Crimson Cloak Publishing Author – Paul Dane
1) Do you write books as a career, or are you currently still juggling your author time with a full or part time job?
I am in the very privileged position of being ‘semi-retired’ so I have the time and space to write as and when I am truly inspired, rather than seeing it as a ‘9-5’ career. However, I do other work namely playing the ‘Planetary Gongs’ (Link to the website) which is also highly creative, provides a small income and brings me some social contact.
2) Have you always wanted to be an author, or did some time or event in your life set you on the path?
I write primarily because I need to express myself creatively, through my life I have been a photographer, painter and percussionist so writing is part of a life long creative mix. I have always written – be it during my early career as a scientific researcher publishing technical papers, a business person writing proposals or in the current guise of an author. Weaving with Light was however triggered by a period of intense inner exploration leading to the creation of a large amount of ‘channeled’ text which I subsequently re-wrote into a form that I felt might also benefit others.
3) Do you always write in the same genre, or do you sometimes like a change of theme? If you haven’t already, is there another genre you would like to write?
I haven’t always written in the same genre, at the turn of the millennium I wrote a science fiction novel and I sometimes write prose as well. Weaving with Light is in the spirituality / self help space but my current writing is more autobiographical and travel related which are genres that I am really inspired by at the moment.
4) As a writer, what is the best thing that has happened to you, and what is that most exciting thing that could happen to you?
There are two things that have given me a real boost as a writer. Firstly, when I initially self published WwL I took a copy down to the Chalice Well Bookshop in Glastonbury and asked them to read it with a view to stocking it. They read it and loved it and agreed to stock it. It was a real boost to think of my work sitting there on a bookshelf next to The Dalai Lama and Thich Nat Than! It was also a great boost to send a copy of WwL to Carly at Crimson Cloak and have her come back to me so quickly and offer me a publishing contract.
Right now we are sending copies of the CCP version to national radio and newspapers for review. If I could get an interview on national radio and had a positive review in a national paper I think that would be amazing!
5) How do you view the promotion, book signings etc. Is it something you enjoy, or do you prefer the writing stage?
I get a lot of support from my partner / publicist with organising promotional work, although I don’t mind doing the activity I loathe organising it. I am much happier seeking inspiration from the world around me and expressing myself creatively.
6) Could you tell us something about your published books, and let us know what they are about and where they are available?
Weaving with Light: The Beginners Guide to a Peaceful Mind is about each of us finding lasting peace and happiness in our life, without losing ourselves to the cult of materialism which is causing so much harm to our planet. It is about us developing a deeper sense of self awareness; a deeper connection to one another and the world in which we live, without having to adopt any particular form of religious practice or belief system. It is not a book about philosophy, science or religion, although it touches on all of those things. It will not tell you how to live your life differently. – It will invite you to consider the reasons why your life might not be all that you had hoped for. And it will invite you to consider alternative ways of seeing yourself and the world in which you live, in the hope that you might then go on to experience greater meaning and fulfilment in your life.
The book should be available to order through most high street bookshops and online sources. The easiest way to pick up a copy is through Amazon here:
Buy on Amazon
Other Links:
Sounds great, Paul! Very best of luck with your book.
‘Look Inside’ Unlucky For Some before you buy!
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‘Look Inside’ Be Careful What You Wish For before you buy!
‘Look Inside’ Caution: Witch in Progress before you buy!
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‘Look Inside’ Zac’s Destiny before you buy!
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“Be Careful What You Wish For” on Opening Lines blog.
‘Caution: Witch in Progress’ now available in a major Witchcraft Museum!
‘Caution: Witch in Progress’ is now on sale at The Witchcraft Museum in Boscastle, Cornwall!
Thanks very much to them for their support! The Museum is well worth a visit if you are in Cornwall!
Crimson Cloak Publishing Author – Elizabeth Crocket
Next in my series of posts about Crimson Cloak Publishing authors, today we meet Elizabeth Crocket!
- Do you write books as a career, or are you currently still juggling your author time with a full or part time job?
The only juggling I did the past couple of years was balancing writing my three women’s fiction novels, writing Japanese short form poetry and spending time with my family!
- Have you always wanted to be an author, or did some time or event in your life set you on the path?`
I wouldn’t say I have always wanted to be an author, but I have always loved writing and reading in my spare time. My writing was just picking up steam after taking classes and being published in various publications, when in 2010, I was diagnosed with cancer. That led to a three year challenge that I hadn’t planned for. What is it they say about life happening when you’re busy making other plans? But then in 2014, I wrote a small collection of poetry about my cancer journey that was published by Red Moon Press. It was then shortlisted for the prestigious American Haiku Foundation Touchstone Distinguished Book Award. I don’t think I’ve put my pen down since!
- Do you always write in the same genre, or do you sometimes like a change of theme? If you haven’t already, is there another genre you would like to write?
I’ve been published in women’s fiction and Japanese short form poetry, including haiku, haibun, tanka, and photo-haiga. One of my photo-haiga (a photograph accompanied by a haiku) won the photographic category of the Jane Reichold Memorial Haiga Contest in 2017. I’ve also written short fiction and non-fiction, published in print and online, including some dark fiction, as well as free verse poetry published by various publications. To see samples of my writing, please go to:
http://www.Elizabethcrocket.com
- As a writer, what is the best thing that has happened to you, and what is that most exciting thing that could happen to you?
Finding out that my first women’s fiction novel, A Path to the Lake, was going to be published was definitely exciting news for me to hear. Although having a poetry chapbook shortlisted for a prestigious award, and winning the Jane Reichold Memorial Contest in 2017, were thrilling moments for me, as well. The most exciting thing that could happen to me as a writer would be for A Path to the Lake, Full of Grace, and The Smell of Roses, to be well received.
- How do you view the promotion, book signings etc. Is it something you enjoy, or do you prefer the writing stage?
I love the creative aspect of writing, but I am also so grateful when someone appreciates something I have written. So it’s my honour to sign a book for someone. Truly.
- Could you tell us something about your published books, and let us know what they are about and where they are available?
A Path to the Lake is currently available. Full of Grace doesn’t have a release date yet, but perhaps by the end of 2018? The Smell of Roses will be published in 2019. All three will be available in print and e-book format on Amazon. And I keep everyone up to date about my writing on facebook.com/elizabethcrocket.7923,
as well as my website, http://www.Elizabethcrocket.com
Thank you for this interview, Lynne!
Thanks very much for your informative answers, Liz, and best of luck with your books!
A Path to the Lake can be purchased on Amazon worldwide: http://myBook.to/PathtoLake
And on Crimson Cloak Publishing’s website: http://www.crimsoncloakpublishing.com/elizabeth-crocket.html
Unlucky For Some re-released under a new cover!
‘Unlucky For Some’ is out now under a new cover on Kindle and soon to be in paperback from Crimson Cloak Publishing. 13 macabre Twist in the Tale short stories from the dark side of Lynne North …
Buy it here!
Christmas short story competition winner!
I am delighted to say my short story ‘Gordon’s Great Adventure’ won the Christmas writer’s competition run by ‘Beneath the Rainbow’! Thank you very much to those of you who took the time to comment and support my entry.