Having Coffee with Author T. W. Fendley

Finally, life can start to (maybe) get back to some semblance of normalize. With that, so can this blog site. I had to apologize to the author who I had scheduled in July, but between my bill pay job and taking care of an elderly parent, my life just erupted out of control. I hope to have them scheduled again soon.

Meanwhile, this month I am combing my normal first of the month and the the first Saturday of the month post into one. I would welcome you to grab your coffee (or drink of choice), sit back and welcome Science-Fiction author TW Fendley as we discuss writing and offer you the chance to win a free signed copy of her book Zero Time.

 What is Zero Time about?

"As Zero Time nears, only Keihla Benton can save two worlds from the  powers of Darkness. But first she must unlock the secrets of Machu Picchu and her own past."

David Alan Lucas: When you are starting to work on a new novel, what do you find brings the story into focus for you? A Character? A setting? Something else?

T. W. Fendley: Working with my characters' goals and motivation bring the story into focus for me. I keep asking myself, "What would make him/her do that?" and "What does he/she want?" That drives the plot.

DL: What attracted you to Science Fiction?

TW: I've always had an active imagination. I think that's just how my mind works--seeing possibilities and "what if" are part of my personality. Sci-fi and fantasy allow me to play with other people who think like I do. I had the good fortune to read Jules Verne and C.S. Lewis as a kid. When I was about fifteen, Michael Crichton's Andromeda Strain came out. I picked up a copy at the library and got completely hooked on sci fi.

DL: What key things make your stories work?

TW: For me, it's all about making connections between things that are seemingly unrelated. That's why you'll find elements of science and history in my stories alongside metaphysical concepts and mythology. It's this juxtaposition where freshness (originality) occurs, kind of like putting complementary colors next to each other in a painting--blue with orange "pops."

DL: What themes in your fiction writing seem to drive you the most?

TW: I'm crazy about cycles. I love sunspot cycles, history cycles, biological cycles. You name it, if it's a cycle, I love it. I also enjoy stepping outside the normal way of looking at the world, beyond our five senses. Sometimes this involves traditional science, and other times it's more metaphysical or even psychological. This includes remote viewing (a type of precognition), which I've been practicing for a few years now (I host a blog at www.ARV4fun.com). And I'm a huge fan of ancient American cultures--Inca, Maya, Aztec, etc.

DL: Do you work on multiple novels at once? If so, how many?

TW: I write one novel at a time, though I have edited a novel while writing another. This summer, I actively worked on three short stories as part of the Clarion Write-a-Thon. They are all at various stages of completion, but generally I try to finish the first draft of one story before starting the next. As each story goes to my critique group for review, I start the next one. Some of these stories would really like to be novels (and one started out as part of a novel), but so far, I'm resisting.    

DL: How easy was it to take the leap of faith to become a serious writer and chase this career? What did you find that you had to do to take the step?

TW: Hmmm…I guess it all depends what you mean by serious. I made the first major commitment of money and time to writing fiction in 1997, when I attended the six-week Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Workshop. I wiped out several years of saved vacation time (after my boss gave me permission to be off work for that long) and spent an inheritance from my grandparents. It took another ten years before I was able to write full-time and finish the novel that started as a short story idea at Clarion.

But before any of that happened, I had to take the chance on rejection and submit a story as my application to Clarion. That wasn't as easy as it may sound. I figured getting an acceptance letter was a benchmark in itself.      

DL: In years past, new writers would battle their way in the pulp magazines to build their readerships and their careers. Do you think that is still the case in the explosion of electronic readers, blogs, e-zines, and other like media? Who do you see as the current gatekeeper of the good writers and those who are still developing?

TW: It's always been about reaching readers, who are the ultimate gatekeepers. The marketplace has never been as open for writers as it is now. That's both a blessing and a curse. More writers can get published than when you had to go through pulp magazines, but now readers are inundated by choices. When it comes to gatekeepers, the traditional ones are still in place--agents, publishers, editors, bookstores. A new paradigm of self-gatekeeping is developing along with self-publishing. This puts the burden and expense of producing a quality product and marketing it solely on the writer.

           

DL: When you plot your novels, from whose point of view do you plot from? The protagonist’s? The antagonist’s? The narrator’s? Some one else?

