Mentoring - The Benefits are on Both Sides

I love being a mentor. It’s an honor to get to work with others and assist them with their careers and writing journeys. I enjoy listening to others as they explore their paths and look for opportunities.

Through the years, I’ve been a manager of staff and interns, teacher, coach, and mentor. It takes time and energy and some planning, but I get so much out of these sessions.

It’s always good to have a plan and goals for what each person gets out of the program. It’s also good to set ground rules up front for meeting times and other housekeeping items. I love to talk, but as a mentor, listening is key. I let my partner set the agenda topics, and I check in on goals and progress.

These sessions are great opportunities to get to know others and to talk about the creative things they are doing and to maybe assist with some roadblocks. At work, we often talk about how to navigate the policies and procedures, career paths, and developmental opportunities. When I meet with authors, we usually talk about publishing trends, goals for their work, expectations of readers, and book marketing and promotion.

I have met some amazing people through these mentoring programs over the years. It’s an opportunity to share, and the benefits happen on both sides.

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Breakfield & Burkey

I’d like to welcome Breakfield and Burkey back to the blog!

Things you never want to run out of: Breakfield and Burkey agree that Pace Picante sauce should always be available. It’s delicious on everything.

Things you wish you’d never bought: Burkey would prefer to forget she ever bought into the slick words of the sales guy who promised their book would be on film. I’m sure you can imagine the other great lie that came into her mind.

Hardest thing about being a writer: The most difficult is learning to create an innovative idea in a different genre and delivering an excellent final story.

Easiest thing about being a writer: For us, it is having a co-author to bounce ideas back and forth. We never sugar coat anything, and if all else fails, Rock-Paper-Scissors solves the issue.

Things you need for your writing sessions: Quiet, undisturbed time to focus on new story content seems to gain the most ground for both Breakfield and Burkey.

Things that hamper your writing: Interruptions in the form of phone calls, email, and

A few of your favorite things: Cast iron cookware used to make personal pan pizzas on the grill, each one a creative delight.

Things you need to throw out: Breakfield agreed to discard the T-shirts he’d been holding onto from before 1999.

Words that describe you: hardworking, creative, helpful, tenacious, open-minded, altruistic, and philanthropic

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: stubborn

Favorite foods: Grilled chicken, homemade pan pizza on a grill, Paella, scallops, grilled Brussels sprouts, and escargot

Things that make you want to gag: Lima beans

Something you’re really good at: Breakfield and Burkey are fantastic at framing thrillers with a technology threat element.

Something you’re really bad at: Breakfield and Burkey take it to heart when we disappoint readers.

Favorite music or song: Burkey’s favorite song is ‘Til You Can’t Breakfield’s song is Comfortably Numb

Music that drives you crazy: Breakfield and Burkey are not fans of Hip Hop music.

Favorite smell: Barbeque, anything is wonderful

Something that makes you hold your nose: Skunks win the prize for the stinkiest award.

Last best thing you ate: Escargot (especially on a cruise ship)

Last thing you regret eating: Fruit cake opened on Christmas but ignored until Valentine's Day

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: Zipline

Something you chickened out from doing: Skydiving

The nicest thing a reader said to you: I didn’t want to feel sorry for Mathias, but your writing compelled me.

The craziest thing a reader said to you: That the technology in our thrillers isn’t real.

About Breakfield and Burkey:

Breakfield, as the CTO of Enigma Series, LLC leverages his decades of technology expertise, including security, networking, voice, and anything digital, to bring innovative technothriller elements into storytelling. He has deep knowledge of World War II history, has traveled extensively, and seeks cultural exchanges to learn what makes different people tick. Charles enjoys wine tasting, wine-making, Harley riding, cooking new recipes, and woodworking.

Burkey, as the COO of Enigma Series, LLC uses her extensive professional knowledge of optimizing technology and business investments to drive stellar customer experiences into the ongoing stories of Enigma Series. The characteristics of people she has met throughout her career are woven into their stories. Rox enjoys her family, friends, puppies, reading, reviewing books, and traveling whenever possible. Meeting readers at various events is one of her favorite pastimes.

