Meet Spooky History Author Jeri Westerson #authorinterview

Spooky TopicsThanks for joining us today, Xina. Tell us a little about yourself. What do you do for a living?

I write for a living. Since 2010. Currently, I have 31 books in print, from historicals, to medieval mysteries, to an LGBT mystery series, to three paranormal series.

What’s your home life like?

Husband of 35 years, a senior cat, and a laconic tortoise. Our son lives on his own in L.A. working toward a screenwriter career.

What are your hobbies?

Not many these days. I used to do woodcarving and painting, but there is little time to indulge when there are two books each in different genres to work on a year.

What historical period is your favorite? Why?

The Middle Ages. I’ve been surrounded by it all my life. Being raised in a house full of rabid anglophiles, the books were right there on the shelves, both fiction and nonfiction. I couldn’t help but immerse myself in Medieval English history, especially when talk at the dinner table could center on the British monarchy. I know more about British monarchs than American presidents.

Tell us about your research process.

I like to take a solid month for research before I write and then research along the way when I suddenly come across a question. I know that those who write straight historical fiction have the luxury of a few years to write, but when you write a mystery series, a publisher expects a book a year.

Clockwork Gypsy coverFor Spooky History, Jeri will focus on her paranormal steampunk series, The Enchanter Chronicles, which began with The Daemon Device. The setting is an alternate steampunk version of London in 1891. I recently read the book and enjoyed it a lot.

The second book in the series, Clockwork Gypsy, will be released on Oct. 31, just in time for Halloween!

Join us for Spooky History on Monday, October 19, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. (PT) to learn more about the world of The Enchanter Chronicles, as well as the works of fellow panelists Xina Marie Uhl and Colleen Adair Fliedner. The Zoom meeting is sponsored by the Santa Clarita Library in their series of History Talks held monthly on various historical topics.

Click here to register: bit.ly/HTSpookyHistory

Author Jeri WestersonAbout the Author:

Los Angeles native JERI WESTERSON is the author of historical novels and thirteen Crispin Guest Medieval Noir Mystery novels, a series nominated for thirteen national awards from the Agatha to the Shamus. Jeri also writes three paranormal series, BOOKE OF THE HIDDEN, a paranormal romance; the Enchanter Chronicles, a steampunk series beginning with THE DAEMON DEVICE; and a werewolf mystery series, beginning with MOONRISERS. Under the pen name Haley Walsh, Westerson has written the Skyler Foxe Mysteries, a humorous and romantic LGBT mystery series. She has served two terms as president of the Southern California Chapter of Mystery Writers of America, twice president of the Orange County Chapter of Sisters in Crime, and one term as vice president for the Los Angeles Chapter of Sisters in Crime.

See more about Jeri at JeriWesterson.com or bookeofthehidden.com or EnchanterChronicles.com

https://www.facebook.com/author.westerson
https://www.instagram.com/jeriwestersonauthor/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1432724.Jeri_Westerson
https://www.amazon.com/Jeri-Westerson/e/B001JRTDJC
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeri_Westerson

Medieval Mystery Newsletter sign-up: https://jeriwesterson.us3.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=daf46f347ff329606effa18ae&id=55fcadf082
Paranormal Newsletter sign-up: https://jeriwesterson.us3.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=daf46f347ff329606effa18ae&id=41555b8e3c

Linda McLaughlin

Meet Spooky History Author Xina Marie Uhl #authorinterview

Spooky Topics

Please join me in welcoming historical author Xina Marie Uhl to the Reading Room today.

Author Xina Marie UhlThanks for joining us today, Xina. Tell us a little about yourself. What do you do for a living?

I write full time: part of the time I write fiction and part of the time I write nonfiction educational books for young people, though Covid-19 has disrupted the nonfiction work for now. Writing is something I do about 6 days of the week, and it occupies an important part in my day. Some days it is harder than others to actually accomplish, though.

What’s your home life like?

Pretty quiet these days. There’s just my husband and me, three dogs, and one 21-year old cat. I’ve worked from home for 13 years now and it is so nice, though it does have its challenges, like anything.

What are your hobbies?

Hiking, travel, research, photography, and mosaics. Of these, hiking is the one I spend most of my time doing. I find it restorative to be alone in the quiet with just my dog for company.

What’s a dream you have? How are you working toward this dream?

I want to see one of my stories as a video. Along with the help of some talented people, I’m working at filming a short script I wrote. It’s exciting but also somewhat scary since I’ve never done such a thing before. I have a few scripts laying about here and it would be so fun to bring them to life.

What historical period is your favorite? Why?

It’s hard to pick just one. My original favorites are the Ancient Mediterranean and the Ancient Near East. The sweep of history involved so many fascinating expressions of human societies. The Assyrians brought the heavy foot of conquest down on their enemies, and created fantastical art while doing it, the Greeks debated and discovered many philosophical and scientific methods; their development of drama and comedy affects us today, and the Romans evolved from stoic and practical farmers to builders of roads, bridges, and aqueducts that remain today. I could go on and on.

What subjects do you like to give historical talks about? Why?

I’ve taught World History and California History in addition to writing about various time periods such as the Ancient Mediterranean, the Old West, and Antarctica and the Arctic from the late 1800s through the early 1900s, so I’m game to talk about just about anything, though favorite subjects include women, explorers, Alexander the Great, and the artistic and scientific achievements of the ancient world.

Necropolis cover

Necropolis cover

Xina’s novel Necropolis is a fantasy greatly influenced by ancient history.

When prison guard Conyr rescues a young priest from execution, he sets off a dangerous adventure that brings allies in a scheming politician, a mischievous urchin, and a beautiful tavern server. Together, the group must navigate a maze of power-hungry rivals, skilled assassins, and deadly sorcery. For the young priest’s lost memory holds the key to more than his past, but the fate of two cities.

Buy Now! Amazon.com * BarnesandNoble.com * Apple Smashwords.com

How to find Xina online:

Website: www.xuwriter.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/xinamarieuhl
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/XinaMarieUhl/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xuwriter/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/xuwriter
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Xina-Marie-Uhl/e/B00E7AKNR4

Newsletter signup link http://bit.ly/30qhIAS (Includes a free short story when you sign up)

And please join us for Spooky History on Monday, October 19, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. (PT) The Zoom meeting is sponsored by the Santa Clarita Library in their series of History Talks held monthly on various historical topics.

Click here to register: bit.ly/HTSpookyHistory

Hope to see you there.

Linda McLaughlin