The Strange World of Sebastian Hobbs Hartline: December 2015

Monday, December 28, 2015

Life is better with a tease

Here is my interview with Matt Converse, author of 'Behind the Velvet Curtain'. I hope you all enjoy. The purchase link is at the end. Thanks for reading.

1: Have you won any awards/achievements in the writing world?

My book cover, if it hangs on in the voting for the next two weeks, is the voted-up #1 book cover of the year at Rate Book Cover. But I think my biggest achievement is getting that first yes from my publisher, Comet Press, Sex Files division.

2: When did you first consider yourself a writer? Is there an appropriate level of seniority that one has to reach before one can be considered a writer?

No, I think if you write, you are a writer. I started to think of myself as a writer before I was published. But I never called myself a writer until about two years ago.

3: What or whom inspired you to start writing?

My Mom, in a roundabout way. She first got me into watching scary movies on Friday nights, and that lead to love of writing horror. I'm a horror writer who fell into gay erotica because of the subject matter of my novella.

(My mom inspired me to read and write. Growing up, I had no idea that she had written book, but when I was 18, I discovered that she had a full-length novel. She wrote it on and off for 10 years.

I also gained her love for reading. She is always escaping to a fictional world when she checks out a stack of books from the library.
-S.H.H.)

4: What is your biggest goal in life aside from your writing career?

To be a good friend, treat people right, and just be a good person.

5: Do you have a specific writing style? What author would you say are you most relatable to?

I've always been a fan of Stephen King but I think my style is my own. I'm not a fan of flowery language or a writer who tries to impress you with their vocabulary.

6: How did you come up with the titles for your books?

I came up with ‘Behind the Velvet Curtain’ because I thought it suited my story of revealing the real life of a stripper, not the façade you see up on stage. What is a stripper really like?

7: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to focus on?

I simply want to entertain. I don't want to make my book into something it isn't. I suppose one message might be don't paint people with a broad brush because of their profession, race, religion or sexual orientation.

8: How much of the book is realistic/false?

I was a stripper myself and most of it is based on real life. This is a much truer look at the life of a stripper than something like Magic Mike. I did have a creeper in my audience who was a regular, and some of what he did in the book is true. However, he didn't take it to the level that the creeper in the book did. The strangest true part is that the stripper becomes a writer and is published by a publisher in New York, which is exactly what ends up happening to me.

9. What is your favorite movie and why?

Psycho. I adore Hitchcock, he is my idol. In fact, the full length novel I just finished is a modern day nod to Psycho. I love that he got the scare wasn't in the kill, but in the anticipation of it. I love the psychological study of Norman Bates and his mother in the movie.

10: Is there a character that you would potentially write a novella about or want to include more in the main story?

Some said they would have liked to know more about the creeper in my novella. Although it's not the same character, the reader will get plenty of that in my next novel, it is all about the mind of a killer and what makes them tick.

11: What books have most influenced your life? Did you make any life changes because of it?

I think just reading Stephen King books and seeing his success has inspired me to become a writer.

12: What book are you reading now or was the last that you've read?

OK, here's where I am a very odd writer. I've never liked to read. In school, I hated it. I'd much rather write and create. And since I've started writing so much, I read even less. I know that's not what a writer is supposed to say, but it's the truth. The last book I read was Seabiscuit, by Laura Hillenbrand; I'm a fan of horse racing.

13: Are there any new/archaic authors that have grasped your interest? Why?

Stephen King is the only writer I've read more than one book by; I love horror.

14: What are your current projects?

I just finished my horror novel, ‘I'm the Last Face You'll Ever See’, and am currently putting the finishing touches on an erotic gay horror short story, ‘Leather Head’, I'll be submitting to Comet Press for an anthology.

15: Who is your role model in the writing world?

Pretty obvious by now, Stephen King.

16: Who would you say backs you up the most besides your family?

My friends. They have been so supportive helping me promote my book and just believing in me.

17: Do you see writing as a career if not then what is your main focus in the working world?

Writing will be my career for the rest of my life, I love it.

