Up Close With David Knight

1. What inspires you as a writer?

    Hi everyone. This may sound strange, but it was just an overwhelming feeling within me that I had to put words onto paper. In the beginning, it was as if a creative spark ignited inside as I felt I need to write some poems about what I was sensing and feeling during meditation and sitting in ‘circle’- (Spiritual groups)

2. When did you have that ah ha moment when you knew you were a writer?

     Mmmm, I guess this occurred to me, when what I had started to write seemed to grow and expand into lengthy passages of text. I seemed to be guided in collating information together… and I started to realize that it was a book being formed in front of my very eyes!  

3. What is your writing process?                                                                                                         

Ha ha (LOL) I really should have a structure like ‘famous’ authors I guess!  For me and lots of people it’s a case of juggling and fitting it in one’s busy lifestyle.  I would like to say I have a set time each day but I don’t. For me it’s like having a pull and tug of the heart strings…its like God saying to me…time to write now David - bizarre as it sounds or seems. Sometimes, if I hear / listen to soft music…or am in a quiet moment something triggers inside my heart…as if inspiring me to get the pen to paper. As this occurs…I tend to write for about 1 and half hours, then when time allows it takes me about 2 further hours to type up what has been transcribed through me.

4. Tell us about your favorite character and why you chose to write about them?

There’s not actually a so called ‘character’ within the book, but that said everything revolves around ‘Love’, which is the overriding ‘theme’ from, through and to all hearts and souls.  

5. What are you currently working on?

Actually, the sequel I am I: The In-Dweller of your Heart - Part 2 is about two thirds completed. It is going to be awesome and a revelation to the many.

6. Any upcoming events?

Obviously, first of all we have this wonderful Virtual Blog Tour organized through the team at Assisting Authors Online. I am hoping that through various forums and connections that I can do some radio interviews and some local book signings…. ‘From little acorns… eh’? 

7. If you could be anyone you like, who would you be?

Great question! I had to laugh recently when a friend/ his wife and I watched an action / sci fi movie together…and they asked a similar question about the actors in it. “Who would you be in this film Dave?”  Oh, probably him over there…I replied. Why’s that?  As he survives! LOL Ha ha 

It’s quite difficult really. Morally / spiritually and for karma I could say that it’s best to be myself as that’s who I am…but of the famous, mmmm….its too difficult…oh dear, I guess it would have to be someone who has left a legacy…helping humankind and society.

8. Do you have any advice for new writers and something that a seasoned vet can learn?

For new writers I would say never give up upon your dreams….through determination and trust in yourself you can make them come true. For vets…your never to old or set in your ways to learn…just look at the self –pub and e-book revolution!

9. Where can your followers find you?

It’s always great to connect to new hearts and minds and continuing to share spiritual guidance and education to young or old, and anyone who has an open heart!  I’m mainly on Twitter and Facebook   using @AscensionForYou and of course via my blog and website too which is http://AscensionForYou.wordpress.com

10. Any last words?

Just want to say thank you to everyone for their kindness and support with the blog tour and to God for making this book ‘happen’.  We never stop learning upon this road and journey we call life. Try to enjoy it…make things happen so that you never feel that you had any regrets. God Bless to all. Dave – AscensionForYou- Knight

Thank you for stopping by David. Check out what's below. It's something fun.

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Featured Author--Chris Lindberg

What inspires you as a writer?

More than anything, it’s the things I see and hear every day.  A conversation I might hear, a random thing I might notice, will sometimes make me stop and think, “could there be a story in that?”  It’s amazing how much source material is out there if you just keep your eyes and ears open to it.  

When did you have that ah ha moment when you knew you were a writer?

I think it kind of happened over time, where I just kept writing, and what I was creating kept getting better, and then before I knew it, I had a whole novel put together. 

What is your writing process?

The most important piece to me is finding a space to write: not only in the real world, but also in my mind.  In the real world, it just has to be a quiet space, where I can concentrate, without a lot of distractions.  In my mind, I have to clear space first: if I have too much on my mind with other matters, the writing doesn’t come well.  But going out for a run or bike ride does wonders for that. 

Tell us about your favorite character and why you chose to write about them? 

This is probably like choosing a favorite child, but I’ll do it anyway.  One of the two main characters in Code of Darkness is a vigilante named Rage.  I honestly can’t remember what inspired me to choose that name, but over time I found that it fit the character better than any other name I could’ve given him.  Rage is a loner, an outsider who doesn’t know much about his mysterious past until it catches up with him.  He’s the archetypical anti-hero: he doesn’t want to be a hero, but he ends up being one despite his best efforts not to.  I chose to write about him because I always enjoyed stories about darker, misunderstood figures who in the end wound up being forces for good: you probably shouldn’t have been rooting for them, but you found yourself doing it anyway, and in the end you wound up being happy that you did. 

What are you currently working on?

I’m bouncing back and forth between two projects: a coming-of-age space opera, and an apocalyptic thriller.  But I’m getting some welcome feedback from readers that I should be doing a sequel to Code of Darkness, so I suppose I’d better get working on that, too. 

Any upcoming events? 

I’m working on some local book signings in the Chicago area, no firm dates as of today, but please check the Code of Darkness Facebook page as well as www.codeofdarkness.com for updates.  

If you could be anyone you like, who would you be?

Wow, fun question.  In reality, I think I would want to be George Clooney.  He’s someone I really admire, and he just exudes coolness and confidence.  If it could be anyone fictional, I’d probably choose Superman.  It’d be cool to fly and lift heavy things.  

  Do you have any advice for new writers and something that a seasoned vet can learn?

