Interview with John Knoerle, Author of Mystery Novel A PURE DOUBLE CROSS

John Knoerle’s first novel, “Crystal Meth Cowboys,” was optioned by Fox for a TV series. His second novel, “The Violin Player,” won the Mayhaven Award for Fiction. His new novel, “A Pure Double Cross,” is Book One of the American Spy Trilogy. John lives with his wife in Chicago. You can learn more about John Knoerle at www.bluesteelpress.com.

Welcome to Pump Up Your Online Book Promotion, John. Can we begin by having you tell us what A Pure Double Cross is about and why you wrote it?

It’s about Hal Schroeder, a young OSS spy just back from WWII, who is recruited by the FBI to infiltrate the Cleveland mob.

A Pure Double Cross is a hardboiled mystery. Why did you choose this genre to write? Did you choose it or did it choose you?

I am a longtime fan of Raymond Chandler, Dash Hammett and the films noir and wanted to write something in that spirit.

In regards to promotion, what have you been doing to promote your book online?

Just sending a few review copies out to lit blogs.

Of all the promotional items (bookmarks, press kits, etc…) you have used to promote your book, which one was used most effectively?

Too early to tell.

Do you feel that the Internet has opened doors for authors who never dreamed they’d ever see a publishing contract and how has it influenced you in regards to your own publishing journey?

I like that it makes it possible for those who have shared interests (hardboiled fiction for instance) to get together.

If you could trade places with any author just for a day, who would it be and why?

I would have said John Updike before he passed. I’d like to see what the life of a famous, and prolific, author is like

Lastly, how do you determine your book’s success?

I don’t expect to have a best seller, my niche is too narrow. I would define success as having a devoted cult following.

Thank you for coming, John! Can you tell us where everyone can pick up a copy of A Pure Double Cross?

It’s available at some bookstores as well as Amazon.

Win a copy of Bruce Skye's fantasy novel, GRAYRIDER

Win a copy of Bruce Sky's Grayrider at Peeking Between the Pages!

A former technical writer, detail is important to Bruce Skye. His research for the Deathsong Chronicles included medieval armor and fortresses, as well as Celtic names and magic. "If you create a world, it must be consistent. And that's what I strive for Grayrider's world to be. I've built a database of material for each of the Deathsong Chronicles. Those databases aid me in keeping the world the same from book to book.

"When I wrote Grayrider, I followed the advice of Stephen King. I did not write the book following any sort of outline. I have no more idea than my readers do when I write a novel what will happen in the midst of the story. It makes it more exciting for both the readers and myself."

You can visit his website at www.bruceskye.com.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Gabriel, the exiled king of Rivalin, comes before King Airell to warn him the Ansgarian army will invade his kingdom before the night is over. Airell tells him he has no one to send. Gabriel wants revenge for the murder of his family by the Ansgarians. He decides to fight the incursion without help.

As this takes place, Deirdre (Airell’s daughter), flees the kingdom of Cynyr north of Boadhagh. She knows now her mentor, Morrigan, created the Ansgarian army her father has fought for years. She goes south to warn him of her. Because Deirdre does not believe in herself, the young sorceress has difficulty in performing magic.

Once she is reunited with her father, she tells both he and Grayrider about Morrigan. Her power is growing; only Gabriel’s magical sword may yet destroy her. He must go to Cynyr to fight her. He agrees if Deirdre attends him, seeking her counsel. On that journey they fall in love and foil many efforts by Morrigan to kill Gabriel by both armies and sorcerers.

Grayrider fights Morrigan and sees his beloved slain by the sorceress before he is finally able to kill her. He returns to Rivalin brokenhearted. The ending is a complete surprise the reader will not expect at all.

Interview with Life Coach Sheri Kaye Hoff

Sheri Kaye Hoff is a Life Coach and owner of the Sheri K Hoff International Coaching Company. She also teaches college classes as an adjunct faculty member and has earned her Master of Arts in Organizational Management. Her new book, Keys to Living Joyfully, offers a way of living a meaningful, successful and joy filled life.

You can visit her website at www.lifeisjoyful.org.

Welcome to Pump Up Your Online Book Promotion, Sheri. Can we begin by having you tell us what Keys to Living Joyfully is about and why you wrote it?

