Memorable Monday - Interview with Artist Lainey T

 

Greetings readers!

I'm back from my staycation. I had a wonderful time disconnecting from the internet and spending some quality time with my family.

Regularly scheduled posts will now resume, and to start things off, I have a Memorable Monday post where I interview artist Lainey T, who did the stunning illustration for THE ADVENTURES OF JOSAIN JOVENNE.

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What initially sparked your interest in becoming an artist, and how has your passion evolved over the years?

I've been drawing ever since I can remember. The doodles and drawings I did as a kid never stopped and have yet to do so. My passion in art has evolved by seeing other artists and striving to be better at my own art. Another inspiration for me is wanting to draw and make fanart of the things I like.

How has Jojo's Bizarre Adventure influenced your art style and creative process?

Jojo's bizarre adventure has definitely changed my artstyle and helped me improve overall in drawing more realistically. I’ve learned better facial and body anatomy through the show, and It really helped me with muscle anatomy of course. Jojo's Bizarre Adventure has really helped me change my artstyle from more cartoonish to more realistic and I don’t regret watching it one bit.

What elements from horror games like Five Nights at Freddy's inspire your work, and how do you incorporate them into your art?

Five nights at Freddy's has been a staple of my life ever since I was around seven. Some of my original characters have definitely been inspired by FNAF and its designs. I’ve been drawing fanart of the games since I’ve liked it and still love to watch videos about it on YouTube. I love its character/robot designs and I love all the games. 

Can you walk us through your process of designing a new character, and do any of your characters draw inspiration from your interests?

The process of designing a character always comes from an idea in my head, whether it be from another artist, music, a game or something else. I’ve had lots of my original characters originally be fan ocs for the franchises I like. If I’m making my own character I usually don’t need much of a design process. I’m always set on a certain vision in my head that I usually like when I first draw it out. If I’m designing a character for someone else, then I like to have a big designing process so I can make sure that the character looks exactly like how the person envisioned it. 

How do you balance visual storytelling in your artwork?

My art pieces never really have much of a big meaning. However, one can really tell a lot about a piece based on many factors. Facial expressions and clothes can really tell a lot about an art work and the character/person in it. The background tells the setting and often more about the character too. Colours are also a big part of telling the mood or tone of a piece. 

What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent artist, and how have you overcome them?

I would say that the biggest challenge for me is being self taught, which isn’t too much of an issue for me. Pinterest has definitely been my art teacher and biggest inspiration. I have a board full of art references and tutorials that I keep adding things to and that I keep in mind when working on a drawing.

How does feedback from your fans and the broader art community influence your work?

My followers definitely are an important inspiration for me to keep drawing. Their support, comments, and reposts are very special to me and I think I’d be a lot further behind on my art growth if it wasn’t for them.

Have you considered expanding your art into other forms of media, such as animation or game design? If so, what would you like to explore first?

My major that I want to go to college for is actually animation, character design, game design, and 3D modelling. While I have much experience in character design I would love to learn the other things I mentioned. I’ve dabbled in a little bit of animation for fun but I would love to improve on it. 

Can you share any upcoming projects or collaborations that you're excited about?
I’m definitely excited about working with Clare more! I don’t have much else in mind besides college which is obviously a big step for me, in my art journey and life in general.

What advice would you give to young artists who are just starting out?

Practice! Practice! Practice! I know it’s what every artist says but it’s the complete truth. If you draw every day, even if it’s just a doodle, you are bound to improve! Another piece of advice is to use lots of references. Some people say it’s cheating, but I say that it’s the most important thing an artist can do to hone their skills.

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Thank you for answering my questions, Lainey, and thank you for the amazing art of Josain and Savrion. I cannot wait to commission more from you.

If you're interested in commissioning art from Lainey, they can be contacted at their Instagram profile. @___lain__

Thanks for reading, and please be sure to check back this Writing Wednesday, where I'll be discussing how the internal stories we tell ourselves, and the language we use, can affect how we see ourselves and influence our behaviour.

Until then. Take care and stay creative,

T.T.F.N.

 

Memorable Monday - Interview with Clare Bentley

 

Greetings readers!

Thank you to everyone who visited or commented on either my blog posts or social media content last week.

