Category: Literary Locals Page 6 of 7

A couple of hours ago, I posted about Lambert’s novel, Harvested, the first of a series I know I’m coming back to soon. Now, I have the chance to get some more information about him and the book in this Q&A. He’ll be back in a couple of weeks for a Q&A about writing in Idaho as part of the Literary Locals series—be sure you come back for that.

All authors have more ideas running around in their head than they can possibly develop—what was it about this idea that made you commit to writing it? Also, what was the starting point for this book? Was it the story about the missing dogs or the ongoing story (I’m being deliberately vague here) that required you to invent Max, or did you have Max and need to figure out some stories to put him in? Or is that kind of answer impossible—and you got the whole ball of wax at once?
So the idea of Max as a character came first, although the idea for the plot came shortly after. The idea of missing dogs appealed to me in a lot of ways, and I saw the twist in my head after only a little research, and it kinda all came together after that.

The same was true for Teaching Moments, although in that case the idea for the killer came to me first, and then I worked it into the Max series. The next book in that series is much the same, although I think the main villain in that case is even worse. That one will be out late this year or early next.

Multiple authors have talked about the unbreakable rule even in Crime Fiction is “you don’t kill the dog (or other pets).” But you not only kill some, but threaten several more. Did you think much about the danger inherent in this plot? What compelled you to go forward with it? Or was that danger what drew you into it?
So that is often a “rule” but I think it is all in how you handle it. The dogs for me are just like people in this book: they are valuable characters, and they are even heroic at times (no spoilers, of course)

And the story of dogs continues in Teaching Moments as one of them becomes Max’s partner throughout. Of course, a lot of my other work features dogs as well, and that is because I love them, and can’t help myself when it comes to casting them in books.

Supporting characters really make or break a book for me more than the protagonist does. Dr. Gamble is a great example of that—she was such a fun character. When she was introduced, I really didn’t expect much of her, she seemed like a typical “generic subject matter expert to help the PI get to the next step” that we’re all used to seeing, but you really fleshed her out and made her a big part of the story. Was that the idea all along, or did you just enjoy her so much that you changed her role?
So I liked her from the start. She was a favorite character who came to me pretty fleshed out. I think supporting characters are key to a good story: they produce conflict, tension, but also from time to time just some pleasant relief to that tension. I think she serves all those roles in this story, and she may play additional roles in the series going forward, even becoming more of a key character in Book 5, but that is down the road a bit.

Who are some of your major influences? (whether or not you think those influences can be seen in your work—you know they’re there)
There are several. I would say that Stephen King and Dean Koontz top the list, at least for writing style and in some cases subject matter. They’re also both inspiring on a personal level. But there are certainly others: Lee Child, Vincent Zandri (a good friend now) and others.

Let’s play “Online Bookstore Algorithm” (a game I made up for these Q&As). What are 3-5 books whose readers may like Harvested?
Ha! A fun game. L.T. Ryan readers, stories like Unmasked and that series, Brad Lee, A Team of One, anything in the Chase Baker series by Vincent Zandri, and the Finding Reacher series by Diane Capri.

Your Amazon Author Page lists a lot of titles—you’ve been a busy man for the last decade or so. What is it about storytelling/writing that keeps it fresh for you? Is this a compulsion to keep going, or is it more pleasure?
That’s a two part answer: it is a compulsion, yes, in some ways. But it is also pleasure. I love telling stories, and plan to do it until I just can’t any more. I hope that day is a long way in the future. I don’t ever plan to retire, and there are so many more titles coming out even just this year. I can’t wait to see what I come up with next.

In somewhat of a related question, what’s next for Troy Lambert, author? Also, are there more Max Boucher books to come, or is it a duology? (I largely ask for myself, so I’m in the right frame of mind before I start the next)
So there is another book in the Capital City Murders, and one that signals a major change in the series story, coming in April. Right now there are at least three more Max books planned along with a novella that will be out this year as well, and a new series coming sometime either later this year or the first part of next.

There will be a couple of anthologies and story collections coming, and even a book of poetry at some point. So stay tuned!

Thanks for your time—and thanks for Max Boucher, he’s the kind of PI that the Northwest needs more of (at least in fiction).
You bet. Thanks for having me.

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LITERARY LOCALS: A Q&A About Writing in Idaho with Danielle Higley

By HCNewton

On February 7, 2023

In A Few Quick Questions With..., Literary Locals

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Back before this series had a name, I posted about Danielle Higley’s book (described below) and she participated in a nice Q&A about it. Now, I’ve got her back to talk about writing in Idaho. I can’t recommend her book enough and I think she gave some great answers below. Hope you enjoy!

Before we get into things, why don’t you give the reader a brief introduction to you and your work.
Sure! I’m Danielle Higley, author of The Stories Behind the Stories: The Remarkable True Tales Behind Your Favorite Children’s Books” rel=”noopener” target=”_blank”>The Stories Behind the Stories: The Remarkable True Tales Behind Your Favorite Children’s Books.

It’s a nonfiction collection of backstories that details how books like Charlotte’s Web, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and even Captain Underpants came to be. In 2022, it was selected by the Idaho Center for the Book—an affiliate of the Library of Congress—to represent Idaho at the National Book Festival. Since then, I’ve done some public speaking engagements, school visits, and local events to help promote the book. I’ve also been learning how to promote myself as an author and reader online, so if anyone is interested in finding me, you can do so on Instagram at @bookishinboise.

Are you a native Idahoan? What is it about Idaho that keeps you here?
I’m as close to being a native Idahoan as you can get without getting your eye wet. My family moved to Boise from Arizona when I was five, and my parents actually still live in the house I grew up in. I left Idaho a couple times in my 20s—twice for internships and once for fun—and I came back loving Idaho all the more.

To me, Idaho is the stuff of love notes. [IR: That’s such a great line!] It’s beautiful and generous; bountiful with mountains, wildlife, and opportunities to explore the outdoors. I grew up near the foothills, where people spent long minutes waving one another forward at a three-way stop. We borrowed sugar from our neighbors and traded vegetables across the fence.

Idaho is changing. We’re proud of our state, and rightly so. But I hope we always keep our kindness, our welcoming hearts, and our neighborly compassion. More than our simple freeways, our four colorful seasons, our ski resorts, and our beautiful downtown, it’s the culture that keeps me close.

Are you tied into some sort of local author/bookish group/culture? If so, tell us about it and how it helps you as an author.
Boise has several great groups for authors and book lovers. My favorite group is the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), which has a local chapter that meets monthly. Since I write almost exclusively for kids, it’s a good fit for me. I’ve also done some events with the Idaho Writers’ Guild and found that group to be welcoming and well-established.

If you’re a local writer, I’d encourage you to consider joining such a group for several reasons: First, there’s the community aspect. Writers are solitary workers, but the revision process requires us to bring in other perspectives to see where we can improve. Getting input from fellow writers can help uncover plot holes, inaccuracies, and inconsistencies.

Second is the education component. Writing groups often offer conferences and other literary events that can help writers and illustrators hone their craft. Such events sometimes also bring in publishing professionals and, for a fee, you may be able to show your work to an agent or editor who could offer you a contract.

What kind of events in the area do you attend—either to sell/promote your books or to network with authors? Are there any outside of this area that you hit regularly and wish we had something like it here?
Last year (in 2022), I attended the first-ever Idaho Books and Brews event, which brought together local authors and local breweries—seriously, what a genius marketing idea that was! I also attended a local author’s event at the Eagle Public Library. Other than that, you can sometimes find me at Rediscovered Books—either the Boise or Caldwell location—and I try to attend any school that wants to have me for an author’s event.

I missed the Books and Brews event (and doing so led to this series!). What was that experience like?
It was great! Basically, the space was divided in two—local authors and their books along the outside edge, and a bunch of local breweries in the middle. Attendees could buy tokens to be exchanged for books or beer. The beer was served in small glasses, perfect for tasting a variety of flavors. The best part, I think, was that authors had plenty of time to talk to readers and sign books.

I hope it does become an annual thing. If so, I definitely plan to attend again.

What’s the breakdown of your audience—do you have a strong local base, or are your readers from other parts of the world?
That’s a great question! I do get messages sometimes from readers, librarians, and booksellers around the country, but most of the people I’ve talked to about my book have been local.

