I am one of the original writers to sign up for the mystery, Thriller Week event scheduled for February 12th through February 22nd.
This event brings together mystery and thriller writers for a week of showcasing:
BOOKS
AUDIOBOOKS
CONTESTS
REVIEWS
COVER REVEALS
TRAILERS
PROMOTIONAL SPECIALS
MARKETING
BRANDING
NAME RECOGNITION
AUTHOR INTERVIEWS
GUEST BLOG POSTS
LIVE FACEBOOK AUTHOR HOSTING EVENTS
VIDEO DISCUSSIONS AND TRAINING
PUBLISHING MENTORING
PRIZES
AWARDS
INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS
I will be hosting a live Facebook event on February 16th at 9:00 AM Eastern Time. I will be discussing character participation in story development. (I will remind you again)
My purpose with this post is to introduce to what we hope to be an annual event. Here is the link to the About page. Go check it out and look at the other tabs as well.
I want to welcome a friend of mine, John Fioravanti. John and I met at Rave Reviews Book Club and realized we share a number of interests. Also, we are both over 65, so there is that as well. John is a very talented author and has been quite busy since retiring from his teaching responsibilities. John lives in Waterloo, Ontario and has graciously consented to a visit here with me today.
Hi John and welcome. Help yourself to the coffee.
Thank you very much, John. I’m honoured to visit here at “Fiction Favorites”. Mmmm, great coffee!
Thank you. I got the recipe from a friend of mine. Well now if you are comfy why don’t we get to the questions.
Tell us a little about yourself, John. I know you spent your working life as a history teacher but after that what made you decide to become a writer?
One of my passions in the classroom was to teach writing skills–within the context of my history lessons. I knew then I had a gift to write well, but I never thought of writing outside educational skills manuals until the end of my teaching career.
What a career it has been so far. You have four of your own books published, one anthology and in at least three genres. Tell my readers a little about your writing discipline. How are you able to stay with your writing regimen?
My writing discipline could be much more disciplined! However, almost everything I write is on a keyboard – I use pen and paper for rough notes. When I sit with pen in hand, I find it difficult to write anything of value. When I’m behind the keyboard, the magic begins to happen, and ideas flow from my head to my fingers. I can’t explain it, but that’s my reality.
Interesting. I feel the same way at the keyboard. Okay, so you have done some memoirs, Sci-fi fiction, and a collection of reflections. Let me ask what genre or book was the most fun for you to write?
Writing fiction is the most enjoyable writing that I do. I don’t write classic science fiction, but rather, I write about human drama in a science fiction universe. I thoroughly enjoy exploring life on planet Genesis, seven centuries into the future. I never thought I could write fiction, nor did I have a burning desire to do so. Kenneth Tam, my former student, and prolific novelist challenged me to write within the sci-fi universe that he created for his Equations novels. Fiction is delightfully creative and a great escape for the writer.
You mention the planet Genesis. Let’s turn a minute to the Genesis Saga. First, tell us a little about the inspiration for this series.
As I mentioned earlier, the inspiration for the Genesis Saga was Kenneth Tam’s eight-book Equations series. There is a forty-year gap in the middle of the series – a period of peace between two intergalactic wars. I complained to him that I wanted to know what happened during that peacetime. He challenged me to write those stories. So, my Genesis Saga tells what happened to the people of Genesis between Kenneth’s Book 4 and Book 5.
Now, give us a brief overview of the Saga. What is the story about?
Click Cover for Amazon
Click Cover for Amazon
The people of Genesis are the descendants of the humans who escaped a killer self-aware virus in the late 21 st Century. The UN sent 1 million survivors out into space in a great colonizer ship to find planet Genesis and begin human civilisation anew, after a 95-year journey, the ship arrives at Genesis, and the grandchildren of the original survivors began to settle their new world. The Genesis Saga picks up the story 600 years after that arrival point when their civilisation is teetering on the edge of self-destruction.
Sounds very exciting. I know you have been posting a prequel to the Genesis Saga in a serial format on your blog. Tell us about the story you are telling.
