TODAY's AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

Jeremy Breitenbach

I’d like to thank  Jeremy Breitenbach  for stopping by and sitting down with us for a few minutes on our virtual couch and answering a few questions.

. Can you tell us a little about yourself?   My name is Jeremy Breitenbach. I am legally blind with cerebral palsy. I use Braille. I've been writing since I was 15. I started out with writing original stories based off of video games I liked specifically The Legend of Zelda and original stories based off a '90's cartoon I love called Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, but in the years since I started writing less of Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog but still continued to write The Legend of Zelda stories as well as writing my own original stories based on the anime Dragon Ball Z (which I'm a HUGE fan of). But in 2009 I started writing my first real book; a book for adults entitled The Gateway finishing it in 2011. While writing that I began writing children's books. Completed three: The Abduction of Benjamin Williams, My Dog George, and Tim's Story (and still working on a 4th: Lost in Wisconsin). I also wrote a how-to book entitled How To Read and Write Braille. In 2014 I came across Author Ronnie C. Dawson, CEO and founder of Broken Bars Publishing and told him about myself and all 6 of my books. I e-mailed him The Gateway, and long story short I started publishing it through them. It's being edited, but in about 2 weeks he'll be sending me the first draft so I can review and approve or disapprove the edits. He says by August it'll be finished. Stephen King is my inspiration for wanting to be an author.
Here's what all 6 of my books are about - How To Read and Write Braille: details how to read and write Braille, The Gateway: a physicist opens a gateway on another planet which is in another dimension and leads to an alien invasion; violence and strong language, The Abduction of Benjamin Williams: a family gets betrayed by a neighbor they thought they could trust, My Dog George: a boy's dog runs away, Tim's Story: A boy becomes an orphan after his parents are killed in a tragic car crash. (None of the characters in this book are based on actual people. The basis for this book was inspired by the story told in Contemporary Christian Music artist Steven Curtis Chapman's song "When Love Takes You In", and Tim's red hair was inspired by the hair color of the orphan boy in Steven Curtis Chapman's song "All I Really Want".), and Lost in Wisconsin: a boy gets separated from his parents while they are going on vacation, and due to his dyslexia boards the wrong plane.

. Who’s you favorite author? Stephen King

. Do you have a favorite time or place to write? No, I write whenever the mood strikes me.

. Do you have a favorite food or drink while you write? I don't eat or drink while I write.

.What do you do to relax? To relax I watch TV or listen to music.

. As writers, we all have to deal with writer’s block, what do you do when that happens? When I get writer's block I take a break from writing.

. If you could ask one question of any writer, who would it be and what would you ask? Stephen King. I'd ask what's the hardest part for you when coming up with an idea for a book.

Now that we’ve got the easy stuff out of the way, let’s talk about your book.

. Would you like to share something from you latest project with us?  "The Gateway" introduces readers to Chicago, IL in 2059, and Dr. Richard Caulman, a physicist who aims to revolutionize transportation. Instead his creation leads to an alien invasion which puts the entire world in danger.

. Where do you draw your artistic inspiration from? I draw inspiration from Stephen King.

. Of all your characters, who is your favorite? My favorite character from The Gateway is the main character's son; Richie.

. What authors have had the strongest influence on you as a writer?  Stephen King.

. Do you use an outline or do you let the story emerge as it goes along?  I let the story emerge as it goes along.

. Are you traditionally or self-published? I'm publishing The Gateway through Broken Bars Publishing.

. What made you pick that route?  They're who I came across in my search for a publisher.

. What has been your biggest challenge? Overcoming writer's block when it happens.

. What has been your greatest reward? Finding Broken Bars Publishing

. If you had one professional wish, what would it be? Making a living writing.

That wasn’t so bad was it?  But before we go, do you have any last words of wisdom to offer those reading this? For me becoming an author was a dream of mine and now it's coming true because I never gave up on it. If you have a dream such as wanting to be a writer or whatever it may be never ever give up on it because in time it will come true.