I’m fortunate to have found a really wonderful partnership with Rediscovered Books in Boise, and they’ve supported me by including my book at events and putting it on display in prominent spots in their store. My book doesn’t have a huge marketing budget behind it—Bushel & Peck is a small, independent publisher—so having that kind of attention from a bookseller has made all the difference. I’m truly grateful.
It’s hard to say enough good things about Rediscovered, isn’t it? (incidentally, my copy was on a big display there before it was on my shelf). I’ve imagined the experience as an author would be good—it’s great (and dangerous to the checking account) for the reader.

Do you think there are particular challenges or advantages to being a writer in the Treasure Valley? (possibly both)
People always say “write what you know,” but what we know is a culmination of our life experiences, opportunities, and surroundings. To me, that makes my challenges and advantages one and the same.

One final question, is there a book (or two…or 18, if you get really carried away), that embodies Idaho/the Idaho spirit to you to recommend to my readers?
There’s a really beautiful picture book that just came out and made me think of the Idaho pioneering and family spirit. It’s called Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall, and it’s absolutely gorgeous.

For YA, I’d say All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven. My mom and I once made a tour of unique Idaho landmarks, including Balance Rock, Soda Springs, and Hagerman (home of the Hagerman horse fossil). That sort of “explore your own backyard spirit” is a cornerstone of that book.

For adult fiction, The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes comes to mind. Once upon a time, before there was a library in Garden City, my mom and I would visit our local bookmobile to check out new reading material each week. Not exactly books in saddlebags delivered on horseback, but that sounds quite “Idaho” as well.

And lastly, for nonfiction readers I really must mention The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of the Donner Party by Daniel James Brown. Had they taken the conventional path through Idaho, the Donner party might have escaped their terrible fate. As it was, we know what happened, and unfortunately I have to admit that had I been a pioneer in their shoes, I absolutely would have opted to take the shortcut…
Wow…this is a great (and thorough) list. My TBR is bigger!

Thanks for your time and participation! Hope you enjoyed it!

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LITERARY LOCALS: A Q&A About Writing in Idaho with Rebecca Carey Lyles

By HCNewton

On January 31, 2023

In A Few Quick Questions With..., Literary Locals

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A friend of mine had a booth a craft fair recently, and messaged me about Rebecca Carey Lyles and suggested I track her down for this series (she also scouted out someone else to come in the next few weeks). I gave it a shot, and have had a great interaction with her so far—I’ll hopefully continue that when I try to get to one of her books in February (or later, we’ll see how I do). Her material isn’t quite what I typically feature here, but the cliché about the spice of life has to be based on something, right? Anyway, that’s for another day—for now, enjoy this Q&A.

Before we get into things, why don’t you give the reader a brief introduction to you and your work.
Thanks so much for asking, HC. I’m a wife, mom and grandma as well as an author and an editor. Although I’ve written for a variety of publications, fiction became my passion when I moved to Idaho and joined a wonderful Treasure Valley writing group. Since then, I’ve compiled a short-story collection with local authors and written two fiction series plus the first book in a third series.

My tagline for my novels is Contemporary Christian Romance Set in the West and Salted with Suspense. But some have suggested the books are suspense salted with romance due to the subject matter and action/adventure aspect. Although I tackle difficult subjects like human trafficking, coercive cults, and contemporary polygamy, I always promise happy endings—because I like happy endings. 😊
I know some think of me as shallow, and I’m okay with that, but while I understand the need for dark or ambiguous endings (and love several books with them)…give me a happy ending almost any day over those.
Here are some links for you to peruse:
Website: http://www.beckylyles.com
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Rebecca-Carey-Lyles/author/B005EJ8LP8
Facebook Author Page: Rebecca Carey Lyles
Twitter: @BeckyLyles

What brought you to Idaho in the first place? What is it about Idaho that keeps you here?
My husband’s job with the phone company brought us to Boise 16 years ago, and we are forever grateful. We raised our kids in Wyoming and then Steve was transferred to Phoenix. After three long hot summers, we jumped at an opportunity to move north to God’s country again. We love this area and the creativity we’ve found here along with opportunities to connect with other musicians (Steve) and writers (me).

Now I’m curious—are you a native or a transplant, HC?
I’m a native (3rd generation on both sides, I believe)—born in the panhandle, spent a couple of years in Eastern Idaho—but have spent 4+ decades bouncing around the Treasure Valley (well, the University of Idaho was in there, too, but my home address stayed in Caldwell)

This is going afield from the “literary locals” idea, but oh well…you mentioned musicians and your husband—is there a project/band that you could plug here, or is this more of a personal pursuit on his part?
Steve loves to jam with Boise Ukulele Group. (https://boiseukulelegroup.com/) BUG is an open group and from what Steve says, a lot of fun. Everyone is invited, no matter their level of ukulele ability. He also sings and plays his uke with a four or five-person group called the Daydreamers. (https://boiseukulelegroup.com/the-daydreamers/)
I should also mention Steve and I host a podcast we call “Let Me Tell You a Story” that features authors and their books as well as people with interesting personal stories to tell. (http://beckylyles.com/podcast.html)

Are you tied into some sort of local author/bookish group/culture? If so, tell us about it and how it helps you as an author. If you’re not, is there a reason for it?
A year after we moved here, a young author named Angela Ruth Strong established an American Christian Fiction Writers group in Boise and christened it Idahope Christian Writers. We hosted monthly meetings, yearly writers’ conferences, brainstorming sessions, trainings and webinars. Through the group, I gained the information and confidence needed to begin publishing fiction.

Was there something specific that the group did to get you that confidence, or was it just repeated exposure to and interaction with other writers?
I’d been in fiction-writing groups in Wyoming and Arizona and had started my first fiction book, but no one in those groups seemed interested in writing for publication. From the beginning, ICW members pursued publication, which meant honing their craft, learning the ins and outs of publication, meeting agents and publishers at conferences, and studying marketing techniques for authors. My guess is at least a dozen ICW writers have published a minimum of one book since then, and some of us have written multiple books.

What kind of events in the area do you attend—either to sell/promote your books or to network with authors? Are there any outside of this area that you hit regularly and wish we had something like it here?
Attendees loved our conferences, but the pandemic put a halt to monthly meetings as well as to yearly conferences and other get-togethers. We still have a Facebook page, and fun plans are in the works to revive the group in the fall. I’m happy to report critique groups were spawned from the mother group. We continue to support each other’s writing, sometimes online and sometimes in person.

What’s the breakdown of your audience—do you have a strong local base, or are your readers from other parts of the world?
Hmm…my audience. My books mostly sell in eBook format in the US, with an occasional eBook purchase in another English-speaking country. I attend local book-signing events once or twice a year and some people purchase print copies online, but eBooks are by far the bestsellers. And, as might be expected, women are the primary buyers. However, men occasionally write to say they enjoy my stories. A local guy who loves my books likes to say, “How does a nice lady like you write such terrible stories?” Makes my day when he says that!(That is such a twisted compliment—based on what I’m learning about your work, a fitting one, too!)

Because we’ve lived in California (Steve), Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona and Idaho, we have friends, relatives and former classmates all across the West who read and promote my books for me. I also advertise online and love to read comments and reviews by far-flung readers I’ve never met.

I haven’t thought too much about online advertising for books—what kinds of places do you advertise online (at least effectively)—are we talking Facebook/other social media platforms, online magazines/journals, or other places?
As far as I know, Facebook Ads, Amazon Ads and BookBub are the main sites where authors market. Many other advertising options are available, but those three are key. I tend to focus on one at a time, partly due to cost and partly so I can judge the effectiveness of specific ads.

Do you think there are particular challenges or advantages to being a writer in the Treasure Valley? (possibly both)
The Northwest is an amazing creative corner of our great country where artistic endeavors are encouraged and appreciated. I feel blessed to be enveloped in such a welcoming, supportive environment.

