“Bram Stoker, J.R. R. Tolkien, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle were some of my favorites. Their works were filled with terror, suspense and mystery. They taught me to dream and see the world in a different way. I try to instill the same adventure, suspense and mystery in my writing.” Glenn Skinner 3 January 2011

The Back Flap

Till Death or Defeat!

Wolves at her heels and the breath of her enemy hot on her neck, the brave young Keya opens a portal between two worlds and escapes into modern-day America.  She is charged with finding the great warrior who can save her people:  a warrior who carries a cursed sword of incredible power.  She is strong and pure of heart, a warrior in her own right – but this is a quest she cannot complete without help.

Keya is saved and taken in by Orren and his niece Julie, who redefine the concept of a dysfunctional family.  Despite their spats and quarrels, Keya begins to feel at home for the first time in her life … while remaining painfully aware that she cannot stay despite the deep attachments she is forming, for her destiny must be fulfilled.

With the courage of a soldier and the heart of an innocent child, Keya gradually enlists those around her in her cause … but will the fierce and stony Orren stand against her?  Follow an unforgettable heroine through this vivid story of friendship, loyalty, and tragedy culminating in a massive battle in which evil must conquer evil so that good may prevail.

About the Book

What is the book about?

The book is about the adventures of Keya, a young elven woman from a parallel world who comes to a small island off the coast of Maine in search of a great warrior. She hopes to locate and convince him to return to her world and free her people from an evil warlord. The story chronicles her search to find this warrior and the peril she must overcome to succeed.

When did you start writing the book?

Keya’s story began a couple of years ago during my long commutes back and forth to work. The story startled out very differently but over time I began to refine the storyline and characters.

How long did it take you to write it?

The actual writing part took about 6 months between the character development and story line. Half of that time was creating the characters themselves and the location where the story takes place. It was about 12 weeks of solid writing after that point to complete the first draft.

Where did you get the idea from?

The original story developed from a wild variation of a story of an old man finding Excalibur, the sword of King Arthur. As the idea unfolded, I added a young girl in need of his assistance. After that, I spent a couple of years refining the story and characters. In the end Keya was born and the book followed shortly thereafter.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

I have to admit I struggled constantly with dialogue. I created a complex chemistry between the lead characters which made it difficult for me to make them come alive.

What came easily?

The battle scenes were the easiest by far. When I wrote those, they came alive in my mind. I could see all the action and surroundings.  It was like I was there on the field capturing each moment as the battle unfolded.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

I don’t know if any author can truly say their characters are completely fictitious. My family and friends have spent many an hour trying to figure out if my characters are based on real people. The truth is, they are fictitious. However, here or there in their mannerisms or conversations, there is an occasion similarity to someone real. That’s all it is though a similarity.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

When I grew up, It was during a period where people saw vampires and werewolves and other such creatures as evil and not lovers and victims. Bram Stoker, J.R. R. Tolkien, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle were some of my favorites. Their works were filled with terror, suspense and mystery. They taught me to dream and see the world in a different way. I try to instill the same adventure, suspense and mystery in my writing.

Do you have a target reader?

I targeted the book for the borderline fantasy/scifi reader.  Surprisingly I am finding it is appealing to a much wider audience.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I wouldn’t say I have a formal writing process.  I write everyday barring any conflicts that might arise.  With my current schedule, I have a writing goal of either 1 hour or 700 words.  I normally average 1000 words an hour. I keep my chapters around 5000 words. During a normal week, I will write one to two chapters during the week and an additional one on the weekend. I continue this until the first draft is complete.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just Chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

I don’t outline in the normal sense. I do not predetermine the number of chapters or what is going to occur. Each book has a main goal and a starting point. I then determine key events I want to include on this journey.  Once this is done, I begin to write. It might be the ending, a key point somewhere in the middle but I continue going back to fill in the blanks. By the time I start a book. The story line is known. The details come out as I write. Everything is then adjusted to the flow of the events.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

I generally write straight through each writing session only editing typos highlighted by my writing software. Before I start writing for a session, I normally go back and read what I wrote the night before. I do a light round of editing while I read. This cleans up the story and refreshes my memory. When the first draft is complete. I then go back one chapter at a time and start the serious editing.

Did you hire a professional editor?

I knew from day one I would need a professional editor when I was finished. I ended up using the editorial staff of the publishing company I chose. I had one round of basic editing to fix syntax and sentence structure. I then had an additional round of editing to tighten the story and remove redundancies.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

No, I can’t listen to music while I write. It distracts me. I prefer basic white noise to drown out sounds or the gentle crackling of a fire. I do my best writing in the winter while sitting at a table near a raging fire.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

I never submitted the book to an agent. With my current workload I knew it would be difficult to juggle work and my writing career.

What made you decide to go Indie? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

My decision to go Indie was driven by my desire to publish my book under my control. Having the ability to control all aspects of publishing and marketing makes it easier to handle. I have learned more than I ever believed possible.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did it you do it yourself?

I had the cover professionally designed. The cover is what makes it or break it. It has to catch your potential audience and convince them to buy. It’s too important in my opinion to leave it to chance. A professional designer knows how to make it stand out.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I think I am somewhere in the middle on this one. I do have a plan, but it evolves as it moves forward. It’s not cast in stone.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

The best advice I can give is the following”

1)      If you go Indie, don’t set or expect any unrealistic expectations on sales or future book deals.

2)      Professional editing is a must!

3)      Spend the extra on a great cover

4)      Remember to have some fun along the way

5)      Network, network, and still more networking!

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up on top of a hill in Marlborough, Ma. I was fortunate to have a large park with fields, reservoirs and woods. They sparked my imagination as a child.

Where do you live now?

Funny, but When I got married. The house across the street from my parents came up for sale. We bought it and have lived there for the past 32 years.

What would you like readers to know about you?

In addition to my writing, I have a love of 14-16^th century medieval life.  I am a true technology geek, an amateur astronomer and an archer. I own an observatory in Stow, Ma. It is there, I write my stories along the banks of the picturesque Assabet River.

What are you working on now?

I am currently writing the next book in the Keya Quests series “The Keya Quests: The Battle for Shivenridge” The first draft should be done by year end and publication is targeted for late summer or early fall 2011.

End of Interview

The Keya Quests is available from Glenn’s website here and from Amazon here.