Author: blogespresso

Book: Of Courage And Sacrifice: Bot Trilogy Book One

Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.

My name is Matt Hartle. I’m a creative director and partner with a visual effects company, Baked Studios, based out of LA and NY. My family and I live in Northern Montana. Long ago, my wife and I lived in LA, but after we got our careers going, we wanted to get back to where we grew up! Previous to working in visual effects, I was in theatrical advertising for about twenty years, working as a creative director/ designer and 3d director. I’ve worked with many of the big studios and on lots of exciting projects, including several Harry Potter Films, Star Wars, The Force Awakens, a few of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, and many others. ‘Of Courage And Sacrifice: Bot Trilogy Book One’ is my first novel. Previous to this, I have written several screenplays and directed a number of shorts, including my latest, ‘Agent,’ which has won many awards on the festival circuit!

When I’m not writing or working, my family and I enjoy biking, skiing, swimming–anything to be outside! I also enjoy woodworking, painting, and racking up meters on our rower!

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘Of Courage And Sacrifice: Bot Trilogy Book One’ book?

The biggest challenge by far was that this was my first novel. Writing this many pages is a huge obstacle when you haven’t done it before. It takes a lot of discipline and focus, but as I found those, it has become one of the most enjoyable things I do. Every part of the process has been a significant learning experience. I went to school for figure painting and illustration, not English composition and creative writing, so it’s been lots of research, reading, and just putting in the time to learn! I’ve taken a self-publishing route, at least for this book, and handled all aspects except editing. For that, I found a fantastic, highly experienced editor to help me get the manuscript over the finish line. Otherwise, figuring out how to format, layout, and design the cover–it’s all been a considerable learning experience!

Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?

I love to read–there are so many! Michael Crichton is probably the most significant influence/ the person I look up to as an author. His constant focus on finding new, creative storylines is inspiring. Also, his books, in many cases, were directly translated to film properties. I don’t know that I want that for everything I write, but as a visual person first, I tend to have a strong visual sense of everything I am writing, so the connection is always there!

One of my favorite books is ‘Silence Of The Lambs’ by Thomas Harris–not necessarily for the content but the execution. In my opinion, in this novel, more than any of his others, he is a master storyteller, not focusing on the plot but on allowing the story to grow and blossom, filling your imagination as you meet the characters and fall deeper and deeper into the world he creates.

Another book I love is The Secret History by Donna Tartt, for many of the same reasons. How she renders her characters and explores their emotions and the world they occupy is masterfully done. I feel this book is as much about the air in the room as it is about the characters themselves if that makes sense.

The last two books I’ll mention are A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and Lord Of The Flies by William Golding. Each of the books has such a sense of place; whether it’s Dickens describing the foggy, soot-filled streets 1800’s London or Golding discussing the oppressive heat of the jungle and the restorative pool of fresh water the children bath in, its as though you can feel and touch their worlds. Also, the economy of their words and the structure of their prose always draw me in!

Each of the books I mentioned is a yearly read for me!

Q4. What’s your favorite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?

Probably the place I enjoy the most is where we live in Montana. My wife and I were very fortunate to be able to return to our childhood town after we established our careers. We have lived in big cities and although we always enjoy a visit, city life never really suited us. We prefer the open space and rugged beauty Montana provides and the many opportunities to get outside to enjoy the majestic scenery here. We feel very blessed to be able to raise our children in a place like this, but we also want them to get out into the world and find their own way!

Q5. Is there lots to do before you drive in and start writing a book?

I supposed it really depends on your approach. Because I wrote screenplays before attempting a novel, I started by creating an outline. I was struggling with this step–I had a high-level view of where the story was headed but felt stumped on details. So, I decided to dive in and see how it went. Since doing that, I have realized this is my best approach. So much of the book was never planned or outlined before I wrote it. Being available to the creative process and allowing the characters and situations to grow and live in my imagination unlocked a new world of creativity. It can be a little scary when you feel like you may have written yourself into a corner, but as I finish my second novel, I am slowly learning to trust the process and believe the story will find its way! Regarding research, I do an amount beforehand, depending on the topic, and continue as I write. Frequently, I’ll have ideas and will take a beat to make sure the research/ logic makes sense and supports the story.

Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘Of Courage And Sacrifice: Bot Trilogy Book One’ book?

The entire process, from my first Scrivener file to when I published the book on Amazon, was about three years! I didn’t realize until answering this question that it had taken that long. As I’ve said, it’s quite a process, and while working on this first book, I was still finding the discipline and the recipe of time management that would give me the space to write. With the book I’m writing now, by the time I’m done with the first draft, it will have been about 13-14 months, so it’s getting faster! Because this is not my full-time job, the time I have each day is about an hour in the morning, often early–between 5-6am or 6-7am. My dream is to make writing my primary focus; then, I should really be able to crank out the books!

Q7. On what all platforms readers can find ‘Of Courage And Sacrifice: Bot Trilogy Book One” book to buy?

This book is available on Amazon for Kindle and is part of the Kindle Plus program. It is also available on Amazon in soft cover and hard cover! Additionally, I wrote a series of short stories set in the Bot Trilogy universe, developing back-stories and exploring more of the world. The book is called ‘Bot Trilogy: Anthology’ and is available in the same formats as ‘Of Courage and Sacrifice’, but also on Audible! I recorded/ produced the audio for this book myself.

Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Of Courage And Sacrifice: Bot Trilogy Book One’?

The title, Of Courage And Sacrifice, came about after several others were tried and abandoned. Despite the science fiction/ fantasy setting, the story deals with some fairly sobering realities–survival, sacrifice, and loyalty. Each of the characters faces significant challenges they must overcome–sometimes that means putting others first, other times it means sacrificing principles. I wanted a title that communicated the story’s gravity while contrasting with the fantasy of the cover.

As for designing the cover, I had an idea of the visuals I was interested in–something to do with a robot, a city in ruins, and a captured moment in time. My background is in creative directing and 3d animations, so I knew I would utilize those toolsets to realize the artwork.

I began with thumb-nail sketches to explore composition and how various elements might stack up. Next, I worked on the typography, searching for a font I felt embodied the high-tech world but also communicated the humanity of the struggles the characters face.

Then I began developing the cover in 3d. My software of choice for this is Maya. I built out the city, designing the lighting and textures to evoke an apocalyptic vibe. As for the robot, this was something I had previously developed while making a trailer for the book. If anyone is interested, the trailer is available on my website and on Amazon on my author’s page. I placed the robot into the scene and designed the pose to be menacing and provocative, as if challenging the viewer to a fight!

http://www.matthartle.com/writingauthor#/bot-trilogy/ https://www.amazon.com/Matt-Hartle/e/B09KQXVSJN

Once the 3d work is done, images and passes are rendered and composited in Nuke. Compositing is really where I build the image. I look at 3d as asset generation and compositing as image making.

From there, everything goes into photoshop to be formatted and polished for publishing. Something else I did for the book was to create a “living cover.” I built an animated version of the cover with a camera move, moving smoke, light, and whatever I could to bring life. This has been a tremendous asset on social media and reaching out to my readers!

Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?

I focus on writing what interests me and keep myself open to inspiration. Also, I always remind myself that this is writing; I can do anything! My background in filmmaking has me always considering the logistical underpinnings of a concept or idea, but when writing, there is literally no limit to what I can create. I focus on making everything believable and germane to the story’s world–from there, everything is on limits! Whenever I present a new concept or situation, I ask myself if this has been pushed as far as it can be, have I found the best solution to a given challenge? Finally, I’m always on alert for cliches and retreading previously traveled material.

Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?

Hmm– maybe something not many people know is that I grew up during the 80s–a lot of the technology and settings in the story were drawn directly from my own personal experiences: modems, BBSs, underground tunnels! There were elements of these things in my childhood! Also, the whole opening scene of the characters camping up in the mountains was something my brother and I did!

Author’s Profile

Book Is Available On Amazon

Of Courage And Sacrifice: Bot Trilogy Book One

Book: Just L.E.A.P

Q1 Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.

I am a positive, energetic breast cancer survivor and certified life coach with a purpose-driven passion for helping women live their best lives. I am grateful and love what I do. Every day is a blessing that I get a chance to help others. I believe in giving back and will help anyone that needs it. I believe in God and have hope, faith, belief and pray that I can make a difference.

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘Just L.E.A.P’ book?