18: If you had to rewrite any of your books, would you? Why, or why not?

I would already rewrite my novella. Expand it a bit and correct some of the technical mistakes, that is definitely something I've learned from this.

19: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated? Interest in reading?

In the third grade I wrote a story about a kid who kept dreaming about walking to a graveyard late at night, at the end he sees the tombstone that has his name on it. A bit dark for an 8-year-old. My teacher accused me of copying it from a movie or TV, which I took as quite the compliment. As for reading, even though I never liked it that much, when I do, I love it. I've enjoyed every book I've ever read.

20: Can you share a little of your current work or a work will that be launching soon?

It is currently with my publisher and I am anxiously waiting to hear back on that, so it's under wraps for now. But it is horror, set in San Francisco again, with several gay or bi characters, even though this isn't a gay horror novel. It simply reflects the diversity of our city.

21: If there is, then what do you find most challenging when you put pen to paper? What is the easiest part when you write? What was your favorite scene that you've ever written?

The most challenging is just starting. If I get "stuck" and can't write, I usually tell myself to just pull up the story anyway. I always end up writing then. Once I start, it's easy. My favorite scene I can't give away, but it is the first murder in the upcoming horror novel. How the body is discovered I've never seen in any horror novel or movie. In my current novella, the final scene was very fun to write.

22: What superhero is your favorite and why? What super power would you add?

Spider Man. If you've seen my pic, there's no need to wonder why. I might add being able to turn invisible, I think it's the voyeur in me!

(Spider-Man is my favorite as well!
-S.H.H.)

23: Who is your favorite author and what is the reasoning for enjoying their books? How would you describe their writing style?

Stephen King because I love being scared, and I like his straight forward style of writing.

24: What age group do you mostly write to? What age group has mainly responded in the most positive way to your work?

I think young adult and up is appropriate for what I write. What has surprised me the most is not age group, but the gender. When I published a gay erotic novella, I thought my audience would be gay men, but it is probably 80-90% women.

25. Have you been on book tours and if so, what was your experience? Conventions? Workshops?

No I haven't been on any book tours, maybe for my next one.

26. Who designed the covers? Which is your favorite?

I only have one, and it was designed my INKUBUS, who does the cover art at Comet Press. But what appears was my idea. By the way, there are two versions of the cover. Amazon banned the original cover even though with the shading it shows less butt cheek than most women in thongs that are allowed. That's why the Amazon cover has thin black underwear on, they refused to sell it otherwise.

27: Do you have any specific advice that you want to get across to your readers that want to pursue a life of writing?

Butt in chair. And remember, success doesn't bring happiness, happiness brings success. Do what you love.

(I'm going to be honest, this made me giggle a little bit. I couldn’t have found more true words. Thank you.

-S.H.H.)

28. Do you remember the first book you read or caught your attention the most?

Carrie, Stephen King.

29: What book, to your knowledge, made you laugh/cry the most?

I actually can't remember the name of it, it was about a woman who had this son with disabilities and in the end you find out the son does not exist.

(This actually sounds like a good, psychlogicak book. I’ll have to look it up.
-S.H.H.)

30.Name one author that you wish you could co-author with? Why?

Honestly, I have no interest in that. Maybe that will change in time, we'll see.

31: What genre do you want to write that you haven't written yet?

I might write a book about horse racing at some point.

32: Other than writing do you have any hobbies?

I love tennis, horse racing, bridge, music (in particular, Lady Gaga) and of course...men! Ha.

33: Do you have a go to comfort food?

Pizza!

(We have the same comfort food! I absolutely love pizza, even though I’m not supposed to eat it.
-S.H.H.)

34: If you could live in a fictional (book or movie) world, what would it be?
What character would you be most like?

That's so easy, Norman Bates in Psycho. Not that I actually want to kill people, I mean it's fiction after all! So I guess I would play be his mother as well!

35.Do you still read a book regardless if a review has given away an important piece of the book? Do you still read a book regardless of the positive/negative reviews? Do you ever give away spoilers to others when you read.

I would go more by reviews of people I know that read the book, and I would never give away spoilers!