Together, they have created award-winning stories that resonate with men and women, with a fresh perspective on technology possibilities within a fictional framework. They have two technothriller series, The Enigma Series and Enigma Heirs. They ventured into writing cozy mysteries with the Underground Authors in the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles. Their newest short story collection complements their novella and individual short stories. For more information, we invite you to visit https://www.EnigmaSeries.com.

Let’s Be Social:

Website: https://enigmabookseries.com/

Twitter - X - https://x.com/1rburkey and https://x.com/EnigmaSeries

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/roxanne.burkey.50 and https://www.facebook.com/TheEnigmaSeries

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/roxanneburkey/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesbreakfield/ 

#WriterWednesday with Joel Turner

I’d like to welcome author Joel Turner to the blog for #WriterWednesday!

Hardest thing about being a writer: Blank page

Easiest thing about being a writer: Editing

Things you need for your writing sessions: Quiet (negotiable), coffee (non-negotiable)

Things that hamper your writing: Laziness

Words that describe you: Affable, easy-going, obsessive about some things

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: Know-it-all

Something you’re really good at: Saying what basketball announcers say before they say it

Something you’re really bad at: Handwriting

Last best thing you ate: Tomato pie

Last thing you regret eating: A hamburger

Favorite music or song: R&B, “Mind over Matter” by Nolan Strong and the Diablos

Music that drives you crazy: “Sweet Caroline,” Neil Diamond in general

The last thing you ordered online: WILDWOOD EXIT bookmarks

The last thing you regret buying: Roomba

Things you’d walk a mile for: Ultimate Italian Hoagie from Carlino’s; a mint-condition 45 of “Village of Love” by Nathaniel Mayer and the Fabulous Twilights on the Fortune Label.

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: “Watching Scotty Grow” by Bobby Goldsboro

Things to say to an author: I bought your book

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: I’ve always wanted to write a book but don’t have the time.

Favorite places you’ve been: Ravello, Islay, Barbados

Places you never want to go to again: Disneyworld

Favorite books (or genre): Gravity’s Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon, At Swim-Two-Birds by Flann O’Brien, How late it was, how late by James Kelman, High Rise by J. G. Ballard, God’s Pocket by Pete Dexter

Books you wouldn’t buy: Romance, Romantasy

Favorite things to do: Play golf, listen to R&B, dinner out with my wife

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: Square dancing

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: Getting an MBA

Something you chickened out from doing: Getting an MFA

The funniest thing to happen to you: Being exorcised by a Catholic priest in preparation for becoming a god-parent.

The most embarrassing thing to happen to you: Calling my god-daughter by her sister’s name

The coolest person you’ve ever met: Dave Davies of The Kinks

The celebrity who didn’t look like he/she did in pictures/video: World B. Free – he’d put on a few pounds since his playing days.

Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done: Explaining to a roomful of bankers in Milan how bad their credit metrics were.

A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it: Spending the summer of my sophomore year in college in Berkeley, CA, with promise of a job that fell apart when I got there. I ended up working in the Del Monte cannery under an assumed name.

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: A friend crashing a car and walking away from it, because the title had not been transferred to him.

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: Having a girlfriend from Quebec

The first 8-track, record, cassette, or CD you ever bought: The Yardbirds Greatest Hits

A type of music that’s not your cup of tea: Modern Country

My favorite book as a child: A Pass and a Prayer by Claire Bee

A book I’ve read more than once: Exterminator! By William S. Burroughs

Your favorite movie as a child: The Beast from the 20000 Fathoms

A TV show or movie that kept you awake at night as a kid (or as an adult): Vertigo

About Joel:

Joel E. Turner has combined his writing work with a career as a consultant in business analytics to banks in the US and Europe. His fiction has appeared in many US and UK journals. He also writes about Soul Music, film, and books at joeleturnerauthor.com. His new novel, WILDWOOD EXIT, a Jersey Shore noir tale, draws on his extensive work experience at some of the finer dining establishments at the Jersey Shore. He knows how to operate a Frialator.

