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Elizabeth McKenna

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Elizabeth McKenna

Tag Archives: Interviews

Meet Author Rival Gates

26 Sunday Jul 2015

Posted by Elizabeth McKenna - Author in Meet the Authors

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Adventure, Authors, Epic, Fantasy, Interviews, Magic

Cover RevengeToday I’m welcoming Rival Gates, author of Mandrean Revenge. Thank you for stopping by, Rival!

All about Rival . . .

Rival Gates has lived extensively in both Canada and the United States. He currently resides in Nebraska, USA. The son of an editor and English teacher, he began planning his series during his teen years. The Sapphire Chronicles took shape in his mind and manifested themselves into the first book in the series, Quest for the Red Sapphire. It was released in 2013 and caught the attention of readers. The following year, The Sapphire Crucible was published feeding the appetite of the growing number of fans of the series. “Crucible” answered many questions and raised others. Now the newest installment of the chronicles is out in Mandrean Revenge where Gates takes us once again back into the fray.

1.  How did your life as a writer begin?

I began by entering essay contests in grammar school and writing the scripts for all the class plays.  Writing was something I always enjoyed doing.

2.  What makes you feel inspired to write?

Reading inspires me as does absolute silence when I can just let my imagination wander.

3.  How did you come with the idea for your current story?

After making the first two books I decided to have Lord Mandrean live through his fight with Linvin.  Then I thought, If I was Lord Mandrean I would want some payback.  How could I hurt Linvin the most?  The story just came together from there.

4.  Tell us about your writing process. Do you outline, or are you more of a seat of your pants type of a writer?

I definitely outline and storyboard my book before I write it.  Then all the details are worked out and I don’t have to worry about leaving a part out of the story.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA5.  What is your favorite scene in the book? Why?

My favorite scene is the part where Necromancer visits Mandrean in the bath.  Necromancer can’t refuse his orders but he can insult him.  For Mandrean’s part, he can order Necromancer around but cannot do anything about his attitude.  It makes for a hilarious scene.  You have two evil people who hate one another trying to belittle the other.

6.  What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I can’t have any sound around me at all when I’m writing.  There can be no distractions or I will lose the flow.

7.  What is your usual writing routine?

I sit down and read over the last few pages I wrote.  That gets me in the writing mood.  Then I check the outline to see what I need to touch on.  Everything lines up in my head and I start writing.

8.  What is the highest goal that you desire to meet as an author?

I want to reach the best seller’s list.

9.  Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?

J. K. Rowling.  She turned her dream into something amazing that the whole world could appreciate.

10.  What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?

Find yourself a good beta-reader.  This is a person who will read your work and look for inconsistencies in the story and other errors.  They have to be hard on you or they won’t catch mistakes your readers might.  It makes all the difference in the world.

11.  What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

I would really like to read the entire series by David Eddings.  I read “Pawn of Prophecy” about a year ago and have wanted to read the rest of the series.  He was a great writer and I love his style.

12.  How do you spend your free time? Do you have a favorite place to go and unwind?

Writing is how I spend my free time.  I have an office dedicated to my writing and I closeout the outside world so I can create an imaginary one of my own.

13.  Can you share with us something off your bucket list?

Meet Jonathon Rhys-Davies in person.

14.  Tell us three fun facts about yourself.

I still like some cartoons.  I believe Doritos should be a food group.  I yell at the T.V. during football games as though they can hear me and will do what I say.

15.  What do you have in store next for your readers?

I don’t want to give anything away but the next book is called “Repercussions Abound” and basically that whole mega-happy ending thing doesn’t happen for anyone.  Everyone loses in some way.  It’s a brutal climax to this part of the story but a necessary one.

16.  Is there anything else you’d like to share with your readers?

I purposely wrote a shorter book this time out to see what the response would be.  We will wait and see if people prefer the long ones or the shorter one.

