Meet Morgan Faere, she is a wonderful diamond-in-the-rough I found. She is an inspiring young fiction writer with big dreams for the future. Lucky enough, she agreed to do an interview with me. So go read the results below and get to know more about this brilliant author I found!
Heather: How long have you been writing?
Morgan: My whole life.
Heather: What started you writing for publication?
Morgan: Dreams.
Heather: Do you have a set time when you write, or just whenever you get the urge?
Morgan: Usually it's the urge. My muse is tempermental though. So sometimes I make sure I make myself write. After a little bit the muse comes back to me purring.
Heather: Who is your favorite author?
Morgan: Oh....that's hard to say. I don't know. Really. I love Tamora Pierce, Scott Westerfield, Robin Cook, James Rollins, Dick Francis, and many others. Those are my top 5 I'd say.
Heather: Have you ever had writer's block, and if so how do you get rid of it?
Morgan: Yes. I write. Or listen to music, like always
Heather: What do you recommend to aspiring authors?
Morgan: Follow your passion. If you're passionate about writing, go for it. But don't try to write like someone else. Use your own voice.
Heather: How do you invent your characters?
Morgan: I don't invent them. They're already there. They tell me their stories and I write those stories.
Heather: I know a few authors who keep records (almost like police records) of height, weight, background, etc. of their characters, do you keep tabs on your characters, and if so, what do you usually make note of?
Morgan: I do. I have a list of questions from a good writing site which I use sometimes. My records are in my head or on scrap paper half the time though.
Heather: Some authors say that they feel as though his or her characters are real, do you feel this way, and what do you think about this?
Morgan: Mhm. I do feel this way. I think it's good that their stories are being recorded.
Heather: Do you have anything in the works?
Morgan: I have quite a few things in the works. I have two or three books and I'm thinking of doing a collection of poems I've written. Nothing planned with publishers or anything but...yeahh.
Heather: What would you say is the neatest thing you know?
Morgan: That's hard.....one neat thing I know is I can vibrate my eyes. Lol. I can also relax people to the point that they are basically drugged. Not really, but it has the same effects as a sedative.
Heather: What was your favorite part about writing your book?
Morgan: Writing is a joy in itself. Finding just the right words....
Heather: Has music ever inspired your writing?
Morgan: Mhm
Heather: Do you like to write in complete silence or does it have to be noisy?
Morgan: Noise. I am not good for working in silence. I always have some music playing or I'm in a noisy room. Or I'm listening to nature.
Heather: What makes you put your characters in the settings that you do?
Morgan: Like I said, they're already there.
Heather: Keyboard or pen?
Morgan: Keyboard is faster, but I like my pencil.
Heather: What do you think is the hardest part about being an author?
Morgan: Trying to get published will probably be the hardest. I always have a hard time showing my work to people. I'm genuinly afraid they'll think it's horrid. Every time.
Heather: What do you usually do while writing?
Morgan: Write? Lol.
Heather: What were the circumstances surrounding your decisions to become an author?
Morgan: There was no "decision". It's always been there.
Heather: Some people say that you need to live life before you write a book, do you think that it’s experience that writes a book or imagination?
Morgan: A little of both. I put experiences in writing a lot. But I need imagination to see my characters and places.
Bonus Questions -
I like the colors of: darkness
The sky is most beautiful when it’s: sunset
My favorite feature of a computer is: dunno
I think inventors should invent a/an: thermasuit
Thing I love most in the world is: Boyfriend
Thing I hate most in the world is: Step-mother
My favorite type of electronic device is: MP3
My favorite thing that has been available before the year 1900: Castles
My favorite thing that has been available since the year 1960: Cell
The oddest thing you have ever written on (hand, wall, etc.) is: Mirrors
To read some of Morgan's work and to find out more about her, head over to her blog - http://storytimeneverends.wordpress.com/
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Saturday, July 3, 2010
A Special Treat!
A certain routine set in my days along with rules I followed strictly. My daytime hours consisted of my classes and avoiding too much light, and the night hours became longer with the laboratory, among other things. I looked forward to Thursdays where I could feed. Happy that winter months neared since the days grew shorter and the nights longer, I prepared my new wardrobe glad the clothes covered me up and no excuses needed to be made for covering way up this time of year. Without sunlight, my skin grew pale and powdery.
~~~~~~
I rarely saw Professor Truitt these days. His actions grew guarded and stranger than ever with each passing day, even Zee notice his odd behavior. The man never talked or had time for any one, not even his own students or his classes. Zeria told me that her father set up a makeshift laboratory in the basement of his home where he locked himself in for hours at a time. In fact, one day I went to the lab, flipped on the computer, and found all of the files pertaining to #302 and vampires deleted. I managed to find some journals the professor forgot about, and lately those files had become my main focus.
