Welcome to the Weekend With.... C. Ellene Bartlett

Today we welcome the weekend with the lovely and talented C. Ellene Bartlett. I recently read and reviewed her charming book Letters to Rosy. Click here to read the review.  Born Charlotte Ellene Bartlett in Clarkston, Georgia. After WWII  she moved to Stockbridge, Georgia. Divorced with two children was hard and then she met Air Force Sergeant and spent 34 years traveling the U.S and four years in Berlin, Germany. She now resides in New Port Richey, Fl. and has taken up painting again after 40 years and started writing. “Letters To Rosy” is a first novel.

What was it like growing up in a small town in Georgia?


Actually, it was fun and it was terrible. Living in the country offered a wholesome and healthy atmosphere in which to start a young life on the road to growth and adventures. Being with family is so important to a young life. The terrible part was not being able to do the things the city girls did. I felt we were poor, but realistically, we were really better off than the city folks were.

When you were a little girl what did you envision for your life? Who did you want to be?

Like most little girls, I wanted to be a movie star. I remember producing little stage plays in my neighborhood during WWII while my father was overseas. We lived in Atlanta at that time. Naturally, I was always the star in all my creations. That actually paid off. I played an important part in two plays in high school and my son and I had a part in the play “Macbeth” in the Berlin/American Little Theater Group.

You’ve lived in many places. Do you have a ritual when preparing to go to a new place and or for when you arrive?

No, I don’t have a particular ritual. I understand moving often was a necessity and we accepted it as part of the military life. I have a reputation for moving, in the military and in civilian life. Whenever we move, the first question is from my daughter, who always ask, “Is the house dirty again?”

Of all the places you’ve lived which one was your favorite and why? Is there a place that you wish you could have lived?

Our family adapted well at the many places we went. The most fun adult place was North Syracuse, NY., where we retired from the military. We made so many friends there, those friends are still friends, and I visit as often as possible. My thoughts often go back to my childhood in Stockbridge, Ga., where I grew up. I still have some family there and the memories are priceless.

I know that you paint. What inspires your paintings? Is your art now the same as the art you did when you were younger?

Oh no, there is no comparison. I entered a drawing at the Famous Artist. They said I had talent therefore, I signed up for their course. Two of my instructors were Norman Rockwell and Albert Dorne. Little did I know then that Norman Rockwell would become so famous? Due to unforeseen circumstances, I did not finish my course at Famous Artist. After 40 years, I finally picked up a brush when I saw Bob Ross paint on TV. My painting now is from the heart. I prep a canvass follow the brush and watch to see where it goes. Sometimes the journey hits the mark and a reasonably good painting emerges.

Do you plan to ever publish your paintings, say in a coffee table book?

That’s a great idea. I may pursue it some point. A short story connecting the paintings to each other would be a thrilling possibility.

What is your favorite adult hiding place? Guilty pleasure?

It is in my bedroom at the computer or on my sun porch daydreaming about some exotic adventure.

What is your writing process? Do you have any special rituals?

I have no special rituals. I choose a character, put it to work and see what kind of mischief it can get into.

Are any of your characters or events inspired by real life (yours or someone you know)?

Only the idea of a small southern town, its indiscretions and life as they know it.

With all the different elements in your book, how do you classify your novel?

I would say my book is mostly a mystery with Sasah missing, spiced up with intrique with the abduction of Mendy and Misty and mischief sprinkled with some indiscretions.

When writing, Letters to Rosy, did you already have the plots outlined or did you let Rene and Rosy speak to you and lead the story?

No, like many other writers, I believe I had divine intervention. I knew nothing about writing when I sat down at the computer and Rene started daydreaming in her garden. One thing led to another and another and the results a completed story. The mind can create some fascinating characters if you let it and capture it on paper. However, writing a book is difficult. You must be disciplined and set aside time every day to devote time to writing, research and reading.

Will we get to hear from any other characters from the book in the future?

Oh yes.

What’s next for you?

I have almost finished another thrilling book titled “An Orchid Among Evil.” I hope to have it published early in 2010.


Ellene, thank you so much for taking the time to tell us a little bit more about yourself. To learn even more visit her website. 

Be sure to leave a comment  and become a follower for a chance to win a copy of her book Letters to Rosy as well as a leather bound journal, stationary and pen. Contest will end on December 12th at midnight. As an extra bonus if I get twenty commenters I'll throw in a book of Forever stamps as well.