Cover RevengeMandrean Revenge

It has been more than 2 years since Linvin Grithinshield returned from his life altering quest with the Red Sapphire as his prize. Apart from surviving the regular assassination attempts he thought life had returned to normal. Far to the north in the Mandrean Empire, however, trouble was festering. In spite of Linvin’s best efforts, Lord Mandrean the 13th survived their confrontation and has been plotting his reprisal. With his empire on the verge of revolt he needs a show of force to display his dominance. Dispatching Linvin in front of his subjects would fill that role most handsomely. With the help of his evil Necromancer, Mandrean kidnaps Linvin’s Uncle Anvar. The elderly elf is the closest family Linvin has remaining and has been a father figure to him for much of his life. The emperor promises to release Anvar only after Linvin has surrendered himself for execution. Though Mandrean’s word has slight credibility, Linvin is given a terrible decision to make. With little choice Linvin sees no other option but to set out for the empire. He cannot delay as Anvar’s life will expire at the first frost of fall. That will become more troubling by the obstacles he faces along the way. Can Linvin reach the empire in time to sacrifice himself in Anvar’s place? Will Lord Mandrean kill them both? Or maybe, just maybe, Linvin can pull another miracle and save them both. One way or another, blood will be shed.

Excerpt

A scribe sat in the alcove to record the events of the meeting.
“The first order of business,” he recited, “is the Lord of
Diplomacy’s report.”
A well-dressed gentleman came forward from the crowd. “My
liege,” he stated with a bow, “there is disturbing news about the
Unclaimed Territory. With neither Sartan nor the empire legally
permitted to introduce combat units into the disputed region, a
potentially volatile trend has emerged. Settlers from the Kingdoms
of Romadon, Rador, Valia and even the empire have begun settling
in the fertile region with little to be done about it. Now that you
have withdrawn our forces from the region, we have no leverage in
the zone.”
“How is that a concern to the empire?” Mandrean inquired
while accepting a drink from a servant.
“Sire,” stated the lord, “our informants tell us that Valia for
certain and perhaps each of the others has secretly promised
protection to the settlers as an enticement to move there.”
Mandrean had heard every word but was, after all, a man of
slow wit. Realizing that the significance of the information was
indeed lost on his master, the lord elaborated.
“Do you not see the implications for us, Sire? If that prairie is
settled and these nations provide protection, it is an underhanded
method of claiming the territory. Once the farmers are in place,
these kings need but only claim that there is a danger to their
people and send armies to protect them. They would appear to the
world to be innocent lambs but are in fact preying wolves. We
would be forced to either accept their annexation of the region or
fight three powers. The issue must be scrutinized.”
Mandrean grew agitated when the issue was brought into
perspective. “That land should have been ours years ago,” he
insisted. “Are you sure of your facts?”
The lord shuffled his papers and looked away. “We are certain
that the settlers are squatting and that they are doing so in
increasing numbers. As for the support guaranteed by the other
factions, we have one spy’s report from Valia and no others.”
“So this threat is little more than speculation at this time, is it
not?”
The lord became less at ease. “Sire, I truly believe that my
concerns are valid on this matter.”
“Fine. Then find out how correct they are, and report back to
me with something more definite. I am not inclined to mobilize our
forces without good reason.”
Snickering was heard from the gallery after the statement. The
sound set the emperor into a tizzy.
“Who laughed?” he yelled. No one spoke. The hall was silent.
“If I find that fool, he will be dead.” Still, no one spoke.
Seeing that his point was made, Mandrean returned his attention
to is Lord of Diplomacy. “What else have you?”
“Your regional commanders have been briefed on the other
matters, and they will address them in their reports.”
“Then waste no more of my time talking,” Mandrean told him.
The lord returned to his seat.