Have you run into a lot of creative people in the Treasure Valley, HC?
Thanks to things like the Boise Library’s Comic Arts Festival, I’ve met some—but I need to find more of you. I know you creative types are out there, I just need to encounter some. That’s half the reason I’m doing this series, to meet more! (far easier for this introvert to do it this way than in-person, too).
Haha, I understand the introvert thing. 😊

Do you bring Idaho (or some sort of Idaho-sensibility, assuming one exists) to your work? Whether or not anyone else sees it, can you look at some aspect of your writing and think “That’s Idaho” or “I would do ____ differently if I was a Kentuckian or from Illinois?”
I grew up in a small Wyoming farming town with mountains visible from our backdoor, so I feel right at home in Idaho. And then I attended college in Denver where I got a taste of city life (and more mountains!). As a result, I feel at home in Boise. To answer your question, my books are set throughout the West, but no doubt Idaho has informed the way I describe not only settings but characters. The stalwart grit and independent spirit found in our beautiful state inform themes of hope and freedom in my series.

One final question, is there a book (or two…or 18, if you get really carried away), that embodies Idaho/the Idaho spirit to you to recommend to my readers?
Educated is an Idaho story, though a challenging one to read. The author’s fight to escape her family’s abuse and insanity is remarkable and commendable. However, this is not necessarily a recommendation because the book is disturbing and not for the faint of heart. Also, the author, Tara Westover, was only 32 or 33 when her book was published. It has an incomplete feel about it, I think, possibly because she has more life to live and more healing to pursue. All that said, Ms. Westover is a good writer, and I enjoyed the book.

Thanks for your time and participation! Hope you enjoyed it!
Great questions, HC! Thank you for letting me talk with you about my lifelong obsession, reading (and writing) good books. 😊

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LITERARY LOCALS: A Q&A About Writing near Idaho with Joyce Reynolds-Ward

By HCNewton

On January 24, 2023

In A Few Quick Questions With..., Literary Locals

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After I announced this series, I got a message, “Hey, would you be interested in NE Oregon writers as well? Just on the west side of Hells Canyon in Wallowa County.” So, I expanded my horizons (just a bit) and jumped on it. Here’s the result–Reynolds-Ward is quite the prolific writer and one you should definitely find some time to check out.

Before we get into things, why don’t you give the reader a brief introduction to you and your work.
Joyce Reynolds-Ward has been called “the best writer I’ve never heard of” by one reviewer. Her work includes themes of high-stakes family and political conflict, digital sentience, personal agency and control, realistic strong women, and (whenever possible) horses, frequently in Pacific Northwest settings.

She is the author of The Netwalk Sequence series, the Goddess’s Honor series, The Martiniere Legacy series, The People of the Martiniere Legacy series, and The Martiniere Multiverse series as well as standalones Beating the Apocalypse, Klone’s Stronghold and Alien Savvy.

Samples of her Martiniere short stories/novel in progress and her nonfiction can be found on Substack at either Speculations from the Wide Open Spaces (writing), Speculations on Politics and Political History (politics), or Martiniere Stories (fiction).

Joyce is a Self-Published Fantasy Blog Off Semifinalist, a Writers of the Future SemiFinalist, and an Anthology Builder Finalist. She is the Secretary of the Northwest Independent Writers Association, a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association, and a member of Soroptimists International.

Find out more about Joyce at her website, http://www.joycereynoldsward.com. Joyce is @JoyceReynoldsW1 on Twitter, jreynoldsward on Tumblr, joycereynoldsward on Counter.Social, and jreynoldsward on Dreamwidth.

Are you a native to the Idaho-ish area? What brought you to the area in the first place? (answer whichever question applies) What is it about the area that keeps you here?
Well, I’m over here in what some call “Greater Idaho,” aka Northeastern Oregon. I split my time between the Wallowa Valley (where I have excellent views of the Seven Devils on the border, clouds and wildfire smoke depending) and Portland, but I spend more time in the Wallowas. I am a fifth-generation Oregonian, but my family was primarily in Southern Oregon. I love the drier climate, the access to mountains, and the wide open spaces. Not always thrilled about the local politics, but that’s a given no matter where I live.

Are you tied into some sort of local author/bookish group/culture? If so, tell us about it and how it helps you as an author. If you’re not, is there a reason for it?
Pre-Covid, I was involved with Fishtrap, which is Wallowa County’s literary organization. I have attended their winter Fishtrap Fireside readers and their Summer Fishtrap Conference at Wallowa Lake. While Fishtrap is more literary-oriented rather than genre-oriented (I write science fiction and fantasy), I’ve found it to be useful in some respects. I’m not currently involved because my doctor has asked me to avoid indoor gatherings, continue to social distance, and mask. I am, however, very involved with a regional writer’s organization, the Northwest Independent Writers Association. I have sent my books to events hosted by NIWA and host their monthly Zoom chats, as well as being a Board member. NIWA has done great things for helping regional indie writers and I’m glad to be part of the process.

(Fishtrap is such a great name)
It is. Their logo is based on the design of a fishtrap used in the local rivers. Of course, I also think of the submerged fishtrap that I saw in Crane Prairie Reservoir (near Bend) where my parents used to fish as a kid. There was a very good fishing hole near the fishtrap, so we were always looking for it.

What kind of events in the area do you attend—either to sell/promote your books or to network with authors? Are there any outside of this area that you hit regularly and wish we had something like it here?
At the time, due to doctor request, I am not attending in-person events. Because of the paucity of virtual events locally, most of my event attendance tends to be located out of the area. I have participated virtually in the World Science Fiction Convention as a panelist and volunteer, the World Fantasy Convention as a panelist and attendee Weeknight Writers as a panelist and attendee, Quarancon as a panelist and attendee, SFWA (Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association) write-ins and virtual gatherings, Substack Fictionistas Zoom calls, PNW Meetup (20Booksto50K local group) Zooms, as well as hosting the NIWA Zoom chats. I also plan to participate virtually in SFWA’s Nebula Conference this year.

I participate in a Northeast Oregon Writers Facebook group, but alas, I seem to be one of the more active participants. I’d like to see more regional virtual events if possible. I would LOVE to do virtual bookstore appearances and readings in Idaho, especially for my Martiniere books, which are heavily based in the inland Northwest. As an older writer, it is becoming more difficult for me to travel and reach out to potential readers. I’d love to have more virtual options.

So many of those virtual options are disappearing now, and I really thought we’d all discovered something great that would stick around along with in-person events once they returned. Which is a crying shame. For example, I attended an event hosted by (and attended primarily by the customers of) a North Carolina bookstore with an author in Liverpool—there’s no way any of us would have connected in-person. Is there a way for authors (or readers) to help get more of those going?
Contribute financially to the existing virtual options. For example, Weeknight Writers and Flights of Foundry are still continuing with virtual opportunities but they need financial support. SFWA also does a lot of virtual activities, in part due to the growing international membership. The Nebula Award Conference sponsored by SFWA will have a virtual component. Jane Friedman is continuing to offer excellent, reasonably-priced online classes along with her in-person options. NIWA is getting more participants in our online Zoom chats, in part because we are trying to create learning programs of interest to our membership.

I am also participating (along with several other people) in hosting a First Sunday Brunch podcast that is run by B-Cubed Books. B-Cubed has regular Sunday morning podcasts, and we’re filling one regular slot.

Another thing I am considering is doing a regular Zoom chat with readers. Considering the possibilities, anyway.

What’s the breakdown of your audience—do you have a strong local base, or are your readers from other parts of the world?
I’d like to have a stronger local base, for sure! But I do have worldwide readers and fans. Pre-Covid, I was a regular at a science fiction convention in Missoula, MisCon, and thoroughly enjoyed meeting inland Northwest fans and readers.

Did many of those NW fans find you because of your locale, or did you get some readers who discovered after they were reading you that you’re from the same-ish area? I assume that most that discovered you via MisCon were the former, but what about the rest?
MisCon discovery was through my participation on panels and in readings—in many cases, I did the readings and panels first, and readers discovered me through seeing me. Or just hanging out in the lobby or bar and chatting with people. Similar for other conventions I attended—OryCon, in Portland, and RadCon, in the Tri-Cities. When I was handselling books at bazaars locally, if I included “local settings” in my pitch, I’d get a little bit of interest. It’s harder to sell science fiction and fantasy to a general attendance population simply because there’s a lot of reactive “oh I don’t read that stuff.” Even if it’s set locally.

Do you think there are particular challenges or advantages to being a writer in this neck of the woods? (possibly both)
In my case, I’m speaking to the whole region, not just the Treasure Valley. I think there is much more genre potential (SFF) here than many people realize, especially given that I’m trying to write agritech-based science fiction of late. It’s just getting the word out to readers. The other piece is getting past particular regional biases on the part of more influential gatekeepers in the publishing industry.