Keys to Living Joyfully is about living a meaningful life with peace, passion, energy, and joy. The book focuses on the importance of one’s thought life, spirituality, and being motivated through inspiration. I wrote this book because I experienced the tragic death of my brother when he was 15 and I was 17. For many of my adult years, I was impacted by this devastating event. I truly felt that I did not deserve joy and that I would never find true joy again. I alternated between feeling numb and slightly depressed. For the most part, my outward demeanor was enthusiastic, and I am sure others would describe me as happy and successful. When I realized that I did have the capacity for joy and how to create it-I felt a deep desire to share this with others. I have spent years of my life studying leadership literature and I teach at a college-so I effectively combined my spiritual life with great personal leadership skills in my book.

Keys to Living Joyfully is a spiritual book. Why did you choose this genre to write? Did you choose it or did it choose you?

This genre chose me. I always thought that I would be the next Margaret Mitchell writing a great historical novel or I pictured myself writing leadership books (which are still plans that I have). However, my book seemed to write itself. Every time I sat down to write-the words just flowed into the computer-and I had very little rewriting or changing the organization of the book. I did not have one single blocked moment. I feel that this book was meant to be.
In regards to promotion, what have you been doing to promote your book online?

I have my website www.lifeisjoyful.org and I use Facebook, Twitter, AuthorsDen, and squidoo.

Of all the promotional items (bookmarks, press kits, etc…) you have used to promote your book, which one was used most effectively?

The most effective promotion has been promoting my blog on Twitter.


Do you feel that the Internet has opened doors for authors who never dreamed they’d ever see a publishing contract and how has it influenced you in regards to your own publishing journey?

Without the internet, I would not have attempted to self-publish through Createspace. It would be too hard to create buzz and reach markets. Almost all of my promoting is on the internet-though I do have some speaking engagements.

If you were in the middle of Manhattan (or any busy thoroughfare) and you wanted to call attention to your book, what would you do and what would you say?

I think I would take 100 copies of my book and hand them out to people asking them if they wanted more peace, passion, energy, and joy in their lives every moment of every day.

If you could trade places with any author just for a day, who would it be and why?

I would like to trade places with Stephen Covey. I read his 7 habits book when I was on bedrest for 11 weeks when I was pregnant with my oldest daughter. When he wrote about prisoners (Anwar Sadat and Viktor Frankl) who were able to feel more free while they were in prison (because their minds were free), I realized that though I could only stand up for three minutes of every hour-my mind was free. It was an exhilarating realization at a time when I could have felt sorry for myself. I think Stephen Covey’s life work is an amazing contribution to our body of knowledge regarding personal leadership skills.

Lastly, how do you determine your book’s success?

My book is already a success. I know this because people have begun sending me their life stories (often very tragic) and they tell me that this book touched their hearts. Yes, I want to be a best selling author-but my book is here on this earth for a reason-to touch hearts and help people to move forward and grow.

Thank you for this interview, Sheri. Can you tell us where everyone can pick up a copy of Keys to Living Joyfully?

Keys to Living Joyfully is available on Amazon.

Editor's Note: Sheri Kaye Hoff will be traveling the blogosphere throughout March and April to talk about her new book, Keys to Living Joyfully. If you would like to interview her, have her guest blog or review her book for her virtual book tour, email Dorothy Thompson at thewriterslife(at)yahoo.com. If you would like to find out more about Sheri, visit her official tour page here.

Interview with Historical Fiction Author J.A. Hunsinger

J. A. Hunsinger lives in Colorado, USA, with his wife Phyllis. The first novel of his character-driven, historical fiction series, Axe of Iron: The Settlers, represents his first serious effort to craft the story of a lifelong interest in the Viking Age—especially as it pertains to Norse exploration west of Iceland—and extensive research and archaeological site visitations as an amateur historian. He has tied the discovery of many of the Norse artifacts found on this continent to places and events portrayed in his novels.

Much of his adult life has been associated with commercial aviation, both in and out of the cockpit. As an Engineering Technical Writer for Honeywell Commercial Flight Systems Group, Phoenix, AZ, he authored two comprehensive pilots’ manuals on aircraft computer guidance systems and several supplemental aircraft radar manuals. His manuals were published and distributed worldwide to airline operators by Honeywell Engineering, Phoenix, AZ. He also published an article, Flight Into Danger, in Flying Magazine, (August 2002).

