Taming the Captain by Beatrice Ballentine

Today’s interview is with certified truck driver and indie writer Beatrice Ballentine.

LQ: Tell me a little bit about yourself. 

BB: I have been a writer for as long as I can remember. Still, I  spent a fair amount of my adult years raising a very young family, while supporting my husband in our small family businesses. (Fun fact: I was a certified tow truck driver when our daughter and her twin brother and sister were all under the age of four). We live in a pretty rural area, so we always joke you better be willing to do whatever is legally possible to provide for your family.

While I wrote during these years, I never really grasped the possibility of self-publishing, and I was too impatient (and probably too controlling), to entertain the notion of going the traditional route. As the years passed, and we paid off our home, etc., I felt it was my turn to focus not only on my passion of writing but to figure out the beast of self-publishing and marketing. It has been an incredible journey, and now that our youngest children are in their teens, I have large chunks of time to devote to this endeavor consistently.

LQ: What does your writing process look like?

BB: I am a pantser. I have a vague notion of the beginning, middle, and end when I begin writing, and a grasp of who I want my protagonist and who or what I want the antagonist to be. Other than that, I love seeing the story and character depth unfold late at night, or the wee hours of the morning. This method does, at times, lead me down dead ends, …but not usually.  

LQ: What was your favorite book to write so far?

BB: I have a lot of unpublished works, mostly comedy, surprisingly. I do enjoy sharing a lot of that with family. Sometimes I will look back on material I wrote and, having forgotten I wrote it at all in the first place, get a little tickle from re-reading. I get a lot more enjoyment from writing romance. I would have to say my favorite, so far, is my WIP, which is book 2, behind Taming the Captain.

LQ: Who is your favorite character to write about? 

BB: I like the strong leading man. I like testing him, watching him grow as a person, and I love writing in little details that remove him from the typical “alphahole.” Leading men are enjoyable to write if they have a bit of a soft side.

LQ: Who are your favorite authors? Have any of them influenced your work?

BB: My favorites as an adult are Jane Austen, The Bronte Sisters, Winsten Graham, James F. Cooper, to name a few.

During the early 80’s, when I was a teen/pre-teen,  a lot of what was available to me at home, came in the form of jacking my aunt and mother’s bodice rippers. Looking back on some of the titles as an adult, I shudder to think now, of my 13ish something daughter, (or any age) reading book after book of forced sex, slave sex, etc., wrapped in the packaging of romance. To be fair to my mother, she did not know I was stealing and reading her books.

Basically, all I recall from those editions was the “fight like hell and then have hot sex, or a young, beautiful virgin is forced to have sex by the “hero,” and then falls in love with him and vice versa and later they get married.

Regardless, I was young, and the seed for romance novels, the beautiful covers, etc. was planted. Taming the Captain is ironically being reviewed positively as a “modern-day bodice ripper,” (Melissa, Probably at the Library, 2020), The storyline is based on a strong female who is not into taking shit from the charismatic captain. Still, there is also a lot of tenderness, depth of character, adventure, and a good, passionate burn that leads to steamy, consensual sex. Nothing will turn me off faster to a romance novel than a storyline where all the hero and heroine do is bicker and fight, and then have hot sex. So perhaps, inadvertently, my writing is partially influenced by all these authors? You would have to ask my readers. ; ) 

LQ: How are you doing during the current pandemic? 

BB: I am an introvert by nature. I love being at home with my family, cooking, hiking, writing. I love people, but social situations can be a bit of a struggle for me, especially if there are a lot of people involved. I do have a few worries about some of our community members, family members, etc. who would struggle greatly if they caught COVID-19, but the social distancing aspect of the virus has not changed my life much.

LQ: What are you currently working on?

BB: I am putting the finishing touches on Even Captains Cry. It is the follow-up book to Taming the Captain which was released in February. “Even Captains Cry” has been a lot of fun to write. Without giving away any spoilers, we see the ever hot and ready Anthony completely out of his element and struggling in ways he never knew possible, but I promise a happy ending. ; ) The book is due for release mid to late June of this year.

LQ: Anything else you would like to share? 

BB: I love interacting with readers, writers, book bloggers, etc. Feel free to follow me on Twitter, @BeatriceBallen3.

Today’s interview is with K.S. Ruff, an indie writer who also teaches at the American Military University.

LQ: Tell me a little bit about yourself. 

KR: I live in Northern Virginia with my football-crazed husband, two entertaining daughters, and a nut-job-of-a-dog (my daughter’s words, not mine).

I teach courses in international conflict resolution, human security, environmental security, and peacekeeping for the American Military University. Reading and writing are two of my favorite things.