TW: Since I'm a big-time pantster, this question somewhat baffles me. Although I keep trying to plot in advance (I guess that would be the narrator), I find my stories are generally driven from the protagonist's perspective.  

DL: Arthur C. Clarke once wrote that when science catches up with the science fiction writer, the science fiction writer needs to make a leap forward.  How do you stay ahead of the game?

TW: Imagination. Which brings to mind one of my favorite quotes from Albert Einstein: “Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.”

DL: What novels, books, articles, magazines or other media most useful when you are researching your novels?

TW: I allow the research to lead me. If I find a good source, often it will refer to other information. I check that out, too. With my interest in Peru and Mesoamerica, I've amassed dozens of books on everything from tourist travel guides to folktales to guidebooks of flora and fauna in ancient times. Of course, the internet is essential these days. Whenever possible, I travel. The personal experience "on location" gives me perspectives and accuracy I wouldn't otherwise have.

DL: What is your writing schedule like?

TW: I'd like to say I am very disciplined with my writing, but that wouldn't be true. In fact, I didn't write much at all in the first six month after my debut book's release. Marketing takes a lot of time! I write an hour or two each day I'm home, although that includes doing research and editing. I also spend several hours each day doing a variety of things to further my writing endeavors -- entering contests, seeking agents or publishers for my books and stories, etc. I regularly contribute to two writing blogs (The Writers' Lens and Pots & Pens) and tweet about those. I also blog on my author's website, including posts as a member of the Blog Ring of Power that features interviews with other speculative fiction authors.

DL: If you could have coffee (or drink of your choice) with four other authors from any time period, who would you choose and why?

TW: There are so many authors whose work I love, how could I possibly limit it to four? Let's make my drink a skinny decaf mocha.

Isaac Asimov -- His Foundation series has CYCLES! and "Nightfall" is my all-time favorite short story. Did I mention how much I love his robot stories?

Neal Stephenson, Kim Stanley Robinson, Dan Simmons and Diana Gabaldon -- I want to become their clone (I know--impossible, even for a clone, to be four people.) They're all great storytellers who weave history and science with memorable characters and crazy worldbuilding.

Tim Powers -- I was in awe of him at Clarion (he was the lead instructor), and I still am, but I'd love to have the chance to just sit and chat. He's an imaginative writer who makes complex plots fun to read, an artist and nice guy.

Jim Butcher, Ursula LeGuin and Anne McCaffrey -- They take fantasy to the next level in their unique ways. I'd love to get ideas on how to do that

DL: How could my readers learn more about you?

TW: Probably the best place is my website, www.twfendley.com. I have links to my other blogs and to Twitter (@twfendley), Facebook, Goodreads, Library Thing, etc. I'm happy to report that ZERO TIME is available at the St. Louis County Library (ebook only), as well as from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and various indie bookstores (ebook and paperback).

Thank you T. W. Fendley!

How do you win a free copy of this book?  To enter the contest, simply leave a comment or question on the Writers' Lens blog between now (August 4th, 2012) and midnight August 31, 2012. Please include your email so we can reach you if you win. The more comments you leave, the greater your chance of winning the contest. If you refer others to The Writer's Lens who mention your name in their comments, I'll enter your name again in our random number generator along with theirs, also increasing your chances at winning! The winner will be chosen after midnight on Friday, August 31 and the announcement made on Saturday, September 1. Good luck and comment often.

Thank you for reading and please visit www.davidalanlucas.com and www.thewriterslens.com. You can also follow me on twitter @Owlkenpowriter and the Writer’s Lens @TheWritersLens. Fiction is the world where the philosopher is the most free in our society to explore the human condition as he chooses.

The Winner of Serial is...

The winner of Serial by John Lutz is Jeannie Lin.  Congratulations! 

Thank you for reading and please visit www.davidalanlucas.com and www.thewriterslens.com. You can also follow me on twitter @Owlkenpowriter and the Writer’s Lens @TheWritersLens. Fiction is the world where the philosopher is the most free in our society to explore the human condition as he chooses.

This Week's Book Giveaway: Murder at the No Tell Motel--an Interview with Claire Applewhite and Giving Away St. Louis Hustle

This week, Coffee with David is honored to bring its readers the Nam Noir novel set at the old St. Louis "No Tell Motel" Coral Court. Yes, we are giving away Claire Applewhite's St. Louis Hustle.

