Author Interview: Mom by Collin Piprell

Author Interview & Giveaway: Fish Wielder by J.R.R. R. (Jim) Hardison

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About the Author

Fish Wielder is J.R.R.R. (Jim) Hardison's first novel novel (He wrote a graphic novel, The Helm, for Dark Horse Comics). Jim has worked as a writer, screen writer, animator and film director. He started his professional career by producing a low-budget direct-to-video feature film, The Creature From Lake Michigan. Making a bad movie can be a crash course in the essential elements of good character and story, and The Creature From Lake Michigan was a tremendously bad movie. Shifting his focus entirely to animation, Jim joined Will Vinton Studios where he directed animated commercials for M&M’s and on the stop-motion TV series Gary and Mike. While working at Vinton, he also co-wrote the television special Popeye's Voyage: The Quest for Pappy with actor Paul Reiser.

Jim has appeared on NBC's The Apprentice as an expert advisor on brand characters, developed characters and wrote the pilot episode for the PBS children's television series SeeMore's Playhouse and authored the previously mentioned graphic novel, The Helm, named one of 2010's top ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens by YALSA, a branch of the American Library Association. These days, Jim is the creative director and co-owner of Character LLC, a company that does story-analysis for brands and entertainment properties. He lives in Portland, Oregon with his lovely wife, two amazing kids, one smart dog and one stupid dog.

http://www.fishwielder.com/index.html
http://www.jimhardison.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2893010.Jim_Hardison
https://www.facebook.com/fishwielder
https://twitter.com/FishWielder


Do you plan everything or just let the story flow?

Both really. I usually start with an idea that just comes to me and I try to write as much of it as I can in a single streak (until I’m interrupted or pass out from lack of sleep). After that, I’ll noodle the idea around for a long time, thinking about how to turn it into a proper story. Once I figure out where it’s going in a general way, then I’ll start thinking about what meaning it might convey and what structure would be suited to best put that meaning across. After that, I’ll work out a skeleton narrative outline for the whole story. Then I dive in and start writing. I go at it linearly, from beginning to end. I won’t skip ahead, although I’ll frequently loop back to adjust and polish stuff I’ve already written as new things suggest themselves.

Do your characters ever want to take over the story?

Characters will try to get away with murder, if you let them and the secondary characters are the worst. They are always trying to steal scenes and make whole chapters about themselves, or sometimes even hijack the whole story. You really have to keep an eye on characters.

What is your favourite food?

Thin crust cheese pizza, light on the sauce. My wife says my idea of a perfect pizza is that you take a cracker, show it a tomato, sprinkle it lightly with cheese and then burn it.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I am a night owl. When I am writing in the morning, it is usually because I have been writing all night long.

Where do you dream of travelling to and why?

I’m not a great lover of travel. I travel a lot for my work, often to exotic, lovely places that other folks might kill to go to, and I always complain about it. For me, the best thing is a comfortable seat, an apple (cold from the refrigerator) and a book.

Do distant places feature in your books?

As distant as you can get. My Fish Wielder trilogy is set on the mystical world of Grome.

Do you listen to music while writing?

Often, yes. Sometimes I’ll find a song that fits a particular scene or helps me stay in a specific mood and I’ll listen to it over and over as I write a section of the narrative. Other times, I’ll stick on some thematically correct playlist to run in the background while I work. And then, other times, I need it dead silent. Go figure.

Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?

My book is called Fish Wielder and it is an epically silly epic fantasy novel. It’s about a muscle-bound barbarian warrior and his talking fish who stumble their way into a quest to recover the lost Pudding of Power and destroy it before the forces of evil can use it to take over the magical world of Grome. There’s a bit more to it than that, but that’s the general idea. It’s the first in an epically silly epic trilogy. You see, when you are writing epically silly epic fantasy, it’s a legal requirement that you write a trilogy. That’s just how it is. And I’m particularly bound by those kinds of regulations because I have three Rs in my name. I might have been about to get away with just a single book if I had only one R—like E.R. Eddison and The Worm Ouroboros. On the other hand, if I’d had two Rs, like J.R.R. Tolkien or George R.R. Martin, I might have had two write seven books.  So, I think I dodged a bullet there.

