Tuesday 30 July 2013

2013 Summer Author Blitz & interview with RH Ramsey


 Welcome to my stop on this tour, hosted by 

Belle Whittington & Tabatha Perry! 

I'm excited to welcome author RH Ramsey, who was nice enough to answer all of my questions, me being a little on the nosey side. So take it away, RH!  

When you've finished reading, you can win a copy of her book, Just Beneath the Surface I, via the Rafflecopter. Good luck!! 



RH Ramsey is a military wife, mother of two and a student. Over the course of 8 years, RH has diligently researched topics ranging from (but not limited to) relationships, addiction and abuse to mental illness. RH has completed several novels and 5 short stories, plus 4 more novels are nearing completion. She has 2 self-published books: Just Beneath the Surface I, and Into the Atmosphere, with many more to come. Just recently, her books were acquired by an indie publisher. With a passion for people, helping and learning, RH Ramsey hopes to continue in her quest of learning from and inspiring others.

Welcome RH Ramsey! To start with, what or who inspired you to write?

I have always loved creating stories and characters. One day, eight years ago, at 19 years old, I sat down at my computer and I started typing. I just started typing, and I kept typing. I didn't stop until I had finished what I started.

What still inspires you?

Well, each and every one of us has experienced or witnessed something heart wrenching. That said, each of us has a story in his/her heart. We are here to tell those stories, help one another to heal and hold one another up; the survivors, those people who are searching for a reason to fight, are my inspiration and driving force.

How long did it take you to write your book/s?

It used to take me just under a year to complete a book. Lately, it takes me a couple of years to finish. Part of the reason it takes longer is because unlike before, I don’t stop myself from starting projects on the side, such as short stories. As I have evolved, I’ve learned that just because my favorite part of writing is dialogue and character development, and my least favorite part is describing a room, it doesn’t mean I can exclude the description of the room (LOL). So, with everything I have been learning from editors, beta readers and articles about writing, it takes me a lot longer than before.

Do you write linear, or jump back and forth? Do you plan or write by the seat of your pants?

Back and forth!!! Not only am I back and forth within the book, sort of filling things in, in a way that would drive a more organised person out of her mind, I jump from book to book. Just like any creative, I’ve got rushing thoughts and ideas filling my mind non-stop. What’s good about those rushing thoughts, and the excitement of letting the ideas happen naturally, is that it leaves little room for feeling stumped. I think the pressure to finish things on our own time can take away from the flow that is art.

Where and when do you write? Do you have set times?

I really don’t have designated times for writing. If a scene pops into my head, I really like to capture it. I do have a favorite time to brainstorm, and that has always been in the wee hours of the morning. (3am, 4am…) But, no, I do not have set times. I write whenever I can.

Which character from your books do you like most / are most like?

Good question. I don't think I am like any of my characters. When it comes to creating characters, I like a blank canvas. The farther I can stray from myself or anyone I have ever met, the better.

Have you ever based a character on someone from real life? And did you tell them?

I have never based a character on the situations of someone from real life. That seems like it would be crossing the line. Now, if there are certain eccentricities or quirks that I feel are common enough that they are identifiable, I may use those. But, no, not situations.

Fave things: animal? food? drink? film? colour? band? song? place? item of clothing?

My favorite things – hmm, let’s see…
Animal: too many to count, especially if we talk about the baby animals!
Food: it really depends on my mood, but lately I love pistachios.
Drink: my favorite drink right now, I’m going to have to say 100% Natural Lipton Iced Tea.
Color: blue
Band: several, but right now I'm listening to Raised by Swans and Miguel.
Place: anywhere people are happy, content and peaceful.
Item of clothing: a black Jimi Hendrix shirt with the quote: “When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.”

When you were a kid, what did you want to do / who did you want to be when you grew up?

Every now and then I would say that I wanted to be a doctor or a teacher. But I don’t think I ever really knew what I wanted to be. I always loved music - I play piano, and I was in an orchestra from fifth grade through to senior year. I always loved storytelling. So maybe I sort of knew I wanted to do something that involved art and creativity.

