One Dyke Cozy By Rhani D’Chae

10/27/2018

Multi-volume, multi-genre author Rhani D’Chae introduces us to her lovely contemporary romance about a couple of BFFs One Dyke Cozy:

People come into our lives for a day, a season, or a reason...
"Shy taught me to fight like a champion, love like a poet, & live like it was my last day on earth."

One Dyke Cozy touches on the lives of two girls, Gabby and Shy, from their first meeting as children to Shy's untimely death.

This novel contains profanity and adult situations.

I am learning more and more how much I enjoy romance stories. I find I am rather surprised, since I have been a hardcore fan of sci-fi and fantasy for so many years. This story is perfectly balanced sweetness for me. It comes across as so vivid, partly because it’s written in first person POV, a writing style I happen to enjoy a good deal because of the intimacy it offers when done well. Rhani has done a great job in this book!
I really like the cover also, it illustrates the story to a tee. The scene-setting is concise and very appropriate, the adult situations are handled skillfully without ignoring the seamy sides that do exist in real life.
The characters grow and develop very nicely through all stages of life. The dialogue is downright funny at times, as these two friends banter back and forth.
This is such a well written book, I give it a score of 4.8 stars.

You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/-one-dyke-cozy
https://www.goodreads.com/-one-dyke-cozy

You can follow Rhani D’Chae:
https://twitter.com/rhanidchae
https://rhanidchae.wordpress.com/

Tags: LGBT, contemporary romance
Copyright © 2018 Mark L Schultz except for the author's introduction

78 Comments

Rhani D'Chae link

10/27/2018 07:14:48 pm

Hi, Mark. What a treat to be back here with you again! I'm so glad you liked One Dyke Cozy. It's a real change of pace for me and was a lot of fun to write. 😀

Mark

10/27/2018 07:43:56 pm

This is a lot of fun for me also. It has been almost a year since we last talked here. We have chatted a lot elsewhere, of course.
I did like One Dyke Cozy a lot. I found it funny and poignant at the same time. You expressed the humanity of Gabs and Shy so well! It felt like I was reading a diary much of the time. I really enjoyed the collage of the cover, each picture effectively reminded me of a different part of the story.
Some questions.
Where did the idea for One Dyke Cozy come from? Is it a true story?
Is the character of Shy based on someone you knew?

Rhani D'Chae link

10/27/2018 10:57:41 pm

Hi, Mark. I have to say, I had a blast writing that book! I think my favorite chapter was where they went to the prom. I could definitely picture Shy, getting dolled up in straight drag for a dance she had no desire to attend.
To answer your questions...
I honestly don't know how I got the idea for the book. I used to work with a girl named Shylarynne, and I fell in love with the name. I filed It away in my memory until the right character came along to give it to, and she finally did. So yes, Shy is based on a real person, in that I knew someone with that name. However the two are nothing alike and the fictional Shy is entirely a product of my busy little imagination.
Once the character of Shy was formed, I started thinking of a story to put her in. I thought it would be fun to write a book where each chapter was basically a self-contained short story, and it all kind of fell into place from there. 😀

Mark

10/27/2018 11:42:03 pm

That is fascinating. The two girls are so different. There must be a million and one ways to start writing a book. I think every author has a different inspiration for each book. You started with a name, that is really cool.
New questions.
The other main character. What made you decide to give the cozy, Mr. Happy, such a significant part in the story?
Since each chapter in the book is self-contained, will you be adding more to Gabby and Shy's antics?

Rhani D'Chae link

10/28/2018 12:00:44 am

I get ideas from the strangest places. Lol Shadow of the Drill came from a very small article in the newspaper, and A Perilous Thirst came from a conversation I had back in the 80s with one of my heathen kids.
I saw Mr. Happy as a physical symbol of the years that the girls spent together. He is a consistent factor because he is present in every situation they find themselves in. From the day they met till the day of their last goodbye, Mr. Happy was always there. He clearly meant a great deal to Shy, and it wasn't long until he meant just as much to Gabby. When I wrote the part where Gabby made her decision as to Mr. Happy's future, I was bawling like a baby because, by that point, he meant a lot to me as well.

I do have plans to add more chapters to the book as time goes by. There's so much more that the girls did during their time together, and I think people would enjoy reading about it. One chapter will detail the night that Shy took Gabby dancing at a gay bar, and Gabby was as much out of place there as Shy had been at the Black Angus. 😀

Mark

10/28/2018 10:13:44 am

Mr. Happy certainly plays an important part in the story. He brought a certain amount of levity to the story, but his importance to Shy was never lost. I think she might have been lost without him.
I am not surprised you were crying in that scene, my eyes were sweating a little bit also. It was quite emotional.
Adding to the book could be quite interesting. I can see it becoming more than one book, actually.
New questions.
One Dyke Cozy is an interesting title. How did that come to be?
Would you classify this book as LGBT?

Rhani D'Chae link

10/28/2018 12:07:16 pm

Hi, Mark. I never thought about expanding Cozy into a second book, but I guess I could. Since each chapter stands alone, it would be fairly easy to do.

I'm not exactly sure where the actual title came from. Shy's name led to the idea of doing a book with stand-alone chapters. Then, I figured out who the girls were going to be, and how the storyline would basically go. Mr. Happy had to be the next step, although I don't remember where the idea for him came from. But once I had everything else figured out, the title was fairly easy. It's a play on that whole one man woman/one woman man thing. Shy's relationship with Mr. Happy lasted for most of her life, and he was as much a part of her as breathing. So the comparison seemed appropriate.

I suppose that this book technically classifies as LGBT, but I don't really see it that way. Only one character is gay, and the book doesn't look too deeply at her life or her relationships. If I was looking for an LGBT novel and found this one, I would probably be disappointed. Maybe future chapters will delve deeper into both of their personal lives, and if that happens, I might see the book as more LGBT. But, at this point, I see it as an enduring love story without labels of any kind

Mark

10/28/2018 04:02:00 pm

I was thinking about the classification for this story also. It doesn't fit very well in any of the main categories. If it was two guys who were best friends, then it would be a bromance. Sisromance doesn't do much for me, perhaps bffomance, that sounds a little strange also. A new sub-genre is in the making.
For both Shy and Gabby, Mr. Happy was one of the few constant things in both their lives, besides each other. The romantic relationships arrived and left, over and over.
Shy's sexual preference was not an all consuming factor of her life, which I think is really true for most of us. That is just one factor of many that make up the whole person.
New questions.
How do you think your book compares to a book published by a major publisher?
Is there a book that makes you cry no matter how many times you read it?

Rhani

10/28/2018 05:50:50 pm

A new classification? That's kind of fun to think about.
Shy's sexuality was never meant to be focused upon, in this book. She sleeps with women, Gabby sleeps with men, and they both deal with the same types of issues when it comes to the relationships that they choose to be in. Gay or straight, people are people and there's not much difference between us.
Had my book been published by a major publisher, it would have been properly edited the first time through. Lol Vision loss is horrible for a writer, and producing error-free work is incredibly problematic. Also, I like to think that a major publisher would help with marketing, although I know that they do very little of that, these days. I know almost nothing about marketing, so having a major publisher, with their contacts and experience behind me, would have been a blessing.
Yes, there is a book that makes me cry: Borrowed Time, by television writer Paul Monette. This touching novel Chronicles his life partner's diagnosis of, and death from, AIDS, in the very early days of the epidemic. There was no treatment, and overwhelming fear. It's a fantastic book, and I highly recommend it.