Pages: 65
Release Date: March 2, 2015
Price: 3.99$

Purchase link:

http://www.amazon.com/Behind-Velvet-Curtain-Matt-Converse-ebook/dp/B00TBPESD0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1451365071&sr=8-1&keywords=matt+converse

Friday, December 18, 2015

I am Danielle Bannister

I saw Danielle Bannister's profile for the first time thanks to an advertisement that was posted about how her book "The ABC's of Dee" was getting it's cover revamped. If you knew me, you would understand that I enjoy collecting different covers of any novel. If it has five covers, I must have them all. Anyways my excitement over the revamp was so intense that I just had to get a peak into what makes her, who she is. I can honestly say it was accomplished. Here is my interview about the exhilarating Danielle Bannister! Don't forget that you can purchase her 'Twin Flames Trilogy' and 'The ABC's of Dee' using the link provided at the end of this interview! Read, Love, and Review!

Twin Flames Trilogy

The ABC's of Dee

(Old Cover)

The ABC's of Dee

(New Cover)

Interview Questions:

1: Have you won any awards/achievements in the writing world?

I’ve been writing for 5 years. I’ve got 4 books out, 1 with my agent and 3 more in the works. Aside from the degree’s hanging on my wall and the Nanowrio certificate my daughter made me when I ‘lost’ Nanowrimo by a few thousand words and being published in a few local anthologies, I have yet to make any official achievements...yet. Hehehe.

2: When did you first consider yourself a writer? Is there an appropriate level of seniority that one has to reach before one can be considered a writer?

I didn’t start calling myself a writer until I got a small box in the mail. It was my ‘free gift’ for subscribing to Writer’s Digest. In the box there was a mug that simply said “Writer.” I looked at it and thought, ‘huh,’ guess that means I’m a writer now. By that point I had already published one book and was working on my second, but I still hadn’t gathered up the courage to call myself a writer. It was a very scary thing for me to say out loud. Even after getting my masters in Literary Education it was a struggle to say the word with the full bravado it deserves. It’s a personal question that only an individual can answer. For me, I became a writer when I believed it myself.

(I hope one day I can believe in myself

-S.H.H.)

3: What or whom inspired you to start writing?

I have my BA in Theatre, and used to perform all the time. After I had children, however, getting on the stage became much harder to do. My creative side was stifled. I was going a bit mad not having an outlet. It was around that time that the Twilight series came out. I noticed that the author was a mother as well. I thought, “Well, if she can write with kids at home, maybe I could, too.” I started writing shortly thereafter and haven’t stopped since.

4: What is your biggest goal in life aside from your writing career?

Providing for my kiddos. Life after divorce is quite hard financially, so the struggle is always to make sure they have enough. Enough clothes, enough food, and enough of my time. It’s a tricky balance as a single parent.

(Keep your head held high, I know you are able to do it. My mom went through a divorce when I was 11, so I know what power a mother holds. She fought to keep a roof over our heads and food in our stomachs. I wouldn't trade anything for her because she's a superhero. By sacrificing so much to take care of us, she was left with little. I guess what I'm trying to say is that parents will always take care of their kids. If there is a will, there is a way. I believe in you, Danielle Bannister. You have great power.

- S.H.H.)

5: Do you have a specific writing style? What author would you say are you most relatable to?

I tend to write with a theatrical lens. By that I mean I’m always asking “What happens next?” In the world of theater, stories need to be told at a heightened sense of urgency. Because of my acting background, my novels do tend to be a bit heavier on the dialogue side because that’s how my characters speak to me, as though from the mouth of an actor. As for what author I think I might be most relatable to, I really don’t know. I have yet to figure out myself what author I might be like. Perhaps that’s because I write several different styles of stories so it’s hard to pigeonhole me. I’d be curious to know what others readers would compare my style to.

6: How did you come up with the titles for your books?

