And it is off.  Book two has been edited by Alisa, “The Big H” (my mother) and myself.  I contribute very little to the editing- I simply go back and see if there is anything I might want to add or if things have gotten confusing at any point.  This book, unlike “Consumed,” is simply a thriller, but not a psychological one.  People ask me all of the time what is the difference.  A psychological thriller is one that makes you face some issues you might find disturbing or uncomfortable.  ”Consumed” touched on things I found disturbing, so I know it was a tough read for others as well.  The feedback has been amazing, so I want to thank everyone who went out of their way to purchase it and make the time to read it.

Fair warning- book three is disturbing on a level even I can’t fathom.  I’m having a difficult time getting started.  It’s akin to  wondering where to enter a landscape maze, such as the one in “The Shining,” and wondering equally if there is going to be a way out once you get inside.  I knew the way out of “Consumed,” and getting my way out of book two was a snap.  Book three makes me want to pop a Valium and go to bed.  Don’t take this to mean it won’t be an amazing read- it will.  There is a book by someone I can’t remember that involved something about “wet embalming.”  I won’t go into details,but when I think about it, it makes me want to lock the doors and get out my gun.  Which reminds me of something I need to cover at www.soveryclever.com- be sure to check that out this week.

For any of you who have yet to read “Consumed” and want a little preview- please check out the trailer.

As far as the children’s books people ask me about every day?  We’ve hit yet another illustrator hiccup and this could halt production altogether.  Thank you for you enthusiasm regarding this venture, but it looks as if Alisa and I will be writing only fiction and nonfiction for the big people for a while.

I was asked yesterday what I’m reading currently- “Parenting from the Inside Out” by Daniel J. Siegel and Mary Hartzell and “The Litigators” by John Grisham.  This book will no doubt follow the same pattern set into stone by one of the most widely read formulaic writers.  I will want to stop in the middle and be so pissed off at the end I will vow never to read him again.  Then, “The Big H” will buy the new one and leave it at my house.  Grrrr.  Then, I will find myself with no plans, caught up with work and nothing to read- and the cycle begins.

OK- back to work.

Hilary:  How do you deal with writer’s block?

B.C.:  I haven’t had too much of an issue with writer’s block. I find that I come up with most of my stories by thinking about them for a while before I set to writing them. As a result, when I sit down to write, the words usually flow. I still have occasions where I stop and think about how to proceed. But overall, I’ve never had an issue with it…doesn’t mean I won’t in the future though!
Hilary:  How do you create your characters?

B.C.:  Sometimes they’re based on what best fits the story. Other times, I may take personality aspects from people I know. And still other times, it might be taken from people I observe during the course of my day. When it comes down to it, my characters come from a wide array of areas.
Hilary:  How do you feel about italics?

B.C.:  If they are used sparingly, I don’t mind them. If you have entire sentences and paragraphs with them, they should be fully explained to the reader in the intended main language. That’s what I would want.

Hilary:  What methods do you use to develop your characters?

B.C.:  Obviously, since I mainly write science fiction, I’m writing about what none of us know. That makes it easier to write. What I do know is people. We all react differently to how people talk to us, what makes us sad and happy, and so on. I take my characters and show their reactions to certain circumstances. Even in this area, the wide array of human behavior allows me to make the character who I want, because in the end, I’m the only one who really knows that character well.

Hilary:  Being one of the most influential sci-fi writers of our generation, what impact has Stephen King had on your writing?

B.C.:  The only thing I’ve read by Stephen King was The Regulators, and he wrote that under the pen name Richard Bachman. That being the case, his writings have little to no influence on my writing.

Hilary:  What is your addiction?

B.C.:  Coffee. Which is why I wrote a story about a coffee ban. What would I do without my morning cup? I’m not quite sure.

Hilary:  Historically, is there a character you’d like to emulate?

B.C.:  It’s hard for me to pinpoint any one character, but overall, I’d like to emulate the ones that always try to do the right thing. Those who are kind, but like to see justice. Maybe a Forrest Grump or Jason Bourne type character. Although, it is hard to consider Bourne as being kind at times.

Hilary:  Favorite meal?

B.C.:  That’s tough, because it depends on my mood. Right now, my mood says a medium-well cheeseburger with bacon, lettuce, tomato and a side of fries.

Hilary:  What has driven you to self-publish?

B.C.:  I always wanted to write. When I saw that a new avenue for publishing had opened that let me control what and when I write, I couldn’t resist taking the plunge. I’m glad I did. In the year and a half I’ve been doing this, I’ve learned so much about writing, and in the process enjoyed writing the stories that I’ve published. I encourage anyone with a similar desire to look into doing it, too. It’s a lot of fun!

To read more about B.C.- or less in this case, or to purchase his books- find him here: http://www.amazon.com/B.C.-Young/e/B004HM0N72

I must say I have a greater respect for those who build/manage websites in recent weeks.  After ignoring three critical emails from godaddy.com amidst the four hundred they send me every day, I allowed my domaines to expire.  The amount of time and energy it has taken, including hours logged with customer service representatives with godaddy.com, is incalculable.  I do advise, if you don’t have a spare fortune to toss about, you don’t make the same mistake I did.  Grrrr.  So, we are back.

What is going on?  I wish I could say a great deal but frankly, we are in a holding pattern.  Alisa is still editing book two, however, the good news is I have an agent poised to review it and a contact who is looking to shop it for us in NY.  Our children’s series is off and running- well, limping a bit as our illustrator, Karen Hitt is currently working on another book- finishing it soon, I hope.

So Very Clever was also a victim of the crash so I’ve spent a ton of time trying to resurrect that site as well.  So, I’m busy, busy as are we all.

I have an author interview I’ll be posting tomorrow.  B.C. Young was kind enough to give me some of his time to enlighten his fans a bit on WHO he is.

OK, more soon.