Would you say that your dreams have come true or are you still working on them?

My family - they are a dream come true. Goals: writing, growing as an author, reaching for the stars - I am definitely still working on that, and I don’t think that really stops.

Do you have a blog? What do you blog about?

I do, and I tend to write about a variety of things. One day I may interview someone about their battle with abuse or depression, the next week I may share a fleeting thought. One day I may share my favorite Facebook pages, the next week I might share an excerpt.

What would you like to achieve in the next five years?

In the next five years, I hope for a number of things. To adopt a baby alpaca would be amazing, but I just don’t see that happening (just kidding). First, I will start by working on myself. I hope that I can continue to work on the way I view myself, my writing, my dreams and my goals. By continuing to improve my view of myself, I think I’ll have a better shot at teaching my children not only to dream big, but to believe in those dreams no matter what.

It would be a miracle if, in the next five years, I am able to say that my books were in the hands of readers who felt they were able to relate, overcome something, grow spiritually, reach out and pull someone else out of an unhealthy situation, and keep the cycle going.

I would also be ecstatic if this passion – writing – grew to be a financial blessing to my family, so that I could devote more time to my novels. Being able to tell my children their mommy is a best-selling author - I can’t even imagine that, but it’s definitely on the list.

Last, but not least, I can’t even explain how it would feel to be able to help someone else achieve their goals. Maybe someone who, like me, thought their hobby was just a hobby; their passion was just a passion. If I could help and inspire, that would be a major accomplishment for me.

What is your favourite quote?

I can be so very indecisive, so my favourite quotes and scriptures depend on what is happening at that time. Right now I love the following quote: “Artists who seek perfection in everything are those who cannot attain it in anything” - Gustave Flaubert.

Thank you so much for having me. I absolutely loved your questions!! :-)

Where to connect with RH Ramsay:


To win an ebook copy of Just Beneath the Surface I, all you need to do is enter the competition via the Rafflecopter! Good luck and thanks for visiting. Winners will be notified shortly.

Thursday 25 July 2013

Lazy Days of Summer Spontaneous Giveaway Hop - July 24 - Aug 4




Welcome to the Lazy Days of Summer Spontaneous Giveaway Hop, hosted by Burgandy Ice & I am a Reader, Not a Writer

At my stop on the hop, I am giving away a paperback copy of my newest book, a fantasy adventure called The Sea Inside plus an ebook of your choice. Two runners-up will receive an ebook of mine of their choice. To win just enter the Rafflecopter competition - be sure to answer the question. 

Afterwards, click on the linky to hop to other blogs with great giveaways!!!



Book 1 in the Cerulean Songs series


'Time is all we have; it flows – it cannot stop'



Jayne wakes up in hospital following a terrible accident to find herself paralysed below the waist. While struggling to recover, she is offered a gift that opens a portal to another world. To the girl’s astonishment, she finds herself on a journey, which brings her to the mystical realm of Entyre, where life is very different and power lies with the creatures of the deep. Her adventures bring her face to face with a terrifying witch, a cheeky insect and the most beautiful of mystical creatures - a unicorn. While the threads of time keep flowing, Jayne must decide what is real, who to trust, and regain her inner strength in order to find herself and her true destiny.



“A delicious brew of invention, enchantment and refreshing characters, Vickie Johnstone has a firm grasp on the fantasy genre. I can’t wait to read more of her work!”
Nickie Storey, author of the Grimsley Hollow series



“Strange worlds, interesting characters, suspense and a surprise ending – what more can you ask for? This book has it all and more.”

Greta Burroughs, author of the Wee People series



“A gripping and fascinating mythical adventure that is beautifully described. There is suspense, fear and emotion throughout the entire novel that makes you want to keep turning the page.”

Jennifer Thomas

If you are a runner-up you can choose one of these ebooks:



Good luck!! 


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday 24 July 2013

Bargain books! #99c

Check out this website for discounted & free books. One of mine, 3 Heads & a Tail (a comedy starring a dog with 12 5-star reviews), is there too. :) Cheers!
http://www.fkbooksandtips.com/2013/07/24/6-discounted-free-kindle-book-offers-30/

Tuesday 23 July 2013

Page Turner Book Tours Presents: One Year Anniversary!


