#WriterWednesday Interview with Dave Pratt

I’d like to welcome Dave Pratt to the blog for #WriterWednesday!

Hardest thing about being a writer: Surrendering the outcome of my writing efforts to God, knowing he’ll take them where He wants them to go, to the people I need to reach, whether by traditional publisher, independent publishing, magazine article, and so on.

Easiest thing about being a writer: Writing the first draft of a story, article or novel.

Words that describe you: Christian, husband, friend, writer. Quiet, unless I believe in a cause or concept that needs defending or teaching to others. Addicted to writing.

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: Not always as good, humble or nice as I’d like to be. I very often lack self-confidence, although that’s not always apparent to others.

Last best thing you ate: My wife’s made-from-scratch, everything-left-in-the-fridge breakfast scramble. It is always amazing.

Last thing you regret eating: Three double chocolate truffles over within 5 minutes. But they tasted so good!

Things you’d walk a mile for: A forest scene with rushing water, mountains, old-growth trees, deer, fox and birds.

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: A group of people too interested in hearing themselves talk to listen to input from others – in business and in writing groups.

Things you always put in your books: Positive, satisfying endings, conflict, martial arts, and a little romance.

Things you never put in your books: Profanity and gratuitous sex scenes.

Most daring thing you’ve ever done: At 16, on a State Department sponsored People-to-People Student Ambassador tour to Rumania, then behind the Iron Curtain, I played sick, skipped a supervised tour, snuck down the hotel’s fire escape and went to the sections of the city we were told we were not allowed to visit. I was followed but not caught and saw things that changed my perspective on life. That evening at our restaurant, a waiter attempted to attack me with a knife, presumably because of what I did. Our group’s male chaperone intervened and guarded my door that night and we left the country the next day.

Something you chickened out from doing: As a gymnast through junior high, high school and college, I elected not to do the high-bar event and became a pommel horse specialist. Doing giant swings terrified me back then.

The nicest thing a reader said to you: That my writing was similar to Cussler and Ludlum.

The craziest thing a reader said to you: That a simple event where my character fell off his horse on purpose, to escape his captors, had deep social meaning. That was an important lesson for me, however.

Some real-life story that made it to one of your books: At a time when I was not looking for a relationship with a woman, I met my wife, Rafaela. In the first book in my Home Team series, the main character, Sam Anthem, trips across Consuela during a mission. She changes his life in many ways; helps him realize his faith in God and find the self-confidence he needs to do what he needs to do as a military/covert operator.

Something in your story that readers think is about you, but it’s not: They believe the character of Sam Anthem, in the first book in my series, is me, with all his emotional and spiritual wounds from a past operation gone bad, the covert operations work, expertise in empty-hand martial arts, and not finding Jesus until later in life, which helped him reconcile his jog with his faith and saved him. I certainly didn’t intend that.

The first 8-track, record, cassette, or CD you ever bought: One, by Three Dog Night.

A type of music that’s not your cup of tea: Symphony and Opera. I fall asleep during performances.

My favorite book as a child: Any of The Hardy Boys books.

A book I’ve read more than once: A Wizard in Spite of Himself, by Christopher Stasheff. Also, all of Louis L'Amour western novels – some many more times than once.

Your favorite movie as a child: Lt. Robin Caruso, U.S.N. with Dick Van Dyke. Funny, positive, silly, foolish, and I was certain I wanted to find someone like the character Nancy Kwan played when I got older. A big crush!

A TV show or movie that kept you awake at night as a kid (or as an adult): The Haunting, starring Julie Herns and others. Kept me scared for years.

About David:

Dave Pratt is a native of most of the west coast of the United States – and now makes his home in Middle Tennessee with his wife, near his recently relocated grandkids.

A freelance writer since 1977, Dave has authored more than sixty published articles, poems, short stories and novels. He has also written for a local newspaper and edited newsletters for charitable service groups and businesses. His latest books include the first two novels in the 5-part Home Team Series, released in November 2022 and 2023, respectively, and published by Ambassador International. The third book in the series, Homesick, is scheduled for release in November 2025.

Dave holds master’s degrees in Hospital Administration (Baylor University) and Management (Webster University), and a B.S. in Psychology from Washington State University. He is a retired army officer and more recently retired as a project management consultant. Dave has taught at the corporate, graduate and undergraduate levels and has been a speaker at numerous professional conferences on writing and project management. Dave is a 4th Dan (degree) Master in Tae Kwan Do, proficient in Tai Chi, Hapkido, and staff, and was a member of the U.S. National Tae Kwan Do Poomse Team in 2015.