For you—what’s been the most effective way to get the word out to readers? Anything you’ve tried that hasn’t worked? Or anything you haven’t yet tried, but have thought about?
Oh, this changes every few months. I use social media a lot and have played around lightly with running ads. The problem is that what will work for a couple of months doesn’t always continue to work. The industry changes, big time. Right now, I’m considering running Pinterest ads, but setting up a new campaign or something like that requires a lot of preparation. Creating visuals. Creating promotional text. I had plans to get very aggressive with promotion last year, but then developed a cataract which really set me back for most of 2022. I’m regrouping and taking another run at trying to promote myself in 2023. I may try Kickstarter or Patreon, this year, and possibly selling things through my website. The problem with selling hard copy books through my website, however, is which vendor to use and which printer. Right now, some people are saying Lulu. However, I’ve been underwhelmed by what I have seen of Lulu’s production work. But I don’t know for certain, because those books have frequently been local histories and memoirs. They may turn out a perfectly nice book.

Do you bring Eastern Oregon (or some sort of Eastern Oregon-sensibility, assuming one exists) to your work? Whether or not anyone else sees it, can you look at some aspect of your writing and think “That’s Wallowa” or “I would do ____ differently if I was a Kentuckian or from Illinois?”
I’d like to think that people can pick up my work and recognize the inland Northwest! It doesn’t matter if I’m writing science fiction or fantasy, I like using settings from eastern Oregon/Washington, northern Idaho, and western Montana.

One final question, is there a book (or two…or 18, if you get really carried away), that embodies Idaho/the Idaho spirit to you to recommend to my readers?
Idaho-specific, I would say Big Jim Turner, by James Stephens. Otherwise, I tend to think of other inland Northwest writers such as Ivan Doig, Norman Maclean, and even Craig Johnson.

Good picks all around—especially with Johnson (a big favorite on this patch of cyberspace)
Craig Johnson is amazing. I try to reread the series once a year, simply because he does such an excellent job not only of evoking the region but in dealing with the supernatural. I’m really surprised he doesn’t have a greater following in speculative fiction because he writes stuff verging on horror very, very well. Stephen Graham Jones is another excellent writer who evokes that feel of the inland Northwest/Rocky Mountain region.

Thanks for your time and participation! Hope you enjoyed it!

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LITERARY LOCALS: A Q&A About Writing in Idaho with James T. Lambert

By HCNewton

On January 17, 2023

In A Few Quick Questions With..., Literary Locals

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I talked about James T. Lambert’s first book, Aether Powered, last month–and he participated in a Q&A about it and his writing in general (both the book and his answers are well-worth your time). Now he’s back with some thoughts about the writing life in Southwest Idaho and some related things, too. I had a blast with this one, I hope you do, too.

Before we get into things, why don’t you give the reader a brief introduction to you and your work.
My name’s Jim Lambert, but I write under James T. Lambert (my real name, lol) for that sweet, sweet Star Trek cred. I have read a lot of science fiction and fantasy for a long time. I always loved reading. I saw a NaNoWriMo poster up in a game shop back in (I think) 2009 and thought that would be fun. But it was already November 15th so… next year (NaNo runs from 11/1 to 11/30 with a goal of writing a 50,000 word novel in that time). Next year I did a little better. I was only a week late. In 2011 I remembered it on 11/3. “I’m a fast typist. I can catch up. Now what am I going to write about?” Yeah, pretty silly.

But I came up with an idea and made it to 50,000 words (barely). I did it for several more years, ending up succeeding four times early on, then falling apart in 2016. I didn’t get anything substantial written for several years, but this year is my ‘Year of Getting Stuff Done.’ Last year I finished polishing a novel from 2014, and Indie published it in January. That was Aether Powered, a ‘modern steampunk’ novel. I also did some work on a non-fiction book and with my co-author we put The Tao of Trek out in March. I Indie published a science fiction novel, Proxies, in August. My next book comes out mid-November: Steam Opera, a more traditional steampunk novel. I’ve got another science fiction novel ‘in the pipe’ for next year, Relics of War.

You can find my books through my website http://jamestlambert.com/ or directly through my Amazon author page http://amazon.com/author/james.t.lambert.

What brought you to Idaho in the first place? What is it about Idaho that keeps you here?
I’m not a native. My family moved here in 1976 when I was between third and fourth grade. I grew up in Meridian, took a job in Bend, Oregon for a couple of years before moving back to Boise. I like a lot of things about Boise. It’s a small city, so you get the advantage of a city, but not nearly as many of the disadvantages. It’s clean, the people are friendly, and it’s safe. Well, all mostly. It’s a rough world and that affects everywhere. But I do like running into people I know all over town.

I had to grin at “Well, all mostly.” It’s easy to forget both the friendly and safe parts if you spend too much time online (and easy to forget the “mostly” part, too). What’s one thing that you find yourself telling people who aren’t familiar with Idaho about the state (after the obligatory “we do more than grow potatoes here”)?
That we’re in the Pacific Northwest and that’s where most of the hops for beer for the US comes from. Yeah, strange factoid, but I’m a craft beer guy so I like that one. I often mention the geographic isolation of Boise. We’re 300 miles from the next ‘major’ city (Salt Lake City). 400 miles from Portland and 500 from Seattle. Other than the string of cities right next to us (Nampa, Caldwell, Meridian, Eagle, etc) we’re a long way from anywhere. That has a lot of impact on us. There’s not nearly as much ‘through traffic’ since anyone going somewhere on the ‘other side of us’ is going to be best off flying and skipping the 700 miles to get from Portland to SLC. It really depends on what the person I’m talking to is interested in. If they like the outdoors, there’s a lot of good stuff here. Fishing, the same. Major concerts? Not so much. Book tours? Not so much. Conventions? Yeah, there’s a few, but being isolated makes it tough for people to come here.

Are you tied into some sort of local author/bookish group/culture? If so, tell us about it and how it helps you as an author. If you’re not, is there a reason for it?
At one time, early in learning to write novels, I was in five critique groups and a member of the Idaho Writers’ Guild. I’m still a member of one of those critique groups and I’ve recently rejoined the Idaho Writers’ Guild after a few years out. I’m on the board of directors and hope to help make the Guild more valuable to its members. I’m in the Boise Speculative Writers Support Group, where we compare notes and encourage each other. I’ve also been involved with the NaNoWriMo community here and attended some of the writing-related (and science fiction/fantasy-related) conventions in the area or nearby.

I think it’s important for everyone to ‘find their tribe’ and surround themselves with supportive people interested in the same things you are. I have many friends from the writing community I can ask for help or for recommendations for things like editing, proofreading, beta readers, and publishing. My good friend, fellow writer, co-author, freelance editor, and partner in publishing I met in my critique group. Another of my good friends came from that group and she’s also a partner in publishing. We formed a group called Bert Books, https://bertbookspub.com/, since we all (at one time) had last names with ‘Bert’ in them. A member of the critique group when I joined, but who has since moved away, just finished proofreading my latest book. A friend from the Spec Fic Support Group will be joining me on the board of directors. When we all pull together, we can do just about anything we set our minds to.

What kind of events in the area do you attend—either to sell/promote your books or to network with authors? Are there any outside of this area that you hit regularly and wish we had something like it here?
There used to be a science fiction/fantasy/etc convention, Fandemonium, which has since missed several years. I enjoyed going there and meeting with genre authors and going to panels and talks about writing for that fanbase. I’m still friends with the founder.

I go the Idaho Writers’ Guild annual conference, which doesn’t focus on my genre, but has a lot of great material.

A new annual event Boise Books and Brews, began this year and I’m part of the group organizing it.

I missed out on the Boise Comic Arts Festival this year, but plan to catch it in the future.

I made it to the Nampa Festival of the Arts and had a booth there.

Idaho Writers’ Guild schedules author networking events.

Some of the local libraries schedule author events (I should be at one in Eagle in December). (clearly, there’s a gap between when he responded and now…be sure to come back to The Irresponsible Reader to learn all about the events you could’ve attended months ago)

I attend a few conventions outside the area, mostly ones that specialize in my genre. A particular favorite is LTUE (Life, The Universe, And Everything), which happens in Provo Utah, is inexpensive, and has a wide variety of topics covered. Another is Fyrecon, which is now a virtual convention, which I’ve attended every year since they started. Missoula has Miscon, a long-running genre con with amazing guests. In the past they’ve had George R.R. Martin, Patrick Rothfuss, and Christopher Paolini. FanX in Salt Lake City, Rose City ComicCon and Emerald City ComicCon are all big events with tens of thousands of fans.

