I met Theresa Snyder on Twitter many years ago. Or rather I met her friend and co-author, Farloft the dragon. Yes, you got that right. Dragon. Farloft was an early friend and he introduced me to his author Theresa. How could I not be instantly and forever intrigued? In time I came to see Theresa as a propular and prolific author who was both clever and fun. I knew I had to have her dragon in my life and library and now I want you to meet this fabulous author, too.

Theresa is a multi-genre author. She grew up on a diet of black and white sci-fi films like Forbidden Planet and The Day the Earth Stood Still (a fav of mine, too). She is a voracious reader and her character-driven writing is influenced by the early works of Anne McCaffrey, Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, and L. Ron Hubbard. She loves to travel, but makes her home in Oregon where her elder father and she share a home and the maintenance of the resident cat, wild birds, squirrels, garden, and occasional dragon house guest. (yes, she knows dragons!)

I asked Theresa a few questions and here she is, for you.

Everyone is asked “how did you get started writing.” Instead, how did you decide that you were going to write a book? And how long did it take you to finish your first novel?

I broke my foot back in 1990. I was told by the doctor that there was a direct ratio of the time to heal based on how much I could stay off of it and keep it elevated. I had been writing in a journal, short stories and some magazine articles prior to the accident that broke my foot. I also had an ongoing story percolating in my brain for years. I bought myself a dedicated word processor, set down as instructed by the doctor and started to write “The Helavite War.” It took me about three months to write and over 23 years before I finally got it indie published.

How did you choose your publishing path (traditional vs Indie)?

When I first finished “The Helavite War,” and later after completing the next three in the Star Traveler Series, I tried to find an agent and get the books traditionally published. This was long before “Harry Potter” arrived on the shelves of bookstore everywhere. I was told over and over again by agents and publishers that my work was good, great, exceptional, but that they could not easily classify it as young adult or adult. They felt they would have trouble marketing the books. There were no heavily advertised ‘cross-over’ books back then like “Harry Potter” to compare it to – books that both a young adult and adult could enjoy reading. I gave up the idea of being published sometime in the mid-90s. 

In 2013, I told my writing group I was going to format and print a copy of my books for my own bookshelf. By then I had six scifi in the Star Traveler Series and one Fantasy in the Farloft Chronicles. I was managing the print shop at our local Community College and I thought, ‘what the heck, I’ll do it.’ I will have copies of my books in print. My writing buddies said if I was going to go to that trouble I should just indie publish them. I laughed at them and said I didn’t know how to go about doing that and I probably couldn’t afford it. They told me it cost nothing to do it but time, and they would help. 

Later in 2013, “The Helavite War” was published closely followed by the rest of my backlog and new books too.

What kinds of books do you write and what is the message you have to inspire in others?

I write scifi, fantasy, paranormal and memoirs at the moment. Who knows what might catch my fancy in the future.  

As far as inspiration, I would say to anyone who asks, ‘don’t give up.’ Even though you might be rejected by others at first there might still be a market out there for your books. C.S. Lewis wasn’t published until he was in his 70s. L. Frank Baum was told by publishers that no one would read an American Fairytale, but who hasn’t heard of “The Wizard of Oz?” 

Tell us about Farloft and his series…

Farloft is my dragon friend and muse. His series is called The Farloft Chronicles. Currently they consist of six books in trade paperback (formatted for middle-schoolers), two collections of the same six books, in a smaller traditional size paperback (formatted for adults), and a storybook/coloring book for 2-1/2 to 6 year old children.

How did you meet Farloft and how long have you two been friends? Does he have family?

Farloft and I have known each other through many lifetimes. We originally met in his kingdom when my older brother introduced him to me. You can read about our early life together in the sixth book of his series, “Dragon Memories, Dreams & Reflection.”  

Farloft can bend time and space, so when I left him in his time, he tracked my soul to this time and place. He comes to visit me often and has told me his stories in order for me to pass them on to my readers. Farloft has a mate, Clearair and two children, his adopted son, James, and Anna.

Do you tend to write geared more to children, women or men? Or are your books for all readers? Any particular age group that you lean toward?

The Farloft Chronicles are for anyone, any age, who has ever loved, or loves a dragon. Like “How to Train Your Dragon,” readers of different ages will find the books’ messages on different levels. 

The Star Traveler Series, The Twin Cities Series, The In2Minds Series and my Memoirs were all written with young adult to adults in mind.

Tell us something about your other works:

The Star Traveler Series is character driven space opera much like the Firefly series and I have been told it is reminiscent of the early scifi masters like Heinlein, Asimov and Bradbury.  

The Twin Cities Series is paranormal, but unlike any other paranormal you have ever read. Lots of adventure, some romance and humor, told from a shape-shifting wolf’s point of view. 

In2Minds is a collaborative work between David Stevens in the UK and me. It is the story of an astronaut sent on a one-way mission to terra-form a planet for the inhabitants of his current home. He has an accident and is buried alive, it not only threatens his life, but the future of his whole race if he cannot find a way out. 

