The Celwyn Newsletter Issue 20

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In this issue, interviews with:

Artist and Author Stephen B. Graziani

   Urban fantasy and historical fiction Author D.A. Spruzen

Author Mimi Francis

Children’s Author Chip Haynes

Also, another great article by editor Jennie Rosenblum, plus ideas for holiday gifts, for the gift of reading.

Celwyn’s Cats

Hiding from editing, no one can see her…..

Mystery Review Crew – Cliffhangers: One-Liner Showcase

Stop by the Mystery Review Crew on December 1st at https://mysteryreviewcrew.com/. You’ll find some great one-liners nominated by your favorite authors and a contest.

Later in December …… the Mystery Review Crew, https://mysteryreviewcrew.com, will have their holiday event of original short stories and giveaways. For it, Author Richard Koreto and I, have collaborated on a story, Ophelia’s Promise. It features Salieri and Mozart and a murder.

An Interview with writer and artist Stephen B. Graziani

I asked Stephen Graziani a few questions, and here is what he said:

About what people see. One thing I learned long ago—it’s not my job to determine what other people see in my work… it’s just my job to create pieces where people find something to see or think about. Naturally I can guess what many people will see or feel, especially with the more opinionated pieces, but I’m still constantly surprised by other’s interpretations.

I once sculpted a 7’ high rusting steel cross, held together by barbed wire, in response to an evangelist announcing God said to vote for a republican—only to have a 19yo kid walk into my shop and love the piece because it showed how strong the church is. When I do an art festival, I usually take around 100 different etchings, displayed in bins for thumbing through like old jazz albums. Sometimes I try to guess which pieces will attract a certain person, and I’m probably only right 25% of the time—I like that.

Art to stories and visa-versa. I have a hard time writing a story to a piece of my art—I can get by that, if needed. But I find when I try to create an etching to a story I’ve written, the art becomes too limited. I like my art/etchings to be ‘story rich’… quoting one of the editors from a book that’s coming out soon— a hybrid anthology where 19 writers create stories and poems to 32 of my etchings. I only wrote one, so I’m anxious to see through other eyes. My best solution is to keep my art and writing completely separate… at least for now (I don’t like to close doors). I’m primarily an artist who occasionally likes to write, but when I’m doing either I can’t imagine not doing them.

Process wise, I like there to be a challenge—without the dance, what fun is it? With the etchings I’m working with a medium that’s unpredictable (it’s still a new medium to me), so there’s the dance aspect, so I don’t care for the challenge of playing to a prompt, outside life in general. But when it comes to writing, I love working from prompts… that becomes the challenge (though it’s not needed).

A note about the covers. When I worked in television, though I had a horrible tendency to want to play in other people’s lanes, I eventually came to terms (almost) with each department best controls their craft. My book cover designs were like writing the books—to see if I could do it all from scratch, but not trying to become a novelist. I believe publishers or cover design artist dealing with book sales in mind have a better finger on the marketing side than I would.

Stephen has two shows in May 2025—Beverly Hills Art Festival & Monsterpalooza.

The picture above is called What Ifs by the artist.
https://www.facebook.com/grazarts/
http://www.grazarts.com/

Swango: Book 6 of the Celwyn Series. Swango is almost here. Pelaez is back and causing trouble. Available for pre-order now. General availability 12-29-24.

On Amazon

An Interview with D. A Spruzen

D. A. Spruzen grew up near London, U.K., graduated from the London College of Dance and Drama Education, and earned an MFA in Creative Writing from Queens University of Charlotte. She teaches creative writing in Northern Virginia when not seeking her own muse. Dorothy is also a visual artist and loves her Cavalier King Charles spaniel, her house on the Chesapeake Bay, reading, and creating her garden.

Her published works include the Sleuthing with Mortals urban fantasy series; a historical novel, The Blitz Business; The Flower Ladies trilogy; Crossroads: Two Novellas; and, a poetry chapbook, Long in the Tooth. She reviews for the Washington Independent Review of Books and serves on the faculty of the Tinker Mountain Writer’s Workshop at Hollins University in Roanoke, VA.

1. Do you plan to write any nonfiction? (or another genre?)

I have had a lot of poetry published, and a poetry chapbook, Long in the Tooth, was published a few years ago. I’ve taught and written a memoir.

2. What advice would you give to aspiring authors who are just starting their writing journey?

Take classes and learn the craft. Read widely. Find a writer’s group. When you write, write without stopping to worry about spelling, grammar, and so on. Stopping to fix all that is a sure path to writer’s block. Then revise. Revise. Revise some more. Edit last. Get other eyes on your work.

3. Set the scene: What is your perfect writing day? What time of day is it? Where are you? What is or is not happening in the background?

I sit in front of a window that looks out onto the Chesapeake Bay. The waves dance and play with the sunlight. I am alone except for my dog. I have a handy bottle of Pellegrino on my side table.

4. How would you compare the style of the Sleuthing with Mortals series to other styles of fantasies?

The memoirs move through the Norse heavens, ancient cultures, and other historical events. A mystery runs through the story, too, as does Mary’s own life in the household. Hence, while largely urban fantasy, the books also embody mythology, historical fiction, and mystery.

