Guest Post Author Clive Eaton

How/why did you start to write?

Many years ago, and I really mean many, I saw a black and white movie based around the Pyramids in Egypt. It had an Indiana Jones feel to it with doors inside The Great Pyramid crashing shut, and trapping people inside. From that day forward I always held a fascination for the pyramids. Several decades later a German robotics engineer, together with a team of Egyptologists tried to ‘peek’ behind one of the doors at the end of a long shaft, which allegedly was protecting a secret chamber. All they eventually found was another door behind the first. I felt this had to be the start of a great adventure, so I wrote an outline, which eventually became The Pyramid Legacy

How did you choose your genre?

Once I had the germ of an idea it became quite a logical process. I wanted to write something which wasn’t easily pigeon-holed into one clear genre, but at its heart was thriller. Any sort of ‘rules’, in my mind, stifle creativity. I wanted a thriller, which also had an element of suspense, and I didn’t want to be restricted to the present day, or the past. So The Pyramid Legacy weaves its way through many different genres. It is sci-fi, it is a thriller, it has suspense, and it even has a romantic theme threading its way through the story. I also wanted the characters to be different from many other novels. My ‘hero’, Ben Anderson, wasn’t going to be the all-action, ex-special forces archetypal super-hero you read about in many thrillers. He was going to be the complete opposite. Ben is a totally reluctant hero, who is risk averse, and who has to really push himself outside of his comfort zone; a comfort zone which doesn’t extend very far. I also wanted my characters to occasionally enjoy some banter during the less serious elements of the story – something I feel is missing from many thrillers.

Where was it published?

The Pyramid Legacy is self-published, and is available both in paperback form and Kindle, via Amazon UK and US, and all other Amazon platforms across the globe.

How long ago?

It was launched in the middle of 2012.

What’s next?

I am already a long way into the sequel, which I’ve titled Operation Stonehenge.

Why a sequel?

During the extensive research I did for The Pyramid Legacy I came across some extremely interesting facts, which link The Great Pyramid to Stonehenge. Having been born only a few miles from Stonehenge it too has always held a special place in my heart. It was the perfect opportunity to create a novel around the relationship between these two iconic structures.

Please share one of your successful author marketing techniques

In my “day job” I deliver training courses in the area of business improvement, and one of the subjects covered, among many others, is marketing. So I have applied many of the concepts I teach in developing a marketing approach for my writing. My website has a blog which I have called ‘Marketing Tips for Authors’, where I share my thoughts and ideas with fellow authors.

Parting words – can you give us one example of what you mean?

OK, let me give just one simple example – setting up a Twitter account. If an author intends to write more than one book, don’t use the title of your first book as your Twitter handle. If you build a following of several thousand people, what are you going to do when the second book is ready to promote? Set up another Twitter account? That would be pointless. Choose carefully, and why shy away from using your own name. Use the characters Twitter allow to produce your bio wisely, and always put the word ‘author’ in in it. People use terms to link up with people. I get many new followers each day who clearly have similar interests to me. Avoid book covers as your Twitter image. What you need to do is build a brand . . . and that brand is you. When your favourite author publishes their next book the chances are you’ll buy it regardless of its title etc. The author is the brand. Choose a photograph of yourself you are happy with, and stick with it. I hate having my picture taken, so I use one my youngest daughter took of me in a restaurant whilst in Liechtenstein. It’s OK, and saves me having to sit in front of a camera. I use the same photograph on everything related to my writing. My website, Twitter, Facebook, this blog etc. Your photo is your logo. Use it to help build your own brand.

Links:

Website – http://www.cliveeaton.com

Blog – http://www.cliveeaton.com/blog.html

Amazon UK - http://amzn.to/OFtEpn

Amazon US - http://amzn.to/OTy5fN

Twitter - http://bit.ly/NjebaO

Facebook - http://on.fb.me/RnbpZ6

The Pyramid Legacy

A sci-fi plot twisting the fibres of history together with those of the future . . .

For over four millennia the Great Pyramid of Giza has guarded a secret image; until NOW!

The Great Pyramid of Giza, unlike most ancient Egyptian monuments, lacks one conspicuous feature: hieroglyphs. So when, for the first time in over four thousand years, a prominent young Egyptologist discovers the first engraving inside the Great Pyramid, why is he murdered by a senior colleague? The authorities are keen to cover it up, but they know they can’t achieve total closure whilst English robotics engineer, Ben Anderson, remains in possession of a powerful image. An image, which suggests the Great Pyramid at Giza was not built by ancient Egyptians.

Operation Stonehenge

The evidence is unquestionable. The architects of The Great Pyramid and Stonehenge were related!

So what does a ring of standing stones in Wiltshire, England, a pyramid in Egypt, a painting in a church located in a small village in France, and a remote location in Nevada have in common? The answer is simple, but the reason, well, that’s a totally different story.

Robotics engineer, Ben Anderson, is once again plunged into the deep end of a mystery which involves murder, cryptic puzzles and a frantic race against an ever faster ticking clock.

