Mike Grant Archives

If you’re curious about what goes on in the mind of a writer, and how they get those thoughts down on paper, you’ve come to the right Blog Hop. This is the Writing Process Blog Hop. Writing processes are as varied and interesting as the authors themselves.

The blog hop is much like a relay race, and Diana Stevan has just passed me the baton. (Ooh, maybe not such a good analogy – now I have visions of tripping, or … horrors … dropping it.) At the end of this post, I’ll introduce Mike Grant and George Henry, two fabulous authors who’ve agreed to carry the baton onward.

I met Diana and her writing critique group over lunch in Campbell River, British Columbia, a year ago. What a treat to meet this lively group of writers who so generously shared their collective experiences of writing and publishing in Canada. And the generosity continues today. Thank you, Diana, for inviting me to the Writing Process Blog Hop. You can read about Diana’s writing process here.

Diana’s support and enthusiasm have been infectious. As a writer, she has a wealth of experience to draw on. She’s been a clinical social worker, a freelance writer/broadcaster, an actress and an online TV host. Diana has written three screen plays and is now on the verge of publishing her debut novel, A Cry From The Deep. It comes out in October 2014 and I can’t wait to read it.

And without further ado…

What am I working on?

I’m working on an as-yet untitled book featuring some of the characters introduced in The Gift Trilogy. It’s another contemporary thriller with a twist of fantasy. This one is set on and around Granville Island in Vancouver, British Columbia.

How does my work differ from others of its genre?

My work falls into both the thriller and the fantasy genres. Most people know what a thriller is, but the fantasy label means different things to different people.

I think it’s because the fantasy genre casts a wide net. It includes the high fantasy of JRR Tolkien’s the Lord of the Rings, the urban fantasy of Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse Series and the low fantasy of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series. The genre can include trolls, fairies, werewolves and wizards or none of them. In fact, any genre can become fantasy with a dash of magic.

And it’s my particular dash of magic that makes my work different. There are no vampires, witches or dragons, just people like you and me. My characters could be your colleagues or neighbours. They teach your children and take your order at the lunch counter. You’ll never know they’re different, because even if you catch them in action, you won’t believe your eyes.

Why do I write what I do?

Because I love the genre. Though I read a variety of work, from the classics to humour and everything in between, it’s the fantasy genre that grabs and holds my attention. I’m intrigued by the idea that phenomena exist in this world that science hasn’t figured out yet. It’s the mystery and the thrill of not knowing. It keeps the possibility alive, like holding on to unchecked lottery tickets.

How does my writing process work?

Most days, I simply sit down and write. Mornings are best and coffee is a must. I have a comfy chair, a laptop computer and a beautiful view. MS Word is my software, and I keep three documents open when I’m writing: the manuscript, a detailed description of characters and places, and a timeline of events. My deadlines are my own as I don’t have an agent and I indie publish.

With my first book, I started with one scene then built the story around it. Now I do a lot more planning when I write. I have a general outline of the story and my goal each day is to write a scene. I don’t worry about word counts or days that I spend researching and planning instead of writing. It’s all part of the process and some of those planning days are gold mines in terms of plot twists and sequencing. I carry a notebook around everywhere I go and jot down ideas, descriptions, phrases and any other interesting tidbits that come my way. The other day I wrote, “Where dreams take flight.” I think I’ll use that as a tag line.

And now I’d like to introduce you to Mike Grant and George Henry . They will be answering the Writing Process Blog Hop questions on their respective blogs on July 21, 2014. Please do check them out.

MIKE GRANT

I met Mike Grant in 2012 when we were both in the process of learning the indie partner-publisher ropes. I’ve followed his career and his blog with interest ever since. The video trailer for his debut novel, White Wolf Moon, remains one of my favourites. You can find him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mikegrantwwm

Here’s a little more about Mike in his own words:

I was born at Fort George, Scotland, in 1947, moving to Canada with my family in 1955. As an army brat I spent a decade in various locations across the country finally settling in Edmonton, Alberta, in 1964. With careers in radio broadcasting, advertising, and photography under my belt I moved to Kamloops, British Columbia, in 1994.

I’m an organized hoarder with a roomful of toys/collectibles, music/movies, and books…lots of books. I watch, read, and listen to most genres, depending on my mood.

I’m married with three children, six grandchildren, two cats, and a rabbit.

Visit Mike’s blog at http://grafixpblog.wordpress.com/

GEORGE HENRY

Another author you’re sure to want to connect with is George Henry. George was one of the first authors I met on Twitter and his witty sense of humour brightens my day. For a self-professed Luddite, he does pretty well in the Twitterverse (Follow him @georgehenry47). He also has not one, but two video trailers for his debut novel, Love and Death in Trieste. (Now titled Blood Rain in Trieste) This is the first, and this is the second.