PTBT opened its doors a year ago, and it has grown from strength to strength, working with some amazing authors along the way. This year the official .com site opened, a dedicated team of graphic designers joined the team and PTBT became the official host for all tours under 5 Prince Publishing.


The story doesn’t stop there… There are already plans for further improvements and many more tours to be held in the future, along with further charity work. We hope you will check them out at this link: http://pageturnerbooktours.com

During July, PTBT is offering the following discounts:

1 week tour - 1 additional day

2 week tour - $63.75 - 2 additional days

3 week tour - $85 - 3 additional days

4 week tour - $170 - 4 additional days

These discounts are good for a year AS LONG AS the tour is booked and paid for in July 2013.

Working for Page Turner Book Tours has been amazing. I have met some amazing people, worked with some fantastic books and been privileged to be part of some amazing journeys. I know there will be great things to come for PTBT, and I am excited to meet every request, author, and to discover the wonderful books that I work with. Thank you to everyone over the past year who has worked with PTBT - you are all amazing and I am so glad to have been part of your journey. Here’s to the next fantastic year!” 
Kate, Owner/Tour Coordinator, PTBT

I have been blessed to have had a long professional relationship with Kate and Page Turner Book Tours. Her organization of the tours and cover launches has always exceeded our expectations. She is thorough and knows what she’s doing. I believed enough in the company that Page Turner Book Tours is now the official coordinator for 5 Prince Publishing. Kate sets up tours for our cover/book launches for each of our authors, as well as book tours. Her prices are very fair, and that helps individuals and small businesses. I give Kate and Page Turner Book Tours 5 STARS for their consistently good service, well managed tours and comfort level when working with them. If you are looking to promote yourself or your book, I highly recommend Page Turner Book Tours.” 
Bernadette Soehner, CEO, 5 Prince Publishing - Lost And Found Tour Details

I enjoyed working with Page Turner Book Tours in 2012 for my second Lash Series book, Shadow Man. Kate was able to arrange far more stops than I’d initially hoped for, and also garnered my book several five-star reviews! The spreadsheet she gave me to work from had all the relevant contact information to write tailored, engaging posts for each site, and she fulfilled every part of the agreement to create and deliver signature prizes for the tour. She tried her very best to make my tour the best it could be. The best recommendation is that I will be using her services again this summer to promote another co-authored work!
   Service: "At least half of the service is value for the money spent. Kate gives great packages and I feel I got very good value for the money I spent with her. She was knowledgeable and answered my questions in a timely fashion. I especially appreciated the reviews as part of the package, of which almost all were favourable."
   Communication: "The other half of the service for this type of promotion is communication, and Kate was very good in that aspect as well. For my tour, I had a total of 5 interviews to complete, along with 12 guest posts. She got me the info for topics and interview questions as soon as she had them, which helped me to stay ahead and on time with my side of the tour."
   Overall tour running: "5 stars."
~ Tara Fox Hall, author - Lash Tour Details

I have had the pleasure of working with Page Turner Book Tours for just a few short months. When I first contacted Kate and told her what I was looking for, she helped walk me through everything they could do and what it would entail on my part, as well as what was to be expected from her and Page Turner Book Tours.
   "Every time I have any questions, Kate is sure to reply quickly. I have not encountered many problems while working with Page Turner Book Tours other than a few bloggers did not follow through on their end, which I, by no means, hold against Page Turner Book Tours.
   "Kate does a wonderful job communicating what is needed by all her bloggers. If you are interested then you just let her know and she does the rest. All you have to do as a blogger is set it up to go on your scheduled date.
    "Overall, I think Kate and Page Turner Book Tours do a wonderful job with their press releases, interviews and book reviews, and scheduling who needs to be where and at what time. I would give Page Turner Book Tours 5 out of 5 stars!” 
~ Marie, 5 Prince Publishing