Kenneth Tam created this universe, but he begins his novels just five years before the Genesis Saga. Therefore, the stories about the first 600 years of human history on Genesis have not been written. I asked Kenneth for permission to create that early history, and he encouraged me to continue. The short posts in the “Genesis Chronicles” on the Fiora Books website are experimental forays into this period. After writing 23 of these posts, I am very excited about that time in Genesis history
That sounds great, John. Do you anticipate publishing a book about the prequel to the Genesis Saga?
A month ago I asked Kenneth Tam for permission to create a new series of novels I’ve been writing. He thinks it is a promising idea and encouraged me to think about writing both series at the same time. I think I will go ahead with the project.
How about the Saga itself? Can we expect another book?
I have started the third book in The Genesis Saga, and the original plan was for an 8-book series. I want to finish telling the story of the developments on Genesis to the end of that 40-year peacetime.
What are you currently working on?
I’m working on the general outline for Book 3 as mentioned earlier, and I want to begin planning the new series – which I haven’t named yet. As well I write two blog posts per week.
You are very busy. What is the most challenging thing about writing for you and why?
One of the demons I’ve always struggled with is that of self-doubt. I find that it causes me to hesitate and it forms a roadblock that I have to overcome to get to the serious job of writing. Once I start, the magic begins to happen. I call it ‘magic’ because I don’t know where this ability to create fiction emanates.
Self-doubt tends to haunt us all. What can we expect from you in the years to come?
Lots of new books, I hope! I want to finish the Genesis Saga and its sister series. As well, I plan to write more inspirational non-fiction. I enjoy writing reflections based on quotes that I find because that exercise helps me to clarify, for myself, many aspects of what it takes to live my life well.
How about the personal John? (After all, this is the title of the post) What do you like to do in your spare time and do you have a family?
Anne and I married when we were just 22 years of age – and she still puts up with me! We have three children and three grandchildren. Fortunately, we all live in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. In our spare time, Anne and I love to attend live theatre performances. In each of the last five years, we spent a week in the winter on Caribbean cruises.
‘Thank you so much, John we are all going to look forward to your work. Thank you for visiting my blog. Here have an American IPA I know it’s not as good as your Molson Ale but it must do for now.
As you may know, I will be launching a revised edition of My GRL. The reason this is necessary is that my contract with the publisher expires in 2017. I got word this week that the old edition of My GRL will be pulled from distribution on March 1st. The new edition will go up on the same day. I thought I would give you a look at the cover. It follows the convention established on His Revenge and Our Justice. I hope you like it.
My only challenge is trying to work out how to save the Fifty-Nine reviews. I have asked Amazon for advice. I know It’s like going to the IRS for tax advice but I don’t have anywhere else to go. They did respond with the information that all I have to do is inform them of the old ISBN number and the new. They will then restore all the existing reviews.
I invited John J. Cannon onto Fiction Favorites since it has been a while since we’ve talked. I would normally have a conversation with him in private but decided that it is about time for him to step out of his comfort zone and share some details of his life. As you may be aware John Cannon is the protagonist of the Trilogy that bears his name. So without much more introduction I present John Cannon.
“Thank you, sir. It is a pleasure to be here.”
“You call me sir. Any reason?”
“To be honest just two. One you are way older than me and two you are my creator.”
“Uh oh. Going to slip the fourth wall are you?”
“It’s pretty hard not to since everyone knows I’m a figment of your imagination.”
“I suppose you are right. John, you have been described as an everyday kind of guy. Do you see yourself that way?”
“I would love to believe I’m a superhero but have to be practical. I am more comfortable simply being myself.”
“Describe you.”
“Boy, pretty direct aren’t we. Well, I’m thirty-eight years old. I have practiced law for over ten years. I have, to be honest, and describe me as pretty typical of someone looking for something different?
“How so?”
“I worked all those years and finally took a vacation. I fell in love with the sea and as a result decided to take a leave of absence.”
“To become a charter boat captain, right?”
“Yeah, that’s right. Didn’t happen, though.”
“Those of us who have read the books know what did happen. I want to stay away from spoilers and ask you how you felt being a typical person thrust into extraordinary circumstances.?”
“I’m not sure what you mean but let me say, I always felt a little ill at ease being the central character.”
“Why is that?”
“I think there were expectations put on me that kept me in the spotlight when there were times I would have been just as happy in the background. Besides, I don’t have superhero skills.”
“Yes but I recall a serious discussion we had where you wanted to be more of an action hero.”