Mark

10/28/2018 06:19:35 pm

You are so right, Rhani. We are all human and we all want to be loved and accepted for who we are. Some of us get so entangled in issues that are not core, that is one place where difficulties arise.
The world of publishing has changed so dramatically, it's really very little like it was twenty or thirty years ago. Even ten year ago things were so different. I think many changes are still to come. Almost all of the big book stores are gone, as well as many of the medium and large publishing companies. Amazon and Print On Demand tossed the apple cart over a cliff.
That sounds like a powerful book, it was certainly a desperate time.
New questions.
Which of your books is your favorite?
Do you have a favorite book by another author?

Rhani D'Chae link

10/28/2018 07:08:38 pm

Hi, Mark. You're not kidding that things have changed in the publishing industry of the last few decades. Now, anyone with an Amazon account can publish a book. It doesn't require being accepted by a big publishing house, anymore. Another big change: it used to be that all a writer had to do was write, and the Publishers would handle the rest. Now, even a good publishing deal means you still have to do a lot of your own marketing.
Shadow of the Drill is by far my favorite book. I love the characters, and since it's the first in a series, there is a lot of potential for future characters and character development.
There are so many books that I love, I couldn't pick just one favorite. I constantly rave about Jazz Baby, by Beem Weeks, and the works of Suzanne Burke.

Mark

10/28/2018 10:12:14 pm

All it takes is a small pile of money, and anyone can be published. Some people even publish their first draft. I have read some hardcore editors who say you should never publish your first book. The learning curve is so steep, your next book will be so much better. That's pretty harsh, If you can afford a good editor and proofreader, then that first book might be perfectly fine! Just a couple of weeks ago I reviewed "The Artist's Special Touch", a first book and it was amazing.
Shadow Of the Drill is a powerful book, very gritty and dark. A perfect tone for the material. That wasn't your first book, I am thinking.
New questions.
There are many unethical practices in publishing, which one is the most unbearable?
What about your own books, do any of them make you emotional?

Rhani D'Chae

10/28/2018 11:41:42 pm

Shadow of the Drill was my first completed novel. BUT what you read is the second edition. The first edition, which was also self-published, was absolute crap. It was crap with potential, but it was crap. I made the mistake of listening to friends who are not writers, and they all raved about it. So I took them at their word when they said it was wonderful and sent it out into the world. A year or two later, I reread it and realized how bad it was. I immediately stopped selling it and rewrote it. There are still first editions out there, and I occasionally see them on eBay. I suppose that that version might be a collectors edition to people who like my work, but it's not a good book.

In my opinion, the most unethical practice is the "marketers" who charge to promote our books and then don't. Some of them are incredibly expensive, but that's not the point to me. I don't care if I paid someone $50 or $5,000. If they sold not a single book of mine, then they did not follow through on what they were supposed to give me for my money. Publishing Push is the worst I've worked with so far. I paid $300 because they said they had many bloggers who would promote my book on their site, along with several other connections that would make it well worth my money to hire them. They sent me a proposal and told me I was not allowed to show it to anyone. Only one blogger hosted my book, and no copies were sold. None. When I asked the rep I was working with about it, he told me that they did have all of those bloggers, but there was no guarantee that any of them would be interested in my book or genre. I told him I didn't understand why they didn't connect with X number of bloggers per recognized genre, so that they could follow through on the blog in representation that they bragged so loudly about when talking to potential clients. I also asked him about the other things that they said would happen and all he said was that they couldn't guarantee sales. I wasn't asking him to guarantee sales, I just wanted to know why my book wasn't being promoted the way that they had told me it would be. It was a horrible experience and I tell everybody who asks me about good/bad experiences to stay the heck away from them! In my opinion, they are a scam, even though they come across as legitimate.
I always get emotional when I read One Dyke Cozy, but not due to Shy's death. It's the scene at the funeral home, involving Mr. Happy, that always brings me to tears. I was bawling when I wrote it, and I still break down if I read it again. I try not to read it. Lol

Mark

10/29/2018 12:37:00 pm

I am so glad you rewrote Shadow of the Drill! I enjoyed the story, some of the grit took me to the edge of my comfort zone. It is a powerful book.
That story about your well-meaning friends reminds me of some of those talent shows, they always seem to have one or two that make everyone else look so good. Then when one of the ringers gets cut they get angry and start talking about how all their friends say they have so much talent. Perhaps, they do have a lot of talent, but without mastering the basics of their craft they fall flat on their face.
That's a pretty bad experience you had with that marketing company. I don't blame you one bit for feeling like they took you for a ride.
You nailed it with the funeral home scene! Gabby's pain and loss was palpable. My eyes were sweating when I read that also.
New questions.
Does writing have a spiritual or healing component for you, does it energize you or make you feel tired?
Is it important for writers to tap into the emotions of the characters?

Rhani link

10/29/2018 01:39:20 pm

I'm glad Shadow pushed you toward the edges of your comfort zone. There are a lot of words, both positive and negative, that would describe Decker's world, but I wouldn't say that any variation of "comfort" is one of them. Lol

I've seen a lot of those talent shows, as well. The kids always say that their friends or family told them they were so good, and they just don't understand why the judges don't see it. Speaking from experience, friends and family are the LAST people to ask whether or not something you do is good!

I wouldn't say that I connect to my writing in any kind of spiritual way, but it definitely does affect me emotionally. I had a stroke a few years ago and never recovered full use of my left hand. Add that to severe vision loss, and it has impacted my daily life a great deal. I lose things easily, I'm constantly tripping over my shadow, and reading is a major undertaking. My 60 wpm went right down the toilet, so typing takes forever. All in all, just getting through a day is a major undertaking and very frustrating. The end result is that I drink, and I throw things. Lol Or, when a day has been particularly difficult, I open up a writing project and start killing people. I work on several projects at once, so there is pretty much always a character just waiting to meet a gruesome or violent end. I'm able to release a lot of negativity through writing, so it helps keep me sane in what has become a very insane personal world.

I think it's very important for writers to tap into what their characters are feeling. For a book to have impact, the reader has to feel what the character is feeling, whether good or bad. It's the writer's job to make that happen. I don't think it's possible to bring that emotion to life unless the writer is able to connect emotionally with the character. I've read books that were written well, with engaging plot lines, but the characters seemed dry to me, very one-dimensional. And I think that's why. I think the writers knew what they wanted the character to feel, but they weren't able to reach into the characters and pull the emotion to the page.

Mark

10/29/2018 04:07:36 pm

This is one of those things that let me know I am talking to a writer. A writer cannot quit writing. A writer perseveres no matter the difficulty. I think a writer keeps writing even if nothing is published. A writer seeks to improve their skill in describing the human condition. I am not saying this for you, Rhani, you already know you are a writer. I am saying this to the writer struggling with their book, they may have a drawer full of partial manuscripts, or may just be starting their first book. I believe one reason for me to be here, besides fixing the spelling of every book, is to bring encouragement to struggling writers. Sometimes I can even point them in the right direction.
Where did that soapbox come from?
Making the characters relate-able seems to be easier for some writers than others. I have noticed some of the same things as you have.
New questions.
Can you tell us a little bit about your works in progress?
What genres are they in?