Mr. Turner splits his time between Philadelphia and White Cloud, Michigan.

Let’s Be Social:

Website: http://joeleturnerauthor.com

Twitter: @JoelETurner1

Bluesky: @joeleturner.bsky.social

Instagram: @bzturner

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joeleturner2

ROI - Sometimes It's More Than Book Sales

My writing career started with a series of short stories, and many of the anthology writers and I did hundreds of events. It was a great way to get out and meet readers and to talk about books. For the first couple of years, we had something scheduled almost every weekend. As I started writing novels (and had contracts for multiple series), I cut down on a lot of the travel and appearances. It’s good to be choosy about projects and events you take on, but I encourage you to look at the total ROI (Return on Investment) when you make your decisions. Sometimes, you gain a lot more than just book sales.

Use every opportunity you have to invite people to join your newsletter list and follow you on social media.

Many of the writing projects and events have offered me the opportunity to network with other writers, publishers, podcasters, bloggers, and agents. These encounters led to other opportunities and projects. One led to acquiring an agent.

I often teach workshops and classes. These are work, but they’re a chance for me to share information on a topic that I love and to meet new readers and writers. Schools and libraries have a special place in my heart, and I will always try to accept their invitations. These events may not be an opportunity to sell books, but you can gather names for your email list and give out bookmarks. Many times, I’ve seen my sales numbers jump after a class or workshop.

Many of the writing conferences have offered me a chance to network and meet other authors. And that has led to lots of blogging, podcast, and anthology projects. (We plotted the themes of several anthologies in the restaurant at the Malice Domestic conference.)

I have also been very fortunate to receive book club and other speaking invitations from referrals from folks who attended a class, seminar, or book signing.

Events and promotions can be time consuming (and often costly). Look at your marketing plan and how you want to promote your work. But don’t forget there many offer other kinds of rewards and benefits.

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Michael Rigg

I’d like to welcome my friend, Michael Rigg, to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!

Hardest thing about being a writer: Marketing, e.g., social media, website upkeep, talking to readers about my books and short stories, business aspects of book sales.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Attending writing conferences and classes.

Things you need for your writing sessions: Time and a relatively quiet space.

Things that hamper your writing: The “other duties as assigned” aspects of writing, e.g., marketing.

Something you’re really good at: Procrastination.

Something you’re really bad at: Organization.

Last best thing you ate: Broiled crabcakes at a restaurant in Smithfield, Virginia.

Last thing you regret eating: An Armour (brand) Potted Meat sandwich.

The last thing you ordered online: Postage Stamps.

The last thing you regret buying: Armour (brand) Potted Meat.

Things you always put in your books: For my stories set in New Orleans, I like to mention the resurrection fern. It’s a plant (but not a parasite) that grows on the live oak trees that are prevalent in New Orleans. Depending on the amount of rain, the resurrection fern will either appear brown and shriveled or lush, thick, and green. In dry weather, the plant shrivels up and appears to be dead. But with rain, the plant seems to come back to life—a resurrection.

Things you never put in your books: Hopelessness. There can be tension, fear, and even tragedy. But in the end, justice and fairness must prevail.

Things to say to an author: I like to comment on a particular aspect of a short story or novel to show that I read and appreciated the author’s work.

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: I couldn’t read your novel past the first three pages.

The funniest thing to happen to you: During the time I was Counsel for the Navy Exchange Service Command, I attended a legal conference in Naples, Italy. Over the weekend before the conference, I volunteered to work at our Navy Exchange retail store during a customer appreciation event. My assignment was to help ring up purchases of high-end sunglasses and jewelry. One of the customers asked me to try on a pair of designer sunglasses because my head was the same shape as his father’s head. Translation? I got to model the sunglasses because I was old and fat, like his dad. I made the sale, though.

