Today I welcome M.C.V. Egan

In the Limelight with….. M.C.V Egan

Welcome Catalina and thanks for being part of this blog celebration.

I thought it a good idea to catch up with you and see what you are up to since the last time we spoke. 

I met Catalina through all the various social networks on the Internet and she was gracious enough to give me my first real Interview so I thought I want to invite her to this blog as well. This is what I like about the writers community from the day I got involved; the fact that we help each other out. With one goal to promote each other through our various links and associates. Benefiting each other as best we can.

So here is my Interview questions she had to fill in. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

1.       Are you famous? Is the general question I get when family and friends introduce me to their friends.  It always left me with a pause as quick comebacks filters through my mind but ending up saying something like ….”Oh gee thanks” and give a shy smile. Silly I know but what else am I suppose to say.

(a)Does this happen to you and

(b) What do you say?

If I do get a comment like that I say soon I hope! However I tend to get more “I bet you will be famous someday” and I have two standard answers.

       A.   From your mouth to God’s ears.

       B.   All the psychics who helped on The Bridge of Deaths seem very certain that I will be famous someday.  Of course it cannot happen soon enough for me!

2.       In general do you like to talk about you writing and published books or are you very close-lip about it? If no why?

I strongly believe that writers should talk about their work; the process, how they gather information and any other sort of research. Once a book is out there it is imperative to market.  I am constantly marketing, I always have cards with me and I market on-line.

 I find many bloggers like to ask about WIP (works in progress) I am tight-lipped about that, I feel that it hinders progress to discuss a project. Perhaps I also prefer to keep my work ‘secret’ until it is finished.

3.       What book are you currently writing and what is it about?

Now this is too funny! I had not seen this question when I answered above. But I do have a book 4covert2overt in 33 Days that should be ready soon.

I have a co-author Jolie DeMarco our target release date is September 21^st, 2013 but I think it may be sooner, at least the e-book.

It is very different from my previous work. The book is about a young woman’s journey in search of peace of mind, with the back drop of the global concern for soldier’s moral dilemmas.

I have a project that I will start soon with yet another co-author and this one will be all TRUE CRIME. I cannot work on more than one writing project at a time.

4.       Why this particular genre?

I choose a subject and write. I do not target a genre and I ended up with a unique cross genre.  I wonder if 4covert2overt in 33 Days will also be considered cross-genre. I think it may well qualify as Chick-Lit but it does have different elements.

5.       What inspires or motivates you to write?

Everything inspires me, but watching people on the beach, at a Starbucks anywhere inspires me most. I always put a story behind a face.

6.       What is the writing process like for you?

It varies, but the one consistent is that I like to be prepared; once I choose a subject I research A LOT!  I write a combination of lists and outlines and once I feel I have found what I need create a tentative outline. I find that stories can surprise the writer as much as the reader and that it is best to go with the flow and let the characters guide me.

7.       What is the best and/ or worst part of being a writer?

          The best part is writing and the worst part is marketing.

8.       Any advice for struggling writers?

Never give up and remember that everyone is unique and therefore you are no-one else will tell the story the way you do.

9.       What is your favorite genre to read or write?

          I cannot choose I enjoy a wide variety.

10.     Favorite author?

          W. Sommerset Maugham.

11.     Do you have a favorite spot to read and write?

I write at home, I do have a special room, but as I have gotten used to the laptop I write ANYWHERE. I can read ANYWHERE especially now that I have a Kindle, but I do have a preference to be cozy and comfy, so a nice fluffy couch.

12.     What do you like to do when not writing?

I love to travel with my family, I love to go for long walks, I love to cook, I LOVE to read, I like arts and crafts. I really enjoy going to the movies and we have a fun wide variety of cinemas in my area.

13.     Do you have a bucket list and would you share at least two things on it?

I have a very long bucket list and it includes many places I wish to visit. I would love to become athletic, but I seem to lack the stamina and discipline.

14.     What have you done so far on this list?

I had an amazing ride on a Hot Air Balloon with my son in Arizona. I also had a great helicopter ride to land on a glacier with my son and husband in Alaska; as I said I am not sporty so climbing a Glacier was not an option.

15.     Most daring thing or experience you have done you would like to share?

I think that having the courage to put myself out there as a writer is the most daring thing I have ever done. Allowing anyone and everyone to have an opinion on what is near and dear to me. It takes very thick skin and a lot of courage.

16.     This or that questions:

•        Coffee or Tea - Both and often

•        Sweet or sour – Sweet

•        Homemade meal or takeout – Homemade (I love to cook)

•        Winter or summer – I miss winter! South Florida is always summer.

•        Night-owl or Early-Bird – Night-Owl trying to become an early bird.