Rhani link

10/29/2018 05:19:08 pm

I'm right there on your soapbox, brother! Lol But you are right - a writer keeps writing, no matter what. I have several partially finished manuscripts in pee chees (Yes, I'm old. 😄) out in my garage that will probably never be finished. But at the time that I started them, they were all something I felt I needed to say. We write for the same reason we breathe: because we have to, and because we can't exist without it.

I'm always working on several things, but my main focus right now is finishing up Winter of the Drill, the second book in the Drill series. This book will have a higher body count then Shadow, and it also shines a bit of a spotlight on the other two main characters, Rudy and Charlene.
I'm also working on a slasher book, inspired by the horrible campground that my seeing eye son and his family went to for the 4th of July. Incredibly creepy, it is the perfect setting for a psychopathic nutbird wielding some sort of sharp object. 😄

Mark

10/29/2018 08:55:40 pm

You really make me laugh, sometimes. Do you purposefully insert funny moments into your books? in Shadow and ODC there were some very funny moments that made me laugh out loud! LOL for you millennials and below. I love to read stuff that has a funny angle to it, I love to read funny stuff period.
Winter of the Drill sounds interesting, Rudy and Charlene were both complicated characters and came across as very real, for that reason.
When was the last time you looked in those Pee Chees? There might be some interesting bits. You never know. ;-)
New questions.
Have you ever used yourself as a character for the starting point of a story?
Have you ever used other acquaintances as the basis for a character, to the point they have recognized themselves in your book?

Rhani link

10/30/2018 11:20:45 am

I do try to put humor into my work, when it's appropriate. The Drill series is pretty dark, so I try to throw in some lightness here and there. Rudy has a pretty good sense of humor, so I like to let that shine a bit. With Cozy, Shy was fairly irreverent about almost everything, so her comments tended to be on the more humorous side.

Charlene gets into a very difficult situation in Winter, and I'm sure there's a lot of women who want agree with how she handles it. But she is a very realistic and logical person, and not the type to get hysterical over something that can't be changed. In that situation, she will adapt to things and move forward.

It's been at least five years since I've looked in any of those Pee Chees. But I need to venture into the garage (aka Hell's footlocker) and try to find them. I know there is some salvageable stuff in there and it might be fun to play around with it.

I do use certain aspects of myself when creating characters, if relevant. The Drill series is very personal for me because I came of age on Decker's streets. I saw a lot of what happened from a ringside seat, so there is some of me in the character of Charlene. I started dancing when I was 14, and that plays a pretty strong influence in those books. The Toybox is a combination of the club's I worked in, and the character of Tawnee is a blend of several of the girls I worked with. There is a little bit of me in her, as well.

Quite honestly, everyone I meet is book fodder and I'm very open about that. I use my friends and acquaintances quite often, to one degree or another. So far, only a couple of people have seen themselves and asked about it.

Mark

10/30/2018 02:08:42 pm

Humor is good for so many things, it lightens a dark mood, it releases tension; a good laugh makes a person feel good.
I do hope you find those Pee Chees, I bet you will find some very useful stuff.
Your personal experiences certainly contribute to a great read in your books.
New questions.
What is your routine when you sit down to write?
Did your writing process change much from your early books to your current book or did it stay the same?

Rhani link

10/30/2018 02:35:33 pm

You're probably right about the Pee Chees. One of these days, I'll have to sharpen my machete, throw some hollow points into my .45 and venture into Hell's Footlocker. Who knows? I might find my next great novel out there.

When I was young, I was very serious about my writing. The room was quiet, there were no distractions, and I was fully focused on the page in front of me.

Things are much different now. Due to my visual impairment and uncooperative left hand, writing is difficult and very frustrating. If I focus on it too hard, I notice every little thing I do wrong, and it becomes an out-and-out battle to get words onto the page. So the TV is always on, and I can shift my focus to whatever is happening on the screen, if necessary. This isn't something I think about, it just happens. But it does help when temporary frustration interrupts the flow of what I'm working on. I also keep chocolate handy and alcohol is always within reach. I don't drink in general, and I don't necessarily recommend writing while drunk, but I will say that some of my best stuff was written while I was quite toasty. 😁 I also keep a few pairs of rolled up socks handy, for when frustration requires that I throw something. The cats I have learned to duck. My roommates, not so much. Lol

Mark

10/30/2018 04:41:29 pm

Don't forget the bull whip and plastic cuffs, if you want any prisoners. Maybe you don't. Do you want to borrow a dragon?
That is quite a change of procedure. It illustrates well the lengths that a writer will go to in order to write. You are doing great.
The socks are a great idea! I bet you hardly ever nail a cat, they are so fast!
You are not the first person who does a lot of writing while imbibing adult beverages. I see a meme every once and awhile: write drunk and edit sober. It works for some in varying degrees.
I can't even have a beer when I am proofreading, it takes my edge off.
New questions.
What software do you use to write and publish your books?
How long does the research process take before you start to write a book or do you do the research as you go along?

Rhani link

10/30/2018 06:37:17 pm

I would love to borrow a dragon, thank you. 😃

I don't aim for anyone when I launch a sock, so the boys know they can just duck to avoid getting clocked with a sockball.

I use Microsoft Word when I write. I'm sure there are better programs, but I'm comfortable with Word and will probably stick with it.

I HATE research!!! I mostly hate it because it's incredibly difficult for me to do because of my vision loss. Therefore, if a project is going to require research, I don't write it. Lol Seriously, everything I write comes from either my imagination or my personal experience. Everythjng. Rudy's kitchen table surgery, for example, was drawn from a past experience. Had that memory not existed, I would have chosen a different way to injure him. Research is not my friend! 😖

Mark

10/30/2018 07:30:43 pm

That makes sense, no research for you!
I know you use Dragon Naturally Speaking for your computer. Does Dragon read back to you what you have written? Can it read other pages to you also? Does it work on both PC and Apple computers?

Rhani link

10/30/2018 08:14:23 pm

To be honest, I have no clue what Dragon can or can't do. It does not come with any form of instruction, to speak of. If you want to know how to work it you have to go online and search. This is basically research, and I don't do research. Lol

I also don't know if it works on Apple computers, for the same reason. 😄

Mark

10/30/2018 09:54:01 pm

At least it works for you. Something to be thankful for. And you have had an interesting life, so lots of material to draw upon.
You had an interesting poem in One Dyke Cozy. What is the story behind that? It was a very nice touch. If you don't mind talking about it.
More questions.
When you sit down to write, how many words is an average amount for you at one time?
How long does it take you to write a first draft?

Rhani link

10/30/2018 11:06:28 pm

I wrote the poem in the eighth grade. I went to a private Baptist school, and a strict code of behavior was enforced, both on and off school grounds. I was already a wild child, having left home several times by then. I'd done a few adult films, danced in a couple of strip clubs and had worked in a place called Ginger's Sex Counselling and Reading Rooms, down in Portland. I was told not to speak of any of it, nor to display my sinful life in ANY way. Basically, I had to hide everything I was. I modified that poem to relate to Shy's gayness, but the original poem was my way of rebelling against the order to suppress the person that I was quite happy being.