My first book, Pulled, started out as a standalone novel. There was written into the crux of the novel this inexplicable physical ‘pull’ between the two main characters. Pulled became a natural title. After that one came out, readers asked for more. Apparently my confessing that there was no more was insufficient. So Pulled Back and Pulled Back Again became its predecessors. I call the collection the Twin Flame Trilogy because the heart of the stories revolves around Twin Flames: two halves of the same soul. For my romantic comedy, The ABC’s of Dee, the title came before the book. I had just bought a new blank notebook and wrote that title out of the blue. This novel took two separate false starts in completely opposite directions before it turned into the novel it is. Titles either come right to me right away or they sit as a word doc that says “Name of your rom-com book here.” I have one novel started that I’m calling ‘The Trucker Book’ because the MC is a trucker. I’m sort of relying on that one to give me the title in the text at some point. Haha.

7: Is there a message in your novels that you want readers to focus on?

I am a romantic at heart, but I am also a realist. I like to write stories that are honest, ugly, and yet, hopeful. At the end each of my novels, I like to leave that taste in a reader’s mouth: hope. That even through their struggles, there is that glimmer of sunshine to hold on to.

8: How much of your books are realistic/false?

I think there is some truth in all books that authors write. That’s probably why it’s so hard to admit you are, in fact, a writer. You are exposing a bit of yourself, even when crafted behind a nasty character. Unless you are writing an autobiography, however, no novel is completely representative of the author. You can get flashes of an author’s soul perhaps, but never the full picture because they don’t tell you what part is them, and what part is made up. We’re crafty that way.

9: What is your favorite movie and why?

The Princess Bride, because it epic. It’s funny, it’s brilliantly written, it’s romantic, and it is hopeful. It is perfection.

(Hey Elizabeth Kelso, you have some competition for The Princess Bride! ;) )

10: Is there a character that you would potentially write a novella about or want to include more in the main story?

I want to go back and write Gail and Dee’s college years. I think that would be a riot.

11: What books have most influenced your life? Did you make any life changes because of it?

As corny as this may sound, the Twilight series made a huge impact on me. It motivated me not just to write, but also to read. Prior to those books releasing, I barely read anything. After their release, my TBR pile grew higher than it ever had. Something I learned along the way was that you absorb so much about the craft of writing just by reading other authors. I always have several books going, even in the middle of writing a novel. It’s crucial to keep reading when writing. There is much to be learned about the craft just in simple observation.

(There is nothing corny about Twilight. I’m a TwiHeart every day of my life.

-S.H.H.)

12: What book are you reading now or was the last that you've read?

As I mentioned, I am a romantic at heart, so any book that has romance in it somewhere, will hold my interest. I am currently in the middle of The Outlander series. Those books are massive. So much history and research must have gone into writing those books. I just read her work in awe most nights.

13: Are there any new/archaic authors that have grasped your interest? Why?

I’m sort of going back over my high school reading lists. All those books my English teachers wanted me to read and I sort of skimmed…I’m starting to re-think that decision. Haha. They may have known what they were talking about.

14: What are your current projects?

I have a finished manuscript called Enigma that is with my agent. It is being shopped around for traditional publication at the moment. I’m also working on two other projects with my agent and another romantic comedy that will go the self-publishing route.

15: Who is your role model in the writing world?

Perhaps J.K Rowling. She seems to have her head on straight, even after fame. Not an easy task.

16: Who would you say backs you up the most besides your family?

Hands down, other indie authors. I have a small niche of indie authors turned friends that I know I can brainstorm ideas with, get feedback from, and full support. They know what it’s like to be in Indie author and know the struggles that are unique to our profession.

17: Do you see writing as a career? If not, then what is your main focus in the working world?

I would love to one day work full time as an author. I would love for my children to see that hard work and going after what you love to do pays off. That said, I’m also a realist, and have bills to pay, so I work the day job to pay those off, but I set aside time to write, too.

18: If you had to rewrite any of your books, would you? Why, or why not?

In a word, yes. I would go back over the Twin Flames Trilogy. Especially the first book, Pulled. It was my first book and I was still learning. At some point though, as an author, you have to walk away from the work. You have to let it exist in its own space. You have to let it have its own life. They are much like children in that way.