Historical Novel Society, American Institute of Archaeology, Canadian Archaeology Association, and IBPA-Independent Book Publishers Association, are among the fraternal and trade organizations in which he holds membership.

You can visit his website at www.vinlandpublishing.com and his blog at www.vinlandpublishing.blogspot.com.

Welcome to Pump Up Your Online Book Promotion, Jerry. Can we begin by having you tell us what Axe of Iron: The Settlers is about and why you wrote it?

The Settlers is character-driven historical fiction.
Why did you choose this genre to write?

The Vikings have been a lifelong interest and any novel about them will be historical fiction. Did you choose it or did it choose you? A little of both I think. My heritage is Swedish/German and I believe writing these books is my destiny.
In regards to promotion, what have you been doing to promote your book online?

I have both a website: http://www.vinlandpublishing.com/ and a blog: http://www.vinlandpublishing.blogspot.com/. I have also signed up for several social networking sites for writers, Google Book Search, and everything that Amazon has for writers of books.

Of all the promotional items (bookmarks, press kits, etc…) you have used to promote your book, which one was used most effectively?

I do not know at this point, the book was published August 2008 and the jury is still out on what is the most effective. I believe that the internet is rapidly replacing all other advertising methods because of cost and the amazing level of exposure.

Do you feel that the Internet has opened doors for authors who never dreamed they’d ever see a publishing contract and how has it influenced you in regards to your own publishing journey?

Absolutely! As I said I believe max internet exposure is the key in this business. A case in point: Google J. A. Hunsinger, or the book’s title and see what happens. I am pretty happy about that level of exposure.
If you were in the middle of Manhattan (or any busy thoroughfare) and you wanted to call attention to your book, what would you do and what would you say?

I would say that I am telling a continuing story in a series of books about medieval Vikings and their struggle to settle and eventually assimilate with the native people in North America. It is a story of strife, hate, love, sex, warfare, and every other element that one would expect from a novel taking place one thousand years ago in a primitive new land.

If you could trade places with any author just for a day, who would it be and why?

I do not want to trade places with any other author, but I would certainly welcome a beer or coffee with Mel Gibson because I have written his kind of book.

Lastly, how do you determine your book’s success?

I want the word out there so people will ask for it, read it, and like the experience enough to tell others that they just read this great book .

Thank you for coming, Jerry! Can you tell us where everyone can pick up a copy of Axe of Iron: The Settlers?

The book is available from my distributor, AtlasBooks from my website and nationwide at major booksellers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, Book-A-Million, etc.








J.A. Hunsinger will be on virtual book tour in March and April '09. Please visit his official tour page here to find out more about his new book, Axe of Iron: The Settlers! If you would like to host Jerry on your blog during his virtual book tour in March, send us an email to thewriterslife@yahoo.com. Please put "I want to host J.A. Hunsinger" in the subject line. Thank you!

Interview with Heroic Fantasy Author R. Scot Johns

R. Scot Johns is a life-long student of ancient and medieval literature, with an enduring fascination for Norse mythology and epic fantasy. He first came to Beowulf through his love of J. R. R. Tolkien, a leading scholar on the subject. As an Honors Medieval Literature major he has given lectures on such topics as the historical King Arthur and the construction of Stonehenge. He owns and operates Fantasy Castle Books, his own publishing imprint, and writes the blog Adventures of an Independent Author, where you can follow his progress as he writes The Jester’s Quest, his second novel.

You can visit his website at www.fantasycastlebooks.com.

About the Book:

The Saga of Beowulf is the first complete and accurate novelization of the epic Old English poem Beowulf, chronicling the tragic wars of the rising Nordic nations, the endless blood-feuds of their clans, battles with mythic creatures in an ancient heroic age, and the final, futile struggle of one man against the will of Fate that made of him a Legend.

