

Unforgotten Tales is my first release under my name Stephen Mullaney-Westwood. It is an introduction to how I write and what I am about, released at a low price on Kindle and will soon be in paperback.

It's a collection of thirteen short folktale-style stories, modern fables and fairy tales, written in a method now often forgotten. Intentionally allegorical, darkly twisting while yet enlightening and inspirational. Brought to Kindle as a prelude to my forthcoming novel Forgotten Things; the first chapter of which is included. Because some things are important to remember.

Are you published or self-published, and what has been your experience of this process? 
          
My autobiography was published (under a different name), and I have recently self published a collection of short stories called Unforgotten Tales.  Yet currently I am seeking a publisher for my full length novel Forgotten Things.  Nowadays whether you are traditionally published or self published you will still have to take care of marketing it yourself, and it is time consuming work. I had a lot of positive response from my first book, but I think if it was self published that would have been the same. There were errors in the text I would have loved to have control of tiding up, and money wise, we are artists, so unless we are very lucky, we will always be poor! 

My reasoning behind looking for a traditional publisher for the novel is that, with so many books out there, having some initial credence behind it might get it noticed more.  To be honest though, it may be a little bit of vanity, and I think some good reviews on Amazon are probably equally beneficial. 

How did the topic of your book come to you?

I like to write the things I would want to read.  A lot of the books I do read were written many years ago, and I don’t think there are many who write that way in modern times.

As for faeries, I don’t really remember when I first discovered the truth about that folklore. I am very interested in how things we now see as fiction were long ago completely believed in. I used to be obsessed with vampires and I had a lot of books about them, some of which had sections on other mythical beasts, so perhaps it was from one of those books. It all clicked in to place with me, their darkness tinged with the mystical magic of the woods... I felt a strong draw to be their voice.

What do you enjoy reading?

I find it so hard to read because I can sometimes be only a few lines in when an idea comes to me for my own writing!  I read a lot of non–fiction for research and enlightenment. I read about faeries and forest spirits... I actually love old fairy tales even if they are written for children. And I don’t associate myself with current writing or trends. The likes of Oscar Wilde and Edgar Allen Poe are where my aspirations lie.

Who encourages and inspires you?

Trees.  Woodland.  And music I suppose.  I have always been very much ‘into’ music; it can change my mood or enhance it. I will latch on to a particular artist and listen to them constantly for a while before finding another. Tori Amos, Patrick Wolf, the Smiths and Morrissey... to name a few that have shaped a part of me. 

How important are reviews of your work, do you read them?

It is hard to keep confidence in yourself as a writer, and while a good review might make you smile for a moment, it is the bad ones that stick in your head. Personally I am very good at picking out the negatives from a glowing review. But we have to remember that every view is subjective, not everyone is going to ‘get’ what we do. The people who go out of their way to write a review tend to do so because their reaction to something was strong, whether that be for good or bad. But I would rather be loved by a few than have many that think my work is ‘so, so’.     

I would say read them, then forget them, unless there is something truly constructive that you can use. They are there to help others make an informed choice as to what to buy... and as consumers we all know how to read between the lines.

If anyone wants to read my book and review it for Amazon, I would actually be very grateful.  

Tell us a bit about your story, key characters and plot.

Excuse me for simply pasting my ‘blurb’... I'd like to keep an air of mystery!

Forgotten Things is a coming of age tale set in the Cornish countryside during the mid 1980s. Delving deeply into Cornwall’s rich and dark faery lore; it is a novel of nature in contrast; sinister, beautiful, wise and innocent. With an otherworldly twist it explores the importance of influences; of growing up, whilst still looking backwards.

The tale which unfolds is seen through the eyes of one man recounting the memories and adventures of his childhood. In a similar way to a classic ghost story the ‘horror’ is subtle and unnerving, with its antagonists being the little people in their true form; ancient beings which transpose boundaries- taken seriously and sitting in mysterious juxtaposition with the secular world.

Do you plan your stories before you begin?

Everyone has their own way of doing things, but I think you have to plan to some degree. If you are making it all up as you go along, I think it will show. I have a beginning middle and end, I have key scenes and lots and lots of paragraphs I have written that I want to slot in. But you can fix it all together as your mind flows, and sometimes the best ideas will be those that you had not planned until your character was there, in the situation at the end of your fingertips, waiting to see what is around the corner. That is where writing becomes exciting to the author, because typing out the parts you already knew were going to happen can be quite dull!

If you could pick one book you wish you’d written, what would it be?

The Picture Of Dorian Gray.

What are your future plans for writing?

My novel Forgotten Things will be released either by myself or by a publishing house. And I have made plans to begin a semi-sequel... there are pages and pages of notes to sift through already!

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Thank you once again for taking the time to talk to us, Stephen. We wish you all the best in finding a publisher for your next novel.

Laura Perry

Author: Laura Perry
Best Known Works: Ariadne’s Thread, Jaguar Sky
Where you can find her: Website / Facebook / Goodreads / Blog
Top Writing Tip: Never give up. That’s the hardest thing, especially when you get negative feedback (and believe me, we all get plenty of it). But if you keep believing in yourself, and keep working, eventually you’ll reach your goals.

Hi Laura, we know that you're an avid reader of the Spotlights, so thanks for taking the time to do one yourself.

Can you start by telling us a little about yourself? 

My most recent book, Ariadne’s Thread: Awakening the Wondersof the Ancient Minoans in Our Modern Lives, is an outgrowth of work I began about 20 years ago in preparation for earning my second degree as a Wiccan priestess. Part of the requirements for that degree involved choosing a pantheon and constructing a set of rituals around those deities. The Minoans have always held a special place in my heart, so I chose Ariadne and her tribe for that assignment. Over the ensuing two decades I enacted most of the rituals – a year’s worth of seasonal rituals and a lifetime’s worth of rites of passage – with the groups I belonged to at the time. I tweaked the rituals and edited them based on my experience in ritual, also taking into account the occasional ‘thump upside the head’ from the gods, who had their own ideas about how those rituals should go.

