Let us Welcome Angie Skelhorn to Writerly Wednesday!
Interview
- What is your favorite marketing task that has resulted in a sale?
The Internet plays a key role in marketing my books. The Internet allows others to become interested in projects that have been close to my heart for a long time. I have informative and entertaining websites to get the word out about my books. Facebook permits me to become closer to my readers. Joining with others gives me the opportunity to mix and mingle with a whole lot of new people who share a similar spiritual mission. By reaching out to new and different people I can discuss my ideas or to take calculated risks.
The Witches’ Voice AKA Witch Vox offers latest news and extensive networking to the Modern Pagan Community. No one on the pagan web features more links to pagan sites, news, articles, groups or individuals than The Witches’ Voice. Being a member of the Witchvox community which is related to my topic witchcraft and spiritualism provides a platform and positive exposure for my books.
2. What do you like about your publisher or why did you decide to Self Publish?
Damnation Books, the publisher for my Novella, Severed Ties, supplied editorial and marketing support. The people at Damnation Books offer a writer instant communication, constructive criticism and enthusiastic support. Acquistion Editor Erin Lale and Editor Barbara Legge read my book Severed Ties and made detailed notations on how to make the story even better for publication. And for the cover design by Dawné Dominique a published author by day and an artist by night, she took my vision for the book cover and made it come alive.
3. What do you have under your bed?
Under my bed one would find a couple of cardboard boxes with witchcraft supplies and a few dust bunnies.
From Sally, I tend to keep my supplies in the broom closet, keeps me from having to explain them to in-laws and the Church Ladies. 🙂
4. Are you a plotter or a planner when you are writing?
I’m a plotter when I write. Most of the time a vague short story version of the book pops into my head and then I put pen to paper to write a rough draft.
5. Do you write in a bubble or do you prefer critique groups, writing buddies or other companionship during the process?
I guess I can say I write in a bubble. I get a mental picture of the story, listen to the characters talk, and then write. I am blessed to have met Erin Lale the author of Asatru for Beginners and 16 other titles plus she is the Acquisitions Editor at Eternal Press and Damnation Books, the Editor and Publisher of Time Yarns. She was kind enough to read my manuscripts that are in progress, and then pass on her expertise on how to format one story and build on another to ensure a compelling read.
6. When do ideas come to you and how do you capture them?
I capture my ideas as they come in notebooks. The notebooks are filled with characters, scraps of dialogue, points of view, conflict, and background.
7. What is your favorite word processing program and what other tools do you use, pen, notebooks, white board, index cards, finger on fogged bathroom mirrors?
My writing space is littered with open books, notes, pens, envelopes and white-out. I write the first draft of my stories long hand in spiral notebooks and then shape and polish the pieces when I type the work on Microsoft Office for publication.
Bio:
My name is Angie Skelhorn and I live in Canada. My interest includes tarot, and other forms of divination, astrology, spirituality, mythology and harness racing. I gear my writing toward Witchcraft and Spiritualism. I’ve been published in Circle Sanctuary Magazine and online at Witchvox, WitchesandPagans.com and GlobalGoddess.org.
I authored On the Edge, No Reins and Till Death and Beyond – Publisher, Club Lighthouse Publishing. My newest release Severed Ties – Publisher, Damnation Books- book launch December 1, 2012.
On The Web:
http://angieskelhorn.com/
http://Facebook.com/pages/Author-Angie-Skelhorn-Witchskel/106332176093960
http://BookGoodies.com/?s=Angie+Skelhorn
http://Amazon.com/Angie-Skelhorn/e/B004G4HAXQ/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
http://witchskel.wordpress.com/
http://BarnesandNoble.com/s/severed-ties-by+Angie+Skelhorn+store=book
http://Clublighthousepublishing.com/productpage.asp?bNumb=232
Buy link – http://DamnationBooks.com/book.php?isbn=9781615728206
About the book: Severed Ties
By the use of divination and magic, some ties can never be severed.