19: Can you share a little of your current work or a work will that be launching soon?

I’d love to tell you more about Enigma but alas, I am forbidden to speak of it. My indie book is still in its first draft but it will be a rom-com about a woman who is mistaken for a movie star and the chaos that follows when she is hired to keep up the ruse. I wish I had a due date for that to give you. Unfortunately, I can’t write to a deadline. It comes as it comes. One book takes me roughly a year to write and edit, which is why my collection of works are significantly smaller than some of my colleagues. I probably agonize a bit too long over word choice.

20: If there is, then what do you find most challenging when you put pen to paper? What is the easiest part when you write? What was your favorite scene that you've ever written?

For me, the hardest part, is knowing where your story begins. Once the first line is written, the road begins to pave itself, but you can stare at that blank page for quite some time, self doubting the ideas that float around in your brain. It can also be challenging to know when a story isn’t working and to have the courage to scrap it. I’ve written as much as 50,000 words before only to set it aside and start over when it didn’t work for me. When the words feel forced, the stories not right. It’s not an easy call, but it is absolutely okay to open up a new document and start over; especially if you don’t have a deadline to meet. That said, no writing is wasted writing. You learn from everything you write, even the bad stuff.

The easiest part for me is probably the dialogue. Again, that goes back to my acting. The hard part is knowing when to shut them up and let the protagonist take over.

My favorite scene that I’ve ever written so far? It was a scene in The ABC’s of Dee. It’s toward the end of the book. Dee sort of goes off on a character, and I just saw it so clearly in my mind--saw every detail of it playing out as I wrote it. It just felt right.

21: What superhero is your favorite and why? What super power would you add?

I love The Avenger’s Hulk. I love how misunderstood he is. Of course, it might also be that I just really like Mark Ruffalo’s portrayal of him. Haha. All the superpowers have been covered by people far more intelligent than I.

22: Who is your favorite author and what is the reasoning for enjoying their books? How would you describe their writing style?

I feel like the answer to this question changes every time I read a book by an amazing author. I love John Greene, JK Rowling, Laini Taylor, Suzanne Collins, Maggie Stiefvater, Anne Lamont, Monica Wood, Ray Bradbury… and playwrights… don’t even get me started on those…I could go on forever. Each author, whether it be of a novel or play, exposes us to a whole new way of thinking. Their style speaks to that unique voice that only they can bring to the page.

(John Green stole my heart with ‘The Fault In Our Stars’. I remember one day when I was uncontrollable depressed, I watched TFIOS seven times in a row. I felt so much better that night. So many tears were shed. Relief washed over me as the credits scrolled through on the last watch. Thank you, John Green… for everything

-S.H.H.)

23: What age group do you mostly write to? What age group has mainly responded in the most positive way to your work?

My trilogy is for mature young adult/new adult, though all ages have read them and connected to them. The biggest surprise to me is the number of teen boys who have told me they have read my trilogy and that my books got them into reading other books as well. There is no greater honor as a writer then that.

My rom-com is aimed at women in their 40s, but there again; I’ve had high school students read it as well. When a reader tells me that my work resonated with them even after the book is over, that is the highest compliment I could ever hope to achieve. The whole reason I write is make people feel something they hadn’t felt before picking up the book. If I can do that, I’ve done my job.

24: Have you been on book tours and if so, what was your experience? Conventions? Workshops?

I have been to lots of indie book signings and workshops. Penned Con, Utopya, North Shore, and NEWS to name a few. They are a ton of fun and I love meeting fans and new readers. I also love to hand out swag. It think it’s so much fun to talk about books with other book lovers for a few hours. I love meeting other indies, too and talking shop with them.

(I attended Penned Con 2015, but I missed you by a year. I wish I’d known about it in 2014. It’d have been an honor to meet you.

-S.H.H.)

25: Who designed the covers? Which is your favorite?

My trilogy was designed by MJC Imageworks and my other covers, including the ones yet to be released, have been designed by CK Creations. I know one of the designers of the latter personally, so working with them is always a pleasure. My favorite cover is for Enigma which, of course, is the one being shopped out for traditional publishing. There is no guarantee that if the book was picked up, my cover would be used, but it will always remain a favorite.