At the request of the professor, I had taken over the laboratory monitoring every day, even weekends—adding more hours to my earnings. This Saturday the evening came quickly and the trek across campus arrived at a rapid pace. I took the responsibility in a serious manner and enforced the rules the way the professor wanted me to. Even though the man became eccentric in his actions, he held the key to my existence and figured the answers forthcoming. While leaving the doorway into the laboratory, an eerie premonition of impending doom loomed over my being for a moment, which I dismissed as gas or something realistic.
The dim room lit only by a single, flickering computer monitor gave way to the unrelenting grinding of the wheels in the mice cages.
I sat hunched over Professor Truitt’s composition notes trying to focus on the written scribbles. As I rubbed my eyes from the strain into the palms of my soft, unlabored hand, the semi-catatonic state from too much reading caused me to almost fall into a deep sleep.
"Brinng, Brinng," the phone broke the midnight silence.
I jumped to attention, almost falling to the floor and catching my frame on one smarting knee.
"Jesus!" I shouted, grabbing for the receiver.
"No, Jesus has nothing to do with this call," an unknown voice mumbled.
"Who is this?" I questioned as I tried to recognize the almost familiar sound.
"I am the voice of all that opens up from the pits of Hell," the voice continued as I rubbed the injured knee now paining and throbbing.
The hairs stood up on the back of my spine, somehow the voice seemed to convey the truest form of evil. At this point in the game almost nothing surprised me, I regained my composure, and dismissed the caller as a fraternity prank. "Okay, guys, very funny..." continued, "Now..."
The brash voice interrupted the upper-hand I thought I possessed. "This is no joke," the voice continued, "Tell Professor Truitt he better cease or he will erupt his own demise."
"What the H--" I began as the telephone clicked silent.
The oddest thing in the lab that night is every single mouse stood silent for a time. No grinding of the wheels, no chewing, and no scratching at the bottom of the cages. My instincts told me a presence beckoned in this room, a form beyond my wildest comprehensions. As I thought a shadowy figured stood before me in the darkness, the mass disappeared into gray.
I turned about quickly, expecting a shadow to jump out and grab me. As I returned the receiver to its proper cradle, I noticed something odd. The phone cord was not plugged into the wall. In fact, the cord missed the part that plugged into the outlet altogether.
That was not the only strange thing that happened to me in the past weeks. Even though I tried to go on and keep to my new routine, things had a way of happening. My determination to keep going and the drive of the unknown kept me focused. Although I might have dwelled on these things more in the old days—before vampires, the business at hand and finding a cure for what I had seemed none important to anything else, evil or not.
~~~~~
MoonZeLent will be released for sale summer 2011. You can follow the author on Twitter and you can check out more on J.M.Levi's website.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Meet Author J.M.Levi!
The wait for the next vampire novel is not over yet, but it's certainly in the horizon. Meet this fabulous author whom has spun up a creative tale. J.M.Levi grew up in the state of Arizona. The love of writing was fostered by J.M.'s parents’ who read and worked crossword puzzles daily; J.M.'s father encouraged at an early age to keep a journal. Creating a first love of poetry followed by short stories - “Little steps lead to big accomplishments” thus J.M.'s first novel ‘MoonZeLent’ was created. Learn more about this special new author in the interview below.
Heather: How long have you been writing?
J.M.: I have been writing my entire life. I have written poetry for almost my entire life since I was able to form words with penned ink. Only within the last few years I started pushing myself to write down the stories or plots I so often formed in my mind with no outlet.
Heather: Who is your favorite author?
J.M.: Francis Patton Statham, because she combines history with entertainment creating a phenomenal novel.
Heather: What do you recommend to aspiring authors?
J.M.: Never give up, anything you write is worth finishing, and edit, edit, edit.
Heather: How do you invent your characters?
J.M.: My characters are pieces of me that I bring out and mold into something greater than I could ever imagine.
Heather: Do you have anything in the works?
J.M.: Yes, with MoonZeLent nearing completion, my imagination is turning to the next endeavor – Moon Phases of the Vampire Clan.
Heather: What would you say is the neatest thing you know?
J.M.: Success comes from within. Every single one of us has the innate potential to fulfill our thoughts. Pick a goal, and keep reaching towards it – big or little steps, you are still moving forward.
Heather: What ws your favorite part about writing MoonZeLent?