While writing, I wanted desperately to be able to empower others that may be stuck or need permission to move forward and live life for themselves. So, although my goal is to encourage others, I also want to be empathetic because I know what it feels like to be stuck.

Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?

I enjoy inspirational and motivational books, and there are various authors and books that I enjoy. However, my go-to favorites are, The Little Engine That Could and Dream Giver, the Alchemist, and anything by Wayne Dyer.

Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?

Although I live in Chicago, it is my favorite spot. The city Is vibrant, full of energy, and diverse, and each community supports its own. It has an excellent transportation system, sports enthusiasts, restaurants, theatre, lots of free activity, and so on. I think Chicago is one of the best-kept secrets in the country.

Q5. Is there lots to do before you drive in and start writing a book?

Yes! I didn’t set out to write this book. I wrote the material a year before I started thinking about a book. I share weekly inspiring messages in my Facebook group and use this material for the book. It takes time to select the messages and organize my thoughts and material to present them in a way that will touch the reader so they can relate to the material. There is also mental preparation. I must prepare myself to be still and engaged during the writing phase.

Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘Just L.E.A.P’ book?

Although it only took about a month to write the book, the material was written long before. I have a Facebook Group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/uhavethepower that I go live in every Sunday morning with a powerful and inspiring message, and I used those messages to write Just L.E.A.P.

Q7. On what all platforms readers can find ‘Just L.E.A.P’ book to buy?

They can purchase my books at Amazon, https://amzn.to/3klUibe

Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Just L.E.A.P’?

I knew in my spirit that I wanted to speak to women putting off living life for themselves while putting everyone else first. Research shows that less than ten percent of people pursue their dreams, and only half of the women in the world pursue them. Especially after COVID. It provided an opportunity to be still and reflect on life, and I wanted to write this book as a resource to help women decide to go for it and pursue their dreams.
That’s how I came up with the idea for the book cover. The book cover shows a diverse group of women leaping, and the colors are in my logo.

Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?

I am always evolving and creating. I pursue professional development not only for myself but to be the best coach for my clients. I also learn from my clients and am very much in tuned with my inner being.

Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?

Yes. Trust yourself!

Author’s Profile

Book Is Available On Amazon

Just L.E.A.P

Book: Angel Of Darkness

Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.

Hi, I’m an independent author from Australia. My day job is working as a doctor in A & E. I am also completing a master’s degree in forensic medicine. I have recently become a new mum, which has been the best thing ever. I have a love for all things fantasy and science fiction, growing up reading fantasy series after fantasy series. I also have a love for creative drawing and painting, though this has taken the back foot as I have been so busy with other things going on in my life.

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘Angel Of Darkness’ book?

The main challenges I had was in keeping the story moving forward but without missing out on the back stories of the characters and the more slow, intimate moments necessary to the story. One of the main criticisms I received for Elite Nation Book One was that the pace was fast and action-packed but this did detract from the story a bit.

Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?

I would say I’ve drawn inspiration from various authors and book, as well as other forms of media and entertainment. As a kid I loved reading the ‘Deltora Quest’ series, and the ‘Harry Potter’ books by J.K. Rowling. I also love the ‘Throne of Glass’ series by Sarah. J. Maas, although I am yet to complete the final book in the series. Other inspirational authors include Tahera Mafi and Shelby Mahurin.

Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?

Australia is a beautiful country. Whilst I haven’t travelled to every state and territory, Tasmania has to be my favourite state to have travelled, outside of Western Australia. Tasmania has lush rainforests, dense bush and mountainous climbs in alpine climate with amazing animals in the wild, such as echidnas (so cute to see them walking across the road), and Tasmanian Devils.
In WA, we have pristine beaches and beautiful parks.

Q5. Is there lots to do before you drive in and start writing a book?

Other authors probably have a system they use to map out their story and manuscript with notes about every character and event. I have never been able to do this and have preferred to just let things flow. I have had to ensure I keep continuity with the characters and events from book one, but I haven’t been one to plan ahead a lot prior to writing.

Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘Angel Of Darkness’ book?

The first draft for Angel of Darkness didn’t take long – maybe a month or so. The second draft took longer, then after sending the book for editing, this took more months to reach the final polished product of the manuscript.

Q7. On what platforms can readers find ‘Angel Of Darkness’ book to buy?