George is a well-travelled educator who loves the thrill of visiting foreign countries (about forty so far) and experiencing their cultures. Besides history, cuisine and architecture, he is particularly fascinated by language and religion. (Nowhere will he not try to speak the language with the locals, whether they like it or not.) These are facets of human civilisation he likes to bring to his fast-paced thrillers, with a dash of the romance that is at the core of our existence thrown in.

George was born in England and after university moved to Los Angeles, California, USA, and to Toronto, Canada. He ended up living and working for almost thirty years as a college instructor in the biological sciences on Vancouver Island, British Columbia before he was put out to pasture—and had the freedom to travel.

He is currently completing a second thriller-romance novel, tentatively titled Recycled Love, based upon a trip with his wife and fellow author, Serena Janes, across the fabulous mayhem of India to the calm of the sherpas in Nepal. Love and Death in Trieste is his first novel and was written after an exciting trip through Slovenia, Croatia, Italy and Bosnia.

Mike Grant, author of White Wolf Moon graciously nominated me for The Next Big Thing Writer and Blogger Award. It’s an opportunity for fellow writers to give a shout-out to those who inspire, educate and entertain. Thanks, Mike, I’m flattered and happy to participate.

I’ll direct my answers to the second book in The Gift Legacy, Revelation which will be published in late spring, 2013. Here goes…

What is the working title of your book?

Revelation. (Now titled Hidden Enemy)

What genre does your book fall under?

Urban fantasy. The genre discussion is an interesting one. Urban fantasy describes stories set in an urban environment. But fantasy covers a wide range from low-fantasy (Charmaine Harris’ Blue Bloods) to high-fantasy (JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings). The Gift Legacy fits into the low-end of the fantasy scale.

What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?

It’s best summarized by a Tennyson quote from The Ancient Sage, 1885, “The shell must break before the bird can fly.”

Revelation continues the story of Emelynn Taylor, whose life is inexorably shaped by an unbidden gift. In Revelation, Emelynn is pursued by dark forces that lurk in the underbelly of a world she never wanted a part of. Her only escape is one which will scar her for life.

Where did you get the idea for your book?

This second book is a natural extension of the story arc from the first book. There are many facets of Emelynn Taylor’s life and her gift that had potential for exploration and development.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

The who was Stephenie Meyer who wrote the Twilight books. When I came across her bio and learned that her books sprung from a single scene, it inspired me to start small and build out. It worked.

The what, was a cool, rainy, west coast winter. The dreary hockey-season weather approached on the heels of three sunny winters spent in Tucson, AZ. Daydreaming chased the chill away.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Six months, but many additional hours were spent contemplating the project before I started writing in earnest. Another important qualifier is that I’m fortunate to not have to divide my time with a day-job, children or ailing parents.

What other books would you compare this story with in your genre?

Answering this question makes me feel like a poser because the comparisons juxtapose my writing with other more highly-sought-after work. Keeping that in mind, here are the comparisons I’ve heard. First was J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan. It’s not the one I would have picked, but I understand the comparison. Next was Stephen King’s Carrie.

When I wrote the books, I aimed for realism: a story that made the reader believe that they could be living next door to the characters. From that perspective The Gift Legacy books compare to Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse books or Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight books, but without the vampires and werewolves.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

I haven’t a clue, but I’d be very interested in readers’ opinions. When I was writing the characters, I’d often flip through magazines to look for a face I thought fit my imaginary character. The clipped image would help me visualize the characters as I wrote. I still have those clippings, including images I selected for Emelynn, Jackson and Sandra, but unfortunately, I don’t know the names of the models.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

I will once again indie publish with the help of FriesenPress. Guy Kawasaki, co-author of A.P.E. (Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur) in his book How to Publish a Book defined self-publishing as Artisanal Publishing. He explained that, like micro breweries, the artisanal author prefers to maintain tight controls over all aspects of their work, thereby producing a superior product.

Absent deep pockets, this artisanal author doesn’t really have much of a choice in the matter, but I like the definition.

What else about your book might pique your reader’s interest?

As one of The Gift Legacy’s reviewers commented, the book has a wide appeal. “It’s got something for everyone – a little romance, humour, drama, sex, suspense. A completely satisfactory read.” It’s a story that will sweep you up and make you ponder the impossible, maybe even make you believe that the unbelievable is happening right now, all around you. It’s a great escape.

The final step to this Next Big Thing nomination is to pay it forward. I have selected five writers and bloggers who inspire, motivate, entertain and educate. Not everyone I nominated is working on a book, but who knows what the future holds! It’s my pleasure to nominate the following writers for The Next Big Thing Writer and Blogger Award:

Linda Poitevin, author of the Grigori Legacy Series

Nina Munteanu, writing coach and author of The Last Summoner and many others

James J. Murray, author of Prescription for Murder

Cristian Mihai, author and creative force behind Irevuo Magazine

Lisa Voisin, author of The Watcher saga

Thanks for hanging in right to the end. And thanks, Mike for the Writer and Blogger Award. The Next Best Thing nomination is an innovative idea and I’m happy to support it and pass it along.