What have you learned about writing and publishing since you first started?

A. It always takes a lot longer than I think it will—both in the writing and in the publishing stage. When I’m writing, and it’s going well, I often think, “Ah! Splendid! This will be done in no time!” and then it takes another six drafts and a year or something. And then, when a publisher says they’re interested, I often think, “Excellent! This will be on the shelf shortly!” and then, of course, it takes another year. Two other things: less adverbs and less adverbs.

Is there anything you would do differently?

No. It kind of goes how it goes. It’s a bit like riding a crazed buffalo, if you’ve ever tried that. You can kind of point it in a direction, but you’re going to go where the buffalo wants.

Who, or what, if anything has influenced your writing?

A. I started off (at about 10-years-old) reading the classics of epic fantasy. There was The Hobbit and The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings and The Barsoom Chronicles (and even The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath). But when I turned thirteen, I stumbled across A Spell for Chameleon by Piers Anthony and I remember thinking, “Wait a second! This stuff can be funny? And still be good?!” And then I saw Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Between those two, it kind of changed my trajectory with fantasy. After that, I added books by L. Sprauge DeCamp, Fritz Leiber, Robert Asprin, Terry Pratchett and the Harvard Lampoon to the reading list. Of course, I continued with the classics like Conan, and I read the White Gold Wielder stuff by Stephen R. Donaldson (only one R in his name) and the Dragon Riders of Pern, and everything by Ursula K. Le Guin, and the Chronicles of Prydain and... you know, this is going to get unwieldy pretty fast. I read basically all the fantasy I could get my hands on and I augmented it with movies like Big Trouble in Little China and The BeastMaster. Maybe I’m just super impressionable, but they all left their mark and I hope bits of all of them can be felt in Fish Wielder.

Anything you would say to those just starting out in the craft?

Write. Just write a bunch. And write to amuse or entertain yourself first and worry about audience second. I know some folks who are very analytical about their approach and try to figure out who their reader is before they start and what kind of voice they need to write in to reach those folks. There’s something to be said for that, but it’s not how I like to do it. I always hope to write the kind of story I’d like to read, and that keeps it fun. Keeping it fun is important because writing can sometimes be a difficult and even painful process similar to extracting your own teeth. So, write a bunch and make sure it’s something you want to read so that you’ll keep at it.


What are three words that describe you?

Lazy control freak.

What's your favourite book or who is your favourite writer?

Oh, that’s not fair. There are just too many good ones to choose from and too many I love too much. I will say that the book I have read most often is The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath by H.P. Lovecraft. I read that book about once a year.

Blurb of your latest release or coming soon book

"This is one wild romp! I suspect some smarter reader than I could do a doctoral dissertation just fathoming the fantasy genre's famous legends that are parodied here. I'm not sure I've seen such preposterously determined critic-baiting parody since Xanth or Asprin's Myth-begotten series. I recommend it to anyone."

—Piers Anthony, New York Times Bestselling Author of the Xanth series


List of previous books if any

A. The Helm (which is actually a graphic novel released by Dark Horse comics). It was named one of the Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens by YALSA in 2010.

Any websites/places readers can find you on the web.

http://www.fishwielder.com

http://www.jimhardison.com

http://www.thehelmcomic.com


I started my professional career by co-writing and producing a low-budget direct-to-video feature, "The Creature From Lake Michigan". Making a bad film can be a crash course in the essential elements of good character and story, and "The Creature From Lake Michigan" was a tremendously bad film. I like to think that I learned my lesson well, and after a brief stint recuperating as a freelance writer and film editor, I founded my own production company.

During its seven-year run, I wrote, directed and edited live-action and animation productions, including educational films, television commercials and television pilots. Shifting my focus entirely to animation, I joined Will Vinton Studios in 1997. There I directed animated commercial and entertainment projects, including episodic television (the UPN series Gary & Mike).

