An Interview with Shauna McGuiness

In the two-and-a-bit years since I’ve been writing full-time, I’ve had the opportunity to meet many fantastic writers and creative folks and the time has come to give them a bit of time in the spotlight of my blog. First up is American playwright and author, Shauna McGuiness, who, in between looking after her husband and two teenage children, is producing works of fiction like a woman possessed. So, in the first of what, I hope, will become a regular feature, let’s meet Shauna McGuiness!

So, tell us a little bit about yourself. Who are you? Where did you spring from? What part of the world do you call home these days and what is your biggest love?

My name is Shauna McGuiness. I’m from California, but I’m not a typical California girl. I live right smack in the middle of Silicon Valley. For real, I’m not kidding. I’ve walked to Yahoo! and I can see the Google Cloud building rising up from my neighbourhood. Biggest love? Along with all the sunshine, I love the diversity around here.

What, if anything, do you bring to your writing from your real life?

I think there’s a little of real life in all my writing. My brain is constantly recording things for future use. So, watch out!

What’s the biggest buzz you’ve had from your writing so far?

I started out as a playwright and have penned hundreds of theatrical pieces for all ages. I also served as resident playwright for various Bay Area schools and there is no buzz quite like seeing your words performed live and in character!

If you had the choice, what would you prefer to do, publish traditionally or self-publish?

I self-published a Young Adult (YA) novel, Frankie in Paris, in 2012. I loved writing it and wasn’t sure what would happen. I published it using Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). One of my best friends is an editor and edited it for me. Another did the cover art. Through sales, and giveaways it’s been downloaded over 12,000 times and even spent a week as the number one selling YA book on Amazon. I feel really good about the experience, but part of me wants the validation of being traditionally published, (Pick me! Pick me!) so I’m querying a project, now.

Frankie in Paris, a novel by Shauna McGuiness

How did you find working with friends on Frankie in Paris? Were there times when the relationships got difficult or was it a completely enjoyable experience?

I was really lucky. My friends were patient with me. Also, they knew me well and were able to help in a way they knew I’d like. I’m super grateful.

Have you always aspired to be a writer, or did the idea just spring into your mind later in life?

I’ve wanted to write, since first grade. Swear to god. I still have a couple of my ‘books’.

Can you remember the first book that really had an impact on you? What was it and how old were you?

I read my first Stephen King novel, in fifth grade. It may have been, IT.

Have you ever started to write a story and then completely given up on it? If so, what were the reasons behind your decision?

My stories become all-encompassing, pretty quick. I’m basically a ‘pantser’ but my brain plots away without me. I’m not sure I’d be able to drop an idea forever. I just picked up a story again that I’d shelved a couple of years ago.

What’s the most uncomfortable thing that you’ve had to do as an author?

I am 43 years old, and I still cringe at any sex, profanity, or drug use, being read by people I know in real life.

Shauna McGuiness, an interview - Rob Gregory Author

Shauna McGuiness – Author and playwright

Are you working on anything at the moment and if so, when and where can we expect to see it?

YES! I’m queuing a YA Contemporary Fiction, Necromancer’s Garden, wish me luck! I’m also working on the second draft of an adult fiction, In Passing, and am furiously working to finish the first draft of another YA book, Will Travel!

Finally, do you have a message for your fans out there and also any sage words of advice for aspiring authors?

Lots of people have advice. There are loads of writing rules. Instead of following them, find authors you look up to and see how they do their art. Most of the real greats weren’t rule followers, at all.

In addition to doing all of that writing, Shauna McGuiness has also just launched a blog called Tweep Tattler, which showcases writers from the vibrant Twitter writing community. And what is more, I’m going to be on it! Check it out here.

You can find out more about Shauna McGuiness on her personal blog and Amazon Author Page and don’t forget to have a look at Frankie in Paris!

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While you’re here, why not give some of my other blogs a go? I’m sure that you’d love them!

Fotherington-Tomas and the Unexpected Move

… FT makes the big jump to Amazon and Smashwords…

Fotherington-Tomas and Maxwell were sitting in the Middle Drawing Room of Haggrid’s, enjoying the fusty smell of antiquity that surrounded them and a quick glass of Chablis, before the butler announced the day’s luncheon.

