Month: October 2011
Meet the Author: Michael Edward McNally
- Author M. Edward McNally
Meet author Michael Edward “Ed” McNally. Ed is the author of what he describes as an epic “Musket and Magic” fantasy series, collectively called the Norothian Cycle. Though the novels may be classified as fantasy, genre labels don’t mean much to Ed. He considers himself a fiction-writer whose work contains characters like dragons, samurai, knights and devils. You want to slap a label on that? Knock yourself out.
Ed grew up reading fantasy classics, but says, “. . . to me a lot of the fantasy books coming out now seem to revel in darkness to an extent that makes them as tedious and painful as the national news.” Continue reading “Meet the Author: Michael Edward McNally”
A Writer’s Companion
- Dharielle
Writing can be solitary work. Even in a crowded household an author spends a lot of time inside his or her own head. It is not fun to watch someone write. The family does not gather round, riveted by your deft keystrokes, shaking their heads in mild disappointment as you hit the backspace key yet again. The act of writing will never be turned into a television show. Probably not.
Still, many writers do have one or more constant companions. Perhaps a cat or dog or boa constrictor abide in silent company with you as you write, curled up on your lap, or nestled right under where you wish to put your feet.
Nothing much else can get through a writer’s wall of concentration. When upon leaving the house, one of your kids says, “Well, I’m off to join a biker gang.” You murmur zombie-like and wave absently in the general direction from which you heard the sound. However, your animal companion knows when you need a break because it coincides perfectly with when they need to be fed or walked. You adapt to this. It becomes ritualistic, a part of your writing experience. As I write these very words my wife’s cat Koko is curled up at my feet as always.
They may distract, divert, amuse, annoy, inspire or abide quietly with you for hours. You can call it whatever you like but it is something, and when you lose it, you lose something. Yesterday my friend and fellow author Annarita Guarnieri lost her beloved cat and long-time writing companion Dharielle. Our hearts go out to her.
Chapter 2 of Martha Randolph Carr’s “Wired”
When I asked friend and author Martha Randolph Carr to share a sample of her latest novel with Indies Unlimited, she was more than generous. This is chapter 2 of “WIRED.” You can read part 1 here.
Martha describes “WIRED” as an old school thriller set in 1989 just before the age of the internet, cell phones, home computers or even ATM’s. She invites the reader to “Enjoy reading about an era that had more in common with the technology of 1889 than 2011 and a time when people had to lay eyes on each other and communicate face to face if they were going to stop a killer.”
If you enjoy the sample, please drop a comment to let Martha know.
“WIRED” is available as an e-book on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, and iTunes. Also, be sure to check out Martha’s excellent website. I extend my thanks to Martha for sharing with us. Continue reading “Chapter 2 of Martha Randolph Carr’s “Wired””