How much writing I get done depends on what I'm writing and what I'm wwatching on TV. There are certain things that, if I watch them while I'm writing, feed into what I'm doing and allow me to write a lot more.

It depends on how long of a story I'm writing, as far as length of time to write the first draft. I have a tendency to edit as I go, so it takes longer to write then if I just threw it out onto the page and then went back and started cleaning it up. When I was writing zombie Dawn, there was a problem with the file and it wasn't saving my work. Then my clipboard ate about 1,500 words. I was on a severe deadline with that story so I wrote about 6,000 words in two days. I don't want to do that again. Lol But that was the first draft of Dawn and then I went back and edited it. So that particular first draft took two days.

Mark

10/30/2018 11:26:17 pm

They really tried to put you into a box. I guess it's not too surprising, is it.
Sometimes, it really feels like the universe is conspiring to make sure you can't get something done, doesn't it?
Just like the old saw, when the going gets tough, the tough get going.
That's pretty good output, when your back is against the wall!
New questions.
How early was it that you realized how powerful words can be?
Do you have alpha-readers and/or beta-readers to help you smooth out a lot of crinkles before publishing?

Rhani link

10/31/2018 02:45:24 am

I learned about the Power of Words very early. My father was the song leader at our church, and I can remember the impact that the hymns had on me. The song writers knew what they were trying to say and the end result was a very powerful piece of music. Music has always affected me very strongly, and songs have gotten me through the hardest times in my life.

I don't have any official beta readers. My sister occasionally reads my stuff and lets me know if things need to be fixed in any way. I love it when she helps because I often don't see spelling errors, missing words and whatever Dragon hears incorrectly. I'm very grateful for her help. 😃

Mark

10/31/2018 12:42:06 pm

Music is very powerful, no question about it. It affects us in so many ways.
I am glad you have your sister to help you as a beta reader. Does she live in the area?
New questions.
What are three things, that you wish you knew before you wrote your first book?
What is the most important thing you learned from publishing your latest book?

Rhani link

10/31/2018 02:33:16 pm

Yes, it's great that I have my sister to bounce things off of. When ideas pop into my head for new books, I'll often ask her what she thinks. I know I will get honest feedback from her.

Three things, hmmm...
I never paid a bit of attention in school to anything grammar-related. I really wish I had learned more in school about sentence structure and so on. I do my own editing, so that knowledge would really come in handy now.

I wish I had known that the day would come when authors would be responsible for their own marketing. I could have taken classes that would have taught me more about that sort of thing. But, like so many others back then, I thought I needed to find an agent and get published by one of the big publishing houses. I figured that once I had a publishing deal, they would handle all of the marketing for me. By the time I decided to go indie, my vision had failed to the point where reading, therefore studying and learning something new, was so difficult that I pretty much didn't do it.

I'm sure that there have always been small, basically independent, publishing houses, but when I started writing, I didn't know about such things. I only knew about the Big Six, so I focused on them. I wrote what I thought they would want to publish, not necessarily what I wanted to write. It wasn't until much later, when Indie publishing took off, that I realized I could write and publish anything I wanted.

The most important thing I learned from publishing my latest book, Zombie Dawn, is don't proof your work when you're tired. I wrote that story for a contest and was on a deadline to get it published. I had several problems with that particular file, and ended up way behind schedule. So when I was doing the last proof before uploading it to Amazon, I missed a lot of errors that I would have seen, had I not been so tired. My sleep schedule tends to be erratic, and I really don't sleep all that much. I'm used to writing while tired, but that experience taught me that I need to be wide awake while doing any serious proofreading.

Mark

10/31/2018 03:59:22 pm

You have learned some hard lessons. I think most of us learn the hard way. I know I do.
Having an erratic sleep schedule must be difficult, without a doubt.
New questions.
Do you have other writers you connect with, as in a critique group or support group?
What is the most valuable piece of advice you have ever received from another writer?

Hayden Eyesli

10/31/2018 03:10:08 pm

This book was a great read. I'd be very interested to read any extension or sequel to this story.

Mark

10/31/2018 03:53:53 pm

Thank you, Hayden, for dropping by. I am glad you enjoyed the book as much as I did.
Are you a writer?

Rhani link

10/31/2018 03:39:46 pm

Hi, Hayden, thanks so much for stopping by. I'm so glad you enjoyed reading Cozy, and I greatly appreciate your help in getting some of the errors that slipped past me cleaned up. I've added another chapter or two since you read it, and I've been thinking about working on a second book that would have more of Gabby's memories of Shy. What do you think?

Rhani link

10/31/2018 05:43:47 pm

Mark, I often long for the days when I would sleep 8 hours a night. I have a friend who calls me a vampire because no matter what time he calls, day or night, I'm wide awake and ready to talk. Lol

I did join a Meetup group of writers for a minute or two, a couple of years ago. It was a critique group, and the goal was to help each other produce quality work. However, too much input was based on personal opinion, not on what would actually improve the work we were talking about. I went for a few months but left before turning in any of my own work. I am currently a member of Rave Reviews Book Club, which is absolutely the most supportive group for writers I've found, to date. Being involved with these incredibly talented people has helped me to improve my own work, considerably.

The best advice I ever got from another writer was both very simple and incredibly complex.
"Write what you feel, and feel what you write." Doing either of those things seems to be a no-brainer, but...not so much. Writing what you feel is vital. If you write for any other reason, and I've known several authors who did, it's almost impossible to put the same level of emotion and sense of self into the book. Feeling what you write is just as important. As an author, you need to be able to lose yourself in the story that you are creating. If you can't feel what your characters feel and exist in the world that you've given them, the characters will lack depth, and the story itself will seem flat. Over the years, I have seen this to be true in my own work as well as in books that I've read.

Mark

10/31/2018 09:24:35 pm

I have heard that story about groups, like the Meetup, where one or two people take the group over and control it for their own uses. A lot of new writers have been hurt bad in a situation like that. It's good you listened to your instincts.
I have heard good things about RRBC, a writer friend, Stanley Straub, joined earlier this year and he seems pretty happy with it. I have reviewed two of his books.
Thanks for sharing that advice. I think you have done a good job following it. I get pretty deep into some books more than others, that must be the reason why.
New questions.
You have published a number of books. You are writing more. Are you writing anything strictly for your own pleasure, not necessarily planning to publish it?
What are common traps for beginning writers?

Rhani link

11/1/2018 12:05:07 am

Stanley and I follow each other on Twitter and have chatted, now and then. He's a great guy.

Yes, I do have a project that's just for me. I've started writing about my life, in all its dark and dirty glory. Lol I was on the road with Meeker and Ray Barber amusements at a very young age, I was in the skin trade by the time I was fourteen and ran the streets in Washington and Oregon for several years. I also spent many years on the stage, first as a dancer and then as an entertainer. Long story short, I've had a life! Lol I work on this fromm time to time, for my own pleasure. I'm sure it will never see publication.

