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When did you become interested in storytelling?

Years ago, I was working on a book of interviews. People answered questions eagerly but when I came to edit the transcripts it became clear that, although they were telling a story, it was buried in what they said. When we talk, we don’t formulate a beginning, a middle, and an end. We start with what we feel is the most important point and then usually we go to the end and then backtrack to fill in details and often end with the beginning. But no matter how we tell it, it’s all stories. This experience gave me a crash course in shaping narrative.

Stories are how we understand ourselves and everything around us. People who are unable to form a narrative cannot function in our world. In the branch of psychotherapy called narrative therapy, therapists found that, in dealing with people who had been through terrible ordeals including war, torture, or great loss, the patient who could form a narrative, who could tell a story about what happened and why it happened, might recover and go on. Those who couldn’t do that remained in a state of disfunction.

Ursula Le Guin said, “Stories held in common make and remake the world we inhabit. The story we agree to tell about what a child is or who the bad guys are or what a woman wants will shape our thinking and our actions, whether we call that story a myth or a movie or a speech in Congress.”

I believe this to be true.

What was your first book/story published?

When I was 11 years old, a Bay Area newspaper held a contest for kids to find the best essay about, you guessed it, “What I Did on My Summer Vacation.” Mine was one of the three winners and our essays were published in the paper. Does that count?

What inspired you to write Threshold?

A few years ago I was researching a project on the environment and I read through many of the important nonfiction books on the subject of climate change and related problems mounting in the natural world. It’s heavy stuff and it occurred to me that approaching these issues from another angle, in an imaginative and entertaining manner, could be a good idea. I wanted to write something … different. As I worked on Threshold, it became differenter and differenter. Then all these animals showed up. To tell the truth, it got out of my control. The characters wrote this. I was an innocent bystander.

What character in Threshold is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

I would like to be more like Raoul, a very transgressive little fellow, but I’m afraid I’m more a goodie two-shoes like the main character, Banshooo.

What is your favorite part in Threshold?

The scenes with the crazy-wisdom master, Sid. He really tells us what we need to know.

What was the hardest part to write?

Several characters die. I liked them and didn’t want them to go but that’s the way of it, in stories, in life, in the natural world.

What would your ideal career be, if you couldn't be an author?

Well actually, I’d like to be King of the World. I’m sure I would do a good job. No, really. Seriously. Don’t you think you could make things better if you were able to decree all those things you know would help. In lieu of that, I write. It’s a way to get your hopes, dreams, ideas, fears, all of it out there.

Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?

Now available on Amazon, BN, Kobo, and iTunes is the paranormal crime thriller Preordained by David L Wallace.


The author has taken a few minutes out of his busy schedule to talk about newest novel.


When did you become interested in storytelling?

I’ve always been interested in writing. Prior to graduating high school, I’d write short stories about some of my interesting friends. After graduation, I spent some time in the Navy and started a family. My life became so busy, I didn’t feel I had the time to write. No longer able to suppress that need, I studied writing at UCLA and started my author career.

What was your first book/story published?

Trojan (2016), a techno thriller. Inspiration for it came from a work scenario during my attendance of a computer science class while on active duty in the US Navy. One of the instructors removed the covers off a few of the computers in the lab and I noticed the tiny chips, the brains of those machines, were all manufactured overseas somewhere. It shocked me and made me a little nervous that our defense systems could be dependent on foreign parts. It begged the question … what if an unknown entity embedded rogue computer logic within the hardware components of those machines at the time they’re manufactured, causing them to crash at a predetermined time, incapacitating our defense capabilities? That question led to the formation of Trojan.

What inspired you to write Preordained?

Inspiration for my current release, Preordained (2018), came from childhood events in my life. My parents moved our family from New York to South Carolina when I was in the first grade. The locals in the surrounding areas, both family members and neighbors, would speak of ghost, paranormal and supernatural events, believing with everything in them that those stories were real. I’ve enjoyed watching and reading numerous stories of that ilk and when I decided to pen one, naturally, I decided to make the setting be one of the neighboring counties to where I grew up.