•        Telephone or visits – Nothing can replace human contact.

•        Which social network do you prefer? Facebook

•        Blogger or website? They serve such different purposes.

•        What does your family say about your career?

Supportive or Clueless?   Supportive

And Finally Moto/wisdom in life you live by.

Life is what you make it so make it great.

Contact details and buy links of the newest books you would like the readers to know.

AUTHOR WEBPAGE

http://www.thebridgeofdeaths.com

Barnes and Noble / AMAZON KINDLE

AMAZON Paperback / AMAZON UK

FACEBOOK

BLOGS

http://thebridgeofdeaths.tumblr.com/

http://4covert2overt.blogspot.com/

Our Time is up but thanks once again for your willingness to share with me and the readers Catalina. It was great to learn more about you. I must say I agree I do not like to talk about my current work. It feels very personal and to market myself takes a lot from me since I am very private.

As always support the authors, buy their books, give a good review and talk about them.

Thank you for inviting me!

Our guest for April 18, 2013 will be

Rachel Brimble

Today the Limelight is on Matt Drabble

Welcome Matt to the new blog, visiting and sharing your new releases with us. 

I think its appropriate to congratulate you on being #1 on the UK Amazon Free Horror Chart for Gated and # 10 on the over all UK Amazon Free chart across all genres.

"Gated" has now passed the 16,000 download mark and "Asylum" is the Amazon UK  and US #1 on the Horror/Anthology Charts.

I reviewed this book on February 26, 2013 

on Aspired Writer

Follow the link to read more about this great book.

First I must admit once again that I never read Horror, I just do not like all the blood and gore associated with the genre, but Matt's book was different. He had a great story to tell and the usual blood and gore was only found at the end of the book and I was inwardly relieved. The book did keep me on the edge of my seat with a great build up and I was pleasantly surprised with the book as a whole.

Enough said I want to focus on him and here is what he answered to all my questions.

1.       Are you famous is the general question I get when family and friends introduces me to their friends. It always left me with a pause as quick comebacks filters through my mind but ending up saying something like ….”Oh gee thanks” and give a shy smile. (a)Does this happen to you and (b) what do you say?

        Not yet but I’m trying. The only benefit that I can see to becoming “known” is greater circulation of your work.

2.       In general do you like to talk about you writing and published books or are you very close-lip about it? If no why?

I think that I am a pessimist by nature, so my greatest fear is that I ever talk about what I am doing, is that something will go wrong.

3.       What book/s are you currently writing and what is it about?

I launched a Dark Thriller called “Gated” at the start of Dec 2012 which is still selling and going extremely well on free weekends, so I am still promoting that.

Since I finished writing “Gated” I have also completed an anthology of horror stories called “Asylum” which I have launched about a week ago, so I am trying to promote that as well.

Also I have reached around the halfway mark (40,000+ words) on a Dark Thriller called “The Montague Portrait”.

This novel is about an insurance investigator who was widowed and sank into a bottle of grief. His late wife ran a community art gallery which subsequently went to rack and ruin despite his promise to look after it. He is drawn into a case concerning a painting called “The Montague Portrait” which was supposedly destroyed in a fire some years before and a large policy was paid out. There is a Machiavellian benefactor calling the shots and the surviving woman who witnessed her parents die in the fire that destroyed the painting. The painting is said to be cursed and the spirit of Hugo Montague possesses men and murders their wives’ in a reenactment of his own crime.

However I have grown concerned about the pacing of the story especially when attempting to replicate the pacing of “Gated” which has been a success for me. So I have sent the half finished book out to a few preview readers that I use for their options whilst putting the book on the back burner.

Never one to let the grass grow I am now about 13,000 words into “Abra-Cadaver” which I am enjoying writing immensely.

"Abra-Cadaver" is a story about Tommy Ross' 12th birthday party. Surrounded as usual by his close-knit group of friends, a magician, The Captivating Cosmo X - Master of the Unknown is performing. Fascinated by magic Tommy and his friends sneak into the guys van and mess around with some of the equipment, before being chased out. During the "Guillotine of Death" trick his assistant is beheaded in front of Tommy in the front row splattering him with warm sticky blood and mentally scarring them all in different ways forever. The magician pleads his innocence at the trial claiming that the trick malfunctioned. Tommy and his friends stay silent about playing around with the equipment beforehand. The investigation discovers that the magician’s assistant/wife was having an affair at the time and call this motive. He is found guilty and sent to prison for life, screaming bloody vengeance. Tommy and his friends share a guilty secret that poisons them all. Tommy's parents’ divorce and he leaves town at age 13.