The story follows the young Norse warrior Beowulf as he embarks upon a fateful quest for vengeance against the creature that slew his father, setting in motion a sequence of events that will bring about the downfall of a nation, all the while fleeing from the woman he has sworn to love. Based on extensive historical research and steeped in Nordic myth and lore, the saga unfolds across the frozen fields of Sweden and the fetid fens of Denmark, ranging from the rocky heights of Geatland to the sprawling battlefields of ancient France, as our hero battles men and demons in a quest to conquer his own fears.

"An epic adventure 1500 years in the making," this classic tale now comes to life once more in a bold new retelling for a modern audience.

Welcome to Pump Up Your Online Book Promotion, Scot. Can we begin by having you tell us what The Saga of Beowulf is about and why you wrote it?

The Saga of Beowulf is the first complete and accurate novelization of the 10th century Old English poem Beowulf. Since the early 1900’s there have been a number of short prose renditions, aimed for the most part at young readers, but it wasn’t until John Gardner’s 1971 novella Grendel, that an author attempted a unique retelling that was more than an extended prose translation. But that work only covered the first episode of Beowulf. A few years later Michael Crichton wrote Eater of the Dead, which wasn’t published until much later, and bore very little resemblance to the original story. In 1976 Parke Godwin wrote the first novel-length adaptation, at just over 300 pages, but again the book took so many liberties with the story as to render it an altogether different tale. More recently a number of alternate universe sci-fi versions have appeared, as well as alternate point-of-view retellings, none of which have brought the whole story as it was intended to a modern audience. That was my intention when I undertook this work, to tell the entire story of Beowulf, not only as it’s given in the poem, but also by expanding on the myriad historical or folk tale references strewn throughout its 3200 lines of verse. This required many years of research, ranging from archaeological excavations to references in ancient chronicles.

The Saga of Beowulf is a fantasy novel. Why did you choose this genre to write? Did you choose it or did it choose you?

It most definitely chose me. The interesting thing to note with respect to the original Beowulf poem is that it has generally been dismissed as mere fiction, little more than a compendium of folk tales woven into one. Not until J. R. R. Tolkien’s lecture of 1936 was it taken at all seriously by academics, and since that time a great debate has raged concerning the extent to which certain elements contained in it are true. Much like Homer’s works or the tales of Robin Hood, in which a grain of fact and a handful of historical figures have been obscured by legend and lore, so too, Beowulf contains a basis of actual fact, overshadowed by its clearly fictitious elements, such as trolls and fire-breathing dragons. But some of its characters did, in fact, live in this world, and several references in the poem are to actual events, most notably King Hrothgar’s ill-fated expedition to Frisia. Thus, at least to some degree, it must be considered a work of historical fiction, or what I like to call “historical fantasy.”

In regards to promotion, what have you been doing to promote your book online?

In addition to building a fairly extensive website with a host of resources from sample chapters to adaptation notes and conceptual artwork, I write a blog called “The Adventures of an Independent Author,” in which I discuss the ongoing process of publishing and marketing my debut novel. This will soon encompass the writing process as well, as I embark upon my sophmore effort. In addition, I’ve created a video trailer which is posted on these sites as well as YouTube, MySpace, and several other networking websites. Likewise, I created a Flash ad which I run through GoogleAds, and occasionally on MySpaceAds, as well as text and static image ads. I printed up a bunch of bookmarks, which I give out to anyone I meet. I made a press kit, which I posted on my website, although I haven’t sent it out to anyone, as I’ve opted not to pursue brick-and-mortar stores or traditional media, due both to the prohibitive cost of printing this book and the niche-genre it fits into. I have done two interviews on book-related blogs, and given away several copies of the book through online contests. A large part of my marketing effort (and financial investment) has gone into gaining reviews, so far netting only six out of the nearly thirty copies I’ve sent out, although I only started sending them out after the book was published in October of last year, so I expect many more to come in the next few months. Of the six, all but one have been five star reviews, the other rating only four. Amazon has also been a major focus of my marketing, with my blog feed linked to my listings, the Search Inside feature activated, and a lot of additional description added manually. I have also taken advantage of their Kindle format, which has proven the most successful of the many ebook editions I’ve released. Just recently I have added a direct purchase option to my blog and website, both for the print edition and the digital downloads. Networking has been a part of this equation as well, through sites like LibraryThing and GoodReads, and other author/reader forums and book posting sites, although I haven’t had much time as yet to delve into these as deeply as I’d like.