You can find  Jeremy at http://www.brokenbarspublishing.com/our-authors or on facebook  https://www.facebook.com/OfficialJeremyBreitenbach

 AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT:

DW Davis

I’d like to thank DW Davis for stopping by and sitting down with us for a few minutes on my virtual sofa to answer a few questions..  

. Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I am an author of young adult romance/coming-of-age novels told from the guy's perspective, who recently joined Master Koda Select Publishing. My writing reflects my memories of growing up along the North Carolina coast near Wrightsville and Carolina Beaches. I left that area when I graduated high school and traveled half-way around the world and back collecting memories and experiences which help shape my characters. Now back in eastern North Carolina, I enjoy bringing to life characters whose adventures take place in my favorite part of the world.

. Who or what inspires you?
Being near the coast inspires me. I grew up near the beach and it is still where I feel most at home.

. Who’s you favorite author?
I can honestly say I do not have one favorite author. So many authors, from so many different genres have captured my imagination and inspired me over the years that I cannot narrow it down to one.

. Do you have a favorite time or place to write?
When I’m at home, my favorite time to write is late at night when I’m the only one awake. My favorite place to write is the Majik Beanz coffee shop in Carolina Beach. This is the coffee shop that inspired the setting for much of my new book, The Boy From Buzby Beach.

. Do you have a favorite food or drink while you write?
Coffee.

.What do you do to relax?
When I can, I relax by going camping or fishing, preferably both on the same trip.

. As writers, we all have to deal with writer’s block, what do you do when that happens?
My strategy for overcoming writer’s block is to read, listen to music, or watch a favorite old movie. Sometimes I find ideas or inspiration. Sometimes it just helps me relax enough that the words begin flowing again.

Now that we’ve got the easy stuff out of the way, let’s talk about your book.
. Would you like to share something from you latest project with us?
My latest project is the second book in the Buzby Beach series and includes Jacques, the main character from The Boy From Buzby Beach in a key role, but introduces a new character, Sabine, who is new to the island and facing myriad challenges of her own.

. What genre is it?
Teen/Young Adult/Coming of Age

. Where do you draw your artistic inspiration from?
I draw inspiration from my memories of growing up at the beach, having watched my sons grow up, and from watching my middle grade students learning to deal with life.

. What authors have had the strongest influence on you as a writer?
This would be a long and storied list, from Isaac Asimov to Stephen King to Nicholas Sparks to Harry Turtledove to Sarah Dessen to WEB Griffith, just to name a few.

. Do you use an outline or do you let the story emerge as it goes along?
I generally let the story emerge. I find that my characters will often go off and do the unexpected and enjoy letting them define themselves, so to speak.

. Are you traditionally or self-published?
My first three books were self-published. My latest book was published by Master Koda Select Publishing. The MKSP family is a wonderful and supportive group of people and I feel very privileged to have been invited to join their growing list of authors.

. What made you pick that route?
I self-published my first books after spending many months trying to find representation the traditional way. The more research I did, the more I learned about self-publishing, and the more viable an option it started to seem like. As I was searching the web for sites to help me market and promote my books, I was fortunate enough to meet folks associated with MKSP and ultimately they invited me to submit my latest work.

. What has been your biggest challenge?
My biggest challenge has been marketing and promotion. There are so many avenues to pursue it can be frustrating trying to choose the right ones. Thankfully, through my association with MKSP, I have received lots help and direction in that regard.

. What has been your greatest reward?
As a writer, my greatest reward is hearing from readers how much they enjoy my books.
. If you had one professional wish, what would it be?

If I had one professional wish, it would be that I become known as a pre-eminent author of good, enjoyable, well written young adult novels.

That wasn’t so bad was it?  But before we go, do you have any last words of wisdom to offer those reading this?
My words of wisdom are this: Write. If you are waiting until the time is right to write, don’t. Write right now. Don’t worry about format, genre, grammar, spelling, etc. You can fix those later. Just start writing.

You can find DW Davis on:
Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/author/dwdavis
Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/RiverSailorLiterary
Twitter at: https://twitter.com/DWDavisRSL