The most embarrassing thing to happen to you: I don’t want to go into too much detail, but there was one incident involving a very hot shower in a London hotel where the steam (allegedly) set off a fire alarm, resulting in a rather large desk clerk with a thick Russian accent banging on the door. There may or may not have been threats of arrest, fine, and imprisonment involved.

The coolest person you’ve ever met: David Morrell, the author of First Blood (Rambo).

The celebrity who didn’t look like he/she did in pictures/video: Bette Midler. I saw her outside a Broadway theater, where she had just performed in Hello Dolly! She was tiny. She wasn’t just short and petite, she was “Tinker Bell tiny.”

Besides writing, what’s the most creative thing you’ve done: I built a wooden toolbox in Junior High School shop class.

A project that didn’t quite turn out the way you planned it: The wooden toolbox I built in Junior High School shop class.

Your favorite book as a child: Dr. Doolittle (the series). Dr. Doolittle had an assistant, Tommy Stubbins, who was about my age at the time.

A book I’ve read more than once: A Fly Went By – by Mike McClintock. Beyond that, most of my re-reads are history books or biographies because I want to check out a particular historical fact or event.

Your favorite movie as a child: It’s a tossup between The Wizard of Oz and Goldfinger. The Wizard of Oz had flying monkeys, Munchkins, and they melted a witch! In Goldfinger, the evil-doers killed a guy in his car then put it in a metal crusher, painted a woman gold, and employed a huge Japanese gangster who killed people by throwing his hat at them.

A TV show or movie that kept you awake at night as a kid (or as an adult): When I was a kid (maybe five or six years old), Invaders from Mars (the black-and-white version) scared me “to death.” I saw it as an adult and realized how cheesy it was.

About Michael:

Michael Rigg, an attorney for more than four decades, writes mysteries and thrillers set in two very different locations: Virginia Beach (where he lives) and New Orleans (which he visits as often as possible “for research,” including participation in three Mardi Gras Krewes). He is a retired Navy Judge Advocate and a retired civilian government attorney, formerly working for the Department of the Navy Office of the General Counsel. He is a member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, and both the Sisters in Crime national organization and its Southeastern Virginia Chapter—Mystery by the Sea.

Let’s Be Social:

Website: www.michaelrigg.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/michael.rigg.author

Twitter/X: Michael Rigg@MDR102030

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/michael-rigg-4567b591

#WriterWednesday with Alison McBain

I’d like to welcome writer Alison McBain to the blog for #WriterWednesday!

Favorite thing that you always make time for: I might be elbows-deep in a project, but I will always make time for my kids.

The thing you’ll always do just about anything to avoid: I’m a terrible procrastinator, so I will always avoid the most urgent thing I HAVE to do because the world will explode if I don’t. But I’m very productive at doing all the stuff that’s NOT urgent, LOL.

Things you need when you’re in your writing cave: The fuel that keeps my writing going is silence, hot chocolate, and tea. Not necessarily in that order.

Things that distract you from writing: Loud, constant noises are somewhat distracting when I’m writing. A neighbor mowing their lawn, a siren going off down the street, or even the buzzing of a fly stuck at the window—argh. It’s why I have a monster tub of earplugs for when I really need to shut the world out.

The thing you like most about being a writer: I love sitting down and being able to tell stories every day. It’s seriously my dream career come to life. And there’s no better high than when you open an email to find an acceptance waiting for you.

The thing you like least about being a writer: I’d love to just write constantly and do nothing else—no editing, marketing, networking, etc. But that’s the necessary evil of writing as a profession—it’s a business, so there’s a lot more to it than just putting words on a page.

Things you will run to the store for in the middle of the night: I have a terrible sweet tooth, so if I’m out of candy, cookies, ice cream, you name it—there might be a midnight trip to the store in my future.