Angel of Darkness is available from Amazon.com, as a paperback and kindle epub version. And can be purchased from Barnes and Noble.
For an author signed copy with a special edition hardcover, the book can be purchased through my website:
https://www.harockley.com.au

Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Angel Of Darkness’?

The book cover design has been adapted from the first book cover, to keep continuity in the series. The crown of thorns and feathers hold symbolism in the book and refer to the title character: ‘The Angel of Darkness’.
I did initially call my book ‘Angel of Death’, but thought it might come across as a bit too harsh and morbid, so I changed it.

Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?

I try to keep the pace fast and action packed, as this is what I love about books, myself.

Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?

Certain characters who have gone missing at the end of Elite Nation Book One, come back with certain fates forced on to them.

Book Is Available On Amazon

Angel Of Darkness

Book: All In With Love

Q1. Hello Sir, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.

As a champion for the inner child in all of us, I am a believer that the road to happiness lies within our younger selves. I am a Star Trek junkie, former high performance rower, former actor, and a former Chippendale that has amassed quite a lot of life lessons which can be found in my memoir.

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘All In With Love’ book?

Self-growth happens when we let go of insecurities and become transparent with the good, bad, and the ugly. In my life journey I have had many successes and as many failures, of which many have been very devastating. Learning to accept these and share with others was a key obstacle to face.

Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?

Honestly, my writing was more influenced by the films of Terrence Malick, Darren Aronofsky, Scorsese, and Spielberg. Being in the industry for years, my love of movies spurred on a creative landscape when writing.

Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?

Beavertail Lighthouse in Rhode Island. Sitting on the rocky bluffs gazing out at the Atlantic Ocean has always been my muse and my oracle when I needed inspiration or guidance.

Q5. Is there lots to do before you dive in and start writing a book?

Every author is different. For me, I knew exactly where I wanted to take this journey of a middle aged man who was on a road to reconnect to his younger self. Because of my film background, I had a story board of the book in my head as I sat down to write. When it was go time, I went.

Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘All In With Love’ book?

Just shy of two years. And with that, I wrote for the first 459 days straight without skipping a day.

Q7. On what all platforms readers can find ‘All In With Love’ book to buy?

It will be available at over 50,000 book sellers worldwide including: FriesenPress Bookstore, Amazon, Ingram Spark, ITunes Bookstore, Kobo Bookstore, Nook, Barnes and Nobles, Chapters, and Indigo. It is available in paperback, hardcover, and e-book formats.

Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘All In With Love’?

Well, the book cover was something I had envisioned based on my life and the journey within the book’s pages. To me, it made sense that my younger self would come and join me as we stood together at the only home we have ever known, the water’s edge. The title itself was something that is a common theme in the book: all my life I have gone all in on the things that I wanted but there was always a price to pay. Now, it is about going all in with love each and every day moving forward.

Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?

Life is a rhythm. And writing a book is no different. I think the freshness comes in understanding the ebb and flow of storytelling, knowing when to surprise, when to go into specific detail, when to sprinkle in some humor or lightness, and when to allow the audience to breathe. Each author has their own brush with which to paint freshness to the reader and to themselves.

Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?

Hahaha. Oh, there are lots truthfully. Living in New York and Los Angeles has allowed me to meet some pretty cool people and be in some unexpected situations. This book contains a lot of celebrity interactions and friendships as well as an interesting insight into the world of filmmaking, Chippendales, and murder.

Book: Fire Line: Generational Burst

Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.

My name is Marques Bowden. I am a working Geologist who writes novels as a hobby. I’ve been married for 5 years, a stepfather to 3 children and a biological father to a 3-year-old little boy. I started writing books when I taught Middle school for one year, and was challenged by my students to practice what I was teaching in the classroom.

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘Fire Line: Generational Burst’ book?

When I wrote the first book, I had no idea about the process of story development, detail, and how to keep readers engaged. When I started writing Fire Line: Generational Burst, the Covid outbreak caused me to get laid off and I had to postpone writing it for nearly a year. Once I got a chance to finish it, I wanted to broaden the depth of the main characters, give them more flaws and obstacles to overcome, and not make the character arcs predictable.

Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?