5. In your series, Sleuthing with Mortals, do your characters evolve as it progresses?

In The Turkish Connection, a Norse goddess, Lin hires Mary to be the resident ghostwriter of her memoirs. Mary finds all her previous assumptions about life, love, and religion, challenged—Norse gods and their powers are real and what she thought was mythology, isn’t.

In The Witch of Tut, Lin finds a friend of her own kind (goddess), a great comfort. Mary is a little jealous, and … there’s such a thing as a witch? Terror grips Mary more than once.

In The Knight, the Gnome, and the Fox, Mary realizes that her daughter has greater abilities than a normal child. Will the child find her mother inferior? To Mary’s amazement, yet another survivor of Raganarok appears. Yggdrasil is growing fast. They all wonder how life will change if the gods of Asgar rule again.

See The Knight, the Gnome, and the Fox on Amazon

Interview with children’s author Chip Haynes

Chip Haynes is an artist, writer, cyclist and juggler living in Tampa, Florida. Chip is currently dabbling in fiction and poetry when he’s not pedaling in shorts and sandals, and doesn’t mind writing in shorts and sandals as well. But not when he’s riding his bike. The man ahs his limits. (But he has juggled on his bike!)

1. Talk about the illustration process (and what you’ve learned?) I’m a retired professional commercial artist, so I have to say that the illustrator for this children’s book series, Niki Tantillo, is my absolutely hero. She obviously read all of these stories very carefully and kept notes. She got everything, every detail, so very right, down to the flower on Olivia’s brown hat! And I could never have matched her wonderful casual style, which was exactly with this casual possum needed! We have emailed back and forth a bit, but we have yet to meet. (And we really should!)

2. What do you think new authors should decide before they begin their book? Should it be who they are writing for (themselves or their audience)? Do you have other criteria you would suggest? Oh, I wrote a whole book on this! (“How to Write a Book”) It comes down to this: Once you have That Idea, do your homework, your research and do the most detailed story outline that you possibly can. That’s what totally saves the day later as you sit there and write the text. Oh, and caffeine. Yer gonna need some serious caffeine. Yep.

3. Of all your characters, which is the most like your personality? How many of the char’s traits are already part of you, verses what you want them to be? In all honesty, it’s probably me, somewhere, in all of my books, but I am SO Oliver Possum! I’ve got the bike and the hat, and I DO stop for tea and pie. (I did just this morning!) And I am sort of short and fuzzy…

4. In your upcoming book, did your characters evolve as you used them? Oliver grows up from book to book, from learning to ride a bike in his first book to having adventures on the road with his friends and finding a girl possum to ride with, but as for me, no, I’m still just Uncle Chippie to everyone. Even my nephews.

5. Can you see yourself using Ai in your books? On what part and why? No. I enjoy the act of writing too much to let some robot try to be me. And geez, Louise, what if they did a better job? I’d be out of work! (But would they pay me for the use of my name? Hmmmm…

6. Talk about how your series came about. What did you initially visualize for the theme? Did it lead to an idea for a new series? The idea came to me as I rode Oliver Possum’s bicycle- a vintage English 3-speed. The name came first, and then the persona followed. And then the stories… so many stories… The series is simply my life on a bike over the years and the miles…

Email: [email protected]

See Oliver Possum’s Bicycle on Amazon

Holiday Special!

The Celwyn Series celebrates the holidays! From Dec 14th – Jan 3rd. If a reader buys one of the paperbacks or hardcovers, they get the ebook for FREE.
link to buy

Choosing the Right Editor with Jennie Rosenblum

Jennie Rosenblum has been an independent editor for small publishers and indie authors. Since 2014, she has been happily self-employed helping authors. Over the next few months, she will be sharing guest columns here. Feel free to reach out to her at www.jenniereads.com.

Finding the right editor is about more than just skill:

It’s about finding someone who clicks with you and your project.
Think of it as a partnership, and ask yourself how you prefer to work. Do you like having a regular chat over the phone to discuss feedback, or are you more comfortable with email exchanges?
Maybe you’re looking for someone who gives deep developmental feedback to help shape your story,
Or perhaps you just want a polished final draft with clean grammar and style.

Being clear on your preferences will make the search much smoother and help you find the perfect editor for your project.

Most editors these days are a bit of a one-stop shop—they often provide a range of services like beta reading, developmental editing, and copyediting. Some can even tackle grammar, style, and proofreading all in one go, making the process simpler. Don’t hesitate to ask questions and make sure they offer exactly what you need. After all, finding the right editor is like finding the right pair of shoes—it has to be the right fit, or it’s just not going to work!

Working with an editor is an investment in your book’s success, giving it the best possible chance to stand out in a competitive market.

A good editor won’t just polish your prose; they’ll help your voice and story shine through in a way that’s unmistakably yours. So. take your time, find someone who understands your vision, and get ready to bring your book to life in the best way possible.