I’d like the strong program of LTUE, the dedication of Fyrecon, the guest list of Miscon, and the big crowds of the comic cons to happen more often in our area.

I heartily recommend the Library’s Comic Arts festival (I spend more there than I budget for every year, it seems) and am glad I saw you at the Nampa Arts festival this year. The Books and Brews event looked great—glad to hear it’s going to be an annual thing. Outside of sales (can’t minimize their importance), what for you is the best part of these events (Books and Brews/Nampa Arts/Library events) where you can interact with readers/browsers? Are you picking up enough readers at events like these to justify them, or is this a long-term plan—if you keep showing up, people will pay attention?
I like meeting people (although as an introvert it wears me down some) and it’s an opportunity to find out what readers are reading. When I’m asking about what they like to fit them with one of my books I’m also finding out what they like in general and getting a sense if that would be a good fit for me to write. I’d like to think I’m getting some regular readers from being there and being friendly with folks, but it’s hard to gauge. I plan on continuing to do these since it’s the only way to get that in-person feedback. Economically it’s not bad either. Eliminating the extra expenses of resellers means I can make more money per sale even if I lower prices a little. It’s not a perfect system and there’s definitely limitations to how much you can sell at an in-person event, but I like it for now. I do keep in mind the advice I’ve heard “would I be better off writing?” Big name authors (Brandon Sanderson for example) have to balance going to a convention every weekend with getting new books written. His big Kickstarter talked about how the pandemic prevented him from touring and gave him enough time to do four extra novels. I remember Terry Pratchett saying he quit his day job when it was costing him money to go to work instead of staying home and writing. My goal isn’t to be a speaker and make money from appearances, I want to write some books and have people buy those. I do want to be well known enough that I can go to some of the cons and hang out with the ‘cool kids’ but if that doesn’t happen I’ll hang out with the cool kids I already hang out with, lol.

What’s the breakdown of your audience—do you have a strong local base, or are your readers from other parts of the world?
I’m just getting started, so my main audience is family and friends (many from the writing community) so far. I’ve had a few sales overseas, the UK, Australia, and Germany for example, but I’m still building my audience and getting ramped up. I’ve done stand-alone books so far, so I haven’t been able to take advantage of the series readers returning to the next book in the series. My next book kicks off a trilogy, and some of my stand-alone books have the potential to turn into series, so that may change in the future.

Fair enough—so, let’s tweak things a bit. Based on what you know from your local contacts, how would you expect/hope things to go and how are you working to that end? Or do you have a plan yet?
I don’t have a firm plan for an end game. I’m at the ‘get some books out there’ stage. I figure people can’t buy my books if I don’t have any out there to buy. So I’m building my backlist. That being said I am doing some things to try and get some readers involved. I’m advertising on Amazon. I’m planning on getting some series going. I’m planning on publishing some short stories that are in a series. I hope that will give people a series to link into and since they are shorts maybe make it easier to write a new one on a faster schedule. Maybe even get involved in Vella and publish some things through there. Mostly I need to work on getting some regular sales so I know I’m doing things right and then just keep moving in that direction. One specific thing I haven’t gotten rolling yet is an email list and newsletter. I know they are important and effective, but I’ve just not gotten them going.

Do you think there are particular challenges or advantages to being a writer in the Treasure Valley? (possibly both)
With our geographic isolation (nearest big city is SLC, and the next three nearby ones are over 8 hours away by car) it’s not easy to jump over to a convention or event outside the valley. I’ve driven to Seattle for one day visits twice to see authors who are my particular favorites (Lois McMaster Bujold once and Terry Pratchett {GNU} once). We do get some ‘big’ authors here at times. I saw Margaret Atwood at BSU.

This same problem combined with a relatively small population leads to more niche interests having smaller representation. I’ve an interest in Steampunk, but we only had a dozen or so active steampunk fans in the area. The club for it eventually faded away.

But if you do find your ‘tribe’ here it’s much more likely you can get involved in activities with people who ‘get’ you. You aren’t one of dozens trying join a particular group, but probably someone that group is trying to seek out.

Of course, if you appreciate isolation and a distraction-free environment we have lots of natural areas close by where you can sit and write until your laptop battery runs out. And then switch to pen and paper! Several groups have sponsored retreats to cabins in nearby areas where a small group can isolate and really dig into their writing.

I definitely get the small population leading to small representation and how that impacts things here. When I brush up against someone with similar likes in the area, I’m always surprised (not sure why, but I am). A few years ago, when Scalzi was at the Boise Library! my reaction was kept bouncing between “I can’t believe this many people turned out” and “Of course he’s this popular.” If you were new to the area, how would you go about finding a tribe here? Google?
Google is a great place to start. Facebook is another, as it allows creations of groups. I’m interested in boardgames and there’s a Boise Area Boardgaming Enthusiasts group on FB. The Library used to have a club registry (last time I looked at it was pre-Google) so they probably still have something like it. The Boise Weekly has an events calendar which can get you to an event where people interested in your topic are going to be. I remember way back in the 80’s when a local comic book store owner did a talk at the library he had a signup sheet for forming a local club. He just waited for the first person who called interested in how the club was going and put them in charge. I was the second person, lol. We started a Science Fiction club that lasted a decade or so and many of the people from it are still friends. Offering to do a community education class on something you are interested in will bring in some people to meet. Once you meet a few people you can ask them for introductions or information about more.

I’m almost finished with a short story set in downtown Boise featuring Meriwether Cider, the Idanha, and the Owhyee Plaza. Okay, and the Chinese Tunnels under downtown.

I’d probably use locations from whatever place I was living. When I visited my hometown in 2011 I was doing a NaNo project and visited a coffee shop that made a big impression. I used it as a setting for a short story I wrote later.

I’m sure some of my language, colloquialisms and such, are based from Idaho, or at least the Pacific Northwest, but I don’t think my stories have much flavor from here beyond using real locations for models or as settings.

One final question, is there a book (or two…or 18, if you get really carried away), that embodies Idaho/the Idaho spirit to you to recommend to my readers?
Oh, that’s tough. Hmmm. A friend wrote Fearless about the guy who started Fearless Farris Stinker Stations, that’s pretty Idaho.

My friends Troy Lambert, Danielle Parker, and Marlie Harris all wrote some stuff that is set in Idaho.

Troy and Dani each wrote a novella which ended up combined in Incidents in Idaho. They are in the same universe, our Monster Marshals stories. One is set in Boise during a snow storm in July. The other in a mine (Troy has a deep background in mining history (yeah, I know what I did there)).

Troy and Marlie wrote a story collection called Into The Darkness about evil spirits in mines and in reservoirs in Idaho. So that one really has Idaho ‘spirits’ lol.

I haven’t read a lot of books that are set in Idaho and give a deep feel for the state. I know some authors who write stuff set here, but it’s not really in a genre I read. A former Idaho Writer’s Guild president I knew wrote a book about Bogus Basin history I enjoyed.

So I don’t have any I strongly recommend for their Idaho-ness, but the Monster Marshals stories are good. And Into the Darkness is good if you like horror (not my favorite genre, but they submitted some to the critique group I am in so I did read most of it. I might have beta read it later too, it’s been a few years, so memory is a bit fuzzy).

Thanks for your time and participation! Hope you enjoyed it!

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LITERARY LOCALS: A Q&A About Writing in Idaho with Cate Lawley (a.k.a. Kate Baray)

By HCNewton

On January 10, 2023

In A Few Quick Questions With..., Literary Locals

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I took a quick break from these posts for a couple of weeks during the holidays and while I was focusing on wrapping up 2022, but now I’m back with a quick Q&A with Cate Lawley.

Lawley was actually the first to get back to me with answers for this post, and I’m really grateful for that. I’ll be dipping my toes into her work and that of her nom de plume in the next couple of weeks, she (they?) have some really good-looking stuff.

Before we get into things, why don’t you give the reader a brief introduction to you and your work.
Author bio for Cate Lawley:
Cate Lawley writes humorous, action-filled mysteries that frequently contain a paranormal twist. And when she’s writing as Kate Baray, she writes page-turning urban fantasy with relatable characters.

