Author Interview: Brooke E. Wayne

Welcome to my blog interview with novelist, Brooke. E. Wayne, author of Whine with Cheese (Vineyard Pleasures Series, #1). This interview is especially exciting because Brooke is one of my dear friends. We both dreamed of becoming writers when we were young, and when we were in college together, we were always spinning ideas while on our adventures (shocking for English majors, I know). After graduation we traveled all over Europe and the UK together packing away ideas for the future. Now, I have the pleasure of seeing her dream unfold.

BROOKE E. WAYNE is a Contemporary Romantic Comedy novelist who lives the RomCom dream in California. She is married to a South Philly, Eagles-obsessed Italian who she met online before it was cool. They have two young daughters who flood their happily-ever-after lives with girly giggles and immeasurable love. When she is not dribbling sticky sweet/sensual romance with a lighthearted, witty twist all over the pages of a RomCom manuscript, she teaches English Language Arts.

Hello, Brooke,

What inspired you to write your first book?

Apart from poetry, which I’d been scratching out since I was a wee lil girl, I actually wrote my first “novel” when I was eleven. On lined paper. In pencil. All eighty-seven pages of it. Bahaha. The MC [main character] falls into a portal and goes on a crazy adventure with her older self as a mentor. My inspiration—the 1981 Terry Gilliam movie, Time Bandits. Of course, even at eleven-years-old, I made sure the new cute boy in town moved in across the street from her in the end. Yay, romance!

What genre do you consider your book(s)? (more…)

Author Interview: Camilla Ochlan & Bonita Gutierrez

Welcome to my blog interview with novelists, Camilla Ochlan and Bonita Gutierrez, authors of THE WEREWOLF WHISPERER SERIES.

Camilla Ochlan grew up on fantasy and fairy tales, finding David Eddings, Katherine Kurtz, Guy Gavriel Kay, and Mercedes Lackey early on. To thedismay of her parents, she spent her high school weekends playing Dungeons & Dragons. College split her time between Theatre Arts and English Literature.

Camilla still occasionally acts but focuses the majority of her time, energy and (in)sanity on writing. Her interests revolve around activities that add to her writer’s toolbox — travel, the arts and voracious reading.

Bonita Gutierrez found her way to the stage at the early age of five. After college, she moved to Los Angeles to get into “The Biz.” Over the years, she’s played many roles from actor to producer, screenwriter to filmmaker — and now novelist.

A mixed martial artist, Bonita has a background in Jeet Kune Do Kung Fu (Bruce Lee’s art), Kenpo Karate MMA and Kali Escrima (stick and knife fighting). An avid runner, student of film and lover of music, Bonita is a self-proclaimed hamburger connoisseur with a passion for all things Star Wars and Buffy.

Hello, Camilla and Bonita, (more…)

Resource: Free Backgrounds

Happy Mother’s Day! I have had a fabulous day with my family so far. We meandered the farmer’s market after brunch, and I was inspired by all of the beautiful fresh fruits and vegetables on display. So, of course, I started snapping pictures. Here are some photos that you are welcome to use with photo credit. Have a great day!

Full sized pictures ready for download (below). Enjoy! (more…)

Author Interview: BMB Johnson

Welcome to my blog interview with novelist, BMB Johnson, author of the Melody Jackson (or, It Happened on Lafayette Street) Series.

BMB Johnson lives in Portland with a family of humans, too many cats, and just enough Guinea Pigs. Thinks the only valid sports are bowling, table tennis and pinball. Reads comics, plays vintage computer games and new designer board games and is a gigantic slobbery fan of Doctor Who.

Hello, BMB

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Well, I think I’ve always been a writer, especially since I’m not particular fond of speaking out loud. Writing has a way of conveying your thoughts without interruptions or that nagging voice of dissent or reprisal, It also gives one the wonderful added ability to edit and review. There is no “White-out” for physical conversations, after all.

I suppose the above makes me sound like a bit of an introvert (which I kind of am.) Just let me state for the record that I don’t have anything against conversing with other humans, I just feel more comfortable clacking out my thoughts on a keyboard than from my own tongue.

What inspired you to write your first book?

(more…)

Writing Resource: Words for Light & Dark

I can almost taste summer. Can’t you? It has been such a fabulously stormy winter that I’m looking forward to some sunny days and a writing getaway.

As I sat trying to rest up for teaching tomorrow, I was thinking about light and dark. It inspired me to put a list together and dabble with a little graphic design. Anyway, here are the fruits of my labor. I hope it helps inspire you to write this week.

Here is a PDF for easier printing with both versions: Words to DescribeLight & Dark (1) (more…)

New Release! Prompt Me More

I am thrilled to announce the release of my ninth title, Prompt Me More, the second Prompt Me Workbook and Journal. My life has been a whir of activity and this has been the perfect creative outlet. I hope you enjoy the prompts–I have a special affection for the photo and dialogue prompts in this book.

Well, there is no more need for preamble. Here’s the info you have been waiting for:

This workbook is sophisticated enough for adults and clean enough for teens.

If you want a little sneak peek at what’s inside. Here’s a graphic. Your favorites have returned, along with some new sections. (more…)

Photo Writing Prompt: Moonlight Magic

We finally had a break in the torrential California rain, so I took my daughter out for a photo shoot. We have been safe, but there has been flooding not too far away.

I’ve had this scene in my head for weeks.

Here is a printable journal page with a smaller version of the picture: No one noticed when she melted into the backdrop of trees until… (more…)

Photo Writing Prompt: The Thickening Fog…

Writing Resource: 188 Words for Sounds

When writing or editing, sometimes it’s nice to have a cheat sheet next to you to save time. As William Cowper once said:

“Variety’s the very spice of life, that gives it all it’s flavour.”

Mix it up and have fun. As usual, a printer friendly PDF is at the bottom. Do you have any sound words you love to use?

(more…)

Writing Resource: Words to Describe Voice Infographic

As I have been pecking away at the keys working on my new projects, I’ve been compiling a little list for myself. I thought I would make it pretty and share it with all of you. I do like to share. Is that weird? Well, not everything—my toothbrush is off limits. Now that I have made that clear, here is my latest infographic.

(more…)