#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with D. C. Gomez

I’d like to welcome author, D.C. Gomez, back to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!

Things you need when you’re in your writing cave: a cozy blanket. I’m extremely comfy when I write, so blankets and pillows are a most.

Things that distract you from writing: having the TV on. While I can write in a public space if necessary, having the TV on completely throws me off.

Hardest thing about being a writer: promoting the books online. It feels like the market is always changing and we are playing catch-up all the time.

Easiest thing about being a writer: for me is creating the plot. I have a blast thinking of the twist and turns my characters are going to face in the story.

The coolest thing you’ve bought online: I actually bought an extra large comfy blanket from a TikTok shop that blew me away. It quickly got relocated to my hubby’s office.

The thing you wished you’d never bought: I accidentally bought a case (24 cans) of stuffed olives with salmon. I was curious and wanted to tried them. Not my proudest moment.

Favorite snacks: chips and salsa- I could live on this.

Things that make you want to gag: anything with eggplants.

Something you’re really good at: dancing comes really natural to me and I can get lost in the music.

Something you’re really bad at: most organized sports. Really don’t enjoy the competitiveness of it. Strange because I can be really competitive in other areas.

Something you wanted to be when you were a kid: a doctor, but I’m sure it was because of my family since I can’t stand the sight of an open wound.

Something you do that you never dreamed you’d do: I never imagined being a soldier, but grateful I joined.

Favorite places you’ve been: a few years ago I went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Absolutely amazing.

Places you never want to go to again: any amusement park. Terrified of heights so I skipped all the rides.

The most exciting thing about your writing life: getting to meet readers and talk about books is officially the best part of my writing life. It’s amazing when they love my characters.

The one thing you wish you could do over in your writing life: learn how to market my books better from the beginning.

The nicest thing a reader said to you: “I haven’t slept in two days because I couldn’t put the book down.” To this day, that makes my day.

The craziest thing a reader said to you: “Have you been following me around, because this is my life.” I was told that when Death’s Intern came out and all I could do was smile.

Recommendations for curing writer’s block: stop thinking about the book and do something physical. Go for a walk, ride a book or play music. Getting yourself moving has a way of unlocking ideas.

Things you do to avoid writing: housework. If I’m procrastinating, my house gets really clean before I start to write.

About D.C.:

D.C. Gomez is an award-winning USA Today Bestselling Author who writes in multiple genres. While she started her publishing journey writing Urban Fantasy and Children’s Book, she expanded her books into women’s contemporary literature and non-fiction. Her non-fiction books include a collection of devotionals books, as well as a motivational one.

While publishing full time and managing her small business, D.C. proudly severs as an Army Civilian in Texarkana, Texas. A career she embarked shortly after her enlistment in the U.S. Army ended. She served for four years, culminating her career as a Sergeant with the 101st Field Support Battalion in the First Infantry Division. That included a year deployment to Iraq at the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

D.C. has an undergraduate degree in Fine Arts from New York University in Film and Televisions. In May 2007, D.C. was awarded a master degree in Science Administration from Central Michigan University. In 2013 she was also awarded a second master degree in Science in Adult Education from Texas A&M University- Texarkana.

A believer of life-learning and a self-proclaimed professional student, D.C. continues to look for ways to improved and grow. That journey led to her certification as a Meditation Instructor from the Chopra Center. It also motivated her to become a certified public speaker and coach from The John Maxwell Team. D.C. serves as a certified Sexual Assault Advocate for the Department of Defense.

After years of searching for balance between all her different passions, D.C. found harmony in the organized chaos. By understanding and embracing the need for both a corporate career as well as a creative business, she has found the perfect mix of creativity and efficiency. This has allowed for true enjoyment in her life.

Let’s Be Social:

Website: http://www.dcgomez-author.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/dcgomez.author

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/dc.gomez

#WriterWednesday with Bjorn Leesson

I’d like to welcome Bjorn Leesson to the blog for #WriterWednesday!

Hardest thing about being a writer:  Realizing that the one the most invested in your story is you, and you will likely not find a person more interested in your work.

Easiest thing about being a writer:  Just the writing when the stars are in the right alignment, and everything is flowing smoothly.  It’s wonderful.

Favorite foods:  Pizza, fried chicken, and pizza.

Things that make you want to gag:  Dill flavoring. I just can’t make myself like dill.

Favorite beverage:  Regular old black coffee.

Something that gives you a sour face:  Ridiculously and unnecessarily strong coffee (like expresso), and nearly anything from Starbucks (sorry, just not a Starbucks fan – price or taste).

Something you’re really good at:  Developing characters in stories.  I love it.

Something you’re really bad at:  Stopping, and that’s likely why my “short story” has turned into a series with eight foreseeable installments, and maybe more.

Things you always put in your books:  Humor, and lots of it.  All stories, no matter how dark they might be, should have some chuckles in it too.

Things you never put in your books:  Gratuitous and pointless sex.  In my opinion, a story should be strong enough to stand on its own without throwing in a bunch of smutty scenes that don’t add anything to the story.

Things to say to an author:  “My, you sure have a vivid imagination.”

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book:  “I would have written that differently.”  To which my reply is, “Then write your own.  What’s stopping you?”

Favorite books (or genre):  Adventure, supernatural mystery, and both fiction and nonfiction historical.

Books you wouldn’t buy:  I can’t think of a book I definitely wouldn’t buy.  I might suspect I wouldn’t enjoy some, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t try.

The nicest thing a reader said to you:  “I never enjoyed this type of story before, but I love yours.  You might have converted me.”

The craziest thing a reader said to you:  “You put too much detail in your stories.” 

Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done:  I secretly built an English/Irish styled pub in the back of my garage over the course of a couple of months without my wife even knowing until I finished and showed it to her.  She was impressed, even though she will never admit it to anyone else.

A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it:  Raising goats to keep the grass cut.  As it turns out, I have the most finicky and spoiled goats in the world.

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books:  My series being historical fiction fantasy, much of it is based on historical fact with my own added fiction to it.  For example, the Norse did settle England and were wiped out by the Saxons – helping to kick off the two hundred years of massive Viking raids on England.

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not:  Not so much a scene of the story, but a friend of mine who has read some of the books (he is not a book reader, per se) told me he can definitely see a lot of me in the protagonist, Myrgjol the Dokkrsdottir.  I found it to be an honor for him to say so.

About Bjorn:

I am Bjorn Leesson.  I was born in the Lowcountry of South Carolina a long, long time ago.  I have worked in manufacturing all my working life to feed myself but has nourished my mind with the study of many topics; history of all eras, the paranormal, astronomy, writing of different types, photography, archeology, genealogy, vexillology, some other -ologies, even stock car racing for a couple of years, and on and on.  I find just about everything fascinating in some way and have been accused of being too easily entertained.  A blend of a few of these interests led to the creation of the Thalsparr Universe.  The first two installments of the series, “Runes of the Dokkrsdottir” and "Rune of Renewal” are out now with more coming.  I currently live in the Midlands of South Carolina with my wife of 25 years on our hobby farm.

Let’s Be Social:

website:  thalsparr.com

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/stores/Bjorn-Leesson/author/B0C3TG5NBS?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1728149792&sr=8-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Alethea Lyons

Happy Halloween! I’d like to welcome author Alethea Lyons to the blog for a #ThisorThatThursday interview.

Favorite thing that you always make time for: Aside from family, writing and reading. It takes a lot of time, so my social life goes out the window, but I’m okay with that.

The thing you’ll always do just about anything to avoid: Big parties where people will be doing anything competitive. Sorry to my friends who all seem to love boardgames, but I absolutely hate it and will self-sabotage.

Things you need when you’re in your writing cave: Since I started having to grab whatever time I could around my toddler, this list has basically dropped to ‘something to write with’ even if that’s just my phone and a five-minute break.

Things that distract you from writing: The two-year-old is pretty distracting! Seriously though, I find it hard to multitask, so if I keep getting e-mails or other projects are intruding, that’s difficult. Grating noises outside are difficult for my migraines, so if I am home alone and can have music, I do, just so outside noises are less noticeable.

The thing you like most about being a writer: Spinning a story out of something tiny. A perfectly crafted sentence.

The thing you like least about being a writer: Marketing and querying.

Things you will run to the store for in the middle of the night: Sometimes I wish I could run to the store for ice cream. Mostly, my emergency late night shops have been for milk when I’ve either just gotten home from a holiday or I’ve run out late. I need a cup of tea in the morning.

Things you never put on your shopping list: Tuna. It makes me really sick, so I won’t have it in the house. I will only buy coffee very reluctantly. I hate the smell of that too, but I have to get it for my mother-in-law.

The coolest thing you’ve bought online: Technically my husband’s purchase first and I then got him the same present. We each have a pair of battle lightsabers. It makes for quite the show in the back garden. He has the advantage being trained in staff fighting (and they link to make a lightsaber staff), whereas I’m a fencer and have to remember a lightsaber doesn’t have a guard.

The thing that you will most remember about your writing life: The feeling of coming down from a phone call to tell my husband that books 1.5 and 2 of my series had been picked up. I sat on the couch and cried.

Something in your writing life that you wish you could do over: Notifying people of the offer I had. I’d word it differently and I’d ask for more than two weeks.

Something you wanted to be when you were a kid: Astronaut when I was little, then astrophysicist until I was about sixteen.

Something you do that you never dreamed you’d do: Write! It’s not enough to earn a living, but I never thought I’d have a book anyone would read, let alone published books and stories.

The best job you ever had: I count writing, even though it doesn’t make me any money. Job that I actually made a living at, though? Probably a role that was basically ‘problem solver’ and making things more efficient.

The worst job you ever had: Working on the line at a scampi factory. So disgusting my mom would plastic-wrap the car before picking me up, and I had to hop over the wall of the parking lot behind our house so I could go in the back gate and straight into the walk in shower rather than go through the house.

Favorite things to do: Play with my kid, write, read, travel with my husband, walk in the countryside, play my violin, sing. I’m pretty easy to please.

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: Playing an instrument in front of someone, especially if I know they’re good at playing it. Working in a fish factory again.

The one thing you cook/bake that is better than a restaurant dish: Not sure it compares to a restaurant dish, but my proudest baking achievement is that I can make candy cane cookies that taste as good as Grandma’s and I have a better method for making them.

The one thing you cooked/baked that turned out to be an epic disaster: One of the first years I made Thanksgiving dinner, I forgot to put the eggs in the pumpkin pies. They tasted great… for pumpkin goop.

About Alethea:

Alethea (she/ze) writes various forms of SFF, with a particular love for science-fantasy, dark fantasy, dystopias, and folklore. Many of her works take place at the intersection between technology and magic. Ze enjoys writing stories with subtle political and philosophical messages, but primarily wants zir stories to be great tales with characters readers will love. She also has soft spots for found family, hopeless romances, and non-human characters. Zir short stories can be found in a variety of publications and links for these are on her website.

Alethea lives in Manchester, UK with her husband, little Sprite, a cacophony of stringed instruments, and more tea than she can drink in a lifetime.

Let’s Be Social:

Website: https://alethealyons.wixsite.com

Social media: https://linktr.ee/alethearlyons