Page Turner Book Tours is a great resource for authors, and I have personally found Kate and her tour company to be worth their weight in gold! I have worked with Kate on book tours for myself and I have even joined book tours for other authors as a host. Each time I have found Kate to be absolutely wonderful to work with. With many tours running consecutively, Kate is adept and masterful as she customises each tour to the specific author and his/her book.
   "Kate is a marvellous coordinator and I can’t wait to work with her in the future on a book tour.  If you are looking for a company to schedule a tour, than I recommend working with Kate at Page Turner Book Tours. She will customise a tour specifically for you and work with book bloggers, making your tour run as easy as possible, leaving you with a sense of satisfaction and a great tour experience!
    "Page Turner Book tours is definitely a five star company!”
~ M.M. Shelley - Murder On Mars Tour Details

Supplied by and posted for Page Turner Book Tours






Monday 22 July 2013

A Poem a Day (30) - Light refracted

Hi! I think this is the first poem I've posted for about a month. My aim was to write one a day, but, oh dear, I haven't managed it yet! But it's my aim! The last couple of weeks have been a bit of a sad stress-fest, so I haven't been posting much apart from posts on behalf of other people. My beloved cat, Moggie, who is 14, collapsed and was diagnosed with kidney disease. I've just changed vets as mine seemed very pessimistic and talking about worst-case scenarios. I'm aiming to do all I can for her as she's brought me a lot of happiness. Her dear little face and the way she runs, doing what can only be described as bunny hops, always bring a smile from me. Tomorrow I should be getting some results from the vet, so I'm hoping for the best. 

Before all this drama, I went to Hampstead Heath on a very hot day. Summer only arrived in the UK at the turn of July (better late than never) and walking through the forest bit, I came across the beautiful sight of pollen drifting through the trees. It was like glistening rain and made me think of a fairy world. I had to get out my notebook, kneel down and write, which probably made passers-by think me a little crazy, but what the hell. This was the result.

Light refracted

It blows
Tripping on the green
Spirit of a many shaped sigh
Hurtling forth on the
Fingers of the waking breeze
Light breaks between
Yellow figments of ages seen
Dust lifts, floats afar
Distancing
Scattering the pollen
Where eyes unseen have sung
Sweeping through sweet gusts
Of transparent fate
Leaf heads pass me by
Catching a ride
In the glint of the sinking sun
Light breaks, shakes
A time that maybe never was
They peek, these wisps of grass
Eagerly through greying soil
Waking and waiting
Listening for the rush
Blowing through the trees
Where the leaves whisper
The faintest chirp is heard
In the place where spirits dance
Endlessly, between times
Treading the lost paths
Where the airy pollen sways

Copyright Vickie Johnstone

Thanks for reading!! 
Feel free to post your own poem about pollen or the forest :)


Sunday 21 July 2013

Page Turner Book Tours Presents: Hearts in Exile by Mysti Parker




Title: Hearts In Exile
Series: Tallenmere (standalone)
Author: Mysti Parker
Genre: Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance
Publisher: Melange Books
Formats: Ebook and paperback
Release date: June 3, 2013

What’s in a Theme? Pt. 2

By Mysti Parker


“Life goes on
It gets so heavy
The wheel breaks the butterfly
Every tear, a waterfall
In the night, the stormy night
She closed her eyes
In the night, the stormy night
Away she'd fly.”
~ From ‘Paradise’ by Coldplay

These lyrics sealed the deal when choosing a song for the beginning of Hearts in Exile. The farther I got into the story and later drafts, the more I saw a theme emerging. It made its first appearance in Chapter Eight when young Loralee and Sir Robert (Igrorio) are out riding and she finds an injured butterfly…

Gently, she reached down to the grass, where a butterfly struggled to take flight. One of its wings was crooked, probably broken.

“That’s too bad,” I said, and was about to find something else to occupy my attention when Loralee touched the butterfly’s broken wing with one finger and rested the palm of her other hand on the ground beneath her. Eyes closed, her mouth moved silently. A brief glow covered the insect, she withdrew her finger, and the butterfly fluttered both wings. It took flight a second later.