While Maxwell was busy scanning the tightly-packed columns of the Financial Times, to see how his cryptocurrency portfolio was performing, Fotherington-Tomas had his sizable nose buried in a brand new ebook reader.

“You know, Maxwell. This really is the way of the future. I’ve got a dozen books on this magical thingamajig and its barely the size of my palm. I’m carrying around a library in my hand, don’t you know? It’s like having the whole of the Bodleian at your fingertips. Wonderful, when you think about it,” said Fotherington-Tomas.

Maxwell paused in his search and sipped on his wine, before answering.

“Indeed, FT. In fact, I was just reading about this Amazon doohickey. It’s big business or so the article says. A bit like Harrods, but everything on it is electronic. They’ve even got books for sale.”

“Really? I think that I’m going to have to have a look at that. I could do with getting a few more tomes on this thing. A well-read gentleman can never have too many books, isn’t that right, Maxwell?” said Fotherington-Tomas.

“Absolutely, FT. And do you know something else? Apparently, Amazon and most other ebook platforms prioritise those who release books on a regular basis, over traditional publishers, who only put out one or two books a year,” said Maxwell.

Fotherington-Tomas looked up from his e-reader and gave Maxwell a thoughtful stare.

“So, let me get this right? It’s a quantity over quality thing, yes? Which means, if I were to publish some of our daring adventures, in the form of very short stories, on this Amazon place, then I could become even more well-known than I am now?”

“That’s about the size of it,” replied Maxwell.

“Well, in that case, let’s do it!” said Fotherington-Tomas, his booming voice ringing off the thick oak panels. “No more blogging about our exploits for me! I’m going to ebook land, instead!”

And with that, he, jumped up from his seat, an avaricious glint in his eye and shot out of Haggrid’s, all thoughts of his lunch forgotten, leaving Maxwell sitting in his chair, with a most perplexed look on his face.

*****

So, there you have it. From now on, Fotherington-Tomas will be moving to Amazon, Smashwords and all good ebook retailers. I hope that you’ll join me, as his adventures continue to grow on this new and exciting platform.

Thank you!

Yogol’s Gold – A Novel in Rhyme

… Or what I did after several literary agent rejections…

After receiving a few literary agent rejections concerning my recent novel, Yogol’s Gold, which I am currently trying to get traditionally published, I decided to try something a little different, as much to raise my own dejected spirits, as anything else.

Below, is the entire hundred-thousand plus word novel, condensed into a rhyme, just four-hundred and forty words long. I hope that you enjoy it!

Yogol’s Gold, a tale of old,

But who knows how it will unfold?

The book starts out with two young friends,

Who hate each other when it ends.

A war in Europe, long since past,

Is where we first do meet our cast.

Brave young Yogol, fearless Smetnee,

Heroes of the military.

A cache of gold, which Yogol found,

Is placed to rest in earthy ground.

But Smetnee wants it for himself,

And leaves poor Yogol on the shelf.

We meet Yogol, some years later,

Working as a humble baker.

He spots Smetnee with an heiress,

Due to marry under duress.

A crafty plan, which Yogol hatches,

Yields Smetnee’s wealth, which Yogol catches.

With fireworks and a wedding cake,

A huge distraction Yogol makes.

The safe is blown, the gold is gone,

And Yogol flees, his heart in song.

Smetnee faces the Duke’s ire,

For him a life of hell and fire.

Lindhaven in thirty-eight,

Sees Yogol with a better fate.

Now a wealthy plutocrat,

The coming war will change all that.

Attacked by Smetnee, now a Red,

Sees Yogol beaten, almost dead.

Fleeing in the wintry night,

He meets Penske, who sees him right.

Smetnee now can have it all,

But his ambitions hit a wall.

The Leader’s death, his own at stake,

Which desperate path will Smetnee take?

Defection seems the simplest way,

But Yogol makes old Smetnee pay.

A daring heist on his foe’s soil,

And all of Smetnee’s plans are foiled.

The Yanks they take him in the end,

But to their will, Smetnee must bend.

Slaving daily with a frown,

While Yogol wears an oilman’s crown.

The years they pass, when Smetnee stumbles,

On Yogol’s name in newsprint’s mumbles.

A courtroom drama then ensues,

Which poor old Yogol’s bound to lose.

In sixty-five, a second chance,

On keyboard glyphs, his fingers dance.