The BIGGEST traps for beginning writers is the vanity press. There are many of them out there, offering to publish your book & get it into bookstores. They will do this, and produce a beautiful book - for a fairly large fee. The author solutions group, which includes AuthorHouse, iUniverse, Trafford Publishing, Xlibris, Palibrio, and Booktango, is the worst. Shadow of the Drill (2nd edition) was published by Xlibris and it was a huge waste of money! Yes, they sent me some copies of a beautiful book, and got it listed with several online retailers, but the cost per book was outrageous, and my royalty per book was miniscule. They listed my book on their website but did no actual marketing for me. They kept hounding me to purchase expensive marketing packages that spoke of phenomenal sales, but stated truthfully, in tiny print, that no results were guaranteed.
There are many such publishers out there, waiting to prey on new authors who think that finding a publisher is the best route to take. But those authors need to be aware of who they're dealing with and what they will - and won't - be getting for their money.

Mark

11/1/2018 11:49:58 am

That is an interesting project. You remind me of my little brother a little bit. He "ran away" and joined the circus at a young age, touring for about 10 years. He has some great experiences.
Vanity publishing, it has it's place, but it's not suitable for most authors as you ably point out. "You should have read the fine print", such famous and sad words. I hope your comments help at least one person avoid that trap.
New questions.
Do you have anything you consider to be your writing lucky charm?
Do you think a strong ego is an asset or liability for a writer and why?

Rhani link

11/1/2018 02:01:16 pm

I would be very happy if I could keep at least one person from falling into the vanity publishing trap. There are many Indie publishers out there who will treat an author right, get their work published and give them a fair royalty. These Publishers generally do not ask for a large amount of money up front to publish the book. If an author wants to use their editing, proofreading, or cover design services, there is usually a cost for that. But that's fair. However, if you don't need any additional services and are simply looking to publish a complete and fully edited manuscript, there should not be a charge to put your book out there for purchase.

I don't have a writing "lucky charm." I do have certain TV shows that I will watch, depending on what I'm writing. There is an old show from the 70s that I watch when I am having trouble writing the Drill books. It really helps get me back into the appropriate mindset for that series.

Your second question is a toughie. Egos can be a plus or a minus for anyone, depending on how much control it has over the person. Knowing that you are a good writer can give you the strength/courage to step outside your comfort zone and write something in a different genre or style. It can also come in handy if you want to try something different or unique.
On the other hand, a strong ego can stop a writer from accepting suggestions or constructive criticism when it comes to their work. I don't care what you do in life or how good you are at it, you're never done learning. It can always be just a little bit better. I know an author who will not even read a review that is less than four stars because he feels that the reviewer clearly doesn't know how to review books. He doesn't feel he can possibly learn anything from what he considers a negative review. He knows that his work is perfect and anyone who doesn't agree is probably also a writer and jealous of his talent. No kidding, that's how he feels.
I think believing in yourself is a good thing, and there's nothing wrong with knowing that you have talent or that you're a good writer. I think the problem comes when people start believing their own press releases, so to speak. 😄

Mark

11/1/2018 03:07:32 pm

I am racking my brain about your lucky charm. What show are you talking about? I doubt if it's F-troop or Hogan's Heroes.
I think you really nailed it with the Ego question. There is a balance to be maintained as in all of life. It's not easy to write a book, the author has to believe in what they are writing. If you can't accept a little criticism then you need to find another hobby. That author you know has sure gone overboard, it almost sounds like he is afraid to face reality. I am sure he is quite comfortable sitting in his ivory tower.
New questions.
Is there really a such thing as writer's block and how do you overcome it?
Are there any writing styles that you disliked at first but soon came to like?

Rhani link

11/1/2018 05:44:08 pm

You might find this a little silly, but the show that I watch is Starsky and Hutch. Lol

I truly believe that writer's block does exist. I have been fighting with Winter of the Drill for a few years now, trying to get it right. It just...doesm't click in my brain, doesn't flow. And I have had this problem with other things I'm working on. No matter what I do, I just can't get the words to form. Often, I have to sit back and realize that I'm trying to send the character in a direction that he/she doesn't want to go. Many times, I've rewritten entire chapters because it wasn't right for the characters. But that's the easy way to fix writer's block, for me. And it only works if that's the reason I'm having trouble. Other times, I try putting something on TV that will jump-start my creativity, or I'll switch to a different project altogether. I keep a flash drive of writing projects close at hand, so it's easy to pull it out and switch gears. Sometimes it only takes a chapter or two on a different project to clear my head and get myself back on track.

I used to hate first person. I'm not sure why, but I think it's because first person seemed kind of arrogant. If the character did something wonderful, then they spoke about it as well as describing the situation as it happened. I don't know, I just never liked that when I first started reading. But over the last (##) years, I've read some incredible books that were written in first-person. I no longer have a problem with it.
There are other writing styles that I am not overly fond of, and probably never will be. I don't particularly care for writers who mix past and present tense, nor am I a fan of stories that are told as they happen. This is not in any way a criticism of those who choose to write like that. I just don't particularly care for it.

Mark

11/1/2018 07:33:57 pm

That was a good show, I remember watching it. I also enjoyed One Adam-12.
You have found more than one way of dealing with writer's block. Good for you! Have you ever tried writing some back story of a character, knowing it won't go into the book? I especially like the idea of having multiple projects to do exactly what you do.
The first time I read a first person POV story, it was poorly done, I kept losing track of who was talking and I never finished the book. Since that long ago time I have read some really good examples of the style. One author alternated POV with each chapter, most of the chapters were consecutive, a couple of important ones were concurrent. Some good writing!
One of the things I like about it, when it's done well, is that the story moves along well, there is lots of dialog and action, narration is kept to a minimum. The book I am reading right now is well written. It will be next weeks review.
It's okay to not like a book, there is no book that is universally liked. Every book has an audience and the reverse is also true, there are always going to be people who won't like a particular book.
New writers seem to struggle with this sometimes. They will get several good reviews and then a bad one. Assuming it's not a troll, I remind them that the book is finding it's audience, and a poor review validates the good reviews. Sometimes there is something valuable for the author to gain from that one-star review.
New questions.
What genres do all your books fit into?
Are you planning on trying any new genres? Why or why not?
What is your favorite guilty pleasure to read for fun?

Rhani link

11/1/2018 09:09:22 pm

I was also a fan of Adam-12. Lol

I wrote A Perilous Thirst in first person. Talk about stepping out of a comfort zone! I guess I did okay with it,but I'm not in any hurry to do it again.

Unless a negative review is posted by a troll, there is always something that can be learned from it. Assuming, of course, that the author is receptive enough to look for it.

My genres? Let's see..
I've always considered Shadow of the Drill to be an action novel, but most people refer to it as a thriller.
I've Always Loved Women and A Perilous Thirst are, in my opinion, dramas, though they may technically fit into a different genre.
Zombie Dawn is basically PG-13 horror.
One Dyke Cozy is also a drama, I think. Maybe a character study, I'm not sure.

I'm going to be working on a fantasy after the first of the year, and that will be a new direction for me.

I love reading well written action/thriller/horror novels that are gritty and true to life. I hate it when an author takes what should be an intense, violent scene and tones it down to make it less "offensive." Granted, Zombie Dawn wasn't as graphic as it could have been, but I had a word count meditation. 😄

Mark

11/1/2018 10:33:32 pm

Fantasy is a new direction for you. I enjoy fantasy quite a bit. I read my first urban fantasy not long ago. I reviewed "Regen" earlier this year. It was an engaging story and written in first person. She did well, no head hopping.
What is the difference between an action story and a thriller story? I don't understand the distinction.
What did you find difficult about writing "A Perilous Thirst" in first person?