I stood there with my mouth hanging open, watching it fly around Loralee’s head. It landed on her nose as if to say ‘thank you’, and she giggled. Then, it flitted off over the grasses until I couldn’t see it anymore.

She must have healed me like that, too. Amazing… and clearly beyond my comprehension.

Scratching my ear, I asked, “Is there anything you can’t do?”

“Well…” One of those brushed-on smiles lit up her face. “I can’t fly… yet…”

That little scene said so much about Loralee’s character as compassionate healer, and like the butterfly, she was gentle and beautiful. At the end of that snippet, you catch a hint of what she longs to do with her life. She wants to follow her dreams, to become a great healer, to be free to fly.

Yet, just like the wheel broke the butterfly in the song lyrics above, fate crushed Loralee’s dreams and she never got the chance to fly… not until she became a Dragon Keeper.

With that in mind, I brought back the butterfly theme during a rewrite much later in the story after Sir Robert and Loralee were reunited on the island with the dragons. It brought tears to my eyes, seeing the symbolism come full circle. Sir Robert, having just found Loralee again after ten years, is desperate to keep her safe from a threatening dragon, but he’s grown too protective, doubting the strong woman she’s truly come to be. Here, in Chapter Thirty-Six, as he’s alone and brooding about how to keep her from harm, he realizes what he must do…

I stared into the water of the tiled pool. A spotted butterfly flew from one of the bushes, flitted close to the current flowing from the wall, and landed on my hand. I held it up, smiling at the tickly sensation as it crawled up my finger. Tiny water droplets weighed its wings down a bit, and I started to blow on them to help them dry. The butterfly wobbled under the force of my breath and retreated to the very tip of my finger.

Deciding to leave it alone, I simply held my finger steady and watched as it lifted and lowered its wings again and again. Between the gentle movements and the sun’s warmth, it was soon dry. One more flutter, and it lifted from my finger, flitting back toward the bushes.

Smiling down at the figurines Loralee had taken such great care in carving, I said, “So, that’s it, hmm? I can be there when she needs me, but I’ve got to let her fly.”

Loralee had to be given the chance to prove herself, even if it put her in danger. Sir Robert had to learn to trust her abilities, even though it went against his paladin nature. Think about that. We can pin butterflies down and preserve them as specimens forever, but their true beauty is only seen when they can fly free, with their colourful wings glimmering in the sunlight.

And isn’t that true for us all?

***Tour-Wide Drawing***


Buy one copy (print or electronic) of Hearts in Exile at Melange Books, Amazon, B&N, Smashwords, or All Romance E-Books, and you'll be entered into a drawing to win this BIG prize pack:

Dragon Necklace, I
Dragons Tote Bag, This Gal (or Guy) Loves Dragons T-shirt, Hearts in Exile Notebook, $10 Amazon Gift Card, and set of three signed playlist postcards.

To enter, just purchase a copy of Hearts in Exile from any of the online retailers above and email your receipt to Mysti Parker at this email: mystiparker@yahoo.com. Drawing to be held on August 1, and it is open worldwide!!!




Book blurb:

Somewhere, hidden in the waters of the Southern Sea, lies an island unlike any other. Within the amber glow of its pyrogem-laden cliffs, legend says the very heart of the dragon god Drae keeps the island and its occupants alive. Loralee Munroviel, daughter of Leogard's High Priestess Arianne, had no idea what she would face when she arrived by boat ten years ago and was left alone in exile. All she knew about Draekoria's inhabitants was written in one tattered notebook. Now her life revolves around keeping Drae's descendants happy. Never in her life did she imagine being a Dragon Keeper.

Captain Igrorio Everlyn, known as Sir Robert to his unit of Holy Paladins, has faced his share of hell, battling the evils of Emperor Sarvonn's tyranny and the dark god Tyr's abominations. But none of that compares to the ten years of hell he's spent without Loralee, presumed dead. One freak storm changes everything. Now the two of them must fight to re-establish the delicate balance of the island before the dragons take things into their own hands. Through it all, they discover the secrets that kept them, and their hearts, exiled for a decade.