For Yogol is now helping NASA,

But on his mind, a different matter.

With eyes on space, we hold our breath,

As Yogol does computer theft.

The Secret Service is not pleased,

And from his job, Smetnee is squeezed.

The year of punk in USA,

Sees Smetnee slowly fade away.

But Yogol, now a billionaire,

Shows the world he still can care.

Forgiving Smetnee for his crimes,

Yogol offers better times.

But Smetnee’s heart, it cannot take,

The kindly offer Yogol makes.

Standing there when Smetnee dies,

Brings fear and pain to Yogol’s eyes.

His heart it stops against his will,

For Smetnee’s death has made him ill.

Yogol lives to eighty-three,

Far more years than you or me.

His life was rich but often cold,

And that’s the tale of Yogol’s Gold.

*****

So, there you have it. Yogol’s Gold, in four-hundred and forty words. Hopefully, I’ve piqued your interest and at the very least, put a smile on your face!

For those of you that are interested in finding out more, the story is a revenge thriller, spanning seventy years of the last century. It follows two friends, Yogol and Smetnee on an adventure that takes them across Eastern and Northern Europe and then onto the United States. It was inspired, in part, by Ridley Scott’s excellent 1977 debut, The Duellists, starring Keith Carradine and Harvey Keitel, which I first saw over twenty years ago, and which has stayed with me ever since. However, rather than involving pistols at dawn, Yogol’s Gold instead focuses on a series of heists, with the gold of the title moving from one protagonist to the other in more and more elaborate ways, culminating in the world’s first internet robbery.

If you like a good action and adventure novel, which parodies major events of the twentieth century and fancy giving me your honest opinion on the version that I’ve sent out to literary agents, then why not drop me a line at info@rob-gregory.com

Finally, I’d love to hear whether or not you think that I should include the poem as part of my agent query package? Maybe, with your help, I’ll not get so many literary agent rejections in the future and find myself one step closer to traditional publication?

Thank you!

While you’re here, why not check out my other blogs, as well as my books?

The Lucius Chronicles Hits One Million Sales

… This is the interview that I will give when the inevitable happens…

Editor’s Note: It is April 1, okay… Read on and enjoy yourselves!

*****

So, The Lucius Chronicles has just hit one million sales. Congratulations! How are you feeling at the moment?

Bewildered. Amazed. Hugely overjoyed. I mean, it really is a dream come true. To have this level of success with a book and so soon after publication, too. It really is fantastic. Absolutely out of this world, in fact!

For those people who haven’t yet discovered The Lucius Chronicles, tell us a little bit about the book and why they should read it.

The Lucius Chronicles is a compilation of the three books that make up the DATS Trilogy: Death and the Schoolboy, Death and the Atom Bomb, and Death and the End. They follow the adventures of Johnny and Eddie, the Death of Children, as they try to save the Earth, Deathville and ultimately, the entire Universe, from Uncle Lucius, the oldest, wisest and most unpleasant of all the Deaths.

It was originally intended as a children’s book, so I just let my imagination run wild when I was creating the storyline, to give kids something really unusual and exciting to get their teeth into. But since its release, it seems to have found a much wider audience, which is really heartening for me to discover.

Death is a pretty morbid subject to be writing about. Don’t you think that it will put readers, especially younger ones, off?

Not at all. Death is something that happens all around us, every day, whether it’s a fly found on a windowsill or the passing of a family pet or a relative, and I think that we do kids a disservice by shielding them from the reality of it. And besides, The Lucius Chronicles follows the pattern of all classic children’s literature, in that none of the heroes actually die and it is only the really bad guys that meet a grisly end.

Rather than thinking of it as a book about death or something grim and frightening, I view it as just a really exciting adventure story that happens to take place in a slightly dark and spooky world beyond our own, which is something that I believe younger readers will really enjoy.

What are you going to do with all the royalties that are pouring in? Hopefully, not retire!

No, definitely not retire. As I say on my website (www.rob-gregory.com) writing is in my blood and I can’t see myself ever stopping. The royalties are just a means to an end, which in my case, means that I can continue writing stories that I hope will entertain and delight people for many, many years to come.

It hasn’t always been like this for you. Tell us about the early days, when you first began writing.

