Is there Good in Evil? Interview with Athanasios creator of Mad Gods

  

Blog talk radio interview

Note: I was going to call this post "Good Versus Evil" but talking with Athanasios changed my mind. Life is not as simple as that. There is good and evil in everyone; it's a constant battle which roars on in Mad Gods.

Athanasios, welcome to my humble abode! 

As you may (or may not) know, I am a visual person. I love art, design, and your book covers. What do you try to capture in your covers and how long does it take for you to create them? 

It varies with each cover and who I'm making it for.  They can take between a few minutes to a few hours and sometimes days. I'm not necessarily consciously working on it but I'm thinking on it.  I'm a firm believer that no matter how hard you try to do something if it's not coming it won't unless you leave it alone to let your own subconscious, luck, providence or whatever you want to call it, help.  I try to capture what the author intends to portray, sometimes it's enticing a reader to look further than the cover others it's being literal with what the story contained therein conveys. I know in my own covers I first tried to be literal and then saw they weren't doing much for sales so I just switched to being enticing and moody and it's worked better.

Your books give a new twist to darkness. Reminds me a bit of Pandora’s box. Lots of bad stuff going on but there is still hope.Tell us about them.

The darkness I'm taking from your question is evil? It's great that you brought up Pandora's box, the myth I mean, not some bad 1980s Ron Jeremy or Vanessa Del Rio porn. I've researched, not for the writing but because it's interested me, religion and why we must look outside ourselves for justification of our motivations and life's trials. In that research I discovered many other people's works, notable and varied intellects from Thomas Aquinas, Joseph Campbell to Bill Hicks and many of them have a pliant view of darkness. I've come to agree with this view that there isn't any total darkness there's always degrees. Not the trite shades of grays that many use to describe despicable behavior but the darkness or evil within everyone they must accept in themselves. I try to portray EVERYBODY in Predatory Ethics from Mad Gods to Commitment and the forthcoming In Whom To Trust as multidimensional. I want to have GOOD, SYMPATHETIC and BELIEVABLE reasons for what they all do. I think I've even given Satan a reason for becoming the embodiment of evil and a bitter, rejected, fallen angel. Yet I also scuff up and bloody most of the good guys too. Most are portrayed as stiff and humorless to the point of being without compassion or empathy for anybody or anything save their view of good and evil.

Adam, the main character is the Antichrist: introduced through a codex about his past lives. It describes his unwillingness to enslave the world and fulfill the destiny. Satan, his biblical father, still wants to go through with Revelation and Kosta, his adopted father, wants to give him the freedom to chose. Kosta could've just killed him as an infant, or raise him in ignorance of who he really was but wanted to Adam to know everything and make the choice with nothing hidden. He saw what he was doing as the real Revelation and also chose to let Adam see what a life filled with simple pleasures and pursuits could be. 

What inspires you to write?  

I want to see where I'll take the story, something I don't know myself until I start to write. Do you want to call that inspiration, then so be it. I do have an idea of the direction but I don't reach it until I start on it's path. Sounds like artsy-fartsy bullshit I know, but it's true in its sincerity.  I'll go further down the artsy-fartsy, metaphysical, starry-eyed, hippie, tree-hugging road: I liken it to an old pagan belief of paradise, the Elysian Fields where you went and did whatever you enjoyed when you lived. They didn't believe paradise as the modern Christians do, there was no specific direction that everyone shared and  nobody was any different, like walking around clouds and doing ABSOLUTELY nothing.  My inspiration is the Elysian Fields, where I stand without knowing where I'll go but just walking in my feet & imagination go wherever they will.  Then sometimes I go and have a great meal or drink and feel content.

I know you have been writing over ten years. With age comes wisdom. What do you know now that you wish you knew then?  

I wish I knew about indie publishing then. It's been around since that time so I wish I was one of the pioneers. That means I wouldn't still be looking with dread at the fact that it's Sunday tomorrow and then the next day I'd have to wake up extra early to write, before going to work. At least I've got a job that pays the bills, so I'm lucky enough in that respect. 

Do you sleep with the lights on?

No, I haven't slept with the lights on since I was 10 and saw the Omen. 

Boxers or briefs? (This is a romance blog!)

Neither!  if you know what I mean! Unless the mother-in-law is sleeping over, then I've got to resort to briefs.

Where do we find your books?

MAD GODS

AMAZON                 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004QOA768

SMASHWORDS    https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/48579 ISBN:9781610612562

COMMITMENT

AMAZON                http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006098CSC/

SMASHWORDS   https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/99372

Interview with Sabrina from Run into the Wind

Wanted to share a great interview with you from WoMen's Literary Cafe

It features one of my Characters, Sabrina. I may be a bit biased but I think they did a great job!

Welcome to Author's Spotlight

Character Interviews

by Stacy Eaton

Today we have Sabrina Lovett with us from Run into the Wind written by Lynn Hubbard. 