I haven’t a clue what’s going on around me when I’m writing. The house could be burning down, and I wouldn’t even notice. I’m counting on my husband to save the children and the dog. I’m happiest when I’m in my PJs snuggled next to my dog with a good book or writing on my laptop with Dove dark chocolates and a warm cup of coffee nearby.

LQ: What does your writing process look like?

KR: I’m a planner, so I start with some preliminary research and an outline. I conduct additional research off and on throughout the writing process, pinning pictures of luxury accommodations, vacation spots, clothes, or food my characters are indulging in on Pinterest.

Still, my characters are a little headstrong. They’ll veer off in directions I wasn’t anticipating. Planning turns into intermittent “pantsing” until I can rein everyone in. I’m not complaining. Those unexpected developments often lead to some of my best scenes. I write in chronological order, but if I’m struggling with writer’s block, I will skip a section and work on a different scene.

I spend far more time editing, wordsmithing, and massaging the text than I do writing the initial story. I make three or four editing runs on my own before turning the book over to my editor and beta readers. Then, I make one final editing run, maybe two, if my editor identifies additional areas in need of improvement.

LQ: What was your favorite book to write so far?

KR: Broken Wings (the third book in The Broken Series) has been my favorite novel to write thus far. I laughed until I cried while writing a scene where my protagonist, Kristine, was given truth serum during an interrogation. Who knew the truth could be so funny? I also bawled my eyes out while writing one of the most tragic scenes I’ve ever written. That book gave me all the feels, and it remains one of my favorites to this very day.

LQ: Who is your favorite character to write about? 

KR: Maxim Markov is my favorite character to write about. You will meet him in Broken Wings. Maxim is easily the most lethal man my protagonist has ever met. He’s killed numerous times. His eloquence and his passion for helping others prove disarming despite his dark side.

He challenges Kristine to view his work for the Russian Mafia in shades of gray, rather than black and white. He is the head of the Russia Mafia in Ukraine, but he abhors the Russian government. He’s completely devoted to his country, and he wants nothing more than to lift his people out of poverty.

Kristine is left wondering whether Maxim isn’t one of the good guys. He pursues her in an effort to improve his image and to further his political objectives. Oh, who am I fooling? He’s completely in love with her. He’s protective and domineering. He lacks boundaries. He’s an alpha who quotes Shakespeare. Oh, and he can bring a woman to orgasm while indulging in nothing more than a heated kiss.  

LQ: Who are your favorite authors? Have any of them influenced your work?

My favorite author is Deborah Harkness. Her All Souls Trilogy is the only series I’ve read five times. J.K. Rowling comes a close second. I’ve read the Harry Potter Series twice. I am in awe of their creative thinking skills, their storytelling, their world-building, the depth of their characters, and the complexity of their plots. I’ll confess, I fangirl Deborah. I attended one of her book talks and two of her book signings. She is so humble and sweet. Her All Souls Con is on my bucket list. I gifted her a copy of the first book in my middle-grade fantasy trilogy when I attended the last book signing. Both authors have given me something to aspire to, and they helped spark my interest in writing epic fantasies.

LQ: How are you doing during the current pandemic? 

KR: Okay. I’m not going to lie. I’m finding it difficult to write. I’m teaching three courses online while trying to help my children with their online classes. Most of my “free” time is spent cleaning. I’m anxious and scared for my daughter.

She had a life-saving kidney transplant in January and has literally no immune system right now. The only time we break our “bubble” is when we have to go to the hospital for blood draws (which are currently once a week) or when I need to stock up on groceries (which I try to limit to once every two weeks). I never thought I’d be terrified to buy groceries, but I am. I’m so worried I will contract the virus and pass it on to her. With her immune system, she’d never survive it. So, yeah, I’m a bit of a mess. 

LQ: What are you currently working on?

KR: I’m working on a spin-off novel for Shae. You won’t meet Shae until the end of Beautifully Broken (book two in The Broken Series). Shae’s character was inspired by a very dear friend of mine. We met in graduate school. Our friendship was cemented during a peacebuilding trip in Ukraine. Some of the truth-is-stranger-than-fiction moments we experienced in that trip are woven into Broken Wings. I adore Shae, and I’m determined to give her the happily ever after she deserves. 

Broken Wings by K.S. Ruff

Anything else you would like to share?

Yes! I thought I’d add something that complements your mission “Read for a Better World.” I share your goals of fighting global warming and poverty, so I want to share one of my favorite strategies.

I switched over to a search engine called Ecosia last year. Ecosia functions just like any other search engine, with one key difference. The organization that runs this search engine uses their profits to plant trees.

Ecosia donates 80% or more of the money it generates through ad revenue to non-profit organizations that plant trees, targeting areas where they are needed most. You can use this search engine on your computer, your cell, or any other device. It takes about 45 searches on average to plant one tree. I’ve planted 40 trees so far, simply by using Ecosia as my search engine!