When did you realise that you were Pagan?

I knew what I believed and how that connected with the world around me – the cycles and seasons, the natural forces of the universe – in high school, though at the time I had no idea what it was called. My introduction to Paganism came through the world of art. In 9th grade I took an art history class that began with works of art from the ancient world – the Venus of Willendorf, the colorful frescoes from the Minoan temple-palaces, the beautiful paintings from Egyptian tombs. These creations touched something in me that resonated on a very deep level and I began to search for their meaning. I discovered the worldview of their creators, the idea that everything is holy, that there is no separation between ‘mundane’ or secular and sacred.

Where do you go when you need to recharge?

The Appalachian mountains are my haven. I have a few favorite places in north Georgia and western North Carolina – small towns, tiny hamlets and wilderness areas – that let me get back in touch with the rhythms of nature that have so much meaning for me.

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you most like a writing retreat?

I would love a tiny cottage in the Lake District of Britain or the corner of southwestern Scotland that faces Ireland. My ancestors come from that area and I have found a connection there that feels magical and sacred. I’m sure it would inspire my writing in ways I can’t even imagine.

How did you begin writing?

I guess I’ve always been a writer. A watershed moment for me came early, in 4th grade, when I wrote and illustrated a story as a class assignment. The teacher told us to create a tale that included some sort of miracle or amazing event. At the time I was steeped in the pioneer world (Little House on the Prairie was my favorite book) so I set my story on the American frontier, telling the tale of a boy my age who saved his family from a pack of ravenous wolves by miraculously managing to hit nine of them with a single bullet. The title of this gripping three-page long tale: Nine-in-a-Row Johnny. At that point I realized that writing was a way to express my imagination and build a world of adventure. It took many years and a lot of ink and paper to hone my skills to the point that other people were willing to pay for what I wrote, but that little story was the beginning of it all.

What do you enjoy reading?

My favorite fiction takes me out of the ordinary world and into a magical place, generally with a bit of humor involved. I love The Dresden Files and everything Neil Gaiman has ever written. I’m a longtime fan of Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett; I dearly wish I could write like they do. Another one of my favorites is not so well-known: The Hounds of the Morrigan by Pat O’Shea. It’s a delightful bit of old-fashioned storytelling and adventure that centers around the deities of Ireland.

Are you published or self published, and what has been your experience of this process?

I’ve done it both ways. My three non-fiction books are conventionally published and overall I have enjoyed the process. I guess I’ve been lucky to be able to work with experienced  professionals who made the process relatively pleasant, if not painless. Though I have a literary agent to represent my interests, I chose to self-publish my first novel, Jaguar Sky, due to concerns about timing. My agent was shopping my novel, which has a Mayan theme, to publishers a couple years ago and discovered that their contract lists were already full of Mayan-themed works by big-name writers, so they weren’t interested in anything from little ol’ me. As I recall, this was leading up to the big Mayan end-of-time circus in December 2012. So I decided to put Jaguar Sky out there for my readers as a gift. I posted it on my blog, one chapter every Friday, ending on December 21, 2012. Several readers demanded a single-source version of the novel so I self-published it via Kindle and Smashwords, but it’s still up on my blog as well.

Is this your first published piece or have you had work published before?

In addition to the three non-fiction books and the novel, I have had articles published in a number of magazines, both Pagan and mundane, over the past 20 years.

How did the topic of your books come to you?

My first two non-fiction books – Ancient Spellcraft and The Wiccan Wellness Book – were subjects the publisher wanted, and I was happy to write them because they were right up my alley. As I mentioned above, Ariadne’s Thread is an outgrowth of spiritual work I began many years ago. Jaguar Sky was inspired by a trip to Belize; instead of hanging around the coast and snorkeling with the other tourists, we spent the whole trip visiting Mayan temples and sacred sites. I have actually been to the places the characters visit in the novel.

Do you plan your stories before you begin?

I do. I have to know where the story is going before I start writing it. I’m what’s known as an ‘outliner’ – I like to have the framework of the whole book completed before I plunge into the details, whether I’m writing fiction or non-fiction. Of course, sometimes I end up changing the outline in the middle of the project when I realize it isn’t working as well as I would like, but I do feel the need to have it there in the first place.

Who encourages you?

My husband and daughter are both very supportive and I have a group of friends who keep me going. Something that really inspires me is hearing stories from other writers about how they stuck with it until they became successful, like the number of times J.K. Rowling’s books were rejected by publishers or the long list of novels Jim Butcher wrote before he became successful with The Dresden Files.

Tell us a bit about your story, key characters and plot.

Jaguar Sky is the tale of a young woman, Maddie Phoenix, who travels to Belize on a college archaeological expedition. She accidentally ‘wakes up’ the energy at a Maya sacred site, and her own Maya ancestry draws her deeper into that world. Being young and inexperienced, in the process she manages to wreck the archaeological mission, fall in love with her professor and almost get deported. In the end she lands with her feet on the ground, but not everyone is happy about that.

What are your future plans for writing?

My next novel is in my agent’s hands, ready for the right publisher to take it and run with it. It, too, is a mystical adventure novel, but it’s set in the north Georgia mountains instead of Central America. And I’m working on another one as well, a tale that has required me to delve into the world of grimoiric magic in order to flesh out the adventures of an Atlanta-based artist and entrepreneur.

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Thank you once again for taking the time to talk to us, Laura. We look forward to your next novel.