Purchase links:



Excerpt from Chapter 3:

After a shipwreck, Sir Robert wakes up in a strange cottage, only to find Loralee, the love of his life, whom he thought had been dead for a decade…

“I don’t understand. What is this place?”

“It’s an island. Very few know of its existence.”

I shook my head, trying to clear the fog of this confusing dream come to life. “But, why would you be here, and why would you be sorry? Unless…”

The words wouldn’t come. My racing mind pitched in to help. Unless she didn’t want to marry me after all.

Wrenching pain I’d kept tucked inside broke free, and I clambered to my feet. Loralee followed suit, backing herself into the small dining table.

I tried, but could not hide the bitter anger in my words. “How could you do this to me? Do you have any idea what I’ve been through?”

Her eyes widened. She clutched the table with one hand and her robe with the other. “What you’ve been through? I didn’t want this. I was forced here.”

“What do you mean, forced here? Where are your shackles?” My voice roared through the little cottage as I gestured around me with one arm. “Where are the bars? This looks like no prison I’ve ever seen.”

Her voice cracked the air, rivaling with my own. “I was betrayed, forced into exile. Don’t you understand? I never wanted to leave you. I never wanted anything so much as I wanted you.”

Pacing away, I closed my eyes and breathed deeply. I had to calm myself, to let the weight of this discovery, the improbability of her explanation to sink into my water-logged brain.

I couldn’t bring myself to look at her just yet, so I stared at my bare feet instead. “Why didn’t you tell me, write to me?”

“I tried. I begged the supply ship crew to bring my letters to you. They always took them, but never brought one in return. I suspect they destroyed them, but I had no way of knowing.” She sucked in a shaky breath as though trying to hold back her tears. “I never stopped loving you.”

Turning back to face her, I felt like a mindless beast. Here I was, raging against the love of my life when she’d all but been brought back from the dead.

“Loralee.” I eased toward her. She cringed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Without a word, I leaned in and pressed my forehead to hers, allowing myself to breathe in her scent for the first time in a decade. We stood suspended like that for a while, lost in time, and emerging from a purgatory neither of us had imagined ten years ago. I would have been content to stand like that forever, but Loralee burst into tears and wilted to the floor.

I followed her down and opened the quilt to wrap us both inside. I held her tight while she cried.

While I cried.

I finally got enough breath to speak again. “What did you mean by forced here? They told me you were…” I couldn’t say it, not with her warm and so very alive against me.

“I know.”

The weight of it all came crashing down on me. “This is my fault, isn’t it? You’re here because of me.”

She made no attempt to wipe her cheeks, but shook her head and stared at the rafters as though entreating the gods. “No, it’s not your fault. Not at all. There is so much to explain, I don’t know where to start.”

I couldn’t comprehend any of it, so I focused on the here and now. “You found me on the shore?”

She nodded.

“The crew, Francis…did you find anyone else out there?”

“No, I had Xax-, I mean, no, I searched but didn’t find anyone else.”

The familiar weight of grief squeezed my chest, and a few more tears escaped before I could stop them.

She pulled me close and whispered, “I’m so sorry. I know how much you loved him. We all did.”

“We all grieved for you. You’ve been here…all this time?”

“Yes.”

“By the gods, Loralee, I’ve missed you so much.” I put my wet cheek against hers and pressed my lips to her soft skin. “Part of me died the day I thought you… please…just tell me how you ended up here.”

Loralee took a few deep breaths and finally pulled away from me. She caressed my cheek and smiled weakly.  “I’ll make us a pot of tea. And then, I think we should start at the beginning, back to the Great Plague and when we first met. Do you remember that?”

Smiling past the sadness, I covered her hand with mine and closed my eyes. “How could I ever forget?”



About Mysti Parker:

Mysti Parker (pseudonym) is a full-time wife, mother of three and a writer. Her first novel, A Ranger's Tale, was published in January, 2011, by Melange Books, and the second in the fantasy romance series, Serenya's Song, followed in April 2012. The highly anticipated third book, Hearts in Exile, has already received some great reviews. The Tallenmere series has been likened to Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series, but it is probably closer to a spicy cross between Tolkien and Mercedes Lackey.