In the beginning, by the light of the Full Moon, Frankie connects with Candice’s energy through dream time and witnesses her involvement in a terrifying act of violence. After receiving information from Sandra that their childhood friend is missing, they pack their bags and head to the inner city to find her.
Frankie, afraid for her own safety, has a chance encounter with a local named Calvin who is plugged into what’s happening. Using his workable ideas—as well as Frankie and Sandra consulting tarot, ordinary playing cards, astrology, and spell-casting—they set forth to free Candice from the dangerous situation she is in.
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Excerpt:
Sandra leaned against the door frame, reached into her low-rider jeans back pocket and produced an envelope. She passed the folded paper to her. Frankie stared at the picture, reading the words: MISSING; young female, seventeen, eyes hazel, brown hair, height five foot seven inches, weight one twenty pounds.
“How could you keep this from me?” she asked, tightening her grip on the envelope.
“I didn’t. Yesterday, my mom received her Visa bill. She gave me the envelope when she saw Candice’s picture. I phoned her parents. They are in the middle of a divorce. Her mom said when they first split she began to stay out late. Then one day she just never came home.”
“We have to find her. The police haven’t been able to,” Frankie said, waving the envelope.
“We will do what we must to track her. Did you bring your cards?”
“Yes.”
“Come with me.” Sandra grabbed Frankie’s hand and dragged her into the dish room stopping to retrieve her tarot deck from the pocket of her jean jacket before leading her toward the stock room and flicked the light switch on closing the door behind them. Inside the dimly lit, cramped space, they stood among the canned and dried food supplies. Sandra loosened the tie on the apron around her waist, and then pulled the strap over her head. She folded the material into a square shape and laid the apron on the top of a stack of cardboard boxes before unwrapping the piece of black material protecting her tarot cards. Frankie, her eyes adjusting to the dimness, walked to the boxes stacked chest high and placed her card deck beside Sandra’s. Sandra turned her head to look at Frankie. “Ready?” she asked in a low voice.
“Ready.”
They stood tall, with legs shoulder width apart, and using their left hand, the two knocked three times on the face down decks, cleansing the cards from past influences. Sandra lifted her cards and held them between her palms. Frankie placed her playing cards between her hands and closed her eyes concentrating on the question she wanted answered.
Together they spoke aloud. “Spirit Guide, please come. Your presence is welcome, your wisdom is needed. Come hither those who surround, support our quest.”
Frankie held the deck of cards face down and shuffled through them. She used her left hand, cut the cards and fanned the entire pack in front of her on the folded apron. Sandra did the same.
Side by side, hand in hand, slow and smooth, they moved their lacquered fingernails over their cards.
Frankie could see and feel a pulsating white energy consisting of brilliant spirals and little dots expand and twirl at different speeds, in no specific direction, beneath her steady hand. She moved her palm closer to the cards. Breathing deeply, her heart raced. She could feel the shiny, fine light tickling her skin, tracing a spiral on the back of her hand.
A, we are destined to search for Candice. The cards determine that we are not interfering in the search. We encountered what was to happen. We are destined to accept the challenge that lies ahead. Your dream and I receiving the envelope with Candice’s picture were predetermined and unavoidable events. We can’t change her situation, but we must react.”
“I can see it is safe to say we are headed for the city?”
“Our trip is all here in the six of hearts and the Chariot,” Sandra replied, waving her open palm across the cards.
Frankie felt a slight pinch of apprehension. “Nothing ventured, nothing gained,” she said, nodding in agreement.
“Where’s Sandra?” a loud voice bellowed.
“I need to go!” she whispered, with panic in her voice. “Go in peace,” she said, expressing gratitude to her Spirit Guide. She grabbed her tarot cards and her apron from the top of the cardboard boxes, opened the door a crack, peering out. The cooking staff worked in the kitchen as the two crept from the cramped room.
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Thank you, Sally Franklin Christie for having me as a guest on your Writerly Wednesday Blog:)
You are very welcome and I hope you’ll come back to promote another title.
Come back often to see new guests at Writerly Wednesday and Don’t touch anything sharp.
Sally