J.M.: My favorite part about MoonZeLent was the ride and transformation of the scenes and characters. The twists and turns seemed out of my control at times – like a great, thrilling roller coaster ride.
Heather: Has music ever inspired your writing?
J.M.: I would say that music has inspired me. While not directly, music is part of my life, the music I listen to has helped mold who I am – every thing from an Irish limerick or lullaby, to classical or even a rap some to name a few. I like to experience the sounds I can.
Heather: Who is your favorite character in MoonZeLent?
J.M.: I love all of my characters, they are my comrades. Besides the main characters, a few of my favorites would be: Levi, who I find strong, mysterious, and warrior-like, Guillermo, who breathes a fresh, southwestern air into the story, and last, but not least, Sinclair, who represents the dark, worldly, vampire of yesteryear.
Heather: What inspired you to write about vampires?
J.M.: That’s a good question. Everyone seems to be vampire crazy these days, and I have two teenager daughters that are no different. Having purchased every book about vampires they could possibly want, I found the two devoured the pages chanting for more. Faced with the decision of what to write, I chose vampires figuring there are others out there hungering for more blood.
Heather: What was your favorite idea that you put into MoonZeLent?
J.M.: My favorite idea that I put into MoonZeLent would be the use of a blood back for willing donors to feed the vampires in a non-violent manner.
Heather: Tell us a little bit about your journey writing MoonZeLent.
J.M.: MoonZeLent began as a challenge to write a novel in one month. After the light bulb came over my head for the title, the story plot began to fall into place. With each added character came a new adventure, twist, or turn in the story. I had couple days where I felt stagnant and wondered if I would complete my goal, but I hung in there nd soon a new portion of the book would just pour out – many times faster than I could write.
Heather: Keyboard or pen?
J.M.: Both. Keyboard flows if you know what you are writing about. Sometimes pen is more convenient for the times when you have a sudden idea or burst of words you need to get out before you forget.
Heather: What do you think is the hardest part about being an author?
J.M.: I think the hardest part about being an author is gaining respect and getting noticed. Without your book being read and enjoyed, there is no purpose for writing. I also have a fear of typos – I can not stand the thought of my book going out for the world to read with an error.
Heather: What do you usually do while writing?
J.M.: I have four children. Need I say more? I write, I potty train, I write, I tutor algebra, I write, I cook. I juggle a baby bottle in one hand and a notebook in the other.
Heather: What were the circumstances surrounding your decision to become an author?
J.M.: My daughter is a published author – she is my inspiration and my hero. She has always considered herself a writer.
Heather: What was the biggest obstacle you faced while writing MoonZeLent?
J.M.: The biggest obstacle I faced while writing MoonZeLent was the fear that no one would enjoy my words. I often wondered if my book would be good enough to stand with all the others.
Heather: Some people say that you need to live life before you write a book; do you think experience writes a book or imagination?
J.M.: I think that imagination writes a book and experience can be referred to as “know how” and “know how” can be gained in a variety of ways.
Super Questions:
1. I like the colors of: Cool, calm, blues.
2. The sky is most beautiful when it’s: setting—the southern sunsets or the sun setting over the ocean.
3. My favorite feature of a computer is: Undo.
4. I think inventors should invent a: program that edits for you.
5. Thing I love most in the world is: My children.
6. Things I hate most in the world are: Judgmental people.
7. My favorite type of electronic device is: laptop—duh!
8. My favorite thing that has been available before the year 1900: Words
9. My favorite thing that has been available since the year 1960: internet/windows.
10. The oddest thing you have ever written on: restaurant napkin.
Thank you for doing this interview J.M., it was a real pleasure. And for all of you readers who are dying to check out more about this new vampire tale, stop by here tomorrow for a real treat - a very special excerpt of MoonZeLent.
Can't wait that long? Here's where you can find out more about J.M.Levi and her thrilling new novel:
http://jmlevi.webs.com/
Follow J.M. on Twitter! http://www.twitter.com/midnightindigo
Heather: How long have you been writing?
J.M.: I have been writing my entire life. I have written poetry for almost my entire life since I was able to form words with penned ink. Only within the last few years I started pushing myself to write down the stories or plots I so often formed in my mind with no outlet.
Heather: Who is your favorite author?
J.M.: Francis Patton Statham, because she combines history with entertainment creating a phenomenal novel.
Heather: What do you recommend to aspiring authors?
J.M.: Never give up, anything you write is worth finishing, and edit, edit, edit.
Heather: How do you invent your characters?