Mysti's other writings have appeared in the anthologies Hearts of Tomorrow, Christmas Lites, and Christmas Lites II. Her flash fiction has appeared in the online magazine EveryDayFiction. She has also served as a class mentor in Writers Village University's six-week free course, F2K. 

Mysti reviews books for SQ Magazine, an online specfic publication, and is the proud owner of Unwritten, a blog voted #3 for eCollegeFinder's Top Writing Blogs award. She resides in Buckner, KY, with her husband and three children.

Connect with Mysti Parker:


Tallenmere series links:


You can follow the rest of the tour here:



 Posted for Page Turner Book Tours

Thanks for reading! 


Saturday 20 July 2013

G. Mitchell Baker - interview & 99c book tour!


Hi! I hope you're having fun and sunshine on your Saturday! Today I welcome author G. Mitchell Baker. His newest novel, Lethal Believers - The Innocents, is on sale for just 99c - that's a nice 75p to us Brits. That's about the price of a bag of crisps, so it's a good time to scoop it up before it goes back to its original price methinks.

I did a quick Google to find out what the book is about. Here's the blurb: Someone has been hurting children and Danta vows to find them. As the sinister Mantid Tranquil rises to protect its criminal maneuvering, Danta is empowered by those from other dimensions to honor his commitment and defend The Innocents.

It sounds intriguing... Now without further ado, G. Mitchell Baker takes the stage. I was kind and didn't ask too many nosy questions... here we go... 

When you write do you take notes, organize your characters and plot, or do you write freely as you go?

I place a heavy emphasis on ‘capturing’ ideas… they pop in, inspired by so many things at all times of the day or night. I learned early on not to rely on memory and will pop ideas -sometimes writing out a page or two - on to any available paper, my phone or into the computer right away. Capturing the ideas and concepts is so important for managing stress and getting the ideas working into the story lines… or saving them for a project I know I’ll be working on in the future.

I know what you mean. I often get ideas when I'm drifting off to sleep and I don't write them down cos I'm too lazy to get up and they're gone... worst thing is ideas in the shower... soggy paper or they're gone...

Where does your inspiration come from?

Everywhere… often expected sources and just as often unexpected sources. I am often amazed to be with people, other writers, and see the same thing and come away inspired with story concepts, and they are going "huh?" I am fortunate to just have a mind that is willing to bring things together into interesting concepts and ideas, and I'm starting to believe there is something special about it now that I see how many people do not do what I am doing.

A man after my own inspiration... I get my inspiration from everywhere too. 

Do you write about your personal life experiences in your stories?

Because I take many ‘experiences’ and bring them together to create original and interesting stories, there is no writing directly from personal life experience. I have never done that and I think it is because I would feel uncomfortable with doing it.

Me too - I'd be scared someone might recognise themselves and I wouldn't want to wander into the 'dark side'!! Although I did name a bad character after an arrogant ex-boss I couldn't stand... la la...

About the author

G. Mitchell Baker enjoys living out west, from the southwest United States to western Canada. Having practised law for more than twenty years, he likes researching and writing projects that draw him into the many genres, including contemporary fiction, science fiction and paranormal works of fiction. Also a writer of feature-length screenplays, Baker enjoys adapting his novels into screenplay and his screenplays into novels.

Baker has been fortunate to compete at the highest levels in sports including baseball and karate. This spirit has led to him also striving to compete to entertain his readership. Moreover, it is in this spirit that Baker invites you to visit and revisit his Anything but a Tired Barn, and to become familiar with his current and ongoing projects. Please take the time to learn more about him and his projects. Any reasonable offer for original and interesting conversation will not be refused, he says.  

Where you can connect with G. Mitchell Baker


G. Mitchell Baker's books and where you can buy them

Lethan Believers: DVM


Paranormal mystery
Master Koda Select Publishing - 2013



Lethal Believers: The Innocents


Paranormal mystery
Master Koda Select Publishing, 2013



The Involvement of Emerson


Contemporary fiction
Brent House Books, 2013


Thanks for reading!! And thank you to Mr Baker for visiting :)