What character in Preordained is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

Art is the most like me. I’ve discovered that all my stories reflect aspects of my persona within the main protagonist. The number one characteristic is Art’s willingness to sacrifice all and fight for what he believes in.

What is your favorite part in Preordained?

My favorite parts of the story are the dynamics of Art’s personal relationships with his girlfriend Angela Hunter, his maternal grandmother Sarah, and his son Benjamin.

What was the hardest part to write?

The hardest parts to write were the last two chapters because of the resolution Art found at the end of the story, and the flaw I gave his partner and love interest, Angela Hunter. The story had only one way to end and when I wrote it, it took a toll on me. The flaw that I gave Angela, is one that people close to me also experience.

What would your ideal career be, if you couldn't be an author?

I'm almost positive that every single person (male and female) has had some sort of doubts and fears when it comes to online dating.

I know I do!

If you follow this blog, then you would already know I've been interesting in online dating, but my fear of rejection holds me back from actually joining a dating site. I briefly tried out a free dating site a few years ago, but I didn't exactly have a pleasant experience. While I did find a few matches, the women that replied were rude, and they just weren't the type of date that I would wanted to be associated with.

Also, I have a fear (well more like anxiety) of meeting new people, which doesn't exactly help me in meeting a woman for an actual date. I've seen way too many episodes of Law & Order SVU, so I do know that online dating can be dangerous.

Recently, I read about an innovative campaign in London called "Ask for Angela," which allows someone who feels uncomfortable on a date at a pub or club to discreetly ask for help from a staff member by simply "asking for Angela." The initiative (or program) is available at participating locations throughout London. Originally launched by Lincolnshire County Council, the program was created to help reduce sexual violence by letting individuals to get assistance from the staff by using a non-descript phrase. The staff would take this person to a safer location and either call a cab for them or contact a friend or family member. A test-run for the program occurred last year by the Metropolitan Police in Merton and was proven to be a success with more than 50% of the venues signing up to join the initiative. 

Lionsgate; Rated R; 94 minutes; Amazon

Now available to own on Blu-ray & Digital from Lionsgate Home Entertainment is the action-thriller Braven. Directed by Lin Oeding, the film the stars Jason Moma (Justice League; Stargate Atlantis), Garret Dillahunt (Fear the Walking Dead), Jill Wagner (Stargate Atlantis), and Stephan Lang (Avatar). The only Special Feature on the Blu-ray is "The Braven's View."

The film centers on Joe Braven (played by Jason Momoa), a logging company owner. He travels to his family's remote hunting cabin with his father (played by Stephen Lang), who suffers from dementia. After his father had caused a fight at a bar, Joe and his wife, Stephanie (played by Jill Wagner), decides that the best step would be to place him in a nursing home. Joe had planned on telling him during their trip, but his plans changes when they discover a duffel bag full of cocaine.

With no way to report the drugs due to no cellular signals in the area, Joe and his father planned on leaving as soon as possible before the drug trafficker returns, but things don't unfold out they way they had hoped. The drug lord Kassen (played by Garret Dillahunt) and his mercenaries surround the cabin. To make matters worse, Joe's young daughter, Charlotte, had hid herself in the family car. So, now, Joe must hide the cocaine and barricade his family inside the cabin; all while, he becomes a one-man army against Kassen and the mercenaries.

Is there a fictitious town in a book that you would love to live in? What makes it appealing?

2. Enter the link to your post in the linky list below (enter your Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Failure to do so will result in removal of your link).


3. Visit other blogs in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading other posts and possible become a new follower.  The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.
  

My Answer:

I would like to visit Hobbiton from the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings novels by J.R.R Tolkien!

Now available on paperback and Kindle is the historical paranormal romance Salem Burning by Daniel Sugar.



When did you become interested in storytelling?

When I was 5 years old I saw a TV show called “Bewitched” and that was it – I was suddenly hooked on stories about witches.

What was your first book/story published?