To kick this week off, I have an interview with indie author, graphic designer and Chris Evans fan-girl Clare Bentley.

Please give Clare a warm welcome, and check out her website linked below.

1. Can you tell us about your journey into becoming an independent author? What inspired you to write crime fiction and women’s fiction?

I’ve always loved writing. When I was younger, writing provided me with a place to escape from the horror of living in an abusive home. I wrote about a place far away with a New Kid On The Block to rescue me from the everyday sounds of my mum being beaten by the man who supposedly loved her.
In secondary school, my English teacher recognised I had a flare for telling stories… something he encouraged. But it wasn’t until I had my children that I decided to look at publishing something I’d written with characters  I’d created. I wrote What She Deserves to help work out the trauma of growing up constantly afraid of my mother being killed. It’s a complete work of fiction, but it deals with the reality of domestic violence. It was important to me it was written that way. I’ve already had so many messages of support for the book. Some people have reached out to share their own stories of being in an abusive relationship. I’ve even heard from someone who didn’t even class what she was enduring as domestic violence. Honestly helping just one person walk away from a situation like that, it’s the reason I wrote the book. As for crime fiction… I love true crime; it was only natural that was going to feature heavily in my novels.
 
2. How do you balance the distinct elements of crime fiction and women’s fiction in your writing? Do you find it challenging to switch between the two genres?

I watch a lot of true crime. I think there are similar elements in both genres, which I think I lean into well. I don’t find switching between the two genres particularly challenging. I believe it’s ingrained in me.
 
3. Your characters are often praised for their depth and complexity. What is your process for developing such multifaceted characters?

I usually have a very defined outline for my characters. I think complexities are what make us all individual. Cast of a book shouldn’t be any different. I start with the basics for each character and then dive into why they are who they are. I create a profile for my main cast and write down everything in excruciating detail so I forget nothing and can remain consistent.
 
4. Can you share some insights into your writing routine? How do you stay productive and motivated?

Sometimes that’s hard. Like with all things, and probably most creative types, motivating yourself when you feel like doing nothing is really difficult. I find asking friends and readers for pictures and GIFs of Chris Evans helps though. In all seriousness, I have days when I don’t work if I know anything I write or create will end up being deleted or restarted. Sometimes I don’t know that until I sit down and try to do something, other times I can tell just by my mood. That’s when I take a day for myself. I used to feel guilty about those days… I don’t anymore. You can’t replenish from an empty cup, so if I spend a day playing games on my phone, watching TV or reading, that’s okay. I know whatever I write will be better if I’m not drained. I used to keep going and constantly reworked everything I wrote because I wasn’t happy with it. Then I’d get frustrated with myself. That’s when I learned to take a break. Step away. Do something else for a while. When you’re ready, the words will come.
 
5. You’ve recently launched a graphic design business focusing on book graphics and covers. What inspired you to take this step, and how has the experience been so far?

I have been making my own book covers since I started publishing. They may not be to everyone’s liking, but I’m proud of them regardless. Having the ability to make my own graphics saved me money.
I’ve even been lucky enough to have made a few for friends… Rewriting Christmas for Kyra Lennon and After The Rain, a charity anthology for the Write Here, Write Now Community being two of my favourites.
In all honestly, it was my good friend, Karen, who encouraged me to go into business creating covers and graphics. While it was something I would do for friends, if they asked, I’d never considered marketing myself.
I have to say, Happy Bee Designs has been really well received. I had a client the first day I launched, which is incredible. And I’ve since had someone approach me for branding.
I find when the client has an idea of what they want, the who process runs smoothly.
 
6. How do your skills as a graphic designer influence your approach to writing and vice versa? Do you find that these creative fields complement each other?

Oh, that’s a good question and something I’ve never considered before you asked. I suppose I do approach them in similar ways. I have to have a distinct idea for both writing and graphics before I start any work at all. Even a loose idea is enough to get me started.
 
7. What are some of the unique challenges you face as an independent author in the publishing industry, and how do you overcome them?
I’m not sure it’s unique, but visibility is by far the biggest challenge for me. Without money for ad’s, I’m reliant on family, friends and readers to share promotional posts to increase being seen.
Also, as an independent author, everything is your responsibility and it’s hard to know if you’re making the right decisions—especially when it comes to book covers.
 