Dave thanks Jesus Christ for his inspiration and the countless blessings in his life.

Let’s Be Social:

Website: www.DavePrattBooks.com

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/daveprattbooks

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

LinkedIn: (22) Dave Pratt, PMP, PMI-ACP | LinkedIn

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

Some Things to Think about if You Write a Series

If you think you want to write a series, there are some things to think about when you’re writing and revising.

• Create connectors or mentions (of characters and events) and sprinkle them in without providing spoilers.

• Think about your character arcs. Do you want them to grow or change? Some series, the character is basically the same age. In others, the change jobs, get married, get divorced, and age as time passes.

• Have an idea for the plots and stories as you’re writing. You may want to have some kind of reference at the end that sets up the story for the next book.

• Think about whether readers can read the series out of order and still enjoy the book. Some dedicated series readers read them only in order. Other readers find you mid-series.

• Make sure there is going to be a next book if you write a cliffhanger. Readers don’t like to be left “not knowing.”

• For fiction series where you have recuring characters and new ones, you may want to have a short list at the beginning for a reader reference.

What else would you add to my list?

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Alison McBain

I’d like to welcome Allison McBain back to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!

Favorite snacks: Popcorn is my go-to snack, and it can fit any snacking mood. It can be sweet or it can be salty, and you can add any kind of flavoring to it, like cheese or fruit or jalapeños—it’s the snack that does it all.

Things that make you want to gag: Anything garlicky or mustardy. Those chips and crackers that are garlic-flavored—yuck! No thanks.

Something you wish you could do: I wish I was better at ice skating. While I did it here and there as a kid, I now live in hockey country (aka Canada), and EVERYONE skates, including my kids. They can certainly skate circles around me.

Something you wish you’d never learned to do: Taxes, LOL. I spent years doing my own taxes, learning the ins and outs of tax law that applied to me, and the paperwork took days and days of my time. I now have someone who does my taxes for me and I never have to have that headache again.

Favorite places you’ve been: In Canada, Lake Louise tops the list. It’s the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen—so beautiful that it seems fake, which sounds like a contradiction but is true. I also enjoyed visiting London—fun city. I’d go back again.

Places you never want to go to again: Utah, and for a very specific reason: Worst. Drivers. Ever. I thought I was going to die when navigating through Salt Lake City. I won’t tell the whole story, but it involved rush-hour traffic, a chicken, a dining chair, two pickup trucks, and an RV. You can use your imagination to fill in the rest.

People you’d like to invite to dinner (living): Margaret Atwood would probably top the list. I’d be curious to talk to her about her books and writing process. She has an amazing body of work, and I’ve enjoyed everything of hers that I’ve read. If I was allowed to organize a dinner party and invite more than one guest, I think I’d try to get all the living Nobel Prize winners in literature together. That would be a really fun literary salon.

People you’d cancel dinner on: Soooo many people, ha ha. Top of the list are many, many politicians and celebrities—they seem to live in a bubble disconnected from regular people, and I think most of them would be quite boring. I’d rather stay at home in my PJs and watch bad rom-coms.

A few of your favorite fall traditions: I love the fall! Decorating and doing crafts with the kids, eating apple cider donuts, going to a local farm for hayrides and pumpkin picking—there’s so many fun things to do.

Something autumn-related that you’ll never do again: I won’t say NEVER, but I don’t understand the point of corn mazes. I did several with my kids in the past, but it’s just hours of wandering around in the mud, often in rainy or freezing weather, and feeling claustrophobic with all the corn stalks pressing in and every row looking the same. Feels a bit like torture, ha.

Favorite fall treat: Hot, fresh apple cider donuts. Yum!

A fall treat that makes you gag: Pumpkin spice anything. To me, it just tastes like soap, and that was a punishment when I was a kid—getting your mouth washed out with soap. Why would anyone voluntarily do that to themselves?

Something you only do in the fall: Celebrate my birthday! I’m a Libra.

Something you’d never do in the fall season: I might live in Canada now, but I grew up in California, and I still have desert heat in my blood. I see other people walking around in the fall up here wearing t-shirts and shorts in freezing weather and it makes me shiver just looking at them. I’m usually wearing five layers by the time November hits.

Favorite autumn beverage: I’m going to veer into “grownup” territory here and say that rhubarb wine is delightful. I got a bottle of it at a fall harvest festival one year from a local, small-time winemaker, and it was a great combination of tart and sweet. Went well with cheese and crackers!