Things you never put on your shopping list: Broccoli is the bane of the world—that stuff ain’t ever coming near me. *shudder*

Something you’re really good at: Aside from writing, my lifelong hobby has been folding origami. If you ever meet me in person, just ask me and I’ll make you something cool.

Something you never learned how to do: This might be a cliché, but I’ve never learned how to change the oil in my car. Perhaps I will someday, but I’m not really interested in doing it when it’s so much easier just to take it to my local mechanic.

Something you wanted to be when you were a kid: I’ve always wanted to be a writer, ever since I was four years old. What a great gig—telling stories all day.

Something you do that you never dreamed you’d do: I think I must have imposter syndrome because I never thought I’d ever get to the point that I could be a fulltime freelance writer and editor. It’s so cool!

Things to say to an author: “Your writing is so inspiring that I want to be an author when I grow up!”

Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: “On a scale of one to ten, I give your last book a zero.”

Favorite things to do: I’ll quote Julia Child here: “People who love to eat are always the best people.” I don’t know if that’s true, but I do love to eat!

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: Eating bugs is actually one of the things that I’d run through a fire to avoid. Just the thought of it… ugh.

The coolest person you’ve ever met: I only really fangirl over authors, so I’m going to have to say the coolest writer I ever met was Ray Bradbury. He’s long been one of my writing heroes, and so it was awesome to talk to him when I was just starting out as a writer. Very inspiring.

The celebrity who didn’t look like he/she did in pictures/video: I lived in New York City a couple of decades ago, and you see a lot of celebrities all the time there. The one celebrity I saw walking down the street who looked MUCH different without tons of makeup and fancy clothes was Cameron Diaz. I didn’t even recognize her at first (my boyfriend at the time did).

The best job you ever had: Being a writer is amazing! I get to wake up every day and do what I LOVE.

The worst job you ever had: Working as a server in a restaurant is a nonstop sh*tshow. Long hours, low pay, customers who hit on you constantly when they’re not complaining about something that you can’t do anything about (such as prices being too expensive, drinks arriving too slowly, etc.). While my previous experience as a server has been great fodder for my writing, I would probably gouge out my eye before going back to a job like that.

The one thing you cook/bake that is better than a restaurant dish: I’m a whiz when it comes to desserts, but I have to say I’m a pie whisperer at heart. The crust I make is *chef’s kiss.*

The one thing you cooked/baked that turned out to be an epic disaster: I have to say that I don’t think I’ve ever had a good experience cooking with canned sardines. They stink up the kitchen and are just not edible, no matter how much I try to disguise them in a dish.

About Alison:

Alison McBain’s human-created novels are the recipients of over 13 awards, including the Foreword INDIES. Her latest novella Dual took home 3rd place in the 3-Day Novel Contest. When not writing for herself, she’s a ghostwriter who has penned over two dozen books for clients, as well as an award-winning editor who has worked with both celebrity and NY Times-bestselling authors. In 2024, she pursued a project called “Author Versus AI,” where she wrote a book a week, using NO AI at all (34 books total). When not writing, Ms. McBain is the associate editor for the magazine ScribesMICRO and draws all over the walls of her house with the enthusiastic help of her kids. She lives in Alberta, Canada.

Let’s Be Social: 

Author Versus AI website: http://www.authorversusai.com/contact.html

Author website: https://www.alisonmcbain.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alison.mcbain.9

Twitter: https://x.com/AlisonMcBain

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alisonamcbain/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-mcbain-0a026a266/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm9PMu4p4urp_un0oy1vroQ

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@1authorversusai

Medium: https://medium.com/@amcbain

What Are You Reading This Summer?

What have you added to your summer reading list? I’m always looking for recommendations, especially new to me mystery series. Here’s what I’ve been reading lately.

I recently discovered Laura Bradford’s series. She has sleuths with unusual jobs and lives. These are fun reads to add to your beach bag. Also check out Lisa Q. Matthews and Darci Hannah. They have a bunch of quirky characters who get themselves into all kinds of tricky situations.