So let's please welcome Sabrina and grab that cup of java, sit back, relax and enjoy the interview.

Welcome Sabrina, we are very glad you could make it today.  Can you tell us about the book you star in?

Run into the Wind is about my life. It starts out on the worst day ever.

How so?

It was the day my family was murdered and my home was burned to the ground. My life was turned upside down in an instant. I persevered though, I planned to rebuild.  

How horrible! I am so glad you had the strength to move on.

However, my fancy pants brother decides to finally come home and dictate my life! Nevertheless, I showed him.

How did you do that?

I decided to choose my own fate, when he put me on the train headed for Boston, I jumped right off and headed west.

Lol.. I guess you did show him!

Of course maybe that wasn't my brightest idea, I mean hiding out and dressing as a boy is kinda odd. But that's how I met Brock.

Oh... tell us about Brock!

Now Brock is the kinda man who will make your toes curl! You know what I mean.

Of course I know what you mean! Who doesn't!

Now, it was kinda awkward with him thinking I was a boy and all. I guess I should have told him earlier but I am a bit stubborn.

Well anyway, my secret got out!

How did he find out??

I had to rescue Brock from some train robbers and nearly got myself killed. When Brock found out I was a girl he clenched his teeth so tight I thought his jaw was gonna lock shut forever. 

So what happened?

Well, me and Brock made up. (Blush!) Now, I'm really confused. I've been doing just fine on my own, I'm not sure if I want to give anyone that much power. On the other hand, maybe I need to rethink my life, maybe I do need someone. Maybe he needs me too.

Maybe... only you can answer that though.

My life is very complicated.

How so?

I have murderers to hunt down, my brother is chasing me, rescue missions. I don't know if I ever could go back to my old life. A life where everything was good and all I had to worry about was my mother trying to get me to wear a dress with ruffles. It still hurts to think about them being gone, but it hurts a bit less when Brock is around.

There are a lot of complicated things in your life Sabrina. I know that between you and your creator you probably found good ways to deal with all of that.  Let me ask you this...

We all want to be different, so what is the one thing you wish your creator had done differentely with you?

I wish she had given me red hair like my mama's. My sister Lydia got red hair, even my BROTHER got red hair. Did I? Nope, dull brown. I did get my green eyes though, guess I should be happy with that.

Your hair is beautiful. It goes wonderfully with your green eyes!

If you could have added something to the story, and your creator would have let you, what would that have been?

I wish I could have shoved Sally's smirking face into the water trough! Her flirting shamelessly with Brock like that. Makes me madder then a wet hen.

lol... amazing how the jealousy monster works isn't it!

What do you love best about yourself? What do you like least?

I have gumption! I stand up for who and what I believe in no matter what. I guess I can be over zealous sometimes. My father always said 'Not even the fatest horse can catch a word spoken in anger'.

Oh, I like that!  I will have to remember that and use it!

What part of the book was the hardest for you and your creator to work through?

When I lost Star.

Who is Star?

Star was a horse I looked after. When the barn caught fire, she got trapped. I tried my hardest to save her but Brock came in and drug me out. Made me mad as hell, I didn't need saving. Now Star was gone along with my job.

I'm sorry. I know how much losing and animal can hurt.

Sabrina is there a sequel for this book?

Yes, Brock's happy go lucky brohter had to have his spot in the sunlight. So Chase the Moon was named after him. CTM just came out and continues the story.  There are some good times and some bad, but that's what life is all about. If we didn't have hard times the good ones wouldn't seem so sweet.

That is very true.

Do you have anything else that you would like to talk about?

I would like to thank Cindy Smith for writing a song about me and Brock. She is amazingly talented and captured all the emotions I was feeling! You can listen to it at Lynn's Website www.lynnhubbard.com, tell her Sabrina sent you!

Oh wow, (Sorry guys... I made her wait so I could listen to the song real quick!) That is an awesome song - and I have to tell you, I loved the fact that you had that translated into sign language.  How wonderful!

Sabrina - it has been an honor to have you here today on WoMen's Literary Cafe!  We are so glad you came! I know the readers really want to know more about your book, and I'll fill them in on where they can find out more.  Thank you so much for coming!

Sabrina was an absolute pleasure to have on our blog today. To find out more about Run Into the Wind, please check out the following links.

Places to Purchase:

Amazon

www.amazon.com/Wind--Sizzling-Historical-Romance-ebook/dp/B0038KXAG0/ref=sr_1_1

Barnes & Noble

www.barnesandnoble.com/w/run-into-the-wind-lynn-hubbard/1020728717

Ways to find out more:

Lynn Hubbard's Blog:

authorlynnhubbard.blogspot.com/

Lynn Hubbard's Website:

www.lynnhubbard.com

Facebook Page:

www.facebook.com/lynnhubbardbooks

Goodreads:

www.goodreads.com/lynnhubbard

Twitter:

@Lynnhubbardbook

Give Me Five!