A drink that gives you a sour face: Cranberry gin. Same fall harvest festival where I bought it, and I thought it would be a good combination. Tart and dry, right? But the two flavors did NOT mix well. It was a bit like drinking cleaning solution.

Favorite fall smell: Woodsmoke and cold, crisp air that’s so fresh it takes your breath away.

Something that makes you hold your nose: Cleaning out the garden at the end of the growing season and facing all the dead vegetables that didn’t quite make it can be a stinky process. I like the smell of fresh dirt, but composting is not super pleasant to be around.

Best thing you ever cooked/baked in autumn: Pumpkin pie—I only make it once a year, but it’s *chef’s kiss.*

Your worst kitchen disaster: Cooking a large meal for family and friends at Thanksgiving can be a juggling act, and it was in a house with a very, very old stove that didn’t work properly (and was replaced shortly after this). The smoke alarm went off multiple times, there were actual flames coming out of at least one dish, and I was almost ready to throw in the towel and speed dial the nearest pizza place. I won’t say it was a disaster, since everyone eventually ended up with something to eat, but a couple of my pans were never the same again.

About Allison:

 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

#WriterWednesday Interview with Patrick MacPhee

I’d like to welcome Patrick MacPhee to the blog for a fall #WriterWednesday.

A few of your favorite fall traditions: Definitely Canadian Thanksgiving – we enjoy the usual homemade pies (from scratch). For the longest time, we would take the kids to one of the local farms and do the whole farm thing (tracker rides, ball crawls, corn maze).

Something autumn-related that you’ll never do again: I had a hard time thinking about this one. A lot of the fun outdoor activities aren’t being done too much, given that the kids are much older now. However, who’s to say those activities won’t ever happen again if some grandkids come around…

Favorite fall treat: Homemade apple pie from scratch.

A fall treat that makes you gag: Pumpkin pie. I personally can’t stand the spongy texture. Reminds me of cheesecake.

Something you only do in the fall: As a teacher, fall always has that particular “school is starting” energy. Technically, the year may start in January, but for most of my life, the true start to the year has been September.

Something you’d never do in the fall season: Water park. Just don’t do it. Those tickets are on sale for a reason.

Favorite fall smell: The savory smell of a woodfire stove, especially those first few times on those crisp autumn nights where the sky is that rich azure.

Something that makes you hold your nose: We live in a rural area and sometimes the farmers apply some fertilizer to their fields. I tell myself that the smell means food and fertility, but it can be pungent sometimes. Only lasts a day or two depending on which way the wind is blowing.

Best fall memory: Walking with my wife and kids and the dogs through a valley filled with trees blazing in fall colors.

Something you’d rather forget: It seems like October is a time when someone is always getting sick. We’ve lost enough vitamin D by then that more often than not, someone is bedridden for a few days.

A tradition you share with others: We get into Halloween. Our neighborhood is like a Hollywood version of trick-or-treat. We’re talking hundreds of kids milling about in waves. They get dropped off, too. Just recently, we had over 250 kids (a slow year).

A tradition that can be retired: Ice Skating on frozen ponds and rivers is probably one I can do without. It always sounds better than it ends up being.

Best thing you ever cooked/baked in autumn: I can bake a pretty good hashbrown casserole. Lots of potatoes, cheese, and plenty of garlic and other spices. It’s always a hit at the dinner table.

Your worst kitchen disaster:

I’ve been baking pizza from scratch since the lockdowns. One day, I thought “let’s try calzones”. I also decided to brush some olive oil on it to give it a bit of a glazed/burnished effect. Yeah, not a good idea. Some of the oil dripped to the bottom of the oven and decided it was hot enough to start burning. The calzones weren’t too bad. A bit… smoky.

Funniest pumpkin-carving story: I don’t know about funniest, but I once managed to carve the Star Trek symbol with a “42” inside of it. Actually turned out pretty good and it wasn’t from a pattern.

Your worst pumpkin-carving story: One time, I had some pumpkins for my class, but we had a miscommunication about who was supposed to bring the carving utensils. It got a little messy that day.

Favorite pumpkin spice item: Coffee.

Something that should never be pumpkin-spiced flavored: Gum. It didn’t work for me.

Best Halloween costume ever: I went as Kakashi Hatake once to my school. I was running the anime club at the time, and had a lot of kids coming over for selfies with “Kakashi Sensei”. I bought a Hidden Leaf shinobi top, but the rest was homemade. I got a white wig and styled it with Level 10 “like cement” hair gel, but what sealed the deal was the sharingon contact lenses.

Worst Halloween costume disaster: I remember being very young and going as E.T. but I had trouble seeing out of the costume and kept falling over.