He needs to carefully thread the links together to enable him to find the missing elements of a long lost artefact. Failure is not an option, but success seems totally impossible. In this final throw of the dice, can the deadline be met? If it isn’t, the consequences are unthinkable.

Author Bio

Clive Eaton initially trained as an aircraft engineer in the Royal Air Force and worked on Vulcan bombers for a number of years.

He now works as a freelance international trainer in the area of business improvement, and his work has taken him to over 30 countries around the globe.

The Pyramid Legacy is his debut novel and the inspiration came when Egyptian authorities discovered a secret door inside the Great Pyramid of Giza. Although nothing was actually found on that occasion it triggered a 'what if?' question, and from there the story developed. Clive is now writing the sequel, which will be titled "Operation Stonehenge".

The Pyramid Legacy was initially published as an e-book, but now is available as a paperback.

Clive lives in a very peaceful setting, with his wife Judy, in the heart of rural Norfolk, England, which he believes is an amazing place for getting in the right mood for writing.

Guest Post EC Sheedy

EC Sheedy's most recent books...

A Man Called Blue a contemporary romance set in London, England.

Staying Cool a romantic suspense novelette

How/why did you start to write?

I don't believe I was a born writer, but I was a born reader who early on developed a love for stories. As a young reader, I fell in love Anne (with-the-e) Shirley and what I thought was the most idyllic place on earth, PEI. I was given Anne of Green Gables for my ninth birthday. Best present ever!

After the Anne books, I read a million dusty old books that centred around girls in  English boarding schools. I discovered these books, a lot of them anthologies, while ferreting around the used bookshops in downtown Vancouver with my mother—also an avid reader. Funny, though, I don't remember the names of any of those books, just the pranks and "shenanigans" of the boarding school girls and the glowering stewardship of the headmistresses.

How did you become an author?

I'm not sure. (see furrowed brow) I don't remember a burning desire to write the Great Canadian Novel—which may, or may not, account for why I haven't written it. :-) My sense was more, I love words, love stories, and I want to give writing a try. Not the most powerful motivation in the world and totally sans any nod to high art, because on the heels of that give-writing-a-try thought came the I-want-to-be-published thought. I am, I think, mercenary at heart. And one thing I did know; I did not want to be a trunk writer.

What was your first published piece?

My first published work was a non-fiction business book for Self-Counsel Press. Fresh off of selling my own computer service business, it seemed a natural project to take on. And it was fulfilling to share what I'd learned as an entrepreneur with people keen to start their own businesses. Self-Counsel is a super publisher, and I enjoyed working with them. I ended up writing two business books for them, before discovering my real passion was fiction.

With the often typical arrogance of a new writer, I decided I'd dash off one of those short Harlequin romances, this having never read one. (What was I thinking?) But, really, how hard could it be? Answer: Very hard. Turned out I didn't have a clue how to stitch and glue a story together, let alone imbue my pages with the emotion and passion necessary to show two people falling in love. So I started to read, and read, and read...  After digesting countless romance books—seriously, I think I read over 400 of them—I started writing again. This time, I pulled it off and sold the book, and then a few more to Kensington Publishing in New York. Along the way I discovered how much I enjoyed writing nasty villains, so I started writing suspense—still with a central romance—but with a lot more mystery and mayhem.

What did you do before embarking on your writing career? Was it an asset to your writing? How?

Most of my working life was spent as an entrepreneur in the computer and personnel service business. And at one time I even owned a bookstore.  Those were great years, full of hard work, long hours, and constant challenge. And yes that experience was an asset when it came to my late-start writing career. Owning a business taught me that to be successful, you need both daring and perseverance—lots of perseverance. These were good lessons to carry forward into the writing world, because publishing is also a business. The concept of profit and loss applies as much to publishing a book as it does to manufacturing widgets. (Which I'll admit I found a terrible disappointment and not the least, uh, romantic.) But knowing that both daring and perseverance still applied eliminated a lot of worry and angst along the learning curve.

But as a grand sweeping statement (I don't get a chance to make those very often.) Living life is the finest and most valuable asset there is for a writer—any writer. It's life's adventures, either career or personal, that brings voice and uniqueness to our  word work. We all have a book in us—getting it out is the tricky part. (On second thought, maybe making the story entertaining and readable is the tricky part.)

What inspires you?

Oddly enough, it's often a setting that provides the spark for my stories. I went to Spain, loved it, and wrote a romance set there called ONE TOUGH COOKIE. I'm fascinated with big houses and old hotels; I've set suspense books in both: A PERFECT EVIL is set in an imagined English style estate near La Conner in Washington, and IN ROOM 33 some malicious and dangerous people stalk the halls of an aging, derelict hotel in Seattle.

Please share one of your successful marketing techniques

Being on your blog. :-)

Parting words

I really don't have any scintillating parting words. Other than to say, to all those who want to write, plan to write, or even dream of writing, get going and keep going. Stories are gifts to us all—and they're important. If you doubt that for a second listen to Ann Patchett:

"Reading fiction is important. It is a vital means of imagining a life other than our own, which in turn makes us more empathetic beings. Following complex story lines stretches our brains beyond the 140 characters of sound-bite thinking, and staying within the world of a novel gives us the ability to be quiet and alone, two skills that are disappearing faster than the polar icecaps."