While working at Vinton, I also co-wrote the television special "Popeye's Voyage: The Quest for Pappy" with actor Paul Reiser. I co-founded Character LLC in 2000--a company that advises brands and entertainment properties on their stories. While working at Character I have given story advice to many of the world's largest brands including Discovery Networks, Target, Verizon, Amazon and Microsoft. I even appeared on NBC's "The Apprentice" as an expert adviser on brand characters.

In addition, I've done character development work and wrote for the PBS children's television series "SeeMore's Playhouse". After 21 years, I finally completed "The Creature from Lake Michigan" to glowingly positive reviews from lovers of questionable cinema. These days, I live in Portland, Oregon with my lovely wife, two amazing kids, one smart dog and one stupid dog.

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About the Book:
Fish Wielder
by Jim Hardison
Humour/Fantasy

In ancient times, the Dark Lord Mauron cooked the most powerful magic chocolate dessert ever made, the Pudding of Power.

One thousand and two years later, the evil leader of the Bad Religion, the Heartless One, is trying to recover the lost pudding in order to enslave the peoples of Grome. Only the depressed barbarian warrior Thoral Might Fist and his best friend, Brad the talking Koi fish, have a chance to save the world of Grome from destruction, but that's going to take a ridiculous amount of magic and mayhem.

Thus begins the epically silly epic fantasy of epic proportions, Fish Wielder—book one of the Fish Wielder Trilogy.

Praise for Fish Wielder:

"Fast, fun, fantastic! Fish Wielder is hilarious and unpredictable, like a drunk bear playing whack-a-mole." ―Logan J. Hunder, author of Witches Be Crazy

"A great time. Fast and funny, it races along in a self-aware tone that should appeal to anyone who loves fantasy but has ever found themselves thinking, huh, that was a little melodramatic." ―Clay Johnson, author of OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD (Ravenswood Publishing, 2016)


Book Videos:

https://youtu.be/C2t5JXmhTlg
https://youtu.be/8QQOiB8YssI

Buy Links

Amazon | Kobo | iTunes | BN


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Tour Giveaway: 

5 ebook copies of Fish Wielder

1 paperback (US only) copy of Fish Wielder

1 hardback (US only) copy of Fish Wielder

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bookspotlight: Clutch by Lisa Becker

About clutch: a novel
by Lisa Becker
ISBN:  978-0692489895 or 0692489894 
Page count: 190
Genre: Chick Lit/Contemporary Romance/New Adult

Clutch is the laugh-out-loud, chick lit story that chronicles the dating misadventures of Caroline Johnson, a single purse designer, who goes through a series of unsuccessful romantic relationships she compares to various styles of handbags – the “Hobo” starving artist, the “Diaper Bag” single dad, the “Briefcase” intense businessman, etc.

With her best friend, bar owner Mike by her side, the overly-accommodating Caroline drinks Chardonnay, puts her heart on the line, endures her share of unworthy suitors and finds the courage to stand up for the handbag style that embodies what she ultimately wants – the “Clutch” or someone to hold onto.

Excerpt:

Mimi Johnson was casually dressed in a brightly-colored blouse with enormous turquoise jewelry and equally-oversized glasses.  Despite that largesse, the only thing truly bigger than her personality (and her bosom) was her handbag.  It was always perfectly matched to her clothing, shoes, and jewelry.  She was like a walking Chico’s advertisement, if you added forty years, forty pounds, and a Virginia Slims cigarette.  From her Mary Poppins-like bag, she pulled out a box, impeccably-wrapped in glossy pink paper with a white grosgrain ribbon bow.  A cigarette teetered between her two fingers while she produced a lung-hacking cough.

“Open it… …sweetie.  Open it,” she said to her seven-year-old great niece, Caroline, a beautiful and vibrant girl with long blonde hair and oversized blue eyes.