About Patrick:

Patrick teachers high school English and creative writing in Ontario, Canada. When he’s not writing, you’ll often find him playing video and board games with his wife and two children or going for walks with his two golden retrievers.

Let’s Be Social:

Twitter/X: @macphee225

Instagram: @macphee225

Website: http://Patrickmacphee.com

10 Things I Learned Along My Writing Journey

There have been a lot of lessons learned along my writing journey, and I am sure that there are more to come. Here’s my list of the top ten so far.

1. Don’t give up. Keep writing.

2. Treat your writing like a business.

3. Guard your writing time. It’s precious.

4. Find your crew to help you celebrate and get through the rough times.

5. Keep your biography and your headshot current.

6. Write your synopsis and marketing documents after you finish a round of editing. Your characters and story will be fresh in your mind.

7. Keep a up to date character list for your book and series.

8. Record dates, contacts, and key information when you agree to do something, and keep your calendar up to date.

9. Keep good records. Keep all your receipts. Tax time always seems to be around the corner.

10. When you type “the end,” put down your manuscript for a few days before you start editing and revising.

#ThisorThatThursday Interview with Annmarie SanSevero

I’d like to welcome Annmarie SanSevero to the blog!

A few of your favorite things: Books (probably a given), tap shoes, violin, hot chocolate, and BritBox.

Things you need to throw out: paperwork I no longer need, electrical cords, I’m not using but am sure I’ll need one day, and my anxiety.

Things you need for your writing sessions: laptop, comfy seat, my hourglass, and hot chocolate (when it’s not melt your soul hot outside).

Things that hamper your writing: dogs, anxiety, time constraints, and did I mention dogs?

Things you love about writing: creating characters I’d love to meet (unless they’re the baddies).

Things you hate about writing: imposter syndrome, and the fact that I have more stories in my head than time to get out.

Words that describe you: optimistic, resilient, tenacious

Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: anxious, medically challenged, exhausted

Favorite foods: pasta, steak, bread, chocolate

Things that make you want to gag:  beans, liver, okra

Favorite beverage: It’s a tie between hot chocolate and raspberry lemonade
Something that gives you a sour face: Coca Cola (there go my chances at endorsement money)

Something you’re really good at: learning, tap dancing, being a nerd
Something you’re really bad at: group sports (and most individual sports), flirting

Something you like to do: travel
Something you wish you’d never done: waited so long to start my own dreams.

Things you’d walk a mile for: my children

Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: anything alive I didn’t give permission to be there.

Things you always put in your books: sarcasm, tragedy, hope
Things you never put in your books: erotica, gore

Things to say to an author: Your stories gave me hope/made me laugh/ made me want more.
Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: How nice that you have enough time on your hands to write, I’m friends with you because I think you’ll be famous one day (a woman actually said this to me), Are you still doing that writing thing?

The nicest thing a reader said to you: I couldn’t stop thinking about your story. Will you be writing more in that world?

The craziest thing a reader said to you: I liked everything about your book, I just wish it was more like a Taiwanese Firefly.

About AnnMarie:

Annmarie SanSevero grew up in New York City but was transplanted to the south in high school. She writes stories about hope, courage, and resilience in fantasy, science fiction, steampunk, and mystery. Annmarie loves exploring the human experience and wants readers to feel like they can do more than survive. They can be world changers.

When she’s not writing, Annmarie enjoys learning just about everything (yep, she's a nerd), playing violin, tap dancing, and singing. One day, she wants to go LARPing. You can learn more about Annmarie's work on her website https://asansevero.com/

Social media links: 

https://www.facebook.com/annmarieflorence

https://x.com/theItalianMuse

https://www.instagram.com/theitalianmuse/

Author Newsletter link: 

https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/735163/111626342877889739/share

#WriterWednesday Author Interview with Kim Lengling

I’d like to welcome Kim Lengling to the blog for #WriterWednesday!

Favorite fall treat: Pumpkin Bread with cream cheese frosting.

A fall treat that makes you gag: I can’t think of any that I dislike 😊

Favorite autumn beverage: Hot coffee
A drink that gives you a sour face: Pumpkin Spice in any drink

Favorite fall smell: Leaves crunching underfoot as you walk through the woods.
Something that makes you hold your nose: The smell of skunk.

Best fall memory: Growing up, we used to rake leaves into a huge pile under the tree, climb up to a lower branch, and jump into the pile we had created. So fun! Looking back, wow, was that dangerous! 😊

Something you’d rather forget: The death of a high school friend that happened in the fall. Not to forget the person, but the sorrow and heartache…

A tradition you share with others: Heading out for an afternoon to go look at the colors of the leaves.