Thanks so very much for having me on your blog, Leanne. 


(It's my pleasure, EC. Thank you so much for visiting.)

California Man is set on Salt Spring Island and is traditional romance--a little bit sweet, a little bit sexy.

In Room 33 is a romantic suspense and the book's story centres around the creepy and mysterious goings on in an old hotel (set in Seattle).

Author links

Guest Post: Author Chuck Barrett

How/why did you start to write?

 I started writing fiction in 1998 at the encouragement of a friend. Prior to that I more or less despised it. I had written labor agreements and contracts but I felt I had a story to tell or, at lest, I felt like I wanted to tell a story. I was an avid reader of thrillers and decided that was what I wanted to write. And not just stand-alone thrillers but character-series where the protagonist moves from book to book. So I started writing what ultimately became The Savannah Project. From beginning to end, with many rewrites, revisions, and edits along the way, it took nearly 12 years. But in those 12 years I learned a lot about writing and realized just how much I enjoyed storytelling and knew I wanted to do more of it.

Tell me about your first published piece?

The Savannah Project was my first thriller, finished in 2009 and published in 2010 by Wyatt-McKenzie Publishing located in Oregon. WyMac has been great to work with for my two thrillers, The Savannah Project and The Toymaker.

Speaking of The Toymaker, that story was so much fun writing, mostly I believe, because the story is based around a real person. I met this man on vacation and as we got to know each other I realized that I had met a man who actually lived in the same espionage world that I read and write about. Using my main cast of characters, I built a story around this man, using his occupation, mannerism, etc. Just as the tagline read: "He's been in the business for 50 years…he makes 'toys' for spies." An interesting hook from the onset.

What did you do before embarking on your writing career? Was it an asset to your writing?

As my bio reads, prior to writing I have been a commercial pilot, flight instructor, and (for nearly 27 years) and air traffic controller. Those experiences have been invaluable in the creation of the first two thrillers. I called from my past to encapsulate some harrowing flying adventures, a little air traffic control, and a wide array of personality traits to choose from.

What inspires you?

Good question. I typically find story inspiration from the obscure news tidbit from the newspaper. Usually those little two-inch sidebar stories that, on the surface, seem almost like they aren't news at all and the media just needed to fill space—those are the little stories that set up the stage for my stories. For example, unexplained deaths in Ireland or a break-in in a laboratory in Belgium. The big stories aren't the ones that get my mind reeling, it's the little ones that still leave so many unanswered questions. I grab a few of those stories, find a way to link them together, and before you know it, I have a conspiracy to intrigue you with.

  

Please share one of your successful marketing techniques

Marketing is such hard work and time consuming. If you aren't careful, it can consume your day, ultimately keeping you from writing—which is bad. Personally I have found Twitter to be a big boost in exposure. Even as popular as facebook is, Twitter reaches more people, faster. And because of Twitter's nature, you have to get your point across (or your pitch) in 140 characters or less. Twitter is easier to build a solid following, but like anything else, it requires some routine maintenance or it can become ineffective. It also requires diligence. Those posts are important and you have to be willing to devote some time and attention to your followers. There are thousands among thousands of readers on Twitter who like to talk with authors. Treat each and every one of them with respect and dignity and you'll be surprised how many you win over. And winning readers is increasing sales!

Parting words

Writing is hard work and your day is always full of potential distractions so it is important to stay focused. Allocate you time well and stick to your schedule. Anything that takes time—takes time away from writing. And that can become a bad thing if it gets out of control. Self-control and discipline are required or you'll never get that project written.

It is important to an author to have support from other authors whom they admire. I have been honored to have several authors that I admire endorse my books, including two New York Times bestselling authors…

"The Toymaker is a fun, fast moving thriller with plenty of gadgets and a lot of action."
—Phillip Margolin
   New York Times bestselling author of Capitol Murder

“The Savannah Project signals the arrival of a new member to the thriller genre. Chuck Barrett. The tale contains all of the danger, treachery, and action a reader could wish for. The intrigue comes from all directions, slicing and stitching with precision. A worthy debut from an exciting talent.”
—Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author

“From the tree-lined streets of Savannah to the mossy stones of an ancient Irish castle, The Savannah Project weaves a fast moving tale of murder, mystery and suspense. Chuck Barrett has written a winner here. A must-read novel for thriller lovers.”
—William Rawlings, bestselling author of The Mile High Club

These types of endorsements make it all worthwhile.

Thanks for taking the time to read this interview. I invite you to explore my website:

http://chuckbarrettbooks.com

While you're there you can about The Savannah Project and The Toymaker. Go to my blog and learn about my main characters. If you're interested you'll find links to get the books…paperback and ebook. On the main page are button links to facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Please check those out as well.

Lastly I'd like to say that I love hearing from you, the reader. Good, bad, or indifferent, unless it's spam, I'll respond personally. Just click the "Contact" tab on my website. I look forward to hearing from you.

Happy reading and writing!

Chuck Barrett

http://chuckbarrettbooks.com