26: Do you have any specific advice that you want to get across to your readers that want to pursue a life of writing?

Primarily, that it is hard work and not a get-rich-quick sort of career. Especially in today’s market. There is a flood of new writers since the advent of indie publishing, which is wonderful, but it also makes it harder to be found by readers. It can be quite frustrating if you are only looking at the dollar signs at the end of each month. I tried to ignore that piece and just keep writing. My writing pays only for itself. For me, writing is a need; the creative outlet I crave. If you can think of writing as feeding your soul versus feeding your bank account, then you’re ahead of the game.

27: Do you remember the first book you read or caught your attention the most?

S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders. I remember being in awe that a 15-year-old girl, could write such poignant insight into a group of boys lives. It was inspiring, though, I didn’t start writing my own stories until I was in my late 30’s.

28: What book, to your knowledge, made you laugh/cry the most?

I can tell you the last book that made me ugly-cry. It was The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. It unhinged me for a bit, but in a good way. I love it when an author can do that to me. The last book I read that made me laugh was Cary Elwes’ book As You Wish, which was his memories from the making of The Princess Bride. I just remember being so giddy reading that book. It made me happy.

(Elizabeth Kelso, she might be after your man. ;) I absolutely fell head over boots fof ‘The Fault In Our Stars’. I will ALWAYS love TIFOS for it found it way to the deep crevices of my heart where it planted roots of euphoria. P.s.- I know we would be good friends, Danielle Bannister. TFIOS brings people together!

-S.H.H.)

29: Is there one author that you wish you could co-author with? Why?

My good pal and Indie author, Amy Miles, and I are working on a co-authored project together, a seemingly never-ending project. Ha-ha. It is a very tricky thing to get right.

(I absolutely adore Amy Miles. I was able to meet her at PennedCon 2015, which was truly a pleasure. She’s more than a kind soul, and you can see it on paper as well as in person. Her books are sensational and will have one gripping their by page one.

-S.H.H.)

30: What genre do you want to write that you haven't written yet?

There are a ton of genres I haven’t written it yet, but for good reason. They are genres I would not be able to write well because I don’t read them enough to know how those genres work. I am a firm believer that you should read the genre in which you write to, otherwise you are doing a disservice to your readers.

(Thank you for the wonderful tip.

-S.H.H.)

31: Other than writing do you have any hobbies?

Acting is still a big passion of mine. And adult coloring books.

32: Do you have a go to comfort food?

Yes. Anything full of carbs and salt.

33: If you could live in a fictional (book or movie) world, what would it be? What character would you be most like?

See, that answer would change based on whatever book I was currently reading. So I guess right now, I’d have to be stuck with Jamie in The Outlander series. Not such a bad fate.

34: Do you still read a book regardless if a review has given away an important piece of the book? Do you still read a book regardless of the positive/negative reviews? Do you ever give away spoilers to others when you read?

I am the sort of person who doesn’t like to read the inside jacket description. I want minimal information on the blurb. Just enough to tell me the rough idea of the story. I am a no-spoilers sort of gal. That said, I won’t not read a book simply because I mistakenly read a spoiler, but I will be sad that I couldn’t discover the book as the author intended.

As far as reviews go, I typically don’t look at them at all. Reviews don’t mean what they used to anymore. I usually read the first few pages of a book. I can generally tell from that sample if the book will meet my taste or not. Not all books are written for all people, it’s important to remember that, especially as an author. Not everyone who picks up your book will like it. Some, will hate it. And that is okay. Their opinion is no less valid than the person gave you five stars. It just didn’t suit their tastes. Your book, no matter how well written, will not make everyone happy.

(This interview is the most fun I've had in quite a long time. I really appreciate Danielle Bannister for letting me interview her. I can't wait to purchase her 'Twin Flames Trilogy' and both versions of 'The ABC's of Dee'. Until next time, don't forget to read her books. They'll have you hooked even before opening the pages.

-S.H.H.)