Rhani link

11/2/2018 01:59:14 am

Maybe there is no difference between Action and Thriller. But to me, an action novel is one where the plot revolves around...action. The Drill series focuses on chasing people, fighting, that sort of thing. To me, that's action. I have always seen thrillers as...a little more subtle, a little higher intensity. Except for one or two scenes, I don't see Shadow of the Drill as the kind of book that keeps you on the edge of your seat, wondering what's going to happen next. It's hard for me to explain the difference that I see between what I consider action and what I consider thriller, but there is a difference to me. Shoot 'em up movies, like the Jack Reacher series are action, in my opinion, while the Final Destination films are thrillers. Those are probably the best examples I can give.

A Perilous Thirst was a little difficult for me on a couple of levels. First off, the vampire in the story is the only voice that the reader hears. No one else speaks, so the story is carried on his shoulders alone. Secondly, he has a specific speech pattern that was a little worky to maintain throughout the story, since I've never had a character speak that way before. I don't think the problem was that it was first person, so much as trying to keep the character of the vampire consistent. I like the way it turned out, but it did have its own set of issues.

Mark

11/2/2018 12:55:20 pm

So, perhaps we can say that action is very physical and a thriller is more cerebral, more of the mind. I do love a good action movie. I watch it on more than one level, I am always amazed at how the stunts are performed and how stunt people are integrated into the film. Jackie Chan is my all-time favorite for action and martial arts movies, because he does his own stunts; and he makes me laugh! I love to laugh!
While I have never seen a FD movie I have enjoyed the Reacher movies a great deal. Knight in not-so-shining armor type of thing.
Are there long stretches of soliloquy in A Perilous Thirst? Many of the first person books I have read depend a lot on extensive dialog to portray the feelings and intentions of the other characters. Did you limit yourself unnecessarily by having only one voice for the whole book? I can appreciate the difficulty of a specific accent or pattern of speech. I bet you learned a lot in writing that book.
New questions.
Do you see an advantage of writing under a pseudonym, why or why not?
If you branch out into a different genre, will you use a different pen name?

Rhani link

11/2/2018 01:43:57 pm

I absolutely adore Jackie Chan! I agree with you about action being more physical,while thrillers are intense on different levels. That's actually an excellent way to express what I was trying to say. Lol

A Perilous Thirst is, in my opinion, a very unique little story. I've never read another story like it. It's actually a conversation between a vampire and his intended victim, but you only hear the vampire's voice. There is no input whatsoever from the few other characters that are in the bar. I don't think I limited myself, because the whole point of the story was to present things exactly as I did. My goal was to write something different, something unique. So I didn't want to follow any "standard" story formats. I've been asked to write a full book on this character, and I might do it at some point. But if I did, it wouldn't be done this way. A full book of only one voice would be boring, I think. I think I will do a sequel, at some point, but I can do that in the same style because it would also be a short story.

I can see why a lot of writers use pseudonyms, and I would never criticize an author's choice to do so. Whether or not it's an advantage would depend, I guess, on the reason for doing it. If I was writing porn, for example, I would never want anyone in my family to see a book that I had written. Therefore, a pseudonym would be a great advantage for me because I could write what I wanted to write without having to tone it down in case a family member stumbled upon my work. I am often asked if I write under a pseudonym. I will say that this is not the name on my birth certificate/ID, nor is it a pen name.

I know several authors who use different pen names for different genres, and they have explained to me why they do it. I understand, but it's not something that I would personally do. Not to say that I haven't thought about it, but I just don't think it would be the right path for me to take.

Mark

11/2/2018 02:58:51 pm

A Perilous Thirst sounds so interesting, I went and bought it this morning. I will be reading it soon. It won't take me long at 21 pages.
Different authors do have different reasons for using pen names, I think they are all valid. I love that line, " this is not the name on my i.d. nor is it a pen name" I love it! Very clever.
New questions.
Do you think that a writer needs to read books, why or why not?
Would you agree or disagree with the statement: suffering is a requirement to be a good writer, and why?

Rhani link

11/3/2018 12:13:43 am

Thank you so much for downloading a copy of Thirst. It's a fun little story, and I think you like it.

I think everyone needs to read books. Lol But yes, A writer does need to read. We need to expand our own horizons, in a literary sense. Also, I think reading helps give us ideas, helps us to broaden our own horizons, so to speak.

I don't know if I would say that suffering is a requirement to be a good writer, but I do think that life experience is. And...life experience generally includes suffering to some degree.

Mark

11/3/2018 01:34:26 pm

I am glad You wrote that story. It was unusual as you said, and it was interesting and cute in a dark way. I could hear the echo of Stoker's masterpiece. Well done.
I agree, writers need to read, and widely I believe. Writer's need to read in their genre, of course, but I think they should read far outside of their niche also. In truth, there are only a few plots, a few stories to be told; each person tells the story unlike another. That's what makes reading such an adventure, in my mind.
Life is filled with experiences of many kinds, suffering is merely one part. All are needed for a well-rounded life. As we have heard before, poor choices lead to bad consequences, with a little bit of luck, bad consequences will teach us wisdom. Bonus: if we don't get the lesson the first time, the class is free to repeat.
New questions.
What was the best money you ever spent as a writer to enhance your career?
What were your intentions or your goals when you wrote this book? Do you feel you were successful in getting that message across to the reader?

Vashti Q link

11/3/2018 02:08:14 pm

Hello Mark! Thank you for the wonderful review of Rhani's book. I'm looking forward to reading it. :D

Mark

11/3/2018 03:23:38 pm

Hi Vashti, thanks so much for dropping in. Thank you for the kind words. I think you will enjoy the book quite a bit. It rings so true, I loved it.

Rhani link

11/4/2018 01:45:57 am

Hi, Vashti. Thanks for stopping by. I sure do appreciate it! I hope you enjoy Cozy and meeting my girls. 😀

Rhani link

11/3/2018 02:09:58 pm

I'm so glad you enjoyed Thirst. It was a lot of fun to write, an I do think it's a unique little piece.

To date, the best money I've spent to further my writing career was to join Rave Reviews Book Club. In my opinion, it truly is the best community out there for writers. The support is incredible, as are the promotional opportunities. And, no matter what questions or issues you have, there is always someone willing to share their knowledge and experience with you.

When I wrote Cozy, my primary goal was to try something new. Something less...bloody than the Drill series. Lol I wanted to write something that had a little more humor, a little less torture. I definitely think I accomplished that. I don't think I had any particular message to the reader in mind. I just wanted to give them something that might entertain them for a little while. Hopefully common this book will do that.

Mark

11/3/2018 03:34:13 pm

I am glad to hear another good report about RRBC. You said a great deal about the club in just a few words.
Your goal to write something different was accomplished! The two books couldn't be much different if you tried. Well, you did a good job! The book is quite delightful.
A note to our audience: I reviewed Rhani's book "Shadow of the Drill" on my website almost a year ago. Go to the search bar at the top of the page and put in "drill", you will find it.
New questions.
Were you a plotter or a pantster when you started writing? How about now, has that changed?
Have you ever created a throw-away character that developed into a major player?

Rhani link

11/3/2018 04:45:16 pm

#RRBC is a great asset for a writer on almost every level.