J.M.: My characters are pieces of me that I bring out and mold into something greater than I could ever imagine.
Heather: Do you have anything in the works?
J.M.: Yes, with MoonZeLent nearing completion, my imagination is turning to the next endeavor – Moon Phases of the Vampire Clan.
Heather: What would you say is the neatest thing you know?
J.M.: Success comes from within. Every single one of us has the innate potential to fulfill our thoughts. Pick a goal, and keep reaching towards it – big or little steps, you are still moving forward.
Heather: What ws your favorite part about writing MoonZeLent?
J.M.: My favorite part about MoonZeLent was the ride and transformation of the scenes and characters. The twists and turns seemed out of my control at times – like a great, thrilling roller coaster ride.
Heather: Has music ever inspired your writing?
J.M.: I would say that music has inspired me. While not directly, music is part of my life, the music I listen to has helped mold who I am – every thing from an Irish limerick or lullaby, to classical or even a rap some to name a few. I like to experience the sounds I can.
Heather: Who is your favorite character in MoonZeLent?
J.M.: I love all of my characters, they are my comrades. Besides the main characters, a few of my favorites would be: Levi, who I find strong, mysterious, and warrior-like, Guillermo, who breathes a fresh, southwestern air into the story, and last, but not least, Sinclair, who represents the dark, worldly, vampire of yesteryear.
Heather: What inspired you to write about vampires?
J.M.: That’s a good question. Everyone seems to be vampire crazy these days, and I have two teenager daughters that are no different. Having purchased every book about vampires they could possibly want, I found the two devoured the pages chanting for more. Faced with the decision of what to write, I chose vampires figuring there are others out there hungering for more blood.
Heather: What was your favorite idea that you put into MoonZeLent?
J.M.: My favorite idea that I put into MoonZeLent would be the use of a blood back for willing donors to feed the vampires in a non-violent manner.
Heather: Tell us a little bit about your journey writing MoonZeLent.
J.M.: MoonZeLent began as a challenge to write a novel in one month. After the light bulb came over my head for the title, the story plot began to fall into place. With each added character came a new adventure, twist, or turn in the story. I had couple days where I felt stagnant and wondered if I would complete my goal, but I hung in there nd soon a new portion of the book would just pour out – many times faster than I could write.
Heather: Keyboard or pen?
J.M.: Both. Keyboard flows if you know what you are writing about. Sometimes pen is more convenient for the times when you have a sudden idea or burst of words you need to get out before you forget.
Heather: What do you think is the hardest part about being an author?
J.M.: I think the hardest part about being an author is gaining respect and getting noticed. Without your book being read and enjoyed, there is no purpose for writing. I also have a fear of typos – I can not stand the thought of my book going out for the world to read with an error.
Heather: What do you usually do while writing?
J.M.: I have four children. Need I say more? I write, I potty train, I write, I tutor algebra, I write, I cook. I juggle a baby bottle in one hand and a notebook in the other.
Heather: What were the circumstances surrounding your decision to become an author?
J.M.: My daughter is a published author – she is my inspiration and my hero. She has always considered herself a writer.
Heather: What was the biggest obstacle you faced while writing MoonZeLent?
J.M.: The biggest obstacle I faced while writing MoonZeLent was the fear that no one would enjoy my words. I often wondered if my book would be good enough to stand with all the others.
Heather: Some people say that you need to live life before you write a book; do you think experience writes a book or imagination?
J.M.: I think that imagination writes a book and experience can be referred to as “know how” and “know how” can be gained in a variety of ways.
Super Questions:
1. I like the colors of: Cool, calm, blues.
2. The sky is most beautiful when it’s: setting—the southern sunsets or the sun setting over the ocean.
3. My favorite feature of a computer is: Undo.
4. I think inventors should invent a: program that edits for you.
5. Thing I love most in the world is: My children.
6. Things I hate most in the world are: Judgmental people.
7. My favorite type of electronic device is: laptop—duh!
8. My favorite thing that has been available before the year 1900: Words
9. My favorite thing that has been available since the year 1960: internet/windows.
10. The oddest thing you have ever written on: restaurant napkin.
Thank you for doing this interview J.M., it was a real pleasure. And for all of you readers who are dying to check out more about this new vampire tale, stop by here tomorrow for a real treat - a very special excerpt of MoonZeLent.
Look for MoonZeLent in stores Summer 2011
Can't wait that long? Here's where you can find out more about J.M.Levi and her thrilling new novel:
http://jmlevi.webs.com/
Follow J.M. on Twitter! http://www.twitter.com/midnightindigo
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