Well, I first started writing full-time back in 2017 and initially, I was full of optimism, like any other aspiring writer, I suppose. Looking back, I didn’t realise how hard it would be to get noticed, let alone actually be read by anyone and as the years passed — and we are talking years — my confidence started to get eroded as the silence around me grew ever louder. I was following all of the advice out there, trying to build an audience on Facebook and Twitter, as well as on other networking and book-fan sites. I even spent a fair bit of money on advertising, but without much success. I’ll freely admit that there were times when I got pretty depressed and frustrated, but even when I was at my lowest ebb, I still believed that what I was putting out there was worthy of an audience, which helped keep me going.

The Lucius Chronicles. A book by R.A. Gregory Author

The Lucius Chronicles by R.A. Gregory. This is what all the fuss is about!

Out of all the books and short stories that you’ve written to date, which is your favourite?

Oh, that’s a horrible question! To be honest, I love all of the things that I’ve written equally. It’s a politician’s answer, I know, but that’s the truth. Each story that I’ve created is different and because of that, it’s unique. The DATS Trilogy and The Lucius Chronicles get me because they are magical, and I find myself flying through them, lost in the world that I created. With Drynwideon, it’s the situations and sarcastic banter between the main characters that I enjoy the most, plus, the ending makes me smile every time! And as for the short stories, I love the way that the majority of them either have a subtle twist or deal with a completely new idea or situation. Even the piece that I am working on at the moment, provisionally entitled, Turning the Tide, is a really rewarding experience, which has allowed me to blend my own experiences in Northern Thailand, with fictional characters and a plot that would never likely happen in real life, but is just plausible enough, that it might.

You mentioned Drynwideon, the world’s first anti-fantasy novel. Any plans for a sequel or series?

Yes, I think that I’ve mentioned elsewhere that I’d like to do a sequel to Drynwideon. Although I originally intended it to be a single volume story, ever since I finished it, I’ve had people asking me what happened to Drin, the cheeky but lovable hero next. I’ve got a few ideas, which I’m playing around with at the moment, so who knows, maybe a sequel will be out by the end of the year or early next?

Talking about series. Which do you prefer, a series or a stand-alone novel?

Another tricky question! For me, I tend to prefer stand-alone novels, because I don’t get left on a cliff hanger, which I find really frustrating and annoying. That said, I’ve come across some really good series, such as the Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb and the Ea Cycle by David Zindell. I guess, and it’s another politician’s answer I’m afraid, if you can create a series, where every volume is a stand-alone story, such as The Flashman Papers by George MacDonald Fraser or Terry Pratchett’s Discworld books, then I’m in seventh heaven.

Self-publishing has become a massive growth industry over the last ten years or so. What are your thoughts on the viability of the traditional publishing industry?

Funnily enough, I think that traditional publishing still has a lot of steam left in it, despite the rise of self-published eBooks. For one thing, there’s no shortage of new titles coming out each year and while more and more people are reading electronically, there are still many folks out there who still really enjoy flicking through a physical book.

One thing which I think that traditional publishers will need to do, and in some cases, are already doing, is to embrace new technology and market their titles as widely as possible online. And they do have an advantage in this regard, which I think is currently underplayed. That is, by the time that a traditionally published book reaches the shelves, regardless of whether they are physical or electronic shelves, that book will have been critiqued, edited, proofread and prepared to an extremely high standard, meaning that it should be an exceptional quality purchase for the reader.

What about literary agents? How do you see their role changing as a result of the self-publishing onslaught?

I think that literary agents still play a vital role in bridging the gap between the author and publisher, and I firmly believe that this will be the case in the future, especially for eBook publishing. If you have a good agent, then they should be doing everything possible to get you the best deal for your work, regardless of whether it is physical or electronic. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that if you have a really good agent, then they should not only be exhausting all possible traditional publishing routes for you, but also looking at whether or not your book would perform better in virtual space and helping to you to maximise its success there as well. After all, it’s all about money at the end of the day and if your book isn’t performing at its peak, then it’s not making you, or your agent, as much as it could!

R.A. Gregory the author, with an urban street scene behind him. Rob Gregory Author

R.A. Gregory – Author of The Lucius Chronicles

You create amazing worlds and characters, unlike anything that’s gone before. In many ways, you’re something of a genre-buster. But you must have influences. Care to tell us something about them?