There’s a little counter in the right-hand corner of my screen that tracks how many searches I’ve done, so I can easily determine how many trees I’ve helped plant. When you click on the search engine you will see a rapidly moving counter that reveals how many trees have been planted by Ecosia users. Currently, that number is 90, 340,800 trees. But it’s a rapidly moving counter, so that number has already increased! Ecosia believes in full transparency. They publish monthly reports, they share footage of their tree planting projects on YouTube, they are privacy-friendly, and they are more than CO2 neutral. Here are some links that explain their mission:

Ecosia website 

Ecosia, the search engine that plants trees

Is Ecosia legit?

Tree Update, Episode 21

Planting trees helps increase carbon sinks, absorbing CO2 emissions and slowing climate change. It also helps reduce soil degradation, improves food security, strengthens economic and social stability, and lifts people out of poverty. I sincerely hope you’ll give it a try!

Today’s interview is with Bria Lexor.

LQ: Tell me a little bit about yourself. 

BL: I am a YA author of Urban Fantasy and Fantasy Series.

LQ: What does your writing process look like?

BL: I start writing a book and I jump around from book to book until I have completed many books.

LQ: What was your favorite book to write so far?

BL: So far my favorite book to write has been Vampire Candidate, Book 4 in Vampiracy: Hell’s Guardian Chronicles.

LQ: Who is your favorite character to write about? 

BL: Zyra Falls.

LQ: Who are your favorite authors? Have any of them influenced your work?

BL: Holly Black, Richelle Mead, and S.D. Perry. Yes. Richelle, Vampiracy: Hell’s Guardian Chronicles. And S.D. Perry, also VHGC Series.

LQ: How are you doing during the current pandemic? 

BL: It’s tougher to get through the day. I’m managing.

LQ: What are you currently working on?

BL: Many books at a time.

LQ: Anything else you would like to share? 

BL: Keep an eye out for future books from me!

Taking Care of Business by Simon Pearce

Today’s interview is with Simon Pearce, owner of Space Monkey Creations.

LQ: Tell me a little bit about yourself. 

SP: My name is Simon Pearce and I am an English language teacher at a university. I have lived in several countries, but am originally from the UK. I now live and work abroad for the foreseeable future.

Outside of the day job, I am in the process of building my own company called Space Monkey Creations (SMC), which has 3 interests: books, videos, and clothing. So far, I have published my own 2 novels and that of 1 other author (The Traveller by Chuck Thompson). I have created music videos for artists in England and Japan, and am in the middle of production for a documentary (which is now on hold due to the global pandemic). I also design and plan to sell eco-friendly clothing that has sustainability at the heart of it. My first drop for the brand, called HSTRC, is also on hold because of the pandemic. 

LQ: What does your writing process look like?

SP: As I come from a background of writing film scripts, my process is a little different to most writers. The majority of the steps are the same, from what I can see, but there is an extra step to mine that most don’t do. Like the majority of writers, who have told me about their process, I start with simply making notes of ideas for a project. I don’t have a particular preference with regards to paper or electronic devices at this stage, and so I have multiple notes on my phone and some notebooks. The next step, once I think I have a sufficient amount of material and ideas, is to outline, usually bullet points at this stage, the story from start to finish. I then develop these bullet points into more detailed paragraphs for each chapter. The outline is always done as a Word document. As I develop the outline I also go through the corresponding notebook and electronic notes, putting lines through the ideas as an indication that they have been included.

The next step is where I go a little different. Here is where I write a full film script of what will eventually become the novel. This stage focuses primarily on the dialogue between my characters and also serves to show me the pacing of the narrative. There is very little in a film script in terms of description and action, as these things are kept to no more than 3 or 4 lines at most at the start of a scene and occasionally between the dialogue. Here is where I really get to be the characters and develop their speech and language, with little focus on any other aspects of the book. Once I have my completed first draft of the script I will wait a while, usually several weeks, before reading it straight through and then deciding if it needs to be redrafted or if it’s ready to move into the first draft of the manuscript. This end step is similar to the novel writing stage in that it could take one draft to dozens of drafts before I am satisfied with it. I write the script on the professional software called Final Draft and treat it very much like I am writing a movie and not a novel.

After the film script is finished I sit in front of Scrivener and start writing the first draft of the manuscript. By having first gone through the writing of the film script I find that the initial draft of a novel comes very quickly. By now I’ve got my interactions between my characters thrashed out and have gone through the whole story enough times to know what’s happening and when, so now it’s mainly about the describing/showing and nothing else. From here on out it’s the same as any other writer. Rewrite, rewrite and rewrite until I’m happy.