Interview and Giveaway with Preetham Grandhi, author of A Circle of Souls

About a week ago, I reviewed Dr. Grandhi's debut novel, A Circle of Souls. You can read the review here. Today I have the honor of hosting an interview with Dr. Grandhi and a giveaway of a signed copy of his book to one lucky winner.

First, tell my readers a little about yourself.
I come from the South Indian City of Bangalore. After finishing medical school I came to the USA to complete my education and became a Child & Adolescent psychiatrist. I have always been a huge fan of Hollywood and I love watching movies. I like telling stories and one day decided I had a story to tell. That's when I started writing "A
Circle of Souls." I also like to travel, am a photographer, play the guitar, do web design, and play the wii.


When did you first start writing and did you always want to be an author?
I have always had an imagination for story telling, but hadn't written anything until I started this book around 2003, it took about 4 & 1/2 years to write. Now I hope to make a new career out of it if possible.

What is the most challenging aspect of writing? Most rewarding?
Being able to juggle all the other aspects of one's life and finding the creative time to write is very hard. The most rewarding moments are when readers say they enjoyed the story that I had set out to tell.

What inspired you to write A Circle of Souls?
It was a few months post 9/11, and I was looking at the biographies of the people who had lost their lives. I began to wonder if there was a larger meaning to their lives. All of a sudden, a story flashed into my mind, and I quickly wrote it on a piece of paper. I knew then that I needed to write a story that was larger than life. It needed to communicate the essence that there is a bigger purpose and meaning to
our passage on earth.

I knew that in order to capture and convey such a message, the book needed to be captivating, interesting, and thrilling. I realized that a story based on the work I do would be the right place to begin. I am a child psychiatrist and had just started a new job. During my fellowship, I worked with children with numerous psychosocial issues and had many life stories to tell. It was at that moment that I decided I could write a book that would capture all these thoughts. That was how A Circle of Souls was born.

How much research did you do for your book and how much ended up in the finished product?
This kind of work is known as fictional realism, in other words a lot of the book is based on real life experience which is in a way easier to write. I had to do some research but not a whole lot. Whatever I had done I put it in the book.

How long did it take you to write A Circle of Souls?
I wrote the first version in a year and a half. It took 3 more years to revise it over 16 to 17 times. Then finding a publisher was a whole another story.

How much are you like Dr. Peter Gram?
I guess I am similar to Peter in some characteristics. I think the people who have known me the longest will be able to point those out.

Your characters are so realistic, were any of them influenced by people you know?
Yes, many of them are. For example the character Dr. Sheetal was based off my sister who lives in India. I though she would be mad at me if I didn't somehow put her in the book.

Do you have other books in the works? If so, will we see more of the Peter, Leia and /or Naya?
I do plan to write my next one once I have this one off the ground. I can't tell you who's going to be in that book as I am still playing around with ideas.

With your work at House 5 and your private practice, how do you find time to write?
I write when I drive, I don't mean literally. I usually get my ideas then and jot them down later when I get a chance.

Having friends and co-workers of many different nationalities, I love that this story incorporates cultural diversity. While I am familiar with the concept of reincarnation, I was intrigued by the storyline of Naya's psychic ability and the concept of it be inherent in family lineage. Is this a prominent belief in Indian culture and is there a source our readers can go to to learn more?
I am glad you asked me this. I am open to many different ideas about life as there is so much we don't know. Some of the experiences I wrote with Naya is fiction but the concept fortune telling and some of the other things described in the book is based on my own experiences. There are many interesting cultural beliefs that are prevalent in the Indian subcontinent as it is a very ancient culture. I don't know of
any one source to enlighten readers about such phenomenon.

Who and/or what has had the most influence on your life?
I think the friends I grew up with since kindergarten have had the most influence on my life. I am in close touch with many of them even today.

You may ask any three people from history (living or dead) one question each and they must answer truthfully and completely. Whom do you choose and what is your question for each person?
I would ask Hitler what his inner core beliefs were, Neil Armstrong how it felt at the moment he put his foot on the moon and Christian Bale if he actually becomes the character he plays in his movies.