For new writers, just keep at it.  Keep writing.  We’ve all heard the whole “your brain is a muscle” spiel, but we’ve heard it because it’s true.  The more you do it the better you’ll get.  And have fun with it -- it’s your own world you’re creating.  I’m not sure I have anything new for a seasoned vet, so I’ll just give a reminder to keep helping other writers out.  This space can be very competitive among writers, but it doesn’t need to be – we’re all creative minds, and we should support each other.  We can leave the competitive stuff for the agents and publishers to deal with. 

Where can your followers find you? 

I have a Facebook page for Code of Darkness, just log onto Facebook and search the title – you’ll see the image of the cover (right before or after a listing for a European band of the same name).  I also have a Twitter handle, Chrislindberg7.  And finally, you can always check for updates at www.codeofdarkness.com. 

Any last words? 

Thanks for having me on your blog!  For any of your readers that are interested in taking a closer look at Code of Darkness, there are previews of the first few chapters on both Amazon and on www.codeofdarkness.com for you to check out.  It’s getting good reviews so far, so if you like thrillers with a touch of sci-fi, I’m hopeful you’ll give it a try!  

Thank you for stopping by Chris. Please leave Chris a comment for your chance to win a signed copy or ebook!

I'm Going on Tour

Okay I am big on touring as most of you know from reading my blog and if you follow me on any networking site. One weekend I may be in Georgia and the next New Jersey. Now along with all of this I am going Virtual. I will be on a Virtual Book Tour that is. I have done these in the past but never while in the middle of book touring or with so many books in print! Can you feel my excitement? 

This is called doing whatever it takes to get your name out there. You can follow me on my stops  listed below.

Oct. 19 - Meet & Greet at www.vbtcafe.com

Oct. 21 - Guest Blogging at http://www.livetoread-krystal.blogspot.com

Oct. 25 - Guest Blogging at http://www.azpublishingservices.blogspot.com

Oct. 27 - Author Interviewed at http://www.bkwalkerbooksetc.blogspot.com

Nov. 3 - Guest Blogging at http://www.authorsbyauthors.blogspot.com

Nov. 8 - Author Spotlight at www.assistingauthors.com

Nov. 10 - Guest Blogging at http://www.bibrary.blogspot.com

Nov. 14 - Author Interviewed at www.blogtalkradio.com/bkwalker @ 7pm EST

Nov. 16 - Guest Blogging at http://www.ashleysbookshelf.blogspot.com

Nov. 18 - Guest Blogging at http://www.louisewise.blogspot.com

Nov. 19 - Author Interviewed at www.katiesalidas.com

Nov. 21 - Guest Blogging at http://www.bookreadersaddictsgiveaways.blogspot.com

Nov. 24 - Rise and Fall of a Track Star Reviewed at http://bkwalkerbooksetc.blogspot.com

Nov. 26 - Guest Blogging at http://www.amylunderman.blogspot.com

Dec. 2 - Author Interviewed at http://www.lisahaseltonsinterviewsandreviews.blogspot.com

Some of these stops are ones I have been to before but the others I am excited about them getting to know the inner workings of me.

Virtual Book Tour…Is it Worth It?

If you are one of those authors who put as much effort into promoting your book as you do with watching paint dry then I would emphatically say no. But, if you know what I do and that is you need to constantly do things to get your name out there then I you would understand me standing on top of my chair screaming a resounding yes.

Hold up? Did you ask what is a Virtual Book Tour? Oh, sorry. Besides getting your name out there it is guest blogging, doing interviews, having reviews, and/or giveaways across numerous blogger sites. And, it is fun. Guest blogging is a way for readers to get to know you. Depending on how many stops you have there will be times you are tempted to repeat a previous post but I strongly shake my head no at you if you do (or reach out and smack your hands as they inch towards your keyboard). People like to look at a variety, switch it up. If you don’t know what I mean google my name (Omegia Keeys) and you will see several of my guest blogging over the past few years. Search engines love blogs! I have even changed up from blogging about me to focusing on my book characters. One in particular is my favorite, Erika aka Ecstasy. I completely let her take over and wrote as her. http://thegoldenpenreview.blogspot.com/2011/08/featured-author-omegia-keeys.html I think the original host was on Watery Tart last year sometime.  

I first began my search on Virtual Book Tours a few years back. Some of the prices astounded me to the point of almost making me curl up in the fetal position and sit there rocking back and forth (okay a bit dramatic but you did not see the thousands of dollars they were claiming as affordable). I even tried doing my own VBT but what was the point if no one knew who I was to bother to read it. Having an online presence is a must if you want to host your own. My take on hosting it on your own blog is to go ahead but also connected to other blog stops.

Now back to the benefits of a VBT. It gets your name out there. You add to your fan base and its great networking. I reach people that may have never known about me or my work without reading the blog. If spending a little money to potentially make a lot of money is too much for some to comprehend then by all means stay an author with a book that no one knows about.  I am not someone who started out with a lot of money. Single parent with three kids here. What I did manage to save I applied to my writing career. Now I recycle my funds. What I make off one project I apply to the next. It keeps me moving forward and allows me to do things like going on a VBT. 

For authors on a budget I would try one of my favorites http://www.virtualbooktourcafe.com/virtual-book-tour-package.html. If you can’t find a package here to fit your budget but have the new iPad, iPhone, new shoes, or must have that Star Bucks cup of coffee everyday all I can say is get your priorities together if you are really serious about being an author. You are only going to get what you put into it. If you are not making an effort to put your name out there then you really can’t complain about your book not selling. More and more people are writing books than ever so make yours stand out and be noticed.

Until Next Time,

Omegia