I then work with an editor to ensure it is up to a professional standard for publication. I don’t use ‘readers’ or have friends and family read it. I’m not writing for friends and family, and there’s no telling if test readers will be into the twisted humour I’ve been writing so far. I think it’s better to put the finished book out there into the world and let people decide if it’s their kind of thing or not. In all honesty, I do believe that everyone’s tastes are different and what one reader may deem trash another will love and become heavily influenced by. I’m not looking to become critically acclaimed or be on any best seller lists, I simply want to have the freedom to tell the stories that I want to tell.

LQ: What was your favorite book to write so far?

SP: My first book, Taking Care of Business (TCB), has been my favourite to write so far. It’s an adaptation of a feature film that I directed and co-wrote. I didn’t have a particularly enjoyable experience directing that movie, and this had a huge impact on my thoughts about writing a novel. I’d been advised to adapt the script into a novel many times in the past, but insisted on putting my efforts solely into turning it into a feature film instead – as originally intended. At almost every step of the film making process I had to compromise in one way or another and as a result walked away with a movie that I am not proud of and an experience that I don’t look back on very fondly.

The knowledge that I could tell this story in a format where I didn’t have to compromise or change anything based on other people’s opinions is what led me to adapt the story into a novel and then publish through my own company (Space Monkey Creations). The novel writing process was extremely freeing and hence so much more enjoyable than the film making experience, so now I look back at writing TCB and smile, as opposed to looking back at making the movie and shaking my head at not only the time filming it but also the end result. The novel allowed me to be as wild and outrageous as I wanted to be, with no concern for commercial success or offending others. This is also why I never gave the traditional publishing route any thought, I want complete freedom and control over my stories.

LQ: Who is your favorite character to write about? 

SP: I don’t have a favourite character, so far, as I enjoy writing the whole story. I think I am far more story orientated than character driven in that respect.

With that said, the reason TCB has been developed into a trilogy rather than a standalone story is because I wanted to see what I could do with the 2 debauched protagonists without the constraints that were originally placed on the first story. TCB was originally written as an independent movie to be shot all on one location, and so the novel stuck to that premise for the most part. I decided that I wanted to take the 2 main characters out of that single location setting and let them run free, and so with each novel the landscape has grown ever wider. 

The first story takes place in the protagonists’ home in Wales and then the second story took them across the length and breadth of the whole country. In the final novel the protagonists go as far as Europe, which is why it seemed so fitting that Brexit was happening at the time of both development and writing of the first draft.

LQ: Who are your favorite authors? Have any of them influenced your work?

SP: By far, Hunter S. Thompson. His novel ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas’ had a huge influence on me, especially my first novel ‘TCB’. ‘Fear and Loathing’ is an exaggerated story based on real people and real events that makes comment on the time it was set. I loved the idea of taking reality and exaggerating it to wild and outlandish proportions. In school I was told by my English teacher that the best authors write about what they really know, and what they’ve really experienced. Even if you’re writing a fantasy full of magic and dragons, your real life and experiences must seep into it to make a real and relatable story and characters. Hunter’s novel showed me that even when your experiences and characters are hedonistic drug abusers, there’s still an entertaining story to be told and an audience out there somewhere for it – if you like that kind of thing. My early twenties were spent living and working in London, where I was surrounded by an underground of drug takers and dealers, which pushed me in the direction of writing about that kind of world, albeit far more exaggerated and hopefully humorous than real life.

LQ: How are you doing during the current pandemic? 

SP: I am very fortunate to be in a position where I can continue teaching, via virtual classrooms from home, and have no worries or stress as far as finances or losing my job are concerned. For me, the current pandemic has actually made my work a lot easier.

My own business has been stalled due to the global pandemic. One part of my company will be the retail of clothing I designed, but delivery of this merchandise from the factory has now been put on hold for the time being. Also, I was mid-production on a documentary which has also had to be put on hold due to both the social distancing and curfew measures put in place by the government of the country I currently reside in.

Fortunately, when it comes to writing and publishing, the pandemic is not having an effect on me.

LQ: What are you currently working on?

SP: I’m currently working on the final installment of The Business Trilogy, which is called Out Of Business. The first part was Taking Care of Business and the second part was Back In Business. The title of the 3rd book seemed perfectly natural to me and took little thought. The first draft was written during the peak of the Brexit fiasco, which had a bigger influence on the first draft of the novel than I would have anticipated.

Due to other non-writing projects, the rewriting of this manuscript is going far slower than I would usually take but as I published 3 novels last year (SMC’s first active year) I’m not putting any time pressure on myself to finish this novel and get it out there. I’m confident that I will finish The Business Trilogy this year and I’m looking forward to diving into my next novel or possibly even some short story ideas that I have.

It will be fun to move on to new characters and new genres. This trilogy has focused on narcotics and dark humour, but I am interested in writing within other genres and about different subject matter. At the moment it’s hard to say what I’ll move on to, as I have a lot of ideas in the development stage.