When she’s not tapping away at her keyboard or in deep contemplation of her next fanciful writing project, she’s sweeping up hairy dust bunnies and watching British mysteries.

Cate is from Austin, Texas (where many of her stories take place) but has recently migrated north to Boise, Idaho, where soup season (her favorite time of year) lasts more than two weeks.

She’s worked as an attorney, a dog trainer, and in various other positions, but writer is the hands-down winner. She’s thankful readers keep reading, so she can keep writing!

Contact basics:
www.CateLawley.com
https://www.facebook.com/katebaray

Are you a native Idahoan? What brought you to Idaho in the first place? What is it about Idaho that keeps you here?
I’m from Texas. Family brought me here. I love the weather, the beauty of the state, and the wonderful friends I’ve made since coming here.

Are you tied into some sort of local author/bookish group/culture? If so, tell us about it and how it helps you as an author. If you’re not, is there a reason for it?
I belong to several local author groups in the Boise area. The Idaho Writers Guild, the local chapter of Romance Writers of America, and a few smaller groups. I enjoy the community of it. Sharing knowledge and resources, as well as the friendships I’ve made with like-minded people.

What kind of events in the area do you attend—either to sell/promote your books or to network with authors? Are there any outside of this area that you hit regularly and wish we had something like it here?
Locally, I attend a variety of events. Whenever a topic piques my interest, I’ll attend a presentation, and I also enjoy socially oriented meetings. The local RWA chapter also has a yearly retreat that I sometimes attend.

Nationally, I try to attend NINC’s conference in Florida and Romance Author Mastermind in Houston, but they’re specialized events and not something I’d expect locally. Sometimes it’s good to leave so I can come back and appreciate Boise all the more for being gone. = )

I’m trying to capture an idea of what the literary community is like in the area, could you mention a couple of the specific events? What kind of things grab you?
Idaho Writers Guild just had its annual membership meeting with more than 60 Idaho writers in attendance. Dinner, games, and giveaways = ) I also meet regularly with a group of writer friends for coffee and a writing chat.

What’s the breakdown of your audience—do you have a strong local base, or are your readers from other parts of the world?
I write fairly niche genre fiction under three different pen names: urban fantasy, paranormal cozy mystery, and steamy paranormal romance. My audience is primarily US, but also in other English-speaking countries (UK, AU, CA). I don’t target locally or expect to find a voracious market for my work in the local area.

Is there a particular reason you don’t expect a voracious market locally?
I write in very niche genres. While I’m sure I have readers in the area, the population is relatively small and statistically isn’t likely to have a large percentage of vegan vampire-loving cozy mystery readers (to reference one particular series.)

Do you think there are particular challenges or advantages to being a writer in the Treasure Valley? (possibly both)
Advantages: A warm, welcoming writing community! I arrived in Boise with no local contacts four years ago, and I’ve met so many amazing people almost exclusively through various writing communities in the area.

Which series is that? I’d be curious to see how you work Boise in. I’ve read a couple of Boise-based series lately, and have fun picking out the things they mention (and the things they use poetic license on).
My Cursed Candy (Cate Lawley) world takes place in Boise. From Cursed Candy Mysteries: Cutthroat Cupcakes, Twisted Treats, and Fatal Fudge. From the related series, Furry Fairy Holiday Hijinks series: Candy Cane Conspiracy and Sugar Plum Ploy.

Thanks for your time and participation! Hope you enjoyed it!
Thanks! Cate

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LITERARY LOCALS: A Q&A About Writing (and Drawing) in Idaho with Jeremy Billups

By HCNewton

On December 20, 2022

In A Few Quick Questions With..., Literary Locals

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I’ve got a chat with Children’s Book Writer/Illustrator Jeremy Billups today. I love Jeremy’s stuff—some of his artwork has popped up here over the last year. I have enjoyed and blogged about his three books and am eager to see what’s next from him. But for now, am excited to share this with you. Hope you enjoy!

Before we get into things, why don’t you give the reader a brief introduction to you and your work.
Ok, sure. Let’s see. I’m Jeremy. I live in Boise, Idaho with my family. I’ve written three children’s books so far, Bearded, Bearded Too, and Sea This and Sea That. I’m currently working on two new children’s books that I hope will be out at some point in 2023. I’m also working away on some comics that I’m super excited about. Should I share the titles of the new stuff? Or should I keep them a mystery?

If anyone is interested in buying my books right now, I’ve made it super tricky. I decided to stop selling on Amazon. I took down my personal website and am in the middle of building a new website that will serve as the exclusive home to all my stuff. I’m hoping to launch the new site soon. So, really the only way to buy my books is directly from me, and I’m a terrible salesperson. Haha.

For the announcement of the new site you can follow me on Twitter at @jeremybillups.

You should share the upcoming titles. I won’t publish them if you don’t want me to, but you should share 🙂
Okay! I’m having a hard time keeping it all secret, anyway. I’ve decided to add a third book to the Bearded series. Bearded Tree should be out this upcoming Summer. And, I’ve been trying to finish a Christmas book that I’m currently calling, Caroline, Caroling. I would love for that to be out next October. The comics I’m working on are Tales of the Incredible and Squirrel E. Jones. They’re very different from each other, but both are a lot of fun.

Are you a native Idahoan? What is it about Idaho that keeps you here?
Yep. Born and raised. I grew up in the small town of Weippe in North Central Idaho. Very small town when I lived there and even smaller now. My parents still live there so I still get to visit at least a couple of times a year.

And, I love Idaho and the Treasure Valley. With family and friends here, it’s hard to imagine living anywhere else.

Just to be on the safe side, you want to tell non-Idaho readers how to pronounce Weippe? Am sure growing up that you heard all the jokes… (but probably didn’t make any of them yourself)
Good call! Weippe is pronounced like “We Hype”. I have definitely heard all of the jokes and still do. I’m guilty of making some of my own jokes too. 🙂

Are you tied into some sort of local author/bookish group/culture? If so, tell us about it and how it helps you as an author. If you’re not, is there a reason for it?
Yes and no. I was meeting with one of my friends from college once a month to talk about current projects, critique each other’s work, and motivate each other to keep pushing to get better. That was going really well, until we both had kids. Haha. Now we email back and forth when we can.

I was also in SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) for a while and participated in a couple of events, but that was hard because at the time I was a member they lumped Southern Idaho in with Salt Lake City and all the really exciting events were down in Utah. Considering the event fees, hotel, gas and travel time – it was hard to get down there. I’m not sure if they’re still lumped together. I should probably check because SCBWI is a great organization.

I guess this is a good time for me to share some news along those lines. With my new website, I’m also launching a Discord server. I’m hoping that it turns into a small online community where people can share, critique, learn, have fun, and ultimately grow creatively. If anyone is interested, the server is already open. Here’s the link: https://discord.gg/9DYb8GWFVr

What kind of events in the area do you attend—either to sell/promote your books or to network with authors? Are there any outside of this area that you hit regularly and wish we had something like it here?
I absolutely love the Boise Comic Arts Festival! It’s always so much fun and such a positive energy. I always walk away from that event recharged and excited to make new stuff. Plus, that’s where we met! I wasn’t able to attend this year because of my day job but I’ll definitely be there next year.

I also enjoy selling at small Holiday Bazaar events at local schools. And, I’ve done a couple local school/library visits. They’ve been good options for children’s books.

I haven’t been to one yet, but there are some great children’s book festivals around the country. I would also love to see a children’s book festival here in the Treasure Valley. Oh man, now you have me pondering whether or not it would be a good idea to start a festival like that here. Should I do that?!

The Boise Comics Art Festival was interesting this year—having it in the Zoo added a nice bit of flair (but the downside was that you had to wander around a lot to see everything, and we were never sure if we had). Are there some sure-fire Bazaar events that authors/readers should check out, or does it vary from event to event, year to year?
I saw some pictures online of this year’s Festival. I’m very bummed I missed the Zoo. I did wonder about the “artist alley” experience. Definitely not the typical approach. I wonder if they’ll have it at the Zoo again next year.

Other than the Boise Comic Arts Festival, it tends to vary from year to year for me. Gem State Comic Con is one that I’ll be checking out in April. If it’s not too late, I should probably look into getting a table there.