Diane Kelly’s series are always a must read, and her latest, Dead Post Society, will not disappoint.

And you need to check out Michael Rigg’s debut mystery, Voices of the Elysian Fields. It’s a medical thriller set in New Orleans.

Who are your favorite new reads?

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Marc Watson

I’d like to welcome Marc Watson to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday.

Hardest thing about being a writer: Convincing people I never want to do this full time, ever. Seriously, people need to stop asking.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Once I hit the groove, actually writing. When my fingers fly, it’s as easy as breathing.

Things you need for your writing sessions: In the office: pink noise of keyboards and casual conversation. At home, darkness and a cup of green tea. I love working in the dark.

Things that hamper your writing: Literally everything on the internet. There’s so much good stuff on there!

Favorite foods: Grilled steak fajitas are the greatest, most complete food on earth.

Things that make you want to gag: I don’t really have a gag reflex, but the smells of canned tuna, and French Onion Soup come close.

Something you’re really good at: Cooking. It’s tasty science you can eat!

Something you’re really bad at: Any kind of carpentry. Do not ask me to build you anything.

Favorite music or song: Alternative rock, and despite my middle-age white guy appearance, I’m about the biggest hip-hop and rap fan you’ll ever meet. Rap = 1 Pulitzer Prize winning writer. All other popular music genres = zero.

Music that drives you crazy: Country. Music. SUCKS. I will accept no rebuttals. My judgement is final.

Things you always put in your books: Characters who are complex shades of grey, who the reader can relate to, even when the choices they make are morally questionable.

Things you never put in your books: Characters who like country music. I refuse to do the research to create accuracy.

Favorite places you’ve been: Kihei, Hawaii and Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Places you never want to go to again: A strip club. I went once. I hated it. Maybe I was using it wrong?

Favorite books (or genre): ‘The Shipping News’ by E. Annie Proulx, for some weird (completely justified) reason.

Books you wouldn’t buy: Any harlequin romance, or anything with an AI generated cover. If that’s on the outside, I don’t even want to guess what’s inside.

Favorite things to do: Camp, hike, and be at a baseball diamond in any way possible.

Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: Running. I hate running, so running through a fire to avoid it will likely be complicated.

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: Cliff jumping 60 feet into rocky water.

Something you chickened out from doing: Without sounding boastful, I seriously can’t think of anything. There’s been lots of things I won’t do twice, but once? Nah, I’ll try anything once, and have!

The nicest thing a reader said to you: “This book gave my dark soul the only reason it’s ever had to want to live.”

The craziest thing a reader said to you: “No one would ever swear this much in an actual conversation.” (Someone doesn’t spend much time with me and my friends or teammates, apparently.)

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: The first chapters of my Death books (Death Dresses Poorly, and Death at a Wedding) are both scenarios that happened to me personally with very few changes except where it serves the story.

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: My mother is a great woman and is my hero, and she is NOT a strung-out abusive drug addict. I was told that I wrote that relationship very accurately, and I just want to clear that up. I love you, Mom

About Marc:

Hello, I’m Marc Watson, and I write stuff. I’m an author of genre fiction (primarily Fantasy and Science Fiction of all lengths). I began writing at the age of 15 with a pen and paper, and I’ve never really stopped, even though until recently it was more of a background to me than my defining trait. I have been published on flash fiction site www.101words.org, as well as comedy site www.thecorrectness.com. I’ve been a student of the excellent writing classes at Athabasca University for a number of years.

I live in Calgary, Alberta, and was spawned out of the depths of Southern Ontario. I’m a husband, proud father of two, and can be sometimes found at an actual job. I’m an avid outdoorsman, martial artist of some high repute, baseball player of very little repute, and lover of all Mexican foods. One day ‘World Famous Poutine Aficionado’ will be on my business cards.

For public appearances and interviews, I am proudly represented by Creative Edge Publicity.