Monthly Archives: November 2016

blog, Meet the Authors

Like Steampunk or Post Apocalyptic Romance Novels?

Leave a comment

… Have I got an author for you to check out!

I have been wanting to start doing author reviews and features here at the Loft, so the Ninja Writers Science Fiction and Fantasy promotion is the perfect time to launch it. As I mentioned before, this is an epic opportunity for you to pick up FREE books to reads by talented authors that you might not have read yet. You can visit the promotion here.

On Sunday, I introduced you to J.R. Bournville and today, I’m pleased to interview Steampunk and paranormal author, Bec McMaster. 

becmcmasters

Bec is a member of RWA, who writes sexy, dark paranormal, and adventurous steampunk romances. Like many of us, she says she grew up with her nose in a book. Following a life-long love affair with fantasy, she discovered romance novels as a 16 year-old, and naturally combined the two in her own stories.

Bec lives in a small country town in Victoria, Australia, with a Staffordshire terrier named Kobe, who has perfected her own Puss-in-boots sad eyes–especially when bacon is involved; and demanding chickens, Siggy and Lagertha. It’s possible she has a minor obsession with Vikings, and The Originals.

nobodys-hero-ebookFor the NWSFF giveaway, Bec is offering Nobody’s Hero, the first book of her The Burned Land series. Doesn’t that cover make you eager to meet Riley Kincaid and that handsome hunk she’s got clutched? I just started reading this book and I can say that it has a tense, intriguing beginning and I can’t wait to read more. Oh, for more free time in my day! Speaking of free, did I mention you can read this book for FREE?

Loft: Thanks for dropping in. Tell us a little about the books you write.
Bec: I write a few series at the moment, all of them action-adventure paranormal romance to some degree.

The first is my London Steampunk: The Blue Blood Conspiracy series, which is a company of spies in a steampunk Victorian London, trying to discover who is behind a dangerous anarchist group. Think thrilling rooftop chases, dirigible flights, sexy corsets—and roguish heroes.

The second is my Dark Arts trilogy, featuring three cursed brothers in a Victorian occult society, who have to work together to break the curse. It’s all demons, determined young ladies who can kick-bustle, and sorcery.

And the third is The Burned Lands, my gritty post-apocalyptic romance series, in which three monsters have to overcome impossible odds to save themselves—and the heroines who are determined to love them. Basically Mad Max meets shifter romance.

Loft: I can’t wait to read the Steampunk. It’s such a charming genre. Your books are fun, romantic, and imaginative. What provides the inspiration for them?
Bec: Everything and anything I see or read. I have to give a huge amount of credit to ’80’s fantasy movies though. My Dad is a total geek, and so I spent my childhood watching movies with him, like Ladyhawke, Labyrinth, The Princess Bride, The Lost Boys, Star Wars etc… I think that’s definitely where my love of stories with a fantasy or SF edge came about, which flavors my novels today.

Loft: I’m right along with you on that selection of films. Some of your books are paranormal, like the Dark Arts series. I’d like to know what your favorite paranormal creature is and what about it intrigues you.
Bec: I don’t know that I have a particular favorite (dragons, maybe?), but in my books, there’s always a dark edge to my paranormal creatures. I love exploring the monster side of popular tropes like vampires or werewolves—it’s the ultimate Beauty and the Beast theme.

Loft: Definitely! Creatures with a dark side that can be turned a little always have an exciting edge. If you could go back in time and advise your younger writing self, what would you say?
Bec: Be patient. All those years of writing and not selling are going to improve your craft, so when the time comes you’re ready.

Loft: Good advice for anyone. If you didn’t write, what would you be doing to pay the bills?
Bec: Travel agent! The year before my first novel sold, I was studying to get my Tourism diploma. I’m obsessed with all things travel, though writing is my one true love.

Loft: Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions.