I’ll also mention The Cabin (thecabinidaho.org). They have excellent events, activities, and workshops all throughout the year. I think they’re a tremendous local resource for both readers and writers.

Back to your idea of starting a children’s book festival, personally, I’m game for any book festivals I can get to 🙂
Good to know! I’m definitely putting it on my list of things to ponder. I imagine it would be a lot of work to put on, but I think it would be something that could be a lot of fun for years to come!
(you might want to see what Devi Walls said about that last week)

What’s the breakdown of your audience—do you have a strong local base, or are your readers from other parts of the world?
Through the power of Amazon, I definitely have more readers across the nation and world than I do locally. I was pretty intimidated, still am, with selling face-to-face so I thought selling on Amazon would be the best place for me to start. I have no complaints with starting there, but I did finally come to realize the power of local, not just for selling, but for meeting people and growing relationships. I finally started participating in local events a few years ago. I’m so glad I did.

Do you have solid plans (as much as anything can be solidly planned) for expanding locally, or are you more at a “throw it at the wall and see what sticks” point?
My big focus at the moment is to get my website squared away. Once that’s done, I’ll take a fresh look at expanding locally. There are a lot of farmer’s markets here in the valley that I’ve been looking into. I think they could be a really good next step toward growing my local audience.
I think that could work pretty well.

Do you think there are particular challenges or advantages to being a writer in the Treasure Valley? (possibly both)
Compared to where I grew up, there are definitely advantages. Events, activities, resources, and communities of like-minded people with similar aspirations are easy to find here.
Nothing against Weippe, but I bet!

Do you bring Idaho (or some sort of Idaho-sensibility, assuming one exists) to your work? Whether or not anyone else sees it, can you look at some aspect of your writing and think “That’s Idaho” or “I would do ____ differently if I was a Kentuckian or from Illinois?”
So far I’ve been deliberate about leaving Idaho out of my work. But now I’m wondering if that’s the best approach. Have you ever watched a cartoon by the name of Bluey? It’s an amazing show about a family of dogs that live in Australia. The show is made in Australia and is VERY Australian. Watching the show from an outsider’s perspective, I’ve come to really enjoy the little peeks into Australian life and slang. By the way, did you know that Australian slang for toilet is “dunny”? Haha.
That could work really well—assuming there’s a local slang.
Definitely going to explore this. I think it could be a lot of fun.

Is there a book (or two…or 18, if you get really carried away), that embodies Idaho/the Idaho spirit to you?
Growing up here in Idaho, I was introduced pretty early on to the Idaho and Ernest Hemingway connection. That connection led me to reading A Farewell to Arms which was followed up with me reading anything and everything written by Hemingway that I could find. There was something about the unadorned style, subject matter, and time period of his writings that really resonated with me. In a lot of ways, it’s like reading about the romanticized version of Idaho that I have in my head.

Thanks for your time and participation! Hope you enjoyed it!
Thank you for taking the time to chat! It was a lot of fun!

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Aether Powered by James T. Lambert: 21st Century Steampunk

By HCNewton

On December 15, 2022

In Literary Locals, Science Fiction, Steampunk

Literary Locals logo I’ve got a fun Q&A with the author, James T. Lambert, coming up in an hour or so—be sure to come back for it!

Aether Powered

by James T. Lambert

DETAILS:
Publisher: Bert Books
Publication Date: January 18, 2022
Format: Paperback
Length: 224 pg.
Read Date: November 30, 2022

What’s Aether Powered About?

I feel like I’m in danger of just going full-bore “here’s everything that happened in the novel” or not really giving you enough to know what the book’s about. Let’s give it the ol’ college try, though.

Joseph is studying Electrical Engineering and is just scraping by—his gig in the bar can pay the bills and come close to treating his girlfriend, Carol, in the manner she is accustomed to. But there’s no wiggle room in his budget—so when he gets an inheritance from his weird uncle, he could really use some money. Instead, he gets an oddly heavy trunk. Which isn’t going to do much for the huge tax bill he just received that’s going to hit his financial house of cards like a bowling ball.

The trunk is full of odd-looking bits and pieces, strange devices, sketches, and notes from a distant relative who’d collaborated with Nicola Tesla. Joseph doesn’t know what to make of them. He plays around with one a little bit and discovers that it seemingly has anti-gravity properties. Anti-gravity? You don’t have to think too hard to realize this could be the solution to his money problems—and a few other problems as well.

But wait…what was that thing Uncle Harry said about “Malevolent powers are at work…would do anything to secure this…”? Maybe Joesph should’ve paid a bit more attention to that because before he can figure out how to use the device to his advantage, someone tries to take it.

Joesph and Carol find themselves on the run and looking for allies they can trust (and end up finding in the least expected places).

Carol

The charitable way of describing Joseph’s girlfriend is that she’s “a real piece of work.” You know that at one point there had to be something between Carol and Joseph beyond the fact that she’s attractive, but they’ve been together long enough that it’s not evident why. The relationship isn’t in a great place, but when Joseph calls for help—she answers.

She’s out for herself at the same time, but she’s there to help, too. She proves to be both resourceful and creative.

I cannot tell you, however, how much time I spent wondering why Joesph was with her. It’s an interesting choice on Lambert’s part because I can’t imagine a lot of readers are going to warm to her for long. A morally gray protagonist, an anti-hero, or that sort of thing is pretty easy to get behind—some readers are drawn to them. But an unlikeable love interest is harder to accept (at least as I’ve been thinking about it since I read the book, maybe I’ll think of exceptions to this later). I think it’s a gutsy move, and I think it pays off.

The Seafair Pirates

On the other hand, you have the Seafair Pirates…these guys are great. There’s never a moment of doubt about what the reader is supposed to think about them, and I can’t believe a reader isn’t gladly going to fall in line.

Without getting into details they’re a bunch of people from a variety of backgrounds and industries in the Seattle area who like to get together, cosplay as pirates, drink a lot, sing pirate songs (they probably would’ve really gotten into the sea shanty craze of a year or so ago), and generally have fun together. A series of events brings Joseph into contact with them and they also end up proving to be a great source of aid to him in his struggles.

I’m not going to say more from a risk of oversharing, but I’d sign up for another book featuring them with or without Joseph.

The Steampunk Science

Most (not all) Steampunk that I’ve read dips a toe into the science, and explains a little bit of what’s going on in their contraptions, but largely, it can be summed up as: there’s a thing and it works. Not unlike the way that Philip Marlowe turns on a lamp or Kinsey Millhone uses a pay phone—we don’t need to know how electricity lights a bulb or how you can deposit coins into a…you know what? Never mind, that might not be the best example anymore.

The point I was trying to make is that Lambert doesn’t get down into the nitty-gritty to give us an explanation for how the devices from the trunk function. There was a part of me that wondered how our Electrical Engineering major was going to explain everything, and I was a little disappointed that he didn’t. But I got over it quickly—it’d have interrupted the flow of the novel, and honestly, I really don’t care. I just want to know that if he flips this switch and turns that dial, things happen. No one wants a Steampunk à la Tom Clancy.

The trunk isn’t big enough to contain too many devices, so this novel is primarily filled with things we all know and use—but we get a little Steampunk mixed in with smartphones and the Internet. Frankly, I love this combination and would gobble up more like it—from Lambert or anyone else.

So, what did I think about Aether Powered?

I don’t know that I’d consider this book a “cozy” of any particular genre. Although I probably should—it delivers the same sense of fun and warmth. Almost immediately, I had this warm attraction toward the book and Joseph—and ultimately, just about everyone in the novel. I don’t know a better way to describe it. There’s been a lot of talk this year about “cozy fantasy,” “hopepunk,” and things along those lines—and I get the same kind of feel from this book.

There’s some good action, some tense moments, and some believably unsavory characters/groups. But most of the characters you spend time with are the kind you want to see succeed and want to spend more time with because you like them. More than that, this is a fun story—it won’t take you long to see the general outline of the book as a whole, you’ll be pretty sure where you’re going to end up at the end. But it’s a fun ride along the way, and that’s the important part.

Also, as I touched on above—Steampunk tech in our world? Why don’t we see more of this? I’m all for full-on Steampunk novels. But a dash of it in a contemporary setting? It’s a great idea. Aether Powered is worth picking up just for the conceit. That Lambert surrounds this conceit with a good protagonist, rollicking supporting characters, and a fun adventure is a great bonus.