8. Could you walk us through your process for designing a book cover? What elements do you consider essential for capturing the essence of a book?

I think it’s important to know the genre of the book when you look at the cover. Romance is pretty straight forward… couples right? But if you don’t want to use a couple, or topless man, it can be challenging. It helps if a client has an idea in mind, though it’s not essential. They say two heads are better than one, so even if someone has no clue what they want… we can discuss it and develop ideas together.
My most recent custom cover I made for a client is the perfect example. She didn’t want people, just something specific made sexy. The request stumped me for about a day… and then, it came to me.
I can’t say too much, there’s been no cover reveal yet, but the client is pleased with my design and that makes me happy. For my own book covers, I can draw elements from the story I know by heart. With the exception of After You’ve Gone and Twisted Fixation, I have enjoyed the process of making all of my own covers.
The cover I’m proudest of is for my latest release, Survive The Night… and the one for book two is even better—if I do say so myself. LOL.
 
9. With the rise of digital books and self-publishing, how do you see the future of independent publishing and the role of graphic design in it?

I think publishing my books myself is the best thing I ever did. The fear of rejection from a traditional company always kept me from sending off a manuscript. With self-publishing, you get to release the story you want and control all other aspects of being in business. And I mean ALL aspects, which can be extremely difficult, but I know I feel better knowing all the rights to my books are mine.
I truly believe more and more authors will become designers, because not all of them earn a living from book sales. If you can design your own cover, it saves you money. It’s one of the reasons I’m happy to have already been tech savvy. Being able to make my own cover saved me money when I was just starting out and is one of the reasons my prices are so competitive. I know it’s not easy having to shell out for everything yourself.
 
10. What advice would you give to aspiring authors and graphic designers who are looking to break into the industry?

When I first started publishing, there was an overwhelming sense of being alone on this journey. Then I found the Write Here, Write Now Community—a group of fellow authors who you can lean on and ask for advice on all aspects of writing. My journey as an author has changed so much being part of a tribe. I used to be so scared of sprints. I was encouraged—not pressured—into trying them. And, I flourished, getting better and better word counts each time. My confidence around how I write has increased dramatically too. Listening to other authors read snippets of their work, helped me to see where I could improve my own words. I’ve had feedback from fellow authors, support when I haven’t been able to write and just a whole sense of community that makes this job easier. I can’t recommend enough finding a troupe that can help you when you get imposter syndrome, that will lift you up when you feel like there’s no point writing anymore and who rally around to celebrate your successes too. Personally, I recommend the Write Here, Write Now Community. It’s not an annual subscription. You can join for a month to see what the fuss is about, and there’s no obligation to stay if it’s not right for you, but I bet you’ll stick around. We’re pretty great in there, all of us.

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Thank you for dropping by my blog Clare, and answering my questions.

And if you want to learn more about Clare, and where to find both her books and graphic design services, read on.

About Clare Bentley

Clare Bentley is a married mother of a son and a daughter, who are now adults. She was raised by a single mother and didn’t care to know her abusive biological father, instead considering her stepfather to be her dad. 

Playtime for her growing up was filled with creating scenarios to act out and making up dance routines to her favourite songs of the late 80s to early 90s.

She discovered a love of writing in secondary school English, which was the only lesson she cared to attend, and the only GCSE’s she actually got a decent grade in. 

She never really had a passion for anything other than being a mother until she was one, and that’s when she decided to try her hand at writing.

And that led her into the world of self-publishing.

Find Clare Bentley Online at: Amazon | Goodreads | Facebook | Instagram

And find Happy Bee Designs at: Website | Facebook | Instagram 
 

Christine Rains' Dice & Debauchery Blog Tour: Reverse Interview

Hi Clare! Thanks so much for hosting me today. I miss having our chats, and I'm so excited we have a chance to try something new. I've named it: The Reverse Interview. (Does it need a better superhero name? It sounds dynamic in my head, but it's accompanied by dramatic music.)

(Clare: I like it – It makes me think of Reverse Flash!)

