Vision--Blog coming on www.writersfunzone.com Thursday

I made this as an example for my blog on Beth Barany's site Thursday. Enjoy! want to make your own Wordle? Check here: http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/3515662/BT_Vision

Rose is released

My new romantic comedy novella has been released. Over the Easter break, enjoy a copy and send me the order confirmation for a free copy of Millicent. Send to Daryn@DarynCross.com.

Interview with Author, Alan Nayes

Alan Nayes is an author of a variety of genres, including thrillers, horror and most recently romance. His newest work BARBARY POINT is a love story and is available from Amazon kindle and Xoxopublishing.com.

How did you come up with the title of your book?
My family owns a cottage on Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin. In front of the cottage along the shoreline is a small point of land that really has no name but in the story I called Barbary Point to coincide with one of the fictional character’s names. Everything else about the location and setting is based on reality—Lake Winnebago, Oshkosh, Roe Point, etc.--only the name of this landmark is made up.

What is BARBARY POINT about?
BARBARY POINT is about a young ambitious woman engaged to a wealthy older man who receives word that her father, whom she never knew because her parents were divorced when she was only three, has passed away. She has to fly up to Oshkosh, Wisconsin to close out his estate. She isn’t thrilled at the prospect of leaving Los Angeles but at her Mom’s request she books the ticket and goes, deciding she won’t have to stay long. While spending time on Lake Winnebago, however, the unexpected happens. She meets a fishing guide and falls in love.

What books have most influenced your life most?
There is not one specific book or even a group of books that has influenced my writing, rather many books. I’m a voracious reader of fiction—all genres, but mostly mainstream thrillers, dramas, horror and some romance—and I think every book I read probably has some influence on my writing, if only to introduce me to the reams of different styles and techniques out there for writing plots, developing characters and creating good entertaining stories. I try anyway.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Same reply. I wouldn’t consider any single writer to be a mentor—there are many really talented authors and they all seem to do it differently, but the end result is the same. An engrossing piece of fiction.

What are your current projects?
Several. HEMLOCK POND is a horror story about a divorced woman and her young son who move into an old farmhouse with a haunted pond on the property. I’m also working on a sequel to my biomedical thriller GARGOYLES titled PLAGUE. SMILODON is also in the works—this is about a huge cat that terrorizes a small town in the Pacific Northwest.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
For me, writing in general is challenging. At times I have to really prod myself to just sit down and put words down on paper. For me, there’s nothing worse that a totally blank sheet of white paper—and I’m supposed to fill those lines up with good entertaining fiction? Now that’s a challenge.

Do you have any advice for other writers?
Three words—persistence, persistence, persistence. Oh, here’s three more—Don’t give up!


BARBARY POINT Blurb

When Kelly English flies back to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to close out her father’s estate, the last thing on her mind is falling in love. Again. Kelly is twenty-eight and engaged to an older man who is quite wealthy. She’s happy, and only desires to make the trip back brief, sell her deceased father’s place, and return to her stable life in Los Angeles. However, while taking care of business in Oshkosh, Kelly meets a fishing guide, launching her on an emotional journey she never could have predicted or foreseen. BARBARY POINT is Kelly’s story of what happened that one magical week in May on the shores of Lake Winnebago when the ducklings hatch and the walleye run.

EXCERPT

PROLOGUE

Mother always reminded me, ¯Kelly, love from the mind is nothing more than a pleasurable arrangement, whereas love from the heart lasts forever.

I had listened to these same exact words beginning in junior high, again in high school, and throughout college. And it always worried me I might not be able to tell the difference.

A man I deeply loved once told me that a fish lunges after an artificial lure solely on instinct. He sees it, wants it, and zappo, he‘s hooked.

Love is a lot like that. You see someone you want, the chemistry is there, and zappo, you‘re hooked.


Website http://anayes.com/

Buy links for my novels:
BARBARY POINT http://www.amazon.com/Barbary-Point-ebook/dp/B004FV4S6W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1301953723&sr=1-1

GARGOYLES http://www.amazon.com/Gargoyles-Alan-Nayes/dp/0765340569/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1301953640&sr=1-1

THE UNNATURAL http://www.amazon.com/Unnatural-Alan-Nayes/dp/0765306131/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_2

Thank you, Bobbye Terry, for having me over today. I’ve enjoyed sharing my thoughts with everyone.