I’ve said this before, but my feeling is that everything I’ve ever read has influenced me in some way or other. Even the books that I’ve really struggled with have left an impression on me. Apart from authors showing me what makes a captivating story, through the power of their writing, I guess that I’ve been influenced by a great many individual writers, among them the likes of Douglas Adams, Arthur C Clarke and David Gemmell.

Have you ever started to write a story and then completely given up on it?

No, I don’t think that I have. I’ve had difficulties with stories in the past and like every author, I grapple with writer’s block on occasion, but no, everything that I’ve started, I’ve finished, even if there have been times when it has been an uphill battle. And do you know what? When those particular stories were completed, I often secretly enjoyed them a little bit more than the ones that were easier to write.

You said in a Smashwords interview that you might publish, The Bunker, the short story you wrote for your English exam at school. Any news on that front?

It’s still in the pipeline. To be honest, I’m a little scared about turning the first page after all these years, just in case I don’t like what’s inside. That said, I do think that it would be nice to share it with the world, so that they can see where it all began. And, of course, it might just turn out to be another great read!

What would you say has been your proudest moment during your career to date?

I think that it would have to be the moment that I took delivery of the physical copies of Drynwideon, back in 2018. Even though most of what I’ve published to date has been done online, I’m one of those people who still loves a physical book and to have it there in my hand, with the smell of freshly printed paper accosting my nostrils, made it real in a way that was sublimely delightful.

Is there anything that you would change about your novels or writing style?

Not really. There are always improvements or changes that could be made and it’s really easy to do with eBooks, but on the whole, I try to avoid altering the content of a book once it’s out there. Instead, I concentrate on making my next book even better than the one before it.

As for my style, well, it’s really just an extension of who I am, so I don’t think that there’s any way that I could really change it significantly, without doing myself a mental injury or two in the process. Of course, as with anything, style does change as you grow and evolve, so I wouldn’t be surprised if my books in the future have a slightly different look and feel about them to those that I’ve written so far.

So, what’s next? What can we expect from the stable of Rob Gregory in the next twelve months?

Well, I’m currently working on Turning the Tide, as mentioned above. Then there’s an outrageous Sci-Fi comedy in the pipeline, which I hope will delight and offend readers in equal amounts. And, of course, there are always the short stories that I’m working on, which I plan to either publish in magazines or compile into an anthology. Finally, as I mentioned earlier, the sequel to Drynwideon might just see the light of day before the end of the year. Who knows? You’ll just have to wait and see.

Finally, what words of advice do you have for authors who are just starting out on their journey?

Believe in yourself and keep on trying. It’s the only way to succeed. Either that or marry the boss of a major global publishing company. Not really an option in my case, as you can see from my promotional pictures!

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If you haven’t grabbed your copy of The Lucius Chronicles yet, you can see what all the fuss is about by clicking on the links below:

Amazon

Smashwords

Barnes & Noble

iBooks

Kobo

And, finally… Happy April Fool’s Day, one and all. We haven’t quite reached one million sales yet, but with your help, maybe we will!

New Book: Turning the Tide

Turning the Tide

… Not another new book, surely…

Well, after getting two blogs last week, you’ve certainly had to wait right up until the eleventh hour, for this week’s instalment of ‘A Writer’s Life for Me’. It’s not because I got myself arrested after writing about the awful air pollution that’s been plaguing Chiang Mai recently, but because I’ve been busy, working on my latest book project, a controversial and highly gritty drama, provisionally entitled ‘Turning the Tide’.

Set in the self-proclaimed ‘Cultural Capital’ of Thailand, that’s Chiang Mai to you and me, folks, ‘Turning the Tide’ follows a group of beer-swilling, cigarette smoking, middle-aged expats, who tire of the endless petty corruption and nonsensical policymaking that impacts their daily lives and decide to do something about it, with disastrous results for all concerned.

It’s the first time that I’ve ever tried (or dared, for that matter), to write anything like this and I have to say that I’m enjoying it immensely. All of my previous books have been pure works of fiction, dredged from the bottomless depths of my own twisted imagination, whereas this story is based, to a large extent, on my own experiences as an expat bar owner in the Land of Smiles. And while the characters are most definitely imaginary, despite what anyone might think, the locations aren’t and centre around the little corner of Thailand’s second largest city that I call my own.