And last, but not least, my memoirs are a compilation of articles I wrote as a human interest column in our local newspaper detailing my journey when I moved my elderly parents in with me. They are humorous stories and full of love and reflection.

What is the one thing that you find the most daunting about being an author?

I find the lack of time in one day frustrating. I need a 36 hour day, but like needing more money, I think once I had 36 hours I would want 48 and so on, and so on.

What do you wish you’d been advised before you started your writing journey?

I just wish I had been advised earlier to self publish. I honestly did not think of it, being from an older generation. I thought the traditional was the only way to go. I had never read an ebook until 2013 after I was published myself. I had no idea of the wealth of writers available in the indie field. If I had published in 2006 when folks first started getting into self-publishing I would probably be a full-time author by now. As it is, I still am holding down an 8-5 job and writing in every free moment I have.

Social media is so important to getting the word out about your work? How have you maximized it to meet the needs of your particular publicity? (Like Farloft having his own voice, etc)

I was introduced to social media by my student workers in the print shop at school. When they found out I was self-publishing they immediately set me up on Twitter. They said I would be great at it, because I love to chat. They were right.

Then Farloft found me and he wanted to tweet too. He loves being on Twitter the last Friday of every month and because he is old and wise, he can say just about anything he wants to. He is a great mouthpiece. He can push is books or my other books and no one gets tired of listening to him.  

I learned early that tweets, and posts on other social media, receive a lot more attention if they are visual, so I commissioned art for my works. This led to fan art coming in and it has snowballed over the last 12-18 months. I have a wall full of art in my office.

Give a new writer some advice that you wish someone had given you.

Best advice I could give is make your work shine. Have beta readers read and correct it. Join a writing group and have your peers review it, line edit and check for flow. You can’t have enough eyes on your work.

Now give some advice to the new author that you wish someone would have given you.

After making your book as clean as possible, have a professional cover designed. This is the first thing your prospective reader looks at. When I first posted The Farloft Chronicles I made the cover and I thought it looked very Celtic and dragonly. The books did nothing. I had a professional design the covers and the books started to move off the ebook sites. It is imperative your covers stand up, and out, in their particular genre.

On a more personal note, what are your hobbies? (painting? Quilting? Crafts?)

I love to garden and read. The gardening is relaxing and I can write in my head. I work out many of my plots while digging and puttering in my garden. It also produces lovely flowers to brighten the indoors and gives me material for my YouTube site.  

Reading is a must for all authors. It helps you hone your skills and it is a great escape from your own work or just the day-to-day grind of the 8-5 job. 

What else do you like to do in your personal spare non-writing time? (go to movies? Read? Antiquing?)

I am an avid movie watcher. My dad and I see at least a movie a week at the theaters and then add at least 4-5 other movies for home watching either from my extensive personal collection of VHS and DVD or from my accounts on Fandango, Amazon Prime, or Netflix.

I also take my own advice and I read at least a book a week. I love seeing how other author phrase dialogue and describe scenes or places. 

What is your favorite flower? And what is your favorite dessert?

Naming my favorite flower is a hard call to make. I have so many in the garden I love. Peonies would be high up on the list because of their beauty and fragrance. But the delicate columbines are a thrill to see. 

Favorite dessert is easier…Anything chocolate and if you throw in caramel too, I am in heaven. This is something Farloft and I both have in common. 

What inspiring words motivate you? Give us your favorite quote and name of who said it.

If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door. Quote – Milton Berle

Finally, tell us about the future and what we can look forward to from you (and Farloft?)

Farloft will continue to tweet and inspire me to write more chronicles. We are currently working on a chronicles based on shorter adventures he had during his youth when he traveled trying to find his way in the world as a youngling. 

The Star Travelers will have another adventure coming out this fall. We will be learning more about Coal and his planet. As we did with Targus in Vol. 4, we will follow Coal home to Realda and see what his society is like where everyone looks the same and one can only recognize another by their tattoos. But, it is what is under the tats that holds the secret of life and death on his planet. 

And there will be another ‘Shifting’ book in the Twin Cities series. I love crawling into Scar’s wolfy self and seeing the world through his eyes.

***

Thank you very much, Theresa, for letting us into your world as an author, a daughter, and a friend.

Folks, you can follow Theresa Snyder via her website,  Twitter, Facebook and her books are available from her website. Make time to explore this prolific and exciting author!

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****The following items will always appear to keep you posted on activities.*****

WIP (Works in Progress): – NEW BOOK OF POETRY! – expected release July 2016
– first novel in the Evening Bower series, about vampires and other supernatural creatures
– fictional memoir – November 2016!
– four-part fairy story (part one complete)

On the Desk: (next reading): League of Dragons – Naomi Novik

Off the Desk (book just finished): A Potion to Die For – Heather Blake

Coming Soon:  Are you writing every day? Why you should and how I can help!
                           Novel sneak peeks and interview with my assistant.