You can influence any one thing in the entire history, the present or the future of the world (what has occurred, how something works,etc.). What would you choose to change and why?
I would like to keep politics out of religion & spirituality because it has given human beings a way to do things free of guilt (in the name of religion) and to pursue their own interests at the cost of others lives and beliefs.

If you could spend the day as another person (someone in history, a favorite author, a public figure, a character in a book, etc.), who would you choose and why?
I would like to be Tintin from the comic series. So that I can have an adventurous life.

Thanks for having me on your blog.

Preetham

Now it's your turn to post your comments and questions. One lucky commenter will win a signed copy of A Circle of Souls from Preetham. Contest will run through Sept. 30th at 11:59pm and is open to US residents only. Rules are simple: post a comment or question along with your email address and either become a follower or subscriber of this blog.

Interview and Giveaway with Anna L Walls, author of King By Right of Blood and Might

Last month, I had the pleasure of reading Anna L Walls' debut novel King By Right of Blood and Might. You can read my review here. She graciously agreed to let me interview her and giveaway a signed copy of her book to one lucky commenter. I'm honored to have her as my first author interview/giveaway.



Thanks for joining us, Anna. First tell us a little about yourself.

I grew up in eastern Colorado. I went to collage in Minnesota but I didn’t get a degree. Instead, I joined the army where I met my fisherman husband shortly before Uncle Sam shipped us to Alaska. Six years later, we moved to one of the hottest fishing spots in the state and have stayed here ever since.

When did you first start writing and did you always want to be an author?

There were occasions when I’d pick up a notebook and write out some story. In junior high school, there was the hilarious creation my best friend and I created one giggly night; it was lost or thrown away soon after. A couple years after I was married, I worked in a laundry mat; during breaks and lunch, I wrote another story. It was lost during one of our many moves out here. I’ve since tried to recreate it and it is one of my other completed stories listed on Facebook. The next time I picked up a notebook was about 10 years ago. That was the beginning of King by Right. One day my son brought me an old lap top computer and I decided to see if I remembered how to type. That was the turning point. I’ve been writing ever since. However, growing up, never in my wildest dreams did I imagine myself as an author. I had every intention of acquiring the family ranch and raising horses. On the business end, I was going to somehow turn the place into a riding school for city kids. Talk about a left turn.

What is the most challenging aspect of writing? Most rewarding?

The most challenging and the most rewarding aspect is painting the picture of my story with words. That’s the way I try to do it - paint it like a picture or a movie as I see it in my head. I find it wonderfully fun and of course, I have to remember all the little details. Sometimes I need a detail to be in place later in the story, then I have to go back through what I’ve already written and weave in another thread. So much fun.

Where did you get the idea for King by Right of Blood and Might?

Unlike most of my other stories, I started King by Right by creating a character. I like the times of kings and princes so I decided to write about a prince. Then he had to have a problem to solve and some history. It was a lot of fun figuring it all out.

How much research did you do for your book and how much ended up in the finished product?

At the time I was writing King by Right, I had very little access to research materials. I had the encyclopedia set I got for when the kids were doing home schooling, and later, when I got my computer, I had its Encarta encyclopedia. Mostly I used it to figure out distances so I could judge how long it would take to cover the distance between one point and the next. My computer also had a paint program and I spent days drawing maps and pictures. Unfortunately, when it came time to publish, I had to pick which pictures showed up best in shades of gray.

How do you keep track of your world building?

My world building is in my head like a movie; it becomes a familiar place. Since I love maps, it helps to have one but not all my books have a map.

How long, on average, does it take to write a book?

I suppose it takes about a year to write a book; some longer, some shorter. You have to figure that my year is punctuated by my summer job, but even then, I read through what I’ve written just to make sure it still paints the same picture. King by Right took 2 years, I think. However, I was also learning the delightful offerings of my computer too. The grammar checker was very informative.

Which character in this book most resembles you?

I suppose Princess Kandice most resembles me. However, I place myself in each of my characters’ heads. It’s how I keep them all different; how I make sure they all have a different attitude and personality. Just call me schizophrenic.

If Prince Harris had a theme song what would it be?

Now this is a question that’s clear out in left field. A theme song. I listened through my whole music list and finally settled on ‘Don’t Give Up’ by Peter Gabriel. There’s also ‘I Still Believe’ by Crow. I don’t know; maybe if you could mush them together with something from Beethoven, it might work. Ha, what do I know about music.