Twenty odd years later Tommy is returning to Denver Mills after his father’s passing to settle the estate. He is reunited with his friends and we see how they have all changed and evolved. But there has been an escape at Blackwater Heights, the comatose Captivating Cosmo X has woken up and he has promises to keep, and he's heading home with a whole new bag of tricks. It is turning out to be quite fun to write, kind of a slasher film type of novel, but with emotional depth to the group of friends and their relationships to each other.

Newly Released

4.       Why this particular genre?

I have always been a fan of dark thrillers and horror novels, especially when treating the audience to depth and intelligence. I find that the pacing and thrills are fun to read and fun to write. I am not a fan of anything that is lacking in character development and chocked full of stereotypes.

5.       What inspire or motivate you to write? 

A few years ago I was injured in a DIY accident and subsequently diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis, which is a degenerative chronic back condition. Due to austerity measures I do not qualify for any financial aid despite not being able to work a full time job. My wife and I run a small business and she has had to take on extra work during the recession to keep us afloat. I have worked since I was 12 years old, through school holidays to help pay for college and a full-time night job to pay my way through university, so sitting around wasn’t an option. I have always been keen reader and like most people always thought that I could write a novel.

I have no literary educational background, my degree is in tourism. So I’ve spent the last nine months slogging away at the grindstone teaching myself to write a novel. My first two attempts were seriously flawed, but showed some promise and my third attempt “Gated” has netted me some success.

“Gated” hit the UK Amazon Free Horror Chart #1 twice now during two giveaway weekends and has a sales high of #4 on the UK Amazon Horror Chart and #2 on the Horror/Thriller Chart. “Asylum” was my 4^th book in nine months with half of “The Montague Portrait” and about a 7^th of “Abra-Cadaver” completed.

6.       What is the writing process like for you?

I start with an idea for a story, but find that the book develops as I write, never allowing me to see around the corner as I progress. I have a large note book that I keep to jot down various ideas and thoughts and will refer to those as I work sometimes linking them in at various stages. I work every day and make sure that I produce at least 2000 words a day; it is a job after all.

7.       What is the best and/ or worst part of being a writer?

Working on my own is always great for me as I am not by nature the most sociable of animals. But obviously it is a long hard road to achieve any sort of financial success and it can be frustrated as there is an awful lot of luck involved in getting noticed and I have barely scratched the bottom rung of the ladder.

8.       Any advice for struggling writers? 

Stick with it and develop a very thick skin. Don’t take criticism personally, but view it dispassionately and remember that some people will never like what you write. Take note of constructive and technical errors. Most importantly find an effective method of proofing; I am still personally trying to master that particular skill.

9.       What is your favorite genre to read or write?

I enjoy horror and thriller novels the darker the better, and biographies of interesting people.

10.   Favorite author?

I am always and will forever be a Stephen King fan. I find that his work is often dismissed by critics due to preconceptions over the subject matter. I firmly believe that no-one constructs a human landscape like King.

11.   Do you have a favorite spot to read and write?

I have a small office at home and work there.

12.   What do you like to do when not writing?

I am part comic book geek and part sports loving jock. No longer able to play sport I am a regular traveler to Anfield to watch Liverpool FC and The Rec for Bath RFC.

13.   Do you have a bucket list and would you share at least two things on it?

I have never taken the time to make a bucket list, perhaps that is the first thing to put on it.

14.   Most daring thing or experience you have done you would like to share?

Taken the naïve step to try and become a writer with no training and no literary background is pretty daring.

15.   This or that questions:

                     ·         Coffee or Tea -  Tea

                     ·         Sweet or sour – Sweet

                     ·         Home make meal or takeouts – Home made meals

                     ·         Winter or summer – Summer

                     ·         Night-owl or Early-Bird – Night-owl

                     ·         Telephone or visits – Visits

                     ·         Which social network do you prefer? Twitter

                     ·         Blogger or website? Website

                     ·         What does your family say about your career? Supportive or Clueless

                      Supportive

Moto

“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

Albert Einstein

Well our time is up and I want to thank Matt for this insightful interview. 
I enjoyed learning more about him. 

Thanks for your willingness to take part in this new blog. I hope that you will see the fruit of your labor enjoying the benefits of it all as you master the craft. 

We have two things in common, both of us went through personal difficulties to come where we are and we were both clueless on writing. And  I say this with no pun intended. 

Please connect with him just as you do with me.
We need all the support we can get.

Buy Links

Gated – Amazon UK - / Amazon US / 

Asylum – Amazon UK / Amazon US  

Twitter:: @MattDrabble01

Web: www.mattdrabble.com

Gated Book Trailer 
Asylum Book Trailer

                My next featured author would be Ann B. Harrison author of 
Taming the Outback 

on April 10, 2013