Guest Post Monday (5): Kimberly Derting

Today, we have Kimberly Derting, author of the Body Finder series, to talk to us about life before and after getting published.

I’ve known that I wanted to write since I took 7th grade journalism in junior high. Of course, I was pretty sure I didn’t want to be a journalist since they have to cover big events like wars and droughts and epidemics. I’m more of a stay-in-my-clean-safe-house-and-make-stuff-up kind of gal. Thankfully, that worked out for me!

Before I was published my life was so…calm. There were no deadlines, no revisions, no author signings or tours, no interviews or Twittering. I used to have something called: free time. But would I trade it for anything??? Heck no!

Once I was published (or at least under contract), I had to learn to manage my time. Which basically means I had to stop messing around and put myself on a schedule. I’m (still) learning to balance that fine line between work and family. Unfortunately, with a crazy busy schedule, sometimes it’s the family time that has to give. Thankfully, my husband and kids don’t complain too much about eating fast food…over and over again.

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Visit Kimberly Derting: 

Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / MySpace

Books by Kimberly Derting:

Guest Post Monday (5): Kimberly Derting

Guest Post Monday(4): Author Jon Courtenay Grimwood + Giveaway

Guest Post Monday is a feature we started here at The Deranged Book Lovers where we invite authors or bloggers to have a little chat with us.

This week's guest is the acclaimed author, Jon Courtenay Grimwood. He have written more than 10 novels.  He won British Science Fiction Association (BSFA) Award for his novel Felaheen in 2003 and won another BSFA Award for best novel for End of the World Blues in year 2006. This time he's taking a turn from science fiction to historical fiction mixed with fantasy in his latest novel, The Fallen Blade: Act 1 The Assassini Trilogy, which will be released on January 27, 2011.

Jon Courtenay Grimwood wrote his first book at seven, about a monkey that stole a space ship and escaped to the moon. Because he considered writing was hard, he ended up drawing the last two thirds. Somehow he had always written stories in his head, with stories going on for years (Jon: not normal, I know; Lyn: don't worry, for that we’re on the same boat. But then again, I'm not normal as well). For him it was just a case of putting it down on screen. Before he was a published writer, he was an editor and spent several years editing and sometimes rewriting other people's work. Finally after a while he decided it's time for him to do it for himself.

According to Jon, being a full time writer has its advantage and disadvantage. "The downside is you get no holidays but the advantage is you work for yourself and if you miss deadlines you have only yourself to blame." He claims to have simple life; spend his morning by writing in a cafe, go for a walk or ride his motorbike in the afternoon, and back to work in the evening.

I asked one question I always ask to the authors: How's your life changed when you became an author and/or what were you doing before being an author?

“The greatest thing about being an author is that you can do it anywhere. So if you have a lap top you can work. I spend a lot of time researching the novels. For the Fallen Blade, the first of the Assassini trilogy, I made three trips to Venice to map out where things happened and make notes and drawing of the locations. I also bought as many vampire DVDs as I could find (writing a book is a pretty fantastic excuse for doing a lot of things you want to do and calling it research). Before I was a full time writer I was a freelance journalist for a number of magazines and newspapers, and before that I worked in publishing, first as a production assistant and then transferred to editorial.”

Thank you Jon Courtenay Grimwood! For dear readers, this is only a start. I will post my review on his latest book, The Fallen Blade, Act I of the Assassini Trilogy few days later and also the interview post with Mr.Grimwood about his latest book, The Fallen Blade that will be released on January, 27 this year. Visit Jon Courtenay Grimwood's website if you want to contact him directly. Now onto the giveaway!!

Orbit Books happily agreed to giveaway not one, not two, but three copies first edition of The Fallen Blade: Act 1 of The Assassini (paperback). One for International follower and two for US & Ca followers. Here are the rules:


1. International followers submit in this FORM, US&Ca followers submit in this FORM. Don't make mistake, I will delete US&Ca entries in International form, vice versa.
2. You must be a follower to enter this giveaway.
3. Read our Giveaway Policy before you enter it!


EXTRA ENTRIES:
+1 Follow @DerangedBLovers
+1 like us on facebook
+2 tweet this giveaway. You can use this format: The Fallen Blade #Giveaway @DerangedBLovers  
http://bit.ly/eU2Hr1 @JonCG_Novelist @Orbitbooks
+2 for each meaningful comment you post on this post, my review of The Fallen Blade (check this if you want to know about the book, spoiler-free!) and Interview with Jon C. Grimwood. For this extra entries just leave the name you use for commenting in the form and I'll check it.

Deadline is midnight Jan 24, GMT

THE GIVEAWAY IS ENDED AND THE WINNERS WERE ANNOUNCED.

THANK YOU FOR ENTERING!

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Guest Post Monday(4): Author Jon Courtenay Grimwood + Giveaway

Guest Post Monday (3): Andrea Cremer - Author of Nightshade

Guest Post Monday is a feature we started here at The Deranged Book Lovers where in we invite authors or bloggers to do a guest post with us.