Check this out, you’ll be glad you did.

3.5 Stars

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LITERARY LOCALS: A Q&A About Writing in Idaho with Devri Walls

By HCNewton

On December 13, 2022

In A Few Quick Questions With..., Literary Locals

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Devri Walls is (as far as I know) the first author I featured on this blog from around here. She’s participated in two previous Q&A’s with me over the years (this and this), and is a great person to work with (and, as far as I know, all around good person). She was the first author I thought of talking to for this series and am so glad to kick things off with this chat from her. Be sure to click the link to her page and check out her books. (hopefully, after you read the rest of this).

Before we get into things, why don’t you give the reader a brief introduction to you and your work.
My name is Devri Walls and I write all things fantasy! I love writing large worlds that are easy to follow, character driven and well paced. If you’d like to connect you can find links to all my work and social media on devriwalls.com. And if you’re looking for help with where to start, my suggestion would be book one of the Venators series, Magic Unleashed.
(far be it from me to contradict our guest here, but you shouldn’t overlook The Wizard’s Heir, either)

Are you a native Idahoan? What is it about Idaho that keeps you here?
I am native, yes. I was born and raised in the middle of nowhere between Kuna and Melba (Editor’s Note: for those of you from out of the state, that’s the middle of nowhere now. It was even more so when she was raised there. And even more nowhere-y when I grew up near there), graduated from Kuna High and swore I would never live here. HA! The irony. I have actually grown to love this state as I’ve aged and while I’m not sure if I’ll retire here, it’s a beautiful area with a lovely atmosphere. The more I travel to do signings the more I appreciate this state I call home.

Are you tied into some sort of local author/bookish group/culture? If so, tell us about it and how it helps you as an author. If you’re not, is there a reason for it?
I always dread this question. I am not tied to the local author groups or culture. Why not? Well…I am a put my head down and do the work kinda gal. I don’t actually enjoy sitting around talking about it. That being said, I do have many author friends that are scattered across the U.S and are very near and dear to me. Friends I can absolutely call during those dreaded author breakdown moments that plague us all. Being an author is a bizarre “island life” and it’s so important to make sure you find “your people” in this world.

That’s a lot of dread in one answer 🙂 Have you tried and found that local groups aren’t for you, or did you just not have a need to seek one out?
I’ve never felt the need to participate in writer’s groups, but for those of you who are looking for the comradely of a writers group I would offer a couple pieces of advice.

Writers groups are the most beneficial when it motivates you to get that next chapter done. It’s like a gym partner except with a bunch of people who think sitting around and talking about people and places that don’t exist is super cool.

While it’s imperative that you learn to listen to critique, pulling in seven different “opinions” on your rough draft is not the greatest environment to learn how to do that. While I realize that this may not be feasible for everyone I highly, highly recommend that you look into hiring either a professional writing coach or editor. One experienced editor and/or coach on your side will do more for your writing than two years of a creative writing program.

What kind of events in the area do you attend—either to sell/promote your books or to network with authors? Are there any outside of this area that you hit regularly and wish we had something like it here?
I haven’t found events locally that I have that “I can’t miss this” feeling around. If I’m going to spend the money and take the time to attend events, I want it to deliver on what it promises. If it’s to sell or promote myself I need it to have enough attendance to do so. If it’s educational I need true industry professionals teaching. For me, Comic Cons have been great for reaching large masses of people. For education I’ve been most impressed with LTUE in Utah. They have such an incredible range of classes and teachers.

That makes a lot of sense, and points to something I wondered about—do local events bring in the sales? Have you spent much time thinking about that and ways that could be improved, or with your wider audience-base, is that something you haven’t found a need to do?
This is such a hard question. There are several problems at work here. One is just local culture, some places are literally “cheaper” than others. This area can be a little cheap. I teach voice lessons as well and my prices would be considered obscenely low in other areas but it’s what this area will support. A woman did try to start a conference here (for several years) and couldn’t get people to pay for the tickets! She had to give most of them away.

The conferences that do really well have at least one “big name” they’ve pulled in to justify the ticket price and to encourage people to travel into the area to attend. That of course becomes the “what comes first” scenario because you need the money to pay for the bigger name but you need the bigger name to get the money.
I hear you—most people here would consider that “cheapness” a feature of this Valley, not a bug. I can only imagine how difficult it would be to build something like that.

What’s the breakdown of your audience—do you have a strong local base, or are your readers from other parts of the world?
I would say my audience is spread out due to the number of events and signings I’ve done around the country. That being said, my books have had a really good run in local libraries and have had such beautiful support from Rediscovered Books in Boise that I do think it’s created a localized pocket of fans.

Do you bring Idaho (or some sort of Idaho-sensibility, assuming one exists) to your work? Whether or not anyone else sees it, can you look at some aspect of your writing and think “That’s Idaho” or “I would do ____ differently if I was a Kentuckian or from Illinois?”
I think the author’s heart and soul comes through in whatever they’re writing so my upbringing certainly colors everything—whether I intend to or not. Now, do I think someone will read my fantasy and think, that girl’s from Idaho! Probably not. That being said, you can very much see repeating landscapes in my work that is very much Boise and its surrounding forest.

One final question, is there a book (or two…or 18, if you get really carried away), that embodies Idaho/the Idaho spirit to you to recommend to my readers?
My problem is when I read fiction I want to ESCAPE. And reading anything that is “local” to me does not feel like an escape. It feels like life. Which I have quite a lot of, thank you very much. That being said, I have read one book that is set locally. The How and The Why by Cynthia Hand. It’s told between the two storylines of a mother giving her daughter up for adoption and that same daughter growing up and asking questions about her adoption. It’s a great book and a perfectly accurate representation of the Boise area.

Thanks for your time and participation (and patience)! Hope you enjoyed it!

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LITERARY LOCALS: Introducing a New Series of Posts About Writing in Idaho and Books Created Here

By HCNewton

On December 8, 2022

In Literary Locals, News/Misc.

Literary Locals
Idaho is not known for being home to many authors—we’ve produced Carol Ryrie Brink and Marilynne Summers Robinson (although both moved away), and Anthony Doerr resides here. But really, our greatest claim to literary fame is that Hemingway shot himself here.

This is a shame in many ways.

Now, I do know that Idaho has a good number of independent authors toiling away—either self-publishing or putting out their work through independent presses. And it occurred to me this summer, that I’ve done a lousy job of promoting them. I’ve blogged about the books of Devri Walls, J.C. Jackson, and Jeremy Billups, but that’s pretty much it. But I knew there are others out there.

Sure, my talking about their works isn’t going to turn them into best sellers or anything, but every little bit helps, right?

So, I started working on a little project that I’ve decided to call Literary Locals. I’ll be reading and posting about works from local authors I spot (and the works that I think I’ll like), I’ll be spotlighting some titles, and doing some Q&As with these authors—both about their own works and being a writer in Idaho. I’ve got a few authors who’ve graciously agreed to take part in this, and I think it’ll be fun.

Before I realized that I should attach a label to this project, I started with Danielle Higley, the author of The Stories Behind the Stories: The Remarkable True Tales Behind Your Favorite Kid’s Books, posting about her book and the first of the two Q&As I hope to do with her.

Then I did something that really shows I didn’t think much before proceeding, and sent Q&As to a bunch of independent authors less than a week before November. Also known to many as NaNoWriMo. “Hey, would you interrupt the big time-consuming event that you’ve been gearing up for to spend some time on my project?” is really not a great move. Thankfully, I’ve gotten some responses and I’m going to be able to really get things underway next week.

So stay tuned and get to know some of the people in my neighborhood.

I should add that if any Idaho writer stumbles across this post and wants to get in on the action, let me know! The more, the merrier!

My Brain Trust (wife and kids) put some work into this series, too, and I’d like to thank them. But really, we could’ve saved our effort and turned to my friends. After we’d struck out at a logo, I asked Micah Burke if he would help us brainstorm some ideas—instead, he produced a handful of images that led to the above logo. I’m telling you, every blogger needs a friend like him—or better, should hire him. And then Jodie from Witty and Sarcastic Book Club spent 10 minutes thinking before coming up with a much better series title than we had after three months of bouncing ideas off of each other. The day before a hurricane made landfall in her home state—again, my gift of bad timing shines forth.