Ideas for Holiday Book Gifts

The Celwyn Series YouTube channel

Link to Celwyn’s YouTube channel

Supporting Local

Turtleman Used Books

108 22nd Ave SW Ste 4, Olympia, WA 98501 · 4.3 mi(206) 200-5809

Proprietor, Murlin Varner [email protected]

All Genres, rare and used books.

Find them online at: https://www.facebook.com/TurtlemanUsedBooks/

THE WRITE LINE • www.free-expressions.com • September 30, 2024

POWERFUL PROMPTS

Looking for some inspiration? Give these writing prompts a try and see where your words take you.

Only ten letters survived…
Still, she waited…
A glamorous denial…
The heavens already forbade…
They took another turn…
Seeking wiser counsel…
Rapture stole them…
Ten times the cost…
The scales tipped…
A rush of sunlight…
The veiled waves…
It came down to the poets…
Abstract clouds…
His footsteps an elegy…

An interview with writer Mimi Francis

Mimi Francis is a sassy romance writer known for her steamy tales of passion that leave readers breathless. When she’s not crafting the perfect happily-ever-after, you can find her sipping margaritas and binge-watching Marvel movies or the TV show Supernatural. But her true loves (after her husband, of course) are her four Shih Tzus who keep her company as she spins stories that will make your heart race and your toes curl. Get ready to fall in love with her characters and the worlds she creates.

Find Taken By The Mobster on Amazon.

1. Is there something about your books/your point of view that you think readers should know? I write my books in third-person dual POV. This gives my books a movie-like feel when you’re reading them. It also gives the reader the chance to see the story from both the male and female characters’ points of view.
2. Will there be a sequel to Taken by the Mobster? The second book in the Massachusetts Mafia series will be released in mid-2025. The title is a secret and under wraps. It will focus on two minor characters from Taken by the Mobster, Caitlin O’Reilly and Grady McCarthy. All of my books are standalone reads in an interconnected universe, so they have a firm “happily for now/happily ever after” ending.
3. Did a particular historical/arcane fact in your research stick with you, maybe becoming part of the series or a standalone in the future? This book is part of a mafia romance series. While doing my research, I discovered that the Irish mafia was quite prevalent in the Boston area in the 1900s. This fact prompted me to focus the series on the Irish mafia in the New England area.
4. Who is your favorite villain of all time and why? (examples please) and 12. Can a villain be sympathetic, or do good deeds in order to be redeemed in the eyes of those around them (or the readers)? (examples)My all-time favorite villain is Loki from the Marvel movies. My favorites are Avengers and the first Thor movie. I think villains can be sympathetic, especially if their origin story is tragic or compelling. And I do think they can redeem themselves if they change their ways and do good. Helping the protagonist accomplish a heroic act often redeems them for me.
5. Which specific authors or books have influenced you in your writing journey?I was heavily influenced by J.R. Ward, the author of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series and Stephen King. Both are writers I admire and when I wrote as a teenager, I tried to emulate their writing, in particular King’s. As I grew as a writer, I became more and more influenced by J.R. Ward. I have followed her for years and I love her books. I hope someday to have people love me like they do her.

What is New with the Celwyn Series?

For book 7, Lucky and Mrs. Nemo, progress has been made, to a point. All the beta reads are back, and they’re very useful. But …. something was missing, and until this morning I hadn’t a clue what it was. Without committing a spoiler of my own work, lets say it is going to be a double cliff hanger. Of course, with my usual lack of foresight, that means I have to revise at least the beginning chapters of book 8. Such is the life of the disorganized.

There isn’t an official blurb yet for Lucky and Mrs. Nemo. Here is a draft of it:

On Findbar, they’ve added another scientist. Dr. Martha Gluck (aka Lucky) who is a character, literally and figuratively. She enjoys a good gunfight, doesn’t faint at the sight of magic, and accepts danger as a jolly good time. She finally draws the line when she meets up with the broadsword wielding ghost, Mrs. Spencer.

I’ll repeat the following description from last month because I feel like it: Book 6 is finally ready. You’d think I just birthed triplets.

Swango, will be out late this year, 12-29-2024 and is available for pre-order now. The series is still magical realism in a steampunk world with Captain Nemo and Celwyn, but now it contains a new genre; one that will open up the adventures in unexpected ways, usually at the expense of Celwyn, Professor Kang and Bartholomew. Captain Nemo has accepted the unexpected, and even makes sarcastic comments about it.

For Swango: by the time the magician and the others leave Singapore, they are grieving; a member of their family has been murdered in Prague.

The magician’s first encounter with Swango is told as they plan for the Nautilus’ journey to the Castell de Ferro in Spain where Doctor Jurik Lazlo is hiding. Captain Nemo has been searching for him for a long time.

Book 8? I’d last reported that I’d lost about 50 pages of the handwritten first draft. That doesn’t seem so bad now (see the reference to changing the draft above because of a change to book 7) Everything works out for a purpose. If not, even with a little bit of bad luck, or worse, and it all looks as if it were planned that way.

The near future holds another companion book for the series, untitled, and it will star Pelaez demonstrating his untrustworthiness and devious ideas of fun.