Book Buy Links

Purchase “Quest for the Red Sapphire”

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1npYd0S

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1mSIAkT

Purchase “The Sapphire Crucible”

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1lGfOVN

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1n8o0yN

Purchase “Mandrean Revenge”

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1L9c76S

Barnes & Noble : http://bit.ly/1QYOL2y

Connect with Rival

Web Site: http://www.rivalgates.com/

Blog: http://www.rivalgates.com/blog

http://rivalgates.tumblr.com/

Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1qqrjiB

Twitter: RivalGates1

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Meet Author Catherine MacDonald

21 Wednesday May 2014

Posted by Elizabeth McKenna - Author in Meet the Authors

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Authors, Historical, Interviews, Romance, Women's Fiction

DivorceRanchCover

Synopsis

The Divorce Ranch is light and fun reading. However, it is also a serious, thought-provoking read. Set in Reno, Nevada, it is based on the fact that in the 1930s, married men or women could get uncontested divorces as long as they could show they had resided in Reno for six weeks. As a result, a booming divorce ranch business was set up exclusively to help rich women spend their transitional status in style and comfort before they get their divorces. This story is set in the late ‘30s when other major changes were in the air – the Depression was settling in, World War Two was at its beginning stages, and women’s thinking were changing.

This novel cast of characters is a sample of the women who lived during that period. They find themselves lodging together on Washoe Ranch, a reputable divorce ranch. What these women all have in common is that they all conform or are made to conform to what is expected of them as women of that period.

Maggie is married to an older man chosen by her mother because he is rich and of social standing. However, he is unfaithful to her. Her mother sends her to Washoe Ranch to get a quick divorce because she wants Maggie to remarry a younger rich man and produce a grandchild for her.

Dorothy is a well-known Hollywood actress, married to another well-known actor, both for the sake of their careers. She surprises herself when she finds a way to change her glamorous life into something much more meaningful.

Claire arrives at the ranch broke and broken-hearted. Her stay is the most dramatic and the change she makes is also the most drastic. She needed to find her true self again and be ready to live the life she is meant to live.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Divorce-Ranch-Cathie-MacDonald/dp/0984836578/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1396290913&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Divorce+Ranch

Forward

June 1936: The United States is in the midst of a severe depression, sword-rattling is going on abroad, and the divorce craze is sweeping through Reno, Nevada. People flock to the biggest little city in the world to gain freedom from loveless marriages because Nevada offers uncomplicated and painless divorces. Divorce gives Nevada a unique identity, a cosmopolitan glamour, a splash of sin, and a whiff of celebrity midst the callous landscape of the desert and the rugged Sierras. Without the divorce trade, Reno would be just another stop on the railroad track. Instead it is an untamed frontier town and a gambler’s paradise.

Enter Maggie Warner Carmichael. She arrives from New York to divorce her husband because of adultery—his, not hers. The darling of Hollywood, Dorothy Adams’ affair becomes food for the press, and she is sent by her producer to divorce her husband. Claire Brown’s marriage and life crumbles, and to avoid humiliation, she is sent to Reno by her parents.

Staying on the ranch opens up a new world—one with denim, horses, and handsome cowboys. While waiting out their required six weeks, these women form a sisterhood where they help each other through Helen’s death, Claire’s little habit, Dorothy’s romantic encounters, and Maggie’s naïveté. The camaraderie they experience allows them the freedom to be themselves and when their divorces are granted, they kiss the columns and throw their rings into the rushing waters of the Truckee River.

While the divorce ranches are long gone, their history still lingers throughout the region. Sit back, relax, and enjoy their story.
May 2013 019

Author Bio

I graduated from the University of the Pacific with a B.A. in English and a Minor in Communication Arts. I started teaching elementary school, and realized a Masters would put me higher on the pay scale, so I earned my Masters in Education from the University of Nevada, Reno. For twenty-five years I taught school, ranging from elementary to college level English. I created the first novel writing course at Truckee Meadows Community College and taught The Artist Way in Community Education. I was the Vice-President of the Romance Writers of Northern Nevada before it disbanded in 2002. My published works include The Jeweled Path, Divine Diva, Comstock Rose, and The Way. I am a Reiki Master Teacher who has pursued the Diva trail for over twenty years and I urge everyone to empower their life by accessing their own power to create the life they deserve at http://www.supernovel.com/blog

After my youngest left for college, in order to avoid the empty nest blues, I resigned from teaching and went into business with my husband. We own and operate Sierra RV Super Center, employing over thirty people. Our dealership offers sales, service, parts, and rentals. I create my own ads; voice my own commercials, and offer tips and information on the RV lifestyle. We are parents of two grown children and have two fabulous grandchildren—the reason we didn’t kill the teenagers!