I’m honored to have met many talented authors from social media and I’m especially delighted when I read an Indie author. That’s why I asked Margie Miklas, experienced and award-wining travel writer, blogger and author to do a guest editorial for you.

Marge and I have not met in person but I’ve come to know her a little from online interactions through Twitter and Facebook. Margie and I shared – and share – a love of Italy (those who know me, know I lived there for several years while I was in the military), a love of good Italian wines and food, and love of travel. When I found out that Margie had Italian roots, traveled to Italy often and wrote about her adventures, well, as has been said, “I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” We also share a love of photography.

Margie has written two books about her adventures (see below), is an award-winning travel blogger and just recently published a beautiful, coffee table book full of the most gorgeous photographs of Italy you might imagine. She offers perspective, detail,  and her love and enthusiasm for Italy ooze from her.

But she is like the rest of us, too, in that she is learning her way through the publishing quagmire and all the oddities that go with becoming an Indie author. Unlike so many of us, however, Margie has been successful. So I wanted her to talk to you about her journey and experiences.  Thank you, Margie, for honoring me with a visit and I look forward to reading about your continuing adventures!

Margie, take it away…

Some Thoughts on Becoming a Travel Writer

by Margie Miklas

I am honored that my friend and award-winning author, Sherry Rentschler, has invited me to guest post on her brand new site. Thank you so much Sherry. I really appreciate this opportunity.

I believe we can do many things in our lives, no matter the age we might be. A year ago I retired from a satisfying career as a critical-care nurse, and I love the fact that I now have more time to devote to my passions. If you are familiar with my blog or my books, you know that Italy is very close to my heart. I can never seem to get enough of Bella Italia, and I travel there as often as I the opportunity arises. So, of course, writing about my Italy experiences and all things Italian is my passion in life.

I had no idea writing limericks as a child, and creating and editing headlines for our high school newspaper, would foreshadow my future as a travel blogger and a published author. My letters to the editor and my satirical hospital newsletters I wrote were just warm-ups, I guess.

Five years ago I started a travel blog because I wanted a way for my family and friends to be able to follow me while I traveled through Italy alone for three months. The blog was a great way to detail my adventures in word and photos. I found that I enjoyed the comments left by my readers, and the engagement created a way for me to feel connected while I was traveling solo.

Social media was also a way to update my friends, and at that time, Facebook was it. I had no idea about Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest. Since then, it has become another story, and an important one as far as networking and engaging others with similar interests. But that is another entire post.

After I returned from Italy, I realized that I had a lot more to say, and I decided to write a book based on my travel blog. And that led to a second book, and a third.

I think what determines a writer’s success is passion. When he or she writes from the heart and writes about something for which he or she feels a connection, that is passion. In my earlier writing days, before my blog, I wrote many articles for various online websites, basically content mills, and was happy to be paid a small sum for each article. Some of what I wrote about was related to health and the medical field. When I wrote about travel, and especially about Italy, I felt much more enthused. Frankly, I think the writing was better too, because my heart was in it. So my advice to writers is to write about what moves you. I enjoy reading stories from writers when they write about a personal experience. I find these stories to be inspiring and I have since followed these writers’ blogs and ordered their books.

Another aspect of my writing encompasses photography. I have always enjoyed capturing my experiences with my camera, and have posted thousands of photos on my blog. But in a book comprised mostly of text, photos do not look that great at all, especially in self-published books like my first two. The paper does not do justice to the photos and the formatting frequently gets messed up, with photos not aligned properly and a multitude of other problems.

That is why I was so thrilled to discover a printing company in Canada that made it possible for me to publish a photography book. It has been a dream of mine for more than ten years, and I must thank Sherry for her continued encouragement to finally make it happen. I needed to be assured that the printing quality would be high enough and that the cost could be maintained at an affordable rate. The answer is offset printing, which is different from print-on-demand. With offset printing I had to purchase a large quantity of books upfront, to enable the printing cost per book to be reduced to an affordable sale price.

The other aspect of this is that I needed to teach myself how to work with Adobe InDesign, since I had to format the book and lay out every photo on every page. I learned a lot during this time and the printing company offered wonderful technical support during the process. So if anyone believes the old saying, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” I am here to tell you that is a myth. If you are determined and want something badly enough, you will make it happen.

As someone wrote in a review of my first book, “determination and open-mindedness will allow you to have experiences far beyond your expectations. Age does not matter.” The message is empowering and I would encourage all writers to make this part of your process. I remind myself of this on a daily basis.

–Margie Miklas Margie is an American writer and photographer with a passion for Italy. She writes the blog, margieinitaly. Follow her on Twitter, FaceBook , Instagram, and Pinterest. She is the author of the award-winning book, Memoirs of a Solo Traveler – My Love Affair with Italy and also My Love Affair with Sicily and the recently released Colors of Naples and the Amalfi Coast.