Alive with anticipation, sweet young Caroline eagerly took the box and smiled up at Mimi.  She gingerly removed the ribbon, planning to save it for later.  The glossy paper was less of interest and she ripped through it quickly.  She opened the box and gently lifted out a hot pink purse, adorned with pale pink flowers and rhinestones.  An enormous smile overcame her.  Caroline nearly set her own hair on fire from Mimi’s cigarette as she bounded into her aunt’s arms.

“Oh, thank you, Aunt Mimi.  It’s lovely.”

And that was when Caroline’s love of handbags began.  From big and loud ones that would make Mimi proud to unimposing wristlets, from bowler bags to satchels; it didn’t matter if they were made of canvas or calf-skin leather, were distressed or embellished with metal studs.  Hell, she didn’t care if you called them pocketbooks or purses.   She just loved them all – almost as much as she loved Mimi.

By the time she was a junior in high school and well on her way to being class valedictorian, it was the hundreds of bags Caroline owned that helped her conceptualize her ticket out of her suffocating small Georgian town. She would design handbags.  And it was Mimi who was her steadfast cheerleader.

“Caroline, sweetie… …you find something you love and you just hold onto it.”  It had never mattered if Caroline was asking Mimi’s advice about a friend, lover, or career.  The advice was always the same: “Find something you love and hold onto it.”

Mimi’s words ever-present in her mind, Caroline headed to the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising and spent four years in Los Angeles learning everything there was to know to pursue her passion. Then, right out of college, she spent three years working in the design and marketing departments of two of the world’s leading high-end handbag designers.

She was schooled in beauty and how to accessorize the perfectly-coiffed women on the way to their Botox appointments. But Caroline was pulled by the nagging feeling that the very person who had inspired her career, Mimi, could never afford the bags she designed, even if Caroline used her generous employee discount on Mimi’s behalf.  And God forbid Mimi would ever accept one as a gift, always preferring to give rather than receive.   But Caroline believed there was no reason for anyone to be denied the ultimate in accessories. She saw an untapped market of designing beautiful and affordable bags, but she just wasn’t sure she was start-up potential. Again, it was Mimi who nudged her to learn the business side of things and apply to MBA programs. When Caroline was accepted to Harvard Business School, Mimi of course encouraged her.

“You’ve got this, sweetie. ,” she said.  “It’s in the bag.”

***

Caroline was sitting in Financial Reporting and Control on her first day of Harvard classes (and yes, the class turned out to be as boring as it sounded).  That’s when she first eyed Mike, who was wearing a faded pair of Levi jeans, a washed-out vintage Rolling Stones T-shirt, and Converse sneakers.  He oozed charisma.  Turning her head away from him and back toward the front of the lecture hall, Caroline thought that if he were a handbag, he would be a grey leather tote – confident and dependable, but not trying too hard.

Mike surveyed the large lecture hall as he walked in, a Starbucks coffee cup in each hand.  After descending the steps slowly, he took a seat next to Caroline and planted one of the white and green cups on her desk.

Flashing a wide, dimpled smile, which she mused he reserved for getting girls to drop their panties, he said, “Here.  You look like you’re going to need this.”

“Thanks,” she replied in a suspicious tone, turning her head sideways to look at him and raising an eyebrow.

“I’m Mike,” he said, again flashing a smile and reaching out for a handshake.

“I’m Caroline.  Thanks for the…”

“Latte.”

“Latte,” she confirmed.  “Thanks.  But just so you know, I’m not gonna sleep with you,” she said in an apparent attempt to establish up front she wasn’t taken in by his obvious charm.

“I know,” he replied matter-of-factly.

Before she could respond, Professor Beauregard, a stout man with excessive eyebrows, spoke up.

“Please take note of where you are seated.  I will send around a seating chart for you to mark your spot.  This will be your seat for the remainder of the semester.”

“Looks like we’ll be seatmates,” Mike said, grinning at her.

“Looks like it,” she replied.

***

About three months into the first semester, Caroline learned that her fun-loving, easy-going new best buddy Mike wasn’t exactly who he appeared to be.

A blanket of white snow dusted the Harvard grounds and it was a particularly slow day in another mutual class, LEAD – Leadership and Organizational Behavior.  Professor Moss, a frail man who weighed less than his years, was droning on and on about establishing productive relationships with subordinates or something to that effect.  He initiated a discussion about what works better – the carrot or stick approach.

“Mr. Barnsworth,” he called, referring to his seating chart and scanning the room until he found Mike in the fifth row.  “What are your thoughts?”

“Well, it seems to me that good management is all about empathy and being able to enthuse and inspire your staff.  You know, appreciating them and respecting them.  Showing you care,” he said, placing his hand over his heart in a gesture of true compassion and concern.  “And if they can’t get that through their thick skulls, you fire ‘em,” he continued, drawing his finger across his throat.

Several students sitting around them started to chuckle while Caroline stifled a laugh.  Mike looked around the room and nodded his head, soaking in the appreciation of his sense of humor.

“Mr. Barnsworth,” said Professor Moss in a menacing tone, “I would have expected a better answer from you, considering your family history.”

Confused by the conversation unfolding before her, Caroline leaned over and whispered to Mike, “What is he talkin’ about?”   Mike put up a hand to quiet her.

“Later,” he hissed.

Twenty minutes later, the two shared a bench outside Baker Library, the chill of winter causing Caroline to pull her scarf closer around her neck.

“What was that all about?” she asked, scrunching up her nose in confusion.

Reluctantly, Mike began to speak.  “My full name is Michael Frederick Barnsworth the Third.

***

About Lisa Becker

In addition to her new book, clutch: a novel, Lisa Becker is the author of the Click Trilogy, a contemporary romance series comprised of Click: An Online Love Story, Double Click and Right Click.  She’s written bylined articles about dating and relationships for “Cupid’s Pulse,” “The Perfect Soulmate,” “GalTime,” “Single Edition,” “Healthy B Daily” and “Chick Lit Central” among others.  She lives in Manhattan Beach, California with her husband and two daughters.  To learn more, visit www.lisawbecker.com.

Book Spotlight and Giveaway: New Zealand with a Hobbit Botherer

New Zealand with a Hobbit Botherer
by John Gisby, with Annette Gisby as THB (The Hobbit Botherer)
Travel/Humour

Blurb:

What should you do if your spouse becomes addicted to the Lord of the Rings movies and swoons at the very mention of Orlando Bloom's name? (Thud. Quick, fetch the smelling salts.)

How about taking the advice of a strange apparition that reveals itself in a dream? An apparition that looks remarkably like the director of the movies, Peter Jackson, but not quite remarkably enough to prompt legal action.

An apparition that recommends touring New Zealand in an effort to prove that its sheep pastures aren't really filled by frolicking Hobbits. Just sheep and the occasional zorbing local.

This is the hilarious tale of such a tour, featuring snow capped mountains and turquoise lakes, flightless birds and flying cattle, bungy jumping grannies and the carrot mafia, strange yellow eyes peering up from a road map and hotel receptionists always desperate to know win you are living.

"New Zealand with a Hobbit Botherer is hilarious! I mean, I don't think I went more than two pages without laughing out loud! Gisby's snide humor is wonderful and, aside from that; the descriptions of places seen makes me want to pack up a suitcase, find a travel agent and GO! Want to come along? Wait, we must stop in England for our tour guide, because I don't intend to go without him!" - Valkyrie's Lady for Manic Readers

"The next best thing to being able to travel to another country is to read a book that describes it so well that pictures come to mind. It isn't necessary to be a fan of the Lord of the Rings movies to enjoy this chronicle of the author's trip through New Zealand to see locations where filming took place, but fandom would add another level of appreciation to this humorous travelogue." - Maryann Miller for Foreword Magazine

"New Zealand with a Hobbit Botherer was a complete breath of fresh air. I laughed so hard, I could hardly breathe. Moreover, though I have always wanted to go to New Zealand, now I yearn to do so." - Tami Brady, TCM Reviews.

Read an extract of the book after the jump