To find out more about Bec, please visit her website at http://www.becmcmaster.com. You can also follow her on Twitter @BecMcMaster or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BecMcMaster. Be sure to check out the NWSFF Giveaway this week and download your own FREE copy of Nobody’s Hero.  You’re welcome.

Author Interview Blog Hop: Read more about some of the authors in the Ninja Writers SciFi and Fantasy Giveaway by going here,

review-graphic

blog, Meet the Authors, My musings

Meet J.R. Bournville, Author

1 Comment

This month, I’m pleased to feature a fellow writer, who is part of the Ninja Writers Science Fiction and Fantasy book promotion on Instafreebie. Check it out here.

So allow me to introduce J.R. Bournville to you with a little interview and an invitation to check out her writing.

Q: Right off, please tell me about your books and the one included in the promotion, #NinjaSFF giveaway.

J.R. – I’m one of three contributing authors to the Prompted Musings series. Prompted Musings is a collection of flash fiction, based on visual writing prompts. As flash fiction is so very short, these anthologies allowed each of us to experiment with form as well as content, trying ideas which might well have been too intimidating to pursue in a longer piece of work.

Prompted Musings with flash fiction from J.R. Bournville.
Prompted Musings with flash fiction from J.R. Bournville.

Volume 2 is free as part of the #NinjaSFF giveaway, with Volume 1 available for free on https://www.instafreebie.com/free/VDBGS
I have also written two short stories; Company of the Raven, a reworking of the well-loved poem by one of my earliest influences, Edgar Allen Poe; and The Old House 

Recently, I’ve branched out into non-fiction with my book, Embracing Possibilities,  which talks about how a change in attitude helped get me to where I am today, and helps readers to take steps toward whatever would make them happy in life.

Q: Does writing energize or exhaust you?

J.R. – Both, equally, though not usually at the same time. When I’m writing, and the words are flowing, then nothing else exist. There is no fatigue, no aches and pains, no hunger. But if the flow of words is more a trickle, each one is a drain on my already-limited resources. On those slow times, my solution is usually to disengage from my writing, and dream.

Q: How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?

J.R. – The first book I published was A Humourless Death. I’d spent several days not quite daring to click publish, and finally daring to was a great relief for me. Since then, I’ve learnt how to recognise when my writing is not ready to be released into the world, (which is why I unpublished A Humourless Death earlier this year). My writing process now includes more time away from the finished book, with added opportunities to discover weaker sections within my writing before publishing.

Q: How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?

J.R. – At current count, excluding all books which only exist as scattered notes (there are far too many of those), I have four half-finished books. This includes A Humourless Death, the first book I released, which I decided to unpublish and revise earlier this year.

Q: How do you select the names of your characters?

J.R. – If the character is willing to “talk”, then I’ll write a scene or two, and see if their name comes to me. If that doesn’t work, I usually sit the character down and interview them. I’ll ask them all manner of questions, but crucially, not what their name is. I’m a firm believer that there’s power in a name, and a person’s name is a reflection of their personality.

Q: If you didn’t write, what would you do for work?

J.R. – If I didn’t write—that’s a difficult reality to imagine—then I’d want to teach. Smaller classrooms, working with children and adults with disabilities or learning difficulties. With my experiences of falling ill and recovery, I understand more of the challenges and frustrations which arise in learning something new.

Q: Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?

J.R. – Yes, I do. I like to know what someone has enjoyed (or not) about my book. No one likes a bad review, but I try to understand what exactly that reader didn’t like, and if it is a fault in my writing then I make note to improve. Good reviews, I sit quietly, smiling. If I can contact the reviewer then I do so, thanking them for their review, and wish them well.

Thank you, J.R. Bournville, for taking the time to answer these questions.  You can learn more or connection with her at:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/JRBournville
twitter: http://twitter.com/JRBournville
web: www.jrbournville.com

And now that you, my readers, know a little more about this up and coming author, go check out her books.  You might find a new gotta-read author.

Author Interview Blog Hop: Read more about some of the authors in the Ninja Writers SciFi and Fantasy Giveaway by going here,