A tradition that can be retired: It’s not my tradition, but the addition of pumpkin spice everything in the fall could disappear, and I wouldn’t mind a bit!😊

Best thing you ever cooked/baked in autumn: Apple Pie

Your worst kitchen disaster: Raspberry Pie, ended up like soup. I’ve never been able to perfect it, so I stick with apple pie or apple crisp. 😊

Favorite place you spent a fall day: Anywhere outdoors

The worst place to spend a fall day: Indoors

Your best Halloween costume: Stevie Nicks (of Fleetwood Mac) – I had so much fun creating a costume with all the flowy scarves, skirt, and high-heeled boots.

A Halloween costume that wasn’t quite what you imagined: I usually stuck with costumes I knew I could create on my own. I don’t have one that was a fail. Witches, gypsy, Stevie Knicks, She-Devil…they all turned out great and I had a lot of fun with them!

Favorite pumpkin spice item: None

Something that should never be pumpkin-spiced flavored: Anything. 😊

Best Halloween memory: taking my daughter on her first Trick-or-Treat night. We were both dressed as good witches. It was so cold and even snowed a little bit. We were dressed for winter with our costumes over our winter coats. We looked and felt silly and had the best time!

Worst Halloween experience: I was around 10 years old. I lived in a small town, and trick-or-treating was our night! I was in my costume and had my pillowcase filled! A few older kids decided to scare us as we were walking home. In fear, I tripped, and my pillowcase fell out of my hands as candy flew everywhere. I lost more than half of my haul that night ☹

About Kim:

If you spot someone walking through a field with a coffee mug in one hand and a dog leash in the other—that’s probably Kim Lengling.

A multi-published author, podcast host, and all-around champion of hope and real talk, Kim is the voice behind the Let Fear Bounce podcast, where she shares stories that remind you hope is real, kindness matters, and you’re never alone, even on rough days. As a veteran living with PTSD, Kim knows the power of small, hopeful moments.

She’s the lead author of six heart-hugging anthologies (the latest, Paw Prints on the Kitchen Floor), and her book, Nuggets of Hope: Cultivate Kindness, drop real-life stories that lift you up when the world feels heavy.

To continue her kindness mission, her newest release, 15 Ways Pets Teach Us Kindness, is available as an eBook with print copy coming soon.

When Kim’s not writing or recording, you’ll find her relaxing with a good book, filling her coffee cup (again), or walking with her dog, Dexter, living her best nature-loving life.

Let’s Be Social:

Website: https://kimlenglingauthor.com

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/kimlengling

GoodReads: https://bit.ly/4lHUlMl

Let Fear Bounce: @Letfearbounce

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0tLAznvUG8hVVsTXdvTMTk?si=a828003ace2b4a9f

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LetFearBounce

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/let-fear-bounce/id1541906455

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letfearbouncepodcast and https://www.facebook.com/kim.lengling

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlylengling/X

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

X (Twitter): https://x.com/KimLengling

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@klengling?lang=en

Ways to Spark Your Creativity

Sometimes, you just don’t feel like writing or the words won’t flow. Or maybe, you just have a case of the blahs. Here are some ideas you may want to try to recharge or reenergize.

• Start another creative project where you have to use your hands. Learn a new craft or a new skill.

• Volunteer. Many organizations are looking for people to do a variety of tasks. A change of scenery is always good. And giving back is important.

• Take a class or a course. It’ll spark ideas, and you have the opportunity to learn something new. There are so many few free or low-cost courses.

• Go for a walk, hike, or bike ride or start a new exercise routine. It’s good for your health, and the endorphins always stimulate creativity. And if you have a dog, he or she would love to go on an adventure.

• Get out your camera or phone and go on a photo safari. You can always blog about your adventures, share them in your newsletter, or use them on your social media sites.

• If you can swing it, plan a get-away. Mini-vacations are a great way to recharge. If your budget or schedule doesn’t allow for a trip, plan a get-away day near your home. Play tourist or just visit some interesting sites. A change of scenery will do wonders for your outlook.

• Schedule a meet up or online call with your writer buddies. A “plotting” party where everyone throws out ideas for stories is a great way to get recharged and ready to write. I always leave with some new ideas that I want to explore.

• Organize a closet, your desk, or your junk drawer. Putting things in order creates a sense of accomplishment and spruces up your space.

• Make sure you do have a writing crew. Writing is lonely, and you do need your support folks. Get together and plan a new project or just chat. Sometimes, you need a break.

What would you add to my list?