“Salem Burning” is my first novel. It was published, (on Amazon), in Kindle form on February 20th, 2018 and in paperback form on March 9th, 2018.

What inspired you to write “Salem Burning”?

One day I thought, what if someone told a lie and it just happened to be true? And then I thought, and what if that happened in 1692? Once I started thinking about the Salem witch trials of 1692, I realized that that particular, well-known event in history would be an interesting backdrop for a discussion about the way men treat women. In fact, in one scene in “Salem Burning”, the heroine, Lilly Parris, actually says to the young man who has destroyed her life, “Is this the way you treat women?” That’s really what the book is about – the way men treat women. I wanted to turn the Salem witch trials upside down and so I did - and this time, the women win.

What character in “Salem Burning” is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

Unfortunately, no one in “Salem Burning” is like me. I say unfortunately, because I’d love to be Lilly Parris. She’s so strong and brave and she has such amazing adventures. Her life is really quite cool. Who wouldn’t want Lilly’s life? I know I certainly would!

What is your favorite part in “Salem Burning”?

I really like the scene after the wolf attack when Lilly is alone in the forest. To me, that really shows who she is; a free spirit who really loves life.

What was the hardest part to write?

The only hard part was the first sentence. I thought about it for a very long time (months) because I wasn’t sure about tense or tone. Once I had the first sentence it was smooth sailing.

What would your ideal career be, if you couldn't be an author?

I’d like to work on sitcoms in any capacity – even sweeping floors. I love being around comedy, comedians – funny people. I’ve sold comedy to “The Tonight Show” and I write jokes every day on my Twitter page. You can find me at Daniel Sugar @1692SalemWitch.

Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?

When did you become interested in storytelling?

I have been writing stories for as long as I can remember. I have always had a very active imagination, but I never dreamed that one day I would be publishing my mind’s musings.

What was your first book/story published?

Call of the Wolf, the first in the Dark Blood Trilogy, was my first book I published, I have had stories on fanfiction sites, but I don’t really count them as published.

What inspired you to write The Dark Blood Trilogy?

I used to be part of a role play group on twitter that was set in 17th century France. A few of the characters are loosely based on the characters from the group. At first the Dark Blood Trilogy was going to be an historic novel, but I just couldn’t get on with it. Being a big fantasy fan, I decided to write what I enjoy. So I took the characters and put them into the paranormal world that this book is based in.

What character in The Dark Blood Trilogy is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

I think Samantha is very much like me. I loved writing her, she is so strong and independent. She is humble and very loyal to those who deserve it. Her character is very much like me too, hot headed, but can be tamed by the right people. As for the character least like me, I would have to say the vampire lord Thanatos. He is just plain evil, with no compassion. A very cold and selfish character.

What is your favorite part in The Dark Blood Trilogy?

This is a tough question because I truly enjoyed writing the whole series. I think my favorite part in the whole series has to be when Samantha, and her parents Emilie the white witch and Aleron the vampire come together as one to destroy the evil that has taken many of their people. It’s such a special moment for me to have them reunited.

What was the hardest part to write?

Disney; TV-Y; 144 minutes; Walmart

Available today on DVD from Disney Home Entertainment is computer-animated Puppy Dog Pals, featuring twelve exciting 12-minute episodes! There are no special features or bonus extras on the single disc.

Created by Harland Williams, the series features the talented voice-cast of Issac Ryan Brown as Bingo; Sam Lavagnino as Rolly; Harland Williams as Bob; Jessica DiCicco as Hissy; and Tom Kenny as A.R.F.

The series centers on two pug puppy brothers, Bingo and Rolly, who live with their inventor owner, Bob, a robotic dog named A.R.F. (Automatic Doggy Robotic Friend), and a sarcastic purple cat named Hissy. While their owner is home, Bingo and Rolly act like normal puppies, but when he is out of the house, they slip on their collars and go on adventures around the world.