 This interview and giveaway was originally posted on The Writers' Lens.

                   

"A simple case turns into a web of lethal deception. 

"When sleek Emily Davies begs Elvin Suggs to trail her philandering husband, Nick, it seems like an easy request. Dimond "Di" Redding and Elvin are eager to get started on the first case for their new business, Grapevine Investigations. Along with help from their fellow Vietnam vet Cobra Glynes, they follow the cheating husband straight to St. Louis' notorious "no tell motel"-The Coral Court.

"Right from the start Di distrusts Emily, a nurse at People's Hospital. She can't explain why she's uneasy until they spot the woman playing doctor with a plastic surgeon at the very same motel.
The mousy desk clerk Waldo E. knows his "regulars" but he refuses to divulge his secrets to the investigators. When one of his regular guests turns up dead, he still won't talk, not even to police detective Reggie Combs. The woman's sleazy landlord is quick to point the finger at Emily's cheating husband.

"After another body turns up, this time at the Coral Court Motel, Elvin and Di discover there's no escape until they see this twisted case through to the bitter end..."

Legend John Lutz wrote: "Author Applewhite has created an engrossing tale that presents the setting almost as one of the cast of characters. If you like neatly rendered, nicely plotted fiction, you'll finish St. Louis Hustle in one sitting. For those who know little or nothing about St. Louis, Applewhite's novel is the perfect gateway to the Gateway City."

I had the pleasure to have a conversation with Claire about her writing and why she writes Noir. 

David Alan Lucas: You are a very soft spoken and kind person. What has drawn you to write about one of the most heinous acts that man commit--murder?

Claire Applewhite: I am intrigued by what would motivate someone to commit such a heinous act. 

DL: You have a series of books that are set in St. Louis, Missouri that have been classified as 'Nam Noir. What is 'Nam Noir?

CA: Noir is a subgenre of mystery fiction. Themes such as isolation and disillusionment, and motives such as jealousy, greed and lust, as well as resilience in the face of adversity, all define the noir tradition.  The series set in St. Louis centers on three Vietnam veterans, and the events in their lives before and after their reunion, twenty years later. Because the themes of noir influenced the lives of the ‘Nam veterans, the series was classified as ‘Nam Noir.

DL: When you plot your novels, from whose point of view do you plot from? The protagonist’s? The antagonist’s? The narrator’s? Some one else?

CA: I plot from the POV of the character with the most at stake; that is, the one with the most to lose. This character is usually involved with the other major characters, and has a reason to care deeply about attainment of personal goals and desires, and perhaps, the achievements of other characters.

DL: When you are starting to work on a novel, what do you find brings the story into focus for you? A Character? A setting? Something else?

CA: In other words, how do I plan a project? I write the first page and last page first.  Then, I decide what would be the climax or middle of the plot and write a page for a central chapter. Remember, the middle cannot sag! From there, using index cards, I decide what plot points occur between the beginning, middle and end, and fill in the chapters in between. I have heard this method called “storyboarding”, a  film making technique, but I find it to be an effective plotting device.

DL: What brings your writing into focus?

CA: When a major character is put into  a crisis, or an unusually stressful situation, and I am forced to feel with that character, that is, endure the stress and survive, the story becomes more clearly focused for me.  Firsthand, I feel the character’s strengths and weaknesses, and experience the level of resilience.  Many times, a stressful situation will also illustrate the quality of a plot point, that is, the effectiveness in the execution of a key scene.  In this way, a potential wrinkle or snag in the plot may be highlighted.

DL: What drives your novels: Theme, Character, Plot, the Mystery?

CA: What drives the novel are the needs/desires/goals of the protagonist/antagonist. Their story arcs, each necessitating a transformation by the end of the story, drive the novel.

DL: Do you work on multiple projects at once? If so, how many? 

CA: I complete one manuscript at a time, and let each one sit for at least a month to attain some distance from it. During that 30 day “rest” I start a new project.

DL: How easy was it to take the leap of faith to become a serious writer and chase this career? What did you find that you had to do to take the step?

