authors interviewing authors

A Chat With Rita Lee Chapman, Author of “Dangerous Associations” and Other Fine Books

~ Gina Briganti ~ 3 Comments

Rita Lee Chapman OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA is the author of three books so far;

 

DLWinston_-_A_Horse's__CoverMissing_in_Egypt_Cover

I’d like to congratulate Rita on her new release, Dangerous Associations!

Rita and I met in a marketing group for authors on Goodreads, and I’m glad I was able to meet such a wonderful author. Rita has agreed to answer some interview questions for me, which I am pleased to share with you.

Gina: I’d love to know what inspired you to write Winston – A Horse’s Tale.  I really enjoyed seeing the horse’s perspective.

Rita:  I wanted to write from the horse’s point of view – to try and explain why horses sometimes do the things they do. Once I started there were so many stories about other horses that the book almost wrote itself. Although it’s very horsey and written for people who are really in to horses, it’s the book I had to write and I had so much fun doing it.

Gina: What inspired you to write Missing in Egypt?

Rita:  A holiday in Egypt. What a wonderful place to set a mystery! Egypt is amazing – very different to anywhere else in the world. It is easy for my readers to believe that secret tombs exist, when they are still regularly being discovered. . The great thing about Egypt is that most of the temples are still standing, unlike other countries where only a few rocks remain. The Valley of the Kings impressed me the most. It is totally isolated and feels as if time has stood still.

There is also a Large Print version of Missing in Egypt.

Gina: Do you own any horses now?

Rita:  Unfortunately not.

Gina: What is your favorite style of riding?

Rita:  Australian style – just hacking around! I love to watch show jumping and become very involved, taking each jump with the horse and rider. Although dressage is a wonderful discipline for horse and rider, especially for show jumping, I sometimes think the riding style is over-exaggerated and I feel sorry for horses that are never able to enjoy anything else.

Gina: How did you get started with interviewing authors on your website?

Rita:  I did a couple of interviews myself and that made me interested in doing my own. I’m always looking for new authors to interview, so if anyone is interested they can contact me through my website at www.ritaleechapman.com

Gina: What advice to you have for aspiring writers who have not published yet?

Rita:  Just do it! Self-publishing is a great option if you aren’t picked up by a publisher and it is nice to make all the decisions yourself regarding your own work. Make sure you edit, edit, edit – it’s very hard to see your own mistakes and so easy to see those of others!

Gina: Do you have a favorite place to write?

Rita:  I type straight on to my computer, so I find the study is the most comfortable place to be. Although I have a laptop and can take it outside and sit by the pool, the bright sunlight makes it very hard to see the screen.

Gina:  Thank you so much for your time, Rita. It’s a pleasure to learn more about you.

Rita:  Thank you Gina for giving me the opportunity to connect with your followers. Here are the links for my books:

Missing in Egypt is available through Amazon  and Smashwords.  There is also a Large Print Edition

Winston – A Horse’s Tale:  Amazon and Smashwords.

Dangerous Associations:  Amazon and Smashwords

As always, thank you for reading,

Gina

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Interviews With Inspiring People…Meet Melissa Barker-Simpson

~ Gina Briganti ~ 7 Comments

Interviews With Inspiring People

Please welcome Melissa Barker-Simpson, image-for-website

a woman who inspires me daily with her enthusiasm for all things, her kindness, her support, our shared love of family, her uniquely wonderful writing style, and so much more. I’ve enjoyed three of her novels so far, and I’m looking forward to reading everything else she has written and is now writing.  I rated her latest release, Hands of Evil, five out of five stars.

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Melissa, thank you for pausing your many writing projects to answer some questions for us.  I love learning more about you, and making it possible for others to learn more about you.

Gina: I have a few standard questions that I ask every Inspiring Interviewee, and today I’d like to start with one of them. Mel, what is something you wish everyone knew?

Mel: That everyone is connected in one way or another, and we are never truly alone. It sounds a little trite, perhaps, but I genuinely believe our lives can be touched by the simplest understanding.

Gina: I agree with you on that, Melissa.  I find that comforting.

Now I want to move to a specific question that I don’t think you’ve answered in other interviews. If you have answered it before, I didn’t see it. The question is: how did you name your Morgan and Fairchild series?

Mel: I must admit, I struggle with titles. The series as a whole was a simple choice. Brad Morgan and Kelvin Fairchild created the agency, so in a way the stories all link back to them and the team they brought together. Individually, Sins of the Father was the first title that fit, the only one I was happy with. I didn’t have a clue when it came to naming the second in the series. For the longest time it was just JJ’s story! Then my sister suggested Hands of Evil and I liked it so much, I’ll be hounding her again when the time comes!

Gina: Titles can be challenging for me, too.  It’s wonderful that you can consult your sister for future titles.

What would you say to anyone reading this interview who is going through tough times right now?

Mel: I have a favourite quote, which I think sums it up – “What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson. It’s what I’ve always believed. Don’t let go of the light. Even in the darkest moments it’s there, burning inside. We can’t always see it, sometimes it’s easier not to, but it’s there.

Gina: Very nice!  This is a new quote for me.  I can see why it’s  a favorite.

Who, and/or what, has influenced you to be the inspiring person you are today?

Mel: My Dad, for his quiet patience and gentle soul. My mum, for her bubbly, effervescent personality. My sisters for making me laugh and always being there when I need them. My brother for inspiring me with his strength and sharing my love for science fiction. My childhood friends for accepting who I am and being there for me, and more recently my online friends, for their acceptance, support and encouragement.

Gina: We share a love for paranormal romance. Do you remember when you first discovered the genre? What book, or author, was it?

Mel: I think it was probably The Donovan Legacy Series by Nora Roberts. I love her work, and I particularly enjoyed those four books.

Gina: That’s one of her series I haven’t read yet.  Now I’m really excited about them.  Nora Roberts also introduced me to paranormal romance with her Three Sister’s Island trilogy.

You are currently a self-published author. Would you consider signing on with a publisher if the contract was attractive enough?

Mel: I never say no to anything, that’s one of my weaknesses! I do, however, like to weigh things from different angles and though I love the independence and freedom of doing my own thing, I would never rule out collaborative working.

Gina: My final question is a fun one. I read in another interview that you enjoy travel. What is one of the best trips you’ve been on?

Mel: It has to be Pisa. The history, the magic, the culture – it all drew me in. The view from the top of the Tower of Pisa is simply breathtaking. I loved Italy, especially Rome. But Pisa holds a special place in my heart.

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I hope you’ve enjoyed visiting with Mel as much as I have.  Please feel free to ask questions if you’re curious about anything.  She’s wonderfully warm and inviting to talk with.

As always, thank you for reading,

Gina

Gina Briganti is Interviewed by Rita Lee Chapman, Author of “Winston: A Horse’s Tale”

~ Gina Briganti ~ 2 Comments

I truly enjoyed getting to know Rita, and reading her charming story about Winston.  My review of Winston, A Horse’s Tale is on Amazon and GoodReads.  Have a look at it if you’re interested in the horse’s view of life.  I’m definitely happy that I read it.

Rita was looking for authors to interview a few months ago, so I looked into her, and her books, and found yet another reason to enjoy the self-publishing journey and community.  I connected with Rita and away we went with the interview you can now read on her site.   Rita’s interview included some new, fun questions I haven’t been asked before. I hope you enjoy reading my interview with Rita.

As always, thank you for reading,

Gina

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