I'm glad you found Cozy to be delightful. That's pretty much what I was going for. Lol

I'm very much a pantster. I always have a basic idea of plot, main characters and stuff like that. But once I actually start writing, all bets are off. I pretty much let the story go where it wants, which is easier than fighting with it to keep it going "my" way. 😄

In the book Shadow of the Drill, I introduced the character of Hunter Grae. You may or may not remember him. Tawnee met him and he gave her his card to pass on to Decker. I think he had two lines of dialog. Lol He returns in the sequel and is very much a main character from that point on. In fact, at some point he will have his own series that revolves around his work as a private investigator.

Mark

11/3/2018 10:01:41 pm

I am not surprised you are a pantster. That would have been my guess, partly because of your vision problems.
Just one more reason why I am looking forward to Winter of the Drill.
You have a lot of books lined up, I am very happy about that.
New questions.
What was the earliest experience that made you realize that you could influence and change lives with the power of writing?
Do you think you were born to write or did you have to learn the craft?

Rhani link

11/3/2018 10:58:46 pm

Hunter is going to be a major player in the Drill series. I have at least ten books lined up to be written, and no character is safe. Let's just say that his role will increase as time passes. Lol

I'm not sure when I discovered the power of written words. It had to have been when I was young and first started reading. I used to fall headlong into books and share those worlds with the characters.

The answer to your second question is yes. Lol I was definitely born to write, butyes, I definitely had to learn the craft. For example, the 1st edition of Shadow of the Drill is horrible! I pulled it back as soon as I realized just how bad it was, but there are still copies that pop up on Ebay and Amazon. I shudder at the thought, but there weren't many sold so hopefully, they'll just fade away in time. But any writer's goal should be continuous growth and improvement, which requires constant learning.

Mark

11/4/2018 10:16:50 am

I am certainly looking forward to your future writing. I think Hunter is going to be very real on the page, not quite empty of hope and dreams, trying to do the right thing.
I love to get fully immersed in a book and have been able to do that since a young age. I had to learn to disengage after I got married, that was tough at first.
You are right. Having a passion without skill in the craft produces a lot of drivel and nonsense. It's very important to seek continual improvement.
New questions.
What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?
What did you buy with your first royalty check?

Rhani link

11/4/2018 12:50:27 pm

Everything in life that is worth doing requires continuous learning. I don't think it's important to necessarily do everything that is put forth as a new way, the new big thing. But I do think it's important to be aware of what people are talking about and at least see if it's something that could improve what we, as individuals, are doing in our own work.

As a writer, marketing is the hardest thing for me. Second to that is getting past writer's block. There are things that I do to get through it, but that doesn't make it any easier. Lol

The 1st edition of Shadow of the Drill was published as an indie novel, in every sense of the word. I wrote it, formatted it with Pagemaker, printed out a few hundred copies then cut and assembled the pages into books. I talked a friend into posing for the cover and then drove everything up to Seattle for binding. Then, I advertised everywhere I could and started selling them. The money came in, a sale at a time, and there were no royalty checks. My first actual "royalty cgeck" (Yes, I am air-quoting. lol) came from Xlibris, my venture into the Author Solutions hellhole. I had sold a few books and was eagerly awaiting that first check. Remember when I said that royalties were practically nonexistent from those types of publishers? I used my first check to treat my sister and my seeing eye son to lunch at Mcdonalds. Don't get me wrong - it was exciting to know that some people had bought my book, but that first check was a little disappointing. 😄

Mark

11/4/2018 04:39:29 pm

Right you are. We are or should be learning something new every day. My grandmother told me that when I was a little boy.
I believe a lot of writers would echo your sentiment about the most difficult things about writing. Writing can be such a solitary process, with little to no human interaction if the writer so chooses. Marketing has be done near the other end of that spectrum. People must be engaged with at every level and opportunity, if you want to sell books.
That is quite a story! I haven't heard the like of that before. You went to great lengths to publish that book. I applaud you for your determination and grit. A little disappointing? Oh, yeah!
New questions.
You have published quite a few books. How do you celebrate when you publish a book now?
How many times did you rewrite the first page, first chapter of One Dyke Cozy?

Rhani link

11/4/2018 05:12:24 pm

Printing the 1st edition of Shadow was definitely a job. Thankfully, now that ebooks are so simple to create, I'll never have to do it again! 😄

When I finish a book now, I usually go to a movie to celebrate. For some reason, sitting in a theater while the film plays opens doors in my mind that can't be opened any other way. Usually, by the time the film is done, I have my next book halfway written in my head.

I rewrote the 1st page of Cozy more times than I can count. Lol The first chapter was rewritten five or six times before I was happy with it. That's one of the hard things about writing. You always know that if you change one word here, two words there, you'll have a masterpiece. And you know this EVERY time you read your own work, which makes it hard to get a finished product that you're happy with.

Mark

11/4/2018 06:08:06 pm

Knowing you won't have to ever do that again is nice. On the other hand, you can brag about the old days, when you had to carry the cut pages to the bindery. ;-)
A movie is a nice treat, and for you it serves a double purpose.
I suspected you wrote the first chapter a number of times. Losing count of the first-page rewrites is pretty funny! That's the last chance to hook most readers, isn't it. I have heard it said, at least once, write the book and throw the first chapter away. Many writer's try to stuff too much information in the first chapter. Thankfully, you don't suffer from this affliction. That was one of the things I liked about Shadow of the Drill; you left a crucial piece of information until the very end. I was shocked!
New questions.
Do you have any Easter eggs hidden in your stories that only close friends or family members would recognize?
What is the biggest myth about writing that would help aspiring authors?

Rhani link

11/4/2018 07:07:11 pm

You were shocked by that little revelation at the end of shadow? I'm glad to hear that. I wanted it to come as a surprise, so I'm thrilled to hear that it did.

There are a few Easter eggs in my books. For example, the bar in Thirst actually existed, once upon a time, and many of my friends have performed on its stage. Also, when Hell freezes over and anyone in my family reads Cozy, they will recognize my mother's house (Gabby's) and the house next door (Shy's) where my best friend, Lisa, used to live. And there are a ton of little treasures scattered about in the Drill books. I used to live in Decker's world, on his streets, so a lot of that would be familiar to people from Tacoma.

I think the biggest myth about writing is that all you have to do is write, then get your book uploaded to whatever sales platform you decide to use. The truth is much more complicated, and much uglier, than most aspiring authors are prepared for. Unless an author has the finances or connections to allow for professional marketing, they will have to handle it themselves. The path to building a platform/readership is a long and time consuming struggle. Anyone who thinks that all they have to do is get a book on Amazon and the sales will pour in is either incredibly naive or deluding themselves.

Mark

11/4/2018 07:56:52 pm

I kept wondering what was motivating Decker, down deep, you kept so much back it was very sneaky and well done.
Knowing that all those surprises are hidden through out Shadow and Thirst, have you done any readings, had a launch party or book signing in Tacoma?
I think you really nailed that one about publishing, the set and forget theory is dead. Perhaps 100 years ago it was quite likely, you wrote a book and it was published and people bought it. Rinse and repeat. I think there was a much higher percentage of people who read books back then. These days I find lots of people who don't read books anymore.
The sale will pour in when your mom or grandma buys your book. That is closer to the truth than not, I expect.
New questions.
Which of your books is your favorite, and why?
In your experience, which marketing avenues have been the most rewarding or profitable?