Lake outside Chiang Mai. Turning the Tide - Rob Gregory Author

Man-made lake, just outside of Chiang Mai.

I started it a little over three weeks ago, after a couple of extremely interesting and insightful late-night conversations with several of my regular customers and it has to be said that the central theme reflects a change I’ve been seeing, over several months now, in expat attitudes towards Thai policymaking, especially that which impacts on foreign visitors to the country.

One of the biggest talking points in the bar recently, has been the proposal by the Thai Immigration authorities to require people staying in the country on a retirement visa, to show evidence that they have at least 800,000 Baht (approximately 25,000 USD) in their Thai bank accounts, not only for the two months prior to their visas being granted, which was previously the case, but also for three months thereafter, with a minimum balance of 400,000 Baht being maintained throughout the rest of the year.

While there are those who enter the country without sufficient funds to support themselves, who in my humble opinion are foolish in the extreme — Thailand is NOT a cheap place to live anymore — most expats rely on their monthly pension payments to survive and prefer to manage their funds from their home country, where they can earn a better rate of interest than is available in Thailand. And it is hard to see how this change will benefit anyone other than the banks, who will effectively be given a huge amount of free money to bolster their lending operations with.

Ginger cat, sitting by a broom on a floating harbour. Turning the Tide - Rob Gregory Author

Curious cat. And we all know what happened there!

Anyway, back to ‘Turning the Tide’. It’s not going to be a big book. I envisage the whole thing being about sixty thousand words long; seventy thousand at a push, but then it’s not really about the word count, it’s about the story and if I’m able to do it without creating a door-stopper of a volume, then so much the better. So far, I’m just over thirty thousand words in, so with a bit of luck, it won’t be long before I’m writing to tell you that the first draft is finished!

And then there are the characters. Normally, I keep away from swearing in books, as I feel that it tends to undermine the storyline. But then, when you’re writing about people who spend most of their time drinking in seedy Thai bars, it’s a bit unbelievable if they all come across sounding like Bertie Wooster or the people at the start of the Madness song, ‘Return of the Los Palmas 7’. Needless to say, ‘Turning the Tide’ is definitely going to have a ‘parental advisory’ sticker on it, when it eventually does hit the shelves!

Finally, there was the decision, consciously made to set the book right at this particular time of year, which has given me the opportunity to reference not only the blistering heat that assaults us after the cooler ‘winter’ months, but also the poor air quality that we are currently living through and the build-up to Songkran, the Thai New Year, which is where most of the book’s action takes place. All in all, I hope that this will help add credibility to the story and make it all the more enjoyable, by setting the fictional struggle for a new political order, against a backdrop of real issues and events.

White temple at Chiang Rai, against grey skies. Turning the Tide - Rob Gregory Author

The White Temple, Chiang Rai. Well worth the visit, if you get the chance.

As for publishing, well, therein lies a dilemma. You see, despite being a work of fiction, the book is likely to be seen as highly controversial by the Thai authorities, even though it isn’t really, and may even make it onto the country’s banned books list. So, regardless of whether it is ultimately traditionally published or put up on Amazon as a self-published ebook, I’m starting to think that I’m going to have to leave the country before ‘Turning the Tide’ sees the light of day. Otherwise, I could well be writing to you in the future, on a piece of second-hand toilet roll, from the comfort of a Thai prison cell, along with sixty or so inmates looking over my shoulder. Not a nice thought, I can assure you!

That said, I do want to do this right, so if any of you would like to act as a reviewer and give me honest feedback on the drafts, as and when they become available, then please do drop me a line at info@rob-gregory.com and I’ll see what I can do.

Musicians walking past a golden Buddha statue in Nong Khai. Turning the Tide - Rob Gregory Author

Musicians celebrating at a religious festival in Northern Thailand.

So, there you have it. I’ve certainly been a busy boy over the last few weeks and there’s a lot more to come… Once ‘Turning the Tide’ is finished, I’m going to be starting work on another comic fantasy offering, followed by my long-awaited Sci-Fi comedy novel. Honestly, I ask you, will this man ever stop writing!

*****

As always, please do check out my other blogs and books, if you liked this one. And don’t forget to share!

Thank You!

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