Episodes on the DVD include:

• Hawaii Pug-Oh - After their owner, Bob, mentions that he would like to feel sand on his toes, Bingo and Rolly travel to Hawaii to get some sand.
• A.R.F. - Bob creates a robotic dog do clean up after Bingo and Rolly.
• The French Toast Connection - Bob wants to make french toast, but he's out of bread; so Bingo and Rolly travel to France to get a loaf of bread.
• Take Me Out To The Pug Game - Bingo and Rolly travel across the city to retrieve Bob's lost baseball.
• A Pyramid Scheme - After the Great Pyramids disappears into thin air, Bingo and Rolly travel to Egypt to solve the mystery.
• Special Delivery - Bingo and Rolly go on a mission to delivery a Mother's Day card to Bob's mother.
• The Go-Long Retriever - Bob creates a self-fetching stick for Bingo and Rolly to play with.
• Pot O' Pugs - After Bob's laptop crashes, Bingo and Rolly go on a mission to find a pot of gold at the end of rainbow, so Bob can afford to get his laptop fixed.
• Design-A-Dog - After accidentally tearing apart Bob's favorite childhood toy, Bingo and Rolly travel across town to repair the toy.
• Ice, Ice Puggy - After Bob runs out of ice for his iced tea, Bingo and Rolly travel to Antarctica to get him some ice.
• Hissy's Big Day - Hissy is having one of the worst days in her life, so Bingo and Rolly take her on a trip around the city to cheer her up.
• Go, Dog, Go! - A.R.F. takes Bingo and Rolly on a road trip to the beach, but after his programming malfunctions, he can't find their way back home.

Do you overextend yourself with too many reviews because you can't pass up a book in hopes you will get them all done or do you carefully plan and be sure you can fulfill the deadlines for all the promised reviews?

2. Enter the link to your post in the linky list below (enter your Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Failure to do so will result in removal of your link).


3. Visit other blogs in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading other posts and possible become a new follower.  The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.
  

My Answer:

Yep! This happens to me all the time, especially last year. I currently have five books on my desk that have been read, but still need to be reviewed.

When did you become interested in storytelling?

I can’t remember a time not being interested. It just took me twenty-something years to decide I’d do something about it. I mean, I would write some stuff—usually weird—as a child, but it was just fun. Now that I’ve started, I’d be hard-pressed to stop.

What was your first book/story published?

This one! 😊 Unless the creative writing assignment I did as a ten-year-old for my sixteen-year-old aunt counts.

What inspired you to write A Bloodline’s Echo?

About a year ago, I was feeling quite bored and unfulfilled. I was working, I had accomplished most of the big quests on Skyrim, you know…the creative blues. I can’t draw or sing. So, eventually, I started to write, and the story blossomed. The characters felt so real I couldn’t abandon them. I also was inspired to incorporate my favorite story aspects: a bit of magic, a bit of romance, a bit of intrigue, some conflicts I could relate to—albeit wholly exaggerated.

What character in A Bloodline’s Echo is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

Cori’s temperament resembles mine to a small extent. Rylo, the male main character, doesn’t eat meat and neither do I, though for varying reasons. Least like me would probably be Dwyn. He’s exceptionally extroverted, a little pushy, etc. But I strive for my characters to be independent, fully-rounded entities. I hope that all readers find a trace of relatability in them.

What is your favorite part in A Bloodline’s Echo?

The commotion towards the end. It ends with “to be continued…” but before that. Not only do some answers come to surface during this part, but I grew more comfortable with action scenes through it. And…it leaves lots to pick up on in book two. Not to fret—it’s not a painful cliffhanger!

What was the hardest part to write?

The middle for sure. Oh, that wretched middle. I knew where the story was going early in the game, but there are so many potential scenes that can pave the way. I stuck with what felt like the most natural sequence of events. I wanted to implement story ties—little, non-distracting things—that have important implications later in the series, but while continuously moving my characters forward in a meaningful way.

What would your ideal career be, if you couldn't be an author?

My day job is cleaning teeth, but I wouldn’t necessarily call it my ideal career, though it has its moments. This is random, but I’d love to be a high school counselor.

Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?