Take Five With Author Vicki Batman

Welcome to An Indie Adventure, Vicki Batman.  Tell us, what inspired you to write your book Just Desserts…and other stories.

Thanks for hosting me L.A.

I love these romantic comedy stories and had to pull together this collection. There’s funny things like bugs, and a man’s theory on love, sticky gum, etc. I’d written them for a popular magazine, and although I received good feedback on many, they did not acquire them. ☹ The magazine gets many, many subs every week.

Have you been a lifelong reader of mysteries?  What are some of the first books you remember reading?

I cut my teeth with the Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, and Trixie Belden mysteries, reading them over and over desperately wanting to be them. *Very big sigh* I remember loving Harold and the Purple Crayon when I was a kid because the crayon took him on cool adventures. Lots of Beverley Cleary books, too.

If you were not a writer, what vocation would you pursue?

Handbag buyer. I LOVE handbags and blog about them with other friends and writers every Monday. I have lots of vintage, needlepoint, and new ones as well as special ones Handsome gives me for my birthday and Christmas. I haven’t exactly counted; however, there’s about eight full shelves.

Do you prefer to read in the same genre you write in, or do you avoid reading that genre?  Why?

I’ve always read mysteries, and at age fourteen, my mom introduced me to Emilie Loring romances. I still read these genres. I have a soft touch for mysteries with humor, something I incorporate into my work.

When you’re brainstorming for a new story, what usually comes first for you, the plot or the characters?

I will see or hear something and my heat goes *boom*! All of the sudden, I scribble things like a madwoman and keep on and keep on. Being a pantser, the writing process takes me longer to edit; however, I love the spontaneity I get when I’m inspired this way.

If you were a TV, film or book character, apart from one you've created, who would you be?  And why?

I love Stephanie Plum and her crazy antics. I also love Mrs. Maisel because of her fabulous costumes and because, helloooo, handbags!

Give us a brief summary of Just Desserts…and other stories: Love blossoms in the small town of Sommerville in these heartwarming, “cute meet” tales, filled with fun and forever possibilities.

Buy:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble  | Smashwords

Bio: 

Vicki Batman, has sold many romantic comedy works to magazines, several publishers, and most recently, two humorous romantic mysteries. Along the way, she has garnered awards and bestsellers. 

She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and several writing groups. An avid Jazzerciser. Handbag lover. Mahjong player. Yoga practitioner. Movie fan. Book devourer. Cat fancier. Best Mom ever. And adores Handsome Hubby. Most days begin with her hands set to the keyboard and thinking "What if??"

Find Vicki:

Website | Facebook: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest  | Author Central | Goodreads | Instagram   

Take Five with Author Cornelia Amiri

Welcome to An Indie Adventure, Cornelia Amiri.  Tell us, what inspired you to write your book I Love You More?

I was excited for the opportunity to contribute one of the dozen literary fiction stories celebrating mothers and motherhood from the perspective of different authors around the world. My story, I love You More, was drawn from my own personal experiences as a single mother. I think most moms, especially single moms, can relate to it. there are a lot of families that are headed by women, sometimes just one mom and her child, but they are still families in every sense of what a family means. I wanted to acknowledge these strong, loving single moms and the wonderful children they are raising or have raised. they’re doing a great job. 

How do you use setting to further your story?

The first scene in each chapter of my story is set in 2016 as Garland is celebrating Mother’s Day at age 58 with her son and granddaughter. So we see how she is now, how well her son has done, how happy this family is, and how strong the bond between them is. The second scene in each chapter is set during a mother’s day of Garland’s past and shows her and her sons challenging journey to reach this point. So we get to see much of what this small family of Garland and Judson have overcome to reach this point of celebrating, what is for Garland, the best Mother Day ever. 

How do you construct your characters?

I am a pantster so I don’t outline, but I usually do character charts, covering my characters’ pasts and main goals, biggest fear,  and details about them. These characters particularly, were very close to my heart and I knew a lot about them in my mind when I began to tell their story, when I began the first draft.

How is your main character completely different than you?

I concentrate the story on Garland as a mother with all scenes set at Mother’s Day.  But motherhood, though the most important part of my life, is just a part. I call my son about twice a week and usually see him and my granddaughter once a week but the rest of the time I’m living my own life. Doing things I want to do, working as a writer and freelancer and all that entails, going to events and get-togethers with friends and all the other activities that are not connected to being a mother.

Tell us something about yourself we might not expect!

That along with the romances, I sometimes try my hand at other genres. I wrote a contemporary mystery called Dead End Job, a horror story called Taliesin’s Song, a Young Adult fantasy, non-romance, called Samhain Calls, and a modern-day, non-romance fantasy called The Ghost Lights of Marfa. The later is published by itself, and the other three are in book called, Reach…Reach across the genres. And of course, I Love You More, in Mother’s Day Magic is literary fiction.

Give us a brief summary of  (I Love You More from Mother’s Day Magic):

A mother's love never fails…it always prevails.

On the verge of turning sixty, Garland recalls memories and moments of her life’s journey from an abusive childhood to a bad marriage to the ups and downs of a single mom. She is rewarded with a magical mother’s day with her son, daughter in law, and granddaughter. Her moving story is sure to touch your heart.

Buy Links:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iTunes

Meet Cornelia:

Cornelia Amiri, who also writes as Maeve Alpin, is the

author of 30 published books. Known as the Celtic Romance Queen, she writes Celtic Fantasy Romance, Celtic Historical Romance, Steampunk Romance and Sci-fi Romance. She lives in Houston Texas as does her son and granddaughter and her cat, Severus. Severus is a writer's cat, he loves books. He likes to knock them off the bookshelf, sit on them, and sniff the open pages. He also uses the computer, he sits on it, lays on top of it, and walks across the key board almost constantly. 

Cornelia is working on two soon to be released books a historical romance box set, Scandalously Yours and a modern day fantasy romance novella set at Woodstock 1969, Back to the One I Love.

Find Cornelia: 

Facebook | Blog | Website | Twitter | Pinterest