For the first Monday of the new year *cue fireworks*, we have Andrea Cremer, the author of Nightshade, to tell us something about her life before and after getting published.

My 'day job' is as a history professor at Macalester College in St. Paul. I love teaching and my research is on the intersection of gender, religion, and violence in the ealry modern Atlantic world (1500-1800). I'd always loved writing, but I didn't think it was something you could do for a 'real job.' In the summer of 2008, I was in a horseback riding accident that left me on crutches for twelve weeks. Since I could do anything other than sit on the couch I decided to try something I'd always dreamed of: writing a novel. Once I started writing I couldn't stop and I knew I wanted more than anything else to become an author.


I'm still teaching at Macalester and writing Nightshade has taught me that I'm able to bring my two passions, history and fantasy, together in my novels.

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Visit the author: Goodreads / Website / Twitter / Blog

Books by Andrea Cremer:
 

The Nightshade Series:
Nightshade Prequel: Shadow Days (Review)
Book 1: Nightshade (Review)
Book 2: Wolfsbane (To be released on July 2011)
Book 3: Bloodrose (To be released on 2012)

Mithee <3

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You may enter your Guest Post / Interview links in Mr. Linky below. Ancient interviews / guest posts are welcome! ^_^
 

Guest Post Monday (3): Andrea Cremer - Author of Nightshade

Guest Post Monday(2): Author H.A Goodman

Our latest blog feature: Guest Post Monday. Every Monday we will invite someone from Book-Lovers Community as our guest and answers one or two questions. It could be author, publisher, librarian, or book blogger like all of you!

Deranged Book Lovers proudly present (drum roll please): 

H.A. Goodman!

his debut novel Logic of Demons received favorable and interesting reviews from bloggers and reviewers. I think it's quite safe to say we'll see more of him in the future, eh?

We're curious about author's life so we ask one question to Hal:

How's your life changed when you became an author and/or what were you doing before being an author?

H.A. Goodman: The only thing about my life that's changed is that now, I believe I have the ability to write a story. When I first started writing, it was difficult to think of myself as an author, especially before my first novel. Logic of Demons has been received favorably by reviewers and readers, so the validation has helped boost my confidence. The most important change in me has been confidence. The main obstacle to writing and almost everything else in life, from my view, is the ability to stay positive and believe in yourself. It's easier said than done, but if you can do so, you're chances for success are increased exponentially.

 H.A. Goodman lives in Los Angeles and - sadly - has no twitter or facebook account where we could stalk follow him. No pet to cuddle at night although he owned a German Shepherd when he was a teenager. He owns a small consulting business for all types of companies; but he always has passion from writing and as result, we got the chance to read Logic of Demons! Beside working and writing, he also busy promoting his debut novel to us, blogger and reviewers, and to bigger publisher.

I don't know about publisher but Deranged Book Lovers couldn't resist interesting novel so you'll read my review on Logic of Demons in the next few days!

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Guest Post Monday(2): Author H.A Goodman

Guest Post Monday (1): Author Jennifer Echols

Our latest blog feature: Guest Post Monday. Every Monday we will invite someone from Book Community as our guest and answers one or two questions. It could be author, publisher, librarian, or book blogger like all of you!

 I am happy to announce that we have a guest post from a fantabulous author whom I think is one of the best Contemporary Young Adult author ever! I was so stoked to see her reply to my e-mail 3 hrs after I sent it. She's so kind! *hearts* But moving on. Here is Ms. Jennifer Echols to tell us something about her life before and after being published:

When I was younger I thought about being an author ALL THE TIME. I wrote poems, stories, and the beginnings of novels, and I always entered writing contests at my school and worked on the school newspaper.

My grandmother wanted to be an author, too. In the 1950s she wrote a beautiful story and sent it to a famous literary magazine, The New Yorker. They rejected it, and she never sent anything out again. This affected me two ways. First, someone in my family was creative and took a chance with her art. It never occurred to me that I couldn't do that too. Second, she gave up way too fast! I promised myself that I would not give up when I got rejected.

But it did take me a very long time to get published. When I finally sold a book, I was working at home as a freelance copyeditor and taking care of my son, who was four years old at the time, and I squeezed my writing into my day somewhere. After I got published, none of that changed much! I still work at home as a freelance copyeditor, my son is nine, and I am not sure how I ever find time to write a book. But I do.

The big difference in my life is readers like you telling me that you've enjoyed my work! Writing is a lonely business, and sometimes it's hard to find the motivation to keep going. But with readers letting me know they're looking forward to my next novel, I can always write another word.

Thanks for including me in your blog! I really appreciate it.

Jenn

Jennifer Echols

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Visit Jennifer Echols: Website / Blog / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

Books by Jennifer Echols:

*images lead to Amazon

Also, don't forget to watch out for Jennifer Echols' newest book entitled  

Love Story which will be out on July 2011 in paperback by MTV Books.

Mithee <3

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You may enter your Guest Post / Interview links in Mr. Linky below. Ancient interviews / guest posts are welcome! ^_^
 

Guest Post Monday (1): Author Jennifer Echols