Clare is part of my team of awesome critique partners and beta readers. Instead of an author interview, I'm going to interview her. Pretty cool, right? Here we go!

Clare: Christine, thanks for allowing me to be part of your critique team, and including me in your blog tour. It’s always a pleasure to have you here!

What was your first reaction when I told you that I was writing a geeky erotic romance?

That it was an awesome idea. All your previous works have included romance, and light sexy scenes, so I knew you’d be great expanding into erotica. The fact that it had a geeky element made it all the more cooler!

Do you think geeky characters can interest romance and erotica readers as much as the typical beautiful heroine and hot alpha hero?

Absolutely! I think you and I, and others like us are living proof. We’re geeks that love romance and erotica, and we can’t be the only ones out there. And sexuality is just a natural expression of life!

What was your first impression of Loose Corset?

I loved it. First of all, it was scorching hot! *drools* I also loved the character of Morgan – I know plenty of women who are curvy and maybe a little insecure about their looks, and can cover that with playing a character. In those respects Morgan is very relatable.

Did you enjoy the geeky references and jokes or was the humor too nerdy?

I loved the geeky references and jokes. When something popped up that I was into, I felt less alone. Here’s this sexy woman, having the time of her life at a con, and she likes the same “weird” things I do. That’s awesome!

Did you think the characters are like real life geeks?

Yes, and I think this goes back to my answer to question two. There are a lot of women who are into geeky things, but are also sexually active. Just because you like comic books, or role-play games etc. doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy sex! I mean, have you seen some comic book characters, or characters from more geeky things, like Doctor Who? They’re hot!

Who is your favorite character and why?

Morgan! First of all, I love the name Morgan, and as I said in question three, she’s a very realistic, relatable character. She’s not perfect, but that doesn’t stop her getting what she wants, and being a bad-ass!

What do you think are my strengths with this story? What are my weaknesses?

There’s so many strengths in this story. The humor and geek culture. The steamy erotica. The wonderful characterization. There’s a lot to love, and not much I’d label weakness. In fact, nothing springs to mind!

There are geeky jokes even in the intimate moments. Do humor and sex go well together?

Absolutely! You can’t take life too seriously, or you’ll end up going insane. And if you can’t laugh at yourself, then what’s the point?! lol

My concept for the Dice & Debauchery series is to follow three couples from one gaming group over the course of five days. Each book will focus on a different pair. There are scenes that will overlap, and the reader will get to experience the scenes from different perspectives. As a reader, do you like seeing the same scenes through various points of view, or would you rather leave some things to your imagination?

YES! I loved when you did something similar in the 13^th Floor Series, and how all the books were interlinked, so it’s great that you’re doing it again in the Dice & Debauchery series. It’s great to get a different character’s perspective on something, and see a scene through new eyes.

You've already read the second book in the series. What do you think about it? (You can give away a few teaser details!)

I LOVED the second book. Maybe even more than the first. While Morgan is a very relatable woman, with certain image related hang-ups, Emily is the woman I wish I could have been in my early twenties. She’s confident, outgoing and not afraid to take what she wants. More power to her. Plus, this book is even steamier than the second, if that’s possible!

Dice and Debauchery, Book 1: Loose Corset

A weekend away at a convention is exactly what overworked student Morgan needs. Dressed as her character from her favorite online game, Morgan is braced—seriously, could her corset be tighter?—to meet the other players. As Lady Gyrfalcon, she’s ready for everything—except her intense attraction to Dean. A clandestine meeting in the hallway of the hotel and Morgan’s corset is looser but now she can’t breathe for entirely different reasons.

Utterly charmed, Morgan decides to roll the dice and indulge in a fantasy-worthy weekend of sexy roleplaying, scorching sex and life-altering orgasms. Still, through it all Morgan is too smart to believe the chemistry constantly stripping her of costumes and control can last more than the length of the convention. But if she wants to keep a relationship so intense she thought it only existed in fiction, she’s going to have to let go of her cool-headed logic and allow herself to fall far and fast for the perfect guy.