Your story has several paranormal elements. If you had one of their abilities which one would you choose?

I like the Shapeshifters. I would so like to turn into a wolf or a big bird for a while.

Given your story covers the world as we know it ending and a distant future world, if you lived in this story, which time would you want to live in? At some time in history, at the apocalyptic time of transition or the distant future?

I can see myself living in any of those times but if I had to choose, I would choose the days of the far future in this book. I like things simple.

I know you self-published. Why did you choose that route and what has been the best and worst aspects of that process for you?

When I started that process, I didn’t have internet so proposals were dependant upon snail mail. Since I can’t get to the post office for easily half of every year, it translated into a very long and frustrating process. By coincidence, AuthorHouse was in the phonebook so I gave them a call. It was so easy - send a disk and a check and the whole thing would be started. We also elected to spend that winter with my son in Fairbanks so that I could use emails to communicate and look at proofs. I also got to squeeze my grandson every time I could catch him. The worst aspect was that I really didn’t know what I was doing and trusted the company to be as diligent with my work as I was. There are things I will do very differently next time, though I may self-publish again.

I've checked out your Notes on Facebook, so I know you have written many other stories and yet to be published novels, when can we expect your next book?

I told myself that I would publish again as soon as my first book made enough money for me to afford to. However, I’m querying agents as well as asking for reviews. This ball will get rolling one of these days - hopefully soon.

Have you always lived in Alaska? Does your environment help or hinder your writing/creativity?

I grew up as a rancher’s daughter in eastern Colorado and have lived in Alaska nearly 30 years now. I’ve lived out here in the wilderness for the last 20 years almost exactly. In fact, the very first winter we spent out here was the last time Mount Redoubt popped its top. I truly believe that, had we stayed in the city, wherever, I would have written far less if anything. I likely would have been working everyday instead. Since I have the winters to myself, I can write to my heart’s content and you’ve seen the results of only 10 years’ writing.

What is your favorite thing about Alaska? Least favorite?

My favorite thing about Alaska is of course the winters for more reasons than the solitude. The winters out here are picture postcard beautiful. The least favorite thing about living here is having to drive to work in an open boat in the rain or when the wind is blowing. Such weather makes for a rather unpleasant trip. Thankfully, said trip is only 20 minutes or so.

Who are your favorite authors?

My favorite authors are Tolkein, Heinlein, McCaffrey and Scott Card among many others. I generally don’t pay attention to who does the writing; if it sounds interesting, I’ll read it.

What three authors/writers would you have a slumber party with and what would you do?

I’ve never had a slumber party in my life so I wouldn’t have a clue as to what to do for one, but as far as who to have over, I suppose I’d pick any three of those listed above. I think we’d drive my husband out of the house with all the talking about all the different books we’ve either written or read. Even my son would get in on that conversation though he’s not a writer. He reads the same things I do.

You can influence any one thing in the entire history, the present or the future of the world (what has occurred, how something works, etc.). What would you choose to change and why?

Since I have a love of horses and swords, I think I’d like to forestall the invention of the automobile and the gun, not that I’m against guns. The bears and moose are very big out here. I find cars and trucks to be noisy and smelly and wars were very different when the soldier had to look their opponent in the eyes as he died on their sword.

If you could spend the day with one person (someone in history, a favorite author, a public figure, a character in a book, etc.), who would you choose and why?

I suppose I would like to spend some time with the ranger in Lord of the Rings, Aragorn. ‘Course that could also be translated to the actor who played him in the movie. I find Aragorn’s simple, noble competency encouraging - there’s hope that such a seed is in the people of today somewhere down in there, else it wouldn’t leak out in such stories.

Finally, I know you already have a sequel for King by Right of Blood and Might in the works, what's up next for the characters?

The sequel is more like book 2 of a collection of 3. There is no physical connection between book 1 and book 2 other than the world and time in which the events take place. Book 1 takes place on the east coast. Book 2 takes place through the mid-west. And book 3 will take place on the west coast.

Anna will be sending an autographed copy of her book to one lucky winner. For a chance to win, all you have to do is post a comment, become a follower or subscibe to this blog and leave an email with your comment. The contest is open thru Sept. 30th at 11:59pm EST. I will pick a winner at random.

Now it's your turn to leave comments or questions for Anna.