Of all the promotional items (bookmarks, press kits, etc…) you have used to promote your book, which one was used most effectively?

That’s hard to say, as I have no real way to measure tangible results in terms of actual sales. I would hazard to say that the review copies have probably given me the most exposure, since the review and cover art are posted up for many eyes to see. But as far as utilizing a promotional item most effectively I’d have to say the bookmarks, because they’re the only real direct contact I’ve have with potential readers, and I’ve also been able to send them out throughout the world for the cost of a postage stamp. I leave some wherever I go, and put one in every letter I send out.

Do you feel that the Internet has opened doors for authors who never dreamed they’d ever see a publishing contract and how has it influenced you in regards to your own publishing journey?

Absolutely. Just as digital delivery has freed today’s musicians from the restrictive limitations of commercial record company economics by allowing artists appealing to a narrower niche to reach their target market, so too can authors reach out to their readers, wherever they may be, from the comfort of their own homes. Global networking has opened up vast opportunities for writers to connect directly with potential readers that they could never have met through traditional means. Even with the biggest promotional budget, it’s just not practical for an author to make a personal stop in every bookstore in every city around the world, and even writers who promote their books through lectures and speaking tours full time would be hard pressed to make it worth their while to schedule stops in towns of a less than moderate size, let alone a solitary farmstead out on the plains of Kansas or high up in an alpine valley of Austria. A single blog post connects directly with them both, rendering even the smallest niche potentially viable. With the advent of ebooks and print-on-demand technology, those opportunities have flourished, and will only continue to do so as these media and delivery methods become more affordable and effective. As far as my own experience is concerned, I would say that I have become far more directly involved in the every aspect of the publishing process than I had ever thought to be. And this, of course, has made it an incredibly educational journey.

If you were in the middle of Manhattan (or any busy thoroughfare) and you wanted to call attention to your book, what would you do and what would you say?

I would never call attention to myself in the middle of Manhattan, or any busy thoroughfare, for that matter. Like many authors, I tend to be shy and reserved in public places, preferring to observe rather than acting out. Not that I dislike interacting with people, because I do, so long as it’s on equal footing. I just prefer not to be the center of attention. I don’t protest or carry signs, for example, and won’t even wear a shirt with a slogan on it. I might do something like that if I were in a costume, perhaps, but it wouldn’t be by choice. I didn’t even put a picture of myself in my book. I had thought about renting a Viking outfit for my photo, but fortunately thought better of it before I did. Probably what I would prefer to do, were a Manhattan street my only marketing option, would be to sit down in a comfortable chair with a stack of my books and chat with anyone that happens to stop by. That’s more my style of interaction.

If you could trade places with any author just for a day, who would it be and why?

William Shakespeare. I’d like to know what was going through his mind when he wrote Hamlet. Or on any given day, for that matter. How must it have been to write a line like “For in that sleep of death what dreams may come when we have shuffled off this mortal coil must give us pause.” And how exciting to see those scenes enacted on the stage that first time. To have such thoughts and wit and success all wrapped in one bright life. For an author to write a single Hamlet in one lifetime is genius. To also write a dozen others just as good simply boggles my mind.

Lastly, how do you determine your book’s success?

If a single reader is touched, or moved, or entertained to the point of expressing their satisfaction or enjoyment, the author has met with success. Nothing else matters. It is a shared experience, from the mind of the author to the heart of the reader.

Thank you for coming, Scot! Can you tell us where everyone can pick up a copy of The Saga of Beowulf?

Yes I can! In fact, you can purchase it directly from the source via my website (www.fantasycastlebooks.com) or my blog (authoradventures.blogspot.com), either in print edition or digital download. And for a few bucks extra I will sign the print edition and throw in a bookmark with artwork from the cover. The book is, of course, also available from virtually every online retailer throughout the western world, in print and a wide variety of ebook formats, from Kindle to eReader, for those of you ahead the curve!








R. Scot Johns will be on virtual book tour in March '09. Please visit his official tour page here to find out more about his new book, The Saga of Beowulf! If you would like to host Scot on your blog during his virtual book tour in March, send us an email to thewriterslife@yahoo.com. Please put "I want to host R. Scot Johns" in the subject line. Thank you!

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