With people pinching pennies today, more and more people are looking for ways to earn extra money. Enter Fiverr.  Fiverr.com is an ingenious website where people can offer their services or purchase services for $5.

Where else can you pay someone $5 for writing a short message in the froth of a cup of cappuccino? Or earn $5 for writing a message on your hand?

You can spend an entertaining evening just going down the list of possibilities. Yes, many are wacky but they do have some great bargains. You can have articles written, homework done, pages translated, resumes made and all for five bucks!

Here are some examples taken straight from the site:

I will create a video performing an utterly fake reading for you as a fortune teller for $5

I will call anyone you want and wish them a Happy Birthday or tell them whatever you want for $5

I will sing or say your message in the shower for 30 seconds for $5

I will record a short fun lip sync video and show or say your message for $5

I will send you 10 handmade envelopes for $5

Sounds crazy huh?  I couldn’t write a post without trying it so….. I bought a custom logo.

I was given several different variations as seen under picture section.

Was it cheap? Yes.

Was it fast ? Yes.

Do I love it? No, but hey it was five bucks!

Payments are made securely through the site and the sellers are rated.  Many of the sellers are from different countries. However, country origin is clearly marked in the post.

So if you have a skill, a hidden talent, or a hobby, head over and sign up. 

What would you do for five dollars?

 www.fiverr.com

Trixie Belden Lives!

Oval Edition Cover

Growing up I was bed bound much of the time with Asthma. Some days I barely had the energy to hold my book up to read. Not being able to run around outside with the other kids, I had my own friend. Trixie Belden.

Trixie, a girl sleuth, gave me the chance to escape and be brave and healthy. Written in 1948 by Julie Campbell, Trixie was brought to life along with her annoying brothers and devoted friends. Kathryn Kenny took over and the series ended in 1986.

Trixie Belden is a set of Mystery Books written for girls, many compare her to Nancy Drew or the Hardy boys series. There are 39 in all and I am tickled to have them all. I have even begun a quest to acquire first editions of each one.  Hey, it's my vice, some people smoke, drink, or whatever. I collect Trixie Belden books.

New Trixie Cover

I was thrilled when Random House began reprinting them in 2003. I was dismayed to see what they did to Trixie on the cover. They glamorized her. In the series, Trixie was a “sturdy girl” with freckles and short curly hair that frizzed when it was humid. She was not perfect. No one is. Except, perhaps Nancy Drew, but we’re not talking about her.

Nevertheless, the stories are the same. Trixie takes you to places around the country you could never dream of seeing. However, thanks to Trixie I have been there. As have millions of other young girls who love to read.

The modern Trixie is even available as an ebook. That’s fine for some but I’m gonna go read my faded dog eared copies on the self.

Original Trixie Cover

So if you know Trixie, leave a comment. Let’s make everyone say “Nancy who?”

Road Trip: Andersonville Civil War Prison

After moving to Georgia from Michigan umpteen years ago I was over whelmed by all of the History there. Caught up in my day to day living I somehow stopped noticing it.  I decided to change that.  I wanted to start exploring and taking notice of the history around me. I decided to start with Andersonville. I had never heard about Andersonville until a couple of years ago.  At the time, my son was studying the Civil War. He wanted to learn more, so we hopped in the car, and headed out.

Camp Sumter was one of the largest confederate prisons during the Civil War. The city of AndersonvilleGeorgia was chosen for the site of the prison due to its location far from Union lines and its close proximity to the railway. Soon after the first prisoners arrived in 1864 it was dubbed “Andersonville”. Andersonville is infamous for being one of the deadliest prison camps during the Civil War. Over the next 14 months, almost 13,000 Union soldiers lost their life.  Stricken by the same diseases and insufficient rations hundreds of the confederate prison guards perished as well.  A replica of the North gate was rebuilt on the site along with markers signifying the 15 ft high outer wall and the flimsy inner wall, which marked the “dead line”.

  Doris Atwater, a prisoner, kept a secret list of men that died. After the war ended he and Clara Barton, founder of the Red Cross, went back with a team to dig up the mass graves and rebury the dead with dignity. There are monuments throughout the prison site and cemetery from each state that had prisoners held at Andersonville.

  Andersonville is a great day trip it takes about 2 ½ hours to drive there from Atlanta or make a weekend out of it and visit former President Jimmy Carter’s Hometown in nearby Plains Georgia or the State fair in Perry. They offer several guided tours daily. We chose the audio tour, you can rent it for a few bucks and go at your own pace.

  Also on site is the Nation Prisoner of War Museum which was opened in 1998 to honor those who were held captive in the defense of their country. You can also visit the Andersonville National Cemetery where the dead from Andersonville are at rest.

  Today the walls that covered over 26 acres have since fallen but the memories and spirit of the men who lived there linger on.