Tag Archives: joleene naylor

May 30, 2013 · 12:00 am

Three by Five Presents Joleene Naylor, Part IV

Joleene Naylor

This month Three by Five highlighted author Joleene Naylor. A indie author with five novels out in the world and a sixth on the way. Curious about her Amaranthine seriese? Check out these mini prologues, free at Ebook retailers. These nine flash fiction stories complement and supplement the fifth novel, Heart of the Raven. I recently finished all five novels and have to say, while vampires are not my usual choice, I ran through those books like a caged vampire finally loose and finding prey. Want to read a sample of book number five, Heart of the Raven – go here. Finally, if you’re like me and want a whole series at your finger tips, I recommend the Amaranthine Special editions – Books one – four in two volumes that will get you ready for book number five.

Thanks Joleene, for spending some time with Three by Five!

Joleene Naylor grew up in southwest Iowa surrounded by soybeans, corn and very little entertainment – so she made her own. She has been writing and drawing since she was a small child, with a particular leaning towards fantasy, horror and paranormal. It is this love of all that goes bump in the night that led her to write the Amaranthine series.

In her spare time she is a freelance artist, book cover designer and photographer. Her current projects include the sixth novel in the Amaranthine series, and The Terrible Turtle Conspiracy, a web manga collaboration with writer Jonathan Harvey. Joleene maintains blogs full of odd ramblings and hopes to win the lottery. Until she does, she and her husband live near Bolivar Missouri with their miniature zoo. However, unless she starts buying tickets she may never win anything.

And now, the final question:

VAH – What are three random non writing related facts about you?

JN – I’m a music addict, and I own it in nearly every format including record, cassettes, cds, mp3s. No eight tracks, though. I’m not quite old enough for those.

I collect rocks. Not special, amazing rocks, but just everyday rocks that catch my eye. My house is full of them.

I tend to have more in common with people older than me rather than my old peer group. I blame it on the way I was raised.

Find Joleene on the web:

Joleene Naylor Part III

Welcome to Part III of a conversation with author and artist Joleene Naylor. Catch up with Parts I and II or visit her author web site.

VAH: In a movie about your life and times what would the theme song be, and why?

JN: I’d get stuck with the Dolly Parton song “Jolene” because the directors would think it was funny. Hopefully they would do something weird like the Jack White version to be different.

VAH: If you had a super power, what would it be and why that one?

JN: Something where I got to live forever. Imagine everything I could get done with eternity to do it in? Or at least live a very long time, anyway.

VAH: Are you a finish the book once you’ve started kind of reader or leave it for another if don’t like the book sort of reader?

JN: Unless it is absolutely terrible I finish it. I can only think of three I abandoned; In the Name of the Rose (turned out I’d seen the movie in school), Frankenstein, and a book that was supposed to be a romance but was about ecology instead.

VAH: What little known fact about you will amaze and/or amuse?

JN: I’m afraid of the dark. That’s a large part of why I prefer to be up night and sleep in the daytime. Why lay there, eyes closed, knowing all the sneaky darkness is swirling about waiting to catch me unawares? Better to be awake and keep an eye on it.

VAH: What about a favorite, inspiring quote and why it works for you?

JN: “Do or do not, there is no try.” – Yoda.

The little green guy nailed it on the head. You’re either doing or you’re not doing and there’s nothing in between.

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May 13, 2013 · 12:12 am

Joleene Naylor Part II

VAH – Some writers have a definite point when they knew they were writers. When did you know you were a writer and how did you come to this awareness?

JN – My mother was a writer and an artist, she used to read her poems to us for critique even when I was a toddler, so it was just a part of my life from birth. I remember the shock when I learned that not everyone could draw or make up stories. But I gave it up for a few years – from 2000 to 2004 – then picked it up again thanks to an online Role Play group, and I guess that’s when I discovered that I actually *enjoyed* it – I wasn’t just doing it because I was “supposed to”.

VAH – What is your best advice for emerging writers?

JN – Learn to take criticism. I know, it’s the same thing everyone says, but you have to do it. The first time I got critiqued – really critiqued – I got mad. Now, I still think “Hrmph! They don’t know what they’re talking about!” Only instead of stopping there, I let their comments percolate and most of the time discover they were right. You really need more than one perspective on order to have a good book, because no two people think alike, and no two people notice the same plot holes or artifices or overused words or typos or…

VAH – Do you have a favorite conference or writing retreat, seminar or workshop?

JN – Alas I have never been to one of these either. I keep thinking one day I will work up the courage, but… well, I won’t lie. After reading some self pubbed author’s experiences I’ve shied away. I understand the climate has changed in the last four years, but…

VAH – If a full time writer – what would you be doing if not writing as an occupation? If not a full time writer – what is the day (or night job) that sustains you so you may write?

JN – I do book covers for other authors, as well as random freelance graphic work and some formatting and things like that. Most of the time I do more of that than writing, sadly.

VAH – What books or authors keep you up at night (because you can’t put them down)?

This is where I have to admit that I don’t have much time to read. The last book I stayed up all night for were the second and third of the Hunger Games books. It took me awhile to get into them because of the distracting fragmented, first person style, but after I moved past it they were quite engaging.

Here is Part I.

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May 3, 2013 · 12:00 am

Three by Five Presents Joleene Naylor

Joleene Naylor

VAH – Joleene in addition to being a prolific novel author with five books in her Amaranthine series, is also a creative cover artist. I’ll just note that she was the cover artist for two of my ebooks and the print version of No Red Pen. Today we’re talking about Joleene the author though, so let’s start with why do you write?

JN – I write because I enjoy it.

VAH – And when did you start writing and what was your first story?

JN – That was about a girl who got a phone call and went roller skating. I was three or four and it had lovely illustrations with it.

VAH – Who would you say was your favorite literary character?

JN – Probably Jo from Little Women. This was also the first literary romance I was unhappy with. I always felt she should have gotten Laurie.

VAH – I think we’re in agreement there on both counts. What book or series of books would you want if stranded on a deserted island and why?

JN – Middle Earth. It is such a rich place; so many characters and histories, that you could play with it endlessly in your head and never run out of possibilities. Had Tolkien lived forever he could never have written all the stories that are hanging on the cusp, waiting.

VAH – What would you say was the biggest influence on your development as a writer?

JN – Hmmm. I don’t know. I love Tolkien’s ability to create such an expansive universe, and Anne Rice’s recreation of the vampire mythos (though she went a bit far when it got to Memnoch, but that’s another story), and V.C. Andrews ability to make the common place, or even the adorable and innocent, seem creepy. Like the construction paper garden in the attic, for example. Or the shelves of dolls in My Sweet Audrina. The contrast was wonderful.

Return to Three by Five later in the month on days with a three and read more about Joleene Naylor.

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May 2, 2013 · 3:54 pm

This month in Three by Five

Coming up this month in Three by Five, I interview author Joleene Naylor. Joleene is the author of five books of vampire fantasy with a sixth one in the works. I recently finished the 5th book, Heart of the Raven and am looking forward to reading how the story continues with the upcoming sixth book in her Amaranthine series. In addition to her vampires, Joleene has published some vampire related shorts as well as an ebook for how to get an inexpensive ebook cover. Joleene did my covers and is professional and easy to work with. Come back tomorrow for the first of several interview postings with Joleene Naylor.

No Red Pen Global E-book Finalist!

No Red Pen: Writers, Writing Groups & Critique has been selected as a finalist in Dan Poynter’s Global E-book Awards. The cover, designed by Victoria Hudson with art by Joleene Naylor has been named a finalist in the Best of e-book cover category.