A Romantica® contemporary erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

Goodreads | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Ellora’s Cave

About the author:

Christine Rains is a writer, blogger, and geek mom. She's married to her best friend and fellow geek living in south-central Indiana. They have one son who is too smart for his parents' own good and loves to pretend he's Batman. Christine has four degrees which help nothing with motherhood, but make her a great Jeopardy player. When she's not reading or writing, she's going on adventures with her son or watching cheesy movies on Syfy Channel. She's a member of Untethered Realms and S.C.I.F.I. (South Central Indiana Fiction Interface). She has several short stories and novellas published. The Dice & Debauchery series is her first contemporary erotic romance. 

Please visit her website and blog.

You can also find Christine on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Goodreads.

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The Truths about Dating and Mating BlogTour - Video Post By Jaycee DeLorenzo

Happy Monday People!

I know I've been absent from the blogging world for a few weeks - and an explanation/ update is coming later - but I wanted to come back today to take part in Jaycee DeLorenzo's The Truths about Dating and Mating Blog Tour.


I've been excited about Jaycee's book ever since I first heard about it back in April through one of Jaycee's bloghops, and am very much looking forwards to reading it now it's released.

As part of her blog tour, Jaycee agreed to record a special video blog and answer five of my questions about The Truths about Dating and Mating and the writing process.  

Enjoy!

The Truths about Dating and Mating
Author:  Jaycee DeLorenzo
Release Date:  November 21, 2012

Spunky Italian coed Ivy Rossini likes to talk and push the boundaries. She gets to do both as she co-hosts Riordan College’s radio program, The Truths about Dating and Mating, alongside her lifelong best friend, Ian Hollister.

Being the only girl who cares to see beyond Ian’s bad boy reputation has its advantages, especially when he’s scaring off the jerks who just want to nail the campus sex-guru. It’s when he’s “protecting” her from the advances she welcomes that she wants to lob him over the head and tell him to butt out. But Ivy’s feels like she’s the one who’s taken a hit when Ian almost kisses her at a party. She knows she should feel relieved when he pulls away, so why is she disappointed instead?

What’s worse, Ivy’s now getting aroused by Ian’s slightest touch and can’t stop entertaining thoughts of a romantic future. But Ian doesn’t do relationships, and she’s not interested in anything casual. In the end, Ivy decides it’s best to keep her growing feelings a secret and hope they’ll pass. However, when Ian begins hinting at wanting to take things to the next level, she’s forced to decide if a chance at something more is worth risking everything they’ve built.

With their friendship and her heart hanging in the balance, can Ivy follow the advice she and Ian give their listeners - to communicate, be honest, and trust in themselves - or will insecurity, stubbornness, and pride ruin any chance of their relationship getting off the ground?

Buy Links:  Amazon | B&N | Smashwords

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Jaycee DeLorenzo hails from Tucson, Arizona, on the outskirts of the Saguaro National Park – which she believes to be the most beautiful spread of desert in the world.  By day, Jaycee is an English language teacher to elementary students. By night, she’s a wife, mother, writer, cover artist, website designer, and blogger.  In her spare time, she enjoys reading, cooking, singing (very poorly), catching up on her favorite T.V. shows, and researching.

The Truths about Dating and Mating is Jaycee's debut novel, and the first in a series centering around students of the fictitious Riordan College.

Find Jaycee on the web:

Website  |  Blog  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  | Goodreads

Along with her tour, Jaycee is doing a rafflecopter giveaway! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Buccaneer Blogfest: Week One, Day Three

 

I'm back again with day three of the month long Buccaneer Blogfest hosted by Sharon Bayliss and Courtney Young.

First, I'd like to say thank you for all the comments on Wednesday's entry. It was lovely to read everyone's reasons for getting into blogging, and inspiring to know that many of you, like me, have found the writing blogging community so warm, welcoming and supportive.

I probably don't say this enough, so I'll say it again now, a huge thank you to everyone who supports and encourages my writing. I couldn't keep going without you guys. ♥♥♥♥♥

Okay, enough lovin' on with the fest.

(July 13) Interview the person signed up below you on the linky and post that interview.

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Brighton Luke (Pineapple) and Utsav Mukherjee (Lightning) of Pineapple Lightning. 

For those of you wondering, I'm being interviewed by the lovely Aldrea Alien over at Thardrandian Thoughts. Thanks for having me Aldrea, and posing such wonderful questions!