I got most of my inspiration from authors Tariq Nasheed, Zo Williams, and the youtuber known as the Angryman. When Tariq came out with the documentary series Hidden Colors, that when I learned about the amazing history of the Moors. After viewing his films and reading his books, I began to research the many texts on the Moors and drew my inspiration for the characters.
Zo Williams is known as the Voice of Reason and has written several books, his latest being the Shrouded Lighthouse, which teaches us how the relationships that we have with ourselves influence the relationships we have with other people. Back in 2015, he did a show called Moors for dummies highlighting the hidden history of the Moors: how they came to be, the inventions they brought to Europe, their reign and their demise. That episode influenced my decision to one day create a character associated with the Moors.
The Angryman has always been adamant about creating super heroes that our children could relate to. So one day, he asked a rhetorical question, “Why don’t we create and promote our own heroes?” At that point, I said, challenge accepted, and decided to write Fire Line.

Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?

Out of all of my travels, I would probably say two places: the beaches of south Texas and the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. Attending Texas A&M University Corpus Christi was an escape from the perpetual boredom of small town living. My university is on an island and when I would look at the Gulf of Mexico, I can see how vast and boundless it was. It reminded me that there are no limits if you put your mind into something.
What makes the Rockies special to me is that when I was fresh out of college, I took a job that was based in Colorado. At the time, I’ve never lived outside of the state of Texas before, so to live (if briefly) in an area where you are close to nature and to see the actual Geology that was spent years in college studying is breath taking.

Q5. Is there lots to do before you drive in and start writing a book?

There’s usually a 3 step process before I write a book:
When brainstorming, I put it in my notes on my Samsung app so that I can refer back to it once I start writing the book.
I come up with a book list (usually between 3 to 5 books and or documentaries) to draw my inspiration from.
I determine the end goal for each of my characters to achieve, then try to write it according to that pathway plan. Even though certain concepts may change or pop up, I always make sure to have a definitive outcome for each character.

Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘Fire Line Revival Of The Dracocernentia’ book?

Before the pandemic, I had about 14,000 words written which took me about a week. Then when I resumed writing, it took me 5 months to complete the manuscript and another 5 months to save up to pay for the editing and revising.

Q7. On what all platforms readers can find your books to buy?

The kindle version is available on Amazon. The Hardcopy can be bought anywhere; however due to distribution issues it isn’t available on Amazon yet. The best place to order the book is on Barnes and Noble website. Type in the search bar, Fire Line Generational Burst and the book will be available for purchase.

Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the cover and the title of your books?

When I was thinking about writing the book, I knew that I wanted to create a cover that was eye popping and easy to gravitate to. Because of my inexperience with the first book, I wanted to simplify it so that it wouldn’t turn potential reader away. With this book, I wanted to include the 2 animals essential to the story: the dragon and the phoenix as well as the best representative of the lead character. I hired a graphic designer off Fiverr.com to bring what was once a sketch to life. I look at the concepts, asked her to do some modifications, and then ok the final product.

Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?

To do that, I would first make sure I’m listening to music while writing to keep my creative juices flowing. I would listen to Hip-Hop, R&B, Smooth Jazz, and even instrumentals that best associate with a particular chapter (such as Native American chants or flutes during the chapters that deal with the Seminoles). The other thing that I would do is incorporate some of my life experiences, then incorporate them into my stories. Writing is therapeutic, because often times we don’t know how to express in words how we feel or what makes us tick. By infusing my emotions into characters, I can visually see what I would do in those situations, how I would feel in those situations, then write them out in the best detail possible. Lastly, I never allow myself to sit on an idea (which is where my note app on my phone comes in). When ever I have a block or don’t know how to convey a story, I take a break for a few hours or a few days, draw any kind of inspiration, then proceed to write it out.

Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?

Fire Line is about the lineage of your ancestors, the events that influence the lives of the characters, and the choices they make because of them. One of the things I want the readers to get out of my books is that your well being and view of the world is a continuation of the pages already forged by your ancestors. Most people think that they have to be something else to succeed when in actuality, you just need to look within yourself. I have incorporated a character who has a mental disability who eventually becomes a hero by learning to accept themselves. You will question the motivations and the decisions by the main protagonist while empathizing and relating to the antagonist. I hope that the readers will be able to appreciate the character development, the pace, and the overall message of the book.

Book Is Available On Amazon

Fire Line: Generational Burst