“I remember. In your wisdom, you gave me a taste of that, and I decided I wasn’t particularly fond of that role. Of course, I never had a position in the background so who’s to say I would like it.”
“What have you been doing in your spare time?”
“Spare time? You know there is no such thing in your books.”
“I’ve been told that before. I have a question about one of your quirks in each of the three books.”
“I can imagine it is about the coffee right?”
“You amaze me sometimes, John. Yes, tell us about this thing with the coffee.”
“Well, as you know, the antagonist Matt Jacobs has searched the world for the finest coffee beans. He has them roasted and blended into a unique cup of coffee. He continually offers me a cup, and I continually accept even if he is thinking about killing me.”
“Sounds a little odd.”
“You would think so except this is a way for Matt and me to meet on neutral ground and the whole idea of the coffee is just a way to maintain a level of contact. Matt is very pleased when I enjoy his coffee, and so I’m able to use this feeling to try to get an advantage.”
“I’m surprised he falls for it.”
“I think you know from writing the books that it is a little more subtle than simply falling for a scheme. I’m surprised you made that comment.”
“Let’s just call it a journalistic license. So what would you say to anyone who hasn’t read one of your adventures?”
“I think I would hint that they are missing out on some fun times.”
“Fun times?”
“Yeah. I think anyone who reads the books has a fun time.”
“That is an interesting way to put it. Thank you, John, for joining me today, and perhaps we can do this again sometime.”
Five years ago today I lost a dear friend. His name is Charles L. Gruner but I always called him Charlie.
Charlie and I met in 1982 when I made a move from the East coast to the Midwest. The company I worked for was headquartered there and I was given an opportunity which I couldn’t refuse.
I really can’t remember how I met Charlie and his wonderful wife. I think it might have been a gathering at a neighbor’s house. Charlie lived a couple of blocks over and so it must have been at one of the neighbors. All I know is we hit it off immediately. He is one of those guys who you immediately like. He had a laugh that could be heard across the room. So, if you didn’t know Charlie you knew of Charlie.
Our relationship became closer as we both went through periods of challenge. I finally moved away from the area to pursue a new position on the West Coast. We stayed in touch and then I got some heartbreaking news in 2006. Charlie had Cancer. Well, he beat it that time, and we went on as if nothing was wrong. Although we talked on the phone, I didn’t see Charlie again until 2011 when I traveled back to the midwest. It was if we had never been apart. We caught up and the time flew. Before the time together was over, Charlie told me he was going to write a book. He wanted to impart some of the knowledge he had acquired in his business life. Charlie was very successful CEO, and such a book would be a treasure.
One dismal day in December his wife called and told me Charlie was not going to live. I was struck dumb. Twenty-nine years of our friendship was over way too fast. I was able to talk to him one last time and told him how much I loved him.
Charlie did write his book and became published after he was gone. As I indicated in my review, it is a great tool to be kept hidden. If discovered, the secret of the reader’s success will be uncovered.
I still miss Charlie and carry some fond memories.
We used to bark like dogs when I drove by his house
Charlie would blame the holiday for his overeating
He got a pilot’s license and then thought flying too tame
He formed his own racing team and drove his race cars
He loved his wife and his family more than anything
He believed it a mark of distinction to be fired from a company
He was always willing to help others
He always supported whatever I did even if I made mistakes
Charlie’s book is titled Turning Losers into Winners and can be found on Lulu
Beginning today (at 7:00 am Central Time) through Saturday Rave Reviews Book Club is hosting it’s annual Writer’s Conference and Book Expo. Please use this link to check it out. There are events for the public as well as members of the club. This link will take you to the Welcome Page where you can get an overview of what is included.
See this star?
That means that I will be there hosting an Author booth with my books and also along with John Fioravantiand Gwen Planohave a session you might like titled “Writing in the Senior Season.”
You may have heard the exciting news about the first *virtual* RRBC WRITERS’ CONFERENCE & BOOK EXPO!! The club is beyond excited about this event and I also hope you are going to join us. This will be a one-of-a-kind event you do NOT want to miss!!
The Club expects the Conference to be huge and I want to ensure that EVERYONE reading my blog knows about it. Here is who should attend: new writers, experienced authors, and even readers!
Important information