CA: I have always written creatively as a hobby, but it was not until I was a little past forty that I came across a short story that I wrote as a senior at St. Louis University entitled, “On Call.” At the time I wrote it, the instructor and other students encouraged me to expand it into a novel---but I didn’t do it.  Almost twenty years later, that story became my first published novel, The Wrong Side of Memphis.  My point is, that I wasn’t ready to expose the feelings in that short story until I felt comfortable doing so—and for me, that meant waiting awhile. For a writer to decide to go for it, I believe, isn’t always a matter of faith or whether it is easy or hard to do the writing.  A writer can do the writing without anxiety, if they are ready. Sometimes, it’s a matter of if or when you’re ready to let go of an issue or expose feelings that have been sitting on an emotional shelf. That’s the tough part.

DL: A lot of marketing falls on to the writer. How do you market your novels? How do you manage to juggle everything you do?

CA: I have to admit that right away, I realized that marketing the novel was going to be just as time consuming and vital as writing it.  I felt a little panicked, and then, decided that this was too important to try and do by myself. My mind was open to consulting when a friend told me that his friend had just been laid off and was looking for work. We met, and though neither of us had much experience in marketing books, we decided to work on a book together.  So, I have a publicist to help with book signings and photography, and a computer specialist to monitor my website. I also got approval to stock my books at Barnes & Noble in the Midwest region and scheduled book signings locally. Kirkus has reviewed my books and I post the reviews on Goodreads and Twitter. I lecture, visit libraries, and serve as a board member for the Midwest Chapter, Mystery Writers of America, and am an Active member, Mystery Writers of America.  However, I had a literary agent tell me recently that nothing is as powerful as “word of mouth” recommendations.

As far as juggling, I do something on the marketing front everyday. It cannot be a sporadic effort, it should be consistent and steady.

DL: What is your writing schedule like?

CA: I get up at 6 am and start writing, and usually stop around 10:30 to 11 am.  If it is an unusual day and that is not possible, the time must be made up from 10 pm to 1 or 2 am.  Either way, there is a ten page quota per day.

DL: If you could have coffee (or drink of your choice) with four other authors from any time period, who would you choose and why?

CA: Ed McBain, Agatha Christie, Ruth Rendell, Cornell Woolrich. These authors have unique perspectives on the essential elements of a murder mystery: motive, opportunity and means. Rendell and Woolrich in particular, focus on psychological suspense, while Mc Bain and Christie have plots that I find intriguing.

DL: How could my readers learn more about you?

CA: Readers may visit my website at www.claireapplewhite.com,  or view television interviews and book trailers on  YouTube, Claire Applewhite.

Thank you Claire!

How do you win a free copy of this book?  To enter the contest, simply leave a comment or question on Coffee with David blog between now (July 28th) and midnight August 3rd, 2012. Please include your email so we can reach you if you win. The more comments you leave, the greater your chance of winning the contest. If you refer others to Coffee with David who mention your name in their comments, I'll enter your name again in our random number generator along with theirs, also increasing your chances at winning! The winner will be chosen after midnight on Friday, August 2nd and the announcement made on Saturday, August 3rd. Good luck and comment often.

Thank you for reading and please visit www.davidalanlucas.com and www.thewriterslens.com. You can also follow me on twitter @Owlkenpowriter and the Writer’s Lens @TheWritersLens. Fiction is the world where the philosopher is the most free in our society to explore the human condition as he chooses.

The Day of the Wolf

The Day of the Wolf

By David Alan Lucas

It is the day of the wolf!

Snarling—growling—scratching

At my door.

Am I hero or coward?

Another scotch burning

Down my throat.

Pouring rage, the door explodes.

Howling amidst the ruins,

The wolf glares.

The day has come upon me!

The question to be answered:

Duty or fear?

Curling its lip, scent of fear

Drawing the wolf near me.

Battle joined

I feel the valor within.

Fear evaporated;

Courage remains.

In the mirror the wolf locks

His eyes holding mine, joined

We are one.

Into the world I step forth

In sheep clothing I hunt

Dealers of death.

Harvesters of death, sheep enveloped

Blind, lead to self-slaughter,

Sheep know not.

The wolf prowls silently among

Bidding time, patience to pounce,

Death my prey.