Rhani link

11/4/2018 10:01:43 pm

It's funny how one thing can change everything. The world changed for Decker when he was 25 years old, and if that one thing hadn't happened, he would have been a completely different man at forty. I think he would have married a second time, had a couple of kids and settled into whatever job would have provided a decent life for his family. And I think he would have been happy. Instead, that one situation changed him into someone who is often more machine than man. Someone who has taken it upon himself to kill, rather horribly, those who are destroying what he considers his streets, his people. And anyone else, if the price is right.

You're absolutely correct when you say that people just don't read anymore. The Internet, and the ability to get there from a mobile device, has completely changed the world. The very first video on MTV was a fun little thing called Video Killed The Radio Star. We didn't know at the time what a prophecy that was. Queen did a song called Radio Ga Ga that basically expressed the same thing: the loss of what was to what now is. Much of what we knew will be replaced and forgotten with the passage of time. The sad thing is that future generations probably won't care.

Shadow of the Drill is absolutely my favorite book! My boys (Decker and Rudy) are so fun to write, I don't think I'll ever get tired of it. I love taking them on their adventures, even though I know there's always a chance that their continuing story might call for a death. None of the characters in these books are safe, but that's par for the course in Dekker's world. Even now, after decades away from the streets, I can see it all as though it was yesterday. It was a rough, often brutal world, but there was magic to be found, if one was brave enough to look for it. And I've tried to bring bits of that magic to the pages of these books. Not everyone will see it, but a lot of people have, and that's all I'm hoping for.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Rave Reviews Book Club is the BEST thing an author can do to gain exposure for their work. The blog tours, the blogtalk radio shows, the constant cross-promotion between members on Facebook and Twitter: it all adds up to a phenomenal marketing community that is waiting with open arms for any author who wants to get involved. Do I sound like a spokesperson? Lol I don't care if I do. It's a fact that my life as a writer would not be anywhere near where it is today, had I not joined #RRBC.

Mark

11/5/2018 12:06:44 pm

One of the things I liked about Decker was his care and concern for those people around him. He was very genuine in his expressions and actions, it made him a very complex character! I also loved the way Rudy was willing to face death for his friend. You created a world of depth and feeling. That is part of the magic isn't it? While brutal as a warzone at times, there were moments of tenderness also. What drove Decker mattered the most to him and I think he realized how the desire for revenge changed him, with some regret.
New questions.
How do you balance the demands on your time as a writer with personal relationships?
Do you have any other passions to pursue if you didn't write?

Maretha Botha link

11/5/2018 01:59:18 am

Thanks for all your insightful comments Rhani, and Mark for asking such pointed questions. I’m glad I popped in!

Rhani link

11/5/2018 11:08:30 am

Hi, Maretha. Thank you so much for taking the time to drop by! I hope you had as much fun reading my interview as I did listening to yours the other day. Sometimes I think that one of the biggest perks of writing is getting to talk about the stuff we've done and what we're working on. Thanks again, and I hope you have a wonderful Monday. 😃

Mark

11/5/2018 11:56:58 am

Thank you, Maretha, for the dropping in and for the kind words.

Rhani link

11/5/2018 02:24:31 pm

Decker is a huge contradiction of terms, sliding from one end of the scale to the other. He can go from gentle and loving to vicious killer at the drop of a hat. It often surprises me that two such different personalities, Decker and the Drill, can reside so easily within the same man.
I find the relationship between Decker and Rudy to be a little unique. Many people have close friends, but not many of us have friendships as close as what those two share.

I don't balance anything. 😄
My life is kind of like a Tic Tac Toe board. I fit my personal x's and o's into my life grid as best I can and hopefully, they will line up properly. Lol

I have always been an artistic person, in many different ways. I also design and create beaded stagewear for my friends who perform at various fundraising events, and I perform as well, from time to time. These events raise money for many worthwhile causes in my community, and I greatly enjoy the opportunities to participate.

Mark

11/5/2018 04:40:55 pm

Decker and Rudy take the buddy idea to a new level of intensity.
Tic tac toe is hilarious! We all struggle with a certain amount of chaos on a daily level. Few of us can actually look good above the waterline, while we are paddling like a scared duck underneath.
Another vision intensive hobby! How ironic. I bet that gives you a lot of pleasure doing that. It sounds like a wonderful creative outlet.
Serving in the community is a wonderful thing also.
New questions.
What did your family say when you announced your desire to be a writer?
What scenes do you find hard to write and why?

Rhani link

11/5/2018 05:59:04 pm

One of these days I will tell you where the foundation for the relationship between Decker and Rudy came from. It might surprise you. Lol
What I can do with jackets and so on has drastically changed with my vision loss. I can't see well enough to thread a needle these days, so I don't do any work with beads if I can avoid it. Now I use mostly rhinestones, glitter and foils.

My parents were encouraging, of course, when I told them I wanted to write. They never saw it as an actual career, but they thought it might be a nice hobby. I have one sister who is very supportive, but the rest of my family has no interest, and none of them have read any of my books.

I absolutely refuse to write anything that involves the harming of an animal, unless it's a very generic kind of thing. No details. Animals are so innocent and only want to love and be loved. It infuriates me that people out there abuse them, and I'm just not capable of writing such a scene.

Mark

11/5/2018 07:09:02 pm

That would definitely be an interesting story, the origin of The Decker and Rudy team.
I bet the glue gun is your friend.
Parents always want the best for their kids, sometimes they can't see that creative drive will contribute so much to that happiness. It's sad to me that they don't even read your books.
My ten-year-old granddaughter is starting to write books. Short stories, actually. I am being the supportive grampy and teaching her about structure and other things to encourage her, in a light way.
New questions.
You are working on the next book about Decker and Rudy. When do you think your it will be published?
What, if anything, will you do differently with this new book, in terms of publishing?

Rhani link

11/5/2018 09:04:56 pm

I think it's awesome that you're helping your granddaughter like that! She's so lucky to have you around.

Winter of the Drill will be done by the end of the year, if it kills me! Lol It's way behind schedule, but I want it to be as good as possible, as good as Shadow. It's a whole different storyline, focusing on Rudy this time, but I'm adding some new characters and killing off others. I hope readers will be okay with it all.

I'm going to try presales with Winter. I've never done that, but I thought it would be fun to try.

Mark

11/5/2018 11:30:36 pm

I am lucky to have such a talented granddaughter. She is one of four, and they are all so different.
I have been involved with kids just about all of my adult life. We have done exchange students many times, we have done respite foster care for several years, we both work with kids now. Plus I have been mentoring teens who want to be writers also.
I know that Winter is going to be great, I am really looking forward to it! I am sure I will be shocked by some of the unscheduled departures just as much as everyone else. I will be watching for the presale.

We have had a great time in our chat this week, Rhani, it has gone by so fast. You have been so candid and forthright. Perhaps we can pickup this conversation down the road.
Thank you again for being such a wonderful guest and allowing me to enter your world. I look forward to more adventures of Gabby and Shy. They are quite the pair!

Rhani link

11/5/2018 11:40:38 pm

It's been a blast, Mark, and I've had such a good time! Yes, we definitely need to do this again at some point. Thank you for being such a gracious host. I sure did enjoy hanging out with you. 😀

One Dyke Cozy By Rhani D’Chae

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