1. How did you come up with the idea for The Divorce Ranch?

Years ago, I read a newspaper article that talked about the time period and the ranches. I became intrigued and started researching the topic. I discovered two of the ranches were close to my house, so I went and scouted them out. I chose the 30s because of the social and economic conditions, but the divorce ranches actually continued until the mid-sixties. My great-aunt was a secretary on a studio lot in the 1930s and I remember describing the times—hence Dorothy, the actress.

2. What is your writing process like?

I start with an idea, then brainstorm, read, and gather information on the idea and let the story form. Once I have sufficient information and plot ideas, I start writing the “shitty first draft”, which is the frame of the story. This part is the hardest. I’m not a big outliner because I don’t want to not go somewhere in the story because I hadn’t thought about that in the outline. I am not afraid to rip up the story in the rewrite and revision processes.

3. What is your writing routine?

What writing routine? I own and operate a large business with my husband and I write in the corners of my life. Always have. Thank goodness for Dropbox. I can take my work with me. (In the slower periods, I try and write on Tuesdays, staying up on the mountain cocooned in my office with my faithful dog, Lulu.

4. What advice do you have for beginning writers?

I used to teach writing at the college level and I found that most of my students didn’t believe in their own voices. You need to believe in yourself first, then you need to make time to write. Writing is a craft—the more you write the better you’ll become. Also, writers need to read voraciously. It is amazing how many students wanted to write, but they didn’t like to read. There is a disconnect there.

5. What is in your To Read Pile?

I am anticipating the third book of Deborah Harkness’ All Souls Trilogy which is slated for July. The Book of Life If you haven’t read the first two, I encourage you.

6. What is your favorite place to unwind?

My favorite place to unwind is The Retreat, which is our home. We built this cozy cabin seven years ago. Hiking trails are right out of the front door, the waterfall soothes my weary soul, and the tall pines shield me from the sun.

7. What is your next project?

I am finishing the “shitty first draft” of Romancing the Vines, which is the sequel to Seasons of the Vineyard. This story has taken some interesting twists and turns. From the Sonoma Valley, to Italy, then back in time, then back to California where the reader will discover the truth about Francesca, Enrico, and Giancarlo.

Connect with the Author

Website: www.supernovel.com

Blog: www.supernovel.com/blog

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cathiemacdonald

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Catherine-Macdonald/96649197738

 

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Sapphire Crucible by Rival Gates – Cover Reveal

20 Sunday Apr 2014

Posted by Elizabeth McKenna - Author in Meet the Authors

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Adventure, Authors, Epic, Fantasy, Interviews, Magic

CrossReleased April 10, 2014

Captured! In ”Sapphire Crucible” (Book 2 of the Sapphire Chronicles) Linvin Grithinshield and his party find themselves prisoners on the maniacal Lord Mandrean and his Necromancer. The Emperor has a surprise for Linvin. He knows where the Red Sapphire is! In order to attain it he needs Linvin’s help. With his family as hostages he has no choice but to help. Now they must find a way to escape, find the Red Sapphire and make it home alive. Along the way they must fight ever-growing odds of survival.

Connect with Rival Gates

  • http://www.rivalgates.com/
  • https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rival-Gates/138762539634771?fref=ts#!/pages/Rival-Gates/138762539634771
  • https://twitter.com/rivalgates1

Read my past interview with Rival here and learn more about book 1 in this epic series: https://